CHAPTER 3 ~ Let the games begin
Peeta Mellark is an utter asshole, there's no getting around that. His blond hair, blue eyes and pale skin make an aesthetically appealing mask over a disgusting personality.
He's thrilling to be around, match wits with or piss off, I like getting him riled up so the muscle by his jaw ticks and those pale cheeks get flushed. Prim found out what's happening yesterday and she's half annoyed, half for me finally doing something vaguely boy-related.
In this town, I'm generally considered a bad influence, most people don't associate with me unless they're sick or dying, since my one good quality is being a healer. Slowly, being called the town bitch morphed into being accepted as the town witch, and my mother's practice was barely enough to keep the people from hauling me out and kicking me to Timbuktu. To prove to everyone that I am fully capable of seducing a male, I've decided that only under specific circumstances will I use the love potion that I prepared. In its place, I crush a Jasmine blossom between my fingers and tap them behind my ears. If I'm not going to use magik, I can at least use normal girl seduction things instead, that's completely fair...
Now, I'm in my small bedroom, trying on every item of clothing that I own, looking for something to wear on our "first date." My mostly black wardrobe lay all across the bed, floor and chair. I turned in front of the mirror, once again deciding that there was entirely too much lace on this for a first date. I stripped off the dress and left it where it lay on the floor, grabbing yet another one from my closet. I have a vast array of different styles, but all of them are more elegant and slightly outdated. I inherited many of them from my mom, and some still smell faintly of her. Those, I keep locked away in the trunk at the foot of my bed.
I rarely wear this next one, since the charm on the zipper broke and I've been too scatterbrained to put it back on. Sighing, I went back into my lair and dug around my desk drawers for a wand. I have several in case one breaks or something, but I my hand landed on the metal one first, it's my favorite anyway, so I tend to have it closer to the top of my clutter. Heading back into my bedroom, I place my dress down on my bed, mumble out the words to the charm, hoping I got them in the right order this time, and stand back. When nothing explodes or turns into a frog after a few seconds, I pick up the dress again and unzip it, pull it on, and reach over my shoulder to touch the top of the back, and grin as it self-zips. Although I've always been a witch and had basic healing ability, these simple, minor charms and spells aren't as intuitive, I can't just touch something and start the healing process or mix things together to get a potion, I have to remember the words to the spell and repeat them in the right order, the right way.
I look myself in the mirror, finally satisfied with the outfit. The simple lace dress had small cap sleeves and a hem that reached my knees. My sheer maroon tights provide a little color, which I'm not used to but hope Peeta will like. I cinched the middle with a belt and start putting my important accessories back on, my moon crystal, my three rings, and my wand tucked down the front of the bodice for now. It will eventually end up in my boot, but I don't have them out yet. I gathered my hair together in a braid over my shoulder and put on my black lipgloss and wiped a smudge of mascara off my eyelid. I did my makeup this morning and it stayed on well, but my nerves have me biting my lips more often than normal and I licked off all my lipstick.
My heart skipped a beat when I heard the clank of the knocker at the front door. I grabbed my heeled boots and waved my wand for the door to open while I made a dramatic entrance down the stone stairs to the entryway.
I heard Peeta's concerned "Katniss?" as I zipped up the studded, 6 inch tall boots sitting on the top step, hidden from his view.
"Right here." I announced, closing the door behind him with a flick of my wand and appearing at the bottom of the stairs while his back was turned to watch the door close by itself. He jumped when he turned around again, and I smiled. He pressed a hand to his heart, blinking and looking back between me, the stairs and the door.
"Normal is subjective, but I can't say I see this every day." He remarked to himself. Finally looking back at me, a small smile came to his face. "You look pretty." I felt myself blushing.
"You think so?" I twirled for him, my repressed girliness making an appearance.
"Yeah, less scary than you normally do. How do you walk in those?" He gestured to my shoes.
"I charmed them so I don't fall." I explain a little sheepishly.
"You... you can do that kind of thing? Nice." He looked impressed, scratching the back of his neck. "You're gonna have to excuse my vast lack of knowledge regarding witches and magic in general, I... I sorta feel bad now but I was never supposed to interact with the witch on the block." He shrugs, referring to my mom. I had few friends as a kid, due to most mothers telling their kids to stay away from the weird Everdeens.
"That's okay, most people don't really take the time to learn about us, I'm glad Prim didn't turn out to be a witch or she would miss out on everything I do."
"Like boys?" He suggests with a small smile. I nod.
"Like boys. There's a reason assholes like you hit on her and not me..." I explain indifferently. Peeta looks a little offended.
"Assholes like me?"
"Yeah, players. Fuckboys. You know." I shrug.
"Huh. Okay." He frowns. "We should get going, I made reservations for 6." He turns and looks at the door, then back over his shoulder at me. I roll my eyes and open it.
"There's a doorknob you know..." I stride past him as he closes it.
"I told you, I don't know how witch castles work."