My breath was coming in puffs as I ran down the streets towards the butchers shop. The air was nightclub which made my hair frizz out. I tried to push it back, but that didn't work.
I threw the door open and ran inside, grabbing up my apron.
"I'm sorry, Gran. I didn't sleep much last night, and I didn't hear my alarm go off-" I said breathily, but she cut me off.
"Aces! What are you doing here? Go back home."
"W-What? Why?" I stammered.
"Because now it's not important for us both to work. I'm not sure if you should be working here just yet anyways. It's too soon." She said, wiping her hands on her own apron.
"Gran, I'm fine. I want to work: it will keep my mind from wandering." I said.
"From wandering to killing people and blood and death? Aces, you'll be cutting up slabs of meat with lots of blood. I said no, and it's final." She said. I looked at her for a moment before huffing and hanging my apron back up.
"Fine." I walked back out of the shop and down the road towards the bakery.
I pushed the door open and walked over to where Rye stood behind the counter.
"Hey, Victor! How's it feel to be famous?" He joked easily like he always has. I shrugged.
"Quite boring, actually. I'm not allowed to work at the shop anymore, which is bull." I said, crossing my arms.
"Well somebody's in a pissy mood." Peeta said, coming out from the kitchen.
"I just wanted to work. To get my mind to relax, and Gran won't even let me stay in the shop!" That wasn't entirely true, but I knew she didn't really want me there all day.
Peeta shrugged. "I mean, you did just come back from a bloody game, so I could see why she wouldn't want to traumatize you even more."
"Ugh, not you too! I'm literally going out my mind at home. There's nothing to keep my mind from going places it really shouldn't go."
"Are you finally admitting your secret feelings for me, Aces?" Rye Asked. I rolled my eyes.
"That's just gross, you're like my brother."
"You wanna work in the back with Wheat and I?" Peeta asked.
"That would be wonderful, but won't your mum get upset?"
He shrugged. "Not as long as it's you and she doesn't have to pay you."
I laughed without humor. "True."
I went into the back with Peeta, and he instructed me to knead the bread. So I did, and within a few minutes my arms were covered in dough from my elbows down.
Rye came in a few minutes later, saying it was his break time so if the bell rang for the door one of us would have to get it.
We nodded and continued with our jobs: me kneading, Peeta frosting, and Wheat doing whatever the hell it is that Wheat does.
And as luck should have it the door chimed for probably the first time that day, other than when I came in. Tuesday's where always their slowest.
"Not it!" Peeta And Wheat called in usion.
"Really guys? I don't even work here!" I said, but I was laughing and walked out front anyways. I stepped behind the counter and grabbed one of the hand towels to wipe off my hands.
"How can I help you on this very fine day?" I said cheerily, before looking up and inwardly hating the boys.
As luck would have it, it was Gale.
He seemed shocked too, and it took him a moment to say what types of bread he wanted.
"It's usually just four squirrels." He said as I bagged them.
I nodded and handed him the bag and took from him the string of squirrels. Working in a butchers shop had made me pretty numb to this kind of stuff, but maybe my Gran was right.
"Have a nice day." I said to him, before turning towards the kitchen. "Peeta! What do I do with squirrel coinage?"
"What?" He asked, walking out before accessing the situation.
"Oh. Hello, Gale. Aces, just put those in the fridge." He said.
"You got it, boss." I said before doing as he had instructed.
"Aces!" Wheat called from the kitchen. I popped my head in the doorway.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Tell Peeta That his cookies are burning and to get his ass back in here." I walked back out front towards the counter.
"Peeta, your brother says that your cookies are burning and that you need to 'get your ass back in there'." I said his eyes widened comically and he farted around me and pushed open the swinging door into the kitchen.
Gale coughed awkwardly before thanking me for the bread and exiting quickly.
I sighed and leaned my elbow on the counter while propping up my chin on my hand.
How has my life become this?