Hope you enjoy this chapter :)I'm supposed to be cleaning my room right now but if I don't write when the ideas are fresh and pouring in there will be no update for three months because I'll forget everything
Katniss POV
"Well I'm going to get going, I have some work to do at the bakery. I'm glad you're okay though Katniss." I know it's strange, but I don't want him to leave. I mean I know my feelings for him but I'm not used to this. We
had very little real memories where I actually knew what I wanted before Peeta was taken away. And even then, I would be super confused after because I wasn't sure what it meant, and what he meant to me. Then of
course there was the whole Gale variable. I think a part of me always knew I didn't love Gale like that-he's basically my brother. He just confused me. I was already confused enough about how I felt about Peeta, and then
Gale kissed me and made me even more confused. Then when I realized that I love Peeta, he comes back and he's trained to hate me. I have really bad timing.
"Actually Peeta, would you want to stay hereand watch the recaps of the reaping with us?" I ask. I don't want it to sound desperate. I want us to become friends and then become something more. I'll probably end up
being the one to initiate that, Peeta being the sweet gentleman that he is. He looks at me with a puzzled expression, as if asking why I of all people want to spend time with him.
"If we are going to be friends-which I really hope we are- I think we ought to spend some time together, get to know eachother you know." I do plan on telling him and Prim I'm from the future at some point. Peeta stares
at me with that intense gaze of his considering my offer. Then he smiles so brightly it could light up a room.
"Sure I don't see why not." I smile, sit up and kiss Prim's forehead. She's looking at me with a suspicious glance, she was so quiet I'd forgotten she was in the room. Looks like I'll be telling Prim sooner than I thought
"Hey Prim why don't you go in the living room and play with Buttercup while I talk to Peeta okay?" She looks up shyly at Peeta and nods and walks out of the room, closing the door behind her. Peeta watches her leave,
then looks at me with a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.
"She's pretty shy huh? I like her, she's sweet, and obviously very smart and wise, I could tell by looking at her. She reminds me of you honenstly." I laugh
"She's only shy around people she doesn't know. It's a phase she's going through, she started being shy a month or so ago." I say fondly thinking back to when Prim went through a three month shy phase. Peeta smiles
and the urge to tell him everything swells up inside me forming a lump in my throat. I know I can't though-not yet anyways.
"So if we're going to be friends what's you're favorite color?" Peeta's question jolts me back into another memory that seems so long ago on the Victory Tour when we had a nearly identical conversation.
"Green like the forest, what about you?" He smiles and I return it as I anticipate his answer knowing what it will be.
"Orange" He answers softly. I crinkle my nose
"Like Jessica Olivers favorite dress?" I ask referring to a girl in our year at school. He smiles, and chuckles
"No a bit more muted, like the sunset, and your dress." I smile wishing we could just live in this blissful little bubble forever.
"That's beautiful." I breathe creating the picture in my mind. He just smiles that beautiful smile at me, and I am not a sappy girl by any means, but I can literally feel myself falling deeper in love with him in that moment.
"What do you like to do in your free time?" I ask
"Paint, and draw. What about you?" I can't exactly say hunting, and it's technically not for fun. So instead I say something I enjoy doing, but do very little."
"Sing" I say bashfully. Peeta's eyes light up.
"Would you sing for me?" He asks, giving me the same big blue puppy dog eyes Prim does whenever she wants something. I laugh slightly.
"I don't know..." I say teasingly
"Aww please Katniss, will you sing for your friend Peeta?" He says in a baby voice. We stare at eachother for a second and burst into hysterics. When we are able to compose ourselves he asks
Seriously though, will you please sing a song?" He asks. I relent and rack my brain for a song.
"Are you ready Peeta?" he nods so fast I fear his head will fall of. I laugh and begin to sing
Are You, Are you
Coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man
they say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
no stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the
Hanging Tree
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree?
Where the dead man called out
for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
no stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the
Hanging Tree
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run
So we'd both be free
Strange things did happen here
no stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the
Hanging Tree
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree?
Wear a necklace of rope
side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
no stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the
Hanging Tree
As the final notes leave my mouth Peeta stares at me in awe and shock.
"That was incredible Katniss" He breathes.
"Thank you" I say blushing.
"I also must say that is one creepy song." He adds laughing.
"Yeah" I smile
We talk in that fashion or the next hour or so, learning seemingly useless facts about eachother, that I for one will hold onto forever. I also contempate what to do in the first arena this time around. Will we be allies
from the start? If so will Rue and I still become allies. Of course we will still be allies. Peeta could join the Careers still and then abandon them when he finds me. I automatically know that one's a no though. I don't
want him anywhere near the Careers. I decide to worry about it later, and tell Peeta stories about everything from hunting with Gale to my friendship with Madge. And in turn he tells me stories ranging from the bakery
to his friendship with Delly Cartwright.
"I feel bad for Delly."I say. Peeta looks up at me confused.
"Why?"
"Everyone hates her because they think she's fake. They don't even stop to think that that's just her personality and it bugs me. Delly isn't fake at all. It's like when people just automatically assume Madge is a snob
because her father is the Mayor. They're both people, with very real feelings, and they both remind me of Prim." I blush when I realize I went on a bit of a rant. Peeta looks surprised.
"I didn't know you and Delly are friends."
"Let's just say, she helped me through a really difficult time once, and without her and Prim's support I would've completely lost faith." I may not have lived it yet, but I have the memories of what would've happened, and Delly is just so kind and I hate when people call her fake. Peeta smiles in understanding as Prim walks through the door.
"Mom wanted me to get you two, the recap is about to start.
We sit on the couch waiting for the recap to start. The anthem begins to play and the recap of the reaping begins. Only a few really stand out to me. The district one male is a redhaired volunteer named Cole. He's the typical Career tribute I can green eyes are vicious cruel, calculating, and looks to be about 17. I can tell he'll be deadly. He'll get a lot of sponsors just based of his looks. The female however is surprisingly young and not a volunteer. She's also Cole's sister. Her name is Shine and she looked about 13. She looks just like Prim- blonde hair, blue eyes full of
trust. She's beautiful. There's intelligence in those blue eyes of hers too. She's the before product of a career. I have to wonder if she's started her training because she's obviously sweet, and
innocent, and as much as I want her to I know she doesn't stand a chance at winning. Especially with the sickening way her brother is eyeing her like a piece of meat. I grow angry as I remember
this particular Games where most of the tributes were younger than 15.
"He's planning to kill his own sister!" I seethe in disbelief. Peeta's gaze hardens as he makes the realization as well.
"That's sick" he says, his voice dripping with disgust for this tribute as Shines trusting gaze lands on her brother and her eyes well with tears.
Both tributes from two are volunteers which is unsurprising. The girl, Iris looks about 15 has the same deadly calculating look in her eyes as Cole and her district partner Noah. I briefly wonder if
Iris is from the Capital with her electric blue curls and purple eyes. Noah in stark contrast looks about 18 with black hair and deep blue eyes. I also recall him being a womanizer and using his charm
to lure all the older girls into a false sense of security,then kill them.
I pay close attention to district Four and unsurprisingly neither are volunteers. The female Ella is twelve, and tiny-almost fragile-with brown hair and blue eyes she seems to possess the same qualities as Shine from District one. The male is about fourteen with blonde hair and green eyes, and like Ella posseses the same characteristics as Shine.
None of the other tributes make any real impression on me and soon enough it's over.
"Well thank you for having me but I have to get going. I had a wonderful time getting to know you Katniss and I'll see you tomorrow." Peeta announces. I smile.
"Why don't I walk home with you?" I suggest
"Alright"
As we walk to Peeta's house we continue our conversation from earlier. When we get to his house he surprises me by wrapping me in a warm hug. I surprise both of us when I return the favor by kissing his cheek. We pull away both blushing.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" he asks
"Yeah real early meet me in the meadow.
"Alright I'll see you then. Goodnight Katniss."
"Goodnight Peeta." He turns and walks inside and I start the journey home almost accidentally heading for the Victor's Village out of habit before correcting myself. Walking home I think about next years games. It's
obvious to me that we'll be allies in the arena and I'll be allies with Rue. I can't change Rue's death though, and that's what kills me. That I can stop all these people from dying, and from Peeta being hijacked and
having his leg amputated, but I can't save her. Sweet, gentle adventurous Rue who loved music more than anything else in the world. And there's nothing I can do to save her-no matter how fast I run, It has to happen
in the exact same way it did before.
Another question is definitely how I'm going to save Prim. I know she told me how it happened but there has to be another way without anyone I love or care about dying. That seems to be the problem I have the most
time to come up with a solution for so I push it aside for now. Next on the list is Peeta. How do I get him to 13 with me? A thousand possibilities pop into my head. This is something I've thought about a lot and I have
that part figured out in minutes, towhich a huge weight is lifted off my shoulder. This also provides a solution to another problem. If Peeta is never captured, Coin has nothing to use against me as bait.
My next question is what days to go back to present time and how to get there. I'll try for Saturdays. Wait a second whenever I was ready to go back time seemed to know and take me back, and I went to the future
because I needed to see that and I was able to leave when I found the information I needed. I bet it's the same for this. Okay so I have that figured out now too.
By now I've reached my home. I realize what a long draining day it's been, and that I'm exhausted. So I go straight into the room Prim and I share and lay down. I'm about to fall asleep when Prim pops up next to me going
"Hi Katniss" in a sing songy voice. Considering I had no idea she was here I jump about three feet in the air.
"Hey Prim." I smile. How on earth is this child so energetic? She smiles at me sweetly. But not her usual sweetness. No this is her "let's talk about boys!" sweet voice. Oh no.
"Soooo, is Peeta your boyfriend?" She cuts right to the chase.
"No! No Prim." I sputter.
"Well do you want him to be your boyfriend?"she presses on. What do I tell her? I decide to tell her the truth.
"Yeah..." She squeals.
"EVERLARK! I ship it!" I stare at her
"Ever-what?" she just giggles and says
"Goodnight Katniss, Love you." and she promptly goes to sleep. I just smile and sigh at Prim's antics. Little girls
That awkward moment when it hits you just how creepy The Hanging Tree actually is. Anyways I hope you liked this chapter and no one seemed to OOC. Katniss is hopefully a little but still herself at the same time.