73rd Annual Hunger Games.
Chapter Five
Fifteen-year-old Alex Russo breaks up with her girlfriend of a year as she moves from District Twelve to District Ten. Storming back into the school for her after-school detention, Alex bumps into her crush of three years, Katniss Everdeen.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Alex blushes shyly.
"Katniss!" A blonde little girl calls running over to them, "Oh my gosh, you're Alex Russo. I'm a HUGE fan of yours!"
"Prim, behave." Katniss hisses elbowing her lightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm Primrose Everdeen, Katniss's little sister. I'm eleven. Just call me, Prim."
"It's nice to meet you, Prim." Alex shakes Prim's hand seeing the aw look on her face, "Katniss and I are in the same class here at school. You should get her to tell you some stories from class and some of my pranks on our teacher."
Prim looks up at Katniss annoyed, "You told me she's not in your class."
"I lied." Katniss shrugs her shoulders; "And Peeta Mellark is in our class and follows her around like a puppy."
"He knows I'm a lesbian! I told him that a hundred times!" Alex groans, "Sadly, I have to go, I have detention with Peeta, even though he wasn't involved with my prank."
"He is in love with you, what do you expect." Katniss laughs.
"You have a beautiful laugh, you need to laugh more often." Alex winks, "See you two around in September and when I return back from the Capitol."
Watching Alex disappear into the classroom, Prim rounds on Katniss after the classroom door closes, "Alex likes you, Katniss, ask her out in September."
"Don't meddle, Prim." Katniss rolls her eyes and before Katniss could stop Prim, Prim walks into the classroom and walks over to Alex who is humming with her feet on top of the desk and there is no teacher in the room yet.
"Alex?" Prim snaps her fingers in front of Alex's face earning her attention.
"Holy crap, you scared me Prim!" Alex breathes heavily holding the desk to keep from falling.
"Do you have a crush on my sister?" Alex blushes, only Haymitch is that bold.
"Have you met Haymitch?"
"No? Do you?" Prim watches Alex turn a darker shade of red before looking away and stuttering out a no, "I think you do."
"What is your evidence?"
"You are all red in the face and you can't look me in the eye and say no. You do like my sister."
"I think you are too smart for your age."
"And you keep changing the topic to give yourself time to cool down and act normal."
"And very observant." Alex mutters playing with her fingers before looking up at Prim sighing, "Okay, yes I do like Katniss, but I'm scared that she might be straight. Besides, we aren't even friends and barely talk."
"Katniss likes you back. She's scared to act on her feelings because our mom is against her liking girls." Prim reveals nervously, "Our dad was the one who always encouraged Katniss to be who she was, but when he died, things changed." Seeing Alex nod, Prim frowns feeling like her plan isn't working.
"What's wrong, Prim?" Alex questions.
"I want Katniss to be happy for once. And the only way I can think of is to get you and her together." Seeing the tears fall from Prim's eyes, Alex pulls her into a hug, "Katniss is never happy. She never smiles."
"I can't do this right away, Prim because it will only hurt Katniss and myself. But once I heal after my break-up, I will do everything I can to find myself by Katniss's side okay? It won't only be for you and Katniss but myself as well."
"When do you think you can start?"
"I have to start by becoming Katniss's friend. So really, it's already started. When I come home from the Capitol, I will look for you and Katniss and hang out with you both this summer and get to know you both more."
"Hey Alex!" Peeta greets coming into the room, "Hey Prim."
"Hey Peeta." Prim smiles wiping her tears away, "I should get going. Katniss is waiting for me."
"See you later, Prim." Alex and Prim hug before Alex watches Prim rush out just as the teacher walks in.
~K&A~
Alex trains Peeta one-on-one in the training room since Peeta Mellark, who has the crush on her and from her class, is the tribute for District Twelve.
"Don't go easy on me." Alex calls with a sword in her hand as she spins it with her left hand behind her back. Peeta has two swords as Alex has one. With her training Alex deflects each blow and still gets the upper hand.
"Wow. You're good." Peeta breathes with Alex's sword at his throat and her face just a little lower than his.
"I had this training too. We are trained to become weapons." Alex comments starting to pull away until Peeta drops the swords and grabs her waist. Lowering his lips onto her's, Alex closes her eyes and pictures Katniss.
"Mmm, Katniss." Alex whispers as they pull away.
"Katniss?" Peeta whispers hurt, "After all of my attempts to get your attention you still fall for her?"
"Peeta, you know I like girls." Alex reminds him softly, "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do that can change that. If I liked guys I would definitely date you."
"I will never love a girl like the way I love you."
"Yes you will. We are only fifteen. We have our whole lives ahead of us."
"I'm going to die in the arena, Alex. We both know that."
"No you won't. Not with Haymitch and I training you since Jo doesn't want us to train her."
"What if I say I don't want to be trained either."
"Are you sure you want to give the other tributes the easy win and not bother to fight for your life?"
"Yes."
"Peeta, think this through. Are you ready to commit suicide? Die and leave your family and friends behind?"
"You will never love me back anyway."
Alex closes her eyes and knows she will regret this for the rest of her life. She leans up and kisses him.
"Don't give up. I love you as a friend, Peeta. I love women, you have to know that. But I don't want to hurt you."
"I'm already heartbroken and my family doesn't care about me anyways."
"Yes they do."
"You want to know what they said? They said I would never have a chance to come home because District Twelve doesn't have a victor this year."
"Well, I disagree, I know it's you."
"Really?"
"Really. Please don't give up. You HAVE to fight, Peeta. Please." Alex begs. Seeing terror in the younger girl's eyes, Peeta finally nods.
"Only if I can have one more kiss as so I can store it in my memory and can fight my way back to you, even if it's for friendship."
"Okay." Alex agrees. Kissing Peeta once more, the kiss is innocent and soft.
