Chapter Five
I text Johanna when I get back to my place to tell her my plan. She, Annie, Delly, Rue, her boyfriend Tresh, and I are supposed to get dinner and go to the amphitheater downtown to watch some movie; I'm going to invite Peeta to come along. She tells me it might rain. My confidence in my decision waivers until I conclude that we can all cram into my apartment and watch movies there. She thinks it's a great idea.
The next morning my stomach is in knots, I take extra care in getting ready; my braid is exceptionally neat compared to my usual messy braid, I'm not wearing sweats but rather jeans and one of my nicer t-shirts, today is the day that I am going to sort of, kind of, ask Peeta out. I get to class a little early in hopes of being able to talk to him before Dr. Coin starts lecturing but this time it's his turn to show up right as class is starting. I shoot him a small nervous smile as he sits down beside me. He grins back making the butterflies in my stomach multiply instantly. Dr. Coin is droning on about Metacognition or something but I'm not really listening, I'm too busy thinking about how I'm going to ask Peeta to hang out. Suddenly it hits me, I take out a piece of notebook paper sigh and begin to write. This is so 9th grade or whatever but what are you doing on Friday? I slide it over. He eyes me curiously. I don't have anything planned, why? He gives it back. Well.. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go to dinner and go watch a movie downtown with me and some friends? I hesitate before handing it back to him. He smiles, a big gorgeous smile, I would love to. I smile back at him, I can't help it, his smile is so contagious and I'm just so happy.
After class is dismissed we walk slowly so we can talk.
"So what movie are we going to see?" Peeta asks me.
"I'm not sure, they do this thing downtown at the amphitheater where they show movies for free, we just thought it would be fun." I answer.
"That does sound fun, I think it will be great," he responds enthusiastically. He may be more excited than I am. "Is there a rain date? I hear a storm might be coming in."
"Well, I think they are doing the movie thing every other weekend for the next couple of months and they don't make it up but, if it rains this Friday then we're all going pack into my tiny apartment and watch movies there and order pizza."
His face lights up, "Oh, that sounds fun too."
We exchange phone numbers so I can inform him of any changes in the plan and I reluctantly leave because I have another class to go to. I walk away with a big smile on my face, I start to pull out my phone to tell Johanna the news but my heart drops.
"Why were you talking to him?" Gale snaps at me.
"Why the fuck does it matter Gale, we aren't together anymore and you don't own me, I can talk to who I want to." I retort.
"Really Katniss, him? He's way too good for you, you know that right?"
His words sting like usual but he is not going to make me cry again today. "Maybe so, but I was way too good for you. You know that right?" I respond coldly and walk away leaving him stammering and cursing me behind me.
Peeta saw the whole altercation between Gale and me but doesn't say anything about it. Not yet anyway. He really does not like Gale, or the way he treats me.
It's Friday night and, of course, it's raining. I spent the afternoon cleaning up my tiny apartment above the antique shop so it would be presentable for my friends that would be coming over, especially Peeta. Johanna and Delly are here already throwing blankets in the floor so there is more places for people to sit. They also brought over some movies and microwavable popcorn.
"So, are you ready for loverboy to get here?" Johanna asks me.
"Ugh, shut up Jo," I answer blushing.
"Uh-oh, somebody has a crush," Delly laughs and I throw a pillow at her.
We all start laughing and then, there is a knock at the door. My stomach does a somersault and I swallow hard before opening the door. It's just Rue and Tresh, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Hi guys," Rue beams at us. "Thresh is very happy that he won't be the only guy here tonight." She nudges him in the ribs and laughs. He puts his arm around her small shoulders as they walk in the door.
Since most everyone is here now I call to order us pizza; a vegetarian, a meat lovers, peperoni, and Hawaiian, I also order some two liters because all I have to drink here is water from the faucet and a half gallon of sweet tea. Peeta comes in the door while I'm on the phone, my breath catches and I can barely mumble out my address to the person on the other end of the line. I walk over and sit on the arm of the small loveseat I have. He gives me smile and I smile back before I even think about what I'm doing.
"So what movie are we watching?" Peeta asks.
"I'm not sure, I told Rue she got to pick the first one, so, what is it Rue?"
"Bridesmaids." She responds laughing, "It's so funny."
I join in laughing, "Yeah, it is." I cast my glance back to Peeta who has a brilliant smile on his face.
My phone buzzes, it's a text from Annie I'll be there in like 2 minutes. Don't be mad I'm bringing someone. She's bringing someone, I wonder who she's bringing? I'm not mad though, Peeta is here and I don't care who else comes. As long as it's not Gale.
I'm not mad, it's cool man. I just ordered the pizza, so you haven't missed anything. I text her back, I don't want her ti think that I'm made at her or anything.
Cool J
"So, um, Peeta, have you, um, seen Bridesmaids before?" I ask him.
"I've seen bits and pieces of it, but never the whole thing." He responds. He's still smiling, he looks genuinely happy to be here. My stomach flip flops again.
"Well you're in for a treat," Delly says giggling.
Peeta looks to Thresh for a clue about the movie. Thresh just smiles and shrugs. There is another knock at the door, Johanna gets up and answers it. There stands Annie and her surprise guest Finnick Odair, the ladies' man that had her blushing just days before. All of our jaws drop, one look at Finnick and you can tell he is smitten with Annie.
Johanna breaks the silence, "So are we gonna watch this movie now, or what?"
We all laugh and she puts the movie in. The pizza shows up about ten minutes later. We all pig out on pizza and laugh at the movie. When it ends, Rue and Thresh say it's getting late and they better get going while it's not raining quite as hard. Delly and Johanna are arguing about whether to watch Twilight or Thor when Annie chimes in that she would rather watch Thor. That settled that argument. The movie is starting and I'm feeling a little sleepy. I look around Johanna and Delly are sitting with their backs up against the loveseat. Annie and Finnick are tangled up in each other on the floor between the kitchen and the TV. Peeta is next to me on the loveseat, his well sculpted arm resting on the back of the couch. I'm curled up in a ball and with every minute that passes my eyelids are getting heavier and heavier. I lean my head over to rest it on the back of the couch but I find Peeta's shoulder instead, I'm too tired to move and he doesn't seem to mind, in fact I think I see him smiling and his hand moves to rest on my shoulder. I wake up to the sound of the end credits. Annie and Finnick are standing up to leave and Delly is already gone. I look up at Peeta who is looking down at me unsure as to whether he should leave or not. I reach up and squeeze his hand that is still on my shoulder, a crooked grin crosses over his face and I can tell he's going to stay. I look at Johanna and try to signal with my eyes that I want her to leave, finally she gets the hint and stands up.
"Alright you two crazy kids don't do anything I wouldn't do," she says as she makes her way to the door.
"There isn't a whole lot you wouldn't do." I answer getting up to let her out.
"That's kind of the point." She whispers to me as she's leaving and my face turns bright red. God, I hope Peeta didn't hear that. I shut the door behind her and turn the lock. I turn around to face Peeta who is now standing only a few feet from me.
"I, um, I'm sorry I fell asleep on you."
"Oh it's ok, you didn't bother me at all."
"Ok then. Do you want something to drink or anything?"
"No, I'm fine."
Well great now I don't know what to say and I've got this beautiful boy standing in my living room because I wanted him to stay. He obviously wants to say something to me but he also looks kind of uncomfortable. Great, he doesn't like me, he just wants to be friends, or maybe he just wants the benefits. No, no, he's too nice for that.
"Katniss, I uh, can I ask you a question?" he interrupts my train of thought.
"Yeah, sure." I respond hesitantly.
"You don't have to answer, but, who is that guy that always makes you cry?"
Shit. This is definitely going to scare him away. I go sit on the edge of my bed and take a deep breath, "His name is Gale, he's my ex-boyfriend."
"I see," Peeta frowns, "why does he talk to you like that?"
"I don't know, I never did anything to him, he always talks to me like that and then apologizes and then goes back to the same behavior, it's why we broke up essentially."
He can tell there is more to the story, "So you broke up because he was mean to you all the time?"
"Yeah," I look away, "he was a complete asshole"
"Katniss, did he hurt you? Physically, I mean."
"Yeah," it's almost a whisper. I can't believe I'm telling him this, I've only told a few people ever.
Peeta balls up his fist, "Bastard," he grumbles. I can't believe he's acting like this, he looks furious, I've never see him not smiling.
"Peeta, it's ok." I look at him again, a single tear runs down my cheek. "I'm ok now."
He gently brushes the tear from my cheek and pulls me into him. "You don't have to be strong for me Katniss Everdeen, if you want to talk about it, I'm here."
I start to weep in his arms. How can someone this fantastic care about me? There is no denying the emotion in his voice, he really does care. He runs his fingers through my long dark hair and rubs my back. He plants a soft kiss on the top of my head. I pull away slowly to look up at him, my eyes shining with tears, and want and hope and about a hundred other emotions.
"Stay with me?" I ask quietly
"Always." Peeta answers softly as he pulls me back into his chest.