Never Be Mine
By: Michelle Rose Landau
Summary: The only way she'll notice me, the only way I'll know she's interested either way, is if I just talk to her...Love, sex, marriage, and family in 12.
Genre: Romance/AU; there's still Hunger Games, but Katniss and Peeta won't be Tributes.
Pairing(s)/Characters: eventual Peeta/Katniss, Gale/Madge, OC/Tributes
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games series. They are the sole creative property of Suzanne Collins.
~sixteen~
I'm not sure what to think about this whole thing between Katniss and Peeta. I'll admit that I'm skeptical that it'll work. I don't trust him, and I think that things will be much more complicated for Katniss.
Logically, I know that he loves Katniss. It's been rather amusing watching him pining after her for so many years. Katniss may not have really noticed, but I did, and I felt a sense of satisfaction at the fact that she was always with me. Though, at the time, I was thoroughly convinced that Katniss had feelings for me, like I did her.
In truth, I'm no better than Mellark. I too am in love with Katniss, and knowing that she doesn't feel the same way about me hurts. There was a small part of me that had doubts, that kind of knew that she didn't see me as more than just a friend, but I hoped. Katniss is hard to read, and she's not the most emotional thing around. It takes great effort to get her to smile, her sense of humor is...nonexistent, and when it comes to getting a sense of what she's really thinking...I'd have an easier time breaking into a safe than getting into her head.
She is baffling, gorgeous, and stubborn as hell, and she is never going to feel the same way about me that I feel about her.
Of course I'm still going to be her friend and hunting partner. Of course I'm still going to help look after Prim and her mother. I'm just going to have to deal with the fact that Peeta Mellark is the person that she needs, and wants, to be with.
I know that Katniss told me that one day, she might feel the same way, she is sixteen after all, but I doubt that. She's got her mind made up, whether she realizes it or not.
The dynamic is a little odd, though.
Katniss and Peeta are going together, but they're not together. Katniss has told me that Peeta has been phoning her late at night because of his nutty mother.
It kind of makes me laugh.
My mother loves Katniss. Absolutely loves her, and would certainly be happy to have her in the family.
I can only imagine the hell that Peeta's mother is putting him through, and will put Katniss through if things go far enough.
I bundle up in my jacket as I head to Katniss' house to pick her and Prim up.
The first snow is coming soon, a few people are thinking tonight, and we're hunkering down, getting our fire wood chopped, trying to store as much game as we can, as much food as we can.
I go up to the porch and knock on the door, and Mrs. Everdeen opens up.
"Good morning, Gale," she says. "Katniss and Prim will be ready in a moment, they're just finishing up some breakfast. Do you want something to eat?"
"No thank you," I say.
I follow her into the kitchen, and Katniss is putting her plate into the basin as she stuffs a piece of meat into her mouth.
"Hey Catnip," I say.
"Hi," she says with a full mouth.
Prim finishes off her tea then she grabs her bag.
"You be careful and bundle up," Mrs. Everdeen says.
Katniss nods. "Prim, make sure you've got your gloves."
Prim nods.
"Ready?"
She nods. "Bye Mom."
"Have a good day, dear."
I see Katniss roll her eyes at the endearment.
We walk out and begin to head to school, trailing some other kids who are ahead of us.
She yawns, and I gently elbow her.
"Late night?" I tease.
She frowns a bit.
"C'mon...I'm just messing with you. How long are you two going to keep phoning?"
She shrugs. "I don't know...I just want him to be safe. You know his mother's a witch. She's so damn nutty..."
"Yeah, but she's going to find out eventually," I say. "He needs to stand up to his mom."
"It's not that simple," Katniss says.
"It is that simple," I argue. "Peeta needs to do right by you, and sneaking around isn't my idea of doing things right."
She cuts her eyes at me. "Is that what you told Peeta when you gave him my letter?"
"I just told him to do right by you," I explain.
"I'm the one that told Peeta to phone me," she huffs.
She walks a little ahead of me, pissed off.
"Wait," I say, catching up to her.
She turns to face me.
"If Peeta had his way, we would be together together," she explains. "You don't know what his mother does to him and his brothers. She's an awful woman..."
"Are you sure you want to have to deal with that?" I ask.
"I don't know, Gale," she snaps. "You're talking like we're set, or something. I-I can't even think about it...can we just...drop it, please?"
"I just don't want you to get hurt is all," I say.
Through this whole conversation, Prim has been silent, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
"Sorry you had to hear all that, Little Duck," Katniss apologizes.
"I like Peeta," she comments with a shrug, and Katniss and I look at her.
Prim grins a little.
She doesn't say anything further, and Katniss only smiles.
Well, at least Prim approves.
We continue to walk, a crowd of us heading in the same direction toward school.
Gale and I make small talk, and joke around with Prim, but when I look up, I see one person walking against the crowd, and my heart clenches, then leaps.
Peeta.
He's stockier and taller than the others, and his blonde hair makes him stand out. People look at him as he walks by; a couple of girls size him up and smile and blush and whisper.
"What's he doing here?" Gale asks.
Peeta approaches, and he nods his greetings.
"Good morning Gale, Prim," he says.
I glance over at Gale, and he's not happy, then I look at Peeta.
"What are you doing?" I ask, the panic rising up in me. "You're going to get in trouble...you can't be here-"
"Katniss," he interrupts gently. "I can't stand not being able to be near you. It's been torture watching you everyday, and having to wait hours to talk to you again."
"Peeta, we have to," I say. "What about your mom? She's-"
"I don't care," he says. "You deserve better, Katniss."
"It's not about me," I insist. "I don't want you getting hurt..."
"Even if I do, I can get through it," he explains. "What I can't do is stay away from you."
"Oh Jeez," Gale groans.
"Gale," I scold, and he puts his hands up in surrender.
Peeta only chuckles, looking to Gale.
"Gale, I give you my word that-"
"I know," Gale interrupts. "Just remember what I said, Mellark."
Peeta nods.
I wonder just what Gale said.
I look at Peeta.
"So, are we...together?" I ask.
"Yeah," he confirms.
A happiness blooms inside me, and I smile softly.
"Okay."