Chapter 8: Surreptitious

It had been a week since Cato and I had confessed our feelings for each other and had stayed the night at the cottage on the lake. We had mostly spent the night talking about where things stood between us; making sure to indulge in the remainder of the desserts that lined the first shelf in the fridge. In between our conversation and the movie playing in the background, I had completely lost track of time and decided that it would be best for the both of us if we made our way to our separate bedrooms to sleep. Cato eagerly agreed when he seen the clock on the television set, and he gave me a small kiss before we each trailed off.

Since that night things had been fairly uneventful. I had seen him during the week at school, and we sat beside each other as much as we could in class, and I found myself falling more and more head-over-heels for him. He would send me flirtatious comments left and right, but he was consistently reserved when others were around. I knew it would be better to keep things secretive for now, before any more drama could make its way into our group. As for Katniss and Gale things were back to normal, as they always were after a small argument. They would forgive me on a turn of a dime, never holding any hard feelings but also never forgetting the events. It was a rough couple of days for the first half of the week, but by the time the weekend rolled around again, things were at peace between us.

I was now working the closing shift at the bakery on a Saturday night. I had received a text from Cato an hour or two ago, and had been waiting for his arrival ever since. It was now nine o'clock, which meant that it was time to close. I performed the usual closing duties: which consisted of repositioning the cakes back into the refrigerator for the night, dimming the lights, and locking the doors, among many others. I heard a honking noise from a car outside, which signaled that Cato was here to give me a ride home. He had been exceptionally available lately for the smallest of troubles, which I was truly appreciative of.

I grabbed a blue sweater, since I knew that it was a little cooler tonight than usual. I made sure that I had my phone, wallet, and keys, and then made my way out the door. The cool night breeze hit me first. It was exceptionally chilly, and I could see my breath as I breathed in and out, in and out, in and out. I could smell the bakery on the wind, even though it was significantly light. I threw my sweater on in a hurry, and locked the door. I headed down the stairs, and rounded the corner to see Cato sitting in the car, radio on mute. His blonde locks had grown since I had first met him, and typically they did not look as long but the wind wretched itself through his hair, seemingly creating a golden fire.

"Hey!" I said, as I opened the passenger door and made my way into the car. I watched as he turned his head over to me with the biggest smile resting on his lips. "Yes yes, don't worry, I didn't forget. Here you go: blueberry straddle as promised," I muttered, flirtatiously.

"You're the best!" Cato said, before leaning in to take a bite of the simmering pastry. "Tastes like heaven," he added, swinging his head back to face me.

"You're so messy," I laughed, and using my thumb, I swept a flake from the side of his lip. Under the moonlight he looked as dashing as ever. It wasn't just his hair that the wind swayed, but also his sweet cologne. It filled my senses with wonder and intrigue, and his eyes penetrated into my own with a smoldering desire. I couldn't help myself any longer, and I reached over and grabbed the back of his head and closed the distance between us, sending our lips crashing into one another. It was heated before long, and our tongues had battled for dominance. I allowed Cato the honors tonight and allowed him to do his bidding. I unbuckled the seat belt and jumped into his lap, straddling his waistline. He broke off the kiss and started trailing kisses down my neck, sending a shutter down my spine and large moans erupting from my lungs.

"Your lips feel amazing against my skin," I said in between breaths. He reached his hands up under my shirt and rested one on my side and the other on my ribs. I had begun to rummage my fingers through his hair and both of us continued to kiss passionately. Before long, Cato stated that we better stop before things reached the point of no return. I could already feel his growing anticipation, and in more ways than one, as I pulled myself from his lap and buckled myself back in.

"One more for the road," Cato said, and leaned in again. I couldn't help but completely swoon at his charm, so I gave in to his wishes. I pressed my lips seductively against his and slid my hand over to his hip. Just as he started getting into it again, my mind jerked back to the memory of Finnick and I. I immediately broke the kiss and smiled, before turning away from him.

"Everything all right, Peeta?" Cato said, inquisitively. He was both sympathetic and teasing at the same instant.

"Everything's perfect," I said, but I knew that it was a lie. I could deny it as much as I wanted too, but I knew I made a mistake with Finnick. Despite the fact that we were not official at the time, and our relationship still hangs in the air unknowingly, I knew that two wrongs did not make a right. What he did with Clove was different, more deceitful than anything. But what I had done with Finnick during the time after the fallout was different. I had done it out of anger, out of spite, and out of sheer loneliness. I had tried for days to confess to Cato, but he made everything so impossible with that gleaming smile of his. How could I risk losing him? I thought to myself.

"Good. Are you ready for what I have planned for us tonight? Well…what Clove and Cashmere planned for all of us," Cato corrected.

"I can only imagine what those two came up with," I said, rolling my eyes and managing a small laugh alongside with Cato.

Cato had shifted the car into reverse, and had pulled out of the parking lot and before long we were travelling toward Cashmere and Gloss' house. I remembered Cato telling me that they were fairly rich, and that their parents worked as jewelers, but I had never actually met them. Cashmere and Gloss hardly talked about them either, which was somewhat unusual to me, but I understood how they felt nonetheless. Cato had put the roof up for the convertible since it was uncomfortable in the wind, which disallowed me to take in the scent of pine trees on the journey. I spent most of the car ride there thinking about where things would go from here come Monday, when I had to see Finnick again.

It was an hour or so before we had managed to pick up Cashmere and Gloss, alongside the others who had met up at their house. We took two cars and immediately set off for downtown. I noticed that Cashmere and Gloss, who had joined us in our vehicle, were unusually chatty, keeping to themselves for most of the ride. The only time either one bothered to speak to Cato and I happened to be when they wanted us to make a right or left turn.

When we finally pulled up to the building, my face drooped and my jaw hung open. I was immediately panged with fear and felt my palms begin to sweat. I took in the girls who waited in the line outside, dressed as if they were going to be pole dancing at any moment. The boys were dressed fairly nicely, most wearing rolled-up dress-shirts or polo shirts. My eyes trailed up the building up toward the neon lights that lit up the billboard with "Envy" written on it. It was Panem Cities most prestigious club, and we were supposedly going in.

I shot Cato a worried glance, but he had already begun to make his way out of the car. He was laughing alongside Marvel now, and the others joined us soon after. Cashmere each gave us our fake ID's, which completely threatened to make me pass out from the stress of the situation. I had never been to a club before, for the obvious reason that I was not of age. Neither were any of the others, except for Cashmere and Gloss who had started a year later when they were young.

"Alright, let's do this," Cashmere said excitedly. "It's going to be so much fun!" she screamed.

"I hope there are some cute boys here tonight," Glimmer responded first.

"Just don't go after the same type as last time, Glim. You don't want to go down that road again, do you?" Marvel quipped in mockingly.

"It was a rough night, and I had a couple drinks in me. I didn't know what I was getting myself into," Glimmer responded, winking at him.

"I really hope there are some top-notch women in there, who know how to make things worth my while," Gloss stated next, his tone filled with cockiness.

"I really don't want to hear anymore, Gloss," Cashmere said, imitating herself being nauseated.

"Cato, try and handle your liquor this time, won't you," Clove chimed in. She was standing a little further away from us, anxiously waving us over. Everyone began making his or her way, and I followed in suit nervously, before a hand gripped my wrist and tugged me back.

"It's a long story, but last time we were here things got a little out of hand. Nothing to worry about though. Oh, and try not to stick around me too much tonight, I don't want anybody to suspect anything," Cato said, before looking around at our surroundings and then planting a quick kiss on my cheek. "Let's go!" Cato said, as he started for the lineup.

We weren't in the line for too long, considering Cashmere had personal attachments to one of the men who worked the bar. I didn't bother to ask what "attachments" she had to him, but I could only assume. Considering she was flirting with the bouncers outside the club, I knew that her attachments were not all reserved…

When Cashmere made it possible for the rest of us to enter the club, I felt my nerves dwindle slowly. When we passed through the dark tunnel and cleared our way into the first room, I was immediately struck by the magnitude of the environment. There were blue and green lights flashing all over the room, and bodies lined the entire room tightly. It was fairly dark and the music was extremely loud that I feared I would lose my friends during the onslaught of the action. Fortunately we moved together through the crowds in a single-file and made our way over to the bar section.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked Cato, and he immediately responded with whatever beer they had on tap. I said that I would have the same, considering I had no idea what kind of drinks they had. Although I didn't really enjoy the taste of beer, it would be enough to give me a little buzz. The remainder of the night would be spent, in Katniss' words, "getting intoxicated on the atmosphere."

Most of the girls had already reached the dance floor and had already partnered up with several sets of guys. They encircled the girls with their strong bodies, and although I was a little fearful they seemed to be enjoying the attention as they always did. I turned to ask Cato a question, but I realized that he had disappeared. It was hard to make out the faces of individuals, let alone their clothing under the flashing lights and crowded bodies.

I cruised through the mass collection of bodies hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy, but I had no luck. I might as well go and try to find him, I mumbled to myself. It was hard enough to hear myself think, so I guzzled down the remainder of my drink and started toward the danger zone.

I tried calling out all their names, but didn't receive any luck. I tried to fit into the crowd in order to progressively make my way toward the other side, but yet again found myself without any luck. It was only when I started to get into the groove of the dance floor when I spotted Cato dancing alongside Clove and another unknown blonde with skin-tight clothing and a massive-case of cleavage. I hardly cared that Cato wanted to bide his time with the blonde, but seeing Clove hanging all over him once again sent me spiraling.

I decided that I'd enjoy the night on my own, rather than have to deal with the drama between those two. Besides, Cato asked me to stay away from him, which the memory brought back with it the sharp pain, from the first statement. I began to dance provocatively with three girls and truly started to enjoy myself. When they collectively went to the washroom together, a good-looking boy who continued to eye me as he danced against another girl joined me. He was probably six-foot-two and he had dark brown short hair. His eyes looked green in the darkness, but it was hard to focus. He began seductively grabbing my waist, and I started to run my hips along his own.

He raced his hands over my body, and I began feeling heated. It wasn't passionate like it was with Cato, but it evoked a lustful advance in me that I had not felt since the kiss I shared with Finnick. My anger fuelled me to such lengths, but I enjoyed letting loose every now and again. I grinded my hips further into his front, and I could hear him groaning under the pressure of my backside. I was sweating lightly, which made my hair fall just above my eyelashes. Under the music and the lights I hardly noticed that Cato was watching me from the bar. His face was flushed with jealousy and anger, and I knew that I better cool off before Cato created another scene.

"Buy me a drink!" I shouted at the boy, who nodded with a smile and followed me to the bar. I thought I could feel him tugging at my hand as we walked, but I quickly shot my hand in front of me to avoid the situation. He didn't seem overly upset by this when I passed a flirtatious glance back at him, as he continued to smile seductively at me.

"I'm Griffyn!" he shouted. I thought the name was sexy, and it completely matched his tussled hair and glowing eyes under the club lights.

"Peeta," I said back a couple of times, before he actually registered it.

"Cute," he started, which made me blush. "What can I get you?" he asked.

"I'll take one of whatever you're having," I said, my cheeks still flushed with a blush and a large grin on my face.

He smiled at me, and placed a couple of bills on the bar and began speaking with the bartender. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I eagerly plummeted my hand into my pocket to retrieve it. When I stared down at the screen I could see that Cato had been the one to send it.

What are you doing? – Cato

Just having a little fun… - I responded

A little too much if you ask me – Cato

Give Clove my regards – I responded

Don't do anything I WOULD do – Cato

I'll see you in a bit – I responded

I was brought back to reality when I turned to see Griffyn standing before me with two elegant looking drinks. They were a raspberry color, each with an umbrella and a sugarcoated rim.

"Strawberry Daiquiri for Peeta," Griffyn said, with a wink.

"This looks amazing," I replied, and took a small sip from the resting straw. It was fairly strong, with an unmistakable amount of white rum, but it tasted amazing.

"You look amazing," Griffyn mumbled. I blushed at the comment, and began guzzling the drink back quickly. "Might want to slow down on the booze," he chuckled, but he did the same and before I knew it we were back on the dance floor. We resumed our provocative dance, and I looked up to see Glimmer winking at me, before giving me a "thumbs up." I always knew that Glimmer was aware that I liked guys, much from effect of talking with my best friend, Gale.

"Can I get your number?" Griffyn asked next, as he swung his hips into mine and laid his hands on my sides. I turned to face him, and slipped my hand into his front pocket, taking a little longer than needed to clutch his phone. I could tell that this excited him when his eyes dilated instinctively. I added my number and added a heart at the end of my name before placing phone back – but this time in his back pocket. He shook his head and smiled as I did so, and we continued to dance for a while thereafter.

"I'm going back to the bar, I'll find you after," I shouted above the music, and he gave me a nod and before beginning to dance with a couple of gorgeous girls.

The aisle to the bar was always crowded, and I had to make my way through several people before I could make a quick break to the counter. I slammed down a twenty-dollar bill and asked for a drink similar to the one the bartender had just handed to young, midnight hair colored girl.

"One Pomegranate Tanqueray Martini," the bartender stated, and handed me the drink. I smiled before reaching into my pocket to reach for my phone. I had received another message from Cato.

Meet me by the love sofa in the private red room – Cato

I'll be there in a little bit! – I replied

I turned to look for Griffyn, but he was lost in the midst of the crowd of sweating adults. I decided that I'd wait for him to text me before explaining the situation. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and turned back to grab my drink. I quickly sipped from it as I made my way over to the red room. I was taken by surprise when a highly intoxicated girl ran into me, which made me spill some of my drink. I was not upset by the incident, but when she began seductively teasing my waistline, I eagerly tried to escape.

I finally escaped from her clutches, before walking swiftly over to the red room. The room was filled with lustful colors of red, love chairs and couches, heart-shaped pillows, seductive music that was overly filled with sexual inferences, among many other attributes. I found Cato sitting toward the back in one of the private rooms. I swigged the rest of the martini before placing it on a counter.

"Hey cutie," I said, practically collapsing into his lap.

"Hey, what's gotten into you?" Cato said, chuckling. "Has someone had too many to drink?" he added, questioningly.

"I only had three," I replied. I didn't understand why I was feeling this way. The room was spinning, and I still felt thirsty. In fact, I felt dehydrated. But above all I felt the need to dance. "Come here," I stuttered, unable to form words that made sense as I pulled his arms over my shoulders.

Cato was laughing inexplicably, and he pushed me down into the couch, resting my head on a red, fluffy pillow shaped like a heart. His lips came crashing down into mine, and I felt myself fall into oblivion. I could hear his lips as they trailed down my neck again, a fetish that Cato knew full well would get me excited. I could feel his tongue on my neck and the sucking sound filled the air around us.

As soon as it began it was over and he pulled himself away from me with a smirk.

"What?" I asked, questioningly. "Why did you stop?" I added.

"I just wanted to give you a hickey…so people know that you're mine," Cato said flirtatiously, without any sense of possessiveness whatsoever. He was just being the same, flirtatious, charming, and cheeky Cato that he had always been.

"Then allow me to do the same," I responded. He leaned his neck back, but my mind faltered at the last minute, and I started lowering myself to his waist. I placed my hand on his belt buckle and began tugging to loosen the hold.

"What are you doing?" Cato asked, panicked. He shot a glance through the hanging curtains and back at me, as I straddled his pant line now, running my fingers back and forth. "You're not usually like this…" Cato added, confused.

I was going to reply, but I caught sight of the red lava lamp, and my gaze was transfixed. It captivated me, the way the globules made their way from one end to the other and detached and morphed together as they traversed. It pulled me in and I found myself watching the goblets with a distinct attention to detail. They were perfectly round and when the goblets fused together they would create undistinguishable shapes. However, these shapes were a work of art in themselves. "Peeta?" I heard Cato call, but I couldn't shift my gaze. I was so captivated by the smallest changes that took place in the lamp. I reached my fingers out to touch the lamp and felt the warmth surge through my fingers. This made me engage in an uncontrollable laughter, which I could not for the sake of me bring myself to quit. I titled my head left and right to take in the different angles and the shifting globules.

"Earth to Peeta," Cato said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Kiss me, Cato," I said uncontrollably, over and over again. Kiss me, Cato. Kiss me, Cato. Kiss me, Cato. Neverone sounding exactly like the other. I nearly pounced onto him, and dug my fingernails into his back as I started profusely smashing my lips into his. "I want you, Cato," I stammered in between breaths.

"Not like this. Not when you're—" Cato started, but the alarm in the club started to go off, and the lights immediately flickered on. I was blinded by the white aura coming down on us in the private room, before Cato and I peered through the curtains to see people running.

What I heard next nearly snapped me out of my insanity: "Drug bust!" people were screaming back and forth. Cato's head instinctively shot toward me before his eyes dilated in recognition.

"Not when you're high on ecstasy," Cato shouted, before grabbing me by the waist and heading for the door at the back of the club. I could hardly walk, and I only remember the world spinning around me before I collapsed in Cato's arms, and all the light that illuminated the room went dark.

When I woke up, I noticed that there was sunlight peering through the blinds. I had to squint my eyes to try and focus on my surroundings. I could see hardwood and a blue comforter, and before I could panic, an arm came crashing down on me.

"Don't worry, Peeta, you're okay," Cato whispered, lowering me back down to lie down. I was facing the ceiling, so I turned to look into his beautiful blue eyes. They were tired looking, and he had two large shadows hanging underneath each of his eyelids. He must not have slept at all throughout the night…or he was hung-over, I thought to myself.

"What happened? All I can remember is the room spinning," I admitted, rubbing my eyes as I spoke.

"Somebody must have put something in your drink, Peeta. I'm sure it was ecstasy by the way you were acting…" Cato replied groggily. He exerted a large yawn, but his arm that rested over my side did not move.

"How I was acting?" I asked, confused and a little embarrassed.

"You were a little…out of it? And a little too into it," he said, stressing the last "it" to distinguish it from the first. I immediately realized what he meant when I thought back to the side effects of ecstasy: mental stimulation, confusion, decreased anxiety, furthered sex drive…

"Oh my God," I replied, flushed with embarrassment and averting my eyes from his own. I almost began crying from the simplest of humiliations, fearing that I would lose Cato over this. I had yet to tell him about Finnick and I did not need anything else on my conscience.

"Don't be embarrassed, Peeta. You couldn't help it!" Cato exclaimed, pushing my chin back to meet his watch. "Besides, I kind of enjoyed seeing a little bit of spunk in you. It was sexy," Cato added, this time more flirtatious than before. He gave me a quick kiss, but I broke it off.

"You're not mad? I practically attacked you on the love sofa if I remember correctly," I stated.

"I'd much rather have you jump me than some guy on the dance floor," Cato stated. This time his voice wasn't only filled with desire, but also with a bit of jealousy.

I decided that it was no use trying to muddle over what had already passed, and started to play along.

"So tell me, was this all a ploy to get me into bed with you?" I asked playfully, with a seductive smile.

"Either way it worked, right?" Cato responded, cocky as ever.

"You could have just asked," I responded, biting my lip.

"You shouldn't have said that…" Cato said, with a smirk.

"Why?" I asked, unsure where he was planning to go with this.

"Because now I don't want us to get up," Cato winked, and then rolled himself on top of me. I was surprised to say the least, but everything was at peace again when his lips came down slowly. The anticipation was killing me, but I allowed myself to wait for Cato's advances. He slowly lowered himself until his lips pressed against mine softly, and this time there was a longing passion behind each touch.

I began moaning and while my hormones raged, I knew I had to pull myself together somewhat in order to ask my next question. "Cato…do you want to go on a date with me?" I said, which sounded completely worse than what I had pictured in my mind.

His lips pulled up from my neck, and he looked into my eyes with a distinctive happiness, only Cato could express. "I thought we were past all that," he teased, as he planted a couple more kisses onto my neck, working his way up to my lips again.

I had to tilt my head to the side a little to avoid his lips reaching mine once again. "I'm serious…I want to be able to show my beautiful, blonde beau off to the rest of Panem City. I want them to know that you're all mine," I said, playfully but also truthfully.

He stopped kissing my neck and fell down beside me on the bed. "I'm not sure, Peeta. This sort of thing…the others wouldn't understand…" Cato replied, tilting his head toward me sympathetically. "But…" he started, his tone changing from serious toward seductive once again, "…I could be convinced."

"Is that so?" I teased playfully, mounting onto him this time. He was much larger and stronger than me, as my legs squeezed themselves against his side. I breathed in a small air, fresh with the scent of his musky cologne that still wafted off of him. His hair was a mess as usual in the morning, but it was definitely a nice sight. I pressed my lips into his, before I heard a knock at the door. I immediately jumped over to the other side of the bed, as Cato jumped up and out of it.

"Yes?" Cato asked nervously.

"Honey, your father and I wanted to know if you would like to join us for brunch with all the neighbors in the garden. Can you open the door?" Cato's mother asked.

Cato went over to unlock the door, and before he could move aside she had opened it and her gaze immediately landed upon me.

"Peeta, dear. I hadn't realized you stayed the night. I thought I heard you bring someone home, honey," Cato's mother stated, looking from me to him and back again.

"Yeah…Peeta wasn't feeling well and I thought he needed his rest, so I figured since our house was closer…" Cato trailed off. His mother was waving her hand back and forth in the air, attempting to silence him.

"There is no need to explain, Cato. I know what's going on here. Peeta's a very good-looking boy, but let's try and cover that mark up before he runs into your father. You know how he feels about…this" she said, motioning a finger between us.

I immediately jumped out of the bed and ran into the washroom to inspect the mark that she was rambling on about. Once I had a clear reflection in the mirror I let out a huge gasp.

"We didn't…I mean I don't know how this got here…I swear Mrs—" I stammered.

"Call me, Juliet, sweetie," she said, smiling. "Cato, I expect the both of you to be in attendance in the garden. Make sure you're all washed up…and lend Peeta something nice to wear," Cato's mother stated before turning to exit the room. She stopped after walking a few feet and turned back to look at me directly. "I have some cover-up in the bathroom at the other end of the hall. That should do the trick," she said, and then she was gone.

I stood there breathless and immobile for a minute or two before attempting to piece everything together. I sat down on the edge of the bed and my eyes were going back and forth, my mind racing. "What just happened?" I said, half-laughing and half-concerned.

"I forgot to tell you about my mother…" Cato said smugly. "She's known about my interest in you since the first time I had you over to study…" he added simply.

"I don't understand. Your parents knew you liked boys this entire time?" I asked. I started thinking back to the sleepovers; the late night drives; the parties; the breakfasts; and everything began to make sense. "Do any of the others know?" I inquired, confused still.

"Only my parents know. My dad isn't to keen on the idea, but he doesn't mind what he doesn't see behind closed doors. My mother is pretty cool about it, but she's very close-minded when it comes to her events. My parents are pretty high in the socialite scale, and they wouldn't want my 'attractions' to ruin their status. I wish they'd treat me like a son, rather than a piece in their social game. Did you know that my dad never once threw a football with me when I was young?" Cato said, and inquired all together.

"I'm starting to learn that I don't know that much about you at all," I said with a smirk. "But I kind of like this side of you, it's cute," I added, pressing my lips against his cheeks.

"Well, I don't want to keep secrets between us. Especially if we're going to be going on a date soon," he chuckled as he got up and started making his way to the shower. I was hit with the realization of my night affair with Finnick, and knew that I would have to tell him sooner or later. It had been causing me pain ever since. My train of thought was broken when Cato started speaking beside the bathroom door. "Will you be joining me in the shower?" Cato asked.

I turned to him with a startled gaze and flushed cheeks, but he began laughing and told me that he was only kidding around. I laughed along with him until the door shut, and then I dropped my head into the pillow and started screaming.

Author's Note: I want to apologize for not uploading for 3 days or so. I try to do this during my down time, but things get hectic with university and work and friends, etc. I would have ended this chapter at the line break after Peeta's loss of consciousness, but decided that I would give you a taste of what is to come. This chapter is probably different than the others and you will probably notice that, but keep in mind that this is a Peeta/Cato story and Peeta's struggles with a new lifestyle – and the consequences associated with it. Enjoy! :)

P.S. Since I have not stated this in a while: I do not own any of the characters that are affiliated with The Hunger Games. It is a personal story that utilizes the characters names and descriptions in an alternate universe setting.