Hey guys! Iam SO SO SO SO SO sorry i didn't update sooner. I've been busy with school work and stressing over reports and stuff. I also had terrible writers block for a while. I just got back from a holiday in New Zealand as well. This chapter isn't quite finished so guess its more of a chapter 3 part 1. I just thought you guys would appreciate me getting this out now instead of there being chances of a wait later. I can't promise to update evry week, but i will update as often as i can, the school terms going to resume in two days and i have have got a heap of study to do. Any way, hope you guys enjoy! Reviews are appreciated! (that means you as well Laura -_-)
Disclaimer: I don not own the Hunger Games, i'm still working on that one! And Josh Hutcherson is only a dream.
They tore through the town with Peeta's mother attempting to keep up with them. Racing around a corner, Peeta grabbed Katniss by the waist and pulled her into a dark alley way where his mother wouldn't see them. They listened for a few minutes expecting the worst until Katniss released the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. That was wen she noticed how close Peeta's face was. She took in the situation, Peeta's arms around her waist, her's around his neck. Their lips only centimetres (A/N: i'm Australian) apart. Katniss could feel the heat of his breath on her lips, and she felt herself begin to flush in the cheeks.
"D-do you reckon its okay to go?" Peeta stammered.
Katniss couldn't help herself, she felt disappointed that Peeta had ended the moment between them. She mentally scolded herself for even feeling a whisper of a feeling for the boy in this situation. She looked down awkwardly and nodded her head.
He let go of her waist and shuffled around her, stepping out of the alley way keeping one hand on his shoulder holding her back. She was about to make her way out when Peeta gently shoved he further back into the side street and steeped forward. She heard the sickening sound of something hard hitting what she assumed to be a face. She heard footsteps moving at a fast pace away from the back street and she jumped out of her hiding stop to find Peeta on the ground clutching his face, which was beginning to turn an angry red.
She took a moment to take in the scene before her. Coming to her senses, she rushed over to his side and lightly stroked his face. This gesture made him look up at her, bright blue eyes staring up at her in wonder.
"K-K-Katniss? What are you doing?" Peeta managed.
"You need to put something on that Peeta!" Katniss said. "That'll turn even angrier if you don't."
"No Katniss, i' m fine. You don't need to bother." Peeta said, the disbelief evident in his voice.
"No come on, you need it."
Peeta looked up at Katniss, expecting to see her usual cold, stony glare, but instead he saw worry. This caught him off guard and he found himself nodding.
"Good. Now, come on. You can come round to my house. I have some ointment you can put on that."
Peeta stared after Katniss in awe and wonder. She never did cease to amaze him.
Katniss removed the ointment from her mothers medicine cupboard. She looked at the balm in her hand. "(italics) what am I doing?)" she thought, "(italics) since when do I actually help others. Especially Peeta Mellark?"
Her thoughts drifted back to the day he had thrown her the bread. She hated debts and was determined to not let this boy get to her.
She turned around and sat down next to Peeta on her worn down couch. He was once again staring into the fire, seemingly lost in the embers. She lightly touched his arm, and softly called his name. He seemed slightly startled at her being there next to him, but quickly regained composure. She screwed off the lid of the balm and dipped two worn fingers into it. She lightly touched Peetas cheek, slowly rubbing in the ointment.
She was suddenly aware that her was slightly leaning into her hand, bright eyes wide open almost looking for permission. She gave a tiny nod and he closed his eyes and lent more definitely into her hand than before. She started to freak out slightly. She had never been in any situation like this before and she had no idea what to do.
She slowly lent in towards Peeta and simultaneously noticed him doing the same.
There was a loud knocking at the door.
"Katnip? Are you there"
Katniss was brought back from her little world only involving Peeta and hastily turned away. She cleaned her hand on a small rag and got up and hurried towards the door. Surely enough, Gale was standing on the veranda smiling down at her. Usually she would be happy to see him here, but this morning, much to her confusion, she felt annoyed at his presence.
"Hey Katnip, where were you this morning? We were meant to go hunting, remember?" questioned Gale.
"Sorry Gale I just got caught up this morning. Do you want to come in for a bit?" she asked, "if you give me a minute I can get ready and we can go soon."
"Sounds good," he said whilst stepping through the door. He looked through to the lounge room and spotted Peeta, seemingly lost in thought. He pulled Katniss around the corner into the kitchen.
"What's Mellark doing here?" he said his name like was spitting out venom.
"Who, Peeta? Oh..." Katniss trailed off in thought, not sure what to tell Gale. Gale was like an older brother to her, there's no telling what he would do if... Her train of though moved again. If what? It's not like anything happened anyway, and whose Gale to judge her for anything, not that there's anything to judge her for anyway. "Uhhh, I was giving him some ointment for his cheek, he hurt himself."
Gale looked at her trying to tell if she was actually telling the truth, she had always been terrible at lying and it was obvious that there was more she wasn't telling him. She looked down and shifted nervously from foot to foot.
"Katniss... What aren't you telling me?" Gale asked.
Katniss, once again for some unknown reason, suddenly felt defensive about Gale asking about Peeta. She looked up at Gale.
"Sorry Gale, I've changed my mind. I might skip on hunting today. We have enough food at the moment, it's been going well for once and we don't lack any meat. We might need some bread from the bakery but I don't think I need to go hunting today. You can go if you want. So, if you don't mind, leave."
Gale looked taken aback from her sudden outburst and was left slightly dumbstruck. Katniss turned away and stormed out of the kitchen. she sat down next to Peeta who looked slightly uncomfortable. He shifted around nervously on the couch, his gaze never leaving the fire.
"Have you ever noticed how nice the colour is? It's almost like the sunset." he whispered.
"It's pretty." she replied.
He looked back at her and smiled. He placed his hand on her cheek, there were still scratches there from where she had been lying in the rubble. As if by impulse, she closed her eyes and tilted her head into his hand. His smile was radiant. He shifted around on the couch and placed his other hand behind her neck, lightly tugging her closer. At first she seemed a little resistant and he complied with that, but after a moment, she relaxed and let him pull her closer. He lightly pressed his lips to hers, not much and very briefly, then pulled back.
From the doorway behind them, they heard a sharp gasp followed by the slamming of a door. Suddenly jumping to her senses Katniss jumped up and ran after Gale.
She ran as fast as she could, racing through the Seam in frantic search of Gale. She was only vaguely aware that Peeta was following her. She finally caught sight of Gale in a small side street pacing back and forth. She sprinted up to him, looking for some way to begin.
"How could you?" He asked, looks like she didn't have to after all.
"What is it to you? Why should you care?" she spat back at him.
"You still don't know? After all these years you don't even have an inkling of an idea why?" he asked.
Katniss stared up at him blankly.
"I would have thought it was obvious." he said.
"What was?" she asked seriously confused.
Instead of an answer, Gale moved in and pressed his lips against hers. After getting over the initial shock, she started struggling against him, but he either didn't notice or didn't care. It wasn't like the short kiss she had shared with Peeta, this was more of a She began trying to get away but he kept firm hands clamped around her, restricting her movement. That was until the arms vanished. She looked up to see Gale sprawled on the ground looking quite agitated, and Peeta standing protectively in front of her, one arm out to the side to block what would be Gale's path toward her.
"Peeta, please step back out for a minute. I need to talk to Gale." Katniss said
Review! I'll try to update soon! (i'll also make the chapters longer)