Disclaimer: The Hunger Games & original characters belong to Suzanne Collins
When we finally get home, Finnick is waiting for us in Peeta's house. He had come over to help Peeta's father test-bake some pastries for the wedding, as well as taste-test them too. He's wearing a lopsided, sexy-looking smile when we walk in the door. I can see why Annie's so taken with him - he's always so handsome and sultry it's a wonder Annie never gets jealous when other girls ogle him in the streets. Maybe it's because she knows Finnick will never look at any of them the way he does her.
Finnick jabs a finger in Peeta's direction. "I am throwing you the most epic bachelor party," he brags, taking a bite of a pastry. "There's going to be - "
Peeta shakes his head exasperatedly, "You know Katniss will never let you, right?"
Finnick only shrugs. "What she doesn't know won't hurt her," he says, throwing a wink in my direction.
I roll my eyes and pull Peeta toward the kitchen. "I'm hungry," I complain, looking up at him and tugging his arm.
He sighs and mumbles something that sounds a lot like "When are you not hungry?" But he gets right to making me something to eat.
I squeeze Peeta's hand, like we're in the Games again and he's the only thing tethering me to sanity again.
He laughs lightly at my nervousness. "Relax, will you?" he whispers in my ear.
"You're mother doesn't like me," I said indignantly. It took a lot of coaxing (and cheese rolls) to get me to agree with dinner with the Mellarks.
"I wouldn't say that," he tells me, biting his lip. His eyes are excited, but I feel like I'm walking into a Career trap.
To my relief, Mrs. Mellark doesn't answer the door, but an older version of Peeta does.
Peeta's brother is almost a carbon-copy of Peeta, if Peeta had a harsher bone structure and had buffed up a lot more. Peeta's brother is a bit taller than him, a bit tanner, and looks a bit more roughed-up than my sweet, boyish fiancee.
"Well you must be the unlucky girl," he says, reaching out to shake my hand with a crooked smile plastered on his face. "I'm Thor." He seems to have the same kind of charm as Peeta, and he instantly makes me feel a bit more at ease.
Another blond boy pops up behind Thor, this one with wavy hair the color of hay. The resemblance to his brothers is still there, although he looks more like his mother than Peeta and Thor do. A long nose, high cheekbones, and tan skin, he's more bulky than the other two. "Hey, I want to meet the bride," he says, shoving Thor aside. "I'm Liam."
Peeta rolls his eyes, and after he's convinced Liam is hitting on me, hustles me into the house.
The layout of Peeta's house isn't too different from the one I share with Prim and my mother. It's only a few houses down, and it's still in Victor's Village. But the atmosphere here smells like warm bread.
Mr. Mellark shows up a few moments later, as I'm chatting with Thor and Liam on the couch. They both have a sense of humor and charm, and I can see where Peeta inherited many of his charismatic traits. Thor and Liam are amusing, and comfortable enough I'm thinking about how they could host a talk show when Peeta's mother walks through the door.
Everyone stops, the conversation freezes, and I can feel the house go cold despite the warm scent of fresh bread from the kitchen.
The Mellark brothers all smile hesitantly at their mother, who doesn't return the favor. Her eyes train on me, although she doesn't look as icy this time.
"You're the smart-ass who got my son out of the arena." She almost says it like a compliment.
"Mom," Peeta hisses. I can feel his arm snake around me a bit protectively.
She shrugs, almost unconcerned. "Well, I guess he could have done worse," she remarks, then turns her head to head for the stairs. She pauses for a moment, turns around before leaving again. "Peeta, holler when dinner's ready."
Sorry I didn't update in a LONG time. This is only part of dinner with the Mellarks, so hold tight. Thanks for reading & please review! :)