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In Name Only Peeta's POV
Part 2
1928
It was Sunday morning and his father asserted, as best he could given that the last stroke had affected his speech, that he expected Peeta to take him to church. Peeta thought that maybe his father was passively punishing him for being out so late drinking. He sat with his father in the back pew of the church. They had to go early so they could get a back pew and have his father already seated before the bulk of the crowd arrived.
Peeta's head was pounding; his mouth felt like cotton, and it was possible he was still a little drunk. When will I learn to stay the hell away from the bathtub gin? A part of him felt like he had no business being in the house of God. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if he burst into flames any moment, especially after what he had done last night. He tried to recall the name of the red-headed woman who writhed in pleasure beneath him the night before, but he was coming up with nothing. I hope she wasn't married, she was unquestionably experienced, that part I'm sure of. Peeta wanted to kick himself. Normally he liked to be better acquainted with the women he slept with. She called herself 'Foxy', he suddenly remembered. But I'm sure that was not her real name. Who knew where that woman had been? Peeta was thankful that he at least had the sense to keep prophylactics with him when he went to the speakeasy. He did not want the clap or worse. God forgive me.
The memory of the night before flooded his mind. It had been a strange night. Perhaps that's why he'd been more cavalier than usual. The speakeasy had been really wild – Effie had gone all out and had a jazz band booked. The dancers were on the makeshift stage doing the Charleston. Moonshine, homemade wine, and bathtub gin were on the menu. Finnick had brought his new secretary with him. She was not the typical type of girl that caught Finnick's attention. She was beautiful, but also respectable and very shy. Annie didn't hang on Finnick's every word or look at him starry-eyed like most women did. Peeta could tell that Finnick had goaded her into coming along with them. She treated Finnick with near disinterest and Finnick seemed to love every minute of it.
"Annie Cresta will be the greatest challenge of my life," Finnick told Peeta when Annie went to go powder her nose. Peeta only chuckled in reply. In that moment Peeta knew that this girl would be Finnick Odair's undoing, even if Finnick hadn't figured it out yet. With one look, Peeta could tell that she would not settle for being a cheap fling. Annie Cresta had a quiet pride, she wasn't the type to settle for only being someone's girl - she was meant to be somebody's wife.
Peeta was going to lose his partner in crime. Finnick was the only friend he had left who was still unmarried. But if Annie Cresta had anything to do with it, Finnick would not be a bachelor for much longer. As soon as Annie returned Finnick asked her to dance with him. Peeta wished that he could find a girl like that, but in his heart he believed that it would never happen, so he drowned his sorrows in stiff drinks.
He spotted the smart looking young woman with bobbed red hair at the bar. Peeta could tell from ten paces away that she was looking for a date. There were already takers lining up, such as Dick Brutus, and Deputy Cray. Peeta knew that he could probably steal her away from them pretty easily, judging by the way she was eyeing him. It had been a few months since his last "lady friend." Octavia had been a good egg, a little silly for his tastes, but also very affectionate and easygoing. Peeta had known that he was more than likely not her only fella. He was alright with that, he had no serious plans with her and they both knew it. It was not that Peeta didn't want to settle down, it was only that he had yet to meet anybody with whom he had a spark.
Last night was the first time in a long time that he had been to the speakeasy, and he would be lying if he'd said that he'd not missed a woman's touch. Effie, ever the business woman, had been making the rounds, flamboyantly dressed in a bright pink dress and a teal boa.
"Peeta, darling, how are you?" Effie exclaimed loudly, and then inserted herself in his lap and wrapped her arm and boa around his shoulders. She waggled her drawn-on eyebrows at him. "Long time no see, blue eyes. Did you come to make an honest woman out of me?"
"You are honest, Effie, that's why you'll never be accepted into polite society. You'd never be able to keep all of your exploits a secret," Peeta teased the self-proclaimed harlot.
"Oh, you know me so well, Peeta," Effie laughed. "Tell me again why we've never slept together?"
"Because I would ruin you for all other men, Effie, dear," Peeta coyly replied with a wink.
"Yes, I've heard that you have a python in your pants," Effie purred, and playfully ran her hand up his thigh. "I understand it is the perfect size, or maybe the secret lies in your technique. From what I understand you never leave a woman wanting."
"Easy there, Miss Trinket, it's been known to bite," Peeta warned playfully and they both laughed. "Besides, you and I both know that Octavia had a habit of telling whoppers."
"Oh, Peeta, why do you come here?" Effie sighed and became more serious. "You're not like most of the men here. Deep down you're one of the few good guys. You're going to be a prize catch when you finally decide to settle down. Aren't you about done sowing your wild oats yet?"
Peeta didn't want to answer the question. He had come there to forget his troubles, not to talk about them, so he deflected the question. "Do you not like my patronage?" Peeta smiled and took another gulp of rotgut gin.
"No, I'll gladly take your money any day, honey," Effie confessed and took Peeta's glass and emptied it. "So, you got your eye on the redhead?"
"Yeah, she looks like she could use a better class of company," Peeta commented.
"That she could, I could tell her from experience that neither Cray nor Brutus would be worth her time. I'll have Ripper send her a Tom Collins with your compliments." Effie rose and set her bright pink dress right.
"Thank you Effie, you know how to help a guy out," Peeta raised his now empty glass to her and she winked in reply.
The rest of the night was a blur. After receiving his drink the redhead dismissed the other suitors and wandered over to his table. She introduced herself as Foxy, and she said that she was only passing through on her way to Chicago. They had several drinks together. He could not recall what they talked about exactly, music maybe. Although he could remember that she was very friendly, running her hand up and down his thigh. Within an hour he had found himself walking her to the boardinghouse she was staying in across the road.
Most of what transpired was a blank, only bits and pieces remaining. The memory of her naked body against his and the sound of her moans. He found completion, but not satisfaction. A little while later he woke up in her bed; she was out for the night, with a sated smile upon her pretty face. He redressed as silently as he could and made his way back to the speakeasy where Finnick and Annie were still dancing and chatting. He couldn't help but feel a little envious as he watched them laugh and carry on. Peeta wanted something like that, not a lusty exchange like the one he had just experienced.
Peeta had a couple more drinks to ease his pain and to keep his buzz going. He didn't want to experience his inevitable hangover any sooner than he had to. Finally, Finnick and Annie were ready to leave, and Annie, who hadn't had but one drink, drove them all home.
Annie dropped them off at Finnick's house where Peeta slept on the couch so his father wouldn't have to see him in his drunken state. Peeta finally made it back to his own home at dawn. Much to Peeta's surprise his father was out of bed and had managed to get a pot of coffee started. "Morn-ing son," his father greeted him warmly with a lopsided smile. "D-did you m-meet any nice ladies-s?"
"No, can't say that I did," Peeta replied flatly as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"T-that's too bad," his father sighed.
Lately his father had been hinting, not so subtly, that it was time for Peeta to find a nice girl to settle down with. It had been years since Peeta had even entertained the thought of settling down. There were several reasons for that, the biggest one being Clove. Another was the memory of his overbearing mother. Peeta could not help but notice how much more relaxed his father had been after her death. It was not that his father had not cared for his wife, she had just been really difficult to live with. Then there were his sisters-in-law. His oldest brother Graham's wife, Agnes, was judgmental and a gossip without equal. His other brother, Rhyes, had married a snood. Ethel thought that her three semesters in college made her far superior to most everyone else. They both reminded him somewhat of his mother, and he could not stand the thought of living like that.
Peeta realized that all of this made him seem like some sort of naysayer on the topic of marriage, which he was not. He valued marriage, but he felt like the types of women he attracted were not exactly the kind he wanted to settle down with. Truthfully, he had yet to meet someone with whom he wanted to spend his life. Then there was the issue of his father, who was currently doing well, but the doctor said that he could have another stroke at any time. He'd had two so far, and Peeta knew that he was lucky to be doing as well as he was. Between work at the bakery and overseeing the care for his father, Peeta did not have the time to properly court a woman, nor did he feel right asking someone else to take on all of his responsibilities.
The sound of the organ caused the dull pain in his head to become a sharp one and brought him forcefully back to the present. The Everdeen Family – Harland, Lily, Katniss, and little Primrose – filed into the church and sat in front of Peeta and his father. They all greeted one another warmly. Harland shook Peeta's hand and whispered, "Rough night?". At least I like my neighbors this morning. The last thing that Peeta wanted today was Mrs. Undersee, or even worse Mrs. Cartwright, to comment on how ill and tired he looked. Young Katniss sat directly in front of Peeta. She was going through an awkward stage. She still wore her hair in two braids and she was skinny and stretched out, no longer a little girl, but a long ways away from being a woman. Peeta found it hard to concentrate as Pastor Templesmith preached about Samson and Delilah and the weakness of the flesh, though he couldn't help but wonder if the sermon was directed at him.
The only thing that made the entire two hours bearable were the Everdeen girls. Prim would wave and make funny faces at Peeta and his dad, while the sweet, melodic voice that came from Katniss seemed to soothe his headache and lift his mood. The way that Katniss Everdeen sang Amazing Grace could inspire anyone to become a better person and believe in God's ability to forgive and forget. Now, if only Peeta could do that for himself.
He looked at the family before him. They were not perfect. They had seen hard times and had some terrible lows, but he could not help but to admire them. Nobody ever thought that Lily Everdeen would give birth to another living child or be able to pull herself from her deep depression, yet here they all were holding hands, singing about redemption. They made happiness seem…attainable. Seeing them made Peeta think- Maybe I could have that someday, too.
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