Two Paths
PastelPuke
Pairing: Cato x Peeta x Gale
Summary: Peeta is a young baker boy with an abusive mother and a best friend named Gale Hawthorne. Everything takes turns for the worst when he and three other tributes are reaped for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, including two of his best friends. What is he going to do when a certain male from district 2 takes a liking to him.
Authors Note
Heeeeeey sexy people~~~
Yes I am updating early to make up for my late update before! I know I made an extra long chapter last time (almost 3,000 words) that's the longest chapter I personally have written. Anyway I was just sitting around complaining to myself about how I wish my favorite authors would update because nobody has updates in a good week and a half. So I took it upon myself to sate my own cravings. Well here are review replies and enjoy loves!
Xoxox
•Dri•
Genbo: Ikr. Thanks babe!
Jvaughn410: hmmmmmm.. Hmmmmmmmm.. Okay so that would be hot I agree but I think I might make a separate story for that. Mainly because i kind of already have my version of his character mapped out. Like this Finnick flirts and crosses the line sometimes but he doesn't really go too far. If it does he is a one night stand guy because of Annie. Glad you liked it tho~
Morganaxmerlin: I got you.
Ardiethepenguin: I am here to grant your wishes tho this is kinda a filler chappie.
And so we begin...
As soon as those door opened Peeta heard the screaming and cheering of the capitol people. He payed no heed to the flames on his cape as the chariots wheeled out one by one. He stared at a bombshell-like blonde girl and a tall slim brunette boy came out first. Followed by the siblings Gloss and Cashmere. Next The blonde boy who stared into Peeta's soul came out with a young girl who looked no older than 15. She looked murderous and the blonde looked powerfully strong. After them came Brutus and Enobaria. She had no problem with baring her sharpened teeth which made the tributes cringe yet the crowd went wild.
Peeta rolled his eyes as the way Finnick hammed up his performance when the tributes from 4 were wheeled out. Of course the capitol swooned at his charm. Eventually it was time for 12 to make its appearance. The second they were wheeled out, Peeta was in awe. There were way more people than he thought. The screams got almost unbearably loud and he subconsciously grabbed Delly's hand. She took the opportunity to raise their held hands.
Lord if he thought the crowd went wild before.. He couldn't help but grin as he saw them on the big screen. He could see Katniss and Gale doing the same thing and the four of them never looked better. Peeta, for the first time in his life felt completely badass. The flames weren't consuming them, but dancing around their bodies.
The chariots were pulled to a halt in a large semicircle at the end of the catwalk. Tributes eyed each other, studying their competition. Peeta just stared miserably at the stage in front of him. The anthem played as the devil himself, President Snow waltzed out in front of a stand on the stage.
"Welcome, tributes." He greeted quickly. "People of Panem, tomorrow the tributes will begin their training in the brand new training center, specifically made for this years Quarter Quell." He paused to let the crowd clap and cheer in delight. He held up a hand to silence the people. "And you will be glad to hear that this year, the training will be... Aired live!" He said dramatically. The capitol people erupted in joy.
Peeta narrowed his eyes in disbelief. These people really only saw this as entertainment. The president said a few more annoying remarks about the special access that one could pay to see, like bedroom and bathroom cameras which seriously unnerved all of the tributes. All for the quarter quell of course. The parade came to an end and all the tributes were separated from their mentors and sent to a large bus. Peeta sat by Gale instantly and Delly sat behind them. Giving a small smile to the small girl next to her. Katniss was nowhere to be seen but they figured she was somewhere around there.
Peeta grabbed Gale's hand tightly, his knuckles turning white with the force.
"Hey, what's wrong." The miner asked softly, rubbing his thumb on the back of the hand he was gripping.
"I-I don't know I just.. Its so hard to believe that in two weeks a lot of these people will be dead. And the rest will be trying to kill us." He whispered. "Its really real right now." Peeta stared at their interlocked hands. He wasn't sure how long he could pretend to be okay.
"I know, Peet. It really doesn't seem real to me either. What this is.. It's just.." Gale honestly for the first time in a while didnt know what to say to comfort Peeta. But the latter understood. He just leaned his head against Gale's shoulder and closed his eyes.
Once the tributes reached the building they would be living in; they were led inside and sent to their respective floors. The tributes from 12 ended up in the elevator with the ones from 2. Peeta's eyes widened and he tried his best to squeeze behind Gale, who was in the corner.
"Jesus Peeta, there isn't any room." Gale complained. A few heads turned and the baker squeaked when The blonde boy from earlier looked at him. Gale watched the silent exchange curiously. He suddenly remembered what was said by Peeta earlier about getting mindfucked by some kid from two and Gale became defensive. He narrowed his eyes in a glare at the kid. Although he was quickly startled when the boy met his stare. His eyes were a striking deep hazel.
Peeta furrowed his brow, knowing that look Gale was giving the sexy guy. It was the "holy shit your sexy" stare. And the guy was definitely impacted by Gale's looks as well. Peeta suddenly felt uncomfortable as he remembered he was in an elevator with like four other people. Plus, the two hottest guys in the small room were eye fucking each other. A soft ding brought Peeta out of his thoughts they had reached the second floor. As the 2 tributes were getting out the blonde beau got close to Gale's ear and whispered something. With that he exited the vessel.
"I'm Cato by the way." He smirked before the doors closed.
Everyone in the elevator stared at Gale with a 'what the fuck was that, man' look. Peeta eyed him warily a little longer than the other two. He was so confused. He started trying to figure out what the Cato guy could have said.
His thoughts were once again rudely interrupted by the soft ding of an elevator. He looked up as the doors opened to the twelfth floor. All of their Jaws dropped at the sight of the large living room they were opened up to. Delly was the first to slowly step off the elevator onto the dark wooden floor.
About two yards in front was one downward step leading to the living room. It had a white sheepskin rug laid in the center and two sleek couches on either side. There was a flatscreen television on the far wall mounted above a silver fireplace. All of the walls were painted a light grey color. Before you step down into the living room there are hallways on either side of the entrance (elevator) there were 2 rooms in each hallway. The four of them stepped into the living room only to see there were no walls to it. On one side of the room there was a kitchen and to the other side there was a fabulous dining room.
At the table, a giant feast was waiting with Effie and Haymitch sitting at the heads of the table.
"Are you guys hungry because I fucking am. Bitch wouldnt let me eat until you brats got here." Haymitch said gruffly, ignoring Effie's glower.
"Hell yeah I'm hungry!" Delly immediately sat and began piling food onto her plate. Katniss silently walked over and sat begrudgingly. Peeta shuffled over to the chair next to Delly, leaving Gale to give him a weird look as he sat across from him. The group ate without much conversation. They were all tired and Peeta was the first to leave to go to his room.
He was immensely disturbed at the fact that anyone could me be watching him as he stripped and showered every day. Nevertheless Peeta unzipped the suit he was in and squeezed it down his body. He tried to be as unsexual as possible as he worked the tight leather down his rather wide hips. He walked around his room, looking through the drawers for some sort of pajamas before grabbing a sweatshirt and PJ pants he found because the place was a bit chilly. After he changed he set the costume from the parade neatly folded on the dresser and opened the window. Peeta Mellark always slept with the window open. The teenager climbed into bed and snuggled with the covers up to his nose. He was still a bit curious about what Cato had said to Gale but figured he would ask later.
With those last thoughts he drifted off to sleep, where he could dream of what his first day of training would be like.
TBC
Authors Note
Okay loves,
Imma be honest, I am not really happy with this chapter because it was basically uneventful. Its a filler chapter. Thats all. I know I probably confused you with the way I explained how the apartment looks. Sorry babes it's late. Well you know what to do. Review and stay awesome my darlings!
Xoxox
• Dri •