She is stunned. She really is. Katniss Everdeen just took pictures with someone she had liked since kindergarten. Sure, it was just a picture or two, but she rarely takes them and that one was most certainly going to be saved. That, and the fact that Katniss is never really known for acting like a girl who is very open about her personal life; she is very guarded, save Madge, Gale, and Johanna. But she feels absolutely giddy as she thinks of the way she fit under Peeta's warmth. He was taller than she was, but that's not really saying anything specific. Katniss is only five foot four. Shaking her head and trying to rid her mind of silly thoughts, she proceeds toward the door of the crowded gymnasium. Now, she makes her way to the locker room after the first game of the volleyball season. They had beaten the cougars just barely, and she knows that the second match against them is going to be a practical blood battle.
As Katniss was pulling her big, soft, green hoodie over her head, the rest of the team entered the locker room to get ready to go home. A girl with a short, black, pixie hair cut came over to get ready beside Katniss. She has a tall form and curves girls would kill for. Her skin is a nice tan and she is very loud. Like really, really loud. This, ladies and gentlemen is the one and only number seven, Johanna Mason.
"Nice job out there, Everdeen." She compliments.
Katniss smiles shyly and nods. "Thanks, your serve is amazing. Probably the best on the team." She said a little quietly. But she meant ever word none the less. Johanna has a very powerful serve. So powerful that when the team scrimmages and Katniss is the one to return Johanna's serves, there was bright, angry red marks on her fore arms from the ball's impact on Katniss' olive skin.
"Awh, Katniss, I never knew you thought so highly of me." Johanna teases.
Katniss smiles a bit wider. She doesn't tend to talk a lot. It's simply not one of the things she does. She likes to keep to herself. She likes the quiet. And most of all, she likes to be alone. Because if she is alone, no one can hurt her. And if she is alone, no one will judge her. And lastly, if she is alone, she does not have to be a burden to people. No one has to suffer with her issues and anxiety. No one has to deal with her family issues. And no one has to know about what goes on behind closed doors.
"Well bask in it, because it may not last long." Katniss teased in return.
Johanna feigns hurt. "Now, I'm questioning our friendship." She rolled her eyes good naturedly and continued to get dressed.
Five minutes later, Coach West enters the locker room with a smile on her face. "Well done, girls." She congratulates as she begins to clap. All the girls in the locker room cheered and applauded. But Katniss' lips simply spread into a small grin. As the girls began to quiet down, Coach West opened her mouth to speak once more. "Now, you guys all know that the match at their gym is going to be a death match." Coach West stated.
Every girl nodded her head. "And we all know how hard, and stressful that last game was right?"
The entire team began to explain to their coach how scared and nervous and stressed each of them were.
"Hell, I was so fucking nervous a serve wouldn't go over. My hand even shook!" Katniss heard her say loudly. She knew that any sport Johanna played was very important to her. And despite how confident and laid back Johanna is to everyone before a game, she is a nervous wreck. Only Annie, Madge, and Katniss knew this, however.
"Johanna! Language!" Coach West reminded Johanna with a chuckle. "But, yes, I do see where you girls are coming from. There have been many times I have been especially nervous about various parts of different sports and I have to say, you girls did a great job at handling the extra nerves and keeping your cool. Now, head home and relax! You all deserve some rest. See you guys Monday!"
And with that last statement, the girls were left to change in the locker room.
xXx
It was about seven minutes later that Katniss made her way out to her car she had left at the school last night. Her silver, Toyota Prius sat in the corner of the school's parking lot. Most girls went home with their parents, but Katniss' hadn't shown up. Or were even aware she had a game. And even if they knew, neither would have made an effort to come.
Taking out the keys to her car, she felt her phone vibrate. Whipping out her black, iPhone six, she sees it's an unknown number. But as her eyes wander to the right of the message, she saw the familiar pictures of herself and her neighbor she had lived across from since she was three. Opening, the phone after she got into her car and threw her bags in the back seat, she scrolled through the three different pictures he had sent her. Along with the pictures, there was a message.
(563)-447-9812: 'You did great. Hope I didn't cross a boundary with that picture...'
Katniss felt a kind of dopey grin graze her lips. Before replying, she scrolled though the three pictures. The first one was a bit blurry and the second both of their eyes were shut. But the last one was ... well last one is perfect. She didn't notice until now the faint dimples he has when her smiles or the slight crinkle of the corners of his eyes.
Her fingers shook as she typed out her reply.
K: 'Thank you.'
Katniss was one of those people who liked to type out the words fully. She did not like 'text talk'. It simply is not her thing. Biting her lower lip, her thumb lightly tapped 'send' and she waited for a reply. She spotted the light, grey message bubble in his column of messages.
(563)-447-9812: 'No problem."
Wracking her brain for something interesting to say, Katniss tapped on the console of the car, but she came up with nothing. So she turns on her car and makes her way back to her house.
Half way through her journey to her room, Katniss receives another text from Peeta.
(563)-447-9812: 'Katniss?'
The little grey message bubble is directly under the message just sent. Making her way back to room, Katniss starred at the phone the entire way. It was as if that little bubble was taunting her.
''Taunting me' what? She thought to her self. Then the phone buzzed and she looked down to see what he said.
(563)-447-9812: 'How come we've lived across the street from each other for fourteen years and we have barely had a conversation?'
Katniss sighed. 'Because you scare me. Like in a good way.' She thinks gripping the phone. 'Because you make me want to smile like a complete idiot just by a single look. Because i'm so afraid you'll think i'm a freak if you ever got close enough for me to let you in. Because you would never look at me the way I want you to...'
K: 'I dunno' She types out and tapped send as she laid down on her bed.
Seconds later the bubble is back and she waits in anticipation.
(563)-447-9812: 'do you, maybe, want to change that?'
She gulps. He sounds so nervous, even through his texts. That only helps because her heart is practically beating wildly out of her chest as we read. But she finally is able to type back a quick reply.
K: 'yes'
The reply in practically immediate.
(563)-447-9812: 'ur serious?'
The goofy smile is back. He sounds so excited even through his texts.
K: 'yes' Her fingers trembled as she typed.
(563)-447-9812: 'Great!'
And then a few seconds pass. And he's said something else.
(563)-447-9812: 'Hey, I know u just finished with a game and all, but do u wanna meet me by the lake on the neighbor hood trail?'
A bright smile crossed her lips. And as she quickly changes into something comfortable for the chilly weather, she typed out her reply.
K: 'okay'
xXx
She arrives at the lake to be met with a hunched over figure next to the bank. Peeta Mellark sits on the bank side of the lake huddled in as small of a ball as he can, trying to keep away from the nipping cold, air.
"P-Peeta?" She nearly whispered as she approached him.
But he hears her somehow and he turns at her quiet, sweet, voice. His eyes light up and an equally light bright smile crosses his lips. "You came." He sounded almost relieved. Katniss took this moment to admire his handsome face. His big, bright, blue eyes, blond curls that fell into his face, and just above his eyebrows, and his straight jawline. But suddenly his smile was fading and he looked worried. "Katniss?" He asked cautiously.
Only then did she realize she had not spoken a single word since she had addressed him. "Oh, so-sorry, Peeta. Um, er, hi..." she stammered nervously. The she blushed furiously due to her nervousness.
But he simply grinned and held out a hand for her to take. Cheeks turning even pinker, she took his out stretched hand and sat down next to him on the damp, slick, slightly steep bank.
Silence. That's what came next. Almost awkward silence but near comfortable silence.
"Do you come here often? To the lake?" Katniss asked out of curiosity and also to break the silence.
"Um... every once in a while. Why?" Peeta asked turning to face her, blue and grey eyes meeting and holding the other's gaze.
"We-Well, it's just th-that... you got down he-here pretty fast. That's all."
He shakes his head almost sadly. "No... Mother is always keeping me busy. That and foot ball practice, so..." He trails off and breaks eye contact.
Katniss nods her head a little. "So, why did you, uh, you know want to meet?"
Peeta looks back at her and keeps silent for a second. "I, um, I wanted to just spend some time with you, maybe ask you some questions. With out any distractions. Or other... people." He mumbled that last part as he broke eye contact and began to pick at the grass beside him nervously.
"Well," She said as she boldly moved a little closer to him. Even sitting half a foot away from him she could smell the cinnamon and mint coming off of him. "What do you want to ask me?"
He sighed and after a little bit, brought his gaze back to hers, allowing her to look at those big, pools of shining blue once more. "The deep stuff." He said with a small, slightly sly, smile.
Taken back and a little nervous with her mind flying back to the other night in which he had caught her bright red hand mark placed there by her mother. But maybe, if she was lucky, he had forgotten about it. Now, she gulps a little, and takes a deep breath before asking, "Wh-What kind of deep st-stuff?"
As if he didn't notice her stuttering, he continued. "Yeah, you know like..."
'Oh god, here it comes. He's gonna ask about the mark.' Katniss thinks frightened as she braced her self mentally for the question that was sure to ruin her barely new found friendship.
"What's your favorite color?" He asked with a small smile.
Completely taken back, she stares at him for a little bit before answering. "Um, green. Lik-Like the forest green." And after a few breathes she asks in return. "What's yours?"
The answer, like some of his text messages, comes immediately. "Orange."
She quirks an eye brow, "Orange? Like bright, fruit orange orange?" She chuckles a little.
He playfully rolls his eyes. "Nah, like sunset orange. Like orange when it's a soft hue, a more mellow shade of fruit orange."
She smiled at him and they shift ever so slightly to face each other more comfortably.
But next thing they know, they're sliding into the water off the slippery bank, and laughing as they resurfaced, their teeth chattering.
xXx
They quickly run back to Katniss' house and up to her room. Katniss' had instructed to go quickly in fear of her mother seeing a Mellark in her house hold. Let alone with her daughter and the both of them heading into said daughter's room.
"That, that was so fucking cold." Peeta panted as she shivered standing dripping wet on her, white, marble floor.
Katniss only laughs and goes to retrieve big, fluffy towels from her bathroom. Tossing one to Peeta and using the other, they both dry off and take turns in the bathroom. During Peeta's turn in the bathroom, Katniss takes the liberty to quickly access her father's old clothes, that would not be missed, for Peeta to wear instead of his drenched, cold clothes.
Knocking on the bathroom door with her father's old clothes in hand, "Peeta? I have you some clothes setting outside the door. I'll be back in a minute with something to eat and ... um, do you like hot chocolate?"
"Who doesn't like hot chocolate!?"
She can't hide the smile and giggle of sudden endearment for this boy she has only just started speaking with but liked for a long time. As she makes her way down the hall and to the stair case that was hidden behind a painted landscape of a mountain and lead directly to the kitchen, she felt herself lighter on her feet and another dopey grin spreading across her lips.
At the end of the stone stair case, there was a door. Katniss cautiously peeks out of door and makes sure the coast is clear before busying herself with making a bag of pop corn and two mugs of hot chocolate from the keurig.
Then she felt a sudden, cold stare on her back and she turned around to find her mother starring hard at her, a permanent scowl on her face.
"And what the fucking hell do you think you're doing?" Her cold voice asked.
Katniss gulped and she inhales deeply though her nose. "I-I was just making a snack and something to drink?" She said too quickly.
A brow raised on her mother's forehead. "And who is the second cup for?"
"uh, I-I'm feeling particularly thirsty, and I wa-was gonna make two cups so I wouldn't have to come back." Katniss answered.
"Mmhmm, and what was that pounding upstairs? It was far too much for just one person. Especially you and your skinny ass." Her mother's cruel voice rang. "So, tell me dear, who is up there?"
Silence.
"Is it the Mayor's daughter you are friends with?"
Katniss shook her head.
"Hmm, then is it that Hawthorne boy? The tall, handsome, brooding one."
Again, Katniss shakes her head no.
"Oh, well, let me see... Oh!" And her eyes become black, and murderous. Cold and black. "It wouldn't happen to be the son of our sworn enemy... would it, Katniss?"
But Katniss fixes her mother with a glare. And that does it.
"KATNISS MARIE FUCKING EVERDEEN YOU DID NOT!" Evelyn rages violently.
But her daughter stands firm barely flinching.
"HOW DARE YOU BRING A MELLARK INTO THIS HOUSE HOLD WHEN IT WAS NOT ON PROFESSIONAL TERMS?!" She spits his name like it's a word too low for her vocabulary.
"WHICH. ONE. IS. IT?" Katniss' mother seethes.
Katniss lowers her head.
"Answer. Me," Her mother says lowly as she takes something from the counter of the kitchen's metal top. "Or, this," she brings the knife into view with a maniac like look in her eyes. "Will not only be used for cutting off chicken legs."
But more bravely than ever, Katniss says nothing. She would not let her hurt Peeta. She would not.
"Fine. Have it your way."
And then it's happening. Her mother is grabbing her arm roughly and cutting her arm with the knife.
Katniss' screams are muffled by her fist as she bit down on it to try to cancel out the pain of her mother's knife cutting letters into her arm.
After what seems like an eternity, she's is done and storming up to Katniss' room, knife in hand.
"No." The brunette whispers.
Forcing herself to make her way to the door, and up the stair to her room she bursts in and finds Peeta sitting on her bed patiently. But as soon as his eyes land on her bloodied arm. He is furious. And worried, and concerned.
"Katniss, what happened-"
"Quick get behind the wardrobe!" She ushers the blonde to the wardrobe and shoves him into its depths.
He opens his mouth to protest.
"Peeta, Peeta, please just-just listen to me. Okay? I'll come get you when it's over."
Moments pass but he nods and does as he was told. But not before pressing his lips to her cheek.
xXx
Evelyn barges into the room. She searches and stabs the knife covered in her daughter's blood into anything she thinks a teenage boy could hide in. But eventually with a frustrated growl leaves and Katniss reenters and helps Peeta back up the vine ladder.
Now, they sit on the bathroom floor in her bathroom with his cleaning her wound.
He begins to press the towel containing cleansing alcohol on her would and she hisses in pain and tears leave her eyelids.
"Shhhh, Katniss. You're gonna be okay." He comforts softly.
She is sitting in front of him with her head and face pressed firmly into the side of his neck as he gently holds her forearm in his hand. "Peeettaaaa," She cries so desperately. She sobs as tears continue to flow.
The towel continues to soak up her blood and cleanse the wound as Peeta gently dab the cuts. "Katniss, you are so strong. You can do this. But if I can't clean it, it will get infected. And if it gets infected, you might have to get it amputated. And we don't want that, right?"
She barely nodded her head into the crook of his neck.
Peeta gets her treated and fixed. Now she is clinging to him as if her life depended on it. So he held her until she fell asleep.
As she settles in his embrace, she wonders what makes her trust him so much and so rapidly. But she knows why. Gale, Madge, and Johanna have always told her how Peeta asks about her, or watches her with a look almost like longing. Gale once told them that Peeta is a kind soul. A lover not a fighter. Not in those words obviously. But he says Peeta is an alright guy. He's the type that 'would defend his girl and treat her well'. Above anyone's judgement, Katniss trusts his the most. Gale has been her best friend since forever and she values his judgement over anyone's. So if Gale tells her she can trust Peeta, she'll learn step by step just how to do that.
xXx
"Katniss," He whispers to make sure she is not awake. When she doesn't move, he knows she is well asleep. So he places her on her bed and covers her up to her chin. Then he sits next to her and holds her wrapped hand. "Katniss Everdeen, I am not going to leave you alone in this house with that... that thing ever. I-I care about you too much. And tonight, you scared me. You scared the living shit out of me. But, I'm going to keep you safe. I will not let any one or any thing hurt you. Not while I'm by your side." He gently kissed her knuckle and then her cheek again before locking the bed room door and placing Katniss' desk in front of it. Then he laid down on top of the comforter to watch over her while she sleeps, swearing he would never ever let that woman touch her ever again.
xXx
AN: loving all the support i'm getting! thank you all for being so patient with me!