Teach Me

Chapter 5 - "Because even the smallest of words can hurt you, or save you."

Endless headaches erupt my brain as I slump down onto the carpet and my back plumped up against the icy wall. My sweaty palm plastered onto my cheek with a red mark squashed onto my bare skin. My parents continue to argue in the room next to mine, as shouts come from my mother and hushes come from my father. Rye is probably shacked up with a girl he met at the gig, which means I have to put up my parents arguing till they have sore throats and headaches. Slamming of doors appear in my vision as my mother storms out with a red face and fists clenched together, with a suitcase firmly in her hand, my father follows after her but he turns to face me. "Listen son, your mother is going away for a few days, she's staying at her sisters house. As for me, I have to stay here and make sure everything is ok in the bakery, I'm gonna need your help a lot more." He pants furiously as his hand wipes off the remaining sweat on his forehead and rubs it on his blazer.

"O-ok, b-but, am I still allowed free t-time?" I ask politely as a small apologetic smile forms on his face. He nods and runs to the front door, as the car engine revs up. I collapse on my bed and run my hand through my hair, this family is falling apart. Leo is living elsewhere because of his job, Rye is babe magnet with a boastful band and I, I am the loser that bakes and paints. Mother is nuts and Father is a push-over.

Planting my feet on the floor that makes a sudden thump, I rush downstairs- one feet tripping over the over- I see my father slumped down on the couch with raging eyes and shaking legs. "Is everything err, ok?" I question.

"Can you cover a shift at the bakery?" He butts in, as he puts the house phone against his ear and rings up an unrecognized number.

Kneading some bread is the most

fun I've had since the gig, and the gig wasn't that exciting apart from I almost kissed Katniss, but we continued like nothing ever happened, I'm relieved though because it would have been awkward if we did kiss. I continue to knead the dough of bread into my floury hands and wipe of the sweat on my forehead with the back of my hand, ignoring the fact that my father is probably sobbing his eyes out, usually Rye is the one to show affection in these type of circumstances but with me- I work up a smile and hug them awkwardly and then leave them to continue sobbing. God, if there's anything I could wish for it would be to be more confident in myself, however, I suffer from anxiety and that has always been my barrier that stops me from doing exciting or out going things.

If only.

My phone rings a couple minutes later and the caller ID says it's from my mother- better answer it otherwise she will go ape, even though my gut feeling says I should ignore the phone call but before I decline my finger already pressed accept. I put the cold screen to my ear and hearing my mother breath heavily sends frightening signals through my veins. "Hi Mother," I breath as the shakes in my voice start to appear.

"Shut up boy, I've only come here to inform you about your stupid father." I can hear her take a breath of her cigarette and her blowing the smokes out of her timid mouth. "Your father has made some financial issues, I need you to work at the bakery everyday to earn back the money he lost." She stammers.

"H-how did he lose the money?" I stutter uncomfortably.

"Hmmph, he will tell you in his own time. Anyway, I have gone for a few days to give your father some space. To be honest, I'm glad because I don't have to look after you kids, Rye is shagging everything and you are the complete opposite. You don't even have any friends ha!" She grunts. "Got to go, bye." She hangs up and a long sigh escapes my lips, I touch my wrist and hold onto it.

Snapping out of my concern as the bakery door rings, I look up to see Prim and Katniss Everdeen, lets hope they can cheer me up slighty, after that disastrous talk with my Mother. The only reason why I know Prim is because Katniss mentioned that she takes her to school every morning which is why she is late for our tutoring, she says a lot of nice things about Prim and how she's a bit like me.

Katniss smiles at me as Prim has her face planted into the glass to get a closer look at the cakes, her two braids rest on her shoulder as her blue eyes gleam at every detail payed attention to the cakes. Katniss has her hand on the counter and one on her hip, "Hey Peeta, this is Prim." She points to Prim as her face looks up to me. Prim's smile is as big as the ocean as she spins lightly on the spot. "Nice to meet you Prim." I say as her smile continues to get wider.

"Katniss talks about you all the ti-"

Prim is cut of my Katniss.

"Why don't you go choose a cupcake we can take home?" Katniss asks as she blushes deeply and points to the counter. I wash my hands off in the sink and take my apron off. Standing opposite Prim is a delight, she has a bubbly vibe coming from her and she seems to be buzzing with energy. Concentration runs through her face as she examines every detail on the icing and every visual texture. "You know, I design and ice the cakes" I say proudly as she looks up at me, I can feel Katniss roll her eyes behind Prim.

"Wow! They're amazing, can I please have this one?" She points to a carefully decorated one with a love heart in the center and an orange background- a typical girly girl choice. Prim hands me over the money for it, but I refuse as I place 4 cupcakes in the 'Mellark' bag and hand it over to her. "It's on me." I smile to both the girls.

Katniss shakes her head, "Ok, but at least tell me if there is something you need, it's only fair." She stammers as a piece of hair falls over her eyes and out of her perfect braid. I ponder this thought for a moment and answer back swiftly. "Can I-I walk you both home?"

"If anything, that's doing me a favour. But if you insist, ok." She sighs as she shoos Prim out of the bakery, I follow them as I lock up the bakery door and catch up to them. Prim holds hands with Katniss, why do I feel like I'm getting jealous? They're sisters for God's sake Peeta! I sigh to myself as Katniss twirls her hair in her free hand. We walk along the side path as cars pass us and the wind breezes through our hair, Katniss is leading the way, with me following her. I clear my throat in order to start a conversation, "Did you have a good weekend, Prim?" I ask quietly as Prim nods her head continuously, "I stayed at my

friends house, she has a pet dog named Roger. I'm not to keen on dogs, as we have a cat."

"What's the cats name?" I ask, Katniss makes small grunts when Prim talks about their cat, I wonder why.

"Buttercup" Prim skips "He is a big, cuddly cat"

"He's over-fed." Katniss interrupts as Prims face falls slightly. We walk past beautiful gardens and flowers and soon as we make it to the Everdeens, their house is a fair size with a small garden but yet so elegant. Prim rushes inside the house and me and Katniss are left standing awkwardly at her front door. "I'll see you tomorrow morning with some algebra!" She says enthusiastically. Algebra is the most confusing topic in math, I hate it.

"T-Thank you for letting me walk you home." I say politely as she embraces me, her warm arms hook around my neck for a brief second and my hands touch her hips. She smells like the outdoors, a fresh, airy smell. We have both left each others hold and she steps inside her house with a smile.

My walk home was silent, just when I step into the bakery, I hear someone calling my name. Turning around quickly, my eyes capture Cato hovering over me. His broad arms cross over his humongous chest while his nose moves up and down- like a bull ready to fight. His feet were placed at a stance, then he opens his mouth: "You wanna invite me in?" He spits as his eyes turn red.

"No." I replied strongly.

"It wasn't a question." He breaths carefully as his fists clench together. "Let me in, now." I carry on shaking my head, as a fist plants onto my jaw. My hand rushes up to my jaw and the taste of blood lingers in my mouth. Cato's back turns away from me, not this time. I'm not letting him walk all over me again. Gathering myself together, I run up to Cato and whack my fist to his eye. Cato stumbles back and snorts. "This isn't over, Peeta" he waves his hand between us and walks away.

A/N: Took me a while to figure out what to write in this chapter but there you go. My updates might be random as I have a couple of exams in May that I need to revise for, I didn't realize that they were that close. I have an exam on the 17th and the 20th May and some in June. Thank you for the interest in this story. I really appreciate every review/fav/follow. sorry for any mistakes! Bye!x