Chapter Three - I'm Invisible
"Where did they found his body?" Delly asks.
"They didn't, but this is not meaning that he's still alive, running or flying or doing whatever he does, and drinking blood of virgins!"
"I know, it doesn't mean that. But there's a huge possibility for it." Delly answers.
A familiar sound distracts me from telling something Delly about how stupid they theories are sometimes. I get my phone out of the pocket of my jeans, when I see a message on it.
'I'm going to throw a party in my house friday night, you want to come? Bring your friends too. - Cato'
Uhm… My brain is kind of died right at the moment. Cato Hadley, the boy I had a crush on since I know him just invited me on a party in his own house? Why me? Where did he get my number? Another message.
I would like to get the team who goes to the trip together before we leave. Hope you all will have the time. Some new friends are always good, aren't they? ;) - Cato
Oh, I got an answer for all of my questions, but still… why am I feeling disappointed?
"Who sent you a message?" Katniss ask curiously. "I thought you're messaging with me and Delly only."
"Yeah, I thought that too." I say when her question gets to my mind. "It's.. it's from Cato."
"What?" They're asking at the same time, their eyes opened wide.
"Yeah, he invited me.." i shake my head "us to a party. I think you two are going to have a great time."
"Don't begin this again." Delly stands in front of me so I can't walk away. "You will come too, or I'll beat the shit out of you." She's usually very nice, but there are times when she could get very angry, and it's not good to be anywhere near her.
"Hmm, I like this side of you Delly." Katniss looks at her with satisfaction, like an older sister.
"Shut up, Everdeen!" Oh-oh. She looks at me, grabbing the shirt on my chest. It came unexpected so I'm looking at her with a really surprised look. "Peeta. What the fuck is wrong with you? I don't like parties either and you know Katniss either, but we can't turn this off! I mean, Cato invited you. You, and not us. This has to mean something!"
I don't want to hope for something I can't have, but she did put a bug in my ear. No, she can't be right. Cato has a girlfriend, and I can do nothing about it.
"He has a girlfirend as I said before." I look down on the ground, thinking about that if there could be something between us even if he was gay or not. I shake my head and I look in her eyes "And I'm invisible." Delly releases my shirt, backing away slowly.
"You're not invisible." Her voice softened, now it's like a cotton candy's talking. Strange, but relaxing. "You're just busy helping out your mom and studying to get a scholarship. You can't have time for everything, but this one's a must-go. I can feel this party will change your life forever."
That's the only problem. I feel the same, but not in the same way as Delly. My life will change but not in a good way. I don't know what this feeling is, but it's stranger than anything I had in my life. I can't help it, but think negatively about this trip. I don't want to go.
"We will discuss this later, now I seriously have to talk to my mom." I nod towards my house. "You know, about this trip and everything. I would like to know her thoughts before expressing mine."
Delly opens her mouth to speak but Katniss cuts her off. "Okay Peeta, message us if you'll get somewhere with Mrs. Mellark." And with this the two of them entered Delly's house. I am so lucky for having two of my neighbours as best friends. I am thinking about this while I open the door of my house, facing my mother who's cleaning up the living room. "How was your day, dear?"
"It was…" I look down, I can't lie to her of she's looking at me. Her innocent face is always making me to tell her the truth, even if I don't want to. "It was alright. Nothing happened though."
She lifts up my chin, looking deep into my eyes. I hate when I have to look in her eyes if I lie. There was no time for me to learn to lie, I almost never lied to her, except when I was too afraid to tell her I'm into boys. It feels like she can reveal every secrets I have by looking deep into my soul. "Peeta, please tell me what's wrong. You know you can share anything with me. Is it about that boy, what's his name? Cato. Did he say or do something to you? If he hurt you with even a word, I swear I'm going to call his parents and…" She always goes into a mama bear whose only goal is to protect its cubs. I really love that in her, but she overreacts it sometimes when I just have to calm her down that there nothing bad happened with me, so I cut her off.
"No, mom!" I sit down on the couch, she follows my movements. She puts one of her hands on my knee, giving a supporting look. "Actually he invited me to a party in his house." I feel uncomfortable talking about Cato with my mom. She accepted that I'm gay, but I don't think she wants to know my 'lovelife' - if I had one.
"Really?" Her eyes are showing real excitement. "Well, I hope you will be a good boy and you won't drink alcohol… or not too much." She chuckles. "But please, use protection." Oh, so she wants to talk about that, it seems I'm the one who is not ready because I blush.
"Mom!" I say on a high level voice, but then it gets back to normal. "He has a girlfriend, there's nothing between us. We won't need…" I blush more before saying out the word loudly "protection. But we got off our track, there's something else what I would've like to tell you…"
"Oh and what's that?" She asks still excited.
"The school…" I don't know how should I tell it to her. What if she'll get upset because of it? "So uhm…"
"Peeta, don't play with my patience. You know you're making me nervous when you're talking like this. There are no problems in school, are there? I mean, we'll get through it if there is, I'm just asking."
"So, the school won a trip into Transylvania, in a forest house I suppose. They would pay for everything. And in everything there's food, a place to sleep, and stuff" I can't tell what her reaction is from her face, but she's talking in some seconds after she thought my words through.
"When will you go? I need to make food for you, help you in packing. I hope you will feel very good there!" She says, but I answer without hesitation.
"I won't go."
"Sure you will!"
"No, I won't."
"You have to, Peet! You can't stay at home all day long, reading books! You can't miss an opportunity like this!" Why is everybody keep telling me this?
"But I have a bad feeling about it, mom."
"Yes you have because you're afraid of basically everything what has more or less legs than two. You'll be safe, I think Katniss and Delly are going as well. And what about Cato? He has to go as well." She smiles at me devilishly. She wants to use Cato to get me to go, nice try mom.
"I don't think I will go, mom. But maybe I'll visit that party if you're okay with it."
"Yes, I'm totally okay! You have to socialize a little, get some friends. Just don't do drugs. And much alcohol. Please." She looks at me worried.
"I wasn't drunk in my whole life, mom. Why should I be now?"
"Okay, I know. When will it take place?"
"Today."
School went really slowly for waiting for the party - what I didn't even want to go yesterday.
"What did he say in the message?" Katniss asks. "When it will begin?"
Oh shit, I forgot to ask him about when the party will start. I get my phone out of my pocket with a high speed I drop it accidently. But it didn't get on the ground what really surprised me. My reflexes aren't that good, I tell myself when I get up the phone mid-falling.
"Wow that was really… You could go in a circus with that." I let out a forced laugh, searching out Cato's name from my contacts. I found it: "Cato33". It seems like I'm sick, but noone else checks my phone instead of me.
'When should we arrive at your house? - P.'
The answer comes almost immediately after I sent my message. This is praiseworthy from someone this popular, I am surprised for even getting a reply.
Plans changed, there won't be a big party.
I get really disappointed from this message. This is so annoying and it was a really cocky move! He's just a dickhead, who wants to play with others, that's what popular kids are doing. Another message.
'So you're coming then? ;) There will be some friends (maybe a lot though, so that party might happen). Anyways, be here at 8:00PM. The address is Coriolanus street 42'
Oh… Seems like I should have wait for a bit. Now I'm totally calm.
"He said that it will begin at 8:00PM." I say, looking at the girls.
"Then we have to get ourselves together and get home because it's 3:00PM already." Katniss says. I laugh, not knowing why does she's in a big hurry.
"We still have a lot of time to get ready, don't worry Kat." I smile at him, meeting with her grinning. This is not a good sign. At least, not for me. "We talked about you with Delly." I look at the blonde girl who nods heavily, doesn't saying any words. "And we decided to make you hot. You're getting there by yourself, but with a bit of help from Delly you'll look like a sex god."
I blush from her words. It feels good that they're thinking I'm good loking, it gives me a confidence boost. "I'm not that good-looking, but thank you."
"Shut the fuck up, and let us help you out." Delly says, hugging me. "Take a bath, Peet. I will message you when you should come over."
"Okay." I walk in the door of my house, mom is in the kitchen now. "How was your day at the bakery?"
"Don't even ask. But it was better than yesterday." She sighs. "Changing the subject, today's party night, right?" She smirks at me.
"Yes, I think so. I'm just really nervous."
"Why is that?" She asks.
"Because it's my first party and I don't know how it's going to be. Anyways, when should I arrive at home, 12AM?"
"Mhhm… I think I'm going to let you sleep over if they'll ask you to." She says, looking at me impatiently.
"They won't." I reply.
"But if they will, you will know that you should say, aren't you? I'm just asking one thing from you. Call me if something's wrong, and keep your phone with you everytime. I want to know that you're safe." She hugs me. Why is she acting so weirdly?
"Mom, what's wrong?" I ask, worried.
"Nothing." She smiles at me. "Take a bath now." I nod, then go up to my room.
After bath I am lying on the soft bed in my underwears for some minutes, listening to some of my favorite musics on my headphone... And then I suddenly feel so heavy and dizzy.
Delly stamps into my bedroom, waking me up.
"Oh my..." She turns her head away. I look down with a sleepy face, watching my crotch for some seconds before my brain precesses and sends me the message 'hey, you have a boner!' It's probably the fault of the dream I had with Cato. I cover my crotch area with my blanket. "I'm sorry, Delly." I blush. "I just... uhm.."
"Don't... just don't." She laughs. "I am sorry for coming in your room without knocking. Now get some clothes on yourself. You have to get something up on that pretty ass you have there." She winks at me, and I blush again. I'm not used for others compliments.
"Mhhm... Let's see." She stands in front of a pulled out drawer, looking at its content thoughtfully. "Mhmm.." She says again, searching for pants what I could get up on myself. This feels awkward to me, like I'm a child. Someone's helping me decide what to wear, because I'm awful if it gets to fashion.
"You didn't say you have this!" she says, pulling out a light brown jeans, dropping it on my bed. "Get it on, I'll look for some shirts from what you have." I nod, pulling up the tight jeans hardly.
"Now this!" She threw a white v-neck t-shirt at my chest, I grabbed it before it hit me. "Wow, I told you that you could go in a circus!"
"Hahaha." I say while I get on the shirt. It sticks to my body, but when I look in the mirror I like what I see. "What do you say?" I ask, turning here and there to show her myself.
"Hmm.. Something's still missing." She gets in front of my wardrobe now. "This!" She gives a grey sweater, what I put on.
"Yeah, it's good now." She nods, satisfied. "And now I'm going to make your hair, so not just your butt will look good in those jeans, but your face will become hotter too." She winks at me, pulling me into my bathroom.
After she's done with my hair too, it's already 7:30PM.
"We have to get Katniss and go." Delly says, I'm agreeing with her. I pull up my black shoes and then we get Katniss.
When we arrive at Cato's house, it's just 7:50, we came early, but I knock anyway.
Cato opens the door. His manly scent enters my nose, demanding for more. Our eyes met, even if he's taller than me. I lost my ability to speak. "H-h-hi." I say, but I burst out in laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" He asks, looking at me confused.
"Nothing, he's doing this all the time. Don't even listen to him. I'm Katniss, and she's Delly." They shake his hand.
"And I'm Peeta." Now it's my turn to shake it.
"I know who you are. Come in, everyone's here." So we didn't arrive soon.
I'm feeling awkward for most of the time, I doesn't feel like I fit in here. "Drink this." Cato offers me a shot.
"Thanks, I'm okay without it." The music is not loud so we can perfectly without it.
He smirks at me. "But you'll feel perfect with it. Drink with me." I can't turn this off. I mean, Cato Hadley, the guy of my dreams just offered me a drink. I would totally have to pinch myself to know if this is real or not.
"Mmmkay." I say, drinking the alcohol what he gave me. "This burns like hell!" I don't know why did I share this with him, but I didn't lie. I feel like my throat is burning. "I'm going to throw up!" I say.
"No, you won't. Now come, we'll play thruth or dare."
"Who are we?" I ask.
"Just some of us. Marvel, Clove, Glimmer, your friends, Gale, me, and of course you." Cato explains.
"So you know Gale?"
"Yeah, basically we're good friends. I like to be friends with everyone I can."
"Oh really?" I ask. "Do you have any more of this stuff?" I point at the glass what I'm holding right now.
"You're going to have more time to drink, now it's time to play."
"As you say, boss.." I'm beginning to play with the word, it's just so funny. "Bossey... Booossie, Bosssyyy." He laughs.
"You didn't drink alcohol in your life before?"
"Not really? Why, Cat?" I ask curiously. For some reason I feel really confident right now. "Give me more of this miracle." mireeeecl, Mayreecoul. It's just so funny.
"Okay, maybe you'll get another one, but that's it for now... but wait, did you just call me Cat?"
"Meoww, I like cats!" I say, he laughs again but I don't know why. I am drinking the second glass of the alcohol. It doesn't burn like the first one, but it's still bad. I feel like I'm going to throw up, but I do not.
"Now let's go, have some fun."
"Oh, I want to have fun with you." I laugh. "I mean, play with you." I laugh even harder now, this is still really misunderstandable.
"I understand it, now come." I follow her to the living room where are noone else but the people Cato told me would be there. They started playing without us. They're evil!
"Are you alright?" Delly asks from me.
"I didn't feel this good in my whole life!"
"So Glimmer. Truth or dare?" Clove asks.
I totally got my mind out of reality, but then I suddenly get back when Delly shakes my arms. Marvel asked me.
"Uhm.. Dare." He seems to think about a good thing he could say, and when he's done, he speaks.
"Kiss the prettiest person in the room." He smirks at me. I lean towards Cato without thinking, kissing his lips what are salty, and tastes so good! But I didn't get a kiss in return.
"Oh gosh, that was unexpected!" Gale said. I just realised what have I done. Damn! I look at Clove at the moment, who looks down. I can't see her face because her hair is covering it.
"I'm so sorry, Cato! I'm just really drunk, I think I'm going to lay down for a bit if it's not a problem."
He doesn't say a word just shakes his head, sending a sign that it's not a problem, so I stand up and head towards the stairs. Why the fuck are the stair is moving? How could I get up on the top without getting in any trouble.
"Let me help you." A man... a very handsome man appears from nothing - or I was just too busy with this fucking moving stair that I didn't notice him coming. His ocean green eyes are enchanted me for a moment. 'No, Peeta! You love Cato, even if he doesn't feel the same with you!' I tell to myself.
"Thanks." I say.
"I'm Finnick, by the way."
"Peeta." He nods, disappearing again. I shake my head, and open the door of one of the rooms. It was a bad choice. A guy and a girl had passionate sex on the bed, so I mumbled a 'sorry' then I found a room what's empty.
I layed down on it, feeling the room turning around with me. This was a bad idea. A really, really bad idea.
I run towards the bathroom as soon as I can, kneeling down in front of the toilet.
I get some strong mouthwash to vanish the awful taste from my taL. Now my breath smells like menthol, and it smells like it.
I lay back on the bed again, feeling my vision getting cleaner, and my thoughts are too. I just realised I just had my first kiss. With the boy I love. This has to be a dream.
This is a dream, because I thought about him and he appeared in the room when I opened my eyes. I pinched my arm "Ouch!" No, it's not a dream. It would be better, now I should just get up, not explaining him why did I kiss him. "You found my room. I came here to lay down a bit.." He says, I understand what he wants. Me, out of here.
"Sorry, I'm gonna leave." I sit up on the bed, but he sits down next to me.
"Stay. The bed is big enough for both of us... So you really think I'm the prettiest one there?" His grin is so wide I'm not even sure it's possible.
"Uhm..." I look down, I feel really ashamed. I don't have anything to say.
"It's okay." He lifts up my chin. My mother used to do this to me if I'm sad of I feel ashamed for something, but I can see something in his eyes what wasn't there in my mother's. It's lust.
He kisses me, and my brain blocks down. I kiss him back, feeling how well developed his muscles are when he pushes me on the bed with his body. I murmur something in his mouth, what he obviously can't hear so I have to repeat it when he leans back. "You have a girlfriend!"
"I know." He smiles at me.
"And you're drunk!"
"I know that too." His smile gets wider. "But so are you."
"Maybe.. a little." I admit. "But you can't just..."
"Oh shut up, Peeta!" It seems the best way for him to shut me up is to kiss me. I would get used to it, I won't be angry at him. At all.
His mouth opens slowly, his tongue is demanding to enter into my own mouth. I panic. What should I do? I didn't have a kiss before! Then I just give myself in for my insticts, and give the dominance for Cato over my mouth. I let out a moan in his mouth as he bits my lower lip softly. It seems like alcohol is doing miracles with me. I won't be like this if I'd be completely sober, and maybe I will regret it later, but who cares? I want to have a good night with him before I get back into my usual life. I want to have some fun.
My hands are wandering on his chest, I have to get off his shirt to feel them better, so I do. He continues kissing me while he helps me get off mine too. Now my hands can wander wherever they want to on Cato's upper body, so I'm touching his hard abs on his stomach. Then they're wandering to his hips, helping him move on my body, up and down. Now they're back on his back, slowly moving down and down until I reach his pants. I slip my hands in his underwears, massaging his buttocks slowly, pushing down his pants with my hands.
He lets out a moan. "You really want to do this?"
"What?" I ask, confused.
"Anything we're up to." He looks into my eyes with curiosity.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time." I smile at him, but I can't hide that I'm blushing. Maybe he thinks that's because of the alcohol, or he just got used to people blushing in fron of him - what totally understandable, it's enough to look at him! He's perfect. "So of course I am." I kick down my pants, helping him to get off his.
"What will Clove think of this?" I ask.
"What could she?" He shrugs. "I will tell you something when it's the right time. You'll get to know it someday."
"Okay." I say, trying not to show how excited I am beacause of whatever he wants to tell me. He leans back to me slowly, and I run my hands through his perfect blonde hair. It's so soft, he must use some hair balsams and stuff. I love playing with his hair. Wait... did I say this out loud?
"Wait until you get to play with something else of mine." He winks at me.