disclaimer:i do not own anything.
Last chapter:
"Thresh if there not up by now! I'm going to dump this on them!" she says.
"Johanna, just leave them. We'll come wake them up in about an hour and while there sleeping we can cuddle." I hear Thresh say and I hear a door open and close. I sigh and let the darkness over take me once again.
I wake up by my alarm clock beeping and I sigh. I guess it's time to get up. I feel someone's grip tighten around my waist and my eyes shoot open.
"Five more minutes dad." Peeta says.
"Peeta. Get up. I have to take a shower." I say and shake him until he opens his eyes. He blushes when he notices that he's holding me and let's go.
"You can take a shower in the bathroom in the hallway." I say and he nods. I turn to look at Finnick and Annie. I feel bad that I'm going to have to wake them up but it has to be done.
"Annie wake up." I say and she opens her eyes and gets up suddenly.
"Is everything alright?" she asks and turns to look at her surroundings.
"Yeah. Everything's ok. We need to take a shower though." I say and she nods.
"Wake up Finnick, will you?" I say and head towards the shower since my clothes are already in there.
I get in the shower and hurry so that I can eat something for breakfast before we go. Once I'm done I change quickly into some black skinny jeans and a white t-shirt. I start towel drying my hair until it's fairly dry and comb my fingers through it since I'm going to be riding a plane for who knows how long and I don't really care since I'm not trying to impress no one. My hair almost touches my butt and I still don't know why I haven't gotten a haircut. I probably should but then I start to remember my father and how he loved it so much. I just can't. I remember how he would tease me when I was in kindergarten when I told him and my mom that I couldn't wear my hair down anymore because I got my hair inside the toilet when I had to use the bathroom. My hair stopped in the middle of my butt at the time. I smile as I remember it.
Flashback:
"How was school today Kat?" mom asks me at the dinner table.
"It was good until we went to the bathroom after lunch." I say and frown.
"What happened?" my father asks concerned.
"Well after lunch we went to the bathroom like we do every day and I had to go, oh so bad!" I tell them both and they nod.
"Oh mommy it was horrible!" I say. I smile as I remember that I felt like crying.
"I had to use the bathroom but the toilet is so high so I went into the big one where it has the rail." I tell her franticly moving my hand trying to show her what had happened.
"Well I jumped mommy and my hair went inside the toilet!" I yell at her.
"I didn't even use the bathroom anymore. I was so scared and Annie was waiting for me. I thought she would laugh at me but she didn't! She helped me clean my hair!" I say and turn around.
"See!" I show her my hair and smell it.
"Oh! And it smells so good!" I yell at her. My dad and her start laughing and I glare at them accusingly.
I start braiding my hair and start laughing. I can't believe I smelled my hair. I get out of the bathroom and Annie is applying some makeup. I look at her and start laughing once again.
"Why are you laughing?" she asks.
"Do you remember in kindergarten when I was in the bathroom and my hair got inside the toilet?" I say and start laughing once again.
"Of course I do! We even smelled your hair and I'm pretty sure we didn't even clean it right." She says and starts laughing and I smile. We head downstairs and I see that Peeta has cooked once again.
"Did you cook this Peeta!" Annie says excitedly and he nods.
"I wish Finnick knew how to cook." She mumbles and starts eating.
Finnick looks at Peeta accusingly.
"Well I helped him." Finnick says matter-of-factly. I roll my eyes. We are joined by Johanna and Thresh a couple minutes later. Once were done Annie and I rush upstairs to grab our luggage. A couple of minutes later were inside the car and heading to the airport.
I wonder if everything's the same how it was when we left. I wonder if they're going to know who Annie and I are. I sure hope they don't. Many people knew of our…problems. What I'm more worried about is Annie. She's like my sister. Scratch that. She is my sister. They all are and Thresh, he's the brother I never had but I'm not worried about them. There not having to go back to the little town they grew up in and had a bad childhood in. Annie, sweet innocent Annie was known as the Poor mad girl. She once had a panic attack at a carnival and well that wasn't pretty. All of a sudden she just stopped talking to Johanna and started looking at well… nothing, and then she shut her eyes tightly and covered her ears and started screaming stuff that didn't even make sense. We were able to calm her down but after that people just started rumors about her needing to go an Insane Asylums Mental Hospital. We ignored them but that didn't stop people from bullying her.
I sigh and turn to look at her and then I turn to look at Thresh and Johanna. We've all changed. And if they mess with Annie or me there going to meet the new Katniss Everdeen and she doesn't take bullshit from anyone.
We arrive at the airport an hour earlier before its time for us to leave. As we head in I look around. There are people everywhere. Some walking towards the exit and other head towards the check in desk. We head toward the check in desk and wait. Johanna and Thresh dropped us off and soon left since they needed to be at work because Annie and I weren't going to be there and Madge wouldn't be able to handle it by herself. After a while were already in the plane, seated and ready to leave. I got a window seat which I'm very happy with. I like looking out the window. It just looks so beautiful. Peeta's sitting beside me and Annie and Finn are somewhere in the back. I turn to look at Peeta who looks a bit nervous.
"Are you ok?" I ask.
"Huh? Oh-Yeah…yeah." He says and nods quickly and grips the armrest.
"Peeta. You're not ok."
"I know." He says and sighs. I think for a bit wondering what I can do to make him feel better. I grab his hand and squeeze it reassuringly. He turns and smiles at me and I swear I melt once again. I smile a little but I turn away quickly. I can't go out with him. I won't go out with him. I have Prim I have to worry about right now and I have to take care of my little duck. I'm not looking for a relationship anytime soon. I've been hurt enough. I grab my phone and plug in some earphones to it and get lost in the melodies that flow out of the ear buds. Sometime during the flight I must have feel asleep because Peeta's shaking me awake.
"We're here." He says and I nod.
We grab our luggage and wait for Prim. I look around trying to find my little duck but I don't see her. I turn again and that's when I hear her. She doesn't look like my little duck anymore. She has turned into a beautiful swan.
"Katniss!" she yells and comes running towards me.
"Prim!" I yell back and run towards her. We hug and she starts to cry.
"What's wrong little duck? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Kat! I just missed you so much!" she sobs and I hug her more tightly.
"Prim!" Annie yells and joins in the hug. I smile, feeling as if my family is being reunited once again.
"Annie!" Prim sobs once again.
"I've missed you so much Prim." Annie cries.
"I've missed you too Annie."
I feel eyes on me and immediately I know its Peeta and Finnick.
"Annie. Prim. We forgot about Finnick and Peeta." I whisper and they giggle. Why? I have no idea. We let go of our hug and Prim runs up to Finnick and Peeta and hugs them and they do something I wasn't expecting. They hug her back.
"Annie, you're still going to talk to him about what we saw on TV right?" I say low enough so Finnick and Peeta won't hear.
"Yeah, I am." She says and I nod. I hope Prim doesn't mention anything about that.
"Little duck, Let go of them. It's time to go." I say and she nods.
"Oh Katniss! There's so much I need to talk to you about! Rue's at our house with Mom and Annie your parents are there too!" Prim babbles.
"Prim, this is Finnick and Peeta. Peeta and Finnick this is Prim." They nod and say hello to each other and soon enough were inside a taxi and heading home. We pass through Annie's old house. Where her brother died but she doesn't dare look out. She just keeps nodding to whatever Finnick is saying and smiles but it's not a real smile. I know the difference between a real smile and a fake one and that's definitely a fake one. Soon enough we arrive at the house and I'm glad we didn't pass through …were it all happened. Prim looks at me and smiles reassuringly. We get out of the taxi and pay. Prim opens the door where we find many familiar faces.
"Katniss! Annie!" I smile when I see Rue running towards us.
"Oh Katniss! I've missed you so much!" she says and starts crying. I hug her trying to comfort her.
"It's ok little bird. Momma birds here." I whisper into her ear trying to make her laugh and she does.
"Oh Katniss! I miss Thresh so much! Take me with you. I can't live here anymore. Can we talk later?" she whispers hurriedly in my ear and I nod.
"Yes Rue. Of course." I say and she lets me go to hug Annie.
"Look how much you've grown." Annie's mom says and hugs me.
"Hi Sophia." I say and George, Annie's dad comes and hugs me. I turn around to find my mother and notice she's talking to Annie and that's when I see Rue has a bruise on her arm. I have to remember to talk to her about that.
"Katniss." My mother says and hugs me while I awkwardly try to hug her back. I have forgiven her for Prims sake but I haven't forgotten and I never will.
"Mother, how have you been?"
"I've been good darling. How about you? And who are those two guys you brought with you?"
"I've been better. And there just friends from home."
"Alright. Well show them the rooms so that you can put your suitcases in there. Prim and Rue wanted to take you out to eat. I have to go back to work and I'll be back at 9. I have to talk to you."
"Is everything ok?"
"Yeah. Go on now."
I nod and look for Finnick, Peeta, and Annie. We head downstairs where we'll be staying. Annie grabs Finns hand and rushes into one of the two rooms. I wish she had forgotten about that. I stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. I sigh and motion for Peeta to follow me into the other room. We walk into the room and we don't say anything as we drop our bags on the ground. He's the first one to break the silence.
"If you're not comfortable I could sleep in the living room. Or you could sleep in your old room?"
"No! No that's fine…we can both sleep here." I say and he nods.
"Well we can figure it out later. Prim and Rue are taking us out to eat." I say and knock on Annie's door.
"Hurry up Annie. Rue and Prim are waiting for us." I yell and she comes running out the room giggling with Finnick trailing behind her.
"Are they together?" I ask Peeta.
"No. Annie thinks they should wait a while. You know since her attack." He says and I nod.
Prim and Rue wait for us in the living room and once they see us were out the door.
"So, where are we going?" Annie asks.
"Well…how about the Hob?" Rue asks with a smile.
"The Hob?" I ask in bewilderment. I thought Sae had closed the hob.
As if Rue could read my mind she quickly answers what I had been thinking about.
"Yeah, Sae didn't close it. She left Thom in charge. She didn't want to close it and you know how she hated having to fire people so she asked Thom to watch it for her. She came here last month to check up on it. I thought she told you."
"No. she didn't mention it." I say and shrug. I'll have to talk to her when I get back.
"Well let's go! I'm starving!" Annie says and sighs.
"I hope they can make lamb stew like Sae." I say and Rue giggles.
"Oh, Katniss."
We arrive at The Hob and sit close to the door. Everyone grabs a menu except Peeta and me. I look at him and raise an eyebrow. He shrugs and I roll my eyes. Prim and Finnick babble about hair products very seriously. I chuckle and he fakes a hurt expression on his face. And says something about his hair not being like that naturally. I just roll my eyes and look around the building. I'm startled when I see Darius heading straight towards us.
"What can I get-Katniss?" he say and I wave. His smile grows wider and I smile. He pulls me off the seat and hugs me.
"Darius!" Annie shrikes and gets up and hugs him. Darius and Thom where like our older brothers. They would look out for us at school and would always help us if we were in any trouble.
"Do you work here?" I ask bewildered. I remember when we were younger he would always talk about being a police man and how he wanted to protect our town and stuff. We thought it was just a phase but we were wrong. He kept it up and would always get straight A's in school. He would barely go out to party with Thom. Thom and Darius are cousins, but to each other are more like brothers. Darius is a redhead, which makes him stand out in our little town. Thom looks like me. Dark brown hair, olive skin, and gray eyes. We use to think we were related somehow but we found out later that we weren't and it was just by chance that we looked so alike.
"Yeah. Thom asked for help and he's like my brother I wasn't going to let his ass get into trouble." He says and smirks.
"What about being a police?" Annie yells accusingly. She always supported him. He could turn into a playboy for all she cared she just wanted him to be happy.
"Calm down, Ann. I'm actually in my third year of collage right now. Thom is too actually but I'll let you talk to him when you guys are done eating."
"Alright." He turns back to our table and he sees the guys.
"Care to introduce?" He says motioning back to the table. I had forgotten Peeta and Finnick were there.
"Oh! Right! Darius, this is Peeta and Finnick. Finnick and Peeta this is Darius." Annie says and they shake hands.
"Are you guys dating." He says and stands up straighter trying to look intimidating. Which he does a pretty good job at.
"No…or so they claim!" Prim says and Rue smirks. I roll my eyes and shake my head.
"No, there just friends actually." He smirks but nods.
"Where are Thresh, Jo, and Madge?"
"They couldn't come. Work." I say and he nods. It looks like he wants to say something else but he doesn't.
"Well I'll let you eat but we have to hang out before you leave." He says and we both nod.
We order our food and wait. I turn to look out the window and notice that in the two years that I haven't been here there has been some change. I shake my head slightly and turn back around. Darius arrives with our food and we eat in pretty much silence. I can't help but look at Rues arm again which is conveniently covered with her sweater. I turn to look at her face since she's sitting in fort of me with Prim to her left and Annie beside Prim. I notice she has another bruise on her neck. She notices that I'm looking and nervously smiles my way and continues talking to Prim.
Once we are done with our food, Annie and I decide to head back to the kitchen to see Thom. Peeta and Finnick wanted to stay behind and talk with Prim and Rue which was ok with me. We head towards the back and open the door quietly so Thom won't notice. I find Thom with Darius talking about a hiring a new employee.
"Hi." Annie yells and hops onto Thom's back.
"Annie? What are you doing here!" he says and hugs her once she's off his back.
"I came to visit with Katniss!"
"Whe-Katniss!" he says and hugs me. He hasn't changed much really. Well he has gotten more buff that's for sure.
"Have you been working out?" I say with a smirk. He chuckles.
"Maybe." I roll my eyes.
"Is it Leevy?" I reply with a smirk. He has had a crush on a neighbor and child hood friend of mine named Leevy.
"We're dating." He states matter-of-factly. And my face must have shock written all over it because he starts to laugh.
"Are you serious?" he nods.
"Wow. To think you've had a crush on her since she was in what? Eighth grade."
"We made a bet and I lost, so I had to do what I had to do, you know." He says and I roll my eyes but smile.
"Well, it was good seeing you but we've got to go. We brought some friends with us and we want to show them around." Annie says sadly.
"We need to hang out some time before you leave. Lev will be happy to see you." He says and grins like an idiot.
We leave and head back where we left Finnick and Peeta.
"So, Prim where are we going next?" Annie asks.
"How about we head back home? Mom said she wanted to talk to Katniss when she got back home so we could stay home, watch a movie or something?" she says and we all nod.
"Lets head to the grocery store for some popcorn cause Mama Everdeen hasn't been grocery shopping." Rue says and I can't help to smile.
"Lets go!" Finnick yells and starts running in front of us.
"Finnick! It's this way." Rue yells and he smirks.
"I knew that."
We arrive at the store and I notice people staring at Annie and me but I shrug it off. She looks pale all of a sudden and I grab her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. She squeezes my hand back but doesn't let go of it and I don't either. We head towards the popcorn aisle while Peeta and Finnick look for some drinks and Rue and Prim claim they will only go get some gummy bears. I know for a fact that's not true. I pull Annie along while she keeps her head down. Why? I'm not sure. I sigh and look for the popcorn we should get. I'm actually very picky about that. Actually no, I'm not but I like my popcorn with extra butter. I find what I'm looking for and I look around for Peeta and Finnick dragging Annie along with me. I bump into someone.
"Ugh! Watch where you're going!" I've heard that voice before. She doesn't wait for my response and keeps walking. I turn back to look at her and see part of her face. It's her. Cashmere. With…is that a pregnancy test.
"Walk faster!" Annie hisses and now I'm the one being pulled along.
"Do you think she recognized us?" Annie asks as she franticly looks for Finn and Peeta.
"I don't think so. She didn't even wait for me to answer her so I'm pretty sure she didn't. Did you see the pregnancy test she had." she nods.
"yeah." We don't talk about it anymore and continue walking.
We find Prim and Rue first and they have a shopping cart with them. There are all sorts of stuff inside. Ice cream, Hershey kisses, munchies, and some gummy worms and bears.
"One of you is pregnant!" Annie yells-whispers.
"What! No!" Rue says.
"Calm down, Annie. Sheesh! It's her time of the month." Prim replies earning a nod from Rue.
"Don't tell me you've never craved stuff when you get your period. And we got some stuff for you too. I'm just craving the ice cream. Prim here decided she wanted to get the munchies and Hershey kisses."
"Whatever. Lets just go find Finn and Peeta."
We find Peeta and Finnick in the refrigerator aisle. There looking at the labels very seriously. Finns even squinting his eyes scanning the brand names and Peeta looks exasperated reading each and every label carefully. What the heck are they doing!
"What are you doing?" I ask and they jump a little startled. Finn exaggerates a bit and puts his hand on his heart. I roll my eyes, what a drama queen.
"Kitty Kat! Don't ever do that again! You nearly killed me. I think I might need a kiss of resuscitation." He says and falls to the ground.
I open the Hershey kisses bag and pull one out. I walk toward him and Peeta looks as shocked as Annie. They think I'm actually going to kiss him. I unwrap it quickly and shove it into his mouth.
"This isn't what I meant."
"I know."
"So are you going to tell me what you were doing?" I ask him as I help him up.
"We were looking for a drink." They both answer as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Duh. I mean why where you looking at them so closely."
"Jo said you and Annie where on a diet. So we thought we better make sure to get something with low calories and all that stuff." He says and Peeta nods. I can't help but think about how sweet it is that they would help look for a drink that doesn't have too many calories so that the girl they like will feel comfortable with her body.
"But to say the truth I think you both look perfect just the way you are. And if anyone says otherwise then there clearly wrong."
"And jealous" Peeta adds.
I hear Rue and Prim swoon in the back ground and I smile.
"Well that's really sweet of you. It really is, but we're not on a diet. Don't you see what we intend on eating." Annie says and point to the shopping cart.
"I told you they weren't on a diet." Peeta says and Finnick shrugs.
"Well sorry, Peety. At least I didn't think-"
"Shut up! We'll get the drink and you can go get in line." Peeta says while pushing a laughing Finnick along. There so weird. They fit right in with us.
"Annie, Finnick's so sweet!" Prim says and sighs.
"I wish there were guys like that here." Rue says and rolls her eyes.
"Were about to be sixteen and we haven't even had a boyfriend." Prim says and Rue nods.
"I'm sure Thresh would have a fit if he heard you talking like that Rue." I say and she shrugs.
"Don't worry girls. You'll both find someone that loves you very soon. I'm sure of it." Annie says to the girls.
"One can only hope." They say together and head towards the checkout aisle. Pushing the cart along with them.
"How come you didn't want to stay with your parents?" I ask.
"I don't know. There's days I can't help but feel that they kind of blame me for his death. You know I feel weird. I know that if I was to stay with them I wouldn't sleep all week." I guess she's right. I don't like looking at the place. Heck! I don't even like mentioning the name of the place.
"I understand."
Peeta and Finnick finally arrive to the checkout aisle with a mountain dew, sprite, and a Kool-Aid box. I raise my eyebrow but don't say anything.
"What? We like it." Peeta says.
The cashier flutters her eyelashes at Finnick and he grabs Annie and hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. The cashier looks a bit disappointed but smiles flirtatiously when she spots Peeta. He notices her but he doesn't say anything and continues talking to Prim. He could have hugged me and showed that he was taken, even if he's not but like I give a crap! I don't know why but I'm jealous that he didn't say or do anything. Rue smiles knowingly and I roll my eyes and take my phone out. I have seven text messages. Four from Johanna, two from Madge, and one from Thresh.
Johanna:
2:37 p.m.
Brainless, are you home yet?
Johanna:
3:00 p.m.
Bitch, are you there yet!
Madge:
3:57 p.m.
Kitty! Jo said to answer your phone.
Johanna:
4:55 p.m.
If you don't answer the phone I'm gonna cut lover boys balls!
Thresh:
5:30 p.m.
Hey Kat, can you tell Rue to call me. Oh, and by the way Joey said 'brainless, you better pick up your phone before I burn the house.'
Madge:
5:59 p.m.
Katniss! Pick up your phone! Jo thinks you're dead. You're not dead right?
Johanna:
6:25 p.m.
Brainless, are you dead.
I smile as I imagine Madge biting her nails and checking the news to make sure a plane hasn't fallen from the sky all of a sudden with Gale by her side calming her down. Johanna in the background telling her to calm down and stop exaggerating or she'll bitch slap her but I know in the inside she's nervous too and paying attention closely to the television with Thresh sitting next to her worried for his 'little sisters' as he calls us but tries to stay worried-free so Johanna wont panic. I type on my phone quickly.
To: Johanna:
7:15 p.m.
Calm your tits Mason! I'm not dead; you can't get rid of me so easily you know. And yes were home. Prim, Rue, and mom said hi by the way.
To: Madge:
7:15
No, of course I'm not dead. You worry too much Madgy!
To: Thresh.
7:16
I'll tell her to call you but I'm worried about her. I'll let her use my phone once we get home.
The cashier says $17.05 in what I'm guessing is a seductive voice. I can't help the snort that comes out of my mouth. She shoots me a glare at me and I shoot one right back. Peeta, Finnick, and Annie try to pay but I slap their hands away and pay myself. The cashier has disappointment written all over her face and I can't help but smirk as she glares at me. I turn around and walk out of that place feeling triumph.
We walk home and I notice the people who stare at us. They whisper and point our way as if they don't know we notice. Finnick stares at me concerned but I just shake my head and nod to Annie. He nods and gives her a quick kiss on her check and pulls her towards him with his arm on her waist as if saying that you want to her hurt you're going to have to go through me. Prim and Rue pick up the pace starring ahead of them, Rue loops her arm through Prims and they don't dare glance any other way. Peeta looks a bit nervous as he rubs his neck which I've noticed is something he does quite a lot. I'm guessing it's a nervous habit or something like that. He looks at me and we lock eyes, I swear they get bluer and bluer the longer we stare at each other.
He smiles shyly at me and grabs my hand pulling me a bit closer to him and I can't help but smile. I feel as If little butterflies are fluttering inside my stomach. We arrive home about ten minutes later and Prim runs up stairs to grab some movies and we settle down in the living room. Annie and Finnick take the bigger couch as she lays her head on his chest. Rue and Prim settle on the floor and I remind myself that once the movies over I have to call Thresh. Peeta and I settle on the love seat, we both awkwardly sit as if we somehow touch well get burned or something. I try not looking at him or at least not making it obvious but I glance towards him from the corner of my eye. I see he's looking at me and I blush why? I'm not sure. I look at him and smile. Oh, Katniss. I think to myself I said I didn't want to fall for him. I sigh. He opens his arms and I turn around and lean on him. He hugs me and kisses my head. I smile and we watch the movie. Sometime while the movie was playing Annie fell asleep. Finnick stands up and carries her bridal style downstairs to where they're going to be sleeping. The movie ends about half an hour later. Finn, Peeta, and Prim stay in the living room watching some other movie I didn't even wait and listen to the name of. I grabbed Rue and went to Prims room so we could talk.
"What's wrong Kat?" she asks
"Who hit you?" she looked at me. Tears in her eyes.
"Mom…she's gotten worse since Thresh left. No one's been here to 'protect' me as she says." She takes a shaky breath.
"Has she only beaten you?"
"Yeah. She brought a guy home one time; I didn't know what he was going to do. I locked myself in the bathroom when he saw me. He had this creepy smile so I ran. Mom yelled after me but I didn't care! I left through the bathroom window. I only go home in the mornings, to check up on her. Make sure she's still alive. But I don't dare sleep there knowing she has keys to every room in that house. I haven't told anyone. Prims the only one to know actually and your mom hasn't asked anything since she's always working but I think she suspects things since she saw a particular bad bruise and a cut on my foot but prim was able to fix it up." She takes a deep breath with tears still streaming down her face.
"Why didn't you tell someone? Why haven't you called Thresh or something! Rue you can't stay there." I practically yell at her. Rue is one of my sisters maybe not related by blood or anything but I picked her and I don't want her to get hurt and she won't not as long as I'm here.
"I know Katniss! I couldn't tell anyone though! If I told someone they would take me away from her and Thresh can't take me with him. And they would need money to get a lawyer and all that stuff. Katniss, I want Thresh to go to college. You know none of you had enough money to pay for it and I'm not going to be the reason he's not going to go." She's like me. Always making sure everyone is happy even if she's not.
"We have to call him right now." She nods but doesn't say anything. I dial Threshes phone number.
"Hey Kat." Thresh greets
"Hey Thresh, Rues here with me." I put the phone on speaker.
"Rue, you there?"
"Yeah, hi big brother.
"Hi Rue. Why haven't you called me?"
"I haven't had time to. I've been busy trying to keep up with school." I glance at her and she starts telling him about her mom. My heart breaks a little for this helpless little girl. Once she's done telling him what happened its quiet for a while. He's trying to process what's happening and how his going to solve it.
"I'm going back to get you."
"No. you can't! You're going to spend all of your money on me! No! What about collage?"
"I don't care about that right now. You're more important to me than any school. I'm twenty one, you can move in with me. I have enough for college anyways."
I don't know what to say. I just stay there quietly looking at Rues arm. I know what I must do.
"You don't have to come back. I can take her back if you want but we'll still return back by Saturday."
"I don't know Kat, that would be great but I have to get her birth certificate and all that so I can make it legal for her to be with me. I'm twenty one and in the legal age to keep her with me but I need evidence too. I need to get a lawyer. I think it would be best if I just went up there." He's right I think to myself but I don't want him to come down here. He really doesn't need to actually. But then again someone needs to talk to his mom and I sure as hell don't want to.
"Alright. I guess you're right. When will you get here?"
"As soon as the next plain leaves. Take care of her Kat. Don't let her go back; I don't want her to go through want I went through." I close my eyes and try to forget about that day but it's too hard.
Flashback:
Sixteen year old Katniss was trailing behind her group of friends. The group was basically Thresh, Johanna, Madge, and Annie. They crossed Main Street and Madge went on the other way living in a more…safer community. Annie was the first one to be dropped off. Then Johanna. It was all left to thresh and Katniss since they lived almost next to each other. They had said their goodbyes and where trailing inside their houses when Threshes father came out of their house yelling at whomever he was talking on the phone with. He was in a gang, and to make the matter worse he was never their really. Only coming once in a while to drop off who knows what and to check up on his kids. He loved them both. He did, but that didn't mean it made Threshes thoughts any different. He loved his father, yes. He was his father after all but he didn't exactly like him. There's a difference really if you think about it and he thought about it a lot. He wondered why his dad was like that and if he would ever get out of the hell hole he called a house. He never called it home because that wasn't where his heart was. Home was wherever Johanna was and that sure as hell wasn't in his house. He heard tire screeches, then yelling and an ear piercing scream. That's when he threw his self on the ground knowing what was going to come after. Bullets. Bullets, where going to come after and he knew as if an instinct that he had to throw his self on the ground and so he did. He had turned his head slightly trying to find Katniss and hoping she had made it inside. But she didn't she was too on the ground covering herself hoping her little duck was inside and on the ground how Katniss had taught her after there being some gang rivals right around the corner firing at each other. Everything turned in slow motion after that. He heard the bullets firing and some screaming and that's when he saw his father. Lying on the ground, holding his stomach which was losing a decent amount of blood. He heard someone inside the car yell go and then they were gone. He counted to five and ran to his father's side. Katniss was by his side in seconds and was already talking to someone from 911. An ambulance arrived and they were inside of it in seconds.
"I'm so sorry son." His father said. Tears streaming down his face. He didn't know if it was from pain or if he too knew he wasn't going to make it.
"It's ok." Was all Thresh could really say. How was he supposed to tell the dying man that was holding his hand that it wasn't really ok? That he was going to die and that he was going to have to take care of his mother and baby sister?
"Take care of them. Take care of her. Your mothers been into drugs for a while and I don't want her messing up my princess or you son do you understand?" he nodded
"Listen boy! I aint going to live for more then what? Ten more minutes at most, I'm losing too much blood we both know I aint gonna make it. There's money in your sisters closet. Push the closet door a bit and slide it. You'll see the money. There's actually some in your too. There's not enough for you to get into collage but it's some. You listen to me you get out of here once you get enough money. Leave. Be a good man in this world. Don't chose the easy way out, lord knows I did and I don't want you to become me."
"I will don't worry. I'll take her with me."
"Good. Take care. I love you Thresh." He closed his eyes as his life flashed right past him. Some happy moments and some sad but that was how his life was and he was grateful he was able to live it.
He saw a 5 year old Thresh eager to get to his first day of school. Pulling his father and mother along because he didn't want to be late for his first day of school.
Another one was when his daughter, Rue was born. She had dark skin and dark eyes which were filled with innocence.
He remembers taking them out for ice cream and going to a meadow orchard with his family.
Taking a deep breath, one of his last breaths that is. He could feel the coldness now. He was growing tired. Weak. He didn't want it to end like this but it did and there's nothing he can do know.
"I love you too Dad." He smiled. He knew his son was going to be a better man and he had heard about that Johanna girl. His son's girl and he hoped she turned out to be a better woman than his wife was.
Way better.
"I won't thresh. Don't worry."
"I got to go talk to Haymitch. I'll talk to you later. Bye Rue. Love you.
"Love you too!"
I turned to look at Rue who has tear stains on her check and take her to the bathroom to get her to wash up. I look down at my phone and notice its nine thirty. Mom should get here any minute. We head back downstairs and I notice that my mom's home.
"I'm going to sleep kitty, I'm beat." Finn says and gives me a quick peck on the cheek and heads down stairs.
"I am too." Peeta says.
"I'll be there in a minute." He nods and follows Finnick.
"We're heading upstairs to watch another movie. Come say goodnight?" Prim says and smiles.
"I will little duck." I go into the kitchen where moms sitting drinking some coffee.
"What did you want to talk about mother?"
"Hello to you too."
"Hello, now what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"I'll get straight to the point." She says and I nod.
"They offered me a job for a year and a half and I accepted." She says.
"Ok."
"As a traveling nurse." I sit there looking at her. What about prim? The house. This woman is losing her mind.
"What!" I screech.
"What about Prim, the house, bills!" I yell at her. I can't say I'm surprised though I knew something like this was going to happen sooner or later.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've decided to send Prim off to boarding school and I was thinking about renting the house while I'm not here. I have a friend; he offered to help set the papers and what not." What the crap. Boarding school? Over my dead body!
"No! You can't do this! Rent the house if you want to but you can't sell it and Prims not going to go to boarding school. Over my dead body she is!"
"I can't leave her here by herself Katniss. She can't go with me either. She's going to have to go." I see red. She can't do this to me. My breathing has quickened and I need to calm down before I do something I shouldn't. Deep breaths.
"Can't you be a good mother for once and care for her! You need to be her mother! I've already had to be her mother since dad died. You can't do this to her. You can't do this to me!" I say angrily.
"I'm being her mother! I'm raising money so she can have a good future."
"Well, have you thought about now? Have you thought how that's going to affect her future." I sigh and roll my eyes.
"I'm going to go weather you like it or not. I just thought I should tell you."
I stay silent for a while trying to figure out what to do.
"She's moving in with me."
"What about school? She hasn't taken her exams yet."
"She takes them at the end of May which is in less than a week and a half. You'll have to wait until she takes them and then you can send her with Me." that's when I remember about Rue and her own exams. I quickly take out my phone and text Thresh.
To: Thresh:
9:59 p.m.
Have you gotten your ticket?
Thresh:
10:00 p.m.
No not yet, why?
To: Thresh:
10:00 p.m.
Don't come till Rue takes her exams. Prims moving In with me, don't ask till I get back.
Thresh:
10:00
I can't leave her their though.
To: Thresh:
10:01 p.m.
Don't worry about her she can stay here until they take their exams and once their done you can come back and talk to your mom. We'll go by her house once your mom's at work to get all her stuff. I'll take care of her I promise.
Thresh:
10:01 p.m.
Fine, you win. Take care of her Kat.
To: Thresh:
10:01 p.m.
I will.
"Fine. Now we have to talk about renting the house. He's my best friend and he actually knows about you both. He wants to meet you too. I want you to consider him your uncle. His name is Haymitch and he lives in Virginia too."
"As an Haymitch Aberthany?"
"Yes, have you met him?"
"I work for him."
"Oh-well, he's you're uncle." I roll my eyes. What a surprise.
"Alright. Does Prim know about this?"
"No, not yet. I thought I should let you know first."
"Alright. Well talk to her tomorrow."
"Night." I quickly get up and head to Prims bedroom to talk to Rue. When I walk inside I can't say I'm surprised to find the ice cream and munchies are lying on the ground in-between them both while there lying on the ground watching what I think is The last song.
They gasp.
"Katniss! This isn't what you think it is!" a wide eyed Prim yells.
"Yeah! There our guest!" Rue replies while whipping the obvious crumbs off her face. She's not doing a very good job at it. I can't help but laugh.
"Calm down, why did ya freak out?"
"I-we don't know, we thought you were going to make fun of us." Prim sniffs. I notice they have tears on their eyes.
"I would never do that, I love you both and I understand that once in a while we just need to see those sad romantic movies and cry while stuffing our faces. I might not do it as often but I get it." I say matter-of-factly.
"Anyways, I need to talk to you both about something very important." They nod and I sit in front of them with my legs crossed.
"Rue you know this already but Prim still hasn't heard the news. Rues moving to Virginia and I guess you are too." Rue stays quiet looking at Prim who has confusion written all over her face. Eventually Prim nods so I continue.
"They're has been a slight change of plans though Rue. You're going to be moving when you both finish up your exams. Which is in what? Like a week and a half, two at most. Rue you're going to be staying here with us and were going to go pick up all your stuff tomorrow while your mom's at work. Thresh will be the one coming to pick you both up since he needs to get all your papers. Mom has a new job, Prim."
"She didn't tell me about that."
"We were going to tell you tomorrow but I thought it'd be better if I told you now. She was going to send you on a boarding school and we wouldn't want that now would we?"
"No, we wouldn't."
"Well make sure to start packing by tomorrow. I don't know all the details about this. I don't even know where you're going to be sleeping but well make this work." They both look at me and smile.
"Thank you Katniss. For getting me out of here. I don't want to live with her any more. I want to be free."
"You will birdy! I'll make sure of it if it's the last thing I do. I won't let anyone hurt you. Now both of you make sure you both go to sleep once that movie's done. You may continue eating your…guests." I tease with a wink. I quickly peck both of them on the cheek and close the door behind me. I walk downstairs and open Annie's and Finns door. I want to tell her about what happened but I don't want to have to wake her. I can see both Annie and Finnick are sleeping so I shut the door quickly and go into the room Peeta and I are going to be sharing and notice he's nowhere to be found. I walk around hoping he's sleeping on the bed and go to where the bags are at. I quickly open mine hoping I chose the right clothes since its pitch back in here. I walk over to the bathroom when I trip on something.
"What the-Peeta! Is that you?"
"Oh snap Kat, I'm so sorry. I didn't-are you ok?" He tries to help me up and once I get up I hit him by accident on the face.
"I didn't mean to. Are you ok?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm so clumsy. I'm going to go change." He mumbles something but I don't wait to listen. I lean on the bathroom door and sigh.
"Could I have been anymore goddamn spastic." I whisper. I change as slowly as I can, trying to buy time and come up with something to say once I have to go and face Peeta. I brush my teeth and untie my hair and comb my fingers through it. I look at myself in the mirror and notice I look tired. I have bags under my eyes; well that's nothing new but still there not usually this bad. My lips bleeding a little too. I guess I must have bit it when I fell…well was tripped by accident but tripped none-the-less. I sigh and close the door. Wait. Where is Peeta supposed to sleep? I can't let him sleep on the floor. Well there was that time when he did sleep with me in my bed at home.
"Peeta, why where you on the floor?"
"Oh-I didn't want to make you uncomfortable so I decided to sleep on the ground."
"You're not going to make me uncomfortable. And why is it so dark in here?" I whisper and make my way towards the window when I bump into someone…and their shirtless. I place my hand on his stomach and my eyes go wide open when I feel his abs. I know I had already seen him without a shirt and all but looking and touching are two way different things. I can't help place my other hand on his chest, where his heart is and its beating very fast…am I causing this. I'm clearly not; he's probably just scared or something. Yeah, that's it.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. I tried to open the window but I wouldn't open" I smile knowingly.
"Yeah, I guess I should have told you there locked with a key." I pull the curtain to the left so I can see and go to the bureau and find the key hanging on a lamp. I open the window a bit and Peeta sighs gratefully.
"Thanks. I always sleep with my window open I don't know what I would of done if I couldn't have slept with it open today."
"Welcome" I walk over to the bed and he goes back to the floor.
"Peeta, you're not going to sleep there. You can sleep up here with me."
"The beds too small."
"It is not. Come up here right now."
"but-"
"No butt's just asses now get up here."
"Fine. You're so stubborn." I listen as he gets up and walks over to the bed. He walks way too loud. I would never be able to take him to the woods. He lies down and I can't help but smile when I smell cinnamon. I turn around and see he's looking at me too. His eyes look so beautiful with the moon shining from the window. I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach once again. I know I'm still falling for him and I don't want to but I know sooner or later I'm going to drown in those deep blue eyes.
Long time no see! Apologies to those who have been waiting for a chapter for a while now but oh well.
I also have two other stories (adopted by the way) that I'm working on. I decided that I would not upload the stories until I have enough chapters so that I won't get all overwhelmed and stuff.
My other story should be updated sometime this week or next week. I'm not sure yet since I have to go to orientation on the 21st and then school for me starts on the 26th which I'm very terrified with.
Eeepp!
Before I forget I was wondering if you would like me to have a sequel. So I've changed my plot for the story since I couldn't sleep one night. I was up for like two days; literally I had this harsh cold and was coughing like a crazy person. I couldn't sleep so I decided to change my plot and when I say change I mean I threw the whole thing into the trash, I stepped on it a bunch of times and then did a little happy dance for thinking about this. No, I'm just kidding…well maybe. Anyways I have thought of doing a sequel about them going to college and all that. And if I do a sequel this story might not end how you want it to a bit of drama and what not. There might be a scene where Peeta 'dies' and our charming and beautiful Finnick brings him back to life! Yay!
*crowd applauses* *someone in background screams I love you* *gasp*
I love you too! Back to where I was, I've decided to let you; my fellow readers decide what you want to happen. If you want to have a sequel, then just review and tell me that's what you want. If you have any ideas for me then tell me, I mean anything! It could be a rock falling from the sky and hitting Katniss. Well maybe something a bit more realistic but I don't care review and tell me what you would like. And I was also wondering if someone was interested in co-writing with me. Is that what you call it? I'm not sure. Like a beta I guess but that person is going to be helping me write my story and what not. I thought it was logical since schools about to start but it's just an idea, if someone offers I'd love to see how it goes from there. Well that's pretty much it for this chapter.
I want to thank everyone that has read my story so far. Anyone who has pushed the favorite or follow button or has reviewed thank you. I wouldn't be here without you and that mean a lot. Bye!
Much love,
-ItsAllInYourHeadMyDear
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