Authors note: This chapter is shorter than usual because I made you wait literal YEARS, but the next one should be nice and long. Another thing, because I first wrote this as a teenager, this is prob my silliest story, so I'll try to embrace that and remain silly.
The Everdeen Household
Katniss sat with her head resting against the table next to Peeta's. She was staring at him, watching him breathe evenly. Graham was snoring, still seated on the dining chair next to hers.
The house felt empty. All the lights were off and everyone else was asleep either in their beds or on the sofa. Graham's wife had been taken home by Rye, who didn't think it was a good idea to let her sleep in the Everdeen house since someone had to be at her family's store the next morning.
Haymitch, Delly, and Madge had stayed behind. They were in the sitting room, the two girls fast asleep while Haymitch sat around drinking.
From where she sat Katniss could see out the kitchen window. The sight of the furious snowstorm frustrated her. It wasn't very likely that she would have been able to go and find anything useful out in the woods before the storm, but now she didn't even have the option.
She wondered when, and if the snowing would ever stop. It almost felt as if the seasons couldn't possibly change.
She stared at Peeta's back, which was wrapped in gauze. She wondered how long it would take for the torn tissue to form proper scars. She wondered if the scars would bring him any form of pain.
She was startled at the sound of insistent knocking at the front door. No one else seemed to be willing to open the door, so Katniss dragged her chair back and made her way to the foyer. She pulled the door open.
"You," she said, and even she knew her anger was irrational. But it was her, Peeta's secret girl. "What do you want? You're a little late to the party don't you think?"
The girl blinked in confusion, she held a big plastic box, the kind she'd seen Peeta with before when he worked at the bakery. In fact, the box she held read 'Mellark's Bakery' which only served to enrage Katniss further.
"Hi, Katniss. I'm sorry, I don't think we've met? I'm Eve, Peeta's friend." She smiled, and it was friendly and kind. She looked over her shoulder and just then Katniss noticed that she wasn't alone. "Mrs. Mellark, my stepmother, and I thought that we could help Peeta best by getting some food ready for you. That way you guys don't have to worry about cooking while he recovers?"
Katniss blinked in surprise. Mrs. Mellark knew? Of course, Of course she did. Didn't she hate Katniss already? Why not get chummy with her replacement?
Not that… not that she was actually in a romantic relationship with her son or anything.
Whatever. Katniss knew she couldn't very well deny Mrs. Mellark entry to see her own son, and if she chose to bring her she couldn't stop her. Hell, Peeta might actually want to see her.
She took a step back, "won't you come in then? He's asleep, but I'm sure he'd like to see you."
Eve smiled, "Thank you." And stepped past her.
Katniss hung back and watched the three women walk into her kitchen. There was a clawing helpless feeling in the back of her throat that only got worse when she heard Peeta's delirious voice say "Evey? Hey."
But she didn't leave, she followed into the kitchen. She needed to know.
"Hey big guy," Eve smiled as she took the vacant seat next to a sleeping Graham, her seat. "You gave us all quite the scare there, all your friends are really shaken up. They came by the shop to ask about you."
"Hm, really? That's nice." Katniss watched Mrs. Mellark pull up another chair close to Peeta, catching his attention. "Hi mama, I got in trouble again."
"You did," the older woman agreed, and put a hand on his head. "Don't do this again."
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes half closed. "Right thing to do."
Mrs. Mellark sighed and shook her head, exasperated. "You never did learn to listen."
"We really missed you here, Peeta," Eve said, patting the boys arm. "I can't wait to hear all about the food you ate."
"Itwaz good," Peeta slurred. "So much."
Eve giggled. Katniss couldn't take it anymore; she needed something to do. She went for the box of food, which Eve had placed on the kitchen counter, and went about unpacking it.
"Thank you, for the food." Katniss said to no one in particular. "I know these are tough times."
"It was the least we could do. We all chipped in," Eve looked over her shoulder with a small smile, a shy smile. "Peeta's friends from school, I mean. They all felt awful."
Katniss nodded shortly as she pulled out casserole dishes and containers of prepared food. All simple things, but enough to keep someone going. It was very generous, too generous really. They must really care about him.
"I think he's asleep," Eve whispered to Mrs. Mellark. Peeta's mother checked by leaning close to his face, and he was asleep, out like a light.
Eve stood up and came over to Katniss' side, "would you like some help?"
Katniss was about to bite her head off. What did this girl want from her? But she held back. She couldn't retaliate against her in the face of such generosity, it went against the cardinal rule of debt in District Twelve. Even though this gift was mostly for Peeta's benefit, Peeta's wellbeing affected her. Therefore, the debt was hers.
Katniss nodded and took a step to the side to let the girl help her. She remained silent.
"Peeta's told me a lot about you," the other girl murmured with a smile, a conspiring light in her eyes. "Like, we're talking an embarrassing amount."
"Oh, that's funny, he's never mentioned you." Katniss couldn't hold the bitter words back. She yanked a bottle of milk out of the box, and slammed it on the counter, startling the girl next to her. "Sorry."
"Oh," Eve looked confused. "Katniss, I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to be here. Peeta is probably my best friend in the world, but I'm getting the sense that you think there's more between us…?"
Katniss looked over at Mrs. Mellark and the other woman briefly, but they seemed to be talking amongst themselves and not paying them any mind. Katniss lowered her voice anyways. "Cut the innocent act, I saw you two."
"Saw us doing what?" Eve's tone dropped into further confusion.
"Kissing," Katniss hissed. "Okay, I saw, on the roof?"
"Oh, is this why…? That's why he apologized," the girl looked as if she'd just made a revelation. "Katniss, Peeta is a great guy and all, but he's too blinded by you to be interested in anyone else." Eve began to fold the plastic box flat. "I'll admit when I met him, he seemed to be interested, which was flattering. But nothing ever came from it, I swear."
"But it could have?" Katniss asked to, what? Punish herself?
The other girl looked unsure of what to say, "I don't know. Maybe. But I really don't think so, he's never been too forward or anything like that." Eve's hand hovered before she rested it on Katniss' arm, "nothing happened, okay?"
Katniss snatched her arm back, "Okay, whatever." Then she spun on her toes and marched out of the room.
Eve didn't stay long. Delly and Madge woke up and eagerly embraced her as if they were already good friends, which they probably were. Once Delly had her wits about her and noticed the blatant tension between Katniss and Eve, she suggested they all walk back to town together.
God, Katniss thought. Did everyone know her? Even Madge?
The walls of the house started to feel like they were closing in on her. Peeta remained unconscious. Katniss was pacing back and forth in the hallway once Prim can down the staircase, fresh-faced from a good-nights rest.
"What's wrong?" Her little sister asked immediately.
Katniss looked into her sister's face, and it just came out.
"Peeta's stupid girlfriend was here," she covered her face with her hands and groaned. "And she was nice and polite and kind. She fits him."
"Girlfriend?" Prim asked, incredulous. "You guys did break up then?"
"Prim, come on, you know nothing was happening." Katniss shook her head, "I'm just mad over it."
"Did she say she was his girlfriend?"
"No, she said they were 'just friends'" Katniss rolled her eyes, feeling stupid.
"Katniss, if you're going to be mad at someone, it has to be him, not some poor girl who got dragged into your drama." Prim put her hand on her sister's arm, "Okay?"
"This is so stupid." Katniss groaned, "he's supposed to be the one who isn't confused. I'm allowed to be confused."
"He might not be confused," Prim countered. "He did almost die for you yesterday."
"So, then, what is this whole thing about?" Katniss motioned towards the air around them, "did I just imagine the whole thing?"
"No, of course not." Prim took her sisters hand and sat them both down on the staircase. "But Katniss, you're both in a crazy situation and not handling it properly at all. Before you left, you were barely on speaking terms. He's at fault too, but if you wanted to know what's happening you probably should have talked to him directly."
"I don't understand why everyone always expect me to do things," She huffed. "I'm not happy about any of this. I didn't ask for any of it. Why am I being painted as the villain?"
"You're not." Prim pats her sister's hand, "I can hurt Peeta for you today if you want."
"Prim don't say that, of course I don't want that." But she knows Prim doesn't mean it, at least not entirely. "I just wish it wasn't suddenly my fault that I'm not in love with anyone."
"What exactly happened between the two of you?" Prim asked, "When did he start seeing someone else, what happened?"
"I don't know, that's the problem." Katniss shrugged. "President Snow showed me a video of the two of them kissing, and he was never around, and when we did the show together, he tasted different."
"Okay, ew." Prim makes a disgusted face. "But I think that most of what you said might have just been in your head, to be honest. How can someone taste different? That's insane. The video is your best evidence, you need to confront him about that."
"What about him never being around?"
"He was never around to begin with, remember? He only started hanging out here after you guys got buddy buddy for not reason. Then you had your fight, and he went back to normal." Prim rationalizes.
Katniss sighs, "I still want to be mad right now. He was just so ugh, I can't explain it."
"Okay," Prim nods, "do it, he's just a guy, don't let him take over your life."
Katniss reaches over and hugged her sister tight.
"Don't forget who you are, you're so much more than petty teen romance drama." Prim spoke into her shoulder, "You're the toughest person I know."