Chapter 18

I said not to guess! (sigh)
Good guess. Maybe it's right or maybe not. Read to find out.

Katniss P.O.V

I slept fairly well that night. No one woke me up until noon which was nice to do once in a while. When I did wake up I didn't have to get my breakfast. Prim came right to my bed with eggs, bacon, and toast. I didn't ask how she got this. No doubt Peeta gave it to her before he left for his meeting in the capitol. I sighed at the thought of Peeta.

"Happy Birthday!" mom and Prim said in unison as soon as I opened my eyes.

"Stay in bed for as long as you want." Prim said. "I'll take care of everything."

"By everything you mean the chores?" I asked. "Or hunting?" Prim started walking out the door.

"Yeah." She said. That really wasn't an answer. I wasn't about to argue. If my birthday present was sitting in bed all day and being lazy then I didn't mind that. It was nice to relax for once. I gave a content sigh, closed my eyes and leaned back on the bed.
A few minutes later I was disturbed by Prim. So much for peace.

"Hey, come on." Prim said. "Gale's here." She dropped a pair of clothes on the foot of the bed and pulled the covers off my body.

"So what?" I asked, reaching for my blanket with my eyes closed. "He can wait."

"Come on!" Prim said. "Don't make me get the bucket. . ." She said in a sing song voice. My eyes snapped open.

"You wouldn't." I said.

"Mom! Can you get some cold water –"

"I'm up!" I said. Prim smiled. I sat up on the bed then quickly jumped out.

"There's a bath waiting for you. Better hurry up." She said as she left the room. Where, I wondered, had she gotten that attitude from? I shook my head in disbelief. I took a long time in my bath, since it was at just the right temperature and it smelled so good. My mother must have put a special herb in it. i closed my eyes taking in the sweet smile. i think i must hvae fallen asleep because my mother scared me when she called through the door.

"Hurry up, Katniss!" mother called from outside. I sighed.
I was dry in a few minutes, except for my hair. I could just let that air dry.
The outfit on my bed was not from my closet. It was a green blouse not at all like the one Cinna made last time. This one was more . . .girly. She couldn't expect me to wear something like this.

"Prim!" I called. The door opened quickly. Was she waiting there all along? "What's this?" I asked gesturing to the blouse.

"Your outfit. Cinna made it as a gift." Prim said. "He would be very hurt if you didn't wear it." She made those puppy dog eyes that she knew I couldn't resist.

"But-"

"He made it just for you in your favorite color, Katniss." Prim said. "You don't want to hurt his feelings, right?" I sighed.

"I guess not." I said. Prim smiled.

"Great! Put it on." She left. I stared at the outfit hesitantly. Something like this was hardly appropriate in District 12. The strapless blouse was a light green with white shorts. It also came with a white mini jacket. I don't want to wear this. I thought Cinna knew I didn't like this stuff. But since I didn't want to be rude I put it on somewhat hesitantly. I didn't look so bad.
The blouse was made of a delicate and flimsy material. It was tight around the chest but flowed out around me. The shorts weren't so terribly short. I looked around my closet to find shoes when Prim came back in.
she was dresses in a delicate pink dress with pink shoes. Her hair was let loose. It flowed down in delicate waves around her back. Prim looked adorable.

"Good, your dressed, here are the shoes." She gave me white ballet flats. No. "Come on."

"No." I said. "Can't I just wear some of my shoes?" I asked.

"These are yours. Cinna gave them to you." Prim said. I sighed. I thought this was my birthday. Why do I have to listen to what the twelve year old says? She can boss me around on her birthday.

"Katniss, don't you want to look pretty?" she said in a sing song voice.

"No." I immediately answered.

"Put them on." Prim said. "Please? For me? I want to make this your best birthday ever! So please cooperate." She begged. Prim pressed her hand together and gave me the puppy dog eyes again. I hate when she does that.

"Okay." I gave in. I took the shoes from her and put them on. I absolutely refuse to look at myself in the mirror. Prim clapped and jumped up and down.

"Yay! You look wonderful!" she said. Sure, I did, I thought. "Come on. You are going hunting with gale." Hunting? In this? With Gale? No. why did Peeta have to leave today? Gale was waiting for me outside. He smiled when he saw me then he saw the outfit. I blushed. My hair wasn't in its usual braid today. I didn't have time to put it up thanks to Prim. It was still drying too.

"You look . . ." he trailed off.

"Stupid?" I finished. He laughed.

"I was going to say great." He said. "Happy Birthday, Catnip."

"Thanks. Let's go hunting." I said. At least I could look forward to this today. I like being out in the woods and people wouldn't see me.
Gale and I walked around in silence not really catching anything. It was a nice day today. The sky was cloudless, the sun was out, the birds were singing. There was only one thing missing. Or one someone. I sighed.

"So why isn't lover boy here?" he asked when we sat down for a moment. I ate a few of the berries that we found and the bread.

"Bussy." I answered.

"Capitol?" he asked.

"Yup." I sighed. "But it's fine. He has no choice but to go." Gale was silent.

"Really?" Gale said. His tone was strange. Like he knew something I didn't. "That's . . ." he trailed off. "Did Peeta tell you that?"

"Yeah." I said. I looked up at the trees where a Mockingjay was sitting, looking at us.

"Oh, has he ever lied to you?" Gale said. There was a smirk on his face.

"Don't think so." I said. Peeta would never.

"Oh," gale said. I was about to ask what he meant when Gale suddenly decided it was time to go back. We checked his traps which gave us three rabbits and four squirrels. At the hob people kept saying 'happy birthday,' to me and asked about Peeta. I would always say thank you and say that he was in the capitol. Everyone I said that to would laugh and turn away quickly before I could ask what they meant by the laugh.
everyone knew something I didn't. What was it?

"Hey, Greasy Sae." I said. She smiled.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Everdeen." She said. "Happy birthday." I smiled. "You look great by the way."

"Thanks." I said. "Can we have some soup please?"

"Sure thing." She stepped away to get us our food. She came back with two bowls and gave one to Gale then one to me. "Here you go." I took a sip of the soup. I'm starving. "So where's Peeta?" I took another sip before answering. "Shouldn't he be with you in this special event?"

"He's bussy. Victors meeting and all." I said. Greasy Sae laughed.

"Really?" she said. "you sure?" I put the spoon down.

"yes, where else would he be?" I asked. This was getting annoying. What was everyone doing?

"Oh I don't know. . ."Greasy Sae said. Gale suddenly cleared his throat. He paid Greasy Sae for the meal then told me it was time to leave.

"Come on, Katniss." Gale said. I barely had time to say bye to her when Gale grabbed my hand and led me out the hob. He looked at the clock that hung above the Justice building. "I have to go. . ."Gale said. "bye." He rushed away before I could say anything.

"Wait!" I called. He didn't. I sighed. What was going on?

"Katniss." Prim said. I turned around. When had she gotten here? "What are you doing here?"

"Gale left . . . what are you doing here?" I asked. She shrugged.

"Nothing." She said. "Hey, um, meet me back here in an hour. Kay? Bye." She ran away too. What was wrong with her?

Thirty minutes later I was sitting at home pacing around the room. Mother wasn't here. Gale's family wasn't home. Madge wasn't home. The only reason I went to visit her was because I didn't have anyone else to talk to but she wasn't home. The bakery was closed. Where was everyone?

After the hour passed I went back to the justice building and sure enough there was Prim. She grabbed my hand.

"Follow me, Katniss." She said. "Wait. Wear this!" she held up a scarf only it wasn't a scar. Prim made me get down on my knees so she could wrap it around my head.

"What are you planning, little duck?" I asked.

"A surprise birthday party," Prim said. I raised my eyebrow questioningly but she couldn't see it. "Yeah, I know, it isn't much of a surprise now but oh well."

"That was what everyone was hiding from me?" I asked. I sighed in relief. I thought it had something to do with Peeta. Why couldn't he be here? I sighed.

"Yes." Prim said quickly which meant the answer was no. "Come on. Act surprised, okay?"

"Sure." I said. Prim led me down the street carefully. I didn't like being blind. It made me feel vulnerable. "Okay, here we are. Now act surprised." I heard a smile in her voice. She started to untie the annoying thing. "Tada!"

I gasped.

See? Predictable. Was this chapter boring? I think it is. It isn't one of my best. I'll do better next time. I Promise.

Tell me what ya think.