Chapter 2.
Katniss-
I'm through the fence and in the woods before the sun comes up. After a disastrous night, I didn't even wait for Gale to meet me. I'm not sure if he would have shown up, even if I had waited for him.
I found a fresh blackberry bush that was untouched, I was able to get a small piece of the root to give to Prim for her garden. During the summer we were lucky to have a small tomato plant and I traded for some squash seeds down at the Hob that I am saving for this year's garden. The Hob is basically a black market for the Seam people and other undesirables of District 12. It's the only place to trade for things that we need; clothes, household goods, medicines and occasionally liquor.
Almost giving up hope and heading back to the fence, I spot a couple of rabbits. If I am fast enough, I know I can get both. After two quick shots and spending a few minutes to skin them, I am back on my way to trade in town. Feeling relieved that I actually have some meat to trade.
Walking through the wildflowers, I think back to yesterday… Why did Gale kiss me? Did it have something to do with Peeta? I wonder how many girls Peeta has kissed, do his lips feel like Gale's? Gale's lips were strong and chapped, rough from windburn. But Peeta works in the bakery, I doubt he would have to experience the extreme temperatures that the Seam people are forced to live with.
Half way to the bakery, I stop to look over my face and hair in the window of an abandoned shack that used to serve as a drink stand for the miners when they got off work.
I stop mid-way through trying to get a smear of dirt off my cheek, what am I doing? When was the last time I even looked at myself before going anywhere? Appearances are the types of things that Prim cares about. Bows and ribbons. I go into town every Saturday to trade at the bakery and the hob, if I have an exceptionally good hunting day. I have never once looked over my hair or straightened my clothes before going to meet them.
After shaking off the thought that this has something to do with Peeta, I kick rocks along the path down to town. I have to go to the back door to meet Mr. Mellark, I don't dare to walk through the front and risk seeing Mrs. Mellark. She is an evil woman; I've heard around town that she hits her boys. I wonder if she is what really happened to Peeta's eye.
When Prim was younger, I would let her come with me to trade cheese from her goat at Madge's house and we walked through the town square. We would stop to look at the beautifully decorated cookies and cakes in the front window of the bakery. Mrs. Mellark came rushing out with a broom, yelling something about Seam trash and us not ever having any money. Now I only take the back way and rarely bring Prim anymore.
Glancing over at Madge's house, I would normally stop in to see her but I have the party to get ready for. Mother is making a beaver stew with some potatoes that we saved from a week ago. I was able to get a small bushel of them for a half dozen skinny squirrels.
Once I am at the bakery's back door, I peek through the top half of the swinging door and hear the Mellark boys talking. I let myself in, but I never go into the kitchen. I only stay confined to the small pantry area. They are standing near the stairway, but I can only piece together a few words.. 'she' and 'her', 'mother would never approve'.. I give a small cough to let them know I'm there.
Rye is Peeta's middle brother, he is taller than Peeta with the same blonde sandy hair, but no curls. I wonder if his curls are as soft as they look. Dan, short for Danish, looks like Rye – tall, handsome and fair skinned with light features. But none of them have the icy blue eyes that Peeta and Mr. Mellark share. They are like a pool of shallow water where the springs pop up in the creek, close to the meadow.
My cough alerts them and Peeta rushes to me with a huge smile and his sparkling eyes.
"H-hi, Um – good morning, Katniss!" My heart skips a beat and I can't help to return the smile, its infectious.
He raises his eyebrows and I immediately straighten my face. "Is Mr. Mellark here? I got a couple of rabbits this morning."
"Of course, h-he is helping a customer, but if you like you can set them on the shelf in the ice cooler. I'll run and let him know that you're here." He turned towards the front, glancing back at me with that smile again.
I open up the ice box and my eyes widen. There are fruits, and some things I have never seen before. Bananas, strawberries, chocolate and whipped cream! Instantly my stomach growls. I try to ignore the fresh, sweet smell of the strawberries and place the rabbit on a small towel on the lowest level of the cooler.
I turn to find Peeta is back, he seems like his breathing is speeding up. I catch myself staring at his broad, wide shoulders. Watching as his chest rises and falls. He is wearing a simple white t-shirt and an apron covered in flour. His curls are messy and looks as handsome as ever.
He starts to blush. He runs a hand over his face and through his hair, leaving a streak of flour across his cheek where his eye was more swollen than yesterday. A small giggle leaves my lips before I can stop it. At the same time, I reach up and place my palm on his jawline and run my thumb across his cheek to wipe the flour off. I can feel his skin burning under my mine. Then his strong hand completely covers mine. I start to wonder, what would his hands feel like wrapped around me? Grasping my back and cupping my head as he pressed his soft lips down on mine, like Gale had done the night before. I feel a quiver shoot down through my pussy. Leaving me wet and confused.
I know this feeling, but it's never happened to me in public before let alone in front of someone.
I've thought of him before. Lying in bed one night after attending one of his wrestling matches at school. His sweaty t-shirt and tight knit shorts clearly showed off his broad chest, muscular arms and round ass. There was an ache between my legs and into my stomach that night. That was the first time that I let my fingers dip beneath the band of my cotton panties and explore my wetness. I was unprepared for the moan that left my throat as I made myself come thinking about him pinning me to the wrestling mat. He can never know that I have wondered about my legs being wrapped around him and my hands gripping his curls.
The next few days of school were really awkward when I saw him looking over at me during lunch time.
I rip my hand away from his face. Instantly self-conscious, cheeks flushed – does he know what I was thinking? Why was I giggling? His hands are strong and firm. No. I'm not doing this now.
Mr. Mellark walks around the corner and I step away from Peeta. Thankfully he doesn't seem to notice how flustered I am with his son. I'm sure he wouldn't approve, but he seems so much nicer than Mrs. Mellark. He's always so welcoming to me.
"Hi Katniss, its always good to see you! I hear from Peeta that you have a couple of rabbits for me, I love a good stewed rabbit!"
"Um – yes, I was lucky to get them both. They were right there together. I also found some blackberries, if you like."
"Nonsense! I know you have the best shot, always right in the eye" he says smiling at me. He has the same trustworthy smile as Peeta.
"Well, thank you. It's my dad, he taught me well." I can see his smile falter for a split second.
"Yes, of course. We are always happy to trade with you. What do you need this week? Wheat flour? Bread? Corn meal? Maybe some cheese rolls for the berries?" Cheese rolls are my absolute favorite and a very rare treat. Normally they are gone by the time I come in on Saturdays.
"Corn meal please. My mother is making a beaver stew, maybe corn biscuits will be nice with it. You are so generous, are you sure about the cheese rolls?" I shyly add, "they are my favorite."
"Sure! That does sound good! Give me just a minute and ill package that up for you. Peeta made fresh cheese rolls this morning." He turns to go and I am left face-to-face with Peeta. I look at everything in the small room, except for him. I can see that he is focused on me, looking me over and making me squirm.
Peeta starts to say something as his dad comes back around the corner. Thank goodness. He hands me the brown paper sack filled with my things and tells me he will see me next Saturday. I thank him as well and quickly leave the way I came.
Finally, out of there. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding in. It feels like I was there for hours, but i'm sure it was only a few minutes. Why did I touch his face? Why did it seem like my body was on fire when he touched my hand? Looking down, I still had flour on my fingers from his. I smirk to myself.
He is so different from Gale.
Gale is dark and I suppose he is handsome; all the other girls think so. Peeta has pale skin that is tanned from the sun, I can tell when he moves his arm because his t-shirt slides up over his muscle. Peeta's smile is sweet and you can tell that it reaches his eyes by the way they sparkle. Gale rarely smiles that big and if he does, he turns away from me. Gale is strong but his shoulders aren't as broad and his pants aren't as tight as the linen pants that curves around Peeta's ample backside.
I feel comfortable around both of them, but for different reasons. Peeta's smile makes me feel safe and his eyes make me feel like I am the only person there when he looks at me. But Gale is my best friend, he has fed my family and he filled in as a male figure for Prim after my dad died. He was my confidant. He IS my confidant. Right? Of course he is, he clearly was confused last night in the woods. I'm sure things will be back to normal soon.
"Katniss, wait!" I turn to see Peeta running after me holding something. He's still wearing that damn apron and running his sexy hands through his hair.
"Wait, I have something extra for you. Its – uh – cookies for Prim's birthday. I, um, made them. I would walk you home, but I normally work all day on Saturdays. My mom is always gone on the days that me and my brothers are there." Why did I tell him about the party? Why does he want to walk with me again? Why does his mom leave?
He's looking back and up and down the streets. Does he not want to be seen with me? I'm not surprised.
"I can't take the cookies" I sound so curt. "I don't have anything else to trade for them, I have nothing to give you."
After a small laugh, "well, I didn't make them for you. They are for Prim, please tell her happy birthday from me. You don't need to give me anything for them, they are a gift. I painted flowers on them for her."
I let out a long sigh, I really want those cookies. Prim would be over the moon to have them. "I'm sorry, I already owe you and I can't take anything that I didn't work for. But thank you for the thought, that was really kind."
"You don't owe me anything for them, really. But, if it would make you feel better about it – how about you help me fix up the storage shed next Saturday after you come into town? It shouldn't take too long, but it would be nice to have you there with me." He wants me there with him? "Uh, Wh-what do you owe me for?" Surely he doesn't remember the bread.
"Um, its nothing. Yes, I will be here to help you next week. Prim will really love the cookies." I pause and see his eyes light up and his chest swells.
He hands me the parchment package that's wrapped with a sparkly twine. It's beautiful. As I take it from him, he put his hands over mine again and runs his thumb over my fingers. The shiver goes down my spine and settles between my thighs. This time, its him who breaks away. He smiles and tells me that he will see me at school and leaves me with the sweet smelling cookie package.
I quickly turn and head back to the Seam. What just happened?