A/N: sorry I haven't updated in like.. 3 million years. But a lot's been going on, yet here it is ! Hope you like it !

note: they are 16 years old here.

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Hunger Games.

Anything But

"Peeta, come on, let's go, finals are coming up and we don't want to be late!" I hear Katniss through my window. I groan and roll over to the open window. I see Katniss lean on the windowsill of her window and she smirks at me. Since the eighth grade, we've changed drastically. Katniss wears more subdued clothing, and she walks with a more elegant stride. The skip in her step is still there, we are still children at heart, but being in the tenth grade, we have matured a little over two years. We celebrated Katniss' birthday a few weeks ago and I got my brand new camera to vlog the special occasion. Little Posy is now 5 years old and a happy addition to our channel. Katniss and I still get countless comments on little Posy. And Rory has turned 13 today, with Prim still at 12 years old. And they are still as opposed to each other as they were when they were 8 when I first met them. And Gale has yet to turn 18 in January.
"Katniss," I groan. "Give me a chance to wake up!" I exclaim, rolling over to the other side of the bed, closing my still heavy eyelids. I start to drift off again when I feel something hit the backside of my head.
"Peeta Mellark, it is 8:15, and I am not being late because of your sleeping habits!" my eyes fly open and I throw the blanket off my bed. Katniss looks away when she realizes I am only clad in boxers. I pull on a pair of jeans and I throw on a shirt, flying down the stairs and grabbing a muffin and a piece of pizza on my way out, only to rush back in to kiss my other on the cheek and grab my backpack sitting by the stairs. I pull them on and I click the button of my car keys to unlock my truck. Yup, I have a truck. Katniss hastily climbs in and I toss her the keys. She turns the engine on, and I run to get to the driver's seat. When I finally do get settled, it is then when I notice my completely disheveled hair. I sigh and keep my eyes on the road.
"I swear, you are going to be the death of me, Mellark." Katniss hisses, smiling out the window. I roll my eyes, and I turn my head to glance at Katniss quickly.
"You know I always get us to class with a few minutes to spare, Everdeen." I say, putting emphasis on Everdeen. Katniss rolls her eyes and scoffs at me.
"One day," she mutters. "one day, we are going to be late, and we'll see who gets the last laugh." She mutters, opening the door and closing it with great force. My truck isn't the best model ever, but it gets us here in one piece.
"Shoot." Katniss mutters, looking at her hands in sadness. "Do you have a spare shirt I can borrow for gym?" she asks, her ice gray eyes wide. I cross my arms and keep walking.
"Peeta! Pleease?" she asks, skipping in front of me in the halls. I sigh and pretend to mull it over. I keep walking to my locker, and answer her by giving her my old shirt. It doesn't fit me now, so Katniss can just keep it.
"Keep it," I say closing my locker.
"Why?" she asks, pulling her hair into a ponytail for gym. I shrug, looking down at the lower class-men.
"It's too small on me now, so you just take it." I say, eyeing the review package I got for English. I see Katniss turn the big gray shirt over and see the faded black Mellark on the back. I'd gotten it last year, but I seem to grow out of shirts and jeans everyday.
"Thanks Peeta." She says softly, looking up at me. My eyes meet hers, and I almost melt in their warm gaze.
"Always," I say, just suddenly realizing how tall I'm getting.

"Alright!" I hear someone bark, I turn my head to see my childhood nightmare, Finnick Odair walk over to me. He looks to be the student helper with Gale for our PE class. Great. Two crazed twelve graders teasing me in front of my classmates. Yay. I see Katniss walk out of the girl's change-room with my t-shirt on. It's snug on me, but on her it looks like the shirt is swallowing her otherwise curvy form. I fail to keep the grin off my face when I see the faded Mellark with the number 16 on the back. Katniss sits beside me, her head turned in Gale and Finnick's direction, who are talking to each other quietly. I think I see Clove, the only other girl in this class give Katniss the stink-eye. She's never liked Katniss. I don't know why, but if she tries anything, I will be willing to punch her boyfriend Cato in the face in a heart-beat. More boys pile into the gym, and Katniss shuffles closer towards me, making room for the rest of the students. Her shoulder press against each other, and electricity shoots from where we touch.
"Today," shouts Gale. "We will be doing hand-to-hand combat as well as running laps." Says Gale, flipping through the clipboard. I take a glance at Clove and her unsure scowl turns into a full-blown smirk in our direction. Our eyes meet, and she sends me a threatening glare. I look away, not because I am intimidated, but because her glare feels uncomfortable.
"Line up!" barks Finnick. I've learned that Finnick is a good guy, but if you piss him off, you're dead. Gale and Finnick split us into teams, the red and the blue. Katniss and I end up on the same team, and Clove is on the red team, against us. There is no doubt that Katniss and Clove will be pitted against each other. They are so equal weight and height-wise. They are both slim and slender, they are both exceptional, and they both excel in all areas of PE. This makes me nervous. The first pair is called, Drew and another boy I don't know the name of. We encourage them loudly, calling out moves and words of encouragement. I think Katniss and Clove are the loudest. After a little while, my name is called to go against another boy, and we are equal. We are both broad and muscular, and we even share the blonde, golden hair and blue eyes. The whistle blows and he throws the first punch. I duck easily and do a sweep-kick to his feet, and he falls easily. I take this moment to straddle his waist and throw light punches to his face. The whistle blows again, signalling the end of the match. I help him up and we shake each other's hands. I go back to my respective spot beside Katniss and she nudges me with her arm.
"Everdeen and Heath!" Finnick calls. I look to Katniss in concern, it's painstakingly clear that neither Clove nor Katniss will give up without ending up with bruises. I see the boys on the other side look to each other in excitement. It looks like they would do anything for a fight between the two girls that are such equals. Clove stares at Katniss with a cold glare, and Katniss stares back in equal fervor. My heart-beat quickens along with my fellow classmates whispers. And the whistle blows. Clove throws the first punch, but Katniss ducks easily, punches Clove's midsection. Hard. Hard enough to knock Clove off her feet. She dives to Clove's form, but Clove gets up quickly. The next minute is intense. It is a flurry of hair and limbs, and I think I hear someone say they're pulling each other's hair. It's true, Katniss' hair is pulled free from her ponytail, but it doesn't seem to faze her. After another moment, Clove ends up on top of Katniss. I hear triumphant screams from the other side, but my eyes stayed locked on the scene. Clove goes in for a slap, and from what it looks like, it looks like it will leave Katniss' face red and rosy. I wait for the sound of her hand making contact with Katniss' face, but it never does come. I open my eyes just in time to see Katniss catch Clove's wrist. I think this takes Clove by surprise, because she sits back a little. The moment she does though, she knows she's made a big mistake. Katniss takes this moment, to break free, and she lands a hard slap on Clove's face. We fall silent. Katniss quickly straddle Clove's waist, and Clove is trapped. There is nothing for her do. But the determination on both of the girl's faces does not get wiped off. Because if there anything else they have in common, they are both incredibly stubborn. That look gets wiped off Clove's face when Katniss lands a hard punch to Clove's face. I wince at the sight, and the whistle blows.
"Winner! Everdeen!" our side shouts in triumph, while the red team broods in defeat. In good sportsmanship, Clove and Katniss shake hands. I think I see Clove squeeze a little harder than needed, but Katniss comes back, smiling slightly in victory. She breathes heavily and sweat shines on her forehead, and both of the girl's hair is a tangled mess. Katniss pulls back her long dark brown hair into a ponytail and smiles at me.
"Good job, Kat." I say. I see Katniss get slapped on the shoulder by Drew and the rest follow. We like to think we are a family, this class. Katniss and Clove are like the two little sisters everyone wishes they had. Except me. Katniss is anything but a sister to me. She is my life, my favourite part of the day, and best part of my week. I just wish she could see that.