A/N: For anyone wondering, the Finnick and Annie storyline will start in the chapter after this one!
Katniss' POV
My second session with Cinna went better than expected, given the fact that he was right and maybe I was wrong to judge the people at the school. Only some of them though, which I made sure was clear to him. While I explained to him the encounters with Cashmere, Gloss and Finnick, I also found myself talking about Peeta, and how I had him completely wrong. He wasn't just like the rest, he was different, and I liked that. That realisation terrified me though, I wasn't supposed to feel that way about anyone at the school.
"I knew you'd come around." Cinna said, smiling. "So it's not as bad here as you thought?"
"Maybe not." I answered, "I'm still not here to make friends though. I need to get into a good college."
"I'm sure you will." Cinna said nicely.
"Do you think so?"
"Of course." Cinna smiled, "Of all the students here, I'm betting on you to make into whatever college you want."
I smiled, "Thanks, Cinna." I really hoped he was right.
Not only did Cinna's session work out well, but my group for the psychology project did too. Madge and Delly worked hard on their half of the project, and I found out that both of them were really nice girls. They joined Johanna and I for lunch some days during the week, and we were able to have conversations that weren't centred around what dress to wear to whatever party on whatever day. Maybe I had more friends at this school than I thought. However, when we submitted the project the following Thursday afternoon, I didn't think I would spend any more time with Peeta. Madge and Delly I would definitely see again, but not Peeta. He obviously had other ideas.
"Hey, Katniss!" he said, running to catch up to me after class as we headed back to our lockers. "I was just wondering, are you free tomorrow night?"
"I think so, why?" I asked suspiciously.
"Well there's this party, one of the guys on the football team is throwing it at his place. Maybe you want to come with me?" He didn't meet my eye when he spoke and he seemed suddenly overcome with shyness.
"You're asking me to go with you to some party with your friends, all of whom hate me, may I remind you."
"They don't hate you, I've told you that." he laughed, "They just don't know you. Give them a chance."
"I don't think so, Peeta, an Upper East Side party isn't exactly how I saw myself spending tomorrow night."
"Come on, it will be fun."
"For you, maybe. You're one of them. I'm not."
"Look, to be honest, I don't like most of them either. I kind of need someone to make fun of them with."
"Well that changes things slightly." I joked.
"You in?"
"I'll think about it." I said, smiling only because he was too.
At first, Johanna was dead set against me going to the party, and I was too. There was no way I wanted to spend a whole night at some awful rich kid party. It sounded like a nightmare. However, Johanna soon had what she called a 'brilliant' idea that I could report back to her on all the 'scandalous' things that took place.
"You want me to spy on them?" I asked incredulously.
"Not spy- observe." she corrected, "Come on, it would be hilarious."
"Oh yeah, then why don't you go?"
"It's really not my scene." she told me, "Besides, I'm not even invited, but you are!"
"I don't think this is a good idea." I said warily.
"Come on Katniss, it will be a bit of fun. Just don't end up becoming one of them." she warned.
"Oh don't worry, that won't happen." I promised.
In the end, it was Prim who made the decision for me that I would go to the party with Peeta, even though every cell in my body was screaming that it was the worst idea ever. Spending the day at school with those people was bad enough, and I had absolutely no desire to see them in their natural habitat- a party with free alcohol.
"Katniss, come on!" Prim wailed, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Can you imagine how amazing the apartment would be?"
"I don't want to imagine a single thing about it." I said stubbornly.
"Please, Katniss. Aren't you just a little bit curious to know what it's like?"
"Not the slightest."
"Then what about Peeta?"
"What about him?"
"Don't you want to see him, at least?"
She had me there. The only thing tempting me about the stupid party was the chance to spend more time with him, as much as I hated to admit that.
"He'll ditch me as soon as some semi drunk blonde batts her lashes at him."
"Well then you better go to scare them off."
Prim spent the rest of the night pleading with me to go before I finally gave in and agreed, even though I spent the rest of the time dreading it.
Peeta wanted to pick me up from my apartment, but I managed to convince him that it would be much quicker if I just met him at his apartment instead. I was not entirely sure why I was so hesitant for Peeta to see where I lived. Sure, the neighbourhood was dodgy but I'd never felt ashamed of my address. The thought was still on my mind as I waited for Peeta in the foyer. I was feeling sick about the whole situation. For a moment I considered just leaving and not going to the party at all, but at the same time as I turned to leave, the elevator door opened and Peeta stepped out.
"Wow," he said, "You look amazing."
Despite myself, I blushed. Prim had managed to find one of our mother's old dresses that was half way decent, and thankfully it fitted. "Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself."
That was an understatement of course. He looked great, but I didn't want to let him catch me looking at him, like I had caught him a thousand times. Still I couldn't ignore the butterflies in my stomach when he put his hand on the middle of my back as we walked towards the limousine waiting outside.
When we pulled up outside another huge apartment building, I could see the lights flashing from the very top floor and I knew that that was where we were heading. The party was straight out of a high school movie, except instead of red cups everyone drank from crystal glasses and the room was lit by three chandeliers. The music was playing so loudly I could barely think and people were screaming and laughing and staggering around, drunk already.
I must have had a terrified expression on my face because Peeta turned to me and gave me a reassuring smile.
"Hang on, I'll get you a drink." he said over the music.
I was left alone for a moment, leaning against the wood panelled wall. Within moments Cashmere and her friends had descended upon me, looking extremely displeased.
"What are you doing here?" Cashmere demanded.
"Peeta invited me." I replied, hoping he would be quicker with those drinks.
"Peeta?" Cashmere asked incredulously, "As in Peeta Mellark?"
"Yes, that's the one." Like there were any other Peeta's in our year.
"Why would he invite you?"
"Beats me." I sounded sarcastic, but I was actually asking myself the same question. Why would he want me to come, when he could be with any of these other girls?
Thankfully, Peeta returned and handed me a drink. I took a sip immediately and Cashmere scowled.
"Cashmere!" Peeta said overly cheerful, "Nice to see you."
"We were just talking to your date." Cashmere sneered.
I tried to tell her that no, this was not a date, but Peeta was sliding his arm around my waist, pulling me close. "Need to say any more? I'd like to keep her all to myself." he said.
Cashmere was scowling again. She narrowed her eyes at me and crossed her arms, before walking away, followed by her friends. As soon as they were gone, Peeta let out a sigh of relief.
"Seriously, that girl will be the death of me." he said.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"For over two years she's been trying to get me to ask her out, but there is no way that would ever happen."
"Really?" I was surprised.
"Yes really! She's awful and nowhere close to my type." he said matter-of-factly.
"Oh and what's your type then?" I asked teasingly.
"I don't know maybe…dark hair, smart, stubborn…" he joked.
"I am not stubborn!" I exclaimed.
"Who said I was talking about you?" he replied.
For a second I wasn't sure if he was joking and I felt myself go red. Suddenly he smiled and leant close.
"I was talking about you." he whispered, making my skin tingle.
That was a situation I had never been in before. Not just the party, but flirting with a boy. I suddenly felt very out of my depth. However, we were quickly interrupted as Gloss pushed passed us to throw up in the pot plant by the wall. I was more comfortable after that, as we watched in amusement everything that was going on in the room, from some boy called Brutus doing shots to Finnick surrounded by girls. However, I couldn't help ignore the fact that Peeta still had his arm around my waist.
It was nearly midnight when I went out into the hall to find the bathroom. The apartment was huge and made up of corridor after corridor of wood panelled walls. I got a little lost on the way back, and found myself in a deserted part of the apartment. When I heard voices, I quickly ducked into a small alcove, still while having full view of the hall.
I saw a girl with long blonde hair leave one of the bedrooms, her hair messy and the zip of her dress not properly done up. I recognised Finnick, leaving the room after her, his hair equally as tousled and wobbling slightly as if he'd had quite a lot to drink. The girl kissed Finnick on the cheek and whispered something to him, before running off in the opposite direction down the stairs towards the party. Finnick sighed and ran a hand through his hair before sitting down on the top step of the stairs, his head in his hands. Great, now I had to pass him to get back to Peeta.
Sighing to myself, I prepared myself to walk by, cursing under my breath when he spoke.
"Ah, Katniss. Didn't expect to see you here." he said smoothly, "Well actually, I kind of did, considering how Peeta won't stop talking about you."
"What?" I asked, suddenly interested in the conversation.
"Oh yeah, won't stop going on about you." he gave a joking groan, "Totally in love- makes me sick."
"Well, meaningless hook ups aren't for everyone." I shot back at him.
"You're telling me." he said. Suddenly he looked said. When I thought about the way he looked leaving that room minutes before, it wasn't exactly the smug victory walk that I expected from him. Instead, he looked tired…broken.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Katniss, I'm only telling you this because you seem like the only girl in this school that doesn't spread gossip. So listen carefully, because it's not often that the infamous Finnick Odair shares a real feeling." Despite the honesty of what he was saying, he kept up the charming demeanour that I was beginning to feel was just as act.
"Ok?" I said. Maybe he was just drunk, but I was still feeling a little uncomfortable about the sudden turn this conversation had taken. I decided that whatever it was he was going to say would not be shared with Johanna, because Finnick was right- I didn't like gossip and I never would.
"Maybe hooking up isn't for me, either. Maybe love doesn't make me sick." he looked at me, "If you like Peeta and he likes you, you've gotta make sure it works out." Finnick stood, wobbled a little, and left me standing on the staircase very confused about what had just happened.
I didn't see Finnick again for the rest of the party. By the end of the night, I had to admit that I actually had a pretty good time. So maybe Cinna was even more right than I first thought. The people here did surprise me, and maybe like Finnick, they all had secrets to keep hidden.