Author's note: Wow! 30 reviews. I would like to thank everyone who did and stuck with me. I wanted to answer the question if I'm sure that this is a KatnissxPeeta fanfiction and not a KatnissxFinnick. They seriously just are bestfriends. I decided that Finn IS a big flirt and they've known each other a LONG time and I'm thinking of something but I don't wanna tell you just yet. "Guest", I'm not sure who you are and if you're only one person but thank you for supporting me. Oh! And hmmm? How does it sound if I update on probably Mondays? My life is messed up with school right at this moment. And I have this poll up on my profile if you ever have the time to vote please do so…
DISCLAIMER: I can NEVER own The Hunger Games. It's just too good for me. I'm just an outcast from school.
Chapter 4: The Call
Katniss's POV
Yesterday, I spent my Sunday like every other Sunday back in New Jersey. I went hunting, but of course, I had to improvise. I went to the gym, shoot arrows, hitting fake animals thrown up in the air. And now, I got a new hunting partner, Haymitch. Back in New Jersey, I had Madge as a hunting partner. She didn't chatter much and she had careful feet. She would still snap a twig now and then but I'm impressed. She doesn't have that much practice like me but she managed not to scare away all the animals. I remember trying to teach her how to shoot. She tried and tried to shoot an apple on a branch 15 yards away but soon after she got irritated and went stomping off to the apple tree and snatched it, biting it with annoyance. I laughed at her so hard that I had tears in my eyes and she called me insane. Though Madge wasn't much of a great hunter I felt safe around her. She kept me company. Haymitch, on the other hand, was a pain in the ass. I don't even know if I can trust him in the woods. He's a good hunter but with a mouth like that can scare the whole damn woods. At times, I realized that he would drag his legs wherever he walked. That lazy old bum wouldn't do any good in the woods.
After that me, Prim, Rue, and Thresh watched a movie. Thresh is Rue's older brother and apparently he's the same year as me, Finnick and Annie, a junior. He also plays football. He's a great guy and you'd think that a guy as huge as him would be a bullying jerk who can't stop yammering but he's not. He's the total opposite. He only smiles sometimes. He's a lot like me. He smiles when Rue is happy like how I smile when Prim is happy. He's not much of a talker. And I would say that someone as huge as him would probably be the best hide and seek player ever. I haven't seen him since day 1 or if I did I would have recognized him, probably. I am impressed with how great my observation with him is.
It's a Monday again and I'm not looking forward to those jerks or Effie's shrill accent. I'm about to take my seat when the class phone rings. I don't even know what it for is. Lazy air heads. Why can't they just walk all the way here? I mean come one people! We have feet. Why don't you use it sometimes? Ms. Effie is still here. When can Mr. Cinna get here? I heard he was a great teacher. Ms. Effie interrupts my thoughts when she calls me out. "Ms. Everdeen, the principal would like to see you."
Euh! What did I do this time? Yes, I'll admit I fell asleep in a couple of classes but it doesn't say in law that sleeping is now a crime. And it's also not my fault. I'm not used to the time parallax anymore. I stand up from my chair and grab my backpack. I get some "oooohs" and whispers and a questioning look from Finnick but I just shrug. I don't even know what I am in for. I hold my head high letting people know I'm not scared. This is just the principal anyways. Now, I would be scared if I met a disgusting president who would do anything to maintain his power even if it means poisoning his competition. And the bright side to this is that I don't have to worry about losing my ears to that Effie woman. I also won't be in the same room for an hour with those two idiots, Gale and Peeta.
I walk into the principal's office. The first thing I notice is that the person sitting on the chair facing out the window has white hair and not gray. It's not the vice principal, Coin, who welcomed me to this school. But I can't really tell. The room is dim. I guess he likes the room dark.
"Ah! Katniss Everdeen. I have been expecting you. Please take a seat." He says, still looking out the window. His voice is icy. Venom clearly in it. I obediently obey him and take a seat in front of his desk. His voice is oddly familiar. "It has come to my attention that you have not signed up in any club yet. It is clearly requested in our school handbook for every student to be active when it comes to extracurricular and you'll need it to graduate." He finally turns around.
"Gramps? When did you get back? I thought you went to a business trip?" I ask, standing up and giving him a hug after swatting him on the shoulder for giving me that cold voice he usually uses on his workers. He chuckles.
"I missed you too, sweetie. I just got back today."
"Does Prim know you're back?"
"Not yet. I brought her a stuff toy though."
I'm first to break the embrace. He composes himself while I walk over to the couch by the door and take a seat. I'm supposing it's for the parents.
"So you're the new principal now?" I ask.
He clears his throat and talks in his business voice.
"I was being serious earlier. You need to be in a club to graduate." I'll take that as a yes.
"Why? We probably aren't going to last here by the end of the year."
He's doing that tired habit of his again. He's massaging the bridge of his nose.
"We are going to be here. That's why. I went off to that business trip to seal the deal. I wanted to seal the deal with Seneca to let him know I want out. I want you and Prim to have a decent and steady life. I don't want you two leaving your friends behind all the time. I see how Prim gets upset every time we move." I open my mouth to argue but he interrupts me.
"Why do you must have to be my granddaughter? Why do you have to always win an argument?" He lets out a frustrated breath. "Why do you have to follow that trait from me? You're so stubborn. You followed that trait from your mother too." He stands up and walks over to me. He gives me a quick kiss on my forehead and sits next to me. I bring up my legs and sprawl it across his lap. I lay my head down on the arm chair and close my eyes.
"Grandpa, I miss them." That's the only words I let out. I don't want to break down in a horrible panic attack in school. I let out a shaky breath.
I bring my legs up to my chest. Grandpa moves closer to me and scoops me up onto his lap. Suddenly, I feel like a 5 year old again. He would cradle me on his lap every time I would scrap my knee or fall off a tree with Prim on our adventures.
"I know. I know. Just let it all out. It's okay to be weak once in a while." This time I can't hold it in any longer. I let the tears roll freely down my face. Prim won't be able to see how weak I am. No one else will. Just me and my grandpa. "Look, I love you Katniss but you are a pain in the ass. You need to let it out once in a while. You can't hold it in forever. They and I want you to graduate. We want you to become successful. Why don't you try entering in that cheerleading squad? It's the only club left opened for members. I don't know why they only have a little members but I know you can get in. You are after all, Katniss Snow Everdeen." I open my mouth to protest but I choose not to say anything. I want him to be happy. I want to thank him for taking care of us. "I know you can do those flips and tricks. I still have videos at home of every performance you did."
Home. He's been planning this. He already considers this place his home. No wonder why the place is fully furnished with roses out in the front lawn. And I can't believe he kept all of those videos. But why did it have to be here? I don't even like the people here other than Finnick and maybe Annie. She's starting to rub off on me. "Kaniss?" I'm interrupted with the train of thoughts building up in my head.
"Sorry, Gramps. I guess I just zoomed out. It's just a lot to process."
"So how about that club thing?"
"Fine. On one condition."
"Why should there always be something in it for you?"
"I guess another stubborn trait passed on to me from you." I smirk knowing he'll give in.
"What is it?" I knew it. I ponder on this for a moment and think of a great idea. I haven't really thought of the condition clearly. Hmmm?
"Let me skip class."
"No." He says, firmly.
"Fine, I guess I won't be graduating." I taunt him. I know this will seal the deal. "C'mon gramps. You just agreed that you'd do it on a condition. Snows don't take back their word do we? Please? Plus Effie is so annoying. She sort of remembers me of a bamboo's butt with her cheeks so red with all that make up. Maybe if she cut back on that make up she'd probably look pretty but still annoying. Another discussion from her about slouching and I will surely hurl myself at her. I can't stand her voice no longer. She's driving me crazy! You might as well throw me into a dungeon for a whole year and as long as she isn't there I'd be able to live through it without food."
He stands up, removing me from his lap. At first, I thought he was going to kick me out and build a dungeon underneath our house but instead he just steps out of his office. I can hear the conversation carrying out right now with him and I'm guessing his secretary.
"Portia, please go over to Ms. Trinket's room and excuse Ms. Everdeen here."
"Why, sir? Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Our talk will be longer than I thought it would be."
"What should I tell Ms. Trinket?"
"I don't know. Tell her she's died or something." I snicker at his choice of words. Spoken more than my grandpa than the new principal of this school. She doesn't push him and leaves with a "Yes, sir."
I hear the clunking of her heels moving farther and farther. Once my grandpa steps back in, I rush over to give him a hug.
"Thanks gramps. You are the best. You won't even notice I'm here. And so much for your professionalism." I yawn loudly.
"I'll be sleeping here. I had a tough night last night." I say, gesturing to the now comfy-looking couch. I remove my boots and stretch my legs across the couch. I shift around it to find a comfortable position. "Oh! Hey! Gramps? Remind me to bring pillows tomorrow."
Momentarily later, I feel someone wake me. I rub my eyes groggily.
"Morning, Gramps. What time is it?" I ask, unaware of the current time.
"12. Go eat lunch."
I grab my back pack that I used for a pillow earlier and leave Grandpa's office.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH LOOKING FOR FINNICK ODAIR
I walk over to my table and I see Annie and Finnick already there. I place my tray and take a seat next to Annie.
"Hey, little squirrel. Where have you been? We were worried about you when you didn't come back."
"I took a nap." I answer simply. No further explanation needed. Finnick just looks at me curiously to where I took a nap without teachers swarming the place but I have more things to worry about.
"Hey Annie? Can you do me a favor?" I ask, hesitantly. I'm not used to asking for help. I whisper in her ear so she will be the only one to know and I doubt Finnick can hear us with the questioning look he is giving us at the moment. I guess he doesn't have giant elephant ears. I choose to ignore him however.
Author's note: So that was it. Sorry if it sucked. I was planning for Annie to be here on this chapter and not only in the end but like the whole thing but I felt like winging this chapter so… That is what it turned out to be. Thanks again for everyone who reviewed the past chapter.