Author's note: So thank you for everyone who reviewed and favorite also followed this. I don't know how to thank all of you. I'm sorry for the long wait. You just don't know how hectic my damn schedule is. Eh! I dunno but I have well uhmmmm boring stories. HAHAHA! So here it goes…
CHAPTER 5: The Friend
Finnick's POV
Ever since the incident on Saturday, I've noticed lately that Katniss has been avoiding me. The last time I got to speak to her was yesterday at lunch with Annie. I have also noticed that she has been hanging around Annie more than the time she spends with me. What is going on between us? I guess because I've been busy practicing for the first game of the year on Friday.
I don't have anything against Annie. She's as sweet as Prim but very quiet. I guess she's just shy or maybe scared? There are a lot of horrible rumors of her being a bitch and snob for not hanging out with us or how she chooses not to hang with her swimming team. She is the opposite of what they are spreading. I appreciate the kindness Annie is giving Katniss. Knowing Katniss for a couple of years, she is one tough cookie to befriend. Her walls are always up and she has this issue of not trusting people right away. I guess someone as sweet as Annie can get her to break down those walls easily. I need to find her someone who could. Let a fierce soul get her to crack open other than me and Annie. There's something about Annie I very much admire.
I shake the weird thoughts in my head of Annie. I don't usually think of a girl who I don't treat as a sister or after a hot make-out session. They don't go far beyond being mentally being thought about. Annie and I are nowhere near physical and I'm already thinking about her.
I jog towards my team on the field.
"Where are the chicks?" I ask. Normally, the cheerleaders practice out on the field and then we do some flirting but they are nowhere in sight.
"Heard there's a bag of wanna-be who wants to get in the squad." Cato answers.
"Whoa! We haven't got a chick that got in the squad for 3 years or someone who has enough guts to even try out." I say.
"You think Coach Cash is going to go easy on her?" Peeta asks, thoughtfully. Peeta as sweet as ever. I wonder…
Since Cashmere became the new coach only the hottest and the best got in.
"Who do you think is it?" Gale asks.
"No idea," Marvel answers without even thinking about it a second. "I guess we'll figure it out this Friday if that is she gets in or when she comes out weeping."
"Alright! Huddle up! Enough of the dirty talking about those girls!" Coach shouts, blowing his whistle afterwards.
Katniss' POV
I am glad Annie is here to support me. When I asked her for the favor her face lit up as if she won the lottery. She was super excited that she called off her swimming practice saying she had something important to do. She made me wear very short shorts of hers because I didn't have any. She told me I'll be able to move better without jeans bothering me if I had to do something outrageous. I couldn't protest because she seemed so happy and she also helped me with looking presentable for this thing. I also didn't have the heart to deny her with those pleading eyes like Prim's. Prim adores her. They got along right away when they first met. She's so sweet and I'm surprised that she's a loner. Well, I assume she is. I don't see people making an effort to walk up and sit with her in lunch other than me and Finnick or even going up to talk to her.
She put my hair in a high ponytail before braiding it after all my arguments with her with the ponytail still on. She even took the time to put make-up on me. Only a little though. She swept some stuff on my cheekbones put a little lip shine and what was that called? Mascara? I don't know! I never really understood make-up, fashion and other girly things. She wanted to make my best features pop out according to her if I even do have that. I hate wearing it but if this is a way to help me get in then I will do it.
No wonder why there are only a couple of cheerleaders- 10 to be exact- almost all are blondes. The coach is very strict. She wants everything to be perfection. A wrong move that can go unnoticeable mistaken, she makes them restart from the top. The uniforms these people wear are so provocative. They end above the thighs with skirts. If you look closely you can probably see the girls' ovaries. I need to talk to grandpa about this. Everything about it screams "Look at me! Want to try baby-making in the janitor's closet?" I don't get why they like wearing it everywhere in school. I don't want to make a big fuss about it though. I just want to be exempted from wearing it around school for no reason or probably I can get a version- My thoughts are interrupted when the coach calls my name.
"Katniss S. Everdeen."
All the other cheerleaders are now gone. I wonder how long I have been thinking. I, Annie and the coach are the only living soul left in the gymnasium. I take a deep breath and walk forward. I take one last look at the bench where Annie sits. She mouths the words "You can do this." I nod my head and give her a genuine smile. Something I barely give- that includes Prim, Gramps, Madge, Finnick, Rue (Yes, she is starting to warm up on me), and now Annie.
"Let's start with the basics." She shouts through the blow horn. She blows her whistle.
"Cartwheel."
"Split."
I do everything as she commands and I can't believe that I can still do it. I haven't done this for years now. "Good, good. Let's do something a little more challenging."
"Spread eagle!"
"Toe touch jump!"
"Hurdle jump!"
"Backflip!"
"Very nice. You execute each one with such accuracy." she praises.
"Triple back flips?" It comes out more of a question than a command. I do as she pleases. "Who taught you to perform with such grace?"
Grace. She thinks I'm graceful. Wow! Those are the nicest words I got out of her for an hour. 'Don't think you're in yet. She's maybe teasing you to get to you.' I think.
"Me and my little sister used to play with our trampoline a lot before." I answer. Even though she is starting to warm up, she still scares me.
She looks at me from top to bottom and does a double take. "How many pounds do you weigh?"
"Excuse me?" I ask back, trying to say it as polite as I can. Why would she want to know how heavy I weigh? What is she thinking? Carrying me up the Eiffel Tower? I'll pass.
"You look a skinny for your height and weight."
"I'm not sure." I answer, honestly. I didn't think it was in the requirement to know how much I weighed. I haven't noticed how skinny I am. I guess I haven't eaten that much lately since they passed away. Depression.
"You're in," she says. She blows her whistle, signaling the end of my try out. "Hit the showers." She walks to the benches and starts packing up. I just stand in the center of the gym, dumbfounded.
"Well? Don't just stand there! I told you to hit the showers! You just got into the squad. That doesn't make you special. You follow my orders." I nod my head, walking towards Annie still dumbfounded. She rushes over to me and pulls me in for a hug.
"You did great! I never knew you had it in you." she squeals, jumping up and down. I slowly wrap my arms around her. A small smile gracing on my lips.
"Thank you. For everything." I whisper.
A RAINBOW LEADING TO A POT OF GOLD WITH PEETA MELLARK DANCING IN A LEPRECHAUN SUIT
I just got out of the locker room. My hair is still damp from my shower but I braid it anyways. I see Annie still waiting for me by the benches. She reminds me of the time Finnick waited for me when that horrible incident transpired.
"Hey Annie! You waited?"
"Yes. I decided to just wait for you. I don't have anything to do at my place." she answers, meekly.
"You can come over at my place." I offer.
"You can come over at my place," she whispers as if I put her in a trance. "I can come over at your house?" she asks as if she didn't hear me right.
"Why wouldn't I be? Prim adores you." I respond, honestly. "And you're my friend." I include. "Let's go. Prim will be waiting."
We make a bee line to the main door but before she can open it, I hold her hand.
"Can we probably just uhmmm… exit through the back door?" She looks at me skeptically at my question but agrees.
A RAINBOW LEADING TO A POT OF GOLD WITH PEETA MELLARK DANCING IN A LEPRECHAUN SUIT
I was right. Prim has been waiting with Rue. I smile at them. Prim skips over in our direction while Rue follows suite. Prim gives me and then Annie a hug.
"Hi little duck! Hi Rue!" I pull her towards me and give her a hug too. She seems so left out. This is my third time receiving a hug for the whole day.
"Annie, this is my sister's best friend Rue." I say. "Rue, this is my best friend Annie."
Prim and Annie looks at me with wide eyes as if I grew a tail and a horn making me look like a unicorn. "What?"
"Best friend. I like that." Annie says, sweetly. Now both Prim and she are beaming. They are so alike when they smile.
"You coming over too, little Rue?" I ask ruffling her unruly hair. "Well? Let's get a move on." Prim and Rue skips ahead leaving me and Annie a couple of feet away.
"You weren't kidding about what you said?" Annie asks.
"No. Of course not. You remind me too much of Prim."
"What about Finnick?"
"Oh… uhmmmm…" I trail off. How do I answer this? I forgot he existed for a while there. "He's also my best friend I guess but that is different. It took me time to trust him and we were cast off in the wilderness to survive on our own. I barely even trusted him thinking he would turn into a cannibal without food handed to us on a silver platter. You took barely even a week." This answer of mine takes me off guard and leaves Annie simply happy.
A RAINBOW LEADING TO A POT OF GOLD WITH PEETA MELLARK DANCING IN A LEPRECHAUN SUIT
Not long after, we're already in front of our porch. I fish the keys out of my pocket. I insert the key in the knob and notice that the door is already open. That's strange. I look over to Annie, Prim and Rue. I place my index finger to my lips, signaling for them to be quiet.
"Stay here." I whisper.
I slowly open the door. Adrenaline coursing in my bloodstream. I turn into hunter mode. I walk in like a lion sneaking up on prey. I hear light footsteps coming from the kitchen. I walk cautiously in the direction of the sound. It's getting louder and louder. I brace myself for an attack and the door to the kitchen swings open. A familiar face pops up and starts laughing.
"Damn it, grandpa! You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing home so early?" I hiss.
"You should've seen y-yo-your face! You were like ready to pounce on me." he says in between laughs.
"What are you doing home so earlier?" I repeat. "You got a lady friend home or something?"
"I had nothing to do at school." he shrugs as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. When he got home yesterday, Prim literally jumped on him causing them to tumble on the floor. They looked so adorable. Later that night, we ate my favorite dish, lamb stew. After that, we made a little bonfire out in our huge backyard and watched the stars just like we always do with mom and dad were still around.
"Katniss?" My trains of thoughts are ruined when grandpa calls me back to reality. I forgot that he was standing right next to me. "Where's Prim?"
"Oh! Right! We have friends over."
"You made a friend?" he asks raising an eyebrow. I don't usually make friends. I thought it was useless.
"Yep." I answer popping the p. "I'll go fetch them. I made them wait outside." I walk over towards them on the porch looking as scared as hell. Annie has her phone over her ear probably trying to connect to the police. "Sorry. False alarm. It was just grandpa home early. C'mon in."
Prim comes rushing in, jumping on grandpa. Its times like this that makes me realize I'm very lucky to still have Prim and Grandpa even if they are the only family I have left. They break apart. Prim introduces Rue and I introduce Annie.
We grab a plate of banana flavored muffins that grandpa bought at the bakery, popcorn and strawberry milkshakes and head upstairs before grandpa stops me (including Prim, Annie, and Rue since I'm ahead of the 2 steps) dead in my tracks.
"Did you get in the squad?" he asks. I freeze at his question. I didn't get to tell Prim I signed up yet. She'll be pissed knowing I kept this from her.
"What squad? The cheerleading squad?" Prim asks.
"Yes." I answer to both of their questions.
As I have anticipated she explodes. "How could you not tell me, Kat? We're sisters! We're supposed to tell each other everything! I can't believe you! We promised that no matter what we tell each other everything." She's practically shouting now. I have never seen her mad. This is her first outburst ever. She's as red as a tomato. She can be quiet intimidating when pissed. I never knew she had it in her. I guess we are related.
"I got in." I mutter. These are the only words I can process to relax Prim and it works like magic.
"What?" she asks, all giddy again. I laugh at her change of mood. Maybe she has her monthly curse. Typical Prim.
"You were all ninja-like. I have never seen that side before. You were so red I thought you were about to jump out of your skin." I pull her into a tight hug. She starts mumbling and I pull away.
"What was that?" I ask.
"I said I couldn't breathe. So you got in? Did you made their heads roll over?"
"Yes. I was okay, I guess."
"She was so great. I couldn't believe someone's body can be that flexible." Annie pipes in. I kind of forgot they were still there.
"Come on. Let's watch a movie." Prim says, pulling Rue with her free hand into her room. We follow suite.
A RAINBOW LEADING TO A POT OF GOLD WITH PEETA MELLARK DANCING IN A LEPRECHAUN SUIT
I can't believe Prim chose My Sister's Keeper. It was so sad. I can't imagine losing Prim like that. Annie, Prim and Rue cried so hard when Kate died. Yes, I actually paid attention to this movie. I had to also hold back my tears. I am not a softy for movies. I would roll my eyes at their acting skills and their fake cries because they don't know how it feels like to actually lose someone. Yes, maybe they have but that is different acting it out.
If I was Kate and Prim was Anna, I would never forgive mom or myself. First off, letting Prim deal with the cruel world alone. Second, taking her organs to give to me without her knowing. Third, carrying her perfect organs to the grave. And lastly, make her grow up so fast. That's my goal in life: Keeping her pure and innocent. I don't want her to see the painful things the world holds. I feel my eyes stinging. It's bad enough we lost both our parents. It's my entire fault. If I just moved my sorry ass they could've made it.
"Katniss?" Prim pulls me from my wounding thoughts. How many times have I spaced out already? "Rue and Annie are leaving now."
"Can't you guys just stay for dinner?" I whine. I want them to stay a while longer. It keeps the house feel like a home with them around. "I can phone Thresh for you Rue and I thought you didn't have anything to do at home Annie?"
"Please?" Prim joins in. She pulls her famous puppy dog eyes and pout. They both shake their heads with a grin on their face. See! I knew that Prim always gets away with that look and not only on me and grandpa.
"Fine." They say in unison.
I make a quick call with Thresh telling him that Rue will be staying over and agrees.
Dinner went by so fast and Rue and Annie are getting ready to leave already. Our night was filled with fitful of laughters wafting through the air as we recount embarrassing yet funny moments. We only ate Chinese food that we ordered because Sae wasn't around to cook us some food. It was better food than nothing. I'm glad they stayed for a while longer. They made the house truly feel like a home. I think I will like it here. All I have to do is bare those jerks or probably ignore them and I know life will be alright.
Author's note: I'm sorry for another Peeta-less chapter but I'm still on the journey following the rainbow leading to that hot leprechaun. Hope you guys will leave a review. I made this chapter focus on Annie. I hope you guys also liked it. 'Til the next time, mates.