Author's note: Thank you so much for all the reviews. You guys are so awesome. Believe it or not, I take a picture of each of your reviews and save it into my laptop. I know my story is boring, like very boring sooo uhmmm.. I hope this is less boring. I skipped Thursday and went straight to Friday's game night. I just didn't feel like thinking to write for Thursday. Also I feel horrible. I got stuck and didn't know what to write thus resulting to eh. I wanted to say bad words a lot but I wanted it to be exactly Rated T so I decided to change the words.
Is That All You See, my awesome beta reader did a great job on this. :P
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. That's right! I sucked it all up just to admit I don't own it. :'(
CHAPTER 7: GAME NIGHT
PEETA'S POV:
I can't help but not think about Katniss. Katniss. Katniss. Katniss. She's starting to invade my dreams. She's driving me crazy! Last night my dreams were clear of how I truly felt for her. It was the most absurd dream I have dreamt.
"Daddy?" She called out. It was raining. The thunder was so loud that it shook the whole house. The room was vaguely familiar. At the corner of the room I saw her. A little girl was huddled in layers and layers of blankets, her back facing me. She slowly turned towards me. She had blonde hair- just like mine. Her eyes are a deep shade of gray. Her eyes red and puffy, evidence that she has been crying. Her face was pale with fear of the storm. She was clutching her teddy bear to her chest so tightly that her knuckles turned white. I walk over to her and kneel down in front of her.
"Hi there, sweetheart." I greeted. "Are you okay? Do you want to help me find your daddy?"
"What are you talking about, daddy? You're sitting right in front of me." She whispers in between sobs. "Where's mommy?"
I sit there in complete shock and confusion. Who is her mom? I am her dad? I don't reply to her question. I don't even know who her mom is. Then Glimmer comes into the room. Glimmer is her mom?
"You have such a brat of a daughter! Look at her! She's a demon. She's been whining for her crazy witch of a mom and her two-timing son of a gun of a dad to get their asses home from their crappy date. You both just can't hold your damn hands together without getting sloppy. I am never going to babysit your kids again. I can't believe you chose this kind of family over me. I came over to babysit to maybe give you a second shot with me and here you are 'letting loose', no more abs, multiplying with that…that… argh! You know what? I give up! Besides, you never really were worth it. She can have my sloppy seconds!" she shouts, storming out of the house.
She made sure to slam the door on the way out. I bring the little girl up to my lap and hold her tightly. She is violently shaking. I had to cover her tiny ears from the profanities Glimmer shouted. The little girl finally stops shaking and her breathing evens out. She fell asleep in my arms. I carry her over to the bed and tuck her in. I stare at the little figure before me. Is this how my daughter will look like in the future?
Someone wraps an arm around my waist and leaves a trail of kisses from my neck down to my shoulder blades. I get a shiver at this interaction. The person starts nibbling on my ear and whispers, "I'm sorry. I had to drive the lunatic away."
I turn to face the woman and its Katniss. She gives the little girl a kiss on the forehead and whispers, "I'm so sorry, baby. Mommy and Daddy will never leave you alone with her again. She's never going to step into this house ever. We're sorry our little date took longer than I thought it would."
She tugs me by my tie, seductively. I haven't noticed the clothes I was wearing until now. I was in a suit. I went on a date with Katniss Everdeen. I have children with her too, according to Glimmer.
Can this get any better? And my prayers are answered. She pulls me towards the door. I follow her like a lost puppy. I just couldn't peel my eyes off those eyes that showed desire, want… and lust? She led me to a room with candles and rose petals on a bed. I was so dazed by those eyes of her that I didn't realize she slammed the door on my face. She was having sex in our supposed room with another man. I slumped to the ground to cover my ears from the loud moans. I was forced to listen to them move. She finally screamed the name of the guy that was with her. Finnick. She screamed it over and over again. This is a complete nightmare.
"You alright, man?" Finnick asks, pulling me out of my reverie.
"I'm fine." I snap. Concern, horror and confusion is evident is in his eyes. I have never shouted at Finnick, ever. Or at anyone for that fact. "Sorry. I guess I'm just a little worked up for this game. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"No worries, man. Nothing girls can handle forgetting about. C'mon! I bet Glimmer will help you ease off a bit with that nerve you got." Finnick gave me a pat on the back and left. I guess he's going to flirt with some of the cheerleaders, waiting outside of the lockers.
'I'm just jealous that you and Katniss are really close.' I thought to myself. I don't even have the right to be jealous because she isn't mine to begin with. I just wished I got to be close to her. I bet she practically hates my guts for waking her; offending her and making her do all the work for our biology project.
I hope she'll be out there, watching the game. I place my mouth guard and make sure to double-knot my shoe laces a tiny pre-game ritual I do unlike others who would wear their underpants for a week. I grab my helmet from my locker and walk out.
Much to my hypothesis, Finnick was already flirting and being swallowed whole by 5 cheerleaders- including Glimmer. She was batting her eyelashes and twirling her blonde curls, trying to get attention from Finnick.
Once she sees me, she walks over and pulls me in for a long intimate kiss but all I could think about was Katniss. I wonder how soft her lips would be against mine. I moan into Glimmer's mouth, keeping my eyes closed. I just wished this was Katniss. When she finally pulled away for air, I slowly open my eyes. I am met with blonde hair and green eyes. It's not Katniss. She gives me a smirk and I try my best not to frown.
"If you enjoyed that kiss so much, you should win the game and see what's underneath this," she purrs into my ears, gesturing to her uniform. "Nothing just to give you a hint, baby."
I manage not to roll my eyes at her and give her a chaste kiss on the lips.
Sure, I love Glimmer but there's no secret all she ever thinks about is finally doing the deed with me. Every time we have a heated kiss, she eagerly removes her shirt and starts grinding into me. I always pull away though. I am a virtuous man. I want to wait for the right girl and then get married first before I lose my virginity.
I give Glimmer a grin so I won't upset her. I walk out to the field and am surprised by the crowd and that's not the only thing I notice though. An unfamiliar laugh breaks through my ears along with Thresh's booming voice. I turn around and see that Thresh is not only talking but he's actually flirting with a cheerleader. This brings a smile on my face though the girl is not familiar to me. I guess she's the lucky chick that got in. I walk over to the benches and sit down. I'm the tight end. Finnick is the quarterback. Cato and Gale are both linebackers due to their massive strength and height. Marvel is the kicker. Compared to us, Marvel is a bit scrawny and shorter than the rest of us but he is a wicked kicker so you should never underestimate what a little fella can do. Again for today, I go back to what I was thinking earlier in the locker room. Katniss.
What kind of relationship does Finnick and Katniss really have? Finnick is always sitting with Katniss and Annie ever since she got here. Katniss is usually hanging out with him and always texting him- according to Finnick every time he picks his phone up. I don't know but I really do think I love her. I mean, I barely even know the girl but the simple things I do know about her, makes me fall in love with for her.
She doesn't talk about useless things like Glimmer. She's better with actions than words. She walks with self-confidence but she isn't self-absorbed. She enjoys silence and peace. She isn't like most girls. She doesn't trip over all guys that give her their attention. She's lethal and very sarcastic but I know there's more to her. I can tell it in those deep gray orbs of hers. She always keeps her emotions bottled up. The only emotions I have ever seen from her are amusement (every time she tries to get on Cato's nerves), confusion (On Wednesday at 5:42pm in her bedroom when I thought she was going to kiss me) anger (the time I hit a soft spot) and fire. She always keeps a straight face. She keeps to herself and she acts like she doesn't trust anyone other than Finnick and Annie. She's the type of girl that is straight on. She's a mystery I would like to unfold. She's special.
I clear my mind of all those thoughts. I have a game to think about not just some girl who would barely notice me. I walk over to a crowd of guys surrounding the new cheerleader. I'm shocked that Thresh, Finnick, Cato, Gale and Marvel are the ones surrounding her. This chick must be so hot. It's a shocker I haven't noticed her yet.
It was unmistakably, Katniss. I froze in place as I saw them chatting away. Her back is facing me and I'm a couple feet away. She was the girl Thresh was talking to. I feel a bolt of jealousy course through me. How does Thresh know Katniss and more importantly, how does Katniss know Thresh?
This girl never fails to surprise me. I never thought of her being a cheerleader yet there she stands in a cheerleading uniform, and might I say in a rather great one. It hugged her just in the right places but of course I couldn't exactly tell about her waist because Finnick held her waist, loosely. I'm glad he didn't pull her too close. Who else would Finnick wrap an arm around? Her usual braid is tied up in a high ponytail. I knew it was her. Just by her olive skin, I knew it was her. Last time I checked, he stopped fooling with what's that girl's name again? Lady? Lavender? Lavinia? Somewhere along those lines.
I shut my eyes closed. I felt lightheaded all of a sudden. How can they all talk so freely with her and I couldn't? Instead of walking up to them, I did a quick turn to the left entering the lockers room. Coward. I couldn't even walk up to her. I'm usually known for being cool and I couldn't even face her.
I bury my head in my hands. "What is wrong with you, Mellark?" I mutter to myself.
Coach Brutus comes out of his office and tells me to head to the field because the game is about to start. I take a deep breath and head out. We gotta win this game. It's always the first game that's important other than the Championship game. I have to stop thinking about Katniss. I have Glimmer. I'm a horrible boyfriend.
As usual, Finnick won us the game, me tackling 3 men down and I barely even focusing. It went by fast. All I could think about was Katniss. I kept on glancing at her through the corner of my eye.
She is actually very flexible. No wonder how she got in. During the half-time she stole the show. She did great booty shakings by the way. People barely noticed Glimmer on the top of the pyramid, including me, when Katniss did a Quadra flip in front of them.
Finnick is with Katniss (yet again) along with Annie, Prim, Thresh, Rue, and another man that reminds me of Santa. I walk over to them. That's right! Like Finnick said, "Nothing girls can handle forgetting about."
"Hey, man! You did a great job!" I comment Finnick. He gives me that goofy beaming smile and wraps an arm around Katniss' shoulder. Seriously, man? You trying to piss me off? I manage to smile at him though. I'm not supposed to be jealous.
"Thanks, Peet. Party at my place. You tagging along with us?" Us? Who's us?
"Sure." I answer, calmly. I hope that 'us' refers to Katniss.
"Great. Let's go." Finnick says to no one in particular. "Thanks Principal Snow. Don't worry. I'll take good care of Kitty Kat here."
Wait! Hold up! Principal Snow. He's Katniss grandfather? The guy is from Katniss' picture in her room. No wonder why he looks oddly familiar. And seriously Finnick? Kitty Kat?
"I can handle myself, grandpa. You can't trust this dummy… And seriously Finn? Kitty Kat? You call me that one more time and I'll tell everyone that little dare you did in Summer Camp." Katniss threatens. Holy crap! Can she read my thoughts? That's what I was thinking except for that secret dare he did. I wonder. Or is it that we are meant to be? 'Don't get your panties in a bunch. She can barely tolerate you. You're falling too fast and too hard.' Where the hell did that come from? I swear it's creepy. There are different voices in my head. I sigh. What has gotten into me?
"Don't just stand there, Mellark. Move your ass." Katniss scolds. I didn't realize the conversation is over. She spoke to me! We're walking towards Finnick's truck which he uses when he has a lot of passengers.
The trip to Finnick's place was oddly quiet for me and Thresh. The conversation is really between Katniss and Finnick and sometimes Annie speaks her mind. Time to time, I would catch Finnick glancing at me through the rearview mirror with a smug look on his face. Arrogant buffoon.
All Finnick kept on teasing Katniss that ever since they were younger she always wanted to be a ballerina and that she was great during the half time. Guess I wasn't the only one spying her from the corner of my eye. What are you hiding, Finnick?
We finally arrive at Finnick's house and his house is packed. Katniss, along with Annie, follows Finnick around his house. I need a drink. I can't take Finnick and Katniss' lovey dovey shit no longer. It's irritating.
~RIDING UP AND DOWN THE ELEVATOR WITH EFFIE, PEETA, AND KATNISS~
KATNISS' POV
"Hey! You guys! Peeta passed out near your pool, Finnick." Annie states, kicking him lightly on the stomach. "You think I should wake him up?"
"Huh? Who?" Finnick asks, popping his head from the slide door.
"Peeta passed out. Should I wake him?" Annie repeats.
"What? You've got to be kidding me. He never drinks that much to pass out." Finnick informs the both of us. I don't really care to know stuff about him. "I think we should all wake him up together."
"I'll pass." Why should I help them? I mean I don't see the point in helping out when they're already two. I think Annie can wake him herself. I continue picking up the littered cans of beer. These people are nasty. I bet Ms. and Mr. Odair would be pissed if they find out that Finnick crashed the house. The only reason is that Finnick threw a party here is because the Odairs are out of town for the week. They went to pick up Odin, Finnick's older brother, in Florida. I don't see why he went all the way to Florida for a swimming scholarship when he could've gotten one here. They tried bribing him with great offers but he politely declined. I guess because he wanted to live without his parents.
"Oh come on, Katniss! You are such a buzz kill. We could've gotten revenge for-" Finnick tries reasoning.
"I'm in." I cut in. Finnick and I are master-prankers. If this means revenge then that would be fun. We always pulled the greatest pranks of all time. During summer, we got to prank the counselors out of their cabins half-dressed. We got into so much trouble afterwards but it was worth it to liven up the camp. I mean it was all a harmless joke. They just didn't know how to live a little. If there is a college for pranking, Finnick would graduate as the valedictorian along with me I guess. We are partners in crime after all but he's more of the brains and I'm more of the action.
We both turn to Annie expectantly.
"Fine… I guess a little change won't hurt." She says, hesitantly. "What are we going to do to him?"
"Put a mustache and some make-up and take picture of him to use as blackmail?" I suggest.
"Write our names on his forehead saying we were here?" Annie chimes in.
"Good. Great. I like how you think, Annie. We can also do that but I also had something else in mind." Finnick says. I think I saw Annie blush from Finnick's complement a little under the moonlight but I keep my mouth zipped.
"What?" Annie and I ask a bit too eagerly.
"In mom's room, there's some make-up for you chicks." He says.
"For us?" I ask, dumbly. What does he have in mind? He may be a retard but he is an evil genius.
"I want you guys to wear those white dresses that mom has and put make-up on. I think we can smear her dresses with some ketchup to make it look like blood and wash it later. Annie, can you paint Katniss' face ghost white? Katniss here knows nothing about being a girl." I think I made a horrible grunt in disgust because Finnick starts smirking at me.
"Annie, for a swimmer, I know you can hold your breath the most so I suggest you emerge from the water once he wakes and I'll be behind that bush, filming you guys." He says, pointing to a bush near Peeta passed out at. "Now go! I'll get ready with the rest."
We rush off to Mrs. Odair's room and grab two similar night gowns that flow just three inches from our knees from her wardrobe. Annie starts painting my face with lots of powder and puts black mascara on my face. She then soaked it, making it look like I cried. She's great at this. I look dead. We then go down stairs and smear some ketchup on the night gowns. I put lots of ketchup mainly on the stomach area making it look like I was stabbed there. I kind of feel bad putting ketchup on it. It's so pretty and the fabric is made of silk (I should know wearing all those clothes for parties with grandpa and Prim.)
We head back upstairs and take turns changing.
Finnick's POV
Oh! This is going to be fun! Peeta is very wasted. He's in for a surprise alright. I'm not only the best pranker the world has to offer but I can make magic. I remember the last time he got so drunk. I had to carry him home. It was a Tuesday evening and I forced him to hang out with us at the bar. There is nothing funnier than messing with a drunken person especially if you get them to pour out all their secrets. I still remember out whole conversation.
"So what really is going on between you and Katniss? Huh?" Peeta asks half conscious of what he's saying. "I'm sure you're just playing with her. If I had a chance, I would steal her away from you."
Well this is rather interesting. Cato, Gale and Marvel already left and Peeta and I stayed behind. I wonder what he thinks of my Kitty Kat.
"You like her don't you," I tell him. "Don't worry she's a friend."
"Just friends huh? What was she doing in your bed that day? Huh? So can you come up with an answer for that?"
"Sleeping, obviously. And she isn't just a friend; she's like my little sister."
"Great. I'd seriously love to have her."
"How about Glimmer?"
"Who?" he asks, laying his head on the counter.
"You know. You're girlfriend."
"Oh! Her! We lost our fire. I just want Katniss." His head shoots back up, making me jump a little. He can't even remember his own girlfriend. He is very drunk.
"You want her that bad?"
"Yeah, if you'd let me." He answers. He finally loses consciousness and falls asleep on the bar counter.
Katniss and Annie finally come bounding down the stairs. Katniss comes down first and then Annie.
"Wow! Annie, you did a great job on Katniss." I complement her. She made Katniss look dead like she was killed.
I think I see Annie blush a little but I don't say a word. Even in my mother's night gown, which is loose on her, looks beautiful on her. She doesn't have any make-up because she'll be going in the pool and it will just run off. All I can say is that she looks like an angel.
Katniss' POV
We come back down stairs and Finnick has done a great job with his backyard in a short period of time. He flipped some tables and he placed knives (that had fake blood on it) a tad bit away from Peeta, just in case. He broke some beer bottles across the lawn. Broken plastic bits of chairs into the pool and the finishing touch, he splattered fake blood, that only God knows where he got them from, across tiles. He got to write all our names saying "KATNISS, ANNIE, AND yours truly FINNICK WAS HERE!" with a marker. I hope its permanent marker. . I don't know how he got it to fit but it did. I also don't know how he did it without waking him. I want him to remember this day.
"So? What's the plan?" I ask Finnick.
"Oh! You will love this but, you both have to promise that there won't be going back and that you'll listen to everything I say."
I look to Annie for her confirmation and we both nod.
"Say you guys promise!" he whines.
"Promise." Annie and I say in unison.
"Good. So here's what you are going to do Katniss, you slip in under his arms-"
"I'm going to do what now?" I ask, indifferently. There is no way in hell that I am going to go that near to him, let alone lay and be touched by him.
"You promised, Katniss!" he shouts.
"You said nothing about touching him!" I shout back.
"YOU PROMISED! Don't force me to carry you and throw you in the pool." I let out a sigh in defeat. As much as I don't want him touching me, I still want to prank him especially in his current state.
"What if he wakes up while I try slipping under his arms?" I ask, hesitantly.
"Ah! Thank you for not being so stubborn my dear Kitty Kat. I tried waking him but he didn't budge, and no he is not dead."
"Then how will I wake him?" I ask. I mean if he couldn't wake him then how could I?
"You scream in his ear and as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, Annie, like I said earlier; you will emerge from the water. You both will haunt him. You both are now officially dead at this hour," he pauses and checks his watch and then continues. "11:52pm due to a drunken teenager who took in all his rage at two innocent passer-byers. Got it?"
"What do we say?" Annie asks.
"How could you, Peeta? How could you kill us? HELP MEE!" he shrieked in a girly voice that I never knew he had in him. I don't even think I possess that. "That's what you should shriek. Positions!"
He runs over to the bushes and gets ready with his camera. "Lights, Camera, ACTION!" I slip into his arms and I instantly feel safe. I feel so weird with his warm wrapped around me. He's now cuddling with me and I'm freaking out. He lets out a sigh of contentment and buries his head on the crook of my neck and I just can't help but feel warmth boil in the bottom of my stomach. I can't help but try and push that feeling away from him. I try pushing him in and he just groans. Well, fuck you Mellark. You're lucky that you're drunk. I'd say that you were a pervert. I do the only thing I could do and do what Finnick told us to do. I move closer to his ear and scream to the top of my lungs. Finnick better be filming this 'cause I swear I am not doing take 2. Peeta finally shoots up and scream. He screams worse than me. He actually sounds like Finnick when he was impersonating a girl. I bite my cheeks to stop me from laughing. I wince in pain as I taste blood. I hold on to my stomach and act as if I'm in pain. I mean he did stab me.
"How could you, Peeta? How could you kill us? HELP MEEEE!" I shriek, mimicking Finnick.
Annie took this as a cue and surfaces out of the water and actually cries or I think it's from the water of the pool. She starts crawling out of the water and looks purple from holding her breath too long. She's breathing heavily but doesn't break character.
"How could you drown me, Peeta? How! HELP! Save me!" she screeches.
I am initially shocked with her acting skills but I recover immediately and continue my groans in pain. Peeta runs off to the slide door and tries running away but luckily, Finnick locked it and the only open door is through the his bedroom and I have to climb in through there later.
Peeta sinks down to the ground. He's starting to shut down in horror and covers his ears. He starts repeating "This is all just a horrible dream. You did not kill them." He's actually crying at the moment and Finnick steps out of the bushes, the camera is still on and rolling.
We all burst into a fitful of laughter seeing the broken Peeta. He looks at us crazy with a goofy face that I just can't describe and we laugh even harder. Yes, we can be cruel but you should see Peeta's face.
He stands up and walks over to me. He gently lays a hand on my cheek and I freeze at this action. What is he doing?
He then walks over to Annie and places a hand on her arms. He's feeling if we really are alive.
Finnick clears his throat and starts speaking. "Peeta Mellark, you just got punk'd."
Peeta pulls Finnick and me closer to Annie for a group hug and he starts sobbing.
"I thought I really did kill you." He chokes and I just can't help but start rubbing his back in comfort.
It takes him a while to control himself and when he does, he apologizes and leaves.
What is he saying sorry for?
Now I feel guilty for what I did and not only just me but also Finnick and Annie. I can tell it in the look of their faces.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING. I did say in my last update that I wouldn't be able to write and I have my cousin over from my hometown that I haven't seen for 2 years. I'm so sorry but was it worth the wait? Again, I am truly sorry. My next update would be on Saturday or Sunday maybe because I have exams next week. I truly am sorry. I felt bad for making you wait. ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I SHOULD WRITE ON THE NEXT CHAPTER? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHOULD I WRITE NEXT. :'(