I'm kinda disappointed with the reaction I got from chapter 1, no reviews at all, but oh well. I'm not giving up on this story just yet. If you guys stick around and read on, you might like my story. I'm working really hard on it. So, yeah. I also know my chapters tend to be somewhat on the shorter side, but I'm working on that as well. Without further ado, here's chapter 2! Enjoy and know that I'd really appreciate your reviews, so feel absolutely free to tell me what you think of my story. Like it or hate it?
Peeta and I have breakfast in silence, but not an uncomfortable one. We fill our mouths with cheese buns and swigs of mint tea, instead of meaningless words end empty conversation. I'm grateful that he understands me this way, and that he doesn't try to push me to open up and talk. In fact, he's giving me space, letting me heal at my own pace. Slowly, but I think I'm making progress.
The buns are warm and slightly crisp at the edges, just the way I like them. After my episode in the bathroom, I realize just how hungry I really am. We eat and soak in the silence, a peaceful one. Buttercup, the scrawny old thing, has wrapped itself around one of the table legs near my feet. He stares at me with those unblinking yellow eyes while I toss him bits of my bun. I still wouldn't say we're best friends, exactly, but I have to admit there's something comforting about having him in the house.
After a while, Peeta finally breaks the silence. "I'm going to check on Haymitch later," he says matter-of-factly. "Do you want to come with me, Katniss?" There's that tone of uncertainty again, like he's not sure how I'll react to this.
"Yeah, sure," I hear myself saying. I'm surprised to find I do want to go with him. I've seen Haymitch a couple of times in the past few weeks, mainly at Ripper's, buying his drinks. I'd gone for a drink myself, hoping to find some sort of solitude in the alcohol, only to dump every last bottle once the effects turned to major hangovers and repetitive puking. I have no doubts that Haymitch is probably still asleep, somewhere in the muted dreamland of beer and liquor.
As it turns out, I'm right. The instant we open the front door, an overwhelming tide of stale fumes hit us, so hard that I start to gag and Peeta holds his nose in disgust. I'm seriously reconsidering the wiseness of my decision to come here, especially right after breakfast. Since I'm already here, though, I force myself to go in after Peeta. We open the windows as wide as possible and take turns sucking in fresh air.
"Haymitch!" Peeta calls loudly. I think it's fair to say we're equally surprised when a half-sober Haymitch staggers into the dining room a few seconds later, bottle in hand.
"Whassup, sweetheart?" he slurs, leaning against the doorframe casually while taking a long swig. "Decided to come out of your shell?" I decide to let this comment pass, although I'm annoyed.
"Yeah, pretty much," I say, trying to keep my voice level. "We came to check on you." He laughs. "I'm honored," he mutters, giving me a mock bow. "The Mockingjay has flown to my house to check on me." For some reason, he seems to find this hilarious, and he doubles over with snorting laughter. He's starting to get on my nerves, but thankfully, Peeta comes to the rescue before I can say something I'll probably regret.
"This doesn't look too bad,' he says lightly, looking around the house. "Apart from the smell, obviously, everything actually looks decently tidy."
I realize he's right. The cushions on the sofa are neatly arranged, the furniture is dust-free, and there's even a vase of sunflowers on the coffee table. I can't believe it. A half-sober Haymitch, a clean house, and flowers? Then it hits me.
"It's Hazelle, isn't it?" I say. "She's still doing your housework?" Haymitch grins. "You catch on fast, sweetheart. I told her it wasn't necessary, I wouldn't mind chipping in some cash for the kids." He shrugs. "Wouldn't listen, though."
Of course. Gale's family was just like that. I'd tried doing the same thing multiple times before, but I knew she'd never accept anything without some sort of payment in return, even though I had way more money than I'd ever need. Gale, I think with a pang.
I haven't seen or heard from him since…well, since I basically told him we couldn't be friends anymore. Do I miss him? Sometimes I think I do, but then I get confused and I don't even know how I feel about him anymore. Years and years of friendship, a pact for survival which grew into something a lot deeper, then somehow turned dark and twisted. Part of me wants to forgive him, longs to go hunting with him just like we used to, but I have to face the fact that no matter how hard we try, there's nothing which can reverse what happened between us.
Haymitch seems to understand what's going through my head, and his eyes soften just a little. Before I can say anything else, though, he clears his throat gruffly. "Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. Finnick called for you a while ago."
"Finnick?" I say, surprised and suddenly somewhat hopeful. We hadn't really been in touch after I'd gone back to Twelve and he to Four with Annie. I actually missed him, though. He was one of the few people left with whom I could trust and spend time with without feeling either guilty or awkward. Furthermore, we could understand each other, our pain and nightmares. I remember how he'd helped me through the time when Peeta was in the Capitol. Going through a Quarter Quell and a full-scale rebellion brings people together like that. I wondered what he'd been doing with Annie since they went back to District Four.
"What did he say?" I ask curiously. "Why didn't he just call me?" Haymitch looks uncomfortable. "He, uh, he assumed you might not want to talk to anyone for a while. Told me to pass on the message when you were ready." He gives me Finnick's number, and Peeta tries to remind him not to overdose on the liquor, before he waves us away.
"What do you suppose Finnick wants?" Peeta asks as we walk back to my house. It's just two houses away from Haymitch's, and three from Peeta's, so I guess that's one of the upsides of living in the Victors' Village. We practically live together now. "No idea," I answer truthfully. "I hope it's good news, though. I don't think I'll be able to stand it if he tells me he broke up with Annie or something." Peeta laughs.
Once we're settled back in my house, I dial the number Haymitch gave me while Peeta sits across from me on the sofa, looking expectant. After a few rings, he picks up, and I hear a groggy,"Hello?"
He must have just woken up or something.
I suddenly feel a ridiculous urge to laugh as an image of Finnick in pajamas, with his hair sticking up, pops into my mind. "Hey," I say, covering my mouth to stifle the laughter. "It's Katniss. Haymitch passed on the message." I hear some rustling, then,"Hello, girl on fire! Finnick O'dair here, live and on the line. Miss me?" He's dropped his voice to that seductive "Finnick" tone he used when we first met. I roll my eyes.
"Maybe. Don't let it get to your head, though, O'dair." He laughs with his normal voice while I chuckle.
"So," he says slowly. "Seeing as I know you really miss being in my company, and Peeta probably does, too," I glance at Peeta at this point, feeling amused as he gives me a questioning look. "Annie and I are inviting you two to come over to Four. You could stay for a few weeks, we have plenty of spare rooms."
Go to Four? "Your mom knows," he adds, as though he'd read my mind. "She misses you a lot."
My mom wants to see me? I think she might have written me a few letters since she'd gone to Four, but I'd either scanned them or thrown them away. That's what I'd done with the entire pile of letters which had been sitting on my mantelpiece only yesterday. I wasn't really in the mood for reading anything at the moment.
"Hang on," I tell him, covering the mouthpiece with my hand. "Finnick is inviting us to visit him and Annie," I say to Peeta. "To stay at his house for a few weeks." Peeta looks a bit surprised, but not upset or anything. He takes a deep breath. "Sure, why not?"
I'm not sure what I was expecting him to say, exactly, but I guess I was a bit surprised myself. "Okay," I say, uncovering the mouthpiece. "We'll be there." "Great," he declares. "As much I'd love to continue chatting, though, my stomach is calling for breakfast, and so is my Annie. I'll see you two!"
"Wait," I say suddenly. "You never told me when, and how we're going to get to your place!" I hear him slap his palm on his forehead. "Sorry," he laughs. Typical Finnick. We hang up after he gives me his address and instructs me to ring Effie to arrange for a train to come pick us up in a week.
I feel somewhat excited, and maybe apprehensive as well. I remember District Four vaguely from our Victory Tour, as one of the biggest districts, with a sparkling ocean and amazing seafood. I'm thinking maybe this trip is just what I need to take a further step into recovery. Get out of Twelve for a while, spend some time with Finnick and get to know Annie better. Maybe spend some time with my mother. A new experience. An escape, if only temporary, from all the things and people which are haunting me in my hometown. Things could change.
I look up at Peeta, meet his eyes, and find he's smiling, too.
The story is only beginning, guys. Things will start getting interesting very soon. :)