A/N: Thanks for reading that last chapter! Enjoy this one!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games characters.
Training- Katniss's POV
After a few days of training, we were running out of time to help them with the interview… well for Peeta to help them with the interview. Since my interview skills were about as enchanting as a dead slug. Still, since our fight I did not want to take any chances, so I was sitting beside Peeta on the couches as he taught Susan and Nicholas.
Nicholas wasn't that bad, we knew he wouldn't be. Caesar would love him, Nicholas is respectful, kind, sweet, funny, and has a strong spirit despite his physical appearance.
Susan was the one we were worried about, what with her argumentative nature. Sure enough, after about ten minute of Peeta helping her, they were fighting. However, on a positive note, she could fake her kindness and be funny when she wanted to be.
Peeta looked at me for help, "I can't help you Peeta, I'm sorry but this is your department."
He nodded, turning back to Susan. "Susan," Peeta whispered pleadingly, "I need you to stay calm and not fight… especially not with Caesar."
Susan crossed her arms, "I apologize mentor, but I was only defending myself because you said I was argumentative. Stop looking at me like that, Katniss!" She yelled at me as I was looked at her as if it were obvious.
Peeta went into protection mode instantly, "Don't yell at her. Susan, you do argue which makes you argumentative." He protected me, placing one of his hands on my knees in comfort, I almost laughed as if that rude girl could hurt me.
"I do not argue!" Susan yelled. I know I shouldn't, but I chuckled this moment right here was so ironic. "Don't laugh at me!" She screeched.
I looked at her, "Susan, you are arguing right now. I was laughing because this situation is so ironic." I shrugged.
Susan looked as if she were about to kill me, "Why don't you save that anger and use it in the Games?" Peeta suggested quickly.
Susan glared at him, "Why don't you tell your bitch to be quiet?" She asked quietly… deadly.
Peeta looked astonished ready to fight back, but Nicholas jumped in, "Come on guys, why don't we all just take a deep breath and start over." We stared at him then did what he told us to, "Now, Peeta would you kindly resume teaching us about giving a good interview? No offense Katniss."
I shook my head, "None taken."
As offended as I was by Susan's words, I decided to take the high road and not fight with her. Gosh Katniss, what is wrong with you? Usually you would knock out the girl when she called you a bitch hmmm… Peeta must be changing me. I thought to myself, looking at my calm husband.
So as for Susan, I stayed quiet as Peeta resumed teaching them about interviewing.
"…So, for Katniss, what she did was pretended that Caesar was someone she loved?" Peeta finished smiling at me.
"Who did she pretend Caesar was?" Nicholas asked.
"Me." Peeta said as another voice said, "Me" at the same time.
We looked around to see Cinna standing behind us with my old prep team; I stood up and walked to go hug them all.
"I thought you guys would be here later, what are you doing here so early?" I asked Cinna after hugging Octavia.
Cinna shrugged walking over to Susan and Nicholas, "Is it wrong that we wanted to meet our tributes this year? Hello kids, my name is Cinna and I will be your stylist." He said pointing to Susan.
"We will be your prep team!" Venia said excitedly, "My name is Venia and I do nails." She walked forward to greet Susan.
"I am Flavius and I do hair." Flavius walked forward, running his hands through Susan's blonde hair, "Such beautiful golden hair." He whispered.
"Finally, I am Octavia and I will do your waxing and eyebrows." Octavia shook Susan's hand.
"Waxing?" Susan asked scared.
"Yes," I answered rolling my eyes at Octavia, "this woman is a nightmare with her waxing."
Cinna turned to me, "Don't be so harsh, Katniss. By the way, this year they came up with a way for the waxing to be numbing and not painful." He smiled wickedly at me.
I sent him a deadly glare, "No they did not."
Cinna flinched but nodded, "They did."
I looked down at Peeta, "Of course they would, right after our years they would do that. Just my luck." I grumbled.
Peeta stood up, walked over to me, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders in comfort; kissing my cheek a few times. Effie walked in then, closely followed by Haymitch.
"Oh," Effie yelled pleasantly hugging Cinna and the team, "I am so happy you all are here! So early too, that is exciting!"
Cinna hugged her back, "Hello Effie, nice to see you again after so long."
"Wait," Nicholas interrupted, "Where is my stylist?"
"Great to see you as well, Cinna! Oh, don't worry love; Portia should be here any minute now!" Effie said happily. "Now, Katniss may I talk to you for half a second?" She asked me.
"What about?" Peeta asked. "She is not in the best mood." He mouthed to her, but me being so close to him, I still heard it.
Effie paused glancing at Peeta then me, "Girl stuff." She replied shortly.
I huffed, walking out of Peeta's arms and following her into her bedroom. I sat on the bed, still angry, without her inviting.
"What do you need, Effie?" I asked preparing for her to yell at me for yelling at Susan. "I don't want to hear a lecture about yelling at Susan."
Effie paused again, "You yelled at Susan? Oh, never mind that… umm… what are your feelings about Haymitch?"
I was shocked by the question, "I don't know."
"Seriously, Katniss, what are your thoughts of him?" Effie pressed on.
"Effie, we don't get along. What do you mean?" I asked watching her carefully.
Effie paced across her bedroom, I had never seen her so anxious or stressed.
"Haymitch kissed me the other day, on the train." Effie blurted out, quickly.
I gasped, "What?" Was my lame response.
"Yes, he did. I know I like him but I don't know if he likes me and I don't have anyone to talk to so I thought that I could talk to you, since you are the only girl here… besides Susan who I don't know very much and-" Effie kept talking.
"Effie!" I yelled getting up and placing my hands on her shoulders, I was never good at girl talk but I have learned a few things from Peeta about giving advice. "If you two kissed yesterday, I think you should ask Haymitch if he likes you and if you two should take your relationship to the next level." I shrugged.
Effie thought over my words, "…Okay but I don't know if I can. Will you ask him?"
"Effie, I don't know…" I whispered this is why I hated girl-talk and drama.
"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, pretty, pretty please!" Effie begged.
"Alright fine! I will, sometime today I will talk to him and ask what he thinks of you!" I yelled giving in to her.
"Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you-"Effie started.
"You're welcome!" I yelled running out of the room before she could start again.
Apparently I had yelled louder than I thought, because when I looked around the room everyone was staring at me as if I had just stolen the president's jewels.
"What?" I asked, walking back over to Peeta.
Peeta chuckled grabbing my hand, "What did Effie want, love?"
I rolled my eyes, "She wanted me to have girl talk," I was about to say more when I saw Cinna walking over to us, "I'll tell you more later." I whispered in Peeta's ear; he nodded.
"Katniss," Cinna huffed looking exasperated, "Susan is being difficult will you please come with us as we start her waxing?"
I glared at him, "Since you have new numbing cream you'd think that she would be just fine."
"Katniss, please." Cinna looked at me desperately.
I rolled my eyes, "Fine."
Peeta rubbed my arms, "You try to be cold all the time, with a scowl on your pretty face but then you always soften up and do the right thing." I glared at him. "Sorry. I love you." I rolled my eyes before following Cinna.
After twenty minutes of convincing Susan to finally have the waxing done, then she said 'it felt good' because of the numbing lotion, after that I gave up walking back out to the kitchen. I saw Haymitch sitting in there with Peeta, they were playing chess.
Peeta looked up at me, "Do they really have the cream?" He asked as I sat down in the chair beside him.
"Yes, they do." I replied bitterly. "Cinna tried to wax me, but I told him I was fine with my friends Mrs. shaving cream and Mr. Razor." Peeta laughed.
"Great to stand your ground, sweetheart." Haymitch nodded.
Looking up at Haymitch, I wondered if I should ask him about this kiss now. I know I wanted to tell Peeta but I was a little terrified to hear Haymitch's response so I didn't want him to be here.
"Peeta," I asked not taking my eyes of Haymitch, "Will you go see how Nicholas is doing?"
"Why, Kat, what happened to him?" Peeta asked confused.
I turned to Peeta, "Will you please?" I asked motioning with my eyes for Peeta to go see Nicholas.
"Okay." Peeta shrugged looking from me to Haymitch before getting up and walking from the room.
"What was that about, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked, a little too innocently.
I waited for a second, thinking over my words, "Haymitch… I know you kissed Effie."
Haymitch looked shocked for a moment, "And?"
"And you better tell me right now, do you like her in that way or what was your angle for kissing her?" I asked, watching him intently.
Haymitch took a long deep breath, "Sweetheart… maybe you should leave this to me."
"That's not an answer." I glared at him.
Haymitch crossed his arms over his chest, "Fine, do you want an answer? I will give you an answer! I don't know how to feel about Effie, you know why? Because I haven't felt for a woman in over twenty five years! I kissed her the other day, mostly to shut her up because she kept yelling at me! Katniss, I don't know how to feel about her because I am just as confused as you are-"He started to get loud and angry.
"What is going on here?" Peeta asked, coming into the room.
I was too shocked by Haymitch's rant to say anything.
"Kat, Katniss what happened in here? Haymitch why were you yelling?" Peeta asked louder.
I looked at Peeta then back to Haymitch, "You are a coward." I whispered.
Haymitch looked up at me with the devil's red eyes, "How dare you!"
"You are a coward," I repeated louder, "How dare you kiss Effie just because of your own selfish needs. Tell her what you are feeling if you are not feeling anything at all." I finished.
"What?" Peeta screamed angrily. "You kissed Effie, what are you talking about selfish needs?" He asked me.
"He kissed her only to make her stop talking." I replied. We all stopped talking as clinking heels and a cry escaped their lips. Effie. I stood up immediately prepared to run after her.
"Effie!" We all yelled. Haymitch started to get up, but I all but pushed him back down.
"Just stop it, you have done enough." I started to walk away.
"You are going to fix this." Peeta said, before following me.
"Effie!" I called knocking repeatedly on the locked door.
"Get away." Effie cried.
"Effie, please!" Peeta started to knock as well.
"No! Go away!" Effie yelled. We both sighed before I started to move my hand over the knob to open the door with my gift.
"Don't," Peeta grabbed my hand, "She needs her time."
I nodded, "Okay."
"Come on." Peeta pulled the hand he was holding down the hallway.
When we opened the door to our bedroom, Peeta turned to me.
"Katniss, I need you to tell me everything that happened with Effie and Haymitch." Peeta said.
I took a deep breath sitting down on the bed before starting, "It all started when Effie called me into her room…" I proceeded to tell him all about my talk with Effie talk and then onto Haymitch before Peeta walked in.
Peeta took a deep breath looking at his feet, "You should have told me right when Effie let you go."
I was about to argue before I stopped myself, "Peeta, I don't want to fight." I felt as if I was on the verge of tears so I really just needed him right now.
Peeta looked up at me, "I'm not fighting I just… Katniss," He walked up and placed his hands on my shoulders, "you should've told me I could've helped you." He said softly.
Without warning I became angry at him, taking his hands off my shoulders and starting to pace around the room.
"Katniss, what are you doing?" Peeta asked looking hurt.
"How selfish these people can get!" I yelled still pacing, "This week is about us training Susan and Nicholas to get into the Hunger Games not about all of this drama! Why do you think I hate 'girl talk' so much? Because all of this starts to happen; I get into the middle of it, now I have screwed everything up, and everyone is mad at me!" I broke off because I realized I was crying.
Peeta ran over to me and hugged me tightly, "It's going to be okay, Katniss. Everything will work out, please don't cry." He whispered kissing my tears away.
"No its not, Peeta! Everyone is mad at me and I ruined Effie's happiness." I cried.
"I am not mad at you," Peeta pulled back getting the hair out of my eyes, "and you know how Effie is she will be happy and cheerful by morning."
"I have never seen her cry before." I whispered.
"Me either." Peeta sighed, hugging me tightly again. "Me either, but I promise it is going to be okay."
From there, I cried on his shoulder letting him comfort me until the night came and we fell asleep in a tight embrace.
The next morning, the day was devoted to training; interviews with Caesar were the tomorrow and that meant that the Games started in two days. Around noon, Annie and Finnick came up to our room and I was surprised to see them not training.
"Finnick, we don't have to do this…" Annie was fighting him as they walked out of the elevator and into the living room.
"Yes you do, love. I cannot take any chances." Finnick said, not sounding like himself but a war crazed male that was protecting someone he loved.
They reached Peeta and I on the couch, Finnick walked straight forward pushing Annie that was still trying to hold him back… that is when I saw the bow and arrows hanging off of Finnick's shoulder.
"Katniss, I need you to teach Annie how to shoot." Finnick said, not as a question but a statement. Peeta and I stood up, knowing that he was not in the mood for playing.
"Okay." I replied. Finnick pushed the bow along with the arrows into Annie's arms, persistent but somehow still loving towards his beloved Annie Cresta.
Annie glared up at Finnick, but knowing she wouldn't win, shot one of the arrows at the wall with impressive speed.
I nodded slowly, "That is great, Annie. You have great speed. Let me make a target." I said about to go and get a marker of some sort.
"I'll get it, Katniss." Peeta said, almost running to our bedroom to grab one of his drawing markers. He came back, drawing a target on the wall, with a bulls-eye in the middle.
"Will you try it again?" I asked Annie after Peeta had moved behind us.
Annie shot it again, the arrow flying through the air hitting in a circle beside the bulls-eye. Finnick made a desperate cry before he rubbed one of Annie's arms. I assessed her.
"Stay in your position." I whispered as she started to move. "Okay, I know what's wrong." I said slightly to myself and to reassure Finnick. I straightened Annie's back, pushed her elbow up, and moved her hand on the bow. "Okay, try again." I nodded happy with my work.
Annie nodded as well, shooting the arrow once more and it stuck right in the bulls-eye, "Wow. I can see why you love that so much." She said, staring at the arrow.
"Yeah," I laughed lightly, "Try it again; will you, without my help?" I asked, getting déjà vu.
"Okay." Annie nodded, shooting a few more arrows into the wall all hitting in the bulls-eye, making a circle around her first perfect arrow. Finnick took a sigh of relief every time she would hit one just right.
When Annie was out of arrows, he spoke up, "Thank you so much, Katniss! Thank you so much!" He hugged me tightly. Then turned to Annie, "Great job, love! You did so fantastic!" He hugged her as well, kissing her softly.
Peeta wrapped an arm around my waist, "Excellent work, Katniss." He kissed below my ear.
"Thank you." I replied, blushing.
After Annie was let out of Finnick's hugs and kisses, she looked at me, "Thank you, Katniss. You are quite the teacher." She hugged me as well. "Now Finnick might stop bugging me." She whispered in my ear sneakily.
I smiled, "You are welcome, Annie; anything I can do to help." I winked at her, knowing only she knew what I meant.
Annie laughed, "Nice to see you again, Peeta; thanks for drawing our target… and sorry about your wall." She hugged Peeta.
Peeta smiled hugging her back, "Great to see you again, too; your welcome don't worry about it." He shooed it off as he kissed her cheek.
Finnick and I hugged once more, "I can never tell you how thankful I am for this, Katniss. Now if we can't get her a trident in time…" Finnick shook his head, riding the thought from his mind, "She can have something else to do."
I nodded awkwardly, hugging him tightly back, "You are welcome." I whispered. Finnick kissed my cheek and then we parted.
After that, they left the room. Peeta started to wash the marker target off the wall, and pull the arrows out as well. I sat on the couch, as he wouldn't let me help him.
"I can't imagine," I whispered staring at the ceiling, "having someone you are so close to, that you love, go into the Games."
"I can, it happened to you last year." Peeta said seriously, finishing his work and coming to sit beside me on the couch kissing my shoulder, his tone turned playful, "Hey I thought you loved me when we first were reaped."
I turned to him smiling, "I did, ever since you throw me the bread, but that was different we were both in love with each other but we didn't know it… and we were not engaged." I kissed him.
Peeta smiled against my lips, "I know but I wanted to be engaged. In my mind you were already my wife and we ran the bakery together, with our children."
I broke away with him, "How do you know how to use your words to make me want to kiss you all night and then make me want to hit you in less than a second?" I asked.
Peeta grinned, moving his face inches from mine, "I have a way with words." He kissed me again and I gave in.
"I fell in love with you because you saved my life." I whispered.
"I fell in love with you because you were so pretty and your voice is beautiful." Peeta replied, starting to kiss my neck. "Does that make you want to kiss me all night?" He asked, looking up at me with his beautiful eyes.
"I don't know." I whispered, playing along with his game.
Peeta grinned against my skin, kissing all over my neck and collarbone, "Do I have to be good looking?" He asked randomly.
I giggled, "I suppose so. Yes." I lay down as Peeta lay on top of me.
"Am I good looking?" He asked giving me a smile.
I laughed, "Peeta," I rolled my eyes dramatically, "Bakers are hot you know that."
Peeta laughed loudly, and then returned his lips to my skin, "And we have great buns." He grinned mischievously up at me.
"Yes you do." I laughed, grabbing his face, bringing it up to mine to kiss him passionately and deeply.
"Peeta! Katniss! I have big, big, big news!" Clinking heels and stomping feet wrenched us away from each other and I pushed Peeta off of me, our eyes still coated with lust and our breathing still heavy.
Effie and Haymitch walked into the living room, holding hands with huge smiles, "We are officially dating!" Effie yelled, raising their linked hands.
I glared at Haymitch, "I promise we are. Effie and I had a long talk last night, and we decided to finally start a relationship. I promise I am not lying." I glared at him for a few more seconds, searching his eyes for any lies, before getting up and hugging Effie.
"I am happy for you two." I nodded after embracing her.
Peeta hugged Effie as well, then his arm came around my waist, and he pulled me so that our bodies from the side were outlining each other. My lust started to grow again.
"I am too, now will you excuse my wife and I?" Peeta asked, before practically running to the bedroom me behind him as we jumped on the bed kissing heatedly.
The next day, it was Caesar's interview… they were skipping the part where the stylist show off their tribute to the world, given we don't have a new president yet. On a good note, I heard that both Mayor Undersee and Mayor John were doing great in the elections.
So, currently I was waiting in Susan's dressing room; helping Cinna as much as I could by staying out of the way.
"Here, Katniss," Cinna handed me a dress.
"Cinna, this is about Susan, not me." I shook my head.
"Don't bother, Katniss. I made it for you a long time ago, but you never got to wear it." Cinna shrugged before going back to work on Susan.
"Thank you." I replied, before walking behind the curtain and changing into the dress.
The dress was hard to describe; the base color was a red-orange, while the dress had many different shapes filled with different colors that oddly enough didn't look hideous. At the back of the dress was a circle cut out with random straps cut out that connected together in a diamond-weaving fashion. The dress fitted around my bust and then flared out to my knees. Cinna also gave me some white flats, some make up for the scars mostly, and Venia gave me a quick manicure.
Then, I walked out of the room as the backstage manager started getting closer to District 4. I walked around the room and finally saw Annie and Finnick in a tight embrace, Finnick's mouth was moving quickly as he gave Annie instructions. I was about to leave, embarrassed that I had ruined their moment, as Annie caught my eye behind Finnick's back and she gave me a thumbs up. I nodded smiling at her before I scurried back towards District 12.
As I came upon District 12's backstage area, Peeta came out of Portia's dressing room. He was wearing black pants and a shiny orange button up dress shirt, his blonde hair was hanging in his eyes, and his blue eyes were looking me over.
"Hey." Peeta whispered, walking towards me and grabbing both of my hands.
"You just took my breath away," I whispered still looking at him, "Your hair is so golden." Not being able to resist, I reached one of my hands up and brought my fingers through his soft golden blonde hair a few times.
Peeta's eyes were closed savoring the feeling, "You used to do this, didn't you? You did this once before the Games, real or not real? " He asked, opening his eyes, the last part unsure.
"Real," I whispered staring up into his azure eyes, "I would do it before and in the Games, you really seemed to like it so…" I trailed off shrugging my shoulders.
"I do like it, it feels nice," Peeta assured me taking my hands in his again, "it feels nice your soft hands running through my hair." Peeta blushed. I smiled at him.
"Good," I hugged him, "Great job for remembering that, Peeta." I said in his ear.
"Thank you." Peeta hugged me back, wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me closer to his frame. "You help me remember it all, so thank you." He said before bringing his head down to kiss me.
After our kiss, it was Susan's time to go up for an interview. Peeta and I were backstage, hoping she would not lose her temper but of course she did. As soon as Caesar asked her about being mentored by me she lost it, saying that she (Susan) would be a better coach than myself; to which the crowed 'boo'-ed her off the stage.
Nicholas was next; he was much calmer and kinder to Caesar, which reflected greatly on him. Nicholas brought up the topic of how nice Peeta and I were to them and that Susan was 'crazy' to think that she could coach better than I could; which earned him great applause and probably several sponsors.
As soon as Nicholas got back stage, Peeta and I both hugged him. The next day the Games started, Peeta and I got a chance to embrace Annie before she went in and we gave Susan and Nicholas our last piece of advice before the sixty-second countdown began.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I love you all! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Itsrebeccaxo thanks!
Awesomefanficlova I know I was kind of implying that Annie and Finnick are the same age as Peeta and Katniss (17). Haha sorry about the confusion!
TheSocialNetworking thank you!
Dracoqueen thanks!
Twiiliighter thanks a lot! Great, I am glad you like it! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! (:
VMars lover yes your right!