Chapter Two
I bit my lip and took a deep, unsteady breath. This is definitely going to be the last time I will ever, ever do a dare for Rye! I promised myself. I was following Rye, Holden, my best friend, Leo, Lydia, and Quinn, my other friends.
"C'mon, Peets!" Rye called over his shoulder. I flushed angrily.
"Don't call me that." I seethed. Rye flashed a smirk at me then looked back ahead.
"Sure. Now hurry up! We're nearing the woods!" He ordered and rushed ahead. My friends followed him, Holden waited for me to catch up.
"Why are you doing this, Peeta? You don't have to." Holden asked as we walked together.
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm doing this to help my brother and to get the stuff I need for my next big art project." I say to him.
Holden looked at me strangely. "You don't need to help your brother anymore, he's already too popular for his own good. Personally, I think all the attention he's getting is going to his head and into his brain. I mean, if he had one." Holden grinned at his own joke. I couldn't help but chuckle softly in amusement as well.
"We're here!" Rye was grinning ear to ear, and his eyes were wild. Wow, this girl he likes really gets him pumped. I thought dryly. He was gesturing to a small, round hole in the fence that separated our district from the outside world. "There you go little bro! Find the things you want in the forest! Also, here's a tip, if you walk in a straight line, you will find your arts and crafts tools soon. I don't want you to get lost!" He said excitedly. I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks for the support, Rye." I said. I went down on my knees. "Also, what happens if I actually do get lost? What will you guys tell Mum and Dad?" I demanded Rye.
Rye shrugged, and flashed me a quick grin. "Peeta, have faith in yourself." He chided me mockingly. I rolled my eyes and I was just about to start going through the small gap in the fence when I froze. I need to check if there is electricity running first, idiot. I mentally smacked myself for being so stupid. I listened for the sound of electricity buzzing in the fence. Silence. All clear. I bit my lip and started to crawl through the tiny gap. I barely made it through when the sound of electricity started running up again. My friends all watched me from the other side of the fence.
"Good luck!" Some of them called to me in unison. I just gave them a half-hearted wave and walked straight ahead.
I looked around the forest as I walked, birds were chirping and the sound of a small river floated to my ears. I couldn't believe why I'd never gone into the woods before now. It was so peaceful, beautiful, and simply amazing. I'm basically free from the Capitol now... and the Hunger Games. I realized with a small jump. I could run away from home right now if I wanted to... I shook my head. I would never do that.
Thud.
"Ow!" I barked in alarm as I slammed into something. I collapsed onto the ground, clutching my sore head. I looked up through blurry eyes. I hit a tree.
"What are you doing here?"
I stiffened. I'm dead. I thought, my heartbeat was literally pounding in my ears. Then it slowed. I would know that voice anywhere! It's Katniss.
"Katniss!" I shot up to my feet and spun around to face her. Her hair was in a braid, a bow slung across her shoulder, a quiver full of arrows on her other shoulder, and her grey eyes were scanning me. Her eyes shot up to mine and I swallowed roughly.
"Peeta." She said calmly. "You have a knack for running into things... and people." She remarked dryly. I blanched. Oops.
"I'm sorry about Prim." I manage to say, even when I'm hyperventilating like crazy while she's staring at me. I swallow again. "Is she alright?"
Katniss stared at me. "Why don't you answer my question first?" She said.
"Fine." I mutter. "I'm here because of a dare." I answer. Katniss stiffened, and I instantly wondered why. I looked at her closely. Katniss's eyes flicked down to the grass and I swear the corner of her mouth twitched. Wait a sec... what? I bite my lip. "Now, please, answer my question."
Katniss's eyes meet mine once again. "Prim's fine." She says coolly. "She's strong."
You are too. "If she's anything like you, of course Prim is." I say. Katniss twitches uncomfortably.
"I'm not perfect, Prim is. So, Prim's more of herself than she is of me." Katniss says proudly.
"You are perfect, though." I blurt out instantly. Katniss freezes. I wince. "Uh..." I stammer. I can tell Katniss isn't used to getting compliments like that, and I'm not used to girls responding in that way either.
"You should go." Katniss demands suddenly. I raise one of my eyebrows, and force myself to look back at Katniss, even though I'm sure my face is red.
"I'm not going until I find my prize." I respond, standing up straighter and keeping eye contact determinedly with Katniss. Katniss frowns.
"Well, I am saying you have to go. I mean, you can stay here in the woods if you want to. But I'm just trying to save your neck for payback." Katniss remarks, turning to leave. However, her last sentence caught me off guard.
"Payback?" I repeat, confused. Katniss turns to face me again, making an annoyed face.
"Yes, Mellark. Payback." She snaps, and turns away again. "I don't want to owe you anything anymore."
"Huh?" Okay... am I missing something or what?
Katniss spins around angrily. "What else do you want, Mellark?" She snarls. "Is what I said not clear enough?"
I blink. "No..." Katniss glares at me. "Sorry. But I mean, why do you owe me anything in the first place?" I question. Katniss rolls her eyes.
"I thought you would remember." She says dryly. However, she doesn't turn to leave. "That night in the rain, remember?"
Oh, yeah... But Katniss didn't owe me anything at all! "You don't owe me anything from that night." I say to Katniss. Katniss shakes her head slowly. As if I am a small child who doesn't know anything.
"Yes, I do. By giving me that loaf of bread you saved my family. My mother, my sister, and me." She says to me softly. Katniss looks rather small now, her arms are wrapped around her body as if to protect herself for some reason. Katniss continues, "I can never really repay you for that night. Ever. So please, just get out of the woods and save your butt so I can consider my part of the deal done." Katniss says sharply. "I wasted enough time here with you. I really should find something to bring back home for supper." Katniss started to walk away.
I blink. "Wait!" I call after her. Katniss stops and turns her head, exasperation clouding her features.
"Turn right around and head back straight, okay? You'll be able to get there before nightfall." Katniss says. I take a deep breath, gathering up all my courage, and run up to her.
"If you really want to repay me," I wince inwardly at my words, "You'll let me watch you hunt."
Katniss stiffens up again. She tilts her head to the side and her eyes travel over me. "What?" One of her eyebrows are raised up so high that its no longer visible. I find it cute.
"Let me watch you hunt." I say. "Please."
Katniss bites her lip. We stand there for about two minutes until Katniss finally speaks up. "Fine." She says in a clipped tone. She spins on her heels and stalks off, sliding her bow of her back and into her hands. I jog quickly to catch up to her.
Gale was watching Prim feed Lady. He was waiting for Katniss to come back, when he knocked on the front door, Prim was just coming out to feed Lady. She told him that Katniss was off hunting. At first, Gale was a little miffed at the fact that Katniss hadn't invited him along, but then he saw how pale Prim looked and Gale's slight anger faded away quickly, which was replaced by the feeling of helplessness. Gale hated not being able to help Katniss. Ever since he had first met her, he had felt an immediate surge of protectiveness towards her.
"Want to feed Lady?" Prim's voice broke into Gale's thoughts. Gale looked over at Prim, and smiled softly.
"How could I refuse?" Gale said, walking over to her. Prim cheerfully dropped a piece of apple into Gale's outstretched hand. As soon as he felt the small piece of fruit touch his hand, he felt an overwhelming urge to bite it. Gale sucked in a tight breath and looked down at Lady. He held out the fruit and Lady delicately plucked it out of his hand and chomped it noisily.
"Thanks, Gale!" Prim chirped. I smiled at her warmly.
"No problem." Gale responded. He looked up at the sky. A few more hours and it would be dark. Katniss would be back soon. Gale glanced back at Prim. Prim was already walking back to her small house. "See you, Prim." He called after her.
Prim looked over her shoulder at him, she gave me a little wave, smiling slightly. Gale walked out onto the dirt road. I'll head to the fence, maybe I'll be there in time to run into Katniss. He thought.
I take this time in the woods to watch Katniss carefully, her footsteps are so soft that you can barely hear them. Her breaths are quiet and slow, and her eyes dart around the trees and the grounds skillfully. Her lips move as if she is speaking to someone, but she makes no sound. Finally we stop.
"We can't do this anymore." Katniss says, craning her head to look at me. I frown instantly. I was enjoying this, despite the fact that Katniss hadn't found any game yet.
"Why not? I mean, sure the animals are out of sight, but that doesn't mean there isn't hope!" I say enthusiastically. Katniss bites her lip thoughtfully.
"I know there is still hope, in fact, there is a lot of hope. But..." She trails off, her eyes flicking onto mine. My breath hitches immediately. Gods, this girl makes me crazy! "How can I say this? Well... its you." Katniss says sharply. I blink.
"What?" I ask. "Its my fault?" I can't help but keep the impatience out of my voice. Katniss nods, clearly unapologetic.
"You walk loud." Katniss explains when she sees my expression. "I'm sure no animal is ever going to come near us if you keep walking as if you are a big, lopsided, fat person." Katniss explains. I raise both my eyebrows up. Katniss had actually insulted me. Well, maybe she didn't mean it. "Come on, I'll lead you back to the district. Its going to get dark soon, and we don't want to be in a dark forest with animals that can kill us in less than a minute." Katniss walks off, and once again, I have to jog to keep up with her.
We walk in silence for about 30 minutes, when it finally turns dark. I don't feel nervous at all, because of Katniss. I'm sure she can kill anything that will try to make us its dinner.
"So..." I say, I can't stand the silence any longer. "How's life?" I ask.
Katniss doesn't look at me. "Nothing special." She replies coldly, and ignores me. Inwardly, I sigh. C'mon, Peeta! This is actually the first time you and Katniss are alone... like really alone! Make it count!
I take a deep breath. "Did Gale tell you about what I did at the Hob last week?" I ask. Katniss nods.
"Yes." Is all that she offers. Gods, its really hard to start a conversation with her isn't it?
"Oh..." I manage. I see that Katniss's right hand is right next to mine, almost touching. I feel suddenly nervous. I could take her hand right now... But she'd probably kick my ass. I think, glumly. I ask her another question. "Did you find it funny?"
Unfortunately I cannot read her expression when she says, "Why do you care?"
I bite my lip. "Just wanna know, thats all." I think up. Inside, though, I'm desperate to know her answer.
"Well..." Katniss murmurs. She shrugs slowly. "I found it amusing." She finally says. I flush with embarrassment.
"Oh..." Is all I can say now. We walk in silence, it is now completely dark in the forest, the full moon shines overhead and some of its light finds it way through the trees' leaves onto the ground.
"Why was Gale so mad at you that day?" Katniss suddenly asks. I am almost taken aback that she is actually talking to me. I blink.
"I dunno. You should ask him that, Gale and me aren't that close as you and him are." I tell Katniss. "But I do want to know why Gale was so angry at me. I mean we haven't fought or anything." I glance at Katniss.
I hear her take in a sharp breath. "Oh, I figured it out now." Katniss says. She takes a sidestep away from me suddenly. I suddenly realize that we are nearing the fence. And on the other side, a huge, dark figure is staring at us. Its Gale Hawthorne. And he looks angry.
"Katniss... What are you doing out there with him?" Gale snarls as Katniss crawls through the hole in the fence. Even though Gale is talking to Katniss, his eyes are on me, dark and forbidding.
"Nothing, Gale," Katniss responds smoothly. "I just ran into him in the woods."
Gale snorts condescendingly at me. "Baker boy has enough guts to go into the woods?" Gale smirks lazily at me as I crawl through the hole in the fence. I stand up. I am chest to chest with Gale. He is basically towering over me. I swallow.
"I do have guts, Gale." I manage to mutter. Gale just raises an eyebrow in response. He takes a step away from me and looks over at Katniss.
"You wanna walk back home with me?" He asks Katniss softly and kindly. I am immediately startled. I'd never ever heard Gale talk like that ever. Thats not surprising though, I have hardly been within 5 meters of him before. I watch Katniss's reaction, I feel jealousy bubble up inside of me as I see Katniss smile at Gale.
"Sure, Gale." She looks back at me. "See you." She turns around abruptly. Gale catches up to her easily. I see them look at eachother and smile. I sigh deeply and look down at my feet. I don't have one chance in a million with Katniss do I?
Author's Note: I'm sorry if there wasn't enough Peeta/Katniss in this chapter. Also, if you don't like how I sorta switched POVs let me know, so I'll know whether I should keep doing that or just keep it as Peeta's POV. I promise for sure there will be definite Peeta/Katniss moments later on in the story. I apologize if some of the characters seem a little OOC, that is one of my greatest struggles in my fanfics. Also, if you don't like the term "Gods" in some sentences that I use, lemme know please! For some reason instead of "God" I say "Gods"... Well, maybe its cause I love the Greek Gods, they are fascinating. Review responses are down below!
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