Chapter Three
Author's Note: I have rewritten this chapter too many times and I'm still not happy with the result, but for me its a way to keep the story moving. So, please, be free to criticize this chapter and any others if you feel like it. Review responses down below! Also, this story begins to take place three months before the Hunger Games.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I walk on the pavement. Holden is beside me.
"So, where are we going again?" Holden asks. His green eyes filled with curiosity. Unlike most town people in District 12, Holden has ginger hair and green eyes. So does his father. Which is one of the reasons why they are so well known in the district. The other reasons are that his father is the nicest teacher at school. I sigh.
"The forest." I remind him. Once again, Holden tenses a little then relaxes slightly.
"Oh yeah, to get your artwork stuff, right?" Holden says. I see the fence in the distance. Just yesterday, I found out that all my cans of paint were gone, as well as my paintbrush. I had no doubt that it was Rye who took it.
I nod in response. I am glad that Holden is coming with me. My plan was to just find the art supplies, and head back to the district, no drama at all. "Do you know who Rye likes?" I ask suddenly. Holden frowns slightly and shakes his head.
"Nope, its a big mystery. Hardly anyone knows at school." Holden says. I sigh. I would love to tell embarrass Rye because of all the stuff he's putting me through.
"You don't have to come with me, you know." I tell Holden as we near the fence. Holden gives me his easy, trademark, lopsided grin and rolls his eyes.
"Sure I do, Peeta, I've never even seen the forest from outside the fence. Also, I'm here to make sure you don't die." Holden says. I smile a little. I hear the reason in his answer, but I'm still worried that we'd be caught and punished. I'd feel so guilty if Holden was whipped or even killed by the Peacekeepers just for following me.
"Last chance to back out." I say as we end up right in front of the gap. I look up at Holden and see him swallow a little.
"Peeta, you are willing to risk your life in the woods, and risk being caught by the Peacekeepers, which I'm sure will give you a horrible punishment, just for some silly artwork supplies?" Holden says, in a hard voice. His green eyes boring into my blue ones. I bite my lower lip.
"Yes." My voice comes out squeaky. I flush slightly, and see Holden try to suppress a smile. I roll my eyes and get down on my knees. I listen for the sound of electricity. There is none. I look back at Holden. "So, are you in or not?" I demand, a little impatient. Holden rolls his eyes, but grins.
"How could you ever doubt me?" Holden chortles. I smirk and shake my head. I crawl through the gap in the fence and get back on my feet. Holden gets down uncertainly and quickly crawls through the hole. He stands up beside me, and I hear him breathing heavily. "I've never been outside the fence before." He says softly. I give him a sideways glance and nod. Then, I walk straight ahead briskly. Holden jogs to catch up with me.
"We're basically free from the Games now." Holden realizes. He continues, "We could bring out the whole district here and escape somehow." Holden murmurs. I glance up at him and see a faraway look in his eyes.
"Yes, we could." I agree. "But it would never work, the Peacekeepers and the Capitol would find us somehow and destroy our district like they did with District 13."
Holden sighs. I speed up my pace. Holden quickly falls into step with me. We walk in silence for about 10 minutes when Holden speaks up again.
"How much farther till we find your art stuff do you think?" Holden asks me. He glances around the forest, I can tell he's afraid if the Peacekeepers find us. I try to walk more softly. As soon as I attempt to do so, I remember Katniss's words. 'You walk loud.' I feel a smile tug at my lips.
"I'm not sure." I respond, "Knowing Rye he probably put the supplies three miles away from here." I roll my eyes. Holden snorts, but smiles a little.
"Do you think we might get caught out here? You know, besides from the Peacekeepers. Do you think there's bears here?" Holden asks me, his voice slightly edgy. I shrug, but feel nervous myself.
"There might be. Come on, lets hurry up. My mother would flip out if I was late for lunch." I say, speeding up. Soon, Holden and I are basically jogging. Both of us looking for any sign of paint. Finally, Holden stops.
"Look, over there, I think I see some splashes of paint." I look at where he's pointing. Its at a hollow log. I quickly jog over there and lean over. In the log, I see around 3 large cans of paint, two smooth paintbrushes, and a small canvas. I reach over and scoop them up in my arms. As I turn, I see something that catches my eye. Its a meadow. I walk closer to get a better look. Its beautiful. The meadow looks as if it has come out of my canvas and onto that land. There are green trees on either side of the meadow. Birds are chirping and I smile at the sound.
"Hey, er, Peeta, we better get out of here. I don't want to miss lunch." Holden calls from where he's standing. I can't tear my eyes away from the meadow. I can even smell it from here. It smells of lemongrass. I hear footsteps behind me and feel someone literally drag me. Its Holden, of course. "Seriously, Peeta, you can daydream about this later on." Unlike me, Holden doesn't appreciate art like I do.
"Fine." I manage to say, I follow Holden, clutching my newfound art supplies to my chest. We walk in silence, I can tell that Holden is worrying about getting caught and missing lunch. After a while, I begin to memorize the way from the fence to the meadow.
As we near the fence, I see a figure standing on the other side. Immediately, I remember Gale's strong figure. However, this time it is Rye. And he's grinning like a maniac.
"Peets, I knew you had it in you!" Rye cheered. I roll my eyes. Rye turns to Holden. "And you brought a bodyguard!" Rye smirks. "Why's that, Peets? Too scared to go on your own?" He flashes a mocking grin my way. I clench my fists, I hate how cocky Rye can be. Rye continues, "So you got the stupid art stuff, huh? Your buddy here didn't have to fight the Peacekeepers and bears of you two?"
"Shut up, Rye." Holden suddenly says. Rye, however, looks as if he hadn't heard it.
"Wonderful, Peeta! You really are helping me out a lot! Anyways, no more dares for you, Peeta. You've done a lot already." Rye says. Slowly, I get down on my knees, listening for the sound of electricity. I crawl through the gap quickly when I hear none. Holden follows.
"Rye, you aren't going to tell anyone that I went into the woods right? I mean, they might blab to the Peacekeepers." I ask Rye worriedly. Rye rolls his eyes.
"Do you think I'm that stupid, Peeta?" Rye chortles. I sigh. Then, another question strikes me.
"Rye, what's the name of the girl you like? I mean, after all I've done, you probably owe me that much information." I say. Rye smirks.
"Sofia Weller." Rye answers, a proud tone in his voice. I stare at him.
"What?" I ask, surprised. Sofia Weller is a stunningly gorgeous girl with fiery red hair and green eyes, with a kind and funny personality. I look at Rye. His blond hair is dirty, blue eyes are dull, and there is a smudge of dirt over his right eye and left cheek. He doesn't have a chance in a million with her.
"Sofia Weller…" Rye repeats, this time a little confused. He gives me a look. "You think that I don't have a shot with her, don't you?" Rye demands angrily, taking a step towards me. I flinch.
"I do… but doesn't she have a boyfriend?" I ask hoarsely, stepping back, smacking into Holden. Rye freezes. His eyes go wide.
"Um…" Rye stammers uncertainly. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "I think she does…" Rye flushes slightly, his fists clenching. I sigh.
"So all the things you made me do to help you… Were for nothing?" I say, dryly. Rye flushes once more.
"I guess." Rye shoots back. I bite my lip, clutching my art supplies to my chest. I glance sideways at Holden. I catch him rolling his eyes at Rye.
"Lets just go home and eat lunch." I say. Rye sighs and nods. The three of us walk in silence, when Holden reaches his house, he waves goodbye to me and walks off, leaving Rye and me.
"Why didn't you think of her boyfriend?" I demand suddenly. Rye freezes in alarm.
"Well…" Rye stammers, his eyes dart around the street, looking for some way of sounding reasonable. Rye opens his mouth and speaks, "I mean… I don't know! Whenever I think of Sofia I don't think of her boyfriend for some reason okay? Maybe its because that I want to pretend he doesn't exist so I can think I actually have a shot with her!" Rye snaps angrily. I don't reply to Rye.
The two of us walk back home in silence. I rush upstairs to my room to put my art supplies in a safe place. As I do so, I glance at my painting. I smile softly. Its almost done, and I know just the place to finish it off spectacularly.
Author's Note: Gods! This chapter in my opinion is honestly… horrible. There is nothing important happening in this chapter. Feel free to flame this chapter, I won't take it personally, lol. Next chapter, I promise it will be better. I swear. Anyways, thanks for reviewing.
Review Responses:
rochay97:Thanks for your support! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, but I'm sure you didn't lol... its horrible. xD
Virginia (Guest):Yep, Gale's jealous :) And as for Rye, his mystery crush was revealed, and it wasn't Katniss. I think a love triangle, I mean, love square between Peeta - Katniss - Rye - Gale would be a little weird, haha. Thanks for reviewing!
Ldyglfr62:Thanks for your support! I doubt there was any humor in this chapter. I am not a very humorous person, haha. Agh, I hope this chapter didn't disappoint you :( I always hate that.
marycontrary82: I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 2. I'm sorry to say that this chapter, in my opinion, isn't that good. So feel free to flame it. But if you do want to read the next chapter, I promise that there will be more Katniss and Peeta interaction... haha. Thanks for taking the time to review!