Chapter Four
Author's Note: I made this chapter longer just to make up for my last chapter! I do not own the Hunger Games or any of its characters. The only characters I come close to owning is Holden, but he's based off one of my friends. So yeah... I don't really own him... Review responses down below!
Katniss walks stealthily among the many trees, her footsteps are so quiet that the only way you could hear them was if you were right beside her. Her bow is slung across her shoulder, as well as her quiver, which is full with arrows. Earlier today, Gale had offered to hunt with her, but Katniss felt like she needed some time alone.
Katniss sighs. Gale's been at her side almost every second lately. She likes his company a lot, but she doesn't want to spend every second with Gale.
In fact, Katniss is a little relieved that she has a few hours of just hunting to herself. It gives her time to think, and the forest is a great place to think.
Stiffening suddenly, Katniss hears a rustle of leaves to her right. She turns her head slightly and sees a bush shaking slightly. Silently, but quickly, Katniss slides an arrow onto her bow and aims it at the bush.
Then, the bush stops shaking and a rabbit hops out. Food, is the thought that enters Katniss's mind as she lets the arrow go. It hits the rabbit with a soft thud and the rabbit falls onto its side. Katniss gets on one knee and picks the rabbit up.
She slides the arrow out of the rabbit's side and slips it back in her quiver. After she does so, she places the rabbit in a leather bag slung across her back. That is her fourth kill so far. Deciding that she'll take a short break, Katniss heads to her favorite place. The meadow.
As I get back up on my two feet, I check that I have all the supplies I need. A few tubes of paint, a paintbrush, and my canvas.
Yesterday, I'd spent the whole Saturday planning on how I could smuggle my painting of the meadow and my cans of paint out into the forest. Then, I remembered I had old paint tubes from a few years ago. With a little difficulty, I managed to drip some of the paint from my cans into the tubes.
Then today, I stuffed my paintbrush and my tubes of paint into the pocket of my jacket while carrying my canvas.
Some people I had walked past told me how amazing my painting was. I felt pride swelling in my chest, my family mostly teased me about how much time I spent painting. Especially Rye. My mother, though, always said painting was a waste of my time and that I should be baking more instead.
As I walk through the forest, I do my best to retrace my steps from last Sunday. After a while, the faint smell of lemongrass reaches my nostrils. I feel instantly relieved and quicken my pace.
As I continue to walk, there are less and less trees. Then, I am able to see the meadow. Patches of trees on either side. The grass is vividly green, with little flecks of pale gold.
Shaking myself, I look around for a decent place to set my canvas. Finally, I choose a spot that is a good vantage point. I am able to see most of the meadow as well as keep my canvas steady against a fallen log. I get down on my knees in front of it comfortably.
Sliding the paintbrush and tubes of paint out of my jacket, I steady the canvas against the log, putting it in a position that is easy for me to look at the painting and at the meadow with just a slight turn of my head.
After I do so, I take out my paintbrush and tubes of paint. I squeeze some green paint onto my paintbrush and raise the tip of the brush to the canvas. I look for a place to start. I decide on making the grass more detailed.
I gently paint the stalks of grass on my canvas, a deeper, more vivid green. Like the real meadow. After I'm satisfied, I wipe the green paint off on a dead leaf. Then, I press a tube full of yellow paint so that it comes out onto my brush. I work on the grass, adding some flecks of yellow every few places.
"What are you doing?"
I freeze, my eyes widening. I swear that my heart has jumped up into my throat. I close my eyes and try to think of a reasonable answer. I am afraid to turn around. I do not want to come face to face with a Peacekeeper. Judging by the tone of the voice, the speaker was obviously very angry.
"I'm..." I stammer. I feel sweat forming on the back of my neck. As well on my palms. Gathering up all the courage I have left in me, I get on my two feet, and I turn to face the speaker. My voice falters.
Katniss's eyes are boring into mine. Her Seam grey eyes are full of fire as they search my eyes.
"Painting..." I squeak. I flush a little. Katniss's lips twitch slightly upwards, and I feel my eyes zooming in on them against my will. I force myself to look away, feeling a little ashamed at how ungentlemanly that was.
Fortunately, Katniss didn't even seem to notice. Katniss's gaze was darting back and forth between me and my painting, her expression full of disbelief.
"There are many animals in these woods, some of them can even kill you. I'm sure you know that, we were taught that in school many times. So... Why are you willing to risk your life to go out here and paint... a meadow?" Katniss demands dryly.
I force myself not to blush like a ripe tomato as I shrug. Katniss snorts derisively.
I sigh a little. "Do you want me to go?" I question softly.
Katniss doesn't even hesitate to nod. I bite my lower lip and look at my feet.
I wish I could find a way to spend more time here talking to her. I glance back at Katniss, she is looking at me with an expression mixed with confusion and thought.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" Katniss asks, her voice emotionless. My eyes widen in surprise, Katniss quickly continues. "Just to make sure you don't get lost or attacked."
I sigh inwardly. She doesn't believe in my ability to stay safe, huh? I think a little bitterly, but I do realize she has a reason to think like that.
I am a merchant, who always has food to eat, even if its not enough. She is from the Seam, someone who hardly has any food to eat daily. Someone who has to hunt to survive and keep her family safe. She must think of me as if I am a weakling.
"Well?" Katniss asks, a little impatiently. I nod slowly and pick up my canvas, paint, and brush. I stuff my brush and paint in my pockets and jacket pockets once more. I pick up the canvas and look over at the meadow. I wish I could've spent more time here. It really is beautiful.
Being here feels as if there is still hope that there is still some good in the world and that somehow the games would be finished. Also, somehow, it gives me hope that I have one chance in a million that Katniss and I might end up together.
"Um... Peeta?" Katniss says, this time no longer holding back her impatience. I shake myself a little. Pull yourself together, Peeta.
"Yeah, sorry. Lets go." I murmur, turning away from the meadow and looking straight at Katniss. She fingers her leather bag as she leads me away from the meadow. We walk in silence for a while until I can't stand the silence. "How's Prim?" I ask, genuinely interested in her answer.
"She's fine." Katniss simply says. I sigh and I give her a pointed look, playfully. Katniss rolls her eyes, annoyed. I can't help but smile a little at her reaction. "She sometimes asks about how you're doing."
I grin a little, pleased to know that at least one of the Everdeens has thought of me. "What do you say to her?" I ask warmly. Katniss pushes a stray hair out of her face and looks over at me.
"I say you are the same as usual. You hang around with your friends and you still draw in class." She says dryly. Pleasantly surprised, my jaw drops but no words come out. Katniss stares at my reaction like I am crazy. "What?" She demands.
I blink, a little dazed. "You look at me during class? And outside of school?" I say, unable to stop the large bursts of happiness inside me as well as the butterflies in my stomach.
Katniss bites her lower lip. I am guessing that she hadn't expected to have a conversation like this with me. "Yes, its hard not to look at you during class when you get told off by the teacher about doodling in class." She says dryly. "Its also easy to spot you hanging about the town with your gang of buddies when you lot are having the time of your life."
I smile at Katniss. She just gives a little nod in return. Its not a very friendly one, but it still makes me a little dizzy. I mean, Katniss hardly ever acknowledged me since that night in the rain.
Katniss giving me attention right now, no matter how small, makes me feel like I'm the happiest person alive.
"So... I'm guessing you've got a lot of game, huh?" I asked, curious. Katniss stiffens slightly but nods slowly.
"Yes. Enough for my family and I. You aren't going to tell any Peacekeepers are you?" Katniss demands sharply, her eyes boring into mine.
"Why would I? I'd never tell the Peacekeepers on you." I say, genuine in my response. Katniss seems to sense it as well and the wariness in her eyes seems to fade slightly. I am glad it does.
"Thank you." Is all she says. I smile at her and shake my head.
"You don't need to thank me. I do it all unconditionally, anyways." I grin slightly. As I say that, her expression clouds with confusion.
"What?" She asks, confused. I stiffen a little, then force myself to relax. I give her an easy smile.
"Just forget it, okay?" I say. Katniss still looks confused as she nods in agreement.
Gods... That was close. I mean, I do want Katniss to know my true feelings for her. But I don't want her to find out just now. Not when we are actually having an actual onversation.
I remember the day I first saw Katniss with her hair down. My heart skips a beat at the mere thought. I remember how I went to her house, carrying Prim there. Oh. I remember how I got into that situation.
"Um... Did you hear about my... stunt... at the Hob?" I ask, nervous to hear her answer. Katniss looks away from me and stares straight ahead.
"Yes, I did." She says, her tone expressionless. I'm pretty sure my face goes completely red with embarrassment then.
"Oh..." I squeak. Oh Gods...
"Yeah." Is all Katniss says. I sneak a glance at her, and see a corner of her upper lip twitching upwards slightly.
I clear my throat nervously. "Did you find it funny?" I dare to ask.
"Yes." Katniss states. I'm pretty sure my face became even more red after hearing that, if it was possible.
"Who told you?" I say after a while.
"Gale." Katniss murmurs. I feel a pang of jealousy when I hear Katniss utter his name. I've seen them both around the town and Seam a lot together. Sometimes they even come to the bakery together to trade. I'm pretty sure they hunt together as well. I feel jealousy build up in me as I think of all the times I've seen them together.
"You guys are close, huh?" I say, unable to keep my mouth shut. Katniss nods.
"Yes, we are."
"Thats good." I say just nods again. I look over at her, my eyes taking in every detail. Her hair is in her 'trademark' braid. Her Seam grey eyes aren't looking at me, but at the path ahead of us. I realize how beautiful she looks right now and how lucky I am to be here with her, even if the reason isn't as good as it should be. "Thank you." I murmur warmly to her. Katniss turns her head slightly so she can look at me easily.
"For what?" She queries. Her eyes are clouded with some confusion. She looks cute when she's confused. I smile at the thought. I focus back onto Katniss.
"For helping me find the way back to the district." I clarify. Katniss nods, shrugs, and turns to face ahead again.
"You're welcome." She says.
We walk in silence for a few more minutes and I finally see the familiar fence of District 12. However, there is no gap in the fence. I glance at Katniss. She meets my gaze.
"Come on, the entrance is probably nearby." She tells me confidently.
I follow her and soon enough I see the gap in the fence. She holds up a hand to stop me walking ahead. She points silently to a Peacekeeper who I've just noticed. He is on the other side of the fence, and his back is to us. He is leaning lazily on a wall of a old building, and he looks like he is in no hurry to go somewhere else.
"What do we do now?" I try to whisper as quietly as I can to Katniss. She drags me back a little way back in the forest.
"We need a distraction." She tells me, her grey eyes are serious.
"What do you suggest?" I ask. Katniss frowns slightly and bites her lower lip, and I immediately know she is in deep in thought.
Against my will, my eyes suddenly zero in on her lips. Oh Gods... Peeta! Stop looking at them! Its ungentlemanly! These thoughts enter and exit my brain so quickly I feel like I'm about to get a headache.
With great effort, I manage to pry my eyes away from Katniss's lips. I'm sure my face is cherry red right now. Flushing even more at the thought, I look down at my feet. Gods... I hope Katniss didn't notice that... No need for her to think of me like I'm any weirder than I already am.
"I know!" Katniss suddenly speaks up. I look back at her startled. She opens her leather bag, which is full of game, and picks up a dead squirrel. My stomach rumbles hungrily at the sight. Are we going to eat that?
As if she can hear my thoughts, Katniss looks at me like I'm crazy.
"We aren't going to eat this, you know..." Katniss trails off uncertainly. I stare at her and it takes a few long seconds to realize that she has made an effort to sound funny. I crack a smile. Katniss, however, is walking away, towards the fence. She stops and takes cover behind a tree. She motions for me to stay back, and I realize why.
I walk so loud that anybody can hear me from a mile away. I think sourly. Then, quick as a flash, Katniss hurls the dead squirrel over the fence and into the Peacekeeper's helmet. I gape with astonishment. We are so going to get caught now...
The Peacekeeper turns around and looks at the fence, his mouth hanging open slightly. I duck behind a tree and pray that Katniss or I won't get caught. I glance over quickly at Katniss and see her press a finger to her lips. The Peacekeeper steps right up to the fence and peers around the forest.
Gods... How can he not see that gap in the fence? The thought enters my mind randomly, but it is immediately dashed away as Katniss darts off, just before making a small 'run' gesture with her hand.
What the heck?! Is she crazy?! I know those might not be the nicest thoughts that should be about someone who is risking their neck for you, but honestly? Katniss could be caught!
The Peacekeeper's eyes move quickly to the spot Katniss had just vanished from. He nears the other side of the gate, peering through. I cannot see Katniss anymore, but I know that she can take care of herself. Even though, I still feel alarmed and worried about her.
"Come out!" The Peacekeeper's strict, angry voice breaks through my thoughts. I swallow thickly and do my best to keep still.
Thwack!
An arrow flies perfectly through one of the gaps in the fence and flies right past the Peacekeeper's head. The Peacekeeper yelps in alarm and grits his teeth.
"You want to play Hide and Seek, huh?" The Peacekeeper barks furiously. "Well... I'll find you!" He sneers. He isn't looking anywhere near me, and I decide whether or not I should make a run to another tree.
1...2...3... I count slowly to myself. As soon as I hit three, I hug my canvas to my chest as I dive behind another tree, a little way ahead. I don't dare try to sneak a peek at the Peacekeeper. I try to still my heavy breathing, but I am too panicked.
Suddenly, I hear a low whistle. I stiffen immediately. Instinctively, I know its Katniss. Even though I'm grateful for the distraction, I don't exactly approve of it.
I definitely know that I do not want Katniss to get caught because of me. I hear loud movements coming from the direction of the Peacekeeper. I bite my lower lip, and make a quick executive decision.
I sneak a peek at the Peacekeeper and see him walking along the fence, his face deadpan, but his eyes have a cautious and scared look in them. He is walking away from me, and I decide once again to sneak up closer to the fence.
Without a second thought, I quickly dart behind another tree and do my best to stay as still as possible. I sneak another glance at the Peacekeeper, but he isn't looking my way at all. Instead, he is walking quite far away from me.
I breath in a quick sigh of relief, and look around cautiously for Katniss, as I don't want to leave her.
As if by magic, she suddenly appears beside me. My jaw drops in amazement as well as in admiration. Katniss is looking around cautiously, and one of her fingers are twiddling an arrow in her quiver, probably subconsciously.
"That was amazing, Katniss!" I blurt out in a mixture of amazement and admiration.
She glances over at me quickly, and shrugs indifferently. I open my mouth once again to compliment her immediately.
"Seriously it was! The way you distracted that Peacekeeper so easily! That was awesome and incredible! You are awesome and incredible!" I smile at her widely.
Katniss bites her lower lip and her face starts to flush slightly. "Thank you." She mumbles. She quickly looks away from me, and at the fence. "Come on, the stupid Peacekeeper didn't even notice the hole in the fence." She smirks in amusement.
I can't help but smile even wider at her. Katniss notices the massive grin on my face and looks at me curiously.
"Stop smiling, you're starting to scare me. With all your smiling." She adds dryly. I make a playful grimace at her, but Katniss is already looking away from me.
"I think the coast is clear." She murmurs, her tone slightly wary. She moves cautiously towards the fence, looks around, and then motions for me to join her. I rush over, as quietly as I can. She leans over towards the fence, listening for the sounds of electricity.
After a few seconds, she gestures quickly for me to crawl over to the other side. I do so, and I make space for Katniss when she crawls through. Immediately, she drags me by my sleeve away from the fence.
"Come on, we don't want to be seen anywhere near there." She mutters. I hug my canvas to my chest as we rush away from the fence.
Soon, we reach the town square, we slow down and relax. I sit down a bench nearby us. Katniss joins me, sitting down beside me. I feel quite happy that she's beside me. In fact, I'm quite happy with this whole day. Its been the first time Katniss and I really ever interacted since that night in the rain, as well as the day I crashed into Prim.
"Well, that was exciting." I smile over at Katniss, who just purses her lips.
"I've never been that close to getting caught, ever." She murmurs. Both of us sit in silence for a little while, before I speak up again.
"Even though you could've gotten caught, it was still pretty cool the way you chucked that squirrel onto that Peacekeeper's head." I nudge her gently in her side, chuckling lightly. Katniss smirks a little.
"It was pretty nice doing that." She admits. "I've never attacked a Peacekeeper, before." She laughs a little.
Her little, light laugh warms me up right to my ears. Her laugh was so... perfect, it was like a little melody, with smoothness and a rich tone. I could listen to her laugh all day, I think to myself.
Katniss bites her lower lip in thought. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, she can't help but feel simply peaceful with Peeta, even though she's acted pretty cold around him earlier today.
She also feels slightly guilty sitting down here with Peeta, when she should check up on Gale, after all, he acted rather disappointed when she turned down his offer to hunt together. But still, she doesn't want to leave Peeta just yet, and she doesn't know why.
"Katniss?" His kind voice breaks into her thought, and she realizes with a start he's been trying to get her attention for the past few seconds.
"Yeah?" Katniss queries. She watches Peeta's face. For some reason, she finds it kind of amusing watching his expressions change. Right now, his expression is changing from a nervous one to a confident one.
"Would you like to see my paintings sometime?" He asks. Peeta's voice is extremely genuine in his eagerness to show her. Katniss can't help but raise an eyebrow in confusion. Peeta immediately rushes on. "I mean... I would really be honored if you took some time to look at my paintings." He mumbles. He meets Katniss's eyes and she can't help but feel slightly awed at how magnificently blue his eyes are.
Even though she would probably never admit this to anyone, Katniss feels protected and warm just by looking at his eyes.
"Uh, Katniss?" Peeta says softly. Katniss focuses back on him.
"I would love too." Katniss replies. And she genuinely means it. After seeing his painting of the meadow, she feels a new appreciation for art. She never thought that art could be so beautiful, even if it was just a painting of a simple thing. Meanwhile, Peeta has a huge grin on his face that Katniss can't help but feel slightly overwhelmed. Does he often smile that much? She asks herself silently.
"Great!" Peeta says, excitedly. "Well, tell me when you'd want to see them!" His eyes are so bright, and his smile is so wide, that Katniss can't help but smile at him.
Gale feels betrayed. So thats why Katniss didn't want to hunt with him. She was spending the whole time with Baker boy. Why? He asks himself furiously. Why would Katniss want to be with Mellark? Gale is furious when he thinks about it.
He sees the the two of them sitting down on a bench, which makes his insides burn with jealousy. What makes him even more jealous is when he sees Katniss smile at Mellark. As breathtaking and sweet her smile is, it makes Gale angry when he knows it isn't directed at him.
"Hello? Spying are we?" Gale spins around in alarm at the sound of the voice. Its Prim. Her pretty face has a innocent, yet slightly mischievous smile plastered on it. Gale flushes in a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
"I'm not spying." He responds thickly. Prim nods, but the smile is still there. Gale fixes her with a hard stare. "Since when were you allowed to go outside alone?" Gale demands, not angrily.
Prim rolls her eyes in a cute way. "I'm not 5, I'm 12. I'm old enough to go outside alone." She crosses her small arms and looks at Gale curiously. "Why did you look so angry?" She asks him.
Gale flushes again. "Angry?" He queries. Prim nods.
"Yeah. At Peeta. I noticed the look while I was walking towards you." She responds. Gale keeps a straight face and rolls his eyes.
"I'm not angry at Baker boy. I'm just surprised he and Katniss are getting along so well together." He bites. Prim sighs.
"Peeta can get along with anybody if he wants to." Prim says, rather pointedly. Gale glances at her.
"Are you two friends, then?" Gale asks roughly.
Prim shrugs, and Gale notices her calm expression changes into a confused one. "I don't know. Peeta is really nice, but I don't think he'd want to be friends with someone as young as me." She murmurs quietly.
Gale rolls his eyes. "Don't be silly, Prim. Anyone in their right mind would want to be your friend, no matter how old you are! You're great." Gale tells Prim. She smiles at his small compliment.
"Thank you." Prim says, sweetly. She smiles warmly at Gale and he returns the smile. After a small silence, Prim speaks up again. "Well, I think I should get back home. See you later, Gale!" She skips away in a cheery way that makes Gale smile.
He looks back over at Katniss and Peeta and sees Peeta looking rather nervous. He smirks at the expression on Peeta's face, but frowns a little when he sees it become slightly more confident. Then, he becomes ultimately baffled when he sees Peeta's face break into an enormous grin. And then, he feels his heart drop into his stomach when he sees Katniss smile back at him.
Author's Note: On again, I am super sorry that I didn't update sooner! I did my best to make this chapter as long as possible until I found a fitting end. Also, I am sorry that if some of the personalities of the characters are kind of unrealistic. Plus I'm sorry if the ending sentence didn't make much sense, also if there are any typos that I missed!... Huh, I'm sorry for a lot of things! Lol. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter, and once again I am sorry for the long wait. Also, thanks to the people who started to follow this story, and the people that favorited it.
Review Responses:
marycontrary82: Thanks for reviewing the previous chapter! Also, I'm super sorry that I didn't update as soon as possible. I hope that if you read this chapter that you have enjoyed it.
SaMaNtHa (Guest): Haha, thanks for reviewing! And I agree, Peeta does have some bad luck.
PeetaLover1116: xD Its okay! I'm not offended or anything! I'll check out your story but I won't criticize it! Honestly, I'm sure I'll enjoy it! Also, I do kind of see your point. One of the hardest things for me to do in fanfiction is to try to keep a character as close to their actual personality as possible. Anyways, thanks for giving me feedback! It helped a lot!