Chapter Five
Hey, its me. Don't worry, the next chapter will be up in a few days or so. Sorry if there are typos.
Disclaimer - I don't own Hunger Games or any of its characters.
Katniss -
"And this is my painting of my family."
"Its very nice, Peeta!"
I sighed inwardly.
Peeta was showing his paintings to Prim and I. Yes, Prim and I.
~Flashback~
Prim had convinced me to walk with her around town. Usually, I never take casual walks around town, but Prim had me wrapped around her finger ever since the day she was born and I had set eyes on her.
We were walking around the town center when I saw him. Peeta. Neither of us had spoken to each other after that incident in the woods. I was kind of avoiding him. A few days ago, Gale confronted me about seeing me hanging around with him. I had rolled my eyes and calmly stood my ground, telling Gale that we'd met in the woods and both of us were talking about it. Gale questioned me a little longer but backed off.
He was a good friend and very loyal. He didn't like the merchants very much, and was just looking out for me, I understood. The two of us spent the day together talking and catching up together.
Anyways, when I saw Peeta, it wasn't long before he noticed us. He was alone, walking the streets, his blue eyes scanning the street. Then, they rested on Prim and I.
I felt a little hand touch my wrist.
"Look, its Peeta from the bakery." Prim says, pointing to him. Peeta is looking at the two of us, I cannot read his expression because of the distance between us.
Prim has always had a soft spot towards Peeta. When she goes to the bakery with me, Peeta is friendly and welcoming towards her. Once I bet I even saw him slip a cookie in her hand and put a finger to his lips while giving her a quick wink. I kept quiet about it though, because Prim seemed in a better mood for the rest of the day.
I realized I was still looking at Peeta, and he was still looking at me. Then I realized something else, he was walking towards us.
"Hello." Suddenly, Peeta was in front of us.
His blue eyes were trained on me, and I felt a sudden need to look away.
"Hello, Peeta!" Prim grins up at him. Peeta looks away from me and smiles down at Prim.
"Hi, Prim." His smile is warm and friendly. Just looking at it makes me feel calm. Peeta turns to face me again. "Hello, Katniss."
I nod in greeting as I say, "Hello."
There is a silence for a while, none of us really knowing what to say.
Then, Peeta speaks up. "I was kind of hoping I'd see you again." His face goes red a little as he says it. I ignore it though.
"Oh?" I say the word slowly, rather cautiously.
Peeta takes a deep breath before he speaks. "I was wondering, when would you want to see my paintings?" He asks me, curiously. His eyes on mine.
One thing that amazes me is how readable his eyes are. They portray every emotion he is feeling. The first moment I realized it was when he asked me if I would like to see his paintings.
Before I can utter a sound, Prim speaks up.
"Ooh! Katniss, can I go with you? And can we go today?" Prim asks expectantly, looking up at me with her big baby blue eyes. I know that as soon as I see them that I cannot deny this to her.
I sigh. "Fine, Prim." I look at Peeta. I can tell that he is overjoyed at this, it amuses me a little that he always seems happy. "Are we allowed to see them now?"
Peeta lets a massive smile appear on his face. He nods his head enthusiastically as he begins to lead Prim and I towards his home. And bakery. Whatever.
~End of Flashback~
"Do you like it? Katniss?" Peeta suddenly asks me. Startled, my eyes flicker up on his in alarm. Flustered, I think of an response.
"Yeah. Your family looks very... realistic." I think quickly. Peeta looks relieved at my answer and gives me an amazing dimpled smile. I can't help but look at him.
He looks like any other District 12 town person. With blond hair and blue eyes. But there is something about him that makes him different than most other townies.
"Uh, Katniss?" Prim is looking at me, her blue eyes filled with confusion. Peeta is also looking at me, in a mixture of confusion and alarm.
"Yes?" I snap out of my daze and look at her.
Prim, I can tell is containing a smile. "Nothing. You were just staring at Peeta." At these words, I see Peeta flush bright red from the corner of my eyes.
I bite my lower lip. "Sorry, I just zoned out." I make an excuse. I wouldn't want to admit that I was looking Peeta over.
Eager to change the subject I look around Peeta's cramped room. It is partly full of his paintings and his other stuff, like his bed and closet and school stuff. I notice a canvas covered with a cloth.
"What's that?" I ask Peeta, pointing at the covered canvas.
"Oh... That..." Peeta is flushing bright red now. His eyes darting around the place as if searching for an escape or an excuse. He begins stammering nonsense, "Its... something... I am not sure how to explain..."
Peeta -
Oh gods. I am completely tongue-tied. The painting Katniss is asking me about is one that I've kept secret from everybody. I had worked tons on that painting, probably even more so than the painting of a meadow.
Both the Everdeens are looking at me expectantly, Prim with her baby blue eyes and Katniss with her grey eyes piercing into mine.
I bite my the inside of my cheek. I definitely don't want them to see the painting, on the other hand I don't want to disappoint them.
"Uh, its not ready yet for people to see it." I lie through my teeth. I feel disappointed with myself. I don't like lying. I never have. I especially don't like lying to people I care about. Such as Katniss.
"Oh, thats too bad. What is it about?" Prim asks me, curiosity shining in her eyes. Once again, I am at a loss for words. Gosh, my natural talent for words is gone when I'm with the Everdeens.
"Uh, I've been working on it a lot because it takes a lot of time to paint a... house." I finish lamely. I look at the two of them. Katniss is looking a little skeptical and Prim is just nodding at my sentence with agreement.
"Is the house you are painting big and beautiful?" Prim questions.
I nod. "Yeah, its big, there's a lot of windows and I want to make the tint on them just right." I make up the words as I go. I am quite impressed with myself until Katniss asks something.
"Can we see it?" She inquires. She continues on quickly, "I mean, we know its not done yet but I'm sure Prim and I would like to see it anyway."
I feel my heart stop beating. There was really no way out of this without sounding completely rude or suspicious.
I did not want Katniss to see it. Seriously. The painting they were asking to see was one that I did my best to keep secret. I didn't let any of my family or friends enter my room, just in case they found that painting. The painting of Katniss.
I'd started on that painting the day after I gave that loaf of bread to Katniss in the rain. I'd worked super hard on it, for a long time. I wanted every detail to be perfect, every aspect of her face to portray something.
"Peeta? May we? I've looked at the rest of your paintings. They're very beautiful. But, I wouldn't mind seeing a non finished painting. I bet its pretty." Prim is tugging at the sleeve of my shirt, looking up at me with blue puppy dog eyes.
"Sure."
Immediately, I slap myself and kick myself mentally. What the heck, Peeta? Am I losing my mind?
Katniss -
I watch as Peeta slowly walks over to the covered canvas and see him take the cloth down. The thing that I see next startles me.
Its me.
His painting is me.
I can't help but stare at it. It is like an exact replica of me.
"Um..." Its Peeta. I can't even tear my eyes away from the painting. I feel something bubbling in the pit of my stomach.
Anger. And embarrassment.
I whirl around to face Peeta, my nostrils flaring in anger. "What is this?" I demand, my voice low and threatening. Peeta's eyes flash in fear and humiliation.
"I'm sorry." He bows his head low and doesn't look me in the eyes.
I take a step closer to him, anger taking over my decisions. "Don't ever talk to me again. Don't even come close to me." I glare at him so fiercely I'm surprised he doesn't break.
"Katniss." Its Prim. I look at her, still angry. I take her by the hand and drag her out of Peeta's room. I don't look back. "Katniss." Prim repeats as I drag her out of the bakery.
"Lets go. Get out of here. Come on, Prim." I say in a monotone. I know I'll feel bad about dragging Prim away from here later on. But right now, all I want to do is get out of here.
Thoughts of Peeta fill my head as we get farther and farther away from the bakery.
Why did Peeta paint a picture of me? Why even bother? I mean, we aren't friends or anything. I wonder why I feel so angry about this. Maybe because we hardly know each other? Before I can think about this anymore Prim speaks again.
"Katniss, the painting of you was beautiful." Prim says softly. I can't help but feel my heart softening as I look down at my little sister. She can always make me feel better, even when I am at my angriest.
"I guess it was. But why would he paint a picture of me?" I ask, more to myself. However, Prim answers.
"I think he likes you."
Startled once more, I look at Prim.
"What?" Is all that comes out my mouth. Prim looks at my expression and rolls her eyes, jokingly.
"Isn't it obvious?" Is all that she offers. I look at her.
"He doesn't like me, Prim." Is all that I say. Thoughts are running wild in my head once more.
Why would Peeta paint a picture of me, and obviously put so much work into it? Did he hope to sell it for some reason? Was there something he would gain by making it? There is too much questions and not enough answers for my taste.
"Why wouldn't he? You're smart, brave, and beautiful." Prim smiles at me. I can tell she means every word of what she said. I feel slightly uncomfortable. I am not used to compliments. Prim is one of the two people who had ever complimented me. Gale was the other person.
Gale.
What would he think of this? Once more, questions come popping into my mind. I swear if I keep thinking this hard, I'll get a headache and become a grouch. Which I don't want to become.
"Katniss?" Prim asks softly. I shake my head clear of these thoughts and pay attention to my little sister. "You aren't angry at Peeta, are you?"
I don't know how to answer that one. I am angry at Peeta, but I don't want to be mean about him to Prim. I sigh and shrug my shoulders in answer to Prim's question.
She looks at me sympathetically. "If it makes you feel better. You are lucky, I wish a guy was as nice as that to me." Prim blushes a little as she says it, and I can't help but laugh a little at that.
"Thank you." I say simply. I wish I could say the same thing back to her, but I'm not really good with things like that. Instead, I wrap her my arms around her and pull her up in a hug.
Peeta -
Damn. I lost it. I lost my chance with Katniss. I am ashamed, humiliated, and mad at myself. I was so hoping that somehow, we'd become friends.
Now, that was never going to happen.
The way she had looked at me, had wanted me to curl up in a ball and stay like that forever.
I was still in my room, I hadn't bothered chasing after the Everdeens. I know Prim would talk to me, but the person I wanted to talk to was Katniss. And she wasn't going to let me near her.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and collapsed onto my bed. The only times I would probably ever see her was in school, in my history class, and at the bakery if she needed to trade. And on those occasions, I guessed that we wouldn't be talking that much.
Unless... I could somehow make amends to her. Would going down to the Seam be too much? Different opportunities to make Katniss forgive me came rushing into my brain and I felt eager to talk to her once more. I had to make her forgive me. I wanted to be her friend. I would do whatever it took to do so.
Author's Note: Sorry about the lame ending. Wow, that was a long time to update. Sorry about that, I had semester tests and I had to study super hard so I didn't flunk. Well, I mostly studied math because thats my weakest subject. After the tests my family went over to my grandparents and we spent Christmas with them, so I didn't have any time to upload this chapter sooner. Anyways, there's no excuse in the end.
Also, I've been readings tons of PJO fanfics. If you are a fan of Percy/Annabeth read HAWTgeek's You've Got Mail and All's Fair in Love and War if you liked You've Got Mail, because thats the sequel...
I think you can guess what'll happen in the next chapter... So I won't spoil anything for you.
Hope you all had a merry Christmas! And have a great New Year's! :D
Review Responses:
marycontrary82 - Sorry I didn't update sooner, here's the chapter. The next chapter will come up in about two to three days.
veronique - Thanks! Haha, don't worry, Gale won't become an angry rapist. I actually like him, he's one of my favorite HG characters.
MaidenAlice - Thanks!
tabbycatbw - Thanks for reviewing and giving me feedback! :) It helps. I hope I made all the POVs clearer.