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Chapter Nine
Katniss's phone went off with a text. She saw Gale's name. "How was the date?"
She sighed and replied, "It wasn't a date. I took his daughter to buy a bow."
"But he's so into you." Her friend argued.
"He's into his dead wife. And she was a babe, so I can see why."
He sent a wide-eye emoji.
Katniss shook her head. "Focus on your wife and not on the fact that a FRIEND and I spent the afternoon together."
"You know, Finnick says he doesn't act that way with other women."
"Most of the other women he knows are married." She stretched and plugged her phone in. She was ready to get to bed, but Caleb was still up and refusing to even try sleeping.
"Mama, can I sleep with you tonight?" Her son asked when she walked into his room.
"You need to sleep in your own bed. You're getting too big to sleep with me." She combed her fingers through his hair. "I love you."
"I love you too." He sighed. "I like spending time with Peeta and Callie."
"I do, too."
"Can we do it again?" He yawned and his eyes drifted closed.
"I'm sure we can." She kissed his cheek and turned out his light.
She checked her phone before she started her nightly routine. There was another text from Gale. "You aren't most women, Catnip. And you need to get laid. You are uptight."
"Such a guy thing to say. I don't need a man for an orgasm."
"More than an orgasm. Sink to skin contact is necessary."
She snorted. "Now I'm thinking about you and my sister. Ew! Shut up!"
"Lol. Just think about it. He's single, you're single. Both of you have been that way for many years. He's into women, you're into men. Do you see what I'm getting at?"
She could almost hear the laughter on the other side of the conversation. She was also sure Prim was part of it. She tapped out a final reply, "I will not become friends with benefits with the parent of one of my students. And I don't date them either. We are FRIENDS and that is all. And I won't say anything else about it tonight. I'll see you in the morning." She put her phone on Do Not Disturb mode and finished getting ready for bed.
Katniss lay in bed for a long time after her light was out staring at the ceiling. Gale was probably right that she needed someone. She needed intimacy. She needed someone who loved Caleb. But she did have a policy against dating—and sleeping with—the parents. It wasn't an official policy, but one she imposed for herself. It just made things messy. If they broke up, she would lose a good student. And other people might think it colored her treatment of Callie.
But the truth was, she did think Peeta was cute. And he had been so sweet with Caleb. Her son had found a kindred spirit. No one else in her family was an artist. She wasn't even sure she knew where he had gotten his talent and love of coloring. He was crafty, too. She had so many of his little homemade trinkets around the house and in storage boxes and drawers along with his completed coloring books. She loved her son. And someone like Peeta who could help nurture his talent was what she needed.
But she definitely couldn't have him.
She rolled over and fell asleep eventually. She was awakened too early by a nightmare. She looked at the clock and saw that it was less than an hour until her alarm went off and she just rolled out of bed. No use trying to get back to sleep after that anyway.
Katniss put everything into those last weeks of camp. All her campers had made decent progress, even those that didn't want to be there. She didn't see Cato again and kept Caleb inside for drop-off and pick-up as much as possible. She had so many nightmares of him snatching Caleb one of those times.
She had a final consultation with Peeta over the cupcakes before the last week was done. And the entire time, she thought about Gale and what he had said. And every time Peeta spoke, she watched his lips. Was he a good kisser? She shook herself and focused on his words and not the budding attraction. Friendship. She needed friendship.
"So what do you think?" He asked, indicating the cupcakes he'd already decorated and the drawing beside them.
"They look really good." She nodded.
"Want to try one?" He picked up the plate. "There will be plenty."
"Yeah, okay." She chose a chocolate with vanilla frosting. She took a bite. "Wow, that's so good." She swallowed. "It's moist and light. And the frosting isn't too sweet. Kind of tart."
"I did cream cheese. Little bit of a contrast. So you like it?"
"I do." She took another bite and leaned against the counter. "Caleb asked if we could hang out again."
"I'd like that." He went back to frosting the cupcakes. "You have your big shindig this weekend. Finnick and Annie hosted that other cookout. Maybe I can put together a back-to-school blowout here."
"You should."
"Oh, wait here. I've been working on something. I'll be right back." He put down his piping bag and left through the back. He returned with four eight-by-ten canvases. He placed them in front of her.
"Caleb's pirate dogs." She chuckled as she looked them over. "Very realistic. And something he can keep for a long time. These are so cool. How much do you want for them?"
"Nothing." He smiled. "They're for his birthday next week. From me."
"How do you know his birthday?" She asked softly as she stacked the paintings.
"Finnick. When he came in to drop off Cal the other day I asked. I was curious. I knew you'd want to pay for those, but I can't take payment. I did them because your son deserves it. And I was done with the painting of Alex. I usually always have a project going."
Katniss sighed. "You're too nice."
Peeta smiled. "I take after my dad."
"He was a good man, then."
He nodded. "A very good man. My mother didn't deserve him."
She gave him a quizzical look.
He shrugged. "My dad was ultimate good and my mother bordered on ultimate evil. She never hurt anyone physically, but we could all expect a good tongue-lashing for putting a single toe out of line. When Alex… When she told me she was pregnant, I decided we should get married and she agreed. My mom didn't like it, any of it. She told us we were going to Hell and that we were horrible human beings. And my dad finally stood up to her. He told her he supported us and that we could move in with them once we were married. And she left. She divorced my dad over my marriage. And I haven't seen her since. She didn't even show to Dad's funeral. She sends a Christmas card every year, but just for me. Never mentions Callie. And I don't care. One day she'll realize how badly she screwed up. And she'll be all alone."
Katniss looked down a moment to compose herself. She looked back up. "I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we both kind of lost out in the Mom Department. Mine became a workaholic after my dad died and I pretty much raised Prim. She moved out and we don't talk much except on holidays. She and Prim have a pretty good relationship since Prim is studying to be a doctor and Mom's a nurse. They have that in common." She smiled sadly and squeezed Peeta's arm. "Thanks for the cupcake and the paintings. Let me know the final cost and I'll have a check for you before the party."
"No problem." He said softly.
She picked up the paintings and made her way out. Caleb's birthday was the next week. She usually brought him to the movies and spent the day buying him treats and toys and just spoiling him. It was her favorite day of the year.
She picked Caleb up from Prim and Gale's and they went home. The last camp day was tomorrow and Katniss was ready. She made supper and they got ready for bed. Caleb couldn't sleep and Katniss reluctantly let him sleep in her bed.
She jerked awake from a nightmare.
Caleb watched her. "Mama, why were you screaming?"
She gathered him close and kissed his temple. "I had a really bad dream. But it's okay because it was just a dream." She rubbed her son's back until he fell back asleep, but she didn't go back to sleep. She wished she would, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw Cato. His face was close to hers and his hands were around her throat and she couldn't breathe.
She picked up her phone and started to text Gale, but she decided against it. He was asleep and he needed his rest. She put her phone back on the table and rolled over. She watched Caleb sleep and tried to go back to sleep once again. But there was the image again and she groaned in frustration.
She picked up her phone and sent a text to Peeta, "Do you ever have nightmares?"
His response came quickly. "Who is this?"
"Katniss. Sorry to bother you. I had a horrible nightmare and I didn't know who else to talk to. You don't have to respond to this."
He did anyway. "I'm already awake for the day. If you need to talk, I'm available."
"So do you have nightmares?" She got up and made her way to the living room to watch TV.
"I did when Cal was a baby. That she was in trouble and just out of reach for me to get her."
"I have this recurring nightmare of Caleb being hurt or me being hurt and I can't help him." She didn't want to get into detail.
"Every night?"
"Not every night, but most nights."
"Hug Caleb and know that everything will be all right. You have a big day today, you should probably try to get back to sleep."
She smiled to herself. "Thank you."
"Any time. I'll send an extra cheese bun with Finnick to make your day a little better."
"That will be awesome!" She went back to her room and combed her fingers through Caleb's hair and she drifted off to sleep without any fear.
She woke up feeling refreshed. The last day of camp was a chance to practice for the showcase the next day. Everyone would get a chance to shoot six arrows at the target while all their family watched. And of course there was the prospect of cheese buns.
Callie hurried up to her as soon as she got out of the car and handed her a box. "There's a cheese bun for you and a donut for Caleb. And a note from Dad." She smiled and walked around her to go into the range.
Katniss opened the box and took out the note. "Hope you slept well. Anymore nightmares, text me. Your friend, Peeta"
"Hey, Caleb." She called. She handed him the donut. It was chocolate glazed with lots of sprinkles. "Be sure to thank Peeta tomorrow."
"Oh, I will!" He hurried off after Callie and Finn as he ate his donut.
Katniss sat down with her cheese bun and watched the kids arriving for their final day. Some would be back the next year, but most would not.
Cato pulled up and spotted her. He got out of the car and walked over. "I know I'm not supposed to be out of the car. I know you have a protective order and all that shit, but I have a serious question."
"What?" She asked sharply, looking all around her to make sure Caleb was inside. This is how her nightmare started.
"This thing tomorrow. Does that count? Because Xander really wants me to see what he's been working on."
Katniss sighed. "You know what, Cato? If you are so desperate to see him, then fine. But you stay away from me for the entire day."
He put up his hands. "You got it. We'll stay in our lane."
"Now get back in your car, please." She watched him back up and get in slowly. She waited until he drove away to turn around. She smiled when she saw Gale and Finnick standing at the door to the range. Both were ready to pounce. Gale had his bow in his hand and his quiver over his shoulder.
"What did he want?" Gale demanded.
She patted his arm. "He was getting permission to come tomorrow. Help me keep Caleb away from him."
Finnick said, "I'm sure Annie and Prim will gladly tag team doing that all day."
Katniss nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. They're good mama bears." She rubbed her face. "Okay, let's get this day started."
Gale and Katniss ran through the roster of the showcase with the students. After everyone took their shot, they got to go swimming and then on a hike or to the crafts building. They invited everyone back at the end of the day and Katniss stood in front of them.
"Listen, I am so proud of all of you." She said. "When you first walked in here, you couldn't even hold a bow and now all of you are shooting arrows into a target and they stick. Now, some of you have never gotten a bullseye and that's fine. If you move on from here, you will get a bullseye eventually. If you don't just be proud that you learned something new this summer."
Someone started a cheer and everyone clapped and yelled.
Gale waved them down. "Now Katniss and I would like to show you what can happen if you move on from here."
Katniss grinned and picked up a bow. "I'm going to attempt to shoot six arrows into the center of that target," she pointed to a target at the end of the range, "from all the way back here." She walked all the way to the other end of the range.
Gale moved beside her. "And I'm going to hit the other one. I think I can get them all in before her."
"And I know I can get all six arrows before Gale."
Finnick said, "When I say three, they'll go." He turned to the pair. "One, two, three."
The pair shot off their arrows in quick succession, Katniss dropped her bow a second before Gale. She looked at her target and made a face. One arrow was at the bottom, but the other five were in a good cluster in the middle. Gales were all in the center, but not as tightly clustered together as Katniss's.
Katniss held up her hand and Gale gave her a high five. She turned to the kids gathered. "And that is what years of practice can do, ladies and gentlemen."
They all applauded. Katniss sent everyone on their way. The staff gathered around after all the kids were gone.
Katniss said, "I am so happy to have had all of you working here this year. You did a great job. And I would greatly enjoy having you back next year. Tonight I am treating you all to pizza, but you have to work for it first. This place needs a thorough cleanup. All the tables need to be put into the far corner over there for snacks. All the trash needs to be picked up. And we need to vacuum in here. There are three in the craft building that can be used at once. Divide the tasks amongst yourselves. Gale, Finnick, and I will get the bows and arrows locked up and put the targets in place."
She asked Finnick, "Did you tell Peeta about pizza?"
"He's your boyfriend." Finnick said with a smirk.
"He's more your boyfriend. Did you tell him this morning that I was planning pizza?"
Finnick thought a moment and then shook his head. "I don't think so."
"I'll call him quick." Katniss took out her phone.
"Yeah, so not your boyfriend." Finnick teased.
"Shut up." She laughed. She pressed her phone to her ear and waited for Peeta to pick up. "Hey, it's Katniss."
"Hi, Katniss. What's up?"
"I'm treating my staff to pizza at my place tonight. Callie's invited, of course, and I wanted to see if you would like to be there, too."
"Sure. Thanks."
"I forgot to tell you yesterday and I asked Finnick to say something…" She trailed off. "I ordered the pizza for a six-thirty pick up. That should give you time to shut down. We're cleaning up here now."
"Okay, I will see you then."
"Good." She hung up and went back to the clean-up.