SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT! I AM TRULY SORRY! But good news...

***The new story of Panem High School is coming this weekend! (Dances) MORE INFO AT THE BOTTOM***

Anons:

Emz: GURL WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Don't even matter, welcome back.

S: At least you had lessons. I suck at it! Naw, Gloss isn't talking about Johanna either xD

Guest: Glimmer and Peeta's ship name? Hmmm idk. Peemmer? Glita? Gleeta? THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS! (I kind of like Glita tho)

Guest: Thanks! Sorry for the long wait!

Guests please leave names :)

Last Time On Freshman Year: Gloss and Cash went out of town for Christmas but they're back! Gloss told Annie he is interested in one girl but won't say who because she has a boyfriend. Annie thinks he is talking about Johanna. Gale still has jealous towards Peeta and Johanna's friendship. Peeta and Glimmer are finally going out but Peeta has only told Annie about it so far. Glimmer is also out of town for New Year's along with Gale.

Chapter 23 "New Years"

Johanna's POV

It's eight pm on the dot when Annie and Finnick stop by my house. The second I let them inside Annie puts one of those ridiculous New Year's hats on me while Finnick shoves a party blower into my mouth.

"You two are insane," I state while throwing the party blower on the floor. "You could have choked me, Finnick."

"I kind of wish I did."

"Finnick," Annie says. "Same."

I roll my eyes.

"Don't you roll your eyes at us, Johanna." Annie says. "Cash wanted us at her party at seven and it's already eight so go change so we can get a move on. We still have to go steal Peeta away from the bakery."

"And what's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I gesture to my clothes.

"That's what you're wearing? All black? Really?"

I nod.

Annie drags me to my bedroom to pick out my outfit for tonight. Finnick stays in my living room to call Peeta. Annie sits me on my bed while she goes through my closet and dresser. At every party or event Annie just has to have me looking my best. It doesn't matter if I want to something simple, Annie won't have it. I love Annie, but this is one of her little quirks I can't stand. But I tolerate it because I love her.

"This is cute," Annie says, holding up a sparkling black dress. "Wear this."

I glare at Annie. "It's thirty degrees outside. Do you want me to freeze to death?"

Annie rolls her eyes and continues to look for an outfit. She finds me dark blue jeans, a white dress shirt, and a pair of black heels to wear. I change in the bathroom. I curse myself when I look in the mirror because, damn it. Annie was so right. I look great.

I walk back into my room expecting Annie to tell me how pretty I look, but she's too distracted to even notice me. Annie is staring at the painting hanging above my bed.

For Christmas Peeta painted something for me. The painting is of Gale, Peeta, Annie, Finnick, and I sitting around a fire in the woods, just like we did on my birthday. The painting is beyond beautiful. When Peeta gave me the painting I was speechless. All I could do was hug him. Peeta then helped me hanging it up in my room.

"Did Peeta give you that?" Annie asks, still staring at the painting.

"Yeah," I say. "Isn't beautiful?"

"Beyond. Gosh, look at that detail, the blending of the colors, the way certain parts are lighter than others because the fire would light it up. Can you image how long this took him?" Annie asks turning to me. "How much work?"

I shrug. To be honest I never thought about that.

Annie smiles. "That boy really cares about you." I know that. "You look great, Jo. We should get going. We still need to get Peeta."

Annie had Finnick and I run to Peeta's house. With the cold weather and everything I was freezing by the time we got there. I banged on the bakery door because I didn't want to be out here for another minute.

"Damn, Peeta. Looking good," Finnick exclaims the second Peeta answers the door.

"Finnick, please. Annie is right here," Peeta jokes while pulling Finnick into a hug.

Annie rolls her eyes. "Are you ready to go?"

"Or do you two want sometime alone?" I add teasingly.

"Alright, let's go but I have to be back around 10:30," Peeta tells us.

"Why so early?" Annie asks sadly. "You're going to miss all the fun."

"I have to be here for just a bit and then I can go over to Cash's for midnight."

"Okay enough talk," Finnick says. "We are already late and Cash will only get grumpier about it."

Annie and Finnick hold hands and walk far in front of Peeta and I on the way to Cash's.

"Does Annie seem way happier today than usual?" Peeta asks me.

I nod. "She's probably bouncing with joy because Cash and Gloss are back. She did want all of us together."

"Gale still isn't here." I can't help but frown at the mention of Gale's name. Peeta notices and gives me a questionable look. "It's nothing, honestly. We're just kind of fighting again."

Peeta groans. "What is it about this time?"

Gale was annoyed with the fact that I hung up Peeta's painting in my room. He is such an idiot. It's a painting, what else am I supposed to do with it? Shove it in the closet?

"Nothing," I tell Peeta. "Just a small disagreement. That's all."

Another lie. I called Gale earlier today. I don't know how by we ended up fighting about the painting again. We kind of broke up over the phone today. It's hard to say, it was a messy argument.

"Well whatever it is, I hope you guys work it out," Peeta says. "Happy New Year's Eve, by the way."

"You too, Peeta."

We arrive at Cash's with an hour to kill before Peeta has to go. The party is smaller than I expected. It's not hard to spot Cash and Gloss over by the drinks.

"What's up with the small turn out?" I ask.

"Apparently for some people New Years is about being with family," Cash explains to me. "I don't know about you guys but New Years is a time to forget all the shit you did last year and to get hammered." With that Cash takes a shot, probably not her first of the night.

"What about you guys?" Gloss asks all of us with a smile. "Something to drink?"

"Just water for me," Annie says. "After last time I think it's clear I don't take alcohol well."

"Same," Peeta says.

"I'll have what Cash is having," Finnick says with a smirk.

"Same here," I say.

Gloss gives Finnick and I two shots each. We drink them together.

When Annie suggests dancing I look to Peeta as my dance partner while Gloss looks to his sister. Peeta barely moves an inch towards me before Annie has a hold of him and is pulling him away. Same goes for Gloss, Finnick just sweeps in and takes Cash to the dance floor. Gloss and I share a confused look before going to dance together.

"Do you have any idea what that was about?" Gloss asks me over the music.

"None, and I don't even wanna know." Gloss smiles at that. "So how was your Christmas?"

"Pretty great. The whole family was together. There was dancing, singing, and oh god the food was amazing. And you?"

In all honesty after Annie left my house early Christmas day I was pretty bored for the rest of the day. It wasn't 'till later that night when Peeta came to visit me that I was enjoying my day again.

"It was fun," I tell Gloss.

"You look amazing by the way," Gloss says. "Did Annie dress you?"

"At least my sister doesn't dress me," I mumble with a smirk.

"Cash doesn't dress me…she just happens to buy all my clothes for me."

I laugh. "Yeah, 'cause that's different."

Gloss and I dance together for the next few songs seeing as every time either one of us tries to change partners Annie or Finnick steal them away. After about the fifth dance we give up and get some drinks.

I take three more shots before calling quits.

"Already done with drinking?" Gloss asks while pouring himself another drink. "Lame."

I roll my eyes. "I actually wanna be able to stand at the strike of midnight, thanks."

"Have you ever been drunk?" Gloss asks me. I shake my head. "I wonder what kind of drunk you are."

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously.

"I mean are you the clumsy drunk like my sister over there." Gloss nods his over to the dance floor. I take one look and see Cash nearly tripping all over the place. Peeta is the one following her around to keep her from hitting the ground. "The slutty drunk, the angry drunk, the silly drunk, or the sad drunk like myself."

"You're the sad drunk? Do you cry about everything?"

"Pretty much, but I don't get drunk easily. Judging by your size and the five shots you've had, you have got to be a little tipsy."

I snort. "I am so not even a little tipsy." I move my arms to fold across my chest and I don't know how but I nearly trip. A smile appears on Gloss' face. "Shut up." And he laughs.

Suddenly I have someone hugging me from behind. Judging by the small giggles, it has to be Annie.

"How's it going over her?" Annie asks coming to my side. "Nothing but fun, I hope."

"Annie, dance with me?" Gloss asks, taking her hand.

"Wouldn't you rather dance with Jo?" Annie asks, looking at me.

"Johanna is a horrible dance partner."

I fake a gasp. "You aren't so great yourself, Gloss. You dance with Annie and I'll go find Peeta."

I go off and find Peeta with Finnick and tipsy Cash. I steal Peeta away for a dance. Peeta tries to talk to me while we dance, but the music is so loud that I can't make out a word he says. After two dances Peeta takes me outside so we can talk. We sit on the front steps together in the cold.

"Having fun?" I ask.

"Could be better," Peeta says. "What about you?"

"Other than Gale not being here, it's fun."

"I thought you two were fighting."

"I may have overreacted," I admit. "It sucks that we can't share our New Years kiss. He just had to be out of town."

"Sucks, I know. The person you plan on spending the year with isn't even here to share one kiss at midnight," Peeta says. His tone has sadness in it, but I don't understand why.

I stare at him for a moment; a frown on his face and heavy eyes. "Why do I have the feeling you're not telling me something?"

Suddenly the door swings open and Annie and Finnick are coming out with their coats on. They toss Peeta and I ours.

"We need to get going if Peeta is going to make it back to the bakery in time," Finnick says.

"You guys are coming with me?" Peeta asks.

"Of course we are," Annie says. "Now get your coats on."

…

I've never seen the bakery this packed before. Peeta said that this was just a family party. I didn't know Peeta's family was this huge. I can barely make it through the kitchen without hitting someone by mistake. So many blondes with blue eyes and so many of them look like Mr. and Ms. Mellark.

"The little ones look like mini Delly's and Peeta's," Finnick tells me as we wait by the stairs and watch Annie play with the children and Peeta greet every one of his relatives.

"I know. It's creepy," I say. "Do your relatives look a lot like you?"

"Psh, they wish they had these good looks."

I laugh. "You're so full of yourself."

"I bet Peeta's family is one of those families obsessed with who dates a family member. If Peeta doesn't bring home a blonde, he's screwed."

"Good luck to the future Mrs. Mellark."

"Guys," Annie pops over with a smile. "Peeta's cousins are the cutest things ever. I just want to keep one."

"Be my guest," Peeta says coming out of nowhere. "They're cute, but those kids are little demons."

"They look just like you," I tell him. "The girls look like Delly though."

"Where is Delly?" Annie asks.

"Upstairs probably," Peeta says.

"So can we go or…?" Annie hits Finnick on the chest for that question.

Peeta laughs. "As soon as my mom is drunk, okay? It won't take that long believe me."

An hour later and Mrs. Mellark is so drunk she can barley walk. Mr. Mellark has to take her to bed.

"She's drunk. Let's go," Annie exclaims while putting her coat on.

"Annie, We have fifteen minutes till midnight and it's a twenty minute walk to Cash," I remind her. "Can't we just stay here?"

"No, we cannot and it's almost a ten minute walk if we cut through the park and run," Annie says. "Let's go. The clock is ticking."

"She is insane," I whisper to Peeta while Finnick and Annie drag us outside.

"Completely," Peeta says agreeing with me.

We run the second we step outside of the bakery. Finnick and Annie run hand in hand in front of Peeta and I. We make it to the park in ten minutes and that's when all come to a stop. We don't have to say anything. We are nowhere near Cash's place and we only have five minutes until midnight. Finnick takes Annie by the hand and they walk into the park together, ready to spend the last few minutes of this year together. Peeta and I take seat down on the side of the road and I just stare up at the night sky. The moon's shine is all that gives Peeta and I light.

"Three minutes," Peeta mumble looking at his phone.

"Have any New Year resolutions?" I ask.

"To be nicer."

"Peeta," I say with a laugh. "You're already the nicest person I know. So that doesn't count."

Peeta smiles. "Then I'll try and be more honest."

"Why don't you stare now by telling me what's up? Peeta, I know something has been bothering you all day, so why not just talk about?"

Peeta sighs. "Promise to listen to everything I have to say before reacting?"

"Of course."

"Where to start—Umm I guess I should start with something light first. This is kind of embarrassing but…I've never been kissed before—"

"What?" I nearly shout. "You can't be serious."

He is joking. He has to be joking.

"You promised to let me finish," Peeta says and that shuts me up. "It's not like I've never had the chance to before, I'm just way too romantic, I guess. I wanted it to be different forlack of a better word,and with someone who I actually care about—" I can hear the fated countdown to the New Year coming from the homes around us. I look at my wristwatch; the one Gale gave me for Christmas.

Five

"Not just some random girl."

Four.

Peeta is talking, but I'm not really listening anymore.

Three.

"…I was going to tell you."

Two.

"That I am dat—"

One.

I cut Peeta off in the middle of his sentence. I lean into to him and kiss him. Peeta doesn't react immediately, but after a few seconds he is kissing me back. I can't help but get lost into the kiss. Peeta is the one who pulls away first.

We stare at each other for a moment, unsure of what to say, either of us.

"I'm sorry," I'm the first to speak. "I—"

"No," Peeta interrupts. "But why?"

I shrug. "A kiss at midnight on New Years seems pretty different to me and last time I check I'm not just some random girl."

We're best friends. I would do anything for Peeta. I don't know how he expected me to listen to his sob story and not do anything about it. It was just a kiss. One kiss.

"That's true," Peeta says. "You're not just some random girl. Johanna, you're my best friend and I should have told you earlier. Glimmer and I are together."

What? They're together?

"Since when?"

"Does it matter?"

Yelling comes from the park. Peeta and I both look to see Annie and Finnick running towards us with smiles on their faces.

"Sillies, come on," Annie shouts when she reaches us. "Let's go to Cash's now."

"Now we don't have to worry about time," Finnick says. "By the way, Johanna, Gale texted me and he told me to tell you to check your voicemail."

I listen to Gale's message while we all head to Cash's house. He apologizes about breaking up with me. He says he was being stupid and he was just jealous over how close Peeta and I are. He says he knows he shouldn't be because nothing has ever happened between Peeta and I. He says he trusts me and wishes me a Happy New Year.

Guilt washes over me.

NEW STORY COMING TO YOU THIS WEEKEND.

Title will be "What I Wouldn't Do". It's actually a song by Serena Ryder and please go listen to it. The story is kinda based on the song in someways.

What to expected?

-New Friendships

If you have something you wanna see happen in the new story let me know. I could possibly make it happen.

Please Review! :)

Thank you to my beta reader who I always forget to thank, cindella204