A/N: OK, I've decided to continue this story. But the new chapters will be kind of shorter and more in drabbles style :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games Trilogy. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended.
As Capitol Rebellion Looms
Chapter 2.
He was so worried when he couldn't come up with any reason why she approached him. He's been in love with her for so many years, but she has never shown any interest in him. Ever.
OK, reasons why she must not be interested in him:
From 5 to 12 years old: he'd been a short, sensitive boy being bullied by his mother, brothers and their group of big boys constantly – his self-esteem was rock bottom and never had enough courage to talk to her.
When he finally grew average tall and started to prove himself, she lost her father and became kind of an introvert.
Which was the most unfortunate timing after the night at bakery yard: he had been too worried about his illegal friendships to be exposed, or worse, might get her in trouble by acknowledging it, especially soon followed by her father's controversial death.
THEN Katniss and outrageously handsome and tall Gale Hawthorne had been one item ever since.
ON THE TOP OF THAT, Katniss rumored to have bedded Finnick Odir for her 16th birthday night.
IN ADDTION, there had been Delly. Yes- Delly freakig Cartwright.
The thought of Delly actually brought him physical pain in the stomach. He could never forgive his dear childhood friend ruining his chance.
- Stop thinking. Stop over analyzing it. It was Katniss who actually made the move.
To be honest, he'd take anything from her at this point.
It was the first Friday since they agreed to 'hang out'. Katniss had no idea how to hang out with a boy who isn't Gale. She was also worried if Peeta really owned a hundreds of sex toys as rumors had it.
- If he tries anything bad, I can defend myself.
She put on a brave face.
- The worst has been already taken care of. Nothing can be worse than pregnancy.
She had her strategy set and ready to interrogate him to find any possibility of something awful happening this evening.
Old army picking locks manual: check.
Assign Rory to come home with Prim after school: check.
Hide tiny pepper spray in her shoe: check.
- OK, this should be enough. He seems kind. He won't try to hurt me.
Peeta couldn't even note where he was on his way to school. Today would be his first day to spend time with Katniss.
- What if this is some kind of joke, or she changed her mind?
Talking about the troll, there she was standing in front of his locker toying with a hairpin in her hand.
- Oh shit! How's my hair?
Combing back his hair nervously with one hand, he approached her.
She looked absolutely stunning with fierce grey eyes and her signature scowl.
"Hi"
- These blue eyes cannot be real. Must be some fancy fake stuff. I'll find out today maybe.
"Hi.. Katniss"
- Shit.. I hate my voice.
"I opened your locker by coincidence. You don't have a physical lock and the digital password was 'katniss'. Do you always set the password with name of next date?"
- Damn. Did I just use the word 'date'?
"Um, not really. My password has been same for a long time. I did get some dates now and then in the meantime."
- Why did I say that? you just confirmed that you're a stalker AND a jerk, Mellark.
"Have.. have you found something interesting?"
"Just opened it now so there's no time to dig in. I'm not a stalker or anything. I don't know why I tried my name in the first place. Just bored.. is all."
- Play cool, play cool… it's a good start that there was no sex toy in vicinity.
"Does this mean I get to see your locker, too?"
Peeta smirked.
"Yes, only if you open it yourself."
Katniss snorted.
"Well, I don't have mad skill picking locks or hacking passwords. I'll be just happy to hang out with you today."
- Smile, Mellark, smile!
"OK cool. See you later."
- Now it's time!
Katniss turned around sharply as if she was leaving but hooked the hairpin in the ring of Peeta's bag zipper upwards and jerk the bag upwards to spill all the ingredients on the floor.
"Oops! What's going on with my hairpin? It just caught up like that. Sorry!"
Peeta bent down and started picking up his books and a digital pad.
"Katniss, you don't wear any hair pins. You've been in a single braid since we were 10. It's OK if you wanted to see inside my bag. I don't mind."
-oh crap. How did he know that?
"I don't know what you're talking about. You don't look like an early adapter like Thom or one of those who have cool stuff. Not that I think all those digital craps are cool. Anyway. Sorry for bursting your bag. See you later."
Katniss hurried away before her bad lie colors her crimson from top to toe. Peeta had really been paying attention to her then she gave him credit.
- Could it be actually true that he's been into me?
Image of Delly's red face flashed in her mind.
- No. Not those theories now.
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter! and I'm still looking for a beta... please PM me! :)