Katniss age 14
2010
"So let me get this straight. You have to bring them your food, or they will let Glimmer come after you?" Peeta asks.
"Yes! And I know it will be worse at school. So far it's only been at camp." I say.
"That's because they can't get away with that crap at school Katniss! There are too many teachers all the time. Here older kids help run the younger ones so the adults get a sort of paid vacation." He says shaking his head.
"I guess but what if you're wrong?" I retort.
"How long has this been going on now?" He says sounding pissed.
"Three years... but nothing this bad. Usually it was pranks... you know stuff I could deal with. But I don't know if I can deal much longer. How much longer I cannot eat! I'm so freaking hungry!" I say not realizing that tears are streaming down my face. He hugs me and whispers it's alright, rubbing my back.
"I'm sorry, I'm being stupid." I say pulling back and wipe my tears away quickly.
"Don't apologize Kat. You don't need to apologize. I'm gonna get those self righteous pricks and then they can apologize to you!" Peeta says in a tone I've never heard from him.
"NO! Don't bring trouble on yourself please. They'll just start messing with you. It's less than a week till the family picnic. I'll just... leave with my parents or... or I'll make up something. Like I got mono! It'll be fine." I try to reason.
"You're not fine, Katniss!" He yells at me.
"Peeta, please don't do anything! I haven't even told my friends yet." I plead.
He shakes his head after a long silence and a deep breath.
"Okay. But do something for me?" He asks.
"Yeah?" I ask.
"After you make your breakfast delivery, meet me at the lake. Okay?" I don't say anything.
"Katniss, Please." He begs.
"Okay." I say.
I get my breakfast from the cafeteria. Go to Cabin A and knock lightly on the door.
"Who is it?" Clove sings.
My stomach is growling at the smell of cinnamon roll, scrambled eggs, and a fruit bowl on the tray in front of me.
"Delivery." I say back.
"NO! Shut up." I hear Clove say kind of muffled.
"Ask her." I hear from Glimmer then a long sigh.
The door opens and Clove looks me up and down and says, "Bring it in. I need to ask you something."
"I have somewhere to be." I say annoyed as I walk in and put the food down. I don't know what they want but I don't feel like staying to chit-chat.
"Well, it can wait!" Glimmer shouts at me. Her eyes look crazy.
"Calm your tits." Clove snaps at her.
"How did you know why Annie broke up with Brutus? Did he tell you that?" Clove asks me.
"No, he didn't. I sort of know Annie." I say plainly. Hoping they except this because I won't rat out who truly told me.
"Was he really going to meet you there?" Glimmer asks me, her fire out now.
"No, he told me to go there knowing that I would most likely get lost." I said.
"How do you even know Annie?" Clove asks me.
"She is dating my cousin, Finnick Odair." I say and thankfully by then she was. And thankfully I'd been introduced. They didn't need to know I didn't know her before that.
"Oh, man Finnick is your cousin! Everyone, including Enobaria was after that eye-candy. See Glim, That's why he didn't get with your sister." Clove says.
"Ugh! I hate Annie Cresta! Cato still isn't talking to me and Brutus better come around cause it's bad enough to jump between brothers but to be dumped by both!" Glimmer shouts and I slowly inch closer to the door so all that anger doesn't end up on me. I notice Clove is smirking while Glimmer puts her head in her hands.
"Hey! Wait you, Kat-piss girl. I need you to ask Annie who showed her the tape of me and Brutus." Glimmer suddenly says to me.
"Uh... What? I… How would I?" I can't! Is all I can think.
"Glim. It's not gonna help now. The dirty deed's been done." Clove snickers.
"Whatever Clove! Do it, Katniss or... or I'll just take it all out on you since you're the reason Cato found out!" Glimmer shouts.
"Fine." I say between my teeth.
I was really worried after I left their cabin.
How am I gonna ask Annie who sent her the tape without telling her everything that's going on?
Could I get Madge to tell me?
Does she even know?
I remembered I was meeting Peeta by the lake so I decided to talk to him about it. When I get there I didn't see him at first. I went to the dock and waited. After about five minutes, I heard someone coming up behind me. I turned and saw Peeta with so much food! He had way more than one camper is allowed.
"Where did you get all that?" I ask.
"Well, I have a few friends that owe me so... I asked them each for something they weren't gonna eat. And ended up with all of this. Bon Appetite!" He says sitting next to me.
His arms are full of bananas, apples, oranges, packaged hostess treats. A tray with two breakfast burritos, pancakes, and sausages. And he pulls two water bottles and two orange juices out of his hoodie pockets. He is grinning from ear to ear.
"Wow! I guess you're real proud of yourself. Huh, Mellark?" I tease I am actually so grateful I want to cry again.
"Everdeen. I just don't want you to get too skinny. Like those underwear models who throw up on purpose. I'm just looking out for ya." He laughs.
"Seriously. Thank you. This is... amazing." I say and hug him so tight I squish some of the pastries.
"Anytime, Katniss." He says.
My stomach does a flip, then growls and I let go of him. I grub on the food until I'm stuffed. This is quickly considering I haven't really eaten in 3 weeks.
"Aren't you gonna eat?" I ask him.
"Umm... Yeah. I'll take a banana. But you take the rest of this to your cabin and hide it so you have a snack later. You could meet me here every meal. There's more where that came from." He says like a parent telling a child.
"Yes Sir." I say saluting like a soldier. We laugh.
"It's so pretty right here. I should bring some paper and a pencil next time I meet you here." He states.
"You draw too? How many talents do you have? Baking, boxing, drawing, and sneaking food. Not to mention every sport out there." I ask surprised at this new facet to Peeta uncovered.
"How do you know I play every sport out there? You checkin' me out at school?" He asks playfully, nudging my knee with his knee.
I nudge right back.
"Avoiding the question Mr. Mellark?" I ask.
"It's nothing. Just sometimes, I do draw. It started to practice what I was going to put in icing on the cakes. So, I took an art class to help with that. I really like it though. Maybe I could draw you sometime." He says cocking one eyebrow up mischievously.
"Oh, Mellark. Not happenin'." I say pushing his arm.
He is too quick though, and grabs my hand and pulls me forward and I end up hovering above him. He grabs the other hand before I know it. Then he holds both my arms in one hand and tickles my sides. I start laughing so hard no noise is coming out. I'm involuntarily kicking out, so he wraps his legs around my thighs and that makes me lay on him. He's laughing just as hard.
"STOP PEETA! AH! OK, UNCLE! YOU WIN!" I scream laughing.
He stops tickling me. He still holding me to him but let's me catch my breath and his face is just inches away from my face. He looks right into my eye and I hear my heart beating in my ears. I feel his warm breath on my face. I've never been this close to a boy before, except maybe Gale but he's like my brother.
Even though Peeta's comfortable to lay on, I feel his muscles underneath his clothes are firm. He smells good too. Like fabric softener and gel deodorant. I also smell an undertone of cinnamon and fresh baked bread. Growing up in a bakery, I imagine that's just how he always smells.
He's smiling and then his smile leaves. He looks at my lips and licks his, which causes me to look at his. They are a pale pink and the bottom lip is fuller than the top. He has a freckle just left of his top lip. I'm sort of mesmerized by how soft they look.
"Katniss..."
"EWW! Are you kissing?" A younger camper walking by says, interrupting whatever Peeta was about to say.
"No." I say and we immediately sit up and right ourselves.
Peeta clears his throat, stands, and stuffs most of the leftover food in his hoodie pockets. Then gives me a hand and I get up as well before anybody else sees us. We start walking towards my cabin.
"Umm, I wanted to ask you about something earlier." I say trying to talk about something so it won't be this awkward silence.
I try to avoid looking or thinking about his lips.
"Uh, Yeah?" He says rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, not looking at me either.
I had already told him what Madge told me about Brutus, Glimmer and Annie. He also knew about Finnick and Annie getting together. So I told him what Glimmer wants me to do now.
"Maybe we should just tell on them. Camp Leader Crane could do somethin-." Peeta suggests.
"No Peeta. I told him about the pranking and some camp counselors, two years ago. He told me it's all in the "spirit of fun". And that if I was unhappy here, I could go to Angel View Camp 15 miles away." I say.
"Yeah but Kat, this is way outside the spirit of fun. Unless you ask Annie who sent her the tape, or ask Madge how she found out about it, you're never gonna get them to leave you alone. If you don't tell someone... I'm gonna have to. Before you or someone else gets hurt." Peeta says adamantly.
I scowl at him and he stares right back and me. Neither one of us want to budge on this. Peeta finally looks away and sighs. I feel bad for dragging him into this. He so sweet and only wants to help.
"Fine. What do you have in mind?" I relent to him.
"Really? We can tell someone? Okay, I think we should start by asking Madge how she found out. Also, I have a friend that's a counselor and she hates girls like Glimmer and Clove. Don't worry, okay?" He tells me and pulls me into a hug.
I tell him to give me time and let me go inside my cabin. To put the food away and see if Madge is there. He says he'll meet me back at the lake right after lunch and he'll bring his friend, Jo.
Katniss age 17
2013
"Let's go get some cake before it's all gone." Thresh says to Peeta, and they walk away.
"Yumm! Cake sounds good. Come on Prim." Rue says to Prim. Then they leave as well.
"Gale, what is up with you talking about Peeta like that? You know he's been through a lot. We should be supporting him. We know what it's like to lose our parents." I reprimand Gale.
"Geez! Sorry, I tease people. Guy can't take a joke? What you worried about him for he's rich now. Brand new mommy and daddy. Besides that, what I said was true. He was clumsy. I remember." He laughs.
"Gale he wasn't really clumsy. His mom used to hit him. Like, with rolling pins and junk." I let slip out of anger, but keeping my voice low.
"What, are you serious?" Gale stops laughing and looks guilty.
"You're not supposed to know. So don't say anything." I hiss at him.
"Okay Catnip. But how did you find out.
Crap, I didn't think about him asking.
I can't betray Peeta, even if the reason is no longer relevant. I don't want to lie to Gale but I would do it for him.
"Prim told me once, I guess Rue and Thresh told her. But I haven't seen him in so long I almost forgot, till you brought it up." I tell him.
"Hey look, I'm sorry. I played sports with him for years. I just thought he was an overachiever and would practice at home too much, and get hurt. Or I thought his brothers blacked his eyes and gave him bruises. I didn't know. None of us did." Gale admits.
"It's okay. But he's back now, his parents did die, and one of his brothers. He needs friends. So... can we help him out?" I ask.
"For you, Catnip. I'll be nice." He agrees.
"Good. Hey where's Madge?" I ask.
"She's with her dad. He's introducing her to some V.I.P's." He says looking down.
I put a hand on his arm and he puts his hand on my hand.
"You wanna dance?" He asks smiling his warmest smile.
There's my best friend.
"Wait, what?" He's pulling me to the dance floor.
Thankfully it's not a slow song.
"As long as you la, la la la la, la, la, la la la la, la, la, la la la la love me. I love this song. Even if it is Justin Bieber." Gale sings.
I stick to my safe side step and try not to over do it, while Gale totally over does it, making me laugh.
He thinks he's so cool.
"So my mom works tonight. She might already be gone. Can I get a ride when you head home? Prim's staying with Rue." I ask.
"Yeah, your mom did leave. S he dropped my mom off at the house. But Oh..."
"What?"
"I'll have Rory, Vic and Posey and one of Vic's friends in our car and we have laundry in the back or I'd let you squeeze. Mom figured we should do it before the wedding at the laundry mat so we didn't waste gas on an extra trip into town. You know how it is." He says apologetically.
"No, yeah. I know. That's ok. I'll just ask Madge or Finnick and Annie to take me don't worry about it." I say.
"Sorry Catnip..." He starts.
"No, no, no. Its fine I should've asked earlier." I say as the song ends.
"I'm gonna go get some cake. Ok?" I tell him.
"Yeah, I see Madge. I'll ask her about a ride for you." He says.
"While you're at it, why don't you ask her for a dance?" I push.
He rolls his eyes and smiles.
"Ok." He says and leaves.
I get to the cake which looks beautiful. It has four tiers. Its square instead of round and each tier looks like a glamorously wrapped present. There isn't a couple on top like traditional cakes, but the bow in place of them looks real and somehow has flowers incorporated into it. I grab a precut slice from the table and sit down alone. It's purple but tastes like the best red velvet cake I've ever eaten, with white chocolate chips inside the cake and cream cheese icing.
"Wow. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm..." I am smacking and making yummy noises.
"Well, I'm glad you like it." Peeta states.
I didn't even see him walk over. I've just shoved the last big piece in my mouth, so I hold up one finger as I chew, trying to swallow. Meanwhile Peeta is chuckling.
"Sowey. Iss rweewee goot." I confess.
He really laughs then, but hands me a glass of water. I take it gratefully.
"Thanks. Did you make the cake?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm going try and open up my dad's old bakery. This cake is my thanks to Haymitch and Effie for taking me in. And an introduction of what I can do. Hopefully people will welcome it back into the neighborhood." He says.
"I'm sure they'll be happy to have you... it back. If this is what things... in the bakery are gonna taste like. I know I'll be in often." I stumble.
Gosh his eyes are beautiful.
"Good. You're always welcome." He offers.
"You wanted to talk earlier, but we got interrupted..." I start.
"Yeah." I jump in.
There's an undetermined amount of silence. He still hasn't spoken. I'm fidgeting with my fingers and worrying my bottom lip, when I catch him staring at me. His eyes are on my lip and I can't shake the feeling that I know what he could be thinking.
Stop biting that lip, Miss Everdeen, because I want to.
Or maybe that's just what I wish he was thinking.
Or I've read too many books and I'm imagining Peeta as Christian Grey. Ugh!
"I wanted to tell you... that I did try to say goodbye to you... before I left, I mean. I was going to... explain. Your dad and everything was on your mind and I thought... I would complicate things more. But my last day at school I left you a... Well, I saw you... were kinda busy. I didn't want to get in... in the way of your uh, happiness." He tells me.
His hand running frustratedly through his hair. He seems so nervous.
What do you mean you tried to say goodbye?
How could you complicate things?
What about my happiness?
It's too late to take back, when I realize I asked the last question out loud.
"I... Katniss, I... I'm glad to see you're happy... with Gale." He says exhaling and looking down.
What?
"You thought not saying goodbye to me, and not talking to me since, was for my happiness? Peeta, my dad had just died. I needed... my friends. And my mom sort of checked out. She ended up on medication. I had to take care of Prim and try to... survive, mostly. I haven't been all that happy. And I'm not with Gale. What ever gave you that idea?" I ask frustrated myself.
"Wait... You... You aren't with Gale?" He asks in disbelief.
"No. Gale. He's one of my best friends and we... sort of dated when in ninth grade for like, a day. It was like he could tell I was just vulnerable and missed... my dad. He tried to make me feel better. Then he tried to kiss me, which was... not great. So, I thought if I said I would be his girlfriend he would be happy. But it was awkward to say the least. I realized I didn't like him like that. Plus, it really hurt Madge because she liked him. So we broke up. But I've never even been on a date." I say.
And you, should've been my first kiss, but were nowhere to be found.
He just stares at me so I continue.
"That's why when all those couples were kissing on the dance floor, I kinda freaked out. My first real kiss cannot be in front of a bunch of people. That would've been severely embarrassing." I admit.
"Oh God! I am an idiot...I'm an IDIOT!" He says and face-palms.
What the...
"It's not that big a deal, Peeta. I mean, you couldn't have known that I've never really been kissed..."
"No... Katniss. I'm an idiot because 3 years ago, I left a note in your locker on my last day of school and... and I should've just talked to you. But I was nervous, and at camp we got closer but I think... I was just hoping... I don't know. I wasn't sure you felt, what I felt." He says.
I don't quite understand. I'm about to correct him and say I never got a note from him.
Then, it hits me.