I'm so sorry for taking so long! I broke my foot three weeks ago and then my kiddos got sick so I've been limping after them day and night. And now I'm sick- But I've finally managed to get this out, if it's full of mistakes I'm sorry and I'll correct when I can.
This will be the last chapter before I get into the actual story. (Also, I made Gale an extra year older, you'll see why.)
Enjoy!
...
15 Years Old
Three days before the reaping I decide to take Peeta to the pond my father found when he was my age, I'm mostly doing this to just get away; but after Henley Thatcher- the daughter of a merchant- drowned during the last Games when she tumbled down a hill and landed in a river, I knew it would be best to teach Peeta to swim, just in case.
We are running and laughing quite ridiculously through the woods, I'm not looking for game, so the noise isn't a problem. Good thing too, I can practically hear Peeta walking around the bakery from my house, he just naturally has a heavy tread.
"It's a good thing you were born into a merchant family, Peet. I think you'd starve to death if you had to hunt for all your meals." The only response I get is a rather perturbed grunt and a stick thrown at me, which I dodge effortlessly.
"Now, now, Peeta. Is that anyway to treat your very best friend? I almost just paid you a compliment!"
"I'd run faster if I were you," Peeta wheezes, but there is still laughter in his voice.
"What are you going to do when you catch me? Stomp me with your big heavy feet?" I snap back. I jump over a tree root and hide behind a large tree, I hold my breath and wait for Peeta to come passed me. After a few moments I become confused, I wasn't that far a head of him, he should have passed me by now-
"Got you!" Peeta shouts behind me, I startle a bit and turn around, he looks like the cat who got the cream. "I'm sorry, did you not hear my big heavy feet sneaking up behind you?"
I fix my eyes over his shoulder, widening them as much as they'll go, I raise a shaky hand and point off in the distance behind him. Peeta's face pales, "What is it?" He whispers. I don't speak, I just continue to stare. Peeta slowly turns around, when he has his back fully to me I push him away and scream, "Made you look!" And I take off running again.
"Oh you think you're so funny, don't you, Everdeen?" Peeta shouts behind me. I don't bother replying. We're almost there, I can see the thinning of the trees.
A few moments later we crash through the trees and come to a stop at the edge of the water. There's a small rock beach to the left and a very old rickety dock, I think my father might have built it, I haven't been on it in years. It looks too unstable now. I fall to the grass to catch my breath, Peeta lays next to me, but in a more gentle manner. Ever the sweet bakers son.
"So, are you going to tell me what we're doing here?" Peeta asks gently tugging on my braid. I reach over and take my braid from his hand, he's no longer tugging, but is still holding it. I've long since quit questioning Peeta's need for physical contact. His mother is a wretched woman, he doesn't talk about it, but I've see the markings she leaves him with. I hate her. It doesn't bother me so much anymore; I used to be guarded when we first became friends, if he tried to hug me I would step away. But Peeta is like the sun after a cloudy day, you can't help but embrace him. Prim says his hugs are magic, they make everything better.
"I think it's time you learned to swim," I say sitting up. "after the last Games we have to be prepared for anything. And since I already know how to swim, it's your turn. And after I told Prim I would find her some strawberries."
Peeta huffs and sits up beside me, he takes a minute to look around him. "It sure is pretty here, do you come here a lot?"
"Not as often as I like, I've only taken Prim here a handful of times. It's a long hike and she tires too quickly and I have to carry her." Peeta chuckles at this.
"And Gale?" I look over at him, there's an odd expression in his eyes, I can't quite place it.
"No, I've never brought him. I don't think he would appreciate it as much as you would. There's no fish in this pond, he would find the trip to be unnecessary. He doesn't like to have much fun these days."
Peeta thinks for a moment before he starts to take his shoes off. I stand up and take off my over shirt, thankful I had the foresight to wear a ratty tank top and shorts today. Peeta stands and removes his shirt too, I avert my eyes. I've seen Peeta shirtless a few times over the years, but it's only recently that I've noticed his chest and arms have become more muscular from his work at the bakery hauling around flour. I don't know what to make of the heat that rises on my cheeks. Maybe I'd feel just as flustered with Gale?
"Alright, Miss Everdeen, lead the way." Peeta says gesturing to the water. I glance at him quickly before I make my way to the edge of the shore, I don't stop until I'm waist deep in the murky water. I turn around and see that Peeta is barely to his ankles, staring at the water with apprehension.
"What's wrong?" I call out.
"It's cold," he mutters
"C'mon, just come out here and you'll get used to it." I say splashing a little water in his direction, getting a few droplets on his shorts.
"Knock it off!"
"What are you going to do about it? You won't go passed your dainty feet." I tease.
Peeta narrows his eyes and squares his shoulders, he stomps towards me as best as the water will allow and stops in front of me, almost nose to nose. "Dainty? I know you didn't just call my feet "dainty," Big Hands." Oh, he's pulling out the big guns now.
I scoff, "You didn't complain about my big hands when I had to pull a piece of glass out of your hand two weeks ago." I say putting my hands on my hips.
Peeta laughs, "I wouldn't have had the glass in my hand if you hadn't tripped me while we were walking home."
"I wouldn't have tripped you if you weren't making a fool of yourself in front of Kaytlin Griffen! She asked what you liked doing at the bakery and you told her your favorite part was making the cheese buns because they're my favorite." I said rolling my eyes.
Peeta scrunched his eyes and tilts his head. "I don't see what the problem is."
"No girl is going to want to date a boy who keeps talking about another girl all the time." I say.
Peeta holds up a hand, "Ok, hold on a second. What the heck are you talking about?"
"I overheard your mother and Mrs. Griffen the other day. She said that it will be most likely you won't be working in the bakery because of you being the youngest of three boys, and Mrs. Griffen said that Kaytlin has always had a crush on you; and she and her husband have no boys to leave the shop to. Your mother said that she thinks you two would be a smart match."
Peeta is quiet for a few moments, I get scared that maybe I shouldn't have said anything, before he starts laughing.
"What the heck is so funny?"
"You- you really think I'd let my mother force me into some twisted business arrangement disguised as a marriage?"
"This isn't funny, Peeta, we're talking about your life! Do you want to be stuck down in the mines?" I shout at him. The thought of Peeta being trapped in a mine for twelve hours a day makes my chest feel tight. Peeta is the sun, he would die down there.
"If that meant I got to live my life the way I wanted it, then yes. That's exactly what I would do, and I'd marry a girl I really loved, not someone my mother told me to." He says, his eyes are bright and serious, it's a little frightening seeing the fire behind them.
"Well, ok then," I reply, not really knowing what to say. After a moment I bring the subject up again. "Do you think you could love Kaytlin one day?" I'm still unsure why this bothers me.
Peeta looks at me funny. "Have you had a conversation with her before?" I can't stop the laugh that come out. Kaytlin is, for lack of a better word, obsessed with desserts, she'll talk forever about cakes and other sweets.
"Point taken," I sigh. "Alright, we're wasting daylight. Come out a little more and I'll show you how to float."
I help Peeta float on his back and show him the breaststroke while I hold him up a little. I show him how to tread water and make him swim around me for a few minutes until he gets the hang of it. Now we're just floating on our backs looking at the clouds.
"Thanks for bringing me today, it means a lot." Peeta says reaching out and taking my hand.
I give his hand a squeeze in reply.
"We should head to shore, and go look for strawberries. Prim will be sad if we don't bring her any." We swim lazily to the rock beach, Peeta is doing very well, I think one more lesson and he'll be as good as me.
We lay in the sun and dry out for a little while. I wish we had brought something to snack on, maybe if we find enough strawberries we can eat some on the way home.
We head into the forest and go to an area where I've gotten the berries before. "There has always been a few patches in the area, why don't you go that way and see if you can find them and I'll be over here." I tell Peeta, point off to my left. He nods and starts walking in the direction I told him to.
I've got my over shirt almost full with strawberries when I find Peeta picking berries from a bush I've only seen once before. He turns his head and smiles when he sees me. "I don't think I've seen these before, they look really good." He says handing one out to me. They almost look like blueberries, but the skin is wrong. It's black and shiny. Nightlock.
"Did you eat any?" I ask frantically slapping the berry from his hand.
Peeta looks at the berry on the ground and then back at me, he almost looks offended. "No," he draws out the word. "You told me the first time I went berry picking with you that if I didn't recognize the berry to ask you. What kind of berry was that?"
Relief courses through me. "It's called Nightlock. You eat that and you'll be dead before the juices reach your stomach."
Peeta nods thoughtfully. "Black, shiny berries bad. Got it."
"Looks like you got a shirt full too, let's head back. I want to see about trading before it gets too dark."
We are about ten minutes away from the fence when I see Gale's empty snares up ahead, I walk closer to Peeta and whisper to him, "I'm not ready for Gale to know about the pond just yet, all we did was look for strawberries, ok?" Peeta only nods.
A moment later Gale steps out from behind a tree, a few squirrels hooked to his belt. He smiles at me, but his expression darkens when he takes in Peeta walking beside me.
"Hey, Catnip, what are you and bread boy doing out here?"
I shrug, "Just getting some strawberries for Prim,"
A smirk spreads across Gales lips, "You going to bake a pretty cake with yours, Mellark?"
"No, I'll be giving mine to Prim as well." Peeta says politely, he either doesn't recognize Gale's teasing tone, or he's choosing to ignore it.
I start walking again knowing Peeta will follow, I don't like it when Gale starts straight away on Peeta.
"So, Mellark, you make anymore pretty cakes lately? It takes a real light touch to pull that off," Gale says flapping his wrist.
"Alright, that's enough. I'll see you later Gale." I say grabbing Peeta's hand and marching away. Once we're out of earshot I apologize to Peeta.
"It's alright," Peeta say squeezing my hand, I hadn't even noticed I was still holding his. The heat in my cheeks comes back and my palm feels funny, I yank my hand away and pat it on my shorts to dry it off. I try and rub away the uncomfortable feeling in my chest.
"You ok?" Peeta asks putting a hand on my shoulder, it feels like it weighs a hundred pounds and sends a shock into my skin. I shake it off, "Y-yeah, just a little short of breath." I stutter.
"Do you need to rest?" Peeta steps in front of me, so I'm forced to stop.
I look away from his concerned eyes. "Nope, I'm good. Let's just get these strawberries home."
He looks at me for a moment longer, tilting his head to the side. "Ok," he says, but he doesn't sound convinced.
A short walk after we crawl from under the fence finds us at my front gate. Prim is crawling on her hands and knees chasing an orange ball of fur.
"What in the world..." I trail off opening the gate and stepping closer to my sister. "What are you doing Little Duck?"
She turns around, startled. "Oh, Katniss! Isn't he cute? His name is Buttercup, he was stuck on the fence." She scoops the kitten up and presents it to me.
"I see, why is it still here?" It is a cute little thing, but there is no way it can stay here.
"Mom said I could keep him. Isn't that wonderful?" She squeals.
I open and close my mouth a few times, unsure what to say. I can barely keep meat in the house with the three of us, I don't know what to do with a kitten. I look at Peeta, hoping he can help me.
"Well, I should be going. I brought you some strawberries too, Rose." Traitor. Peeta dumps his strawberries onto my shirt and gives Prim a quick hug. He turns to me with a large over exaggerated smile, showing all of his teeth.
"Have fun," he whispers. "Don't be too hard on her, at least she's trying." He says referring to my mother. "I'll see you soon." He says wrapping his arms around me, he pats my back once and runs out of the gate.
"Jerk," I mutter, I walked past Prim, who has gone back to playing with the kitten, and open the front door. My mother is at the sink rinsing off carrots. I put the strawberries into a bowl and turn toward her. "You said she could keep the kitten?" I take the carrots from her and start cutting them.
"Mhmm," she answers.
"How are we going to feed it? Did you see it? It's bloated with worms. We can't keep it."
"Oh Katniss, we'll figure out something. She just looked so happy, I didn't want to disappoint her."
I look at my mother, she had a small smile looking back at me. "You know, it's funny; for almost a year you didn't seem too concerned if you disappointed us. You did it quite regularly actually." I deadpan.
Her smile disappears.
I stare at her for a moment, before turning on my heal and walking to the door.
"I'm sorry," I hear her whisper, I ignore her.
I find Prim sitting on the ground dragging a piece a string around while the cat tries to catch it.
"If you insist on keeping that thing it needs to feed itself. I will not waste meat on it." I say plopping down next to her. The kitten wonders over to me, I reach out to touch it but it hisses at me. Same to you.
"Oh, Buttercup is a born mouser, you'll see. Just look at him chase the string." She dangles the string in the air and the kitten jumps and snags it with its claws, and furiously chews on it.
"Ok, let's get a box and some dirt for while he's in the house. He's your responsibility, I expect you to clean up after him. If I have to remind you he won't be welcome inside anymore. Understood?"
Prim beams, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I'll take care of him, I promise!"
"Alright, Little Duck, let's get him settled then."
After we get the box under the sink in the bathroom I help my mother finish dinner. Prim and I are now sitting on the bed while I braid her hair. Buttercup is sleeping in a ball on her lap.
"Do you think you and Peeta will get married someday?" Prim asks casually, my fingers fumble for a moment before picking up where I left off.
"I'm not getting married to anyone Prim," I say finishing off the braid with a rubber band. She turns to face me.
"Why not?"
"I just don't see the point, I've got you to worry about." I say shrugging.
"But I'll get married someday and you won't have to worry about me. Don't you want to be happy?"
The realization that Prim is getting older settles in my stomach like a stack of bricks, she isn't going to need me forever. "And who says I have to have a husband to be happy?" I say lightly tugging on one of her braids.
"I guess you don't, but if you were to get married, I want you to be with Peeta. You love each other,"
"Of course we love each other, we're best friends."
Prim raises her eyebrows. "You don't hug Gale as much as you do Peeta... And his only friend that's a girl is you. And he is always looking at you."
"I don't have time for love, Prim." I say trying to end the conversation.
"But if you did,"
"I don't know, Prim. It's time to go to bed." I say laying back on my pillow. My mother is at the Anderson's, Mr. Anderson almost lost a finger in the mines today.
Prim holds Buttercup and crawls up to her side and puts the kitten between us. "If I get bitten by fleas he is sleeping on the floor from now on." Prim giggles and pulls the cat closer to her.
"Good night," she says quietly.
"Good night, Little Duck."
...
Peeta comes over early the next afternoon inviting me to come over for dinner. I immediately refuse, his mother will be home.
"No way, Peet. Your mother hates me,"
Peeta sighs and rolls his eyes. "C'mon, it's Rye's last reaping, he wants to have dinner tonight instead of tomorrow. He asked me to ask you." I can't help but laugh at that. Rye is incredibly crass, he is always making jokes about Peeta and I, and I am always having to slap away his wondering hands.
"Oh well, if Rye insists," I say sarcastically.
"Really?" Peeta asks with a hopeful smile.
"No," I say.
"Come on, I talked to my mom, and she says that if you don't talk to her she won't talk to you." I raise my eyebrow at this. "Ok, it wasn't put that nicely, but I got her to say she'd leave you alone."
A free meal wouldn't be so bad I suppose, and I made no such promise to be nice. A wicked smile appears on my face. "Alright, I'll be there."
Peeta groans, "Don't smile like that, it's creepy."
"What?" I ask, "Like this?" I say grinning wider.
"Yes! Ugh, you're making my skin crawl. Just- I'll come get you at six."
"Ok, I'll see you then." I say through laughter.
"Right," Peeta says with a nod. "bye." He finishes, awkwardly punching my shoulder. We stare at each other for a minute before he clears his throat and walks down the stairs and out the gate.
Six o'clock couldn't come soon enough, as soon as I told my mother and Prim about it Prim has been humming the wedding march and calling me Mrs. Mellark. The blush that accompanies her comments only eggs her on. I almost jump through the door when he finally knocks. I whip the door open and grab Peeta's hand and run out of the yard, I ignore Peeta's pleas to slow down until I can't see my house anymore.
"What are you doing?" He says tugging his arm free.
"Prim has been bugging me all afternoon about going to your place."
"You're not going to get in trouble are you?"
"What? No, she seems to think we should get married someday." I say, Peeta's face turns pink and he looks away, a small smile etched on his face. I choose to ignore it for now.
We cut through alleyways and back streets to make the walk shorter, when we get to the back entrance to the bakery Rye is sitting on the stairs looking up at the sky. He looks just like Peeta- corn silk hair, blue eyes (although I've noticed Peeta's are brighter) he has the same stocky build- but he is just a little taller. He looks to us and winks when he catches my eye. Here we go.
"Oh good, Peety is back. And he brought back my favorite Kitten." He says wiggling his eyebrows. He heard Gale call me Catnip last year and he now calls me Kitten, usually followed by a suggestive gesture or phrase. I've noticed that the angrier Peeta gets, the more Rye teases me.
"Always wonderful to see you, Rye." I say sweetly. He puffs out his chest. "I'm so glad that zit from last week has cleared up." His chest deflates and he glares at me.
"Keep saying hurtful things like that Kitten and I won't take you to the harvest festival." He says pointing a finger at me.
"Oh gee! I was looking forward to that too! Rats!" A day snapping my fingers.
"Ok, ok, you can still go with me, I might even give you a kiss goodnight if you're lucky." He says winking at Peeta. I look at Peeta out of the corner of my eye, his jaw is locked and his hand is in a fist. I will never understand why Rye gets him so upset. Best not instigate any further.
"Well, it's been absolutely wonderful chatting with you, but at this point having my nails ripped off seems more entertaining."
"Ouch, you wound me, woman." He says holding his hand over his heart and staggering back a few paces.
"Is dinner ready, Rye?" Peeta asks through clenched teeth.
"Yes, I was sent out to be the welcome wagon. And to remind our dear sweet Kitty to be on her best behavior." He pauses to cup his mouth and stage whispers "mother has counted all the silverware, and is using the chipped china she keeps in the basement." I roll my eyes. As if I would steal from them.
Peeta sighs and leads me into the bakery kitchen and up the stairs to their apartment. I've only been here a few times, but as far as his parents are aware, this is the first. I've snuck in the window to do homework with Peeta a couple of times.
Their apartment isn't very big, it's larger than my home, but for a merchants living quarters it's small. There's a small living room with a television and old couch, a formal sitting area just off of the kitchen and a modest dinning room. I don't see his mother, but his father and brother are at the stove and sink. I walk over to Mr. Mellark.
"Can I help with anything?" I ask.
"Oh, Katniss, hello. Well, yes, you could take these plates to the table, Peeta will show you how to set it." He says cheerfully, handing me the plates.
After we've set the table Bram and Mr. Mellark bring the food to the table and Bram leaves to call his mother to dinner.
"Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming. It's just the dirty Seam Bra-" she stops and plasters a fake smile on her face. I hate this woman. "Katniss," she says cooly, sitting down across from me.
"Mrs. Mellark," I say in the same icy tone.
Mr. Mellark claps his hands and tells us to serve ourselves.
Dinner is fairly quiet, Mr. Mellark asks how Prim is doing (I've learned my mother is a sore subject in the Mellark household. I've never asked why.) I tell him about the kitten and how excited she was when our mother said she could keep him.
Rye keeps tossing bits of bread at me, I try and ignore him. Bram talks about learning the books for the bakery. And Peeta's mother is quiet. She hasn't said a word since we sat down.
"You are awfully quiet, darling, how was your day?" Mr. Mellark asks setting his fork down and giving his wife all of his attention.
"Today was lovely, I had tea with Harriet Griffen this afternoon." My stomach clenches at the name. "I have invited Kaytlin over for dinner tomorrow night so she can get to know the family." She says smirking at me.
"Mother," Peeta sighs. "please don't start. I've told you how I feel about this."
"I'm just trying to help," she sniffs. "you'll never find a suitable wife if you spend all your time with trash." She says calmly, using her hand to lazily indicate me. I've put up with a lot of snide comments from Mrs. Mellark in passing, but this is the first time she has outright insulted me. I stand up quickly, almost knocking my chair over and stare down at her. I vaguely hear Rye making hissing and other cat noises. Peeta stands too- gentler, more deliberate- he takes me by the hand and looks to his mother. "I'll just take my trash and go," he says pulling me towards the stairs.
"If you leave Peeta Mellark don't you bother coming home tonight!" His mother shouts after us.
We walk back to my house in silence, just before we reach the gate Peeta stops me. "I'm sorry about my mother," he says fiddling absently with my fingers.
"Not your fault your mother is a witch," I say. He squeezes his eyes shut. "Sorry," I say.
He looks at me and smiles. "No you're not," he replies with a laugh, it's short, but sincere.
"You're right, I'm not." I say lightly punching his arm. "C'mon, I'll have my mom make up the couch for you."
After thanking my mother for the hundredth time Peeta finally settles in for the night.
I help Prim with her bath and braid her hair while she plays with Buttercup, she doesn't ask why Peeta is staying over, and I don't explain. I think she knows more than she lets on. We fall asleep before my mother comes to bed.
...
It's the morning of the reaping and as always Gale and I are out early to hopefully get as much game as we can before I have to get myself ready for the reaping. Gale had been silent all the way from my house to our little spot on the rock ledge.
We sit and look out over the valley, soaking up the early morning sun.
"I saw Mellark leave your house this morning. What's up with that?" He asks in an almost accusatory tone.
"Not that it's your business, but, Peeta had a fight with his mother and she told him not to come back last night." I snap, instantly on the defensive.
Gale hums in response, "You two are getting pretty close lately." He says looking over the trees.
I tilt my head and furrow my brows, "Yes," I draw out the word. "I suppose we are. Where is this going?"
"How long do you think you guys can keep this up? His mother practically has him married off, I wouldn't be surprised if he's married to that Griffen girl the second he's of age."
I fight the urge to laugh, Peeta and I just had this conversation.
"He would rather work in the mines than marry someone he doesn't love." I say dismissively.
Gale laughs, "Bread boy wouldn't last a day in those mines. If his mother has her way and he gets married, where does that leave you? Do you think his wife will allow you two to stay friends? You need to see how things are Katniss."
"Oh yeah? And just how are things Gale?" I ask enunciating his name, since he so rarely uses mine. Where the heck is this coming from?
"You're Seam and he's Merchant, you guys shouldn't have even started this weird friendship. If he wants to keep his cushy little life, he's gotta marry into a merchant family that he can take over the business of; everyone knows with him being the youngest boy he has no place in that bakery, you hanging around all the time isn't helping him."
I don't know what to think about this, sure, I knew this was a possibility; but after our conversation the other day I felt ok. I hadn't even thought about Peeta's future wife not wanting me around. The thought of him going along with that has me irrationally angry.
"Well, I guess I'll deal with things as they come. But if Peeta can just toss our friendship away because some woman told him to, then I guess I don't really know Peeta." I sigh angrily and stand up. I dust my pants off and look around, our walk to our ledge and aggravating conversation has only left us a little time before we have to get back to the district. Can't be late for reaping day.
We hunt for a bit and check the snares, and after we divide everything we both end up with three rabbits, four squirrels and a small pail full of berries.
Before we part ways at the fence Gale grabs me and pulls me into a hug, I tense at first but then relax and half heartedly return the gesture. "I'm sorry I'm such a jerk." He says patting my back and releasing me.
I snort, "Yeah, well I happen to like my Gales a little on the jerky side." I say slapping his shoulder, he grimaces and rubs the spot I hit.
"I'm being serious and you wound me. This is why I never apologize, it gets me nothing but grief." He says quirking a smile.
"No, you don't like apologizing because you never think you're wrong." I say seriously. "But thanks, I'll see you tonight. Big dinner?" Gale turned eighteen three months ago, if he makes it today he can stop worrying about the reaping- for himself at least, there is still Vick and Rory to worry about, Rory's first reaping is next year, as is Prim's. Which I don't like to think about. Thankfully, Posy has a few years ahead of her before there's any worry.
Gale nods, "Yep, last reaping. Mom is going overboard, I'm trying to stay realistic. There's forty-two slips of paper with my name on them." He looks away, my heart breaks for my friend. He may be gruff and rude, but he's always been there for me. And I don't know what to say to him.
"Gale," I start, my voice wobbly.
He cuts me off with a sad smile. "Happy Hunger Games, Catnip." He says solemnly.
"And may the odd be ever in your favor," I reply in kind. We used to be able to joke and use silly Capital accents, but today it just seems wrong.
I leave him at the fence, he was lost in thought, I think he wants to be alone for a while.
I run to the bakery as fast as I can, I'm running behind, I should have been here an hour ago. I clamor up the back stairs and knock lightly, you never know who is in the kitchen. The door opens and Mrs. Mellark is on the other side. I panic internally, she refuses to trade with me, and has told her husband to send me away a few times. She stares at me hard and I will myself not to whither under her harsh gaze. After a moment she rolls her eyes and leaves the doorway, I can see Mr. Mellark rolling out dough on the counter. He sees me out the corner of his eyes and flashes me a bright Peeta like smile.
"I was beginning to think you had a better offer for your squirrels!" He chirps wiping his hands off with a towel and walking to the door. "And what did you bring me today, hmm?" He asks rubbing his palms together. I'll never understand why he gets so excited over squirrel, surely they can afford fairer food?
I reach in my game bag and feel around for the fattest squirrel; I've tried to give him more than one as trade for the bread- one measly squirrel for a hearty loaf of bread hardly seems fair- but the one time I managed to get him to take two he slipped four cheese buns into the bag. So I try and give him the biggest one I've got. I pull the squirrel out and hand it to him, he weighs it in his hands. "He is a big fellow, perhaps you'll take a few cookies with you as well?" He states rather than asks because he's already back in the kitchen stuffing things into a white paper bag. It's best not to try and reason with him.
He returns with a suspiciously heavy looking bag. "Well, you just missed my boy, off making himself look fancy for today." He says with an over exaggerated wink, he is trying to be playful, but I see the sorrow in his ocean eyes.
"I best be on my way too, I'm running behind, my mother is probably wondering where I am by now. Thanks for the cookies," I wave and step down the stairs.
I run home as fast as my game bag will allow and almost plow into my mother upon entering my house. "Whoa, Katniss!" My mother says bracing herself using my shoulders. "We don't have much time, your bath is set up and I set a dress for you on the bed, you have to hurry." She says patting my cheek, I try not to jerk my head away. She is still trying to help, it seems like ever since she decided to wake up she's suffocating me. Trying to make up for those few months, but she is just a little bit too late. I don't need her anymore.
I don't say this of course, today isn't a day for a fight. I just don't have it in me. I nod and go to the bathroom, I quickly wash up and change into the last dress I own that fits me. It's a soft green with sleeves that stop just above my elbows and the hem reaches a few inches below my knees. I do my signature braid a fast as I can and find my mother and Prim in the living room.
We walk quickly to the square, the streets are thick with families, but we make it, I get checked in with a few minutes to spare.
Effie Trinket, district twelves new escort sashays across the stage in her blood red poofy dress with a design on the corset that resembles a skeleton and red sparkly high heeled shoes, her hair is in the same shade and piled high on her head with curls, a tiny hat on top. I'll never understand what passes for fashion in the Capital. After the obligatory video, about the Treaty of Treason, and the mayors speech, Effie steps up to the microphone.
"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor! As always lets start with the ladies." She walks over to the bowl and dips her garish red tipped fingers in and pulls out a slip. "Our female tribute for the 73rd Hunger Games is... Alva Haven!" She announces clapping her hands like a giddy school girl.
Alva is Seam, but I don't know her. She can't be more than thirteen, she looks terrified. She makes it to the stage and Effie smiles at her. "And now for the boys!" She walks elegantly in her heels and plucks a piece of paper out, she reaches the microphone again and opens the paper. "George Wheatly!" She says cheerfully. There's a loud sob at the back of the crowd; George Wheatly is the only son, and child, of the shoe maker. Besides Peeta, he is the most well liked Merchant boy, I've seen him give Prim his cookie at lunch from time to time.
He crosses the gap from his roped off section to the stage stoically, his head held high. He shakes hands with Alva, Effie says a few words, but the only thing I can focus on is that Gale is safe, he doesn't have to live in fear for himself anymore. Alva and George are taken backstage and the children in the roped sections wonder back to their families.
I meet my mother and Hazel at the edge of the crowd. Hazel pulls me into a hug. "We'll see you tonight. Right?"
"Wouldn't miss it," I say squeezing her back. "But I might be a little late,"
"Yeah, her and Bread Boy have a standing pie baking date, ain't that right, Catnip?" Gale says clapping a hand on my back. I let go of Hazel and look at Gale, I can't tell if he is genuinely smiling or if it's sarcastic. But he doesn't add anymore.
"Something like that," I say giving him a strange look. Gale nods at me, throws his arm around his mothers shoulder and leads her and the kids back to The Seam.
"Gale is weird," Prim pipes up.
"Yeah, he even apologized about the way he's been acting." Prim gapes at me. "I know," I say sympathetically, and pat her on the head.
I tell my mother that I'll meet her and Prim at the Hawthrones before I go to the bakery to pick up Peeta. He knows about dinner at Gales so we duck into the forest as fast as we can.
"You know, Gale apologized to me this morning. Said he was being a jerk." I say after we reach a good berry bush. We should be able to get enough here.
"That's interesting," Peeta replies.
"It is, he never apologizes. I think this last reaping really got to him."
"Maybe he just understands that we don't really have the time to be a jerk over trivial things."
"I'm not defending him, but hating Merchants has been drilled into his head for years. If he can get over his ego, I think you guys could be friends."
Peeta laughs, "I somehow doubt that,"
"What do you mean?"
"Gale is a guy and you're a girl," he says scratching the back of his head.
"Thanks for the biology lesson, not sure how that equates to you two not being able to be friends."
"He, uh, it's- never mind. I don't know what I'm talking about. Let's get the berries back to the bakery, you don't want to be late to dinner." He says turning towards the fence.
"Okay," I say awkwardly, dropping the conversation. First Gale apologizes and now Peeta is tongue tied. Boys are weird.
The walk back to the bakery is quick and quiet, unsurprisingly. Mr. Mellark helps us as usual, he tells us stories from when he was younger and how he used to play jokes on the old seamstress. He would stretch out one arm longer than the other while being measured for a shirt and then make a scene when he picked up the shirt claiming that his arm was shrinking. His father was furious when he found out, but his mother thought it was funny. Now I know where Rye gets it from.
Once the pie is out of the oven and cooled I have a small slice, it wouldn't be tradition if I didn't. Rye even comes down and we end up getting into a small whipped cream scuffle. Mrs. Mellark is not amused.
I punch Rye's arm in my special goodbye, he pretends it hurts, our usual send off. "Night, night, Kitten!" He calls as Peeta and I walk to the door.
"Goodnight, Ryelan!" I yell back.
"Ouch! Peety, your girlfriend just full named me!"
Peeta's cheeks turn pink when Rye says this. "Anyway, I'll see you when I see you." Peeta says.
"Sure thing, Peety." I say ruffling his hair.
He groans, "Please don't call me that."
"Oh, boo." I say walking down the stairs. I turn and wave and make my way back to The Seam.
After dinner Vick brings out his fiddle and plays a few songs, I dance with Prim and twirl Posy around. I see Gale sitting on the steps of his porch smiling at Prim and Rory chasing each other, we always joke that one day those two will get married. I set Posy down and walk over to Gale and sit a step lower by his feet.
"He's not so bad I guess," Gale remarks quietly.
"Who?"
"Bread- Peeta. He's too nice really. I saw him practically carry Old Lady Mitchell after she fell in the square. All the other Merchants walked around her like they'd catch some Seam disease."
I beam internally. "That's Peeta," I shrug. "He doesn't see Seam or Merchant."
"Yeah," Gale replies wistfully. "I could try being nicer to him. You know, if you insist on bringing him around."
I look at him skeptically, "Yeah?" I ask.
"Sure, I've doled out plenty and he doesn't hand it back. He could have hit me a few dozen times by now- which I would have deserved- but he hasn't. He's alright, I guess."
I laugh a little, "That must have been very hard for you to say,"
Gale smiles, "Yeah, I might need some water to wash it down."
I bump his knee with my shoulder playfully. Boys are so weird.
...
It was a tough week while our tributes were a part of the Games. Alva had somehow got caught up with the boy from District 1, he made her believe that he fancied her the moment he saw her, got her to kill the boy from District 7 and then him and his District counterpart slit her throat.
We all thought George was going to make it home. He was going strong, he had found a water source, made a spear out of a sharp rock tied to a stick with vines. He was keeping himself well fed, his only kill was the boy from District 3; who tried to strangle him in his sleep. After grappling on the ground for a few minutes, George managed to stab the boy with the spear.
On day seven of the Games there are ten tributes left, George was hiking up to higher ground after a small flood when he lost his footing and rolled down a steep hill, his leg was broken and he was unable to move. He stayed at the bottom of the hill trying to crawl his way up for a day and a half, on the second night a pack of wild dogs had found him and attacked.
Two weeks after Alva and George's funerals the Harvest festival was in full swing, it is mainly geared toward the Merchants, but a few of the more well off Seam families attend. Peeta asked me to go, but I wouldn't socialize with that lot if I was paid.
Instead the Hawthrone's and my family chipped in on food and we had our own harvest party. It isn't fancy like the one being held in the square but it's warm and welcoming.
"Peeta's here!" Prim suddenly shouts, I turn my gaze away from Hazel and my mother laughing over a cup of tea and see Peeta entering our small back yard, he has a large box from the bakery in one hand and Prim under his other arm.
I rush over to take the box from him before Prim knocks it over in her excitement. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your family?" I ask, setting the box down on the table.
Peeta looks at me and then ruffles Prim's hair. "I am,"
...
Oh boy that felt like I was writing this for forever! Phew!
So Gale was a jerk and Prim found Buttercup.
I tried to be subtle in Katniss and Peeta feels (she doesn't understand what she's feeling yet and is obviously oblivious about Peeta) I hope I didn't load too much hidden mushy stuff on already.
And I had to have Gale sort of redeem himself, he is after all her lifetime friend, he needs to have some good qualities.
And Peeta tried to in his own awkward way hint that he couldn't be friends with Gale because they both like her (Drama!) but not to worry, they won't come to blows anytime (if at all) soon.
I hope you liked my version of Peeta's brother Rye, he was so fun to write.
Next is their Games. A few twists, I hope you're ready!
Shoot me a review, tell me what you liked, didn't like or whatever.
Thanks for reading!