Chapter 2

Peeta's POV

"Peeta! We were worried sick," Janice runs up to me and tackles me with a hug. "The news about your apartment building is all over the place. I heard that less than twenty people made it out!"

"Yeah," I tell her. "They offered us all a place to stay while they rebuild the apartments. One of the girls I'm living with lost her brother in the fire. Right now, I'm living with a sculptor, who has a lot of opinions, a teacher, who seems pretty cool, a soon-to-be swim coach, she's the one who lost her brother, a male swimsuit model, I think that says enough about him, and a bartender, who sleeps in the bed next to mine. We're quite a group."

"Wow," Janice smiles up at me, her wrinkles creasing. "Hey! Everyone come out of the kitchen! Peeta's here!"

Roberto, Kelly, and Jared all come out of the kitchen and beam at me.

"Pete," Jared starts. "We're so glad you made it out!"

"Peeta, what would we have done without you?" Kelly kisses both of my cheeks.

"Seriously, man, we didn't think you made it," Roberto leans against the counter.

"Well, I did, and these pastries aren't gonna make themselves," I smile at them. "Let's get baking!"

God, I love my job.

Finnick's POV

"Hey, Finn, who's this?" my boss comes up to me.

"Mr. Tanner, meet Annie Cresta. She lived in my apartment building and I'm sure you heard all about that. She needs a job as swim coach," I smile. "Do you think you could help her with that?"

"Of course," Mr. Tanner beams at us. "This pool never seems to have enough swim coaches! I could get you an interview with the pool manager at about noon."

"That would be great," Annie says, "Thank you so much! I really need something like this to take my mind off . . . things."

"You should walk around the neighborhood a bit," I suggest. "Get a feel for it."

She smiles a little bit. "Okay, thanks, Finnick."

Mr. Tanner leads me to hair and makeup. "What was that about?" he asks me.

"Her little brother died in the fire. The rest of her family lives in New Orleans. She's really upset," I tell him.

"Give her my best wishes," Mr. Tanner pats my back. "Now off you go."

Katniss's POV

"And finally, we would like to keep our music teacher, Ms. Everdeen, in our thoughts and prayers today. Her house burned down on Saturday. We hope everyone has a great day," the speaker clicks off as the morning announcements end.

I sit at the piano, doing vocal warm-ups, until Mrs. Jett's fifth graders come to their class. "Ms. Everdeen, I heard about what happened to your apartment building on the news yesterday! Is it true that only eighteen people made it out?" Leila, one of my favorite students, asks me.

"I'm afraid so, Leila, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade," I tell her. "I've already made five new friends because of what happened." More like four because Johanna drives me insane but she doesn't have to know that.

"Ms. Everdeen, I made you a card!" Grady, an autistic boy, hands me a folded piece of paper with writing on it.

"That's very thoughtful, Grady," I say after I read it. "I'll tell my new roommates that you are praying for us."

"My mom told me I should get you flowers," a girl named Wendy walks up to me. "But I didn't have time yesterday, so I'll bring them tomorrow."

"That's very nice, but I don't need any flowers. Just knowing that you and your mom are supporting me makes me feel better."

I play a quick four-note melody before saying, "Okay, everyone take your seats. We have a lot of learning to do today."

"Ms. Everdeen," a mean girl named Rebecca starts, "My mother told me that you're now living with a male swimwear model. Isn't that a little inappropriate?"

I want to rip her head off but instead I smile. "As a matter of fact, I am. He's a very nice man. In fact, today, he's helping this nice lady get a job. There is nothing inappropriate about him."

I guess it's time for another long day at school.

Annie's POV

"You must be Annie," a woman, who looks like she's in her mid forties, comes out and shakes my hand. "I'm Sandy Banks, the pool manager. Please come in."

I follow her into the office and sit down. "So, Annie, why do you want this job?"

"Well, about five years ago, when I was twenty, I was a swim coach at my college. I really loved it but once I finished undergraduate, my little brother and I moved into an apartment together. He got a job at a hair salon and that's how we got most of our money. Since, the apartment burned down, I need a job. I just loved being a swim coach so much, I want to do it again."

"And what is your brother going to do? Is he going to continue working as a barber?" Sandy asks me.

"He," I take a deep breath so I can finish my sentence, "Didn't make it out of the fire."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she says.

"It's not your fault," I tell her.

"Well, Annie, if you can pass a few swim tests, I think we could use you here. I'll get you a swimsuit out of the closet."

She brings back a black one piece, with a green stripe at the top. I quickly change and head out to the pool. I put my hair up in a high-ponytail and wait for instructions.

"Do a backflip off the highdive," she instructs.

I do and she nods. "Dive off the lowdive."

Once again, I do and she nods. "Swim ten laps."

We go on like that for another couple of minutes before she tells me that I don't have to do anything else and that I got the job.

"Keep the swimsuit," she says as she hands me a towel. I pick up my stuff and start walking to the truck.

"Hey, Annie!" I look over and see Finnick waving at me from a different pool. "Wanna come watch the rest of my shoot?"

"Sure," I call back to him and walk over. He's a really good model. He's holding his own- which I suppose isn't very hard because he's gorgeous- next to two female models with him.

I give him a thumbs up but my smile falters for a moment. One of the female models puts their hand on his chest and leans against his shoulder. I feel a pang of jealousy.

I quickly dismiss it as irrational. There's nothing romantic between Finnick and me. There must be something wrong with my head.

Johanna's POV

"Jo, turn your ass around so I can fully appreciate that dress!" Dustin, a gay guy from work, orders.

I quickly spin around. The top part of my dress looks like a dark blue tank top, but there's a thick, silver belt around my waist, and the skirt part is a blue and white pattern. I'm wearing silver wedges to top it off.

"Jo, Remy told us that you made it out, but lost almost all your stuff. That must've sucked," Ian- the man who works the cashier tells me.

"Yeah," I say. "Where's Remy?"

I feel arms wrap around my waist. "Right here," he breathes against my neck.

"Hey, babe," I turn around and kiss him.

"You are the cutest couple ever," Dustin exclaims. "Now, come over here and work."

I pull away from him and walk over to Dustin. We're kind of like . . . instore models for the hardware store. Except we actually carve things. Ian works the cashier and Remy does the woodcutting in the back.

I couldn't ask for a better job.

Gale's POV

I pull up to the bar at seven o'clock. I lock my car and hurry inside. "Hawthorne, I am so sorry 'bout your apartment," Rita tells me as she picks up some drinks from the bar. "I heard that you're living with five strangers now."

"Yep," I say as I hop over the bar counter. "Katniss, Finnick, Annie, Johanna, and Peeta. We're all really . . . different types of people."

"What do you mean?" she asks me.

"We have a male model and an elementary school music teacher in the same house. Does that answer your question?" I smile at her.

"A male model, huh?" she grins. "Get me his number."

"Rita, you seem to conveniently forget the fact that you're engaged," I remind her and she makes a pouty face.

"Don't remind me," she frowns. "It's a fucking arranged marriage. Our parents had our fates decided since we were toddlers."

"Maybe you could have a one-night-stand with some attractive stranger," I suggest and she chuckles.

"Maybe I will," she brings another couple drinks to a table and I smile at her.

I used to have the biggest crush on her. I mean, tan skin, wavy, blond hair, and huge boobs. But then I got to know her better. Now, I see her as a friend.

I get some drinks ready and smile. Time for another night at the bar.

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