Katniss and the Rebels

Chapter 25: Wednesday Woes

AN: Guys I honestly can't believe we are on chapter 25. I also can't believe I've more than 100 followers, 50 favourites and 40 reviews on this story alone. I mean thousands more read this story but it means a lot to those who take the time to follow, favourite and review. I've never expected to write so many chapters. I'll probably write about 35-40 chapters for this story. Maybe an epilogue I'm not sure. But thank you to those who stuck with me so far.

Now on with the chapter! Which went in a different direction than originally planned. Also a good few POV changes in this chapter.

Thanks to Carat532 who left the sweetest review on my last chapter. Honestly every review means so much to me so thanks to all who take the time to tell me what you think!

Peeta POV

In my opinion, one of the most despicable things about high school is that secrets never stay secret for long.

One thing leads to another, one misinterpreted look, an overheard conversation and before you know it, people stare at you in class, you catch your name being whispered in conversations between strangers as you walk down the hall and before you know it people are confronting you about your own private life.

People like the Careers.

It was the class before lunch, our teacher was absent and a substitute failed to show up so our class was pretty much aimlessly waiting for the bell to ring. Half the class had left to sneak off for the remaining hour, some students were studying, others loudly chatted or laughed about the latest gossip and trends.

I sat in the back, stuck my earphones in and started drawing on my sketchpad, which I now keep with me at all times, in case Katniss wants me to draw her something again.

I'm very comfortable in my little translucent bubble, doodling a faceless girl with a braid when I feel two taps on my shoulder.

I blink at my page, assuming I'm imagining things when I hear a high-pitched giggle emit from right behind me.

Turning I come face to face with Glimmer standing over me. The tall, pale skinned girl twirls a strand of her bleached blonde hair with her perfectly manicured nail and giggles at my discombobulated expression.

"Heyyyy Peeta." Glimmer says in a sickly sweet voice and I quickly scramble to hide my not-so-subtle drawing of Katniss from her view.

"Err, hi Glimmer."

I'm pretty sure the only time I've ever interacted with Glimmer was when we were six or seven and she lost her princess fairy pen, she threw a massive tantrum and accused me off stealing it because I was sitting beside her. My five year old self was entirely innocent and had been too busy daydreaming of the pretty girl who sang in class the day before to be bothered with stealing some random pen.

Of course when I returned home that evening and found the pink and white pen with little fairies on it among the old colouring pencils in my pencil case I stuffed it in my drawer and threw it out a few years later.

What? She wasn't a nice person okay? I wasn't going to prove her right by giving her that god damn pen back.

Glimmer slips into the seat beside me and places her fist under her chin, grinning,

"How are you? How are things!?"

I frown before forcing myself to be polite and I fake a smile.

"I'm good thanks Glimmer and you?"

Glimmer bits her lip and sighs dramatically, "Oh I'm just fabulous Peeta really."

"Em…okay."

"But tell me more about you! I mean you've been friends with Cato since like forever and we've never talked!"

"Actually I eh..wouldn't really say Cato and I are…friends-"

"Oh sure you are! He's always talking about you and praising you!"

Praise? Definitely doesn't sound like Cato Hunter.

"Err… right"

"You should really eat lunch with us today" Gliimmer flick her hair back and leans forward on the desk. "You know? So we can get to know you better"

For a second, I stare wide eyed at her before stammering, "I can't…s-sorry. I've plans with Finnick."

Glimmer pouts, "But he's got his girlfriend right? The swimmer? Anne? Anne-Marie? Anyway, you were friends with Cato first. I'm sure Finnick won't mind. He's SUCH a good guy."

From her tone I'm unaware whether she is describing Finnick or Cato but I don't care to ask.

"It's Annie and yes but we usually eat together. I'm sorry Glimmer, I can't, not today."

Glimmer's eyes freeze over and she straightens her posture.

I swallow as her cold eyes stare into mine and at this she smirks and stands,

"What a shame," fake-pity and annoyance drips from her tongue, "Cato was really looking forward to talking to you about your girlfriend."

Glimmer's slow emphasis on the words 'really' and 'girlfriend' cause me to freeze.

How would Cato know? How would Glimmer? I've only told my friends, I assume Katniss told hers and none of our friends talk with Cato and his gang.

Maybe he read my note when I gave it to Katniss over her shoulder?

Or perhaps Glimmer is just winding me up, perhaps they don't know we are really together now.

Before I can think of a reply, Glimmer has pushed in her chair and looks me up and down before turning sharply and sauntering out the classroom door.

I sit shell-shocked for the remainder of my free period. When the bell shrills through the speakers, I practically sprint out of the classroom, bag slung over one shoulder and my sketchpad clutched tightly in my hand.

Gale POV

My stomach clenches as I attempt to listen to Darius and Thom's eccentric debate about some unimportant soccer match. Usually I would gladly partake in such light hearted conversation but somehow my mind can't seem to focus today.

I foolishly hoped James might have gotten back to me by now.

I keep trying to remind myself that if this doesn't go the way I hope then I'm not sure where to go next. Where we go next.

It's easy to say we'll have uproot our lives and move to California, become rich and famous and tour the world but it's never that simple.

None of us have that sort of money, to move anywhere at the moment let alone move to California and pay for college there. Even if scholarships were an option, there would be no way the four of us would get one each.

Even if it were, could Katniss and I really leave home? Mrs. Everdeen has her good days but I know Katniss fears if she leaves home that her mother will fall back into her severe depression again.

While my mum has improved greatly, she'd still have to provide for three children and without me around I'm not sure whether she could.

The teachers have practically drilled into our heads that we all are expected to go to college, but in this town it's rare for the majority of students from the Seam to advance to third level education. It's just how it is.

I wouldn't even know what else I could study if it weren't music. I know a bit about cars, if the worse comes to the worst I could be a mechanic. Katniss might study plants or something, she does well in science and her father was obsessed with teaching her all about plants, wild berries and birds.

Thom could teach music lessons and Darius, well Darius can walk into any job interview with a blank CV and a winning smile and get the job on the spot.

Is that where we'll all end up?

I'm drawn from my thoughts as from the corner of my eye I spot a tall figure standing awkwardly in the doorway of the cafeteria.

Madge Undersee frowns and scans the room, holding her tray in one hand and her bottle of orange juice in the other.

I assume she's searching for Katniss so swallowing I push all negative thoughts from my mind and I attempt to catch her attention by wavering my hand.

It takes her a second but she notices me, blue eyes widening before she smiles politely and walks towards me.

"Hey Gale."

"Hiya, looking for Catnip?"

"Eh, yeah I was but-"

"Mr. Snow called her back after class, apparently he caught her doodling in class." Madge's naturally upbeat expression falls, she rolls her eyes and huffs causing a smirk to appear on my face.

"She's so subtle, if she says something smart and lands herself in detention again I'm going to have to give her the friend-mom lecture and I hate those."

A laugh escapes me and Madge smiles,

"You want to sit with us while you wait for her?"

I don't know where the words come from, before my brain can catch up with what I've said, the blonde girl's ears tinted pink as she nodded and sat in front of me.

"Eh, sure thanks."

We sit in silence for a moment, awkward silence. Thom and Darius noting her presence with a nod, before returning back to their heated debate.

I don't know why there's such tension between Madge and I.

We've both gotten over the incident with Katniss.

Madge has sat with us a hundred times, but in all honestly, when she did I rarely talked to her.

I decide to at least try and make it up to her now, "So did you go to the game Friday?"

Madge grins, "Well I was thinking about going with Katniss but she told me she was going with Peeta so I decided not to gate-crash and stay at home instead."

I match her grin with one of my own, "Oh the nerve of her."

"I know! I asked her this morning who won and she said she couldn't remember."

I scrunch up my nose and try to burn the images of Peeta and Katniss making out in the stands of a football game that appear in my mind.

"Gross." I reply, doing a near perfect impression of my ten year old brother.

Madge laughs loudly and claps her hands together, "It was probably just Katniss not paying attention to the important things as usual."

"Probably" I say in a disbelieving tone.

From then on we discuss our days, Katniss's likely dreadful conversation with Snow and hobbies (music for me and watching youtube videos for her).

We've just finished telling each other what classes we have next when Katniss finally joins us, a murderous frown plastered to her face and I can practically see stream spurting from her ears.

Forcefully throwing her bag on the floor and dropping into the seat Katniss makes a muffled scream which causes Madge's and my eyebrows to raise to our hairline and even Thom and Darius shut up to wonder what's going on.

Katniss launches into her story of Snow lecturing her for doodling in his class which she wasn't, she was just flickering through pages of her refill pad for her notes and he stopped her on one with a drawing on it.

"It wasn't even one I did! P-Someone gave it to me! It's ridiculous! He was threatening me with a note and detention and he even mentioned suspension! For doodling! Or what he thought was doodling! Oh I could-"

Katniss lists off numerous threats and Madge and I listen in amusement at her dramatics. Everybody despises our useless, dictator of a principal but Katniss has always felt he had something out for her personally. From his actions towards her over the years, none of us could blame her.

Catnip manages to eat at least half her lunch when the bell shrills and we must leave for class. Groaning, we pack up our stuff and all head out the door together.

I make my way to maths with Thom but turning to Madge before I go,

"See you later" I murmur, offering her a half smile.

Madge smiles back brightly and winks, "Not if I see you first."

As Thom and I purposely slowly walk to the dreaded maths class I ignore the knowing look on Thom's face and the mischief in his eyes.

Katniss POV

So…

Before planning to cook something you should probably make sure you have all the ingredients need for the recipe.

Which me being the stupid, thoughtless person I am, forgot.

Leaving Peeta sitting awkwardly in my sitting room with an inquisitive Prim was the least of my worries as I frantically searched through all the cupboards in my tiny kitchen, tore the drawers apart for anything I could use as a substitute for the numerous ingredients I failed to buy.

Leaning against the counter, I brushed my fringe back from my face and breathed heavily.

Here was this perfect, good-looking, kind boy who actually seemed to give a damn about me and I'd been too busy and forgotten to get the stuff we needed to practise our project.

I let out a shaky sigh and stand up straight again.

I'll just have to face him, I know I will, there's no escaping it.

Walking into the sitting room, I find Prim lying on the couch, grinning at a blushing Peeta who is sitting in my father's armchair, drumming his fingers against the armrest.

They both smile widely when they notice my presence and I politely smile at Peeta, "Kitchen?" I suggest, trying not to let the nervousness seep into my tone.

Peeta nods, says some dreamy, sweet words of goodbye to my sister that has her in a fit of giggles and follows me out.

When I explain to him, in a bashfully, hushed voice what I've foolishly done, Peeta stares at me for an achingly long moment before bursting out laughing.

He bends over slightly as his booming laugh rakes through his body. At first I frown, confused as to why he reacted in such a manner when I so clearly have messed up, pretty bad.

"What-" Peeta interrupts me by taking two steps towards me and taking my cold hands in his.

"Katniss!" Peeta reassures gently "Don't worry about it, we've already done one practice and we didn't burn the house down. It's no big deal."

I swallow the lump that has been annoyingly building in my throat since I returned home from school,

"But-"

Peeta smiles and when he brushes his thumb against the back of my hand I can feel him trace over several scars and I shiver, "But nothing Kat, trust me I'd much rather spend the evening talking with you than fretting over cooking temperatures and ingredients and not the mention," Peeta scrunches up his nose and as he does I can feel it brush against my own "Not the mention the dreaded washing up."

A quick laugh escapes me, I look up into his blue eyes and search for something to say but all I can come up with is,

"Kat?"

Peeta grins but I can spot the twinge of a blush rising in his cheeks, "Yeah, Kat. All your other friends have nicknames for you so I thought, why not?"

I decide to continue with my one-word questions when I ask, "Friends?"

This causes the great Peeta Mellark to stammer, "I..well…I'm not…well I am but I'm also…" Peeta groans loudly before mock-glaring at me and my rising smirk, "Oh shush, you know what I meant."

"Mmmhmm" I respond, fully aware of the stupidly large grin upon my face.

"I-"

"I like it" I interrupt

Peeta frowns, "Like what?"

"The nickname. Kat. I like it."

Peeta smiles genuinely at me before bending down so we are at each other's eye line, "I'm glad."

We are close. Peeta and I. Barely centimetres between us.

We may have acknowledged that we are 'together' but nothing has happened in person since I agreed to go out with him.

My eyes widen as I fight to push the want to pull back from him away. My stomach is tied in knots and I'm not sure what to make of the stutter that occurs in my chest when I feel him exhaling gently on my skin.

Part of me wants to turn around, change the subject and listen to him ramble about something unimportant, both of us pointedly ignoring the elephant in the room.

While the other side of me desperately wants to lean further into him, curl my hand around his neck and press his lips against mine once more.

I do neither, instead remaining completely frozen.

Guilty overwhelms me when Peeta pulls away from me, stepping back several inches and returning to his full height once more. Spotting the sadness in his eyes, I knew he saw the internal battle I was having and I desperately want to explain myself yet I find myself at a loss for words.

"Do you.." Peeta scratches behind his ear "Want to watch a movie or something?"

His words take a minute or two to register with me which he takes as a bad sign,

"Or we could study! Or do homework if you need to do that. I could leave either! If you want, I'll leave I don't mind-"

"No!" I shout over him before he comes up when any other crazy ideas.

I move towards him and return my hands to the lovely, warm heat of his, "A movie sounds perfect."

Peeta POV

I leave Katniss's house just before dinner.

We watched some badass, action movie that she had clearly watched a hundred times from her commentary on almost every scene.

I kiss her cheek before I go and tell her I'm really glad she forgot to get the ingredients.

This causes her to flush red and mumble a "Sorry" and "Goodbye."

Rolling my eyes, I pull her closer and kiss her small nose gently, "Kidding" I wait for Katniss to smile back at me before pulling away and saying "I'll see you tomorrow."

Katniss nods, "Bye Peeta"

I turn and I can hear the door close behind me.

The smile drops from my face as I let my feet drag me home, knowing I'd much rather be back in Katniss's cool house, sitting close to her on the couch while her sister comes in every ten minutes to "Make sure you two are watching the movie and not eating each other's faces off.". To which, after the third time, Katniss forcefully threw a throw pillow at her tiny, giggling younger sibling.

Reliving the past two hours again would be much more exciting than going home to my dull, tension filled house.

Deciding to go through the back door, I finalise what lie I'm going to tell my family about where I've been this evening as I push it open.

I trudge up the stairs and am about to continue upwards to my bedroom when I hear my mother's voice calling me from the sitting room.

I cringe and prepare my story about how I went to Finnick's house after school and how I'm very sorry I didn't text her but when I enter the cool, familiar room I freeze.

My mother is sitting on the couch, her hair tied back into a tight bun and a bright smile on her fresh face. Two cups of tea sit on the table, the fancy, expensive cups she rarely uses.

"Peeta! Finally you come home! Look who came to see you!"

I cannot echo my mother's enthusiasm when I straighten my back, clench my jaw and say flatly,

"Hello Cato."

AN: So there you go! Please follow, favourite and review.

Please let me know what you think and I'll be back soon! The next chapter will probably deal with the whole music contract situation!

Thanks for reading!

- xTeam Mockingjayx