Katniss and the Rebels
Chapter 26: Tactics and Threats
AN: Hello my lovely readers! I am back! So just so you are all aware, in my story at the moment it is October. It's stated in this chapter just so you all know that the story wouldn't be set in September forever! This chapter features a lot of minor but significant moments between a lot of characters. Also there may or may not be an everlark moment to make up for the last chapter. Enjoy!
Peeta POV
I stand in silence, my brain in overdrive, contemplating all the possible, far-fetched, devastating reasons for why Cato Hunter is sitting in my sitting room with my mother drinking tea.
Needless to say none of the explanations I come up with lead to anything good.
"Peeta" My mother barks firmly at me, drawing my attention away from Cato's perfectly masked face, "Greet our guest properly!"
Cato breaks out into a wide grin, "Oh, no need Mrs. Mellark, Peeta and I see each other all the time in school. I'm sure he's sick of my face at this stage."
My forty-something year old mother sighs dreamily at my old friend and pats his hand gently in such a sincere, motherly gesture that I can't help the twinge in my stomach at her actions to someone who isn't even her son, while she would never dream of acting so kindly to me.
"We miss you around the house Cato. Peeta's new friends…well they just aren't the same as you."
Of course my lovely mother brings up her distaste for my friends in front of him. I can see the glint in his eyes from here and I silently groan.
"Oh I'm dreadfully sorry Mrs. Mellark, truly I am. I'm just so busy studying these days. I get no time to myself."
My mother tilts her head and her face melts at his soothing lies while I dig my fists into my pockets to refrain from punching him in his pathetic, stubbled, lying face.
"How many times have I told you to call me Paula, Cato!" my mother giggles and I roll my eyes up to heaven.
These two could start a great comedy act I swear.
"But seriously, you should come by more often, you are always welcome here. Isn't that right Peeta?"
My eyes are trained on Cato, drilling into his small, brainless skull as I try to figure out what he's done, why he's here and just what exactly he knows.
"Isn't that right, Peeta?" Anger slips into my mother's sickly sweet tone as she repeats herself but I refuse to answer.
My mother's eyes stare wide and deadly into mine but she decides against embarrassing herself in front of the son of one of the wealthiest couples in the District.
"Why don't you two go fetch some biscuits from the kitchen? Your father made some for the charity bake sale tonight but I'm sure they won't be missed. Go, go! Bring me in a few won't you Peeta!"
I decide not to bring up that dad warns us not to eat these cookies every year because they are important as the bake sale relies on him for most of the products they sell and it's for a good cause. She'd never listen to me anyway.
When Cato and I are finally alone in the kitchen I turn on him.
"What do you want?" I demand harshly
Cato's demeanour shifts completely, he lowers his head and sneers
"I don't want anything."
I scoff and push myself away from him, "Don't. Cato. We aren't friends. You certainly don't want to be my friend. So why the hell are you getting your girlfriend to interrogate me and coming to my home to butter up my mother?"
Cato sighs, "You always see the worst in everyone, Mellark."
I simply glare when he continues,
"Glimmer never could be coy could she? She's hot though. Good to have around when I need her."
I try not to throw up with sheer disgust.
"And I just thought I'd pop in, have a nice chat with an old friend and well…your mother was here and you weren't. I thought it would be a good idea to find out just how much she…knows."
"I'm not hiding anything." I sneer.
Cato cocks an eyebrow, "Aren't you?"
I struggle to find an appropriate answer but before I can, Cato has placed the perfectly iced cookies on a tray and is halfway out my kitchen door.
"I'll give these to your mother and go but don't worry Peeta. I'll be in touch."
The kitchen door swings shut behind him and I slump against the coffee table.
He knows.
Gale POV
Two weeks following our meeting with James in the Hob, he finally gets in touch.
Hidden under a secluded tree in the school-yard, I take out my phone that began vibrating in my pocket over twenty minutes ago.
My hands shake as I click into the voice-mail that he left on my phone while I was in class.
"Gale! Hey! Sorry it took me so long to contact you! One of the most popular members of one of my bands decided to quit which caused an uproar at the office! Anyway I showed a few of my colleagues your stuff and the videos I took the last day! They loved you guys! Look there's just one or two things I need to talk to you about. I'll drive down tomorrow, text me somewhere to meet you, that bar you sang at maybe? Anyway see you tomorrow! Oh and by the way, maybe don't mention it to the others until after you and I talk. You'll understand tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!"
My heart thumps frantically in my chest when I hear the click that signifies the end of the voice-mail.
They liked us, a group of people out of our friends and family actually think we are good, decent, maybe good enough to make an album for.
But my stomach remains in knots.
Why can't I tell the others?
There must be a reason, something the company didn't like about us that James wants to confront in person with me.
What could it be? Our skin colours? Accents? How none of us are close to well off? Because those are all things we can't really help.
Perhaps it's something small like our name.
I admit 'The Rebels' is not very eye-catching or original so maybe he wants to change that.
That probably wouldn't be a problem, I don't think any of us are all that attached to it.
But that can't be the reason why I can't let Katniss, Darius and Thom in on the news.
So what is it?
"Gale?"
My head shoots up and I blink rapidly until Madge Undersee's concerned face comes into focus.
"Are you alright?" Madge is mere feet away from me and I curse my hunter instincts for not noticing her presence sooner.
I nod vigorously "Yeah, yeah I'm fine…"
Madge's blonde eyebrows narrow in confusion and disbelief. I realise how I must look to her. Hair tossed and messy from my hand running through it all last period, my phone clutched tightly in my hand and confusion etched on my face.
"Are you sure? I can go get Katniss if you want-"
"No!" I shout, louder than intended. Seeing Katniss's worried face right now is exactly what I don't need. I've never been able to hide things from her and vice versa.
Even if I tried to lie about the phone call with James she would see right through me
"No, no don't get her. I'm fine, really." I calmly reassure the pretty, popular girl in front of me.
From her rigid stance and the way her soft blue eyes flit from my face to the death grip on my ancient phone, I can tell she doesn't believe me.
"Okay" Madge smiles warmly and my brain struggles to come up with a solution for how a smile can be that warm and genuine on such a freezing cold October day like today.
"Okay?" I ask, puzzled.
Madge shrugs, "I won't pressure you to tell me something you don't want to. I won't pry where it isn't my place. I do hope you are okay though."
I blink numerous times before my mouth catches up with my brain.
"T-thank you."
Madge's smile broadens, "Anytime."
We stand there in silence for another few moments. I rack my brain and try to think of a good conversation topic but nothing comes to me.
Madge seems to be struggling too but she has better luck than I, "Do you want to go inside or anything? It's pretty breezy out…"
The cold doesn't bother me that much but looking at Madge in her jeans, t-shirt and flimsy cardigan with her long, wavy hair flowing in her face, I can't help but understand her struggle.
"Yeah, sure."
Once we are inside the building, Madge begins to walk in the direction of the cafeteria as it is lunch time but halts once she realises I'm not walking with or even behind her.
"Gale?" She asks softly "You coming?"
The thought of walking in to that large, suffocating room only to sit down with Katniss, Thom and Darius and proceed to lie to them about James forces me to swallow the formulating lump in my throat.
"Eh, no you're alright Madge. I think I'll just sit under the stairs today, maybe plug in my earphones and block out the world ya know?" I joke but there is nothing but truth to my words.
Madge straightens her pink bag that hangs from her shoulder and timidly asks, "May I join you?"
Ignoring the relief that overcomes me at her request, I simply nod and together we sit on the cushioned benches under the secluded, quiet staircase.
We don't say anything, both of us plug our earphones in and sit side by side. Madge eats most of her lunch but it takes me until almost the end of lunch to manage to swallow down two biscuits.
If Madge notices how little I eat she chooses not to mention it for which I'm grateful.
When the shrilling school bell interrupts our individual songs, we move to stand, accidentally brushing our hands against one another's in our attempt to gain our balance.
I turn, stuffing my earphones clumsily into my pocket to give myself a minute or two for the flush of crimson to hopefully vanish from my cheeks. Students pile out of the cafeteria and hundreds of peers make their way up and down the stairs above us.
Madge offers me a soft smile and as we mouth goodbye, our hands accidentally brush again.
*Text Alert*
From Katniss Everdeen: Are you ready for tomorrow?
From Peeta Mellark: Am I ready to slay our classmates with our amazing cooking skills and project work? Yes. Yes I am. Are you?"
From Katniss Everdeen: Sure
From Peeta Mellark: You don't sound too enthusiastic
From Katniss Everdeen: Sure :D
From Peeta Mellark: Better ;) You'll remember the ingredients right?
From Katniss Everdeen: Course I will
From Peeta Mellark: You sure?
From Katniss Everdeen: You have little faith
From Peeta Mellark: Well you've a bad track record
From Katniss Everdeen: I'll bring them in
From Peeta Mellark: I'll bring extra just in case
From Katniss Everdeen: You're kidding right?
From Peeta Mellark: Of course babe
From Katniss Everdeen: No.
From Peeta Mellark: No?
From Katniss Everdeen: We are not the 'babe' couple, I refuse to be the 'babe' couple. You'll have to come up with a better nickname than babe.
From Peeta Mellark: Love?
From Katniss Everdeen: cliché
From Peeta Mellark: Doll? Sugarplum? Pumpkin?
From Katniss Everdeen: brb while I go vomit
From Peeta Mellark: haha okay I'll come up with a better one
From Peeta Mellark: I promise!
From Peeta Mellark: Wait you were just joking right?
From Peeta Mellark: You're not really sick are you?
From Peeta Mellark: Okay I'm worried I'm going to ring you
From Katniss Everdeen: Relax, I was joking but sugarplum made me slightly queasy
From Peeta Mellark: Sorry Katniss ;)
From Katniss Everdeen: I'll forgive you, but only because of this fabulous project we are working on
From Peeta Mellark: I totally believe that's the reason babe :*
From Katniss Everdeen: -_-
Katniss POV
It's a dreary Friday morning on the second week of October and I stifle a yawn as I stuff my Home Economics ingredients into my locker for my cooking presentation with Peeta today.
I jump out of my skin when I feel long fingers brush my braid away from my neck.
Before I launch into badass, fighting, action hero mode, a familiar, low chuckle emits from behind me.
"Peeta" I whisper softly, the fear and tension leaving my body instantly. I feel a soft, cool kiss on the back of my neck and I bite my lip and shiver uncontrollably.
He doesn't confirm his presence, instead choosing to stand to his full height once more and presses his lips to my ear
"What about Kat?" his voice is low and husky and I swallow down the pathetic sound that desperately tries to escape my mouth
"Kat is good" I respond weakly and I can feel his ear-to-ear grin against my ear "Yeah…yeah I like Kat, much nicer than babe." I continue, mentally ordering myself to get a grip.
In the blink of an eye Peeta's strong hand has slammed my locker shut, turned me gently around to face him and pulled me closer.
He leans his forehead against mine and just as I begin to tell him we really shouldn't do this in a crowded hallway in school, his precious lips meet mine in the most passionate kiss we've had yet.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I willingly melt into him.
Peeta POV
Kissing Katniss Everdeen in a hallway in Panem High has admittedly been a fantasy of mine for many years now.
Needless to say it was ten trillion times better than I could ever have imagined.
It was deep and passionate and all of our worries about who was watching faded into the black, endless, silent void of never-ending space.
Afterwards, as I walk a blushing Katniss to her next class I catch a certain Career sending death glares my way.
Well damn him.
Fuck Cato Hunter and his stupid, pathetic threats and his childish attempts at blackmail.
If he wants to hurt me then he can try all he likes.
He can do whatever he wishes, tell my mother I'm dating Katniss, make up lies about her, about my friends or about me. He can order me to do countless, horrible and most likely illegal things to keep him quiet about my dating life if he wishes.
He can do all that and more but I refuse to do anything he or my mother wants, including breaking up with Katniss Everdeen.
If he decides to tell my mother about her than I'll take whatever I get.
But I won't leave Katniss because of them.
They done too much damage to me and my life already.
I won't let them ruin my relationship with Katniss, the one thing I've hoped and dreamed for since I was five years old.
I won't.
AN: That's chapter 26 complete! Hope you enjoyed! Please follow, favourite and review!
I love to hear your opinions!
Thanks for reading!
- xTeam Mockingjayx