Chapter 26: Red is the Color

Disclaimer: I don't own THG.

Katniss:

"How can you people even think about dress shopping, when acceptance letters come home next month?" Katniss cried.

She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, she couldn't think! May was the month for college acceptance or rejection letters. And Katniss hoped, with everything in her, that the news was good.

NYU or Stanford, here I come! Be positive, Kat! You've go this!

"Kat, you need to relax." Johanna said. "You're salutatorian-"

"I'm salutatorian."

"Still not decided, Clove." Katniss added. "But you're right, Jo. I will be. My grades are incredible and I'll be fine. I'll be fine."

Annie laughed. "Breathe, Katniss. Okay, so I was thinking I could buy a blue dress. Or green. It matches my eyes."

"I call green!" Finch exclaimed. "Goes with my hair, guys."

Katniss lost track of the conversation and mostly followed the girls around the store. She wasn't going to prom. She wandered off into the back of the store and mindlessly pushed around some dresses. Sequins, they were everywhere.

"Katniss Everdeen. Didn't peg you for a sequin girl."

"Hi, Glimmer. I don't want to fight you in a Macy's, so please, kindly remove yourself from my presence."

Glimmer smiled. "Woah. No need for the attitude, Everdeen. We're all here to enjoy the wonder that is prom dress shopping. How's your hunt going?" Her tone was courteous. Katniss didn't want trouble, so she tried to be civil.

"It's not going. I'm not interested in prom."

Not really into seeing the guy I like making out with you, so...

"That's a shame." Glimmer said. "I think you'll be missing out. I'm going to win prom queen this year."

She would. Not because she was popular, that didn't matter anymore. It was because the school was patiently waiting for her meltdown. Everyone thought a spotlight would do the trick. Giving Glimmer the crown would be a trap. Katniss almost wanted to tell her not to go, for her own sake.

"Congratulations, Glimmer." Katniss began walking away.

"Wait a sec, Everdeen." Glimmer called. "You should be at prom."

Katniss narrowed her eyes at the blonde. "Look, I don't think I need any advice, much less from you." She regretted saying that last part. Calling her out on her troubles, that was low blow.

Glimmer shrugged it off. "True, I'm not a goldmine for advice. But trust me on this, you should go. It's a once in a lifetime event. Don't miss out." And with that last bit if cryptic advice, Glimmer left the store empty handed.

"Did you just have a conversation with Glimmer?" Johanna and the other girls had surrounded her.

"I don't know what that was." Katniss admitted.

"Well, what did she say?" Finch was forever curious.

"She was being weird. Told me I should be at prom and watch her win prom queen."

"That snake." Clove grumbled. "She knows everyone wants to see her lose it on stage. Don't mind her, Kat. She's baiting you."

"I think maybe she was being nice. Trying to talk to us for a change."

"Annie, I'm pretending you didn't say that. She's your cousin, so you're image of her is screwed up." Johanna said.

"Besides, why would she try and talk to Katniss?"

Clove was on to something. Glimmer could be baiting her, trying to remind her that she'd be going with Peeta. That was plain evil. But did she have time for plotting when her family was falling apart?

"I think I'm going to need a dress." Katniss announced. "And a ride to prom."

"You can come with Thresh and me." Clove said. "But you really want to do this?"

"Yup." Katniss was going to be there and see for herself what once in a lifetime experience Glimmer was talking about.

"Good. I already found the perfect dress for you. I think a bright shade of red will do it." Annie showed her the gown. Strapless.

"You look scared, Kat." Jo teased.

"Oh, guys, Kantiss is afraid of strapless dresses, remember?" Finch added. Katniss glared at her. There was no need to bring up the sophomore year dress malfunction! That would never disappear from her mind.

"I'm not afraid of a dress." Katniss said sharply. "I'm not a huge fan of red. Its kind of...loud. I don't want to draw attention."

"You do. One guy's attention." Johanna smirked. "Try it on."

Katniss did, solely because she got the feeling that the girls would stuff her in the dress forcefully if she refused. She walked out of the dressing room and saw her reflection int the mirror. Johanna wolf whistled and Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Oh! Look at that! Katniss is on fire!"

"Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire!"

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Red, it truly was a flattering color, making her olive toned skin appear brighter. And it fit just right, there was no chance of another strapless dress attack. Katniss liked. Not liked, loved. This was it, her dress.

Peeta:

"You aren't going to demand I wear a matching tie?"

Glimmer shook her head. "I haven't even gotten a dress." Lately, his girlfriend had been acting more withdrawn. It was understandable, with all the scrutiny she was receiving. Peeta asked her to prom because he thought it would make a nice distraction.

"You went shopping today." Peeta reminded her.

"Nothing I liked. I did run into Everdeen, though." Glimmer looked him in the eye, as though expecting a reaction. Peeta would give her none.

She continued to speak. "We talked. She said she wasn't going to prom. Guess no one asked her."

Peeta felt relief. He had no claim to Katniss, but maybe she was still waiting for him. Because, in all honesty, a girl like Katniss should have guys lined up to just say hello.

"I told her she should go. Prom's supposed to be fun! Why miss it?" Glimmer laughed.

Did she say she'd go? Did she say she'd find a date?

"It'll be fun." Peeta replied. Asking about Katniss would throw the obvious into the light.

"Which is exactly why I think Katniss should be there." She said smoothly.

"Okay, correct me if I'm wrong, but you and Katniss don't get along." He couldn't resist.

"We don't. But I thought she was a friend of yours." Peeta panicked. "You two work together right?"

Why did it feel like this was a test? What was the right answer?

"We see each other at the bakery, yeah." Peeta said.

Glimmer studied him for the longest moment. And then she gave him a smile. She was good, it almost looked real.

"The least I could do is try and get along with your friends." She said. "Anyway, I thought I'd let you pick the color."

"Color...?"

"Of my dress and your tie. Your choice, Peeta"

Silver. Like Katniss's eyes. Green. Her favorite color. No matter what, Katniss invaded his thoughts. No fighting it.

"Red."

Glimmer put on a thoughtful expression. "Red. That's a loud color. Bold. I like it, very fitting. Red it is."

Red, the color of love. Damn it, Katniss was still in his head.

Next chapter is prom and I promise, that's where it gets real, guys. And because I know so many of you are waiting for Everlark, I'm going to be updating tomorrow! Thank you for being so patient! :)

Asdfghjkl3: It is very sad, I don't even know why I made it that way. I guess I wanted a reason for Annie to have Finn, like in the book. She's hurt, bit he's there for her always. Love it. Thanks for the review!

Diana: Wow! Australia! I'll bet it's awesome there! Anyway, thanks so much for reading this. Yup, this is a Johale. I started writing and I didn't realize I left Madge out of the picture. I don't mind Gale/Madge, but I have an extreme love for Johanna. I'm crazy! There was some Kat/Gale drama, but that was cleared up a while back. The cheer leading thing was an idea for Clove to make Cato jealous. You know, since she'd be wearing the outfit and guys would be checking her out and stuff. Didn't happen, but who knows, maybe in another chapter! Thanks again for reading and reviewing :)

Anon: AWW! I'm so happy you gave it a chance, even happier that you liked it. Thanks for the review and I do try to update regularly.