Alright, so here's the next chapter. We're heading towards some mature themes, not smut so be weary.
Again, I thank everyone enough for the favs/reviews/follows/etc. Thank You so much.
Once again, I own nothing.
Katniss and her friends were all standing by a set of lockers in the hallway. They watch the people rush off to their classes. Glimmer walks past them giving Katniss the stank eye. Katniss gives her a big genuine smile. Life was good and she was going to show it. The smile only made Glimmer angrier.
"Well that's the worst look I've ever seen her give you," Rue tells her.
Johanna throws an arm around Katniss, "So how's it feel to finally make it?" Johanna laughs at her, "You know, cause she hates you so much." Katniss throws her arm off of her just to have a strong pair of arms embrace her instead.
"Hey." Peeta whispers to her while resting his head on her shoulder.
She turns around in his arms and gives him a quick kiss, "Hey yourself." Peeta holds her in his arms while the rest of Peeta's friends join them. Suddenly, Marvel comes jogging through the hall.
"Hey guys?" He starts slightly out of breath.
"What's up, Marvel?"
"Yo, have you guys seen the new girl? That babe is fine as hell!" All the guys look to each other then at their respected girlfriends.
Cato whispers to him in a harsh tone, "Dude, get the hell out of here with all that!"
"Come on guys! That girl is so fine," he pauses with a dreamy look on his face, "that she makes the blood rush down to your," a throat clears behind him. He turns to see his girlfriend, "Baby!"
Madge starts to walk away when the hottest girl you will ever see turns the corner. Her long dark hair flows as if there was an imaginary fan behind her. Her most striking feature were her eyes, that were an intense blue that put even Peeta's eyes to shame. She was wearing shorts that were just about school legal and a frilly shirt. She was headed their way.
When the girls turned to look at the guys, their jaws were all dropped as close to the ground as possible. All except Peeta who was doing an awful attempt at hiding behind Katniss. She looked at him strangely. When she was about to speak Finnick starts talking.
"Is that Megan Fox?"
"I don't know, but I'd definitely go lesbian for her," Johanna starts. She receives a prompt high five from Cato which she happily gives him.
Thresh and Finn, who have still been checking out the new girl, get a scolding from Rue and Annie. Katniss again turns to Peeta, who has managed to pull out a textbook and is holding it up to his face pretending to read.
Katniss grabs the book trying to bring it down, "Peeta, what the hell is going on?"
"Katniss," he tells her trying to pull the book back from her, "Stop it!" He whines.
"Peeta?" The new girl quirks her eyebrows up at him. "That's you isn't it?"
Peeta puts up a friendly grin, "Hey," he says with hesitation.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again!"
"You and me both." He scratches his head awkwardly. Now everybody is looking at Peeta with slack jaws.
"Well, I'm being rude. Who are all your friends?"
Peeta clears his throat, "Right. That's Annie, Finn, Thresh, Rue, Cato, Johanna, and Katniss." He finishes, "My girlfriend," he tells her throwing an arm around Katniss.
"Wow," she laughs making all the boys smile at her with goofy grins, "Forgive me if I don't remember all your names. I'm Katherine, by the way." She shakes all their hands. After a slight awkward silence, she starts, "I should get going. I don't want to be late for class on my first day." She waves goodbye and she walks away.
After all the boys turn to watch her leave, and receive another scolding, Finn slaps Peeta on his back. "Dude, you know that goddess?"
"No, not really." He quickly tries to divert the subject, "Katniss, let me walk you to class." Katniss quickly turns towards her class and starts making her way there as quickly as possible. Peeta chases after her.
"Katniss will you wait up?" He jogs to catch up with her. She abruptly stops, rolling her eyes at him. She lets him catch up then continues walking.
"I'm sure you're dying to get rid of me..." Katniss says clearly irritated.
"What? Why would you think that?"
"Trying to hide from her? Really Peeta? What the hell is that about?" She walks away.
"You won't even give me a chance to explain." Peeta tells chases after her.
She stops again, waiting, "Tell me then, Peeta."
He really didn't want to tell her and it showed. She walks away one more time. He catches her hand which she violently yanks back.
"Ok." Peeta pulls her aside. He rests his hands on his hips. He glances up at the ceiling taking a deep breath. "You remember that one girl I told you about..."
She walks away one final time going to her class. She hears Peeta call for her, but she doesn't turn around. She was jealous before. Now she didn't know what she was. Jealous times 100. The new girl, Katherine, had been his first. And she was hot! She wasn't sure how she was going to compete.
"Oh wow." Johanna says. Katniss and Johanna were sitting in class. They were supposed to be working on their class project. Instead they had been talking.
"So what do I do?"
"Give the man a chance to speak for one. I am proud of you for being a possessive bitch, though."
The bell rings and they walk out together.
"Kat, I'll see you outside in a minute. I have to go pick up my math book from Rue." They exchange goodbyes and go their separate ways. As Katniss turns the corner, she knows she has to set her jealous feelings aside and let Peeta say what he has to say. She heads over to their usual meeting spot, but most definitely does not expect what she sees next.
Peeta was waiting for Katniss where they met up everyday. He wasn't paying attention when Katherine creeps up on him.
"Hey!" She startles him.
"Hey." He thinks of something to say, "How's you first day going?"
"Good. Everyone's so nice here." She chuckles.
"Yep." A silence falls between them.
"So, Katniss huh?" Katherine asks him. "The same one from that day?"
He laughs, "Yea. That Katniss."
"So, I guess it's alright to believe in happily ever after again?" They share a laugh.
"It's definitely getting there." They laugh again.
"Alright, I'm going to go." She turns to leave.
"Yea. See you around."
She grabs his arm gently, "Peeta I'm so happy for you," she tells him letting him go.
"Thank you." She smiles at him. He really was happy. When he met Katherine he was heartbroken thinking he'd never be where he was now. Katniss was the best thing in his life. He smiled thinking about what they had. Peeta had come a long way from being a lovesick boy to now having the object of his affection. He had a happy far away look when his eyes caught Katniss' across the hall.
All of a sudden, it was Katniss who was hot. She was pissed. Just when she's thinking, give him a chance, she catches him openly flirting with Katherine. They looked real cute too. Smiling and laughing together. Katniss' heart suddenly hurt.
She turns from Peeta's gaze and heads for the front door.
"Katniss!" Peeta tries. She's out the door quick with Peeta right behind her. "Katniss." He runs in front of her and cuts off her path. "What's the matter?"
"What's the matter?! Peeta I saw you with her."
"There is nothing going on so I don't know what you think you saw-"
"What I saw is you talking and her smiling! And then you smiling! That's my smile Peeta!" She tries her hardest not to cry. "You only smile like that with me!"
"Katniss, I was thinking of you." He tries holding her but she pulls away.
She scoffs, "Yea, I'm sure that's what they all say. What! Are you going to tell me you were thinking of me when you sleep with her too?" She tries to get into Johanna's car but its locked. He grabs her forcing Katniss to look at him. She tries pushing him off but he won't budge.
"Katniss look at me!" Katniss has her eyes closed shut holding back the tears that threatened to fall. She's still fighting him when Peeta hugs her tight against him. "Katniss, I don't want her or anybody else. I freaking love you." She stills in his arms, "I love you, Katniss."
Peeta had loved her since they were kids, but he had never actually told her. At first, he was afraid she would reject him. Who wouldn't if someone you barely knew told you they were in love with you. So, he kept it all inside, as painful as it was sometimes.
He pulls back to look at her face. Her eyes glistening from her unshed tears. "You're just saying that..."
"No, Katniss. Look at me," Katniss turns her eyes up to look at him. He takes her hand kissing her palm gently. He then places it on his cheek. "I love you with all my heart." He takes her other hand and places it on his heart. "It only beats for you."
"Peeta, I don't know if I know how to love," she tells him honestly.
He chuckles, "I know. I'm still going to be right here waiting when you're ready to love me back."
"I'm going to try, Peeta. I've never loved someone before." She kisses him sweetly. "When did I turn into such a sap?"
"I like the sap," he hugs her. He kisses the top of her head. "Give me a little trust here, Katniss. I love you so much. I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have."
Katniss starts kissing his neck. He looks down at her leaning in for a kiss. Peeta feels a hand on his shoulder shaking him. Cato peeks over Peeta's shoulder.
"Hey Katniss." He cheerily greets her.
"Hey Cato."
"Dude, we going?" Cato asks Peeta.
"Where?"
"Party at John's. Let's go."
"Oh, crap. I forgot." He looks at Katniss, "You coming with me?"
"To John's? I can't. I'm going home for a while but I have to come back for the prom committee meeting tonight."
"Oh. Then, I don't want to go. Maybe I can stay here with you."
"Peeta?" Cato yells at him from across the parking lot. Katniss looks over at him.
"No, Peeta. It's fine. Go with your friends. I trust you." She tells him placing a kiss on his lips.
"Yea?" He looks at her. Katniss nods reassuringly, "You sure cause..." He leans down to her ear and whispers, "we've never done it at school."
She pushes him away playfully, "Go! I'll be fine. Call me later?"
He nods his head at her. He gives her a kiss and walks away. He turns around, points to himself, makes a heart gesture, then points at her. She laughs and blows him a kiss.
"Party!" Someone screams in Peeta's ear. Finn puts an arm around Peeta.
"Live a little buddy! I'm going to go find Annie." Finn tells him then leaves. Peeta is greeted by everybody at the party. He wasn't feeling this party though. Partly because Katniss' presence was lacking and it was too loud.
"Hey, Peeta." He hears a voice. He turns to see Glimmer. She goes for a hug, but he puts his hands out stopping her. He cocks his head looking at her.
"So, I take it you're still with Katniss?" She says annoyingly.
"Yes, I'm still with Katniss." He mocks her tone. Suddenly someone bumps into him.
"Oof. Sorry man." The drunk guy shoves his drink into Peeta's chest almost spilling it all over him. Peeta catches the drink before it does. The drunk guy stumbles away.
"Hey! Your drink!" He yells in vain as the guy stumbles out the front door. Glimmer is long gone at this point. Peeta counts his blessings. Peeta's scanning the room when Katherine catches his eye. He walks over to her.
"How'd you get dragged here?" He basically yells at her over the music.
"Some guy brought me here. He ditched me when I told him he's not getting any."
"Ah." He subconsciously takes a chug of the drink that's still in his hands. "Ugh. This is disgusting! How can anybody like this?" Katherine laughs at him.
"So, what brings you here, Peeta?"
"Long day slash friends." She quirks her eyebrow at him. He puts up his hands. "Yes, Yes. I succumbed to peer pressure." They laugh together. Peeta takes another sip of the drink. "Damn! Why do I keep drinking this shit?!" He finally gets rid of the drink placing it down somewhere. Both Peeta and Katherine stand there cracking jokes when a dizzy spell hits Peeta. He stumbles a bit onto Katherine.
"You okay?" She looks at him with concern. Peeta's grabbing his head in clear pain. He tries to stand but loses his balance completely. Katherine adjust to his weight holding him up. "Peeta, You're scaring me." Peeta can only point to the closest door gesturing for her to take him there. They manage to stumble into the room. Katherine throws him onto the bed.
"I don't feel good." He groans painfully. Peeta doesn't know which pain is worse; the one in his head or the one in his stomach. "Get Finn!"
"Okay." She turns to leave, "Tall, bronze hair, green eyes, right?" Peeta shakes his head immediately regretting it as the pain is excruciating. She runs out of the room. The whole room starts to spin. He reaches for his phone barely managing to dial out. His hearing is muffled and suddenly he can't move. He sees the light from the door being opened shine in. Someone comes in. Then, just darkness
I thought it was time for a cliffhanger so here it is. Peeta speaks some prophetic words in this chapter...That's all I'm saying...