So, I'm not sure how it happened, but the chapter after this posted in this place. This is chapter 16. I will post the chapter that made an early appearance after this anyway, so it's kind of like a double update. Sorry for the confusion. I will not be posting from my freaking iPhone again.
I own nothing. Repeating this is tiresome.
Eyes open. It takes them a minute to adjust. At first glance, everything is blurry. Then, there is just white; white and the uncomfortable smell of sterile. As his eyes try to focus, they fall on a bracelet wrapped around his left wrist; the name Peeta Mellark hand written on it. His other arm has an IV attached to it. His eyes adjust further falling upon the sleeping forms of his parents sitting across from him. His father stirs in his sleep. His eyes open softly and widen when he sees Peeta awake. He see him shake his mother awake and say something; what, he isn't sure. They rush over to him.
"Peeta? Son? How you feeling?" His father questions. His mother is not happy, that much he can tell. Peeta tries lifting his head off the pillow only to be stopped by the shooting pain that still resides. His hand goes up to his head instinctively. He cringes and his head falls back down.
"Not good." He groans. His father loving places his hand on Peeta's head and massages it. His mother looks like she's going to blow.
"Honey," His mother catches his father's attention, "Can you go get the doctor?" He looks at her questioningly. Still he nods his head and goes. Peeta could only think, now he's going to get. He had a splitting headache and his mom was going to give it to him. His mom was a tough broad. One for tough love. Peeta braced himself for the worst.
His mom roughly grasps Peeta's head and crashes it into her chest. "You stupid boy! Do you have any idea what you do to me?!" She hugs his head closer to her chest as if the harder she held, the safer he would be. He hears her choke back a cry. It was very rare that his mother show emotion the way she was showing. Peeta must have really screwed up to scare her so.
"Mom, I can't breathe!" Peeta finally gets out. She releases him laying his head back down on the pillow. She gently strokes his hair. His dad returns. His mom quickly runs her hands over her eyes eliminating any stray tears. Peeta's father looks between them with a small smile.
"Doctor will be in shortly." He hands both of them a cup of water. Peeta chugs it hungrily. "What happened Peeta?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?!" His mom is hysterical, "You're in the hospital and you don't know?!"
"Honey, calm down. He's fine now." Peeta's father tries to calm her.
"Calm down?! How dare you tell me to calm down?! My little boy almost died and you are telling me to calm down?!" Her face scrunches in fear at the possibility. She's doing her best to hold back the tears. His father is by her side holding her. The doctor walks in shortly after.
"Mr & Mrs. Mellark." He greets them. "Young Mr. Mellark! How are we feeling?"
"Nauseas, sick, more nauseas." Peeta tells him.
"Better than feeling nothing I suppose." He says trying to lighten the mood. No ones buying it. "Well, Peeta did you happen to drink or eat anything at the party tonight?"
"Yea. I drank something."
"Any idea what it was?" Peeta shakes his head. "Did you notice any weird taste or color to the drink?" He had never tasted beer. It could have been that or something else. Frankly, he didn't know. He shakes his head again. "Well, I won't know for sure what got into his system until the tests come back." The doctor tells his parents. "My preliminary diagnosis is that he was given some sort of drug. GHB or Rohypnol would be my best guess; also known as roofies or a date rape drug." His parents look stunned and so does Peeta. "You are very lucky the ambulance got to you as quickly as it did. Very lucky." The doctor reiterates then excuses himself.
His mother breaks the silence. "Did someone touch you? I want to know who it was that gave you that drink now young man! What have I always told you? What is rule number one at a party Peeta?"
"Mom, I know-" She cuts him off.
"You know?! Apparently, you don't! You are grounded, you hear me? No going out! No fun until you graduate!" His father looks at his wife, trying to soothe her. Peeta pinches his head in pain.
"Are any of my friends here?" He asks.
"Your friends?!" Peeta's mother starts again, "You mean the ones who left you at that party to die?!" Her husband makes a calm down gesture. She points accusingly at her husband, "It's like you don't even care! He's your son for goodness sake!" She can't take it anymore and storms out of the room.
His father copies Peeta's prior pinch to the head with his own. He takes a deep breath. "Anyone in particular you're looking for?" He asks Peeta. He really wanted to see Katniss so he asks for her first. His father goes out to the waiting room. He comes back empty handed. "No go. But Finn's here." Peeta nods in approval. His father gestures Finn in. "I'll leave you guys alone for a minute." He leaves in search of his wife.
Finn enters the room. He looks horrible. "Finn, you look worse than I do." Peeta jokes with him. Finn gives him a weak smile and takes a seat next to his hospital bed. "How long have I been here?" Peeta asks.
"Almost two days," Finn's features are downcast. "Peeta, I am so sorry for what happened! I didn't think I'd have to worry about you! If anything, you are usually the cautious one!" Finn holds his head in his hands considerably disappointed in his ability to look out for his best friend.
"Finn. I fucked up. I should have never taken that drink. Please don't beat yourself up over this." Finn straightens up slightly.
"Dude, what happened?"
"I wish I could tell you, Finn." Peeta looks at him. "I don't remember shit. I remember Katherine was there and a bed. I remember a light. And I think I called someone.." He rubs his head in frustration.
"I mean with Glimmer…" Peeta looks at Finn curiously. He shakes his head not quite understanding.
"Glimmer? What does she have to do with any of this?"
"Peeta, you have your phone somewhere?" There's a bag of his belongings in the corner of his room. Peeta points to it. Finnick grabs his phone and does something. "I misplaced my phone…" He tells him. After a bit, Finn hands the phone to Peeta. A Facebook page highlights the screen. On the page is a picture of him and Glimmer lip locked. Peeta's eyes widen in horror. As he scrolls through the pictures, each one is progressively worse. First a kiss, then no shirt. Hands everywhere. His pants are missing. What had he done?
"Bucket!" Peeta exclaims. Finn doesn't get it until Peeta looks like he's about to puke. Finn hands him a bucket. Peeta throws up. "This can't be happening?!"
"Unless you remember otherwise…" Finn starts. All Peeta can think about is trying to remember. Nothing comes to him. The pictures on Facebook were enough. He had slept with Glimmer. He had cheated on Katniss. He throws up again.
"This can't be happening?!" He repeats. "After I told her she could trust me?! What the fuck have I done?!" He heaves put comes up empty. "I have to talk to her."
"You can't." Finn looks at Peeta sadly. "She's on lock down from you. Annie's not even allowed to talk to me. She's been doing it behind their backs to keep me updated."
"I have to get out of here and talk to her!" Peeta tries standing up but the whole room starts spinning. He passes out.
First thing Peeta does after being released is pick up his car and drive to Katniss' house. As soon as he pulls up, Johanna comes storming towards him. He barely gets past his car when Johanna pushes him violently onto his car.
"Go home, Peeta!"
"I have to talk to her."
"How dare you come up here?! After what you've done. And you weren't even man enough to tell her! She had to see it on Facebook!" She pushes him again, "Do you have any idea what it's like to see your best friend fall apart right in front of you!?" Another push. "I would kill you if she didn't need me." She huffs in frustration. "I can't believe I vouched for you! How you were a good guy…When you were just a piece of shit like all the others."
"Please Johanna. I need to talk to her." He begs.
"Over my dead body you are going anywhere near her!" The door to Katniss' house opens wide. Katniss comes barreling down towards them with Rue on her six.
"Enough Johanna. He wants to talk. Let him." Katniss looks at Peeta stone-faced. "Talk!"
"Katniss, I am sorry!"
"If that's it, I'm leaving."
"No! Please!" He can tell she's been crying. But now, the emotion from her face is gone. The Katniss whose walls he'd managed to get through was gone now. In front of him stood the hardened Katniss.
"Tell me what happened Peeta?" She pushes, "Go on! Tell me you didn't sleep with the one woman I hate with all my being!" Peeta tried his best to manage something to tell her. He honestly couldn't remember what happened that night. He didn't know the truth. How could he possibly tell her?
"I don't remember," His eyes looked to the floor, "I don't know what to say…"
"That's okay, Peeta. Because, for once, there are no words for you to say. Pictures tend to speak for themselves." She goes to walk away.
"But, Katniss I-" She turns around abruptly effectively cutting him off.
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare say you love me! You're a dog Peeta." Katniss voice catches in her throat. Her resolve was crumbling. "Matter of fact, a dog is better than you. A dog would love you and care about you." She pauses trying to keep it together. "I don't know if I can say you ever truly felt that way about me." With that she turns around and leaves.
Katniss walks into her house and goes right into her room. She couldn't stop crying. He said he loved her and she stupidly believed him. Now, she had to suffer for her ignorance. She should have known. The pain that surged through her chest was evidence as to why she never wanted to fall in love. She felt like life wasn't worth it anymore. So she sobbed into her pillow. Johanna and Rue joined her shortly after offering comforting words that meant absolutely nothing to her.
Peeta stands alone against his car. His heart aches so painfully that it threatens to implode on itself. He doesn't know how to take in all that just happened. He had lost her. She spoke strong, true painful words. He willed himself not to cry. He crawled around into his car and drove till he was out of sight of Katniss' home. He put the car in park no longer being able to hold back the emotion. Tears spilled over. He clenched his chest painfully at his heartache. He had messed up with Katniss. He didn't deserve her.
I am late for work as I write this author's note. Please forgive me for my mistake. I skipped over the break up chapter! When I started getting reviews for the voice mail chapter, I was like: but that's the next chapter. I'll tell you what...Forgive me for my mistake and I'll post chapter 18 later tonight.