Five to Twelve Chapter 17, a hunger games fanfic

A/N: Thank you for the follows, faves and reviews! I cannot get over how supportive everybody has been.

I've included the songlist (for the real songs, anyway) from this Chapter in a footnote.

My betas, dandelionsunset and evilgrinstar, deserve tons of credit and croissants for their edits and feedback. Any typos are my fault, not theirs.

Chapter 16-Five to Twelve

When Katniss returned home, she was a little surprised to find that there was a bath already waiting for her in the washtub. Katniss stared at it. "You didn't have to run me a bath, Mom," she called into the kitchen. "I would have done it."

"Prim's idea!" Rosemary replied.

Prim walked in with a kettle of hot water, which she poured into the tub. She took one look at Katniss and said, "Bathe."

"Wow, you're in a bossy mood," Katniss pretended to complain as she undressed. She was reluctant to take any help—even just a bath—from her mother, but she didn't mind when it was Prim. Prim handed her some soap and a brush. "Why did you run me a bath, Prim?"

"Because you shouldn't go to Madge's house smelling like you've been cleaning game."

"Yeah, I know. I'd planned on bathing, anyway. Why did you run it? And why are you hovering over me like this?"

Prim's answer was, "Here, undo your braid, I'm going to help you wash your hair." Katniss let her sister massage soap into her scalp and work it through her long hair while Katniss tried to scrape all the grime out from under her nails. As she started washing the rest of herself, Katniss told Prim that she had told Gale to do the same thing before he went to the Meadow to meet Madge.

Prim stopped working soap into Katniss' hair for a moment. "Gale has a date with Madge?"

"He didn't call it a date. He said she asked to meet him in the Meadow this afternoon."

"Did he apologize to her?"

"He says he did."

Prim started washing Katniss' hair again. "Are you going to ask Madge about it tonight?"

"I don't know. Gale didn't act like it was a secret or anything, but I don't know that Madge would want me asking in front of everybody else. Or her father."

"Probably not," Prim agreed. "What are you wearing tonight?"

Katniss looked over her shoulder at her sister. "I don't know, Prim, what I usually wear, I guess. Why?"

Prim started rinsing Katniss' hair. "You should wear something pretty."

"No, I shouldn't. Prim, people talk anyway just because I'm a girl from the Seam in a band with four Merchant boys. If I start getting all dolled up for rehearsals, it will just confirm the worst in their minds. And why do you care? What's up with you?"

Prim was quiet as she helped Katniss out of the tub and handed her a couple of towels. Finally, she said, "I hadn't thought about the gossip. You're right about that. Just make sure you wear something clean, at least. I'll help you with your hair."

Katniss put on one of her father's old nightshirts. It would keep her covered until her hair was dry enough to get dressed. Katniss thought the conversation was finished but Prim took Katniss' face in her hands. "The reason I care is because you don't ever do anything for yourself. You're always taking care of me and mom. You even joined this band to earn money, not to have fun."

"I though you were glad I was in the band," Katniss pointed out.

"I am, Katniss! I'm very glad, and not just because you have such a beautiful voice. I'm glad because you're making new friends. I know you're in the habit of keeping everyone shut out, but even I can tell that you've been very lonely the last few years."

Katniss didn't really mind being alone, but she was touched at Prim's thoughtfulness. They went into their bedroom. Katniss combed her hair while Prim picked out an outfit for her. Prim seemed to put a fair amount of thought into it, finally settling on a pair of old jeans, a soft button down that was a faded orange and a cream-colored sweater. Katniss had purchased the jeans last year at the Hob but they had been far too big at the time. She was surprised to find that they fit her fine now.

The turkey dinner was fantastic. For the first time in many months, the Everdeens ate until they were truly full. There was enough turkey left for several days and her mother was going to make soup with the giblets and bones. Knowing that they would not go hungry this week made Katniss almost giddy with happiness.

After dinner, Katniss cleaned her teeth and braided her hair. Then she and Prim walked to the Mayor's house.

Rehearsal that night went well. Madge and Prim sat with each other and took notes as the band went through several songs. The Mayor leaned up against the wall with his eyes closed and his arms folded across his chest. He would frequently tap his foot or nod his head in time to the music.

Rye didn't focus on many of the love songs. He wanted to see how they did with more uptempo numbers that people expected to hear at festivals. Katniss suspected Rye was hoping to impress the Mayor, who had final say in which band played the Spring Festival.

Of the songs they rehearsed that night, Katniss' least favorites were "Love Me Like a Man", which made her blush and "Big Rock Candy Mountain," which was just plain stupid. Her favorites were "Daylight" and "Mockingbird."

They all took a break when Peeta showed up with cookies. He had decorated another cookie for Prim, who threw her arms around his waist in thanks. Katniss had a sudden urge to go over and join their hug. Instead, she smiled at Peeta and gave half her cookie to Prim.

While they were eating and drinking their tea, Rye made an announcement. "I've thought of a name for the band." His eyes were twinkling. He looked right at Katniss, and said,

"The Seam and Eight Balls."

There was a heartbeat of silence, then the room burst into laughter. Even Prim was giggling. Katniss felt her face turn hot with embarrassment. She couldn't believe Rye would say something like that! He wasn't serious, was he?

The only person besides her who was not laughing was Peeta, who was scolding his older brother. "Oh my God, Rye! Are you trying to lose your lead singer? And the Mayor is right in front of you."

"Yeah, he's laughing right in front of me." The Mayor was, in fact, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. Rye looked quite pleased with himself.

Katniss' embarrassment was giving way to anger. This was why she didn't try to make friends. They just made fun of her. She started to get up and leave, but Peeta grabbed her arm before she could get far. Then he shouted above the noise, "Rye! Apologize to your lead singer before she quits."

Rye saw the look on Katniss' face and said, "I'm sorry, Katniss, it was wrong of me to say that. Cartwright doesn't even have balls, so I should have said 'six,' not 'eight.'"

Katniss scowled at Rye while Dalton took some good-natured ribbing from his friends. Peeta shook his head and whispered to Katniss, "I'm so sorry, Katniss. We often wonder what life would be like for Rye if he'd gotten enough oxygen at birth." He looked down and seemed to realize he was still holding her arm. "If I let go of you, are you going to leave?"

"Only if you do. You're my bodyguard, remember?" Katniss was still unhappy with Rye but she'd calmed down quite a bit.

Peeta smiled and let go of her arm. Everybody settled down. They spent a few more minutes suggesting band names, all of which were shot down. Finally, Katniss said, "How about 'Five to Twelve?' You know, there's five of us and we're from District 12?"

Nobody rejected it right away, so Rye said, "It isn't bad, Everdeen. Anybody else?" A few other names were considered but nothing that anybody much liked.

Rye had the band members vote on Katniss' suggestion of "Five to Twelve" and everybody voted in favor. Rye asked Katniss to sit out for a few minutes while the boys ran through an instrumental version of "Whiskey Before Breakfast." Katniss, Prim, Madge and Peeta all went upstairs to chat without interfering with the rehearsal. The Mayor stayed downstairs to listen.

As soon as they sat at the kitchen table, Peeta started apologizing again for Rye. Katniss shook her head, saying it was fine, really. She was hoping that the subject would drop but Prim teased, "Honestly, Katniss, I'm surprised nobody had to explain it to you." Katniss tried to stammer out a response to this but Prim turned to Peeta and Madge. "Katniss can be up to her elbows in animal guts and it doesn't bother her one little bit, but if one of my mother's patients has to take off his pants, Katniss literally sprints from the house."

Katniss put her elbows on the table and rested her hands in her face. "Oh my god, Prim, stop."

Peeta looked at her incredulously. "Do you actually have to leave the house?" Katniss nodded. "But your mother's a healer! Surely you've seen everything by now!"

Katniss dropped her hands. "That doesn't mean I want to! Prim here is the one it doesn't bother. She helps our mother all the time. She even sews up wounds and helps deliver babies." Katniss looked at her younger sister. She was a little annoyed with Prim for bringing it up but Prim hadn't been mean or anything. She was just teasing her older sister. Katniss reached over and smoothed Prim's hair. "You will be a wonderful healer some day."

"Is that what you want to be when you grow up? A healer?" Peeta asked Prim.

"No, what I really want to be is a doctor but that's probably not realistic. So I'm learning everything I can about healing from my mother."

Peeta continued to ask Prim questions about healing the sick. He talked to Prim as an equal, not like she was a little kid. Katniss noticed how much Prim basked in the attention, the way her eyes sparkled when she discussed something she loved. Nothing made Katniss feel good like seeing Prim happy. And at that very moment, Prim was very happy.

Katniss found herself looking at Peeta, too. He was wearing khakis that had seen better days and a faded blue sweatshirt, pushed up to his forearms. His fingers were laced together on the table in front of him and he looked relaxed as he talked to Prim. His arms were more muscular than she'd realized. There were dozens of old burn scars on them. She'd seen the same scars on Rye, so she supposed it was just a part of being a baker. His eyes were blue, but not the same blue as Prim's. Prim's were the soft, dusky blue of cornflowers. Peeta's eyes were the strong, clear blue of the lake on a sunny day.

Rye called from the basement that they were ready for their singer to return. The four of them headed downstairs. Rye put Katniss back to work, having her work on the songs she didn't like. After a couple of run through which Rye kept stopping, he finally gave Katniss a little speech. "Look, Everdeen," Rye said, gesturing with his hands, "when you sing these songs, it's obvious that you hate them. Nobody wants to hear that. So pretend you like them. Sound like you like them. Cuz right now, it's pretty obvious that you hate these songs."

From the other side of the room, Peeta expertly mimicked Rye's exasperated gestures behind his back. Clearly, Peeta had seen this side of Rye before. Katniss and the rest of the band struggled not to laugh. Katniss still didn't like the songs, but thinking of Peeta's antics let her hide that fact when she sang them.

As the rehearsal went on, Peeta sat against the wall and sketched something in one of the notebooks Madge and Prim had been writing in. Prim and Madge braided each other's hair. The band rehearsed. The Mayor listened. Katniss was totally unaware of how much time had passed until she yawned in the middle of "Twelve Moon." It had been over two hours since she'd come back downstairs. Rye told everybody he'd see them tomorrow and called it a night.

It was dark out, but the nearly full moon gave plenty of light for the walk home. As Peeta and the girls started walking back to the Seam, Prim stepped in between the both of them and held hands with them both. Peeta glanced over Prim's head at Katniss, his eyebrows raised in a question. Katniss shrugged back—she didn't know why Prim was doing it, either.

Peeta politely listened to a story Prim was telling him about her goat, but he kept sneaking glances at Katniss. She noticed, because she was doing the same thing to him. Finally, there was a lull in the conversation, and Katniss asked, "What were you drawing back there?"

"Well, I really liked the name you picked for the band, and I came up with some ideas for a poster or a sign. The bakery is closed tomorrow, so I'll sketch them out a little more fully and see what Rye thinks. That reminds me—could you maybe bring an arrow to rehearsal tomorrow night? I've never actually seen one and I have an idea for one of the designs I have in mind."

Katniss and Prim both shook their heads. "Peeta, I can't bring anything like that inside the District," Katniss explained. "Bringing back game from the woods is one thing. Bringing in weapons is something else entirely."

Peeta thought about it for a moment. Katniss could see the very moment that he realized she must keep her bows and arrows in the woods. "All right," he said. "Are you going out tomorrow?"

Prim said, "Yes, she said she was going to gather some katniss for us to have with the turkey. You can go with her." Katniss looked at Prim. While it was true Katniss had planned to gather tomorrow, it was still illegal to leave the District and she certainly hadn't planned on dragging Peeta into it.

"I go early, Peeta and it's a hike. And it's illegal. And messy. You sure you want to? It'll likely take up most of your morning."

"I keep baker's hours, so I'm probably up earlier than you. And yes, I'm sure."

Katniss thought about where she would take him. She had a few bows and quivers stashed in the woods. Her favorite bow was stashed on the way to Gale's snare line. That was where the game trails were best. But there were others. And he only wanted to look at an arrow, she wasn't going to have to hunt anything.

The Everdeen house was in view. Katniss made up her mind. "OK, then. You know the old water tower behind the school? Meet me there tomorrow morning at 5:30. Wear something sturdy."

When they got home, Prim suddenly yanked Peeta in for a hug without letting go of her sister's hand. This had the effect of basically pulling Katniss in for a three-way hug with Peeta and Prim. Then she smiled sweetly at Katniss and said, "I'll let you say goodnight to Peeta." She vanished inside before Katniss could react.

This left Peeta and Katniss standing right next to one another, their arms half-raised awkwardly in the air towards each other where Prim had been standing only moments ago. They locked eyes for a second and lowered their arms. Katniss could feel herself blushing and she could see that Peeta was, too.

Peeta said, "You know, if she didn't look so innocent and sweet, I'd swear she did that on purpose."

Katniss laughed. Prim was working an agenda and Katniss was beginning to get a pretty good idea what it was. "Well, I should go inside and scold her before she pretends to be asleep. See you at 5:30?"

"5:30," he murmured back. He made sure she got inside safely before walking away.

Katniss went to their bedroom, where Prim was waiting for her. "Did Peeta kiss you?"

"Prim! No, he didn't! And please explain to me why you are trying so obviously to hook me up with Peeta Mellark."

"Katniss, are you serious?" Prim looked at her like she'd lost her mind and started ticking off reasons on her fingers. "He's gorgeous. He's sweet. He's funny and smart. He bakes. He draws and paints. Oh, and he has a big, fat crush on you." Prim folded her arms across her chest. The sisters were looking at each other with identical scowls.

"He does not. Madge told me last night that he has his eye on someone." Katniss deflated a little bit.

"What did she say, exactly?" Prim demanded.

Katniss screwed her eyes up trying to remember the conversation. "Um, we were talking about how the Mayor had asked Peeta to walk me home by implying to his mother that it might get Peeta and Madge to notice each other. I asked Madge if she was trying to get Peeta to notice her, and she said no, that he already had his eye on someone else."

Prim looked satisfied. "Well, you are clearly that someone else."

"How can you possibly know that?" Katniss asked, exasperated.

"How can you possibly not?" Prim asked in an identical tone. "His eyes follow you everywhere. He pays attention to the littlest things you do. He jumped to your defense tonight when Rye suggested that name—oh, don't look at me like that, it was funny—that name for the band. He's staying up late every night for the chance to walk you home to the Seam, even though he gets up super early for the bakery. He's risking arrest so he can go into the woods with you tomorrow just to take a look at an arrow."

This just made Katniss feel guilty. "Prim, I don't want him to lose sleep and get tired because of me, that isn't fair to him. And you're right, he shouldn't have risk arrest just to come look at some stupid arrow."

"Oh, stop. He asked to walk you home and he asked to go to the woods with you. Don't treat him like a baby. Let him make his own choices."

Katniss wasn't mollified. "Prim, I'm never getting married, never having kids. Peeta deserves somebody who can give him that."

Prim sighed. She'd heard Katniss' arguments before about marriage and children. "Who said anything about marriage? I'm just saying that you've smiled more the last few days than you have in the last few years. And it isn't just being in the band. It's being around Peeta."

Katniss decided this was a good time to resort to her usual default argument of saying nothing. Prim got under the covers and Katniss got into her pajamas. She got into bed and put her head on the pillow. Prim looked at her older sister in the darkness, before saying softly, "Your eyes follow him, too, you know. You've watched him for years. He means something to you, Katniss."

Katniss watched Prim fall asleep and wondered when her baby sister had gotten so smart.

A/N: Songlist:

"Love Me Like a Man" © 1972, written by Chris Smither and originally sung by Bonnie Raitt on the album Give It Up. The later, live versions, are better (IMO) but whichever version you listen to, it's a great song. It's a little raunchy for a prude like Katniss.

"Big Rock Candy Mountain" was first recorded in 1928. It is in the public domain.

"Daylight" © 2001, written by Bob Lucas, performed by Allison Krauss and Union Station on the album New Favorite. Outstanding song, the lyrics fit this story, and the relationship between P & K quite nicely.

"Twelve Moon" isn't a song, I just made up the title. It's unrelated to the jazz song called "Twelve Moons" (note the plural) by the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbeck.