Chapter 5 – Fueling the Flame
AN: Thank you for your interest in reading 'Destiny.' This chapter will have Jimmy Mellark, Peeta and Katniss' POV. If you like me to write another characters POV's, I'll take any suggestions as long as it fits in my storyline. Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins. Rated R for foul language and any references to sexual content. Please excuse any mistakes found. I'm good at editing other writer's work other than my own. Happy reading!
Jimmy Mellark POV ––
The night of the celebration –
I tried to contain my fear and anxiety as I searched for my boy. The night held so much promise for our family. Everyone praised and congratulated my son Peeta's design on the cake. I was proud of him as he stood amongst Merchants and Seam congratulating him with a pat on the back and handshake. He was no longer the little boy I loved but a young man any father would be proud of.
Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of all my sons and love them equally. My eldest Graham was obedient to a fault working beside me knowing that he hated working at the bakery. So it came to no surprise that he fell in love with the butcher's daughter, Sonja Edgewood. Once Sonja' father Dieter passes Graham would take over the family business, the Edgewood's Meat and Poultry shop. He apprenticed in the afternoon at the butcher shop after working long hard hours at the bakery. I saw his dedication in working two professions. He worked at the bakery to help us out then the butcher shop he loved as he worked along side his wife.
As for Rye, he wasn't interested in taking over once I retired. He was content working at the bakery to have any profession so he could marry his girl, Delly Cartwright. Delly's father, Nate was a geologist and manager for District 12's coal mine. Rye had simple dreams, graduate from school, work at the bakery and marry his sweetheart.
To my relief my youngest boy, Peeta was the true baker and artist in the family. He was the baker that I have dreamed to be for I could never have the talent that he possessed. At the age of 8, he was already interested in the inner workings and daily functions of the bakery. Evelyn was always quick to dismiss his interest and talent but I knew he was destined to be a far greater baker. He was already a far better man that I could ever be.
That is why I'm scared out of my wits. Peeta was missing from the party and Ivan was nowhere to be seen. When I saw Peeta in the alley a few days prior, my heart leapt to my throat. I heard about Ivan's propensity to young girls, harassing them with his unwanted advances. The fact he was Cray's nephew made it worse because if we couldn't touch a peacekeeper, one related to Cray and made him more than just untouchable. Peeta's interaction with Ivan was talked about in town days later as the little girl reported back to her family that Ivan had attacked her. With Peeta interrupting and humiliating the troublesome peacekeeper it made him a target in Ivan's eyes.
"Rye, have you seen your brother Peeta?" I asked him. He looked bleary eyed and unfocused. As the result of turning 18 he had resorted to drinking too much alcohol. It was a habit I argued with him of late.
"Last time I saw him, Pop. He was drooling after Katniss Everdeen." His words were slurred. "I think he got lucky." He laughed at himself. "Mom's going to shit in her panties when she finds out her."
"Rye, watch your language and don't talk about your mother like that."
"Poor Peeta," Rye snickered. I looked for the rest of my family. Evelyn was gossiping with the rest of the Merchant wives as they huddle together on one table. She had a look of disgust on her family as Delly's mother, Augusta babbled on, her hands gesturing animatedly as she pointed towards the Seam area.
Rye's fiancée, Delly was at the pie table sampling slices with her girlfriends. Graham and Sonja went home early with my first grandson, Tyler who was now 5 months. All night he drooled and fussed as he was cutting his first tooth. Tyler was a beautiful boy with tufts of curly blond hair and blue eyes. He was the very image of his father when Graham was a baby even down to his big feet and hands. Again, Evelyn bemoaned the fact that yet another boy was produced in the family. Her prayers went unanswered for a girl. Since his birth her patience with Peeta was shorter, harsher than usual. She focused her anger on him more than ever.
Despite her harsh behavior towards him, Peeta was the epitome of gentleness and compassion. In all the years she had disciplined him he had never retaliated in anger, as he grew stronger in physicality. My son loved with his whole heart and soul. I prayed that he would love and marry the one girl he had adored since he was five.
Speaking of his dream girl, 'Where is Katniss?' I strained my neck in search for the dark haired girl that bewitched my son. I couldn't blame him for loving her. She was after all the daughter of the woman I once loved. As they say like father like son.
"Peeta, where are you son?" I mumbled to myself. I left the party in search for him, as I made sure I avoided the Peacekeepers who joined in the celebration. Everyone knew that they were searching our shops and homes to look for 'contraband' or any evidence of the resistance that was slowly brewing in each district. My thoughts of the inevitable rebellion was mixed. In my years as youth, I would have jumped at the opportunity to join the Mockingjay but…now with three sons, one grandson and with Delly joining our family, my heart was conflicted. I could lose everything and everyone if the rebellion happened, and yet my children and my future grandchildren lives were at stake as the reapings continued and the conditions in the districts were worsening. My head conflicted what my heart knew.
However, on the night of the card game, Graham had put it into perspective.
"Dad, Rye and I are safe from the Reaping ceremony but Peeta has two more years left. He may not have a lot of tessarae in the Reaping Bowl but Josiah had the same amount of tessarae as Peeta."
Josiah was the son of Jeb Montrose who was Nathan Cartwright's assistant in the coalmine. He was only 13 when his name was called. The same age as Peeta at the time of the Reaping.
Each year after Josiah was called, I held my breath and prayed for Rye and Peeta's safety. Graham was safe since he had passed his reaping age. "Do you want to take the chance that he will be selected? What about Tyler, your grandson? In twelve years, he's eligible for the Reaping ceremony." Tyler was his priority as Peeta was mine.
He knew that Peeta was my favorite. Graham never begrudged me for the fact since Evelyn favored him and Rye. There is only one thing I knew, my life would be over if Peeta…was chosen. So if the resistance was to move forward, I swore that I would do whatever it took to keep my family safe.
"Peeta!" I yelled out his name as I found him was walking back from the edge of town.
"Peeta, where have you been?" I asked him as I notice his appearance. He looked deathly white as his lip trembled. "I've been looking all over the place for you." I hugged him. He opened my mouth once but no words followed. "You scared me, son. Where did you run off to?"
For a moment his eyes looked glazed, unfocused. I swore his fair skin looked paler. The patches of freckles on his nose were more pronounced.
"Sorry, Dad. I…I…needed to get away for a moment," he said as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down his throat. He looked as if he struggled to not throw up. His breathing was erratic and heavy, as his face grew paler by the minute.
"Are you okay? You look... What happened, Peeta?" I reached over and felt for his upper lip. It was bloody and swollen. He winced as I tried to reach for his bruised right eye. "Who did this to you?"
"No one, Dad." I flinched. How could he think that I would believe him when it apparent that he was involved in fight with someone?
"You didn't get a black eye and a busted lip from no one. Tell me who did this to you?" I pressed him. I prayed it wasn't…
"Why do you want to know? So you could do what? Nothing," he spat. I flinched back, hurt from his outburst. I admitted that I turned my head when Evelyn berated or hit him with her hands or rolling pin. It was an admission I was proud of. I wasn't present for most of the abuse as she managed to inflict injury on part of his body that went unseen.
It hurt knowing that I failed him in the past. That I never stood up to her as she continued to hurt him year after year. His faith in me to protect him was broken. I couldn't blame him for not trusting me with Ivan or anyone who had ever hurt him.
"Are you feeling sick?" Before he could answer he threw up. His vomit projected onto my dress pants and down to my shoes. I managed to catch him before he landed on the ground. "Peeta?" Now that my anxiety passed I noticed that he was only wearing a white t-shirt. 'What happened to his dress shirt?'
The residential area was located on the second floor over the bakery. It looked undisturbed as though the Peacekeepers hadn't searched the rooms. However, their dirty boots left footprints on the floor. I sighed in relief knowing that there was nothing to hide or anything to discover.
I carried his limp body back home as I placed him onto his bed. His room was a mess with clothes and his things littered everywhere. Peeta was neat and organized. His room was always clean, bed made and things in their proper place. So it surprised me that his room was in shambles. As he lay on the bed I removed his shoes and tucked him in with a blanket. Then, I cracked the window open as he slept with it ajar for circulation. Over the years, Rye complained that the room he shared with Peeta was always too cold. Peeta griped that Rye was messy and was tired of picking up after him. So once Graham married, Rye moved into his older brother's room.
The smell of vomit on my clothes reeked. After a quick change and wash I descended the stairs and walked into the bakery section of our home. We had been so busy in preparation for the party that I had forgotten about the search that happened while we were away.
I noticed that pots, pan and baking sheets were displaced. The storage room was left locked when I left the shop that evening so I was not surprised that the door was forced open. Taking inventory, I noticed that a couple bags of sugar and bottles of honey were missing. It was good thing that Peeta had the foresight to hide the bulk of our flour and other precious ingredient at the cellar. The room was located underneath the storage room with a hidden door on the floor.
A tingling sound from front door alerted me. Both Mayor Undersee and Haymitch walked through the door. "Jimmy, are you here?" Haymitch called out.
"What is it, Haymitch? Heath aren't you suppose to be at the celebration?" I answered. The mayor of District 12 was Heath Undersee. He was a long time friend since our school days.
"I'm play the town drunk this evening so Heath volunteered to walk me home." I led them into the back of the bakery so we could be out of sight from the street incase Peacekeepers patrolled the area.
"What's going on?"
"Garrett and his men have agreed to send one of the miners to District 13," he answered. "We can't send a Merchant because you guys are can be accounted for. So he suggested sending a Seam to volunteer."
"So what the plan?" My heart raced as I realized that our plans were moving forward. There was no going back or changing our minds.
"There's going to be an accident in the mines and there will be one casualty. Nate can declare that the destruction would take weeks to recover the body. Once the coast is clear our 'missing' miner to District 13. Garrett is working with Nate on the logistics to make sure that no one gets hurt."
"When are you planning to do this?"
"As soon as Nate and Garrett gets everything ready. Listen, this plan has to be executed carefully and down to the greatest detail. Any mistake made…there are lives to be considered. We can't have anything go wrong."
"I know that Haymitch," I grew frustrated. Pretending to have a mining accident was risky. Someone could get killed from the ruse. "I want to know when you're doing this, tomorrow or next week. When?"
"I want our volunteer to reach 13 by the next reaping ceremony." Spring started a week before so we had at least a month and half left. "I'm thinking within the next few days."
"Why?"
"When he gets there he can confirm whether or not District 13 is still alive and regrouping. Snow and the Capitol will be focused on the games. It's a perfect opportunity for MockingJay to rally the rebels. In the meantime, we can send his messages by interrupting the mandatory viewing." Heath supplied. The last broadcast almost cost MockingJay's life as his transmission was being traced. "If we could insert our propos during the viewing, we could show the poor conditions in the districts, the horrible treatment from the Peacekeepers and also let Panem know that the resistance was still alive and had not died with Coin and District 13."
A soft snore above us reverberated through the second floor. "Who's up there?" Haymitch asked.
"Peeta," I answered. "He's upstairs sleeping."
"I thought he was at the party?" Haymitch said his brows furrowed. "Is he okay?" It was only 9:30 pm and curfew was usually at 10:00 o'clock. Tonight and tonight only, the town curfew was extended until 11:00 pm to accommodate for the celebration.
"He was but…I think he ran into Ivan again," I admitted.
"Holy shit. What happened?" he asked with a look of concern on his unshaven face. Haymitch was a man that veered away from human contact as much as possible. He especially stayed away from parent's whose children he mentored during the games. However, he was fond of my boy, Peeta. I didn't know why but he had a soft spot for him. I relayed Peeta's incident with Ivan to him during the party.
"He disappeared from the party for a few minutes and I noticed that Ivan was also missing. When I found him, he had a busted lip and black eye."
"Fuck, Jimmy. Can't you control that boy? I mean. I know Peeta has always been an upstanding kid. I thought you told him to stay away from Ivan. Heck, I…what did he tell you?"
"That's just it, Mitch. He didn't say anything. He was so shook up that he threw up and then collapsed. I had to carry him home."
"So you think he had a run in with Ivan?" Haymitch blurted. "Did you see Ivan?"
"No, I took Peeta straight home," I informed him. "You know Peeta, he wouldn't get into a fight with anyone unless its' for the right reason. I feel it in my gut that he encountered Ivan this evening."
"Maybe he's just got drunk and fell down and hurt himself, Jimmy," Heath suggested. "Everyone's pretty much plastered at the party." I shook my head.
"No way," I stated. "Peeta hates drinking." I remembered the first time he got drunk. He was only 14 years old at the time. Rye snuck him a couple of homemade beers at Graham's wedding reception. Suffice it to say that Peeta was a mess by the time Graham and Sonja had their first dance as husband and wife. He proceeded to stumble and falter as he danced with Sonja's little sister, Katja. To make matters worse, Graham gave him a cigar that caused his stomach to react in a negative manner. By the end of the evening, he went home and threw up all the contents in his stomach. The next morning Peeta swore that he would never drink to excess ever again. "Besides, it doesn't explain the injuries on his face."
"So you think what…he had a fight with Ivan?''
"He didn't' have to say anything, I could just tell," I told him. I know my own kid and his sense of justice. He protected a helpless puppy when a Peacekeeper was about to kick it out of the way. Peeta was rewarded with a boot to his stomach. As for the puppy, he found it a home with the Montrose family. It was a miracle and a wonder that he grew up to be such a good natured and gentle young man.
"Geez, Jimmy. Amongst all the Peacekeepers Peeta gets involved with…he picked Ivan? Cray's nephew?"
"It wasn't his fault," I exclaimed. "He was stopping Ivan from attacking a young girl in the alley. He wasn't about to stand there and do nothing." I was scared for him that day. Ivan was taller and…he had his revolver harness to his waist.
"He knows how to pick his enemies," Haymitch continued as he shook his head.
"Haymitch, Peeta didn't go looking for trouble. People like my kid. He gets along with everyone." Even with Seam. Peeta was popular amongst the girls in his age; even those younger and older than him adored him. Who couldn't adore him with his curly blond hair and blue eyes? My boy was a looker and was great catch. Several times Evelyn wanted to contract Peeta to what she called a 'suitable' girl for marriage. And each time he refused. If there was one thing I opposed and fought for, it was his right to marry who he loved and wanted. I failed in many aspects of his life, but to marry for love was one thing I couldn't let him sacrifice. Even if it meant marrying a Seam girl, the daughter of the woman I loved first before marrying Evelyn.
"Dad," a low and soft voice filtered into the air.
"Peeta." I walked over to him as he stepped off the last step on the stairway. What I saw for a few seconds wasn't my 16 year-old teenager but a little boy of five with his hair askew while he clutched onto a stuffed toy horse. The image faded as I blinked my eyes. "How are you feeling?" Peeta was dressed with an old dark blue wood sweater that was handed down from Graham to Rye then to him. It dwarfed his lean body, as we were stockier than him. It was originally my sweater that was once given to me from Lillian Kingsley who was now Lily Everdeen. I have never told anyone who had given it to me, except Peeta. It was our secret.
"I feel kinda queasy and I have slight headache," he responded as he dragged a hand to the back of his neck. The long sleeve covered his hand.
"Hey, kid," Haymitch addressed him with a soft tone I've never heard before.
"What's going on, Dad?"
"Nothing son, just Haymitch and Mayor Undersee congratulating us for the cake and pie," I lied to him. I knew in time I had to reveal Graham and my involvement in the resistance. It was only a matter of time.
'Peeta, that was the best damn cake I have ever seen or tasted," Heath praised him. "Both my wife and I want you to make Madge's cake for her next birthday. We insist." Peeta sent me a smile.
"Anyway, Haymitch. Heath. Thank you for dropping by," I said as I extended my hand to them. "It's getting late and we still have bakery to run tomorrow morning." The bakery was opened Monday to Saturday. Sunday was cleaning day as we took inventory and cleaned out the ovens and let them cool off for one full day. There was no rest for anyone.
"Jimmy as I was saying––" Haymitch uttered.
"James, you'll never guess what happened," Evelyn barged through the door. She was smiling and giddy. "I was just talking to the Mrs. Berridge…oh, excuse me, I didn't know you had company." She looked over at Haymitch and Heath for a few seconds. She smiled at Heath but sent a Haymitch a polite nod. "What's going on here?"
"Evelyn, Haymitch and I was just congratulating Peeta for creating such a remarkable cake for the celebration. It was the talk of the party," Heath recounted. He covered our conversation well hoping not to raise suspicion.
"I know," Evelyn gushed. I haven't seen her look like this in ages. She was happy and pleased herself. It helped that she helped herself to four glasses of red wine for dinner. "As I was saying, I was speaking Mrs. Berridge and she says that she would love to have us over for dinner next week."
"Oh," I said clearly understanding what was so special about the invitation. The Berridge family was "the oldest and prosperous family of District 12.' Their ancestors were the first family to settle in the district and they owned coalmines and the land that the shops and buildings were built on. In other words, their family were the founders of District 12 along with the Undersees. Their only daughter Agatha Eloise Berridge had been after my boys for years, especially Rye. Rye managed to escape her grabby hands as he proclaimed that he was marrying Delly on the night of his 18th birthday. Aggie then set her sights on Peeta even though she was at least 3 years older than him. She was a nice, portly girl with big hair and green eyes. She was too loud when she spoke and flirted shamelessly with Peeta whenever she visited the bakery. She knew whom she wanted and everyone knew it.
"She was so impressed with Peeta that she would like it if he made the dessert for dinner." Peeta's eyes grew wide. We both knew where the conversation was heading.
"Evelyn––" She was so excited that she ignored the snort that Haymitch made as she continued to babble.
"Mrs. Berridge and her daughter Agatha would like it very much if Peeta joined us for dinner as well." Shit, I knew it was coming, but I didn't think she'd have this conversation in front of Haymitch and Heath. And the worse part was that she didn't even acknowledge Peeta's presence or consider his feelings.
"No," Peeta stated, his voice loud and clear. There was anger behind his eyes and something else I've never seen before. "You can't fucking make me go…so you can contract me off to Agatha." I gasped in surprise. He never spoke to her in that tone.
"Peeta!" Evelyn's voice was hard and harsh. "You watch that mouth of yours or I'll––" It was obvious that she was drunk since she had forgotten who was present.
"You can't make me," he seethed in anger. I noticed that his stutter wasn't present. He stood in front of her with his head down as he faced his mother nose to nose. She flinched and stepped back.
"James," she pleaded with me. "Make him see reason. They're a perfect match for each other. The Berridge family is one oldest and pros––"
"I…don't want Agatha," Peeta returned with disgust. "You can't make me marry her."
"You're only 16 and I can write up the contract without your consent. If you think I'm going to allow you to––"
"Evelyn. Now is not the time to be discussing this," I told her. Haymitch and Heath stood paralyzed and embarrassed for witnessing the whole fiasco.
"Jimmy, Heath and I will see you at the next card game," Haymitch said as they both backed away. Peeta chose that moment to leave as he headed out the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Evelyn started. "We're not done talk––" She reached out and grabbed his arm. Peeta stared her down his eyes hard and unyielding. He never went against his mother before. Something happened to him in the past few hours to have his character and demeanor change so abruptly. .
"Let him go, Evelyn." She quickly let go of his arm. Peeta ran out into the dark cold night without a backward glance. It would be hours before he returned raising my anxiety and fear for his safety.
Peeta POV ––
My legs straddled over a wide tree branch. I spent hours hidden away up the oldest tree where no on could see or find me. It was a cold night as a cool breeze passed through my sweater. I stayed away from the bakery after my mother's announcement. I debated whether or not to return home. It was past curfew and the town was quiet and deserted. I couldn't risk being discovered after everything that has happened for the past few hours.
I worried over Katniss wondering if she was okay. I flinched as I realized why she should be okay? Ivan almost… My thoughts raced and grew dark when I recalled seeing him touching her as she cried for him to stop. His body trapping her small frame against the building as his hands traveled underneath her dress. I wanted to kill him…I did kill him. I could never regret saving Katniss but killing Ivan? His death was something I had to live with.
The air grew colder so I decided to return home when I saw two figures in the alley fighting. From a distance I couldn't identify them but I knew one of them was a Peacekeeper. His white uniformed glowed in the dark as the moonlight lit his armor plating. They were two far away for me to hear what they were saying. So I climbed down the tree carefully as to not alert them of my presence. As I reached them I recognized the Peacekeeper and other man who was beating him with his fists. It was Ivan and Gale Hawthorne. To my surprise I felt relieved for a few minutes as I realized that Ivan was still alive. But then gasped as Gale continued to pummel him with his fists. The punches he threw at him were unrelenting and unforgiving.
"You get near my girlfriend again, I'll kill you and hide your body in the forest where no one will find you," he sneered as he grabbed Ivan by the neck. He delivered his message slow and harsh into Ivan's ear. Ivan was on the ground on his knees while Gale's hands were wrapped around his throat.
"Please stop," Ivan pleaded. 'Did Katniss tell Gale that he assaulted her?' I told her not to tell anyone, what have she done? Cray will now round up every single citizen involved. Ivan hid behind his uncle's position and power. No one was safe now. I envisioned interrogation, beatings and people lined up for the whipping post. This was what I was trying to avoid. Ivan was too much of a coward to tell his uncle what he'd been up to.
"I will stop beating the shit out of you if promise to leave all the girls alone," Gale continued. "If I hear you even lift a finger or leer at anyone, I'll find you and finish what I started. And, if you fail to listen to me, my buddies and I are going to pay you a visit. Do you understand?"
Ivan gasped, struggling to breath through his mouth. I could tell his was nose broken as blood gushed out his nostrils. "You see I heard from the other Peacekeepers that you're not well liked here. You go around telling everyone who your uncle is and how no one can touch you. Pushing your weight around."
"You won't get away with this. My uncle––"
Gale reached into his pocket. "See this." He gestured to the object in his hand. "This is a recording of you telling your Peacekeeper buddies of your conquests here. How you beat up one of the Merchant girls then attacked a Seam girl. She was only 14."
"I…I was just having––"
"You're days are over here, Ivan," Gale started. "I will go to Cray and give this to him. You see we know your uncle, he hates it here and if he finds out that you're causing trouble. He won't care if he's related to you. President Snow is having a hard time containing the problems that are happening in the districts. You are becoming a problem."
He shoved Ivan hard causing him to fall backwards. "I give you one chance only, Ivan. Stay away from the womenfolk in this district because if you don't, I'll finish you." Gale walked away leaving Ivan on the ground.
For a few minutes he lay there still and quiet. I could hear his breath, loud and erratic. Once he found his bearing he got up off the ground. He took three steps when suddenly a muffled sound of gunfire shot through the air. Ivan jerked then landed on his knees. A second later, I watched a hooded figure walked over to him.
Ivan grabbed his chest then dropped to the ground. The figure leaned over and placed a hand on his neck checking for a pulse. Ivan moaned in pain.
"Help me, please," he begged as he extended a hand towards the stranger. The hooded man knelt beside him and placed a hand over his nose and mouth smothering him as Ivan struggled to break free. I placed a hand over my mouth to stifle the horror and shock of having witnessed Ivan murdered before my eyes.
No longer able to stomach what I had seen, I took off running towards any direction my feet led me. Tears tracked down my cheeks as I felt the pounding of my heart against my chest.
'I didn't kill Ivan, I didn't kill him.' the thoughts echoed in my head. I may not have killed him but watched someone did.
'Could I have prevented it?' What could I have done? He had a gun with him. I surely would have been his next victim. He wanted Ivan dead because shooting him in the chest wasn't enough. He smothered him with his hands to guarantee death.
I ran and ran with no sense of direction until I found myself in front of the Victor's Village. There were four houses in the gated community. Haymitch Abernathy was our only Victor in the last 73 Hunger Games. I remembered overhearing stories of 16 year-old Haymitch returning home to be greeted by the father of his fellow tribute, Maysilee Donner. Her name was never spoken or mentioned ever again as her death haunted him. With her death Haymitch used alcohol to ease the guilt he felt for living when he couldn't save her. They called it 'survivor's guilt,' a medical term for a mental condition that inflicts a person who perceives themselves to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others didn't. It's been 23 years and Maysilee's memory still followed him.
Tired, I crept into his home not caring whether he saw me or not. I was done. The events that had transpired had left me numb and cold. I couldn't feel or hear anything as I laid on a sofa in the living room. I was so exhausted that I didn't see or hear Haymitch speaking to me. My head spun with images of Katniss, my mother, Ivan and the mystery man who killed him. My mind shut down and my body followed.
The next day, I woke up in Haymitch's guest room gasping for breath as I had awakened from a nightmare. At first I was confused, not knowing where I was or how I got there. Then the events from the previous evening crashed in my head like a blow, image after image assailed me with such clarity that I couldn't focus my eyes. After years working as a baker, my internal clock woke me every morning around 4am. No matter how much sleep I didn't get the night before I awakened at 4 like clockwork.
The sun had not risen as the room was cloaked in darkness. Though I had never slept here before I felt safe, comforted by the unfamiliarity of my surroundings. I scrunched my nose, as I smelled dust and aged wood. It was odd smelling something other than bread and sugar in the air.
"What am I going do?" I said addressing no one. I had no one to confide to. I was on my own. Feeling aimless I crept down the stairs hoping to avoid Haymitch when I found him and my father fast asleep in the living room.
"Dad." I tugged on his shoulder to wake him. Haymitch groaned. "Dad, wake up."
He opened his eyes. "Peeta," Dad blurted as he stood up so and wrapped his strong arms round me that I didn't have time to react. "Don't ever do that I again. I've been looking for you all night. When Haymitch called me I feared the worst."
"I'm sorry, Dad." I truly was sorry for worrying him. It was the last thing I wanted to do but…
"Where were you?"
"I…I…" I closed my eyes.
"Please tell me what's wrong?" he begged. Tears brimmed his eyes. His love and concern unnerved me as I broke down telling him everything that transpired with Katniss, Gale and Ivan. Once I started I couldn't stop.
Throughout my tale Dad kept on arm around me shoulder. He didn't interrupt or asked questions but let me continue until I stopped. "I didn't know what to do, Dad. So I just…I started running and I found myself here."
"Good God, kid," Haymitch muttered. I hadn't realized that he had awoken and was listening to me.
"I'm sorry Haymitch…I didn't mean to…" I started. "I couldn't go home…Mom…she wouldn't understand and I couldn't face her…not now."
"It's okay, kid." He muttered with a nonchalant wave with his hand. "If it's okay with your Dad, you're welcome to come over anytime. Peeta, I mean it. You can come over here whenever you want to." My Dad nodded his head with approval. I sighed in relief.
"It's okay, Peeta. Your mother doesn't matter right now. What are we going to do, Haymitch?" Dad asked.
"Peeta, can you take us where you last saw Ivan?" I nodded my head as I fought bile rising from my throat.
The three of us walked back into town. I pointed at the spot Ivan was last seen. "He was lying right there." It was still dark but it plain to see that his body was removed. Haymitch peered down looking at the ground.
"I don't see drag marks anywhere. He must have carried him off." He looked at me. "Tell me again what you saw."
"After Gale left I heard a sound, like a 'thud.' Then Ivan fell onto his knees grabbing his chest. He fell and lay there. The hooded man came over and checked his pulse. Ivan moaned. So then the man placed a hand over his mouth and nose. I couldn't watch anymore…I got scared so I ran."
"Oh, my God, Peeta," Dad rasped in disbelief. "Thank God he didn't see you."
"I don't know if he did, I just ran out of there," I confessed.
"What now, Haymitch," Dad asked.
"There nothing to do, but wait," he answered. "We just pray that whoever took him buried his body deep in forest."
I too prayed for some miracle that his body was never to be found. But with my luck, the odds were against me. I was unfortunate enough to have a mother who resented me, a weak father who couldn't stand up to his abusive wife and most of all for me was to fall for a girl who hated me. Ivan disappearing and never to be found were not good odds.
That weekend Dad kept me close never wandering from my side. He looked nervous and jumpy every time a Peacekeeper visited the bakery. My life was crumbling around me. I couldn't breath, eat or sleep.
"What happened?" Mom asked as she noticed my injuries.
"Nothing," I answered her.
"You got into a fight? With whom?"
"Leave him alone, Evelyn," Dad interjected. He was returning from the front of the bakery with an empty basket "We're out of white bread. The next batch should be done soon." Of course, my mother couldn't leave me well enough alone. She found opportunities to find everything I did wrong. I guess she was still peeved at me for refusing to contract myself to Agatha Berridge. I may not have a future with Katniss but I wasn't about to settle with anyone I didn't love or care for. I was shaken that it affected my concentration as I almost poured a cup of salt into a bowl of flour.
"Peeta, what the hell if your problem today," Mom screamed at me. Realizing what I almost have done, I walked away not wanting to hear voice grate my nerves.
"And where do you think you're going you useless human being." I winced closing my eyes. Both Rye and Graham was at the front of the store manning the orders and deliveries. The room was hot and stuffy from the heat emanating from ovens. After years working in the bakery, the heat from the ovens lingered on my skin. This was one of the reasons why I kept my window opened when I slept. It didn't matter what season it was, I needed to the feel the cool air circulating in my room. The smell of fresh air soothed me after being stuck in a room heated for hours.
"Evelyn stop yelling at Peeta," Dad barked that it startled her. He never shouted at her ever.
"Why not?" she sneered. "What good is he? He won't see reason when I'm trying to get a good match for him." She couldn't let the topic go.
"He's not a some prized pig to auction off, Evelyn. He's your son," he spoke calm but stern.
"A pig is more valuable than he is." The comment stung. My breath hitched and tears tickled my eyes as I was close to crying. Suddenly, the aroma of burned bread filtered the air. "Oh, for crying out loud, you weren't watching the ovens. You burned the bread." She opened the oven doors. Inside, six loaves were singed, not burnt enough to be ruined but slightly over baked.
Enraged, she walked over to me. Her arm pulled back ready to strike me when Dad caught her arm in midair.
"Don't. You hit Peeta one more time I'll––"
She laughed as she shook his hand off her arm. "You'll what?' she dared him.
"I'm not a violent man, Evelyn. You know that," he said. "But hit him one more time. I put you over my knee and––"
"James, you wouldn't dare," she gasped in horror.
"Try me," he challenged her.
"I'm your wife."
"And I'm Peeta's father foremost," he returned. "You touch or scream at my sons ever again, I'll throw you out in the streets." Mom gasped again, the back of hand covering her mouth to stifle any words she was ready to throw at him.
"Don't push me," he stated. Tears appeared in her eyes. I've never seen her cry before. She ran upstairs and stayed on the second floor for the rest of the weekend. Whenever she was around me she was sullen and impatient. She 'accidently' pushed me against the door as she tried to pass me. Dad grabbed her by the arm and led her into the bedroom. Their screams could be heard from behind the door. Then it went silent. A fifteen minutes later, he walked out of their bedroom with a bag in one hand and mom following behind him. She was crying.
"You're mom is going to be staying with her sister for a while." And out the door they went leaving Graham, Rye and me stunned and speechless. He came ten minutes later.
"Dad, what's going on?" Graham asked him. Dad looked beat, tired as if another lifetime passed him in the last hour.
"There's going to be some changes from now on," he started. "I should have done this along time ago and I'm sorry." He scrubbed his eyes with both his palms. His eye were bloodshot, the skin around his eyes sagged.
"What, Dad?" Rye questioned.
"I've made some decision about the bakery and...I'm not going to explain all of it until I finalized every thing on paper, but I promise you that things will be different in regard to the operations and service."
"What decisions, Dad? What are you talking about?" Graham persisted.
He sighed, deep and long. "Graham, if you're ready. You can start working full time with Mr. Edgewood if you want."
"What? How…with mom gone, you need help more than ever."
"With your mother gone, we can accept anyone in the bakery. That means Seam as well. You're mother has been dictating the operations far too long. This is my bakery; the name on the front store is Mellarks Bakery and we accept all customers be they Merchant or Seam. This is a business that accepts all paying customers."
Graham and Rye had a look of shock in their face. They knew that business was stunted by mom's refusal to accept Seam customers into the bakery. It was bad business.
"If it means hiring more people because we need help than I'll someone who needs a job." I smiled at the prospect. That means I can focus on the baking side of the business. "I've let your mother handle the money part but I think it's time I hired someone with real accounting experience." Mom had done all the books since marrying dad.
"You'll manage without me? Dad, I don't want to leave when you're making so many changes––"
"Graham, it's time that you led the life you wanted. You have a wife and child now. Isn't time that you have a job that you love?" Graham remained speechless then he suddenly wrapped his arms around Dad.
"Thank you, Dad," he said. "Are you sure?" Dad nodded his. "Listen, if it gets too much and you need help at the last minute––"
"I call you but I don't think it'll come to that," he assured him. "But I will take your offer only incase of an emergency."
"It's a deal," Graham returned. "Sonja will be pleased when I tell her this evening."
"And Rye, we can hire Delly on permanent basis to man the front of the store." For months Rye had begged mom to hire her so Mom could concentrate on the financial end of the business, keeping the books and taking inventory. Delly had already been working in the bakery but only on a party time basis.
"Really, Dad?"
"She can start anytime since she's going to be a Mellark soon. So why not have her start right away?"
"Can I go and tell her now?" Rye asked.
"Sure. Just don't take too long. We're really busy now." He ran out of the bakery with a big smile on his face.
Sales had doubled since the party last Friday. People loved the pies and asked if we could add them in our menu. Things were looking up for the bakery but as for me…my life was in turmoil. I was afraid to step out of the bakery. Graham and Rye had noticed that my stuttering had disappeared.
"What happened, Peeta?" Graham asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe this condition won't last long but…"
"No, I mean," he continued. "Whatever it took to help you, I hope that it's permanent." Did the traumatic experience with Katniss and Ivan 'cured' me of my stuttering? Or that the fact that my mother was out of my life? Was she the trauma that had plagued me causing me to stutter? Like I said, maybe this was only temporary.
That night, Dad invited Sonja, Tyler and Delly for dinner. For the first time ever, dinner with my family was relaxing and enjoyable. It was sad to admit that my unhappiness and misery was caused by my mother's presence. Now that she was gone, I was conflicted and felt guilty that mom was not there with us. Some part of me missed her.
When Monday came, Dad told me to stay home.
"I called the school and told them that you weren't going today," he explained. "You deserve to take one day off from school for doing a great job with the cake. Because of you our cake orders and sales doubled." That and the fact that Dad allowed Seam to buy bread at the bakery. "Rye will pick up all your homework for you."
I sighed in relief and exhaled a breath I was holding. I knew what was his real motivation in keeping from school. He was still too scared to let me out of his sight and I wasn't ready to face anyone.
Haymitch called and asked me to visit him during lunch. I was surprised at first because he never invited anyone to his home. I felt uneasy and curious with his invitation. Dad packed a bag for me to deliver to him. I noticed the contents were enough to feed four people. He ignored my questioning look as I took the bag from him.
"Don't stray from where you're going. Go straight to Mr. Abernathy," he instructed me. "If anyone notices you just tell them you're making a delivery." I nodded my head, as his explanation was feasible. "And try to avoid any Peacekeepers. You are suppose to be in school at this time."
The walk to Haymitch home was 15 minutes long. During my walk, I took the time to clear my mind of everything and everyone. I wondered what finally pushed my dad in making a stand against his own wife and make all the changes. My thoughts wandered from Dad to Mom and to…
As usual, she appeared in my mind. Katniss was in my thoughts all weekend. I wondered how she was doing and feeling. I knew that whatever chance I had with her was gone. For her safety, I knew I had to stay away from her. I couldn't get her involved. Ivan was my problem.
For once I knocked on Haymitch's house in the Victor's Village. "I have a delivery Mr. Abernathy," I announced through the door. To my surprise Mrs. Everdeen answered. She winced as she noticed my black eye and bruised lip.
"Come in Peeta," she greeted me. I walked to the living room to find Mr. Everdeen as well and Haymitch seated on a couch.
"Hi, Peeta," Katniss' dad shook my hand as I walked over to him.
"Um…hello Mr. Everdeen." My voice shook in surprise and anxiety. 'Why were they here with Haymitch?'
"Have a seat, kid," Haymitch directed as he took the bag from my hands.
"Why don't you sit down and let me take a look at your injuries first," Mrs. Everdeen instructed me. The swelling on my eye subsided. However, I had a purple bluish bruise around it and my upper lip was still swollen.
After a few minutes, she administered an ointment on my lip and eye. I felt a cool and tingling sensation soothing my injuries.
"Peeta, thank you for joining us," Haymitch blurted. I was stunned at the turn of events. I looked down at my clothes and wondered if I should have changed my shirt. Was my pants pressed or my hair combed? Did I smell like yeast and flour? Did I smell funky as I felt sweat dripped down my neck? I wanted to make a good impression with Katniss' parents. I mentally groaned as I took inventory of my appearance. Sheesh, this was not a good start for me. I winced when I noticed that I had bits and pieces of dough in between my fingernails. Gross, I shook Mr. Everdeen's hand with my grubby ones.
"Relax, Peeta," Mr. Everdeen spoke as he smiled at me. He was a handsome man. I could see Katniss' features on his face; the tilt on her nose and her piercing gray eyes stared back at me. "I can see why she likes you so much." She even had the crinkles on the side of her eyes whenever she smiled.
"Huh," I blurted in confusion. She, who…who as he talking about?
"Garrett, don't confuse him," Haymitch interjected. He hid back a smile on his face I felt like a joke had happened and I was the punch line. To say that I was surprised and shocked was an understatement.
"Peeta," Mr. Everdeen started. "I know about…Prim told us what happened last Friday." Heat rose from my face. "I know that you swore Katniss to not tell anyone, but…Prim…she felt…" 'Oh, shit. Busted.'
"What Mr. Everdeen is trying to say, Peeta," Mrs. Everdeen added. "Is that we want to thank you for saving Katniss. If you hadn't been there…you cannot imagine how grateful we are. You saved her from a terrible and traumatic ordeal."
"I didn't…didn't want anyone to know," I confessed. The secret weighed heavily on me. Now that it was out in the open, I thought I would feel relieved, but I wasn't.
"Why Peeta?" Mr. Everdeen asked.
"I didn't want Katniss to be involved," I repeated out loud. "Ivan was an…animal. He has been preying on girls…harassing them. . I didn't want Katniss to get in trouble. It wasn't her fault."
"We know that Peeta," Mrs. Everdeen agreed.
"You should have came to me right away."
"I'm sorry, but…I just wanted her to be okay. I didn't want to her to worry about him. I thought I took care of it and…keep her out of it."
"That's a big responsibility to shoulder on your own," Mr. Everdeen stated. "You're too young to have that kind of burden." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Anyone would have done the same."
"You're wrong Peeta," Haymitch expressed. "Not everyone would have done what you did." I looked at them.
"Haymitch said that you helped a young girl last week," Mr. Everdeen started. "It didn't matter that he was Peacekeeper who was armed. You acted on instinct, helping her without the thought of your own safety."
I dipped my head down wondering what the fuss was all about. "I couldn't let him hurt anyone."
"You have a good heart and head on your shoulder. I'm sorry that Gale made it worse by confronting him on his own."
"I told Mr. Everdeen everything, Peeta," Haymitch concluded. "He had the right to know."
"How did Gale find out?" I asked.
"Just like Prim…Rory told Gale that night." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Images of the beating flashed in my head. "Unfortunately, Gale was drunk and not thinking straight. He acted without thinking of the consequences. And now here we are."
"I thought…I thought I killed him. I thought I killed Ivan," I confessed.
"You didn't, Peeta," Mrs. Everdeen confirmed. "It obvious since Gale saw him alive hours later." My heart lifted for a few second having the knowledge that I didn't have his death on my conscious. It would have haunted me for the rest of my life.
"Does Katniss know that you know what happened to her?"
"No, I told Prim not to tell her. My daughter carries a lot of burden on her shoulders for someone her age. She will tell me in her own time…that's if she ever will. She's a very proud and strong young woman. "
"I know, sir." Believe me I know. It was some of the qualities I loved about her. "So what happens now?"
"I'll deal with Gale and Rory. We go on with our lives as usual," Mr. Everdeen suggested.
"How can I…Cray probably knows that Ivan is missing," I informed them.
"Peeta, you're young and still in school," Mrs. Everdeen said. "There is nothing to be done. Go back to school and work in the bakery. You have to act as if nothing happened." That was easier said that done.
"You let us adults take care of the rest," Haymitch added. "You need to go back to school. I'll talk to your Dad. He's really scared for you but we need to stick to your routine. If we don't, Cray will get suspicious. He's already questioning everyone in town asking if anyone has seen his nephew."
"In the meantime, if for some reason you get a visit and wandered why you were here with us. You can say…that Lily was treating Haymitch and you happen to come along with a delivery," Mr. Everdeen explained.
"Speaking of which what did you're father make us for lunch." Haymitch reached into the bag to pull out a cheese bun with ham slices. "Looks good kid, give my compliments to your dad when you get back, okay?"
After lunch, Mr. Everdeen took me aside as Mrs. Everdeen berated Haymitch for the condition of his home while she threw out empty bottles. "This is disgraceful, Haymitch. You're a grown man living in these filthy conditions."
"This is my home, Lily," he retorted back. Mr. Everdeen chuckled at their banter then turned to me. "It's not like a I get a lot of visitors, you know."
"I cannot thank you enough, Peeta," Mr. Everdeen started. "For…being there for my daughter. I don't know what I would have done if he…"
"I'm glad that I got there in time, sir," I returned. "I was so scared when I couldn't find Katniss and then I saw that Ivan was gone too. I just…"
"Thank you, Peeta. You have my eternal gratitude." He grabbed my left hand as I noticed his fake right limb for the first time.
"I appreciate that you didn't want Katniss to get in trouble but…you should have told us. You should have told your father. Now we have to figure out what to do with Gale. If Cray ever finds out he beat up his nephew, I'm afraid of what he'll do to him." He sighed. I felt the heaviness in his demeanor. I felt the same load on my chest.
"How is she, Mr. Everdeen?" I couldn't help but ask.
"She's coping as best as she could under the circumstances. I wished she told me instead of Prim. I want to comfort her but I don't want Katniss to know that Prim broke her confidence. I'm glad she did." I wasn't. What will happen when everyone finds out that Ivan almost…I really, really hope that whoever took Ivan dug a hole so deep that no one will ever find him.
"I just wished that Gale didn't go after him like the way he did," Mr. Everdeen commented in a wistful manner.
"Like you said, he was drunk and was not thinking straight." He did the one thing I couldn't let myself do. Beat the crap out of Ivan. But after having an abusive mother, I didn't want to become her. She answered her frustration and anger with violence. And by reacting violently Gale's family will suffer the consequences for his actions if Cray ever discovered that he beat up Ivan.
"Yeah, but beating him up wasn't the best solution. We could have reported him to Cray and asked Ivan to be transferred." I wondered if that would have worked. Would Cray have shipped his nephew away from 12? If I didn't get there in time, how would Mr. Everdeen have reacted? Would he resort to killing Ivan? I know I would have.
A soft tinkling sound from a clock struck alerting the hour. It was 1 o'clock. I couldn't linger at Haymitch's home and I needed to get back to the bakery.
I took my time going back to the bakery making sure I avoided everyone. The compliments and adulations I received during the celebration was…ego boosting but Ivan's demise overshadowed and quelled any jubilation I felt. I thought back to Mr. Everdeen's parting words as he and his wife left Haymitch's home.
"Peeta, you are welcome to my home anytime. If you would like to speak to Katniss, you have my permission to see her." He winked. "You're a fine young man Peeta."
I blushed and shook my head in denial. It was embarrassing if he knew the thoughts I had of Katniss. How I long to kiss her and hold her in my arms. How proud I'd be to have her as my girlfriend. How long I have adored her. That when I fantasize of losing my…it would be her.
"I know you're fond of her. Anyone can see that? I know that you'll be good to her and would always take care of her."
Huh, did he just give me permission to date his daughter?
"Most of all, thank for keeping an eye on her when I couldn't. I trust that you will be there in her time of need. She is strong willed and stubborn, but underneath that she still a girl. Remember that."
The next day I begged day to let me stay home for one more day. He reluctantly agreed since Graham was now working full time at the Edgewood's and Rye was in school. He was manning the story by himself. The bakery was quiet since my mother was not present. I hadn't felt safe in my own home ever. It was sad to admit that my own mother made me feel this way. It felt right working side by side with my Dad in our bakery. I finally felt I belonged to something for the first time in my life.
All day, my conversation with Mr. Everdeen echoed in my head over and over. He practically gave me his blessing to date his daughter. Too bad that Katniss didn't feel the same way. Saving her life didn't change a thing except she was grateful for saving her life. I knew that.
I kept busy that I was startled when someone knocked at the back door of the bakery. I had a look of panic on my face. Customers came in during the day and told Dad that Ivan's body was recovered and Cray was in a rampage to find his killer. I was scared every time I heard the front door opened praying it wasn't Cray or a Peacekeeper looking for me.
"Don't worry, Peeta. Just concentrate on what you working on and I'll take care of whoever it is." Dad assured me. Could that be Katniss hoping to trade this afternoon? I never in life had ever felt such panic. Dad came back a second later.
"Katniss is here with Prim," he said as he packed four cookies in a bag. "Do you want to give this to her?" He gestured towards the bag. I shook my head. I wasn't ready to see or talk to her and Prim.
"Dad wait," I instructed him. I reopened the bag and placed a blueberry muffin to accompany the cookies. I made sure it was the biggest of the bunch with plenty of berries. "It's one of her favorites." Dad knew whom I was referring to as he smiled back.
"Peeta, tomorrow you're going back to school," he started. "You're going to have to face her sooner or later."
The next day, the sun radiated through the bedroom window blinding my vision as I opened my eyes. I felt achy and groggy from having slept so badly. My dreams were peppered with images of Katniss and Ivan. In my dreams I was too late to save her from his attack. I woke up gasping for breath and my skin drenched with sweat.
I guess I was so tired that I slept through my inner alarm clock. Rye was already downstairs prepping for the bakery to open.
"Good morning, Peeta," Dad said with a cup of coffee on hand and a muffin. "Have seat and eat your breakfast before heading out to school." I flinched as he reminded me that I was headed back to school.
"Why didn't you wake me to help out this morning?" I asked as I took a sip of coffee and a bite of my muffin.
"You haven't been sleeping well," he informed me. "I checked on you this morning and you were dead to the world."
"How come he gets to sleep in?" Rye whined.
"Because I said he could," Dad argued back. "Don't argue with me."
"Who's going to help you today if Peeta and I are school?" I asked him.
"Graham is coming in for a few hours. I hope to hire someone soon. Go to school," he ordered us. "Don't worry I'll be fine."
Before running the door, Dad hugged me tight. "Keep safe, Peeta. Please go on with your normal routine, okay?" he advised me. I left the bakery a few minutes earlier than usual just in case I ran into Katniss and Prim. I longed to see her but…I wasn't ready.
All day I found ways to avoid her and Prim. It wasn't easy but I managed. Not all my classmates found it easy to be around me. I wasn't stupid. Every time I came to school with a bruise they knew how I got it and who gave it to me. Not to embarrass or humiliate my family I would tell the school administrator that was horsing around with my brothers and things got out of hand. It was easy to accept that than to admit that my own mother was abusing me. She was capable enough to injury me in areas that could not be seen.
At lunchtime I snuck into the library and ate my lunch there. I didn't have it in me to face any of my classmates. I could have hung out with Delly and Rye but I didn't want to burden them. I panicked each time someone called my name praying it wasn't Katniss or Prim. Why was I more worried about facing them than Cray or a Peacekeeper?
My last class was home period. I had the choice to go the Prim's art class but chose to stay away. I adore Prim but with her inquisitive nature I wasn't ready to talk to her.
The school bell rang indicating that classes were over. I ran out of my class so fast that I was able to avoid seeing Katniss and Prim. Maybe tomorrow I'll have the courage to see them but for now…
Katniss POV ––
Prim and I woke up early for school. Today I was determined to find Peeta. He had been elusive for the past three days. However, today Prim and I decided we were going to hunt him down even if it meant visiting him at the bakery. News travelled fast that Mrs. Mellark was staying at her sister's home and was no longer working at the bakery.
The news came as a big surprise for everyone. Knowing that the witch was not there, Mr. Mellark welcomed anyone that showed up at the bakery whether they were there to purchase as loaf of bread or to admire the cakes and pastries behind the displays. Mrs. Mellark threw out anyone who 'loitered' in the store. She said that 'this is a place of business' and not someplace to hang about if you're not there to purchase their merchandise. She was just plain mean and vindictive.
With her gone, it gave me an opportunity to something I haven't done in a long time - enter the bakery through the front door.
That was my last resort if Peeta remained elusive, as he has been for the past few days. Fortunately, my first class period I had was with Peeta. So he couldn't avoid me now. I sat at my desk fiddling with my hands. My eyes focused at the doorway waiting for him to walk through it. Suddenly, I felt nervous, anxious and excited at the same time. Will he smile at me like he always had whenever he entered the room? Will I have the courage to smile back at him?
My heart dropped as…Peeta walked through the door, head down with his schoolbooks pressed onto his chest. He looked…awful. His hair was a mess like he just got out of bed. The bruise around his eye was a deep purple. The cut on his lip was red. What added to his horrific state were the dark circles around his other eye. He looked paler than usual.
"Peeta," Mrs. Normandy called out to him. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine, Mrs. Normandy," he returned. He walked in between the rows and sat on assigned desk. His eyes forward and his posture was erect throughout the whole class. I felt disappointed and sad at his behavior. 'Look at me, Peeta,' I mentally called out to him. He didn't. Forty-five minutes later, the bell rang. Class was over and not once did I catch him looking my way.
"Peeta, can you stay for a few seconds?" Mrs. Normandy asked him. He nodded his head. His eyes never strayed as he looked down to the top of his desk. In my next class I kept my eyes glued to clock hoping for morning break. As soon as the bell rang, I ran out to the schoolyard to find him surrounded by Delly, Rye and his Merchant classmates. My attempt to speak to him was spoiled again.
During lunch, Madge lost patience with me as she tried multiple times to catch my attention. "Katniss, what is your problem lately?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?" I tried to keep my irritability to myself. She didn't deserve my impatience and frustration.
"The past couple of days you're been irritable, fidgety and you've been practically…I don't' know um…scowling at everyone. What's wrong?"
I sighed. "Nothing, Madge. I'm just having a bad couple of days."
"Does it have something to do with Peeta?"
"Huh, what? Why do you say that?" I asked with a tinge of panic in my voice. Was I that obvious?
"Well, you've been staring at him and his friends since lunch started."
I never lied to Madge but I also never confided in her with certain things in my life. We never talked about boys…no I never talked about boys while she ranted on about her crushes with our classmates. I wasn't surprised that she had a crush on Peeta and Rye. Most girls I knew whether they were Merchant and Seam had crushes on the both of them. She even asked me whether or not Gale was my boyfriend. I laughed and told her no and never, nor did I ever thought of him that way.
"I guess Mr. Mellark finally had it with his wife," Madge continued. "I mean look at him? Poor Peeta. We thought that she seriously had to hurt Peeta to make his Dad get that wretched woman out their lives."
"At least, she's gone now," I added. "And I hope for good."
"I know what you mean. I mean Peeta is one of the sweetest guys I've ever known." Madge had look of tenderness as she spoke.
"His mom is a monster. It's no wonder he didn't turn out like her." It was a miracle. "He really does take after his dad," I surmised. I could admit that Peeta was not like the other Merchant boys I knew growing up. He was…different.
"Thank God for that," Madge added. Peeta sat with his classmates; one hand propped underneath his chin, his elbow on top of the table. He looked…sad, tired as he listened to his friends' converse with each other. I wasn't used to seeing him that way. I also noticed that he hadn't eaten any of his lunch as it sat in front of him untouched. Delly and Rye were to busy making out to notice him.
"I want to go over there and hug him." She sighed. Why was she looking at Peeta like 'that?'
"Huh, what?" I asked. I felt anger and something…bubble in my chest. I didn't like Peeta but the thought of Madge or any girl touching him angered and confused me. Did she want Peeta?
"Look at him, he's so huggable," Madge concluded. "Don't you just want to go over there and wrap your arms around him?" Just as I was about to open my mouth, our school principal Mr. Maurtagh and three Peacekeepers appeared in the schoolyard. "Oh shit, what are they doing here?"
My eyes grew wide in fear and anticipation as I watched them approach Peeta's table. His back was turned to them. Mr. Maurtagh placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke directly to him. I stood up and ran towards them.
"Katniss, what are you doing?" Madge yelled. I stopped a few feet away when I felt a hand on my arm.
"Oh my God, Katniss," Prim whispered. "What are they doing here?"
"I don't know, Prim. I don't know." God, I hoped that they weren't there for Peeta because of Ivan. But I knew better. Since his body was found, Cray was questioning everyone of their whereabouts during the celebration. He was still questioning the Merchants and had not started questioning anyone Seam. 'Oh God, oh God. Not Peeta.'
"You need to come with us, Peeta Mellark," a tall Peacekeeper ordered him. "We're taking you in for questioning regarding––"
"I'm not going anywhere or speak to you unless my dad is present," he said in a calm tone. He stood up and faced them. He placed a hand on top of the table to steady himself.
"What's going on, Mr. Maurtagh?" Rye asked panic and fear laced his tone. "Peeta, why do they need you for questioning? What's this all about?"
"I'm sorry, Rye," Peeta said. "Tell Dad I'm sorry."
"Peeta, I don't understand." Rye's face was mixed with anger and confusion. "Peeta––"
"Peeta, just go with them and Rye will go get your dad," Mr. Maurtagh advised. "Peeta just do as they say."
I gasped in shock as he walked out of the yard with the Peacekeepers right behind him. My chest ached with every step he took as he walked way, his head down and his hands in his pockets. Most of our classmates were in shock as they whispered amongst themselves. A group of girls whimpered and broke into tears. Me, I felt anger and fear for Peeta.
"Rye, go get your father and tell them to meet Peeta at the Justice Building," Mr. Maurtagh spoke to a stunned Rye. His mouth was open in shock. Delly grasped his right hand tight.
"What's going on Rye?" she asked him. "What do they want with Peeta?"
"I don't know. I don't understand what's going on." He turned to her. "Go get my Dad, Delly," he cried out as he turned to walk away. "I'm going after him."
"Rye don't––" Delly begged as she clutched onto his hand pulling him towards her.
"Delly, let go," he muttered. "I'm going to go to Peeta. He…needs me."
"Rye Mellark, you will do no such thing," Mr. Maurtagh stated. "Your Dad––"
"I'm not leaving him alone with them," he articulated. "Delly go get my dad now." He ran off with Delly trailing behind him. Hysteria grew as the whole school witnessed the incident.
"Okay, everyone settle down," Mr. Maurtagh ordered. "This is none of your concern. Lunch is over. Please proceed to your next class." I was stunned and horrified. This could not be happening. Why was Peeta taken in for questioning? Did they find out about Ivan? Did they know about me?
My last two classes were the longest hours I felt in my life. I couldn't 'concentrate as my mind wondered what was happening to Peeta. My stomach and my head ached from worry. What was happening to him? Are they hurting him? Will I ever see the Boy with the Bread ever again?
I already owed him for saving me from starvation when I was eleven years old. I again owed him my life for saving me from Ivan. I know with certainty that if Peeta did get hurt because of me, I would never be able to forgive myself.
AN: Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Thank you to wonderishome, guests, pumpkinking5, IcyPinkLemonade, LACR, Chloe and CrazyWithABook for your reviews, suggestions and comments. I want to say thank you for taking the time to read and review my story. I could never say it enough. Have a great weekend.