A/N: I agree that the last chapter wasn't really as exciting as I wanted it to be, so I hope this one is better! Let me know what you think! :)
Have any of you guys heard One Direction's new album 'Midnight Memories' yet? I love it! My favorutie songs are You & I and Little White Lies. Their live stream was amazing too!
Chapter 31- Mrs. Mellark
Katniss POV-
It's been a week since school started up again. Olivia left the infirmary a couple of days ago and she's currently on crutches with Gale helping her in every way he can. The nurse told her no physical activities for a month.
I was currently building a snow man with Madge just outside the pool area. Madge was in the middle of rolling the mid-section, while I was almost done with head.
I could the snow crunch beneath my boots; feel the wind whip through my hair and across my face; taste the cold air- and I could also hear Madge's heavy breathing.
Stopping to a halt, I turned to face her.
"You okay?"
Madge held up in hand and made a circle with her thumb and index finger. "Yeah." Her voice was rough and ragged. "Just peachy."
I scoffed and continued with my giant snow ball.
Within minutes, I was finished. Sitting down on a near by bench, I waited patiently for Madge to finish.
"All done!" I heard a voice call from behind a tree. I got up and made my way back over to the un-finished snowball. All around the area you could the paths we used for the snow man.
Together, the two of us lifted the medium sized ball up on top of the bigger one, followed by the head. I rummaged through my bag and took out a carrot I had bought from the cafeteria and stuck it into the middle of the head. I tied a scarf around the bottom of the top ball and placed a hat on the top as Madge scoured the ground for pebbles.
Once finished, we took a few steps back and took in our finished masterpiece, admiring it.
A ringing interrupted the silence and I dug through my coat pocket for my phone.
It was a text message from Peeta.
Meet me in my dorm ASAP.
Turning towards Madge I hugged her quickly and excused myself then headed off to Peeta's dorm.
Once I reached his dorm, I knocked on the door and it flew open immediately, revealing a flushed Peeta.
"Hey." He seemed nervous as he ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.
As he opened the door wider I walked in and discarded my winter gear.
I sat down on his bed and grabbed a pillow, looking up at him with a questioning look.
Peeta took a deep breath. "My mother's coming for a visit."
All the blood drained from my face. I heard many things from Peeta about his mother. She's picky, very picky, about who Peeta dates. I've always been nervous about the day that I would have to meet Mrs. Mellark. Will she like me? Will she hate me?
I sucked in a sharp breath and suddenly felt queasy. Peeta sat down beside me and took my hand in his, brushing the stray hairs out of my face.
"I know, I know. I'm nervous too. Just don't worry. Everything'll be fine."
My eyes widened and my head shot up. "You did not just say that! Peeta! You just jinxed everything! Next thing you know, she's put a restraining order on us and I'm being shipped off to another school!" I stared at my hands and jumped to my feet, running them through my hair taking deep breaths.
"Katniss! Relax!"
Peeta came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, planting a soft trail of kisses down my neck. "I'm nervous too, okay? Just relax." His voice was soothing.
I eased my mind and relaxed into Peeta's embrace.
Relax Katniss everything will be fine, yeah. Just think positive. Don't let his mom bring you down. Think positive. It'll be fine.
Boy was I ever wrong.
We remained in each other's arms until a buzz echoed throughout the room; and the source was Peeta's phone.
Cautiously, Peeta read the text and looked up at me.
"She's here."
My breathing became shallow and heavy and I started to hyperventilate. Peeta hugged me again and calmed me down by stroking my hair gently.
My breaths had just started to come up more evenly and calmly when the door opened.
There in the doorway stood a woman who looked to be in her mid 40's. She had long blonde hair like Peeta's and chocolate brown eyes. She wore a pair of grey dress pants and navy blue blouse along with a beautiful necklace containing a single heart and a pair of black heels.
"Peeta honey!" The lady threw here arms out wide and Peeta walked into them hesitantly, throwing his own around her as she squeezed him tight. "Oh darling, I missed you."
"I missed you too Mom." Peeta's voice was gentle and strong... yet nervous.
It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders once I noticed how kind and gentle she seemed. Maybe... Maybe she wasn't so bad after all.
That is, until she acknowledged my presence and let go of Peeta hastily.
Mrs. Mellark gave me a glare. A glare that told me clearly she didn't like me already.
"So... this is the girl. The girl you're dating, is it?" Mrs. Mellark directed her question towards her son, but never let her eyes trail away from my face.
'Yes, she is." Peeta smiled proudly and left his mother's side, coming towards mine and grasping my hand comfortingly. I smiled at Peeta, but never broke my gaze away from the lady across the room. She seemed to be challenging me. To see if I was worth dating her son. To see how strong I was on the inside. How long I would last under pressure.
If I would break the stare first.
I smiled sweetly at her and lay my head on Peeta's shoulder.
"Your son and I are very h-" I started, but was cut off.
"Step away." Her voice was hoarse and cold.
I did a double take. Excuse me?
"What?" I voiced aloud.
"I said step away. Step away from my son."
"Mother, don't-" Peeta started, but stopped once Mrs. Mellark finally broke away from my eyes and looked at Peeta.
During her next sentence, I knew for a fact she didn't like me. That she wouldn't allow Peeta and I to be together.
"I don't approve."
Peeta sighed and let go of my hand. For a moment, a single moment, I thought Peeta was siding with his mother. That he would listen to her and break up with me. I was about to fall to my knees and cry when Peeta's voice made me lose the thought.
"No." It was firm. Firm and strong.
"No?" His mother shot back.
"No. No, you can't force me to leave Katniss. You can't tear us apart. No."
Peeta's mom took a deep breath and looked like she was trying to calm herself down.
"Peeta, I am your mother and you will listen to me. I have said no. "
That hit Peeta. That sentence right there.
"What? Because she isn't 'perfect'? Nobody's perfect mom! Not me, not you, not Katniss. Nobody. Nobody in this world is made perfect. But there people who are made perfect for each other. And Katniss is made perfect for me. Can't you see that I'm happy? Don't you want me to be happy?" Peeta sounded desperate.
Mrs. Mellark took a step back and her eyes kept moving between Peeta and I. Her eyes had changed from cold and icy to... loving and confused.
"Of- of course I want you to be happy Peeta. Of course I do."
Peeta smiled with hope. "Then let me be with Katniss. Let me be happy. Please."
Before she could reply, I interjected. "Mrs. Mellark, In Peeta and I's defense, I agree with Peeta. When I came to this school, I was afraid to open up my heart to other's. I'd never truly known what love outside of family felt like. But Peeta, Peeta showed me. He showed me what it meant to be cared for, to be loved, to mean the world to someone. We've been through some rough times together, but we've always come out fine in the end. Together. I can't imagine my life without Peeta.
"I'm sure you've felt this before. To find that perfect someone who you can just feel is meant for you? That you're meant for each other? What would you do if someone tried to tear you apart from that someone?"
There was silence. I looked up at Peeta to find him staring back down at me with love and pride.
"I... Peeta do you really love Katniss?" Peeta's mother spoke up quietly.
I looked at her. It was the first time that she had used my name and it was used in a gentle tone.
Peeta's hand tightened around mine. "Yes, mother. I do."
His mother breathed in deeply. "I'm sorry Peeta. I'm so sorry. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. For you to have the perfect girl to fulfill that goal. But I guess you're right, nobody's perfect. Especially not me. Not after I just tried to tear you two apart."
That's when the tears fell.
Peeta released my hand and ran to his mother. He hugged her tightly and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. I heard mumble gentle words to her, but I couldn't make them out. The sobs soon turned to hiccups, which soon turned to quiet whimpers.
The door opened and in walked Gale and Finnick.
The two of them froze at the sight before them. Peeta hugging crying lady in the middle of the floor. Me in a corner.
Finnick opened his mouth to say something, but I caught his gaze and glared at him.
Quick as a flash, he was spinning around on his heel and walking down the hall. Gale stood there dumbstruck. After a quick glance at me, he followed after Fin, closing the door behind him.
Returning my attention back to Peeta and his mother ob the floor, I got up and kneeled in front of them. Peeta slowly disentangled himself from her and sent me an encouraging look.
The lady before me looked up. I smiled at her and she returned the gesture with warmth. I grabbed her hand helped her to her feet.
"I love Peeta, Mrs. Mellark. I don't want to be without him."
Mrs. Mellark gave me a once over and was now beaming at me. "I understand now."
Still holding on to my hands, she turned to Peeta who was smiling like he just won the lottery. "I approve."
The shaggy haired boy threw his arms around the two of us and it was now one great big group hug.
"Thank you Mom." Peeta voice was muffled by my hair in his face.
We broke apart and Peeta said, "How about we all go to dinner? It's all on me."
Mrs. Mellark and I smiled at each other once more before looking back at Peeta. "Sounds great."
A/N: There you go guys! Sorry for the long wait and I hope it was better than my recent chapters, let me know what you think!
~mellarkfan121~