Chapter 5
"So, how have you been sweetheart?" Haymitch asked Katniss, once the two were settled in the library of the Alma Springs Rehab Center.
"I've been good. You look good, Haymitch, how do you feel?" Katniss asked.
"I'm not exactly sure yet, but I'll let you know. They spring me from this place in a few days, I'm sure your mother has some sort of agenda." It was a statement, not a question.
"You mean besides the deal you made with her?"
"She told you about that, huh?" Haymitch replied, scratching his stubbled chin, his gray eyes matching Katniss' with a steely look.
"Yeah, she did. You think you can reduce your temper down to irritation?" Katniss asked, Haymitch gave her a long shuttered look
"I'm working on it." He muttered in response. Katniss handed a bag over to Haymitch,
"What's this?" He asked, looking through the bag. He pulled out new clothes and underwear.
"What's wrong with my old clothes?"
"They're appalling, many of them fell apart when I was doing laundry at your house." Haymitch closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.
"Please tell me you haven't tried to clean my house." Katniss laughed; it was slightly hysterical.
"Tried? Interesting choice of words. We're still in the process, but one thing was made clear, per your agreement with my mother, is that your house has to be clean. I have to say, I'm not going to fight my mom on this one. Just a heads up, you will need some repairs and we're in the process of seeing who is willing to complete some of these repairs."
"I don't need charity," Haymitch started to raise his voice, then Katniss arched her eyebrows and stared him down.
"You need help and you agreed. I can see I'm going to have to remind you ad nauseum about this deal. Haymitch, we didn't go crazy on getting you clothing, we got enough for you to wear something different every day of the week. This way, your laundry isn't overwhelming, the clothing we could salvage, well, you'll need to try them on and see if they still fit. Once me and Prim finish cleaning the house, we asked Hazelle to stop by once a week to house keep. Per your agreement, I strongly recommend you don't trash your place out of spite, and try to keep order so Hazelle can actually clean." Katniss said sternly. Haymitch looked sulky.
"So, how long are you visiting?" He asked, looking hopeful. Katniss narrowed her eyes at Haymitch.
"For as long as is necessary. Listen up Abernathy, you're all we have left of my father that is a living human being outside of our family. Can you please let us help you?" Katniss asked, sounding slightly vulnerable. Haymitch looked at Katniss and his face softened slightly.
"I will try. There's a love/hate about living inside a bottle. I loved Maysilee with all my heart… I just, then my mother and brother…" Haymitch said and sighed deeply and looking world weary.
"You know, you're being recommended to speak with a therapist. Perhaps you can make a few appointments before you leave, you know to help you get your head on straight while a home. We talked to Mr. Stark, he's willing to let you go back to work as a mechanic, just starting part time to help give you something to do." Katniss explained to Haymitch.
"I don't want to talk to a shrink, but if I'm to keep this agreement with your mother, I guess I'd better." He muttered begrudgingly.
"Sounds good. We'll be back in a few days when you're going to be discharged." Katniss said, while preparing to leave.
"You know, Peeta is back in town." Haymitch said with a smirk and only to ecstatic too get the focus off of him for a bit.
"Yeah, I heard." She replied in clipped tones.
"You finally going to settle down with that boy or what?" Katniss glared at Haymitch in response, the latter held up his hands.
"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you." He replied, still smirking. Katniss rolled her eyes and headed in the direction of the exit.
"Please be ready when it's time to go." Katniss said over her shoulder, but muttering to herself, she said, "That's all I need right now, is to run into Peeta." She jumped in her rented car and decided to pay Madge Undersee a visit. About a half an hour later, Katniss found herself knocking on the Undersee front door, several minutes went by when the door finally opened with a tipsy Mrs. Undersee smiley mistily.
"Hi Katnish, Madge is in the bashement." Giggled Mrs. Undersee.
"Thanks." Katniss responded and quicky went to find Madge. Sure enough, Madge was in the basement that had been turned into a pottery studio. Beautifully painted and glazed works of pottery filled one side of the shelves in the basement, and the other shelves contained unfinished works. Madge was busy at her potter's wheel. Katniss watched her friend for several minutes before coughing to get Madge's attention.
"KATNISS!" Madge exclaimed while rushing up to hug her friend.
"If people didn't realize I'm back in town, they know now." Katniss replied, hugging her friend back.
"You are the last person I expected to see. What brings you back and why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"It was last minute, I'm here to help mom with Haymitch and her new shop."
"Haymitch, eh? That's going to be interesting. That shop is nice; I think your mother is going to do well there." Madge said.
"So, you feel like doing me a favor?" Katniss asked suddenly nervous.
"Oh boy, why do I feel like I'm not going to like this."
"Will you head over to Mellark Bakery with me?" There, the question was out there. Madge's eyes practically bugged out of her face.
"You are voluntarily going to Mellark Bakery? Why?"
"It seems that Peeta is aware that I am back in town, he had cheese buns sent to my house. I just want to get this first meeting out of the way, so things won't be as awkward as they're inevitably going to be with him, while I'm home." Katniss answered.
"Ok, then I need to prepare you. If you can believe it, Peeta is even hotter than he was when you last saw him. He's good-looking to the point of distraction." Madge explained.
"Great, just what I need." Katniss replied sarcastically. Madge privately thought Katniss would give Peeta a run for his money, because the girl had no idea the affect she had on the opposite sex, especially Peeta Mellark.
"Let me get cleaned up and then we'll head over, the bakery will be open for another few hours." Madge said out loud, while heading over to the sink to wash her hands and remove the mechanic's jump suit she wore while working on her pottery. Katniss indicated she would wait for her on the front porch. All too soon the two friends were pulling up in front of Mellark Bakery, and sitting in Katniss' rented car. The silence was comfortable and deafening, but Madge was the first to speak.
"Are you just going to sit here and stare at the store front or go in and see Peeta?" Katniss let out a big sigh and started to get out of the car.
"Wait! Come here, put this on." Madge said shoving a tube of lip gloss into Katniss' hands. "Don't argue, put some on, and put on this mascara and take you hair out of that top knot, let it hang loose. Yes, much better!" Madge said as Katniss made the adjustments. Katniss threw Madge a look that screamed help. Both young women headed out of the car and into the store front, Madge going in first.
"Hey Madge, what can I help you…" Bran started but his greeting died on his lips when he saw Katniss standing next to Madge.
"Hi Bran." Katniss said nervously. Bran nodded and then headed to the kitchen door and yelled, "Hey Peeta, you have a customer that wants to see you out front." Madge glanced over at Katniss to see her response and was mildly startled and amused to see Katniss blanch slightly. There was a scuffle of sneakers and before anyone knew it, Peeta Mellark was in the store front of his family bakery. He looked over at Katniss and caught his breath.
"Hi, can I get six chocolate chip cookies to go?" Katniss asked. It was literally the only thing she could think to say. Bran gave Peeta small shove and watched his brother snap out of wherever he went.
"Yeah sure," He replied, getting the cookies wrapped in a neat brown paper bag. "Anything else?" He asked, with a small smile on his lips. "Um, two cinnamon rolls." Katniss answered. Peeta quickly gathered and wrapped the cinnamon rolls.
"I think that's it, what do I owe you?" Katniss asked. Bran and Madge watched the interaction between the two with great interest and amusement.
"Nothing, it's on the house." Peeta replied, Bran stifled a chuckle and Madge raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Ok, thanks, I'll see you around." Katniss said and left with Madge hurrying behind her. When the two young women left, Bran walked over and gave his brother a light smack on the back of his head.
"What was that?" He exclaimed.
"I wasn't ready to see her… how was I supposed to know she would walk into the bakery and actually place an order?" Peeta sputtered. Bran shook his head. "Damn! Katniss is smokin' hot!" Bran replied.
"Well, at least now you've seen each other and that's out of the way. Man, that was weird and awkward. I guess now the ball is in your court." Bran said to his younger brother and tried not to laugh.