Chapter 5
Katniss Everdeen POV
My friends convinced me to go to a football game in the second week of school. I've never actually been to one, but Prim and Rory wanted to go, so Gale and I agreed to take them.
I wish most of my female friends weren't in cheer so some of them could come with me. I hope Annie is holding up okay, she doesn't love crowds or loud events. We get to the game, and Prim and Rory are already arguing and talking about wanting snacks.
"Katniss," Prim says. "Can I get a pretzel?"
"Prim, I told you I don't have any money for that," I say as we take our seats. "I'm sorry."
I gave my summer job money to my mom so that she could use it for stuff we needed for the house. It sucks that I can't even afford to get my sister a snack at a football game, Gale is the one who bought the tickets because he actually has a real part-time job.
"I have a few dollars," Gale says. "Maybe you can get a snack before halftime."
Prim smiles at him. I think she's starting to resent me because I can't give her what she wants very much. She doesn't understand the reasoning behind it and how I want to give her more.
The game starts and I'm clapping for my friends on the cheer team. I'm happy for them, they look really cute. I don't know how Johanna thinks I would fit in there, they would be absolutely ruthless towards me. Annie looks stressed out and hyper-focused on the cheer routine she's doing. If they're mean to her, they would absolutely eat me alive.
"Are your friends still bugging you about joining the cheer team?" Gale asks me.
"It's mainly Johanna," I say. "I've told her I'm not interested and that I'm sticking with archery."
"Good," Gale says. "I don't want you to turn into some plastic, fake cheerleader."
"I wouldn't say Annie, Johanna or Madge are 'fake, plastic cheerleaders'."
"They're not, but they're a rare breed."
"You mean girls like Clove, Glimmer and Cashmere?" I say.
"Yeah," he says. "I swear I though Glimmer and Cashmere were the same person for the longest time."
I chuckle at that. "Well, they don't have super distinct personalities, I'll give you that."
"Yeah, I don't want you to end up like that. Not that I think you ever would, but it starts with becoming a cheerleader. I hope Annie doesn't become brainwashed by that cult."
Gale isn't entirely wrong, but it's always rubbed me the wrong way that Gale tells me what I should and shouldn't do. It doesn't feel like brotherly advice to me, it feels more controlling than anything else. He's really important to me, and I really value our friendship. That's just one thing about him that has always annoyed me a little bit.
Peeta Mellark POV
I'm at the football game happening tonight. It sucks that most of my friends are on the team, I don't really have anyone to hang out with. I see Katniss sitting with her sister, Gale, and who I assume is Gale's brother or one of Prim's friends. I'm nervous, but I walk up to them since there's an empty space next to Katniss.
"Is this seat taken?" I ask her.
"No," she says. "Go right ahead." She scooches over a little bit and I sit next to her.
"I was surprised to see you," I say to her. "I didn't think you'd be into school events like this."
"I'm not that much of a loner," she says, smiling.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I know," she says. "Prim and Rory really wanted to come, and a lot of my friends are on the cheer team."
"Hi Prim," I say, looking past Katniss at her sister. "I remember you coming into the bakery a couple times, but it's been a while."
"Oh yeah," Prim says. "You guys have the best frosted sugar cookies."
"Did you know I'm the main decorator for them?" I ask her.
"Really?"
"Yep," I say. "I've been doing that since middle school."
"Wow," she says. "You're really good at it."
"I didn't know that," Katniss says. "That's super impressive, Peeta."
"Thanks," I say. "It's not that big of a deal, just something I do to help out."
"I think it's impressive," Katniss says. "That sounds pretty hard, I'd love to be good at something like that."
I want to tell her I think she's good at the guitar, but I don't think she wants many people to know she plays. I don't want to make her uncomfortable.
"Who's your friend, Prim?" I ask her about the boy sitting next to her.
"I'm Rory," he says. "I'm Gale's brother."
"It's nice to meet you, Rory," I say. "I think I've seen you in the bakery a couple times too."
"You guys have the best cinnamon rolls," he says. "I would eat them every day if I worked there."
"They are really delicious," I say. "My brother rye makes the best ones, though."
Rory and Prim are so sweet, which is honestly surprising. I didn't think they would be bad people, but Katniss and Gale just seem so bitter all the time so it surprises me that their siblings seem so carefree.
I look over at Gale, smile and wave. He just looks away from me. I've never really talked to him, and he doesn't seem particularly friendly. I don't really think much of it, I get it's a little awkward because we aren't friends and he's older than me. He also probably resents the crowd I hang out with because we're popular and I'll admit some of us are assholes. It sucks to be judged because of who my friends are, but I also get it.
Gale Hawthorne POV
I feel like an adult when I'm with Katniss, Prim and Rory. It feels like we're they're parents, we definitely act like parents to them. I can tell Katniss is getting tired of taking care of Prim, but I love taking care of them both.
Katniss is chatting with Peeta Mellark, and I can't help but feel a little jealous. I didn't know she even knew him. I figured he would have plenty of friends to sit with, he doesn't need to sit with losers like us.
Katniss is coming back from the bathroom with Prim while Rory and I are waiting in the car. Prim gets into the back seat and Katniss gets into the passenger's seat.
"Why were you talking to Peeta Mellark?" I ask her as I start driving back to Katniss's place.
"What?" She asks me.
"I didn't know you knew him," I say. "You were talking to him a lot during the game."
"Oh," she says. "Yeah we talked after school the other day. He just didn't have anyone to sit with since most of his friends are on the team."
I roll my eyes. "He probably could have found plenty of people to sit with," I say. "He's one of the most popular guys in our school."
"Is everything okay?" Katniss asks me. "He was just making conversation with me."
"Peeta is so sweet," Prim chimes in from the back seat. "I was at his family's bakery once, and he gave me a cookie for free because I didn't have any money."
"I remember that," Katniss says. "Prim, you were so happy. That made your whole day."
"He said he didn't care if his mom got angry with him," Prim says. "But he did tell me to not say anything and to leave quickly so he wouldn't be caught."
"That's nice," I say. "I wonder why he did that."
"Just to be nice?" Katniss says. "He knows we don't have a lot at home. He probably just wanted to give Prim a rare treat."
"Sure," I say. "Okay."
Katniss doesn't respond, and we ride in silence back to her place.
"Thanks for everything," Katniss says as she and Prim get out of the car. "See you Monday."
"Text me later," I say. "Have a good night."
"Uh-huh," she says, walking towards the house.
"Is Katniss mad at you?" Rory asks me as we watch them walk into the house.
"No," I say. "She's just a little stressed."
We drive home and Rory heads off to bed since it's getting late. Katniss might have been irritated with me since I was talking bad about Peeta, but I don't understand why the girls at school think he's all that.
Katniss never cared about popularity, so I'm not sure why she's talking to him. I guess he isn't a bad guy, but he's friends with the popular assholes like Cato and Finnick Odair. I just hope Katniss realizes that group isn't worth getting close to, and that she's better than that.
