Chapter 11
Katniss Everdeen POV
It was really nice of Gale to find us a part-time job, both of our families really need the help. I'm surprised he chose to work at the bakery since he really doesn't like Peeta, and we'd have to be there so early. I don't mind that, but I thought maybe he would.
I decided to go to the bakery by myself after school this week, I took a bus. I wanted to meet with Mr. Mellark before the interview so he could talk with me. I've noticed it's best to show initiative, especially when it comes to employment.
I open the door and see Mr. Mellark up front, which is good. I was hoping I'd have to look for him. "Mr. Mellark?" I ask, he looks up at me.
"Katniss Everdeen?" He asks. I'm not sure how he recognized me immediately.
"Yeah," I say, reaching out to shake his hand. "How are you?"
"I'm good," he says, shaking my hand. "Can I help you with something?"
"My friend Gale set up an interview withcyou this weekend," I say. "I wanted to come by today and meet you on my own, first."
"That's very thoughtful," he says. "I hope you and Gale will be able to start soon, provided the interview goes well."
"Me too," I say. "We could really use the opportunity."
"My wife and I will also give you guys a tour," he says. "That way you'll know the layout." I just nod, and there's a pause.
"Do you have any bakery experience?" He asks me.
"Not really," I say. "But I'm willing to learn. I have experience cleaning up restaurants, just a little bit."
"Okay," he says. "Good to know." I hope that didn't ruin my chances.
"I've had little jobs here and there," I say. "But nothing really long-term."
"That's okay," he says. "I'm sure you'll work harder than my sons."
I chuckle at that. A customer walks in. "Thanks for talking with me," I say. "Have a good day."
"You too," he says. "Bye."
I walk outside and look at my phone to find the next bus pick up time. I hope that went well, I could really use this job. I hope my lack of experience didn't hurt my chances of working for them.
Peeta Mellark POV
I'm getting home from school, I had to stay late to work on a project. I see Katniss leaving the bakery as I pull up. I park the car and walk around to the front of the bakery, she's standing out front and looking at her phone.
"Hey," I say. "What are you doing here?"
She looks up at me. "Oh, hey," she says. "I was just talking with your dad. Gale got he and I a job here for weekend mornings. I'm supposed to interview this Saturday, but I wanted to come by before that."
"Oh, that's awesome," I say. I had no idea she had gotten a job here, that means maybe I get to see her more. "What would you be doing?"
"Just helping set up in the mornings on the weekends," she says. "Maybe help up front, but I think the mornings is what Gale said your dad said he needs."
"That'll be awesome," I say. "I'll show you the ropes if you need someone who's less intense." I'm mainly referring to my mom, my dad isn't so bad.
"Sweet," she says. "I'll see you at school." She walks off.
"Bye," I say, but I don't think she heard me. I walk inside and go to the back of the bakery where my dad is.
"Hey," he says. "How was school?"
"Good," I say. "Katniss told me she might be getting a job here."
"Yeah, she has an interview on Saturday," my dad says. "She just wanted to come meet me in person first."
"Do you think she'll get the job?"
"Probably," he says. "I know she's responsible, I grew up with her mom." He's said that before, I wonder how well they knew each other. I'll have to ask him.
"Do you think Gale will?"
"Gale is the one that approached me, so probably," he says. "Why does it matter to you, anyway?"
"Just curious," I say. "Gale doesn't seem to like me very much."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know," I say. "Probably because I'm popular and a jock, and he's used to hating guys like me."
"Well, maybe if he works here you guys can get along better," my dad says. "Just don't cause drama in my bakery."
"I won't," I say. "I'm going to start on homework upstairs."
"Okay," he says. "Bye."
I walk up to my room and pull out my phone to text Finnick.
*Apparently Katniss might get a job at the bakery. She was here talking to my dad.*
Ding. *Will you finally shoot your shot if she
does?*
*Idk. Gale will also be working here.*
Ding. *Damn, you can still try.*
*He'd kill me.*
Ding. *Lol*
I really hope this gives me an opportunity to be closer to Katniss, I've waited long enough to try to get to know her. I just know Gale will stand in my way, so I'm not looking forward to that.
Johanna Mason POV
I'm hanging out with Annie at her place after cheer one day, and I'm trying to figure out how to ask her if Finnick can have her number. I'm not sure it's a good idea, and I'm not sure how Annie will react since she doesn't get much attention from guys.
We're sitting in her room trying to study, but mostly talking. "Annie?" I ask during a pause where we were actually studying.
"What?"
"There's something I want to tell you," I say. "But don't get too freaked out."
"Okay…" she says. "What is it?"
"Finnick texted me the other day and asked me for your number," I say. "I'm not really sure why, he just said he wanted to get to know you better."
"Did you give it to him?" She asks me.
"No," I say. "I said I would ask you first."
"I appreciate that," she says. "Thank you, Johanna."
"Do you want me to give it to him?"
"Isn't he known for sleeping with girls and then leaving them?" She asks.
"The way I understand it," I say. "Everyone involved is informed that it's nothing serious, it's not like he's just a dick."
"Oh right," she says. "You hooked up with him, didn't you?"
"It was just a blowjob," I say. "But if it's too weird, I won't give him your number."
"You can," she says. "It would be nice to get to know him."
"Just be careful," I say. "I know I said he isn't a dick, and he's not. I just don't want you getting in over your head."
"I'll be fine," she says. "But I appreciate you looking out for me."
When I get home, I send Finnick a text.
*Hey, Annie said you could have her number. Just don't get too weird pls.* I text him, also sending him the number.
Ding. *I won't, relax. Thank you.*
*Ur welcome.*
I hope this is a good thing for Annie, it's kind of a big deal for her to branch out and talk to more guys. Maybe she can get a boyfriend soon, she definitely deserves it. I wish people knew her like Katniss and I do. She's a great person, but at school that often gets overshadowed by her quirks. It's really sad.
Annie Cresta POV
I can't believe Finnick Odair wanted my number. It was nice talking to him, but I never thought he'd want to regularly talk to someone like me with how popular he is.
Later that night after Johanna leaves, I get a call from a number I don't recognize. "Hello?" I ask when I answer it.
"Hey, is this Annie?"
"Yeah, who is this?" I ask, playing dumb.
"This is Finnick," he says. "I hope it's okay that Johanna gave me your number."
"Yeah, I told her she could," I say. "How's it going?"
"I'm good," he says. "Did you have cheer today?"
"No," I say. "But you had football, right?"
"I did," he says. "It went okay." There's a pause. I still am not sure why he wanted to call me.
"I'm glad I didn't have cheer today," I say. "I still don't like being around most of the girls."
"Are they still bothering you?"
"Not as much," I say. "But I know they still whisper about me, I can tell."
He sighs. "That's so uncool," he says. "You don't deserve that." There's another pause.
"I have an idea," he says. "If you want to hear it."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do you want to go to Homecoming with me?" He asks me. The Homecoming Dance is next Saturday. "If the girls on the cheer team see that I hang out with you, they'll leave you alone."
"Really?"
"Probably," he says. "Not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty popular."
"I know that," I say. "You want one girl around you at Homecoming? Won't that prevent you from talking to other girls."
"It's fine," he says. "I think I can handle it for one night."
"Sure," I say. "That would be great, then. I wasn't even sure if I was going to go to the dance."
"You know everyone expects you too, because you're a cheerleader."
"I know," I say. "But I honestly didn't want to go."
"Well now you have an excuse to," he says. "I'll talk to you soon."
"Bye," I say. We hang up.
I'm pretty sure he didn't mean that as a date, he just wants to be nice. Still, it's a little weird that he asked me to the dance. He seems nice, and we had fun talking. I just didn't think he'd want to be my actual friend or talk to me more. Either way, it'll be fun. Why do I feel so nervous about the dance all of the sudden?
