Playing the player ~ everlark (high school)

Chapter 9: Who Knew

Katniss pov

"Come on, catnip, we're going to be late", he says dragging me by my hand. I don't know why i'm doing this. I guess i just want to see what would happen if i did, how will he react? He pushes me into the backseat and my mother and Prim are up the front. I watch as he presses a button and a screen comes down cutting my vision from my sister before he crushes me to him and furiously kisses me.I lose sense of everything. I brought this on, from our conversation before. This is wrong... but i can't stop. What's wrong with me! We keep kissing as i entangle my fingers in his hair. It doesn't feel the same and i feel guilt pooling in my stomach but before i can pull away i'm thrown against the window as the car spins furiously and all i can hear is screams.

 I stare helplessly as he catches my eye, a smirk tugging at his lips as he tries to keep a straight face, "Hey catnip". I watch and bite my lip as his friends laugh at me before storming past them and into the classroom. Stupid Gale. He ruined everything. I hate him. I'm just a joke to him, to everyone.

 Shaking my head i walk to an empty seat and see only about 10 other students in class spread throughout the room. I place my hands on my lap and stare at the desk trying to slow my thoughts down as they are merge together, almost painfully. I flinch as i hear the door slam and loud footsteps going down the corridor. Glancing up i see the man who i'm guessing is my teacher come in and sit at the desk in the right corner of the room before typing something into the computer as a few more students file in laughing and patting each other on the back. I glare at every single one of them. Why are they so happy? Life is so unfair. I sigh as the teacher presses a button on the projector and watch as the screen comes down in front of the white board as Sir walks over and turns off the light.

I sit in the dark room as we watch a video, i can see the person's lips moving but i can't hear anything just noises, screams echoing in my head. I quietly groan and put my hands on either side of my head, covering my ears trying to block out the noise even though i know it's all in my mind. I just want to go home and sleep.

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After staring at a screen for 45 minutes our teacher turns the lights back on and i can hear the moans coming from students at the back of the class from the bright lights. That's what you get for sleeping in class. My hair is messy and my braid has strands of hair coming out in every direction now from the countless number of times i pushed my hand through my hair and pulled of my braid trying to release some of the pent up stress.

I sigh gratefully as the bell goes signalling the end of the day and stand up to leave the classroom. I walk down the peaceful hallway - which is empty from all of the other students going to their homerooms - and before i know it my feat have taken me to the library. I stand for a moment contemplating going home or entering and doing work but i chose the latter. Might as well make the most out of a day.

Pushing open the doors i walk inside, i've never been inside here before so everything is new to me but i know the basics, computers, books that kind of stuff right? I look around and see no receptionist only a few stray students who look a few years older than me and the occasional teacher eating their lunch while completing their work at a computer. Thinking back to my project i decide to choose a book over a computer to save me the hassle of searching through thousands of websites then printing the work off.

I walk over to the bookshelves on the left of the library and begin searching. The books are arranged by letters and every attempt to try to find the book, i fail. I've tried to find books called or similar to "District 12", "Mayer", "counselor", "governor" even "Madge". I stare in concentration and scowl. This is so confusing. The school is so confusing, i mean how stupid is this school to let random people just walk in. That's got to be a hazard and why the hell can't i find a book on a topic i need. I've been here for 30 minutes already. I should have gone on the computer, it would have been a hell of a lot easier.

"Are you okay?", i hear a girl whisper and flinch. She sounds so quiet but the library is nearly empty now so her voice echos. "Sorry", she says covering her mouth and i shoot her a glare. Why is everyone talking to me. Don't they have lives?

I stare at her but don't give her the satisfaction of a reply. "Um, do you need help to find a book?", she says sheepishly. I watch the small girl who has red hair and amber eyes, she looks so different to everyone i've seen at this school, she stands out yet manages to blend in, how? I slowly nod - i'm doing this for Madge, i better not end up owing this girl - and tell describe what type of book i'm looking for. She keeps silent throughout and just nods at the appropriate moments, once i'm finished she gestures me to follow her and takes me to the bookshelves that has the letter "U".

"All books are sorted by surnames, either the name of the book itself or the author", she explains picking a thick book off the shelf called "the Undersee governors secrets" and handing it to me. Okay, so she's one of the smartest people i've met and pretty tricky judging her personality.

"Thank you", i whisper looking at the book in my hands and suddenly feel the need to talk to this lonely looking girl. I clear my throat, "What's you name?".

She smiles at me before speaking, "Finch but some people call me fox-face". Okay, so were onto nicknames now. "I'm 15, you?". So she's in the year below me, that must be why I've never seen her since i was last here.

"Katniss", i reply, "16, what do you do here? It looks kind of boring".

I watch as she bites her lip, as if talking to people was a struggle like it is for me. "I'm a helper, an assistant in the library, and i eat lunch in here only leaving for my lessons. I'm here all day before and after school."

I awkwardly cough, well she seems nice, "Well if you ever want to have lunch with me and my...".

Is Madge a friend? We've only talked twice but is that enough.

"peer".

She nods gratefully and tells me to return it when i have time, before i say goodbye to Finch and walk out of the library while opening the book and i begin reading the first chapter. As i push through the door outside the building i retrace my footsteps home.

I cross the road and begin my path to the forest before putting my book in my satchel. Finch maybe we could be friends, after all she is sly and sneaky so she could be fun like Madge. The sly girl who could maneuver around the library without making a sound, and has great stealth skills - similar to how i used to be. I cringe at the thoughts of my past before shaking it off. Finch is huge contrast to the man i saw earlier today who still haunts my nightmares. I begin to feel happy as i enter the forest and hear the soft crunches of the leaves beneath my boots but it ends just as quick as it started when i see the same boy from earlier.

Rushing past his house i follow the concrete path to the lake near my old house and go inside. Shutting the door behind me i put my satchel on the floor by the door and go into the kitchen. By now it's dark outside even though it's only about 7pm but it's still winter here. Searching through the cupboards i find some food hidden at the back of one and pull it out. I then take foil off the packet and start a fire to cook it. What? Old traditions are the best and last longest.

After the food is prepared i sit cross legged on the small couch and begin to eat without utensils because i can't be bothered to clean them. I pick up each piece of squirrel that was made with home made sauce months ago. Once i'm finished i clean the packet so that i can store more food in it if i need to and get ready for bed.

After i'm changed i go into my bedroom and peel the thin covers back before climbing in and relaxing. It's still early but i'm so tired from meeting new people and keeping the look out at all times, i inwardly smile when my head hits the cold pillow

I take a shaky breath as i think back to everyone i saw today, the boy in the forest, the girl with the smirk, Madge, Finch and Hawthorne. I sigh and feel a silent tear slide down my face as i'm hit with another harsh flashback but this isn't about Gale, it's about the boy who visits me everyday in my sleep. Who knew.

Do you guys and girl enjoy this book? We're you right? Who will Katniss meet next? Next is chapter 10! Longest chapter yet!

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