Is there a happily ever after? (sequel to (Far from happily ever after')

Chapter 4: Stop talking

Chapter 4

Katniss P.O.V.

Becca wasn't at home when Peeta and I came home. Riley told us that she's at Nate's.

Peeta drove there to get here and neither of them looked pretty happy when they came home. Especially not Becca.

"I walked in on them almost having sex!" Peeta says.

My eyes widen.

"Um..."

"They'd gotten as far as taking of each other's top", Peeta says and I breathe out.

"It's not like it would be the first time", Becca mutter.

"You're not old enough to have sex Becca!" I burst. "You're only sixteen for gods sake!"

"I'm not a kid! How old were you anyways? When you had sex for the first time?" She sputters.

"Twenty, if you have to know, and it was with your father", I say.

I see Peeta smirk slyly at me behind Becca's back. I hold back my smile that wants to sneak up on my face. I have to stay serious.

"Mom... Just... Eww", Becca says shaking her head.

"You asked", I say. "And you think you're so mature? Let's talk about why your father and I were called in to see your principal this morning".

It blurs out of me before I can stop it. That's not how I wanted to start this conversation.

Becca just stares at me.

"What?" Riley asks as she walks into us in the kitchen.

"When were you going to tell us that you're skipping almost all of your classes?" Peeta asks and comes to stand beside me to look at Becca.

"Tomorrow, because I so wanted to get busted!" She sputters.

"The teachers are tough on her", Riley says to Becca's defend.

Riley always wants to protect Becca. Always. No matter what kind of trouble Becca gets herself into.

"Riley please stay out of this, we're gonna talk to you too soon", I say.

"What?! She didn't do anything! I'm the one skipping classes not her", Becca says instantly.

I don't know how Becca works anymore. I seriously don't.

"We know, it's not about that", Peeta says. "But you better stop skipping classes Becca, or else you're gonna get expelled".

"You better stop skipping classes Becca, or else you're gonna get expelled", she mimics Peeta in a mockingly voice.

Did she just mock Peeta? Yes! She just mocked her father.

"Rebecca, don't even dare to talk to me like that again", Peeta says sternly.

"What if I do? What are you gonna do? Hit me?" She asks.

She knows Peeta would never do that. I know what she's trying to do. She's trying to see how far she can go before we start screaming.

"Becca if that's what you think of me after sixteen years, than I don't know what more you and I have to say to each other", Peeta says in a calm voice, but I can hear the hurt undertone he's trying to hide.

I'm trying to understand what he just said.

Becca suddenly frowns and Riley looks from Becca to Peeta.

"What...? Riley starts but I hold up my hand to silence her because I see that Peeta is going to talk some more.

"Becca if you think that low of me, if you actually think that I would hit my children who means more to me than my own life, than I suggest right now that we don't speak anymore with each other", he says.

Becca looks at Peeta for a few seconds before she leaves the kitchen.

I stand frozen to the kitchen floor. What just happened?

"Riley can I have a minute alone with your father?" I ask.

Riley nods and walks out of the kitchen. I can hear her steps as she walks up the stairs.

I turn to Peeta. She's staring into the wall, shaking.

"Baby?" I say touching his arms.

That's when his tears comes. He wraps his arms around me and cries into my neck.

I lead Peeta out of the kitchen and up the stairs to our room. I close the door while Peeta walk to our bed and sit on the edge.

I walk up to him and sit next to him.

"Honey how are you feeling?" I ask taking one of his big rough hands in both of mine.

"Well I just told my daughter not to speak with me, you figure out how I feel", Peeta mumbles. "I just... She has to know that we're serious, and when she says that about me hitting her, something inside me broke. Why would she even think that?"

"She doesn't, she's just trying to push the limits, to see how far she can push everything", I say. "But maybe you're right, maybe she will take this more serious now".

"I don't know", Peeta says. "We have to talk to Riley though".

"Yeah", I say and stand up.

I open the door and call Riley's name.

"Yeah?" She asks walking up to me.

"Come in here your father and I need to talk to you", I say.

She walks into our room and I close the door.

"What is it mom?" She asks.

"Your principal told us that your teachers feel like your holding back a lot in class, that you feel insecure", Peeta says. "Is that true honey?"

She avoids looking us in the eyes. She looks down at her feet which she has painted in green. Her favorite color is green. Just like mine.

"Riley?" I say.

"Maybe", she answers.

I look at Peeta.

"He also said that it's only in the classes you have with Becca", I say.

"Mom just... Don't", Riley says. "Please".

"Riley this is important", Peeta insists. "It's really important".

"It is baby, and he also said that you're being bullied", I say.

Tears fill Riley's big blue eyes. She's hiding something. I can see it in her teary eyes.

"I can't do this", she says as her tears spill and she runs out of the room.

I close my eyes.

Everything is just a big mess right now. I thought that after Peeta quit the army every problem would go away. But they haven't. Maybe there isn't a happily ever after for this family.

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✏️1027 words✏️

Hey guys, I hope you liked the chapter.

So what is Riley hiding? Why is this so hard on her?

Please vote and comment.

-Josephine xx