Midnight ✔️ ||Peeta Mallark x OC|| ( A Hunger Games Short story)

Coming to the tree?

I've been warned about this- the demonstration. We've been told that we must all wait our turn to be called in order to show off our talents to the masses.

I sit next to Thresh. The other districts have had their turn.

"Are you nervous?" He asks me

"No" I say quickly "why does it look like I am?" I add

He chuckles "well now that you mention it-"

"Oh my God I must look like a reck" I say; my leg moving up and down repeatedly

"Hey, calm down; you'll be fine" he says, placing a hand on my leg

I nod, biting the skin on my finger anyway.

"Thresh Morrowson" an automatic voice calls out

He stands up, removing his hand from my leg

I feel his reassuring presence besides me slip away

"You'll be fine red" he says

"Red?" I ask and he smiles

"Well you said I can't call you apple so Red will have to do" he says "apples are usually red, are they not?" He finishes talking while backing up and walking out the room

I sigh, wiping my hand on my face.

It's a few minutes until I hear the voice again

"Grace Hawks"

I jump.

No. I can't do this

I must have let a strangled noise escape me as I stood up, because I hear someone speak from behind me.

"I saw you throwing those stars and your katana skills are amazing" a boy says as i whip my head around to see him "aim straight and you'll be fine"

I nod, smiling at him for his reassurance

"Thanks" I whisper as I follow the path that Thresh just walked.

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The room is all set up for me as I enter. The sound of the my shoes hitting the foot does little to comfort me.

Still, I remind myself that I'm doing this for Theo.

I let out a shaky breath as I pick up the stars that are precisely placed on a rack.

I examine the edges, noticing how they must have been freshly sharpened for my usage.

I look up at the capital judges and I notice one or two with their eyes on me. Still, overall they seem fairly uninterested.

Focus.

I turn my head to the target and I quickly throw four stars. All aiming at the head and hitting their mark perfectly.

I glance at the men again and see them all talking.

There has to be something else I can do to stand out. Think Grace!

I spot the Katana set out for me and I make light work of throwing it directly at the target in front of me. It hits hits mark as it makes a noise, attracting heads.

I smile as I pick up some more stars.

Gotcha.

I ready myself as I do exactly the same as I have been doing during training.

I push myself over while holding the stars, letting them fly out of my grip while I'm completing my cartwheel.

I thank above for the years I spent cartwheeling in the grass for Theo's entertainment.

After landing on my feet again, I look at the men and nod. Signalling that I have finished.

I walk out of the room, letting out a huge sigh of relief but it only causes me to have my breath stuck in my throat.

I make the decision to sit on the floor and have a moment to myself as I real in what just happened.

If my Father could see me now. Maybe he'd actually want to hold a conversation with me that wasn't arguing.

Suddenly the door opens that I had just walked through and out comes Peeta Mallarck.

"Oh, how did you do?" He asks

I push myself to stand up from the floor and I smile politely

"Alright? And you?" I ask in return "did you show them how good you are at heavy lifting?"

I play with my fingers

"How do you know that's my talent?" He asks

"Oh, I watched you. The other day at training? You're really good at it" I say

He smiles as I catch his eye

"How did you know I was good at throwing stars?" I ask

He laughs

"I guess we are both guilty of looking at each other during training" he admits while scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah" I say with a whisper

"We should get going" he suggests and I nod as we do just that. Waking back to the others smiling when the other isn't looking