You Only Live Once

Chapter 21

Peeta's family's house is light yellow and extremely friendly. His mother baked chocolate chipped cookies and his father is a softball coach for younger kids. His oldest brother has a small candy shop in the center city and two twin baby boys. His other brother is out of state studying in some Ivy League college, I can't recall which. Summing up, Peeta's family is the most typical american family leaving in the suburbs, except for Peeta, that is. From the moment I came in Peeta's house, the smell of roast and baked goods hit my nose, something I've never been used to since my father just can't cook and my mother always worked until late hours in the hospital.

Apparently, Peeta's family wasn't expecting him, or me, since the first thing his mother did the moment he walked through the kitchen door was gasp loudly and throw the rag she was using to clean the counter. Afterwards she just run up to Peeta and hug him so tightly I wondereed if she was hurting him. Then she procceded to squash Peeta's cheeks between her hands and kissing his forehead. It wasn't until Peeta grumbled about her embarassing him that his mother noticed my presence. The moment she laid eyes on me, a warm smile immediatly plastered her face. She seemed very excited about having me there, even if I wasn't expected.

"So Katniss, what major are you studying?"
I lift my head from my plate of roast. Almost as soon as I arrived, Peeta's mother was already feeling me with treats and food. Peeta's father is looking expectantly at me.

"Same as Peeta, economics." I answer. Peeta's father gives me a big smile.

"That's nice. You seem like a lovely lady, Katniss. Maybe you'll rub off on my son a little. He could really use some responsibility." He jokes.

Peeta rolls his eyes "It's actually more like me rubbing my awesomeness on Kat here." He states.

"Of course. Because you are a great influence ." I say sarcastically.

"I no longer know if you're being sarcastic or not. Dad, your right, women really are difficult." Peeta remarks.

The rest of the meal passes by pretty fast, filled with compliments and questions from Peeta's mother and jokes from Peeta and his father. After lunch Peeta's brothers both come by, their very similar to him, you can easily see they are all brothers. All of them have blond hair, although Peeta's hair is lighter, and very similar blue eyes. Peeta, though, is slightly shorter. I'm not impressed to say that they also fight like brothers and Peeta, as the younger one, always seems to loose.

I am sitting on the orange swing chair in the porch, watching Peeta and his middle brother, Adam, going at each other in a wrestling match. My thoughts start to wander off, thinking of how Peeta's family is coping so well with the fact that he might be sick again. Shouldn't they be taking it a little harder?

I try to imagine a world where Prim was slowly but steadly fading away, sick, and I am obligated to watch her suffering with nothing I could do. And it feels like torture.

And that's when it hits me, they don't know. Peeta hasn't told his family yet. I am the first person to know about his possible sickness, and the only one to know that. Suddenley I feel guilty about pushing him to tell me the truth when he probably han't even said those words out loud to anyone. But the guilt is fast replaced by anger. Why hasn't he told his famly yet? They have the right to know.

I stand up as soon as the wrestling match finishes, not even sure who won in the first place. Adam runs up to the kitchen, and Peeta is following not far behind. I pull him aside.

"What is it, Katniss?" he asks gently, his smile streching across his face. It falters slightly when he notices my frown.

"You haven't told your family yet, have you?" I ask, going straight to the point.