Linking Arms

Chapter 22

Katniss

During our free ten minutes before class, Peeta confronts me with urgency. The second I walk out of calculus, he's already standing there, waiting for me. He pulls me aside in the janitor's closet and locks the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked as Peeta gripped my shoulders.

He ignores my question. "Do you know the new girl in our school? Rylie Gallatin?"

I shake my head. "Well, I heard from the intercom, but how does this--"

"Somehow, she's associated with Finnick," he said, making my eyes wide from the news. "I-I don't know how, but I overhead both of them talking after class. Something about the letter 'P'? I'm pretty sure it's a code name."

"Well who's 'P'?" I asked, cutting in.

"I don't know," Peeta said, letting go of my shoulders. He runs a hand through his ashy blond hair. "but I plan to find out."

*

At lunch, Peeta tells all the girls about this Gallatin girl and how she's somewhat associated with Finnick. We all watch her walk her way through the cafeteria, looking for a seat to eat at.

"I think we should invite her over here," suggested Clove. "We can try to subtly pry her for information."

I open my mouth to testify, but Johanna has beaten me to it.

"Rylie!" Johanna exclaimed. Rylie turns to us with a confused expression. "Yeah, you!"

She slowly but surely makes her way towards us, settling herself and her tray next to me. She awkwardly smiles at all of us. We all glance at Peeta to talk for all of us.

"We all saw you needed somewhere to sit so we called you over here," Peeta said with a smile. He extends his hand. "Peeta."

She tediously shakes his hand. "Rylie."

Peeta introduces us all. "This is Annie; she's a little shy. Oh, and Johanna; she has a bit of an. . . attitude. And here's Clove, short for Clover. And last but not least, my girlfriend, Katniss."

We all say hi, and Rylie shakes all of our hands.

"Listen," Rylie trailed off, looking off behind her somewhere. "it was great meeting you all, but I have to meet someone here soon. Don't take it personal or anything, but I'll see you guys around later?"

I cut in. "Yeah, sure."

She says bye to all of us and takes her tray to the other side of the cafeteria. Once she's out of listening distance, we immediately discuss her weird behavior.

"Where the hell does she have to attend to," Johanna started. "She just got here, she can't already be waiting for someone."

"Maybe it's Finnick," Annie said. She turns to Peeta. "I mean, didn't you say she was talking to him earlier this morning?"

Peeta nods. "But what could they possibly be talking about?

Peeta

And then it hits me.

Finnick's phone. I remember searching through it and finding something about finding information on some "P", probably the same one Finnick and Rylie were talking about.