Perfect Imperfections

Chapter Five

"So plant your own gardens and decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers."

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Katniss POV

So maybe the Captains table wasn't that bad after all; I mean, no one was stuck up or anything. They all seemed like nice people but its still weird to think that I started this day with one friend whereas now I have two new ones plus lots of other possibilities. Maybe that's how you get the "high school experience" that everyone always goes on about: by expanding your social circle.

I'm still not a naturally sociable person though and that's why, when I walk into the changing rooms an hour and a half later, I start panicking because of the eight girls I don't know crammed in there. Okay, maybe that's an over-exaggeration since I obviously know Magde and Johanna and Annie and while I'd come across Clove Hadley before, the other five members of the team were unknowns to me. And I now had to change in front of them.

'Kat! You actually showed up!' Madge rushes over to greet me in only her shorts and sports bra. She grabs my wrist and pulls me into the centre of the changing room to introduce me.

'Okay guys, listen up. Since Finch is no longer part of the team because she transferred in the summer, we have a new member! This is my best friend,' Madge breaks off her speech to shoot a cheesy grin at me which I roll my eyes at, 'Katniss Everdeen. Now, Kat, listen while I introduce everyone to you. Okay so this is Hazel.' Madge gestures towards a shy looking girl with short cropped hair like Johanna's who waves at me in greeting.

'The one in the corner is Isabelle, she's awesome at serving!' Madge informs me, a little too enthusiastically as a girl with long, black hair smiled at me. 'The one who is ranting on the phone over there is Tally,' I shift my gaze over to a pale skinned brunette, shouting down the phone to someone. She acknowledged me by nodding her head slightly before continuing her rage.

'And that's Hedvig!' Madge grinned, fluttering her hand towards a tall girl with long blonde hair. 'Obviosuly you know Johanna and Annie already and I think you know Clove?' Madge raises her voice in a question which I nod in reply too.

'Okay, so that's everyone- hang on a second! Where's Alaska?'

'Over by Canada!' Johanna replies sarcastically as she adjusts her pony tail in the full length mirror. I grin at her response as I drop my bag onto a beach and start changing, turning towards the tiled wall so no one could see me change

'Oh ha ha that's hilarious. Seriously? Where is she?' Madge asks, directs her question around the room.

'Oh, she told me thats she was just finishing her Calculus homework but we all know she's making out with Gloss in the supply closet!' Tally states, having hung up on the poor person who was on the receiving end of her loud rant.

At that exact moment a whirlwind of black hair, bracelets and perfume flew through the door who I'm guessing was Alaska. The girl streaked through the changing room and plonked her bags on a corner of the bench before pulling her tank off clean off, accidentally taking her bra with it. She didn't seem fazed by this at all though, instead she started apologising to Madge. 'I'm so sorry I'm late! Homework sucks, am I right?'

'Right. Homework. Because that's where you were.' Clove replied dryly, as she flung open the changing room door and walked into the gym, the rest of us following as Alaska hopped along behind, still dragging her shorts over her hips.

The team practice tired me out completely with Madge forcing us through drills, work outs and practice games. Maybe I should have kept fit this summer instead of sitting on the sofa eating pizza and watching Netflix. All the other girls must have gotten used to the drills over their three years in the team because none of them were red in the face with exhaustion as we hit the showers.

I showered quickly and I was dressed before anyone was even out of the shower which was the aim of my plan; I was a pretty self conscious over my body. I would leave right away but I'm staying at Madge's tonight because her parents (and all their staff, I'm not even kidding; Madge has her own personal maid) are out of town and don't trust her by herself after a certain party in freshman year. I guess they see me as her quiet, shy and sensible best friend who is the only one who can talk her out of her wild ideas she has every now and again.

Madge had mentioned something about meeting up with another school team after school but she hadn't specified what one, I'm assuming its the male volleyball team. While I wait for the others, I twist my wet hair into a wrap around braid. The other girls dress, apply make up and Madge even straightens her hair; they all do this whilst gossiping about teachers, make up and clothes stores (Johanna making occasional sarcastic comments as she lines her eyes with liner) which isn't my thing at all. It's all girly talk. I switch off if I'm honest but I do snap to attention when the subject turns to Glimmer.

'-and then Glimmer comes up and starts flirting with him and ruins everything!' Clove says, throwing her hands up in despair. She's about to continue when she spots my wrap around side braid my hair was in. 'Katniss! Your hair looks amazing! Can you do mine?' She gushes, rushing over to me and sitting before me on the bench. I awkwardly mutter a compliment while I kneel behind Clove and start working her hair into the braid.

'Anyway, I wanted to slap that slut!' Cloves tone was almost a growl.

'Oh this is Katniss' specialist subject, Glimmers bad qualities.' Madge pipes up, done with her hair. I roll my eyes, she's making me sound like I bitch about everyone and that's not true but after all the bitchy things Glimmer has done to so many people, my best friend included in that, I think I have a pretty good reason to hate the girl.

'You make it sound like she has some good qualities, which she doesn't at all. You know in 8th Grade she started a rumour that I had measles becuase of my acne and no one came near me for weeks!' Johanna stated with such bitterness, the mirror is sprayed with her spit.

'Do you know what I don't get?' I say, talking for the first time. 'How a maniptalalive bitch like that can have a boyfriend as sweet and selfless as Peeta Mellark!'

'I think everyone wonders about that, Peeta's friends included.' Johanna mutters darkly.

'My guess is that she's holding him at gunpoint.' Annie states, her serious tone making us all laugh.

My fingers twist around the last lock of Cloves hair and I announce I'm done. She rushed to the mirror to admire it and breaks out into a smile. 'It looks awesome! Thanks Katniss!' She rushes back over to me and hugs me, taking me by surprise. I see Madge stifle a laugh; she knows I'm not a hug-y person. Before I can complain though, Annie makes an announcement.

'Its 4:30, the football team should just be finishing their practice!'

Wait what?! Football team?! That means-

'Kat! Stop daydreaming, lets go!'

When we finally leave the changing room, after Madge changes her top for the fifth time, the team are just making their way off the field. Most of them have their helmets hanging off their fingers and some even had their jerseys slung over their shoulder. As they came closer to where we were all standing, I could just make out the identity of the shirtless players, one was Finnick Odair (no surprise there, he loved showing off), one was a player named Cato a think and the other was-

Peeta Mellark. Just my luck. He's off limits, he's off limits, he's off-

My eyes seemed to travel to the captain automatically and I saw how his chest was sculpted and his muscles in his arms seemed to flex every time he swung his helmet back and forth; his tan skin almost made his blonde hair look brighter. I also couldn't help thinking as he got closer about how well fitted his shorts were, how the blue colour of them brought out his eyes perfectly.

God, I need help.