We protect each other~ A modern day HG fanfic

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

         Katniss sighs as she watches her little sister sort through the contents of her closet. Tonight, Peeta invited Glimmer and her mother to dinner at their place. To Prim, that meant she needed to dress up. “Katniss, you must have something to wear here…”

“I told you Prim, I don’t like dresses.” Prim raises her hands in defeat and walks towards the door. “Where are you going?” she asks.

“To Mom’s room. She must have something for you to wear.” Katniss gives out an exaggerated sigh and jumps into her bed. She watches Buttercup, struggling to remove the green bow from its neck. Katniss giggles and picks up the cat. “I know how you feel buddy.” She unwraps the bow and tosses it to the side.

Buttercup gives her a content meow and snuggles close to Katniss. Prim comes back in later with a black dress in hand. She groans when she spots the green bow tossed aside. “Fine Buttercup, you don’t need to wear it.” She hands Katniss the dress and leaves her with Buttercup to change.

Katniss inspects the dress; she runs her fingers over the soft material. Cotton? In the light, the dress isn’t black but a dark shade of grey. She pulls the spaghetti strap up so it doesn’t slip down her shoulder. “Here let me help.” Mary stands by the door with a smile on her face.

She helps Katniss adjust the straps so that it’s not too loose and ties her hair in a special braid. “There, you look beautiful.” Katniss thanks her mother and they walk towards the kitchen. As she helps Mary prepare the food, she plans a strategy on how she’s going to make Glimmer spill.

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The doorbell rings and Peeta immediately jumps to his feet. He returns to the living room with Glimmer and an older woman who presumably her mother. Katniss and Prim struggle to keep their giggles down, Glimmer’s mother looks ridiculous.

When you look at her, the first thing that grabs your attention is her bizarre hairstyle; her big and puffy orange curls are streaked with bright pink highlights. Every step she takes makes a clicking sound from her bright blue high-heels. And don’t get Katniss started on her clothes; its covered in so many sequins that makes her squint slightly as she walks closer. The lady kisses Mary’s cheeks and gives Joshua a firm handshake. “It’s nice to finally meet you! My name’s Effie,” she says in a shrill voice.

“The pleasures ours,” replies Mary. “And I must say, your daughter is all Peeta described her to be.” Glimmer blushes while Peeta hurries Mary into the kitchen before she could embarrass him further.

Katniss stares at Glimmer with a hint of disgust on her face. The shimmering pink décolleté gown clings to Glimmer’s body, showing off all her curves. Her face is caked with mascara and lip-gloss. At least it was better than Effie’s, whose face looked more like a ruined canvas.

The group takes a seat at the dining table as Prim and Mary brings out the food. Mary and Joshua take turn asking Effie questions about her role in the fashion industry. Prim nearly chokes when they hear that Effie is the “Chief Operating Officer” of Forever 21 in the South Carolina state.

As the adults talk, Katniss watches Peeta rub his hand on Glimmer’s affectionately. She narrows her eyes at her, if looks could kill, Glimmer would be a rotting carcass. “So Glimmer, what’s San Francisco like?” she asks with minimal interest.

“It’s okay I guess, the winters aren’t as cold there but I’ll manage,” she says with a smile. “Uh huh…” Katniss replies.

The talk at the table is light, Katniss tries to think of more things to ask Glimmer but her mind is blank. “Come on Katniss!” she thinks to herself. She stabs her vegetables in frustration, her fork scraps against the ceramic plate. Prim looks at her, “Are you okay?” she quietly asks her.

“I’m fine,” she says with gritted teeth. After dinner, Prim excuses herself and pulls Katniss to the kitchen and shuts the door. “Katniss, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on sis, I know something’s up. Whenever you’re stress, you start to frown.” Immediately Katniss relaxes her face and smiles at Prim. “No… I’m fine, see?” Prim looks at her with an eyebrow raised. “I’m just worrying about a homework assignment.”

“Okay then.” Prim walks to the fridge and pulls out a tray with mini-cakes. They walk to the kitchen start to serve it to everyone. Katniss stops halfway from taking a bite out of her cake. She watches Glimmer giggle something at Peeta said and bursts.

“Why do you like my brother?” she asks.

“Wh-wh-what?” Glimmer stutters. Her palms start to sweat and she feels cold.

“I mean, you just said hi to him on the day we first met then suddenly ask him out the next. I may not have dated ever, but something is definitely off.”

“Katniss…” Peeta says.

“No Peeta, I have stood by long enough. What’s your deal Glimmer?” she asks. Glimmer turns pale and she tremors slightly.

“Katniss, can I have a word?” Peeta asks.

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“What is wrong with you?” he asks when they are out of earshot. He felt irritated at Katniss, which has never happened before. “Could you just stop doing this for one night?” he asks. “You’ve been doing this ever since Glimmer and I started dating!”

“Don’t you see that Glimmer isn’t who you think she is?” she asks him. “Something is wrong with her Peeta!”

“Why are you doing this? You are the one that encouraged me to talk to her that day? You’re talking as if she’s cheating on me or something.”

“I’m pretty sure she is!” she yells. “No girl would change so quickly! Your head is in the clouds Peeta!”

“Unless you have some proof, which you won’t find, I’m going to act like this talk never happened. I hope you realize how childish you sound right now.” He storms out of the room leaving a frustrated Katniss behind. Instead of following him, she sprints to her room and slams the door.

Meanwhile Glimmer panics. “I have to break up with him tonight, before this she he finds out!” she thinks.