district high school ♞ everlark

Chapter 7

Peeta POV

"Dinner's ready!" Katniss's mom shouts from the kitchen.

We all turn off the football game on TV and make our way to the dining room table, filled with plates and bowls of food. Turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, rolls, and cranberry sauce, with some pumpkin pie too.

"Smells delicious," Rye says while grabbing a plate.

Katniss takes a seat next to me and gives me a plate. "Thank you," I say while Mrs. Everdeen and Plutarch come into the dining room with Prim.

After everyone's seated, Mrs. Everdeen asks,"Katniss, would you say grace?"

"Sure," she replies. We all grab hands of the people next to us and her voice fills the silent room. "Dear God, thank you for this food and our two families gathered her today. Thank you for our loved ones in our lives and the ones that are safely in heaven. Amen."

"Amen," everyone echoes before filling their plates with food.
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"I am full," Michael exaggerates "full" and pats his belly.

"Me too," Prim groans. My brothers have grown to love Primrose as a little sister. I do too, but I think it's really sweet that they liked her that well. And, of course, they love Katniss as a sister, too.

I always kind of wanted a sister, but when I came, Mom just stopped having kids. I guess since she didn't want me as a boy, but a girl, she just stopped trying. But there hasn't been a girl in the Mellark family tree for generations. Honestly, I don't know why Mom didn't see that sooner. Although she never really liked my dad's side of the family, so she didn't see them at all, really, unless it was either Christmas or Thanksgiving. And all she did was curl up in the basement with my grandpa's golden retriever, Ollie, and occasionally come upstairs to either eat food or go to the bathroom.

"Peeta," a hand flashes by my face.

"What? Huh?" I look around to see Katniss sitting beside me.

"You zoned out," she chuckles.

"Oh," I blush, "Anyway..."

We go back to playing card games and watching more football. Dad and Plutarch are chatting about the game, Katniss's mom and Prim are petting Buttercup, their cat-which I've never cared for; he's quite mean- and Michael and Rye are playing Uno while watching the game. Katniss is curled up next to me with my arm around her frame. She looks up to me and smiles softly. I smile back and stroke her hair.

When 5pm rolls around, my family gathers up their things to leave. "Thank you for everything," I give Mrs. Everdeen a hug. "I'll be around here at 11 to pick up Katniss on Sunday. Thanks for letting her come with me."

"You're a genuine guy, Peeta, that I could see Katniss with for a while." That makes me blush and smile. I've thought about that before. "You are responsible and I trust you."

"Thank you," I nod in appreciation.

I walk over to Katniss and give her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I'll be here at 11 on Sunday, okay?"

"Okay, see you later," Katniss smiles and waves. My family goes home after a great day at the Everdeens'.