I hurriedly switch out of my sports bra into my normal one, pull on my fiery red tank top and my white short shorts, slide on my sandals and head out of work. I own Kat's sporting goods in Brooklyn, New York. I'm twenty years old, my best friend is Annie and her boyfriend Finn. Well, Finnick but I call him Finn. I graduated from business college earlier this year, I live in a two bedroom apartment the overlooks the city. It's very spacious and I love it. I live alone. I don't have a boyfriend. I did once but we never even kissed. So no, I have not had my first kiss. And it doesn't really bug me. I grew up in Kentucky with my parents and little sister, Prim. My cousin Johanna Mason, her Dad, Haymitch Abernathy. Her mom left them when Johanna was born and now Johanna has her mothers last name. She's my age and currently lives in Maine, I believe. I haven't seen her since graduation, because I let for college the day after that and then moved right here. I haven't seen any of my family, actually. It's been three years. Finn is like my brother and Annie is like my sister. Finn's parents are dead, along with her sister, died when he was sixteen. We've known each other since we were nine. We went to the same elementary school but didn't talk till third grade. The three of us became instant best friends I have a car, a jeep wrangler, to be exact. It's in the shop. I don't know why, because I know nothing about cars. Finn told me to get it to the shop so I did. I'm lucky Brooklyn, New York, isn't too large. I can walk wherever. I usually longboard, but I forgot it today. My iPhone 5 beeps and I pull it out. Finn: sup kitty Me: nothing. Just walking home from work. Finn: need a ride? Me: nah. I'd rather walk Finn: okay. Suit yourself I start to type in a reply when I slam into someone. It almost fall but the person grabs my arm gently, steadying me. I blink multiple times and then look at him. "I'm sorry. It was probably my fault." I say. He has curly blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. He smiles easily. "I was busy texting..." He trails off. I laugh nervously. "Me uh...me too." I say. As I stare at him longer, I start to get an overwhelmingly strong feeling like I know him from somewhere. "Do I know you?" I finally ask. "You just took those words right out of my mouth." He says. It's his eyes. I've never seen that blue before. It's sapphire mixed with a bit of white, making it lighter, goldfish streaks in them. It's lighter on the outside of his iris, darker on the inside. I definitely know him. I just can't put my finger on it quite yet. I shift uncomfortably on my feet. "Um...I'm Peeta Mellark." He says slowly, looking just as confused as I feel. Even his name rings a bell. But where do I know him from. "Katniss Everdeen," I say, shaking his hand. My phone chimes, rings, actually. I look down to see its my mother. "I uh...gotta take this." I say. He nods. "Okay. Well...nice meeting you. Again, I think." He says. I smile and nod and then press answer and start walking again. "Hey Mom," I say. "Hey baby girl." She says warmly. I haven't spoken to her in a week. I've been really busy. "I haven't talked to you in a while..." She trails off. "Yeah uh, sorry about that. I've been busy. With the store and the bills and then my car being stupid. I haven't really had the chance to get on the phone." I say. "Oh. What's up with the car?" She asks. "I have no clue. Finn says I needed to take it to the car place, so I did. It's been there for like six days and I have to walk home." I explain. "Why don't you call a taxi or something?" She asks. "Because, I would much rather walk. You know I love nature." I say, brushing my long, dark brown hair out of my face. My hair is long and wavy. And I mean long. It's down to about four inches from my butt. And I don't even want to get it cut. I love it long. "Yeah, I remember your father used to take you out hunting and on nature walks and taught you how to shoot a bow and arrow." She says. "Yeah." I say. "And the times Finn and Annie joined and learned a bit too." "Yeah." I can hear the smile in her voice. "So how are they? Finnick and Annie I mean." "The same, I guess. I dunno. I kinda miss them. I haven't seen them in a few days. I normally see them every day." I say as I step around a screaming child, who is mad at her mother for not letting her get a stuffed animal from build-a-bear. I get it though, why she didn't let her get it. Those stupid bears are thirty dollars. Little kids just don't understand. "Katniss are you depressed?" She blurts. I pause, confused. "Because Finnick and Annie think you are. They said you've been really quiet." She says. "No mom! It's just because I've been working." I say. "I'm perfectly fine, just busy, I swear." I say seriously. She sighs. "Okay. Alright I believe you." I smile a little. The Peeta guy is still tugging at my brain. I'm certain I know him from somewhere. "Mom?" I ask calmly. "Yes boo?" Boo. My childhood nickname that I can't seem to live down. "Do I know a Peeta Mellark. Because I ran into him today and he looks a little familiar and he's actually a bit cute. Well...sexy and a lot, not a bit. And he looks familiar, and his name sounds familiar." I say carefully. Yes. He's hot and I may have a teeny crush on him. So what? I'm aloud to like someone cute. Mom is silent. "Mom?" I ask after a few moments. "Uh..." She trails off. That's a yes. I do know him. And she knows exactly where. "Can I ask you a question?" She says finally. "Okay..." I'm so confused right now it's not even funny. "Well me and Prim and Dad and Uncle Haymitch and Aunt Kate, Uncle Aaron, Kaitlin, Lauren, Stella, Aunt Annabella, Uncle Bryon, Ethan, and Madison. We all miss you. We really, really miss you and Johanna and Finnick and Annie." She begins. Okay, Prim is my seventeen year old sister. Her real name is Primrose but she thinks its too pretty so she goes by Prim. She has blond hair and blue eyes. Them Uncle Haymitch, he's...a work of art. That's all I can say. Then there's Aunt Kate, Uncle Aaron, Kaitlin, Lauren and Stella. They all have dark hair except for Aunt Kate, Mom's sister. She's blonde. Kaitlin is eight, Lauren is 17, Prim's best friend and cousin and sister. They're so close. That's how Johanna and I were, but we're drifting apart. Lauren has dark hair and blue eyes. Almost everyone in this family has blue eyes. Haymitch is my dads brother. He has grey eyes, like Dad and me. Then there's Aunt Annabella, Uncle Bryon, Ethan, and Madison. Aunt Annabella is Haymitch and Dad's sister, she's got dark hair and grey eyes. Uncle Byron actually has red hair and blue eyes. Ethen is fifteen, he has floppy reddish hair and blue eyes. And Madison...well I've never met her. She's only two, and I haven't seen any of my family in three years. Oh and Johanna. She's my best friend, cousin and sister. Not really my sister but we're that close. She has short black hair, which she apparently gets from her mother. And she has really brown eyes, so she's one of the others that do t have blue eyes. I miss them too. A lot. "What are you saying, exactly?" I ask. She sighs softly. "Well it's June thirtieth. And we were thinking...maybe you and Finnick and Annie could come down to Kentucky for the Fourth of July. And then go home on...I dunno, the sixth." She says. "When do you want us to come?" I want to go. I miss them. "Tomorrow..." She says. I sigh and look up, realizing I'm at the cross road. The left side leads to my apartment complex and the right leads to Finn and Annie's neighborhood. "I'll uh...call you back." I say. "Okay. Love you." She says quietly, sounding extremely upset. "Love you too," I hang up and head to Finn and Annie's. Annie's white sedan is in the driveway, along with Finn's red ford truck. I walk right up to the door and walk inside. "Hey!" I shout, dropping my bag on the couch. Annie comes racing down the stairs, Finn coming out of the kitchen. "Hey stranger!" Annie says, hugging me. "Ew. It's you." Finn says, wrinkling his nose, faking disgust. I step away from Annie. "Nice try." I say. "So...kitty...why have you finally decided to show us you exist." Finn says. I roll my eyes. "Do you think you guys can get dd work from tomorrow through the sixth?" I ask. "Uh...I own the place. So yeah." Annie says. "I'll call Jake." Finn says. Jake. And Kate. They work at Starbucks. So does Finn. Annie owns some business. It's calling "Annie's productions" I don't even know what they do, but it makes good money. Finn dials Jake, his manager. Annie and I start to talk while Finn talks on the phone. "I saw this really hot guy today." I say. Both Finn and Annie's eyes snap up to mine. They want to me get a 'man' so bad. "Really?" Annie asks. I feel my cheeks hear up as I nod. "Thanks Jake." Finn hangs up. "I got time off. Now talk!" "Well uh...I think I know him, actually. He has curly blond hair and blue eyes that are so unique. They're sapphire but like mixed with a bit of white, so it's darker. Then there's gold flecks in them." I say. "He's got a six pack and he's really hot. But his name sounds familiar and he looks familiar too." I say. "It's his eyes, I'm positive." "What's his name?" Annie demands. I smile. "Peeta Mellark." I say. They both nod. "Did you get his digits?" Finn asks. I bite my lip and shake my head. "Kitty! What the hell!" Finn bursts while Annie shakes her year angrily. "No because then my mom called, which is actually why I'm here." I say. They both remain silent, waiting for me to continue. "She wants us to come down to Kentucky tomorrow till the sixth." I say. "Alright." Annie says, not thinking about it. "Okay." Finn adds. "So we're going?" I ask. They both nod. Finn doesn't say anything as he pulls out his phone. We're silent for a while and then he pockets his phone. "I got the tickets." He says. "Why! I can buy my own." I hiss. He rolls his eyes. "A 'thanks Finn' would be nice." He says. I roll my eyes. "Why did you tell my mom you think I'm depressed?" I ask. "Um well Mom called and it just slipped out." Finn says. Yes, Finn calls my parents 'mom' and 'dad' simply because his dad and mom were drunk druggies. His Dad raped and then murdered his sister and then both his parents overdosed. So yeah, he doesn't like to talk about it. "Okay. Well I have to go pack. What time are we leaving tomorrow?" I ask. "The tickets are for twelve and its an hour ride so we'll get in at one. We should get there an hour early so be here at...ten thirty." Finn says. "What about my car?" I ask. "We can get it." Finn says. "I forgot to tell you." I nod. "Okay, bye." I head for the door after grabbing my bag off the couch. "I'll drive you." Finn says. I don't bother to argue as he grabs his keys. Annie follows. We get in his car and he starts to drive. We pass my work. "Can you stop?" I ask. He knows where we're going, so he pulls into the parking lot. They follow me inside. It's open, but I got bored and decided to leave. It's Clove, Rue, Thresh and Linda working. Linda behind the register. I walk up to her. "Hey boss." She says. I smile. "Hey Linda." I reply. We all act like best friends. "Hey listen. I'm going out of town till the sixth. If there's any problems, call." I say. She smiles and nods. I wave at Clove and head back out. We get back in the car and drive to the car shop. "Thanks. I'll see you guys in the morning." I say. "Wait. I bought the tickets that you can put your car on the train so uh...you wanna bring yours?" He asks. I nod. "Alright." I say. I wave goodbye and then walk into the shop. There's a person behind the counter. "Um my car is done." I say. "What's your name?" The guy asks grumpily. "Katniss Everdeen." I say. He says something into a walki talki, completely ignoring me. A minute or so later, a man walks into the store. "Katniss Everdeen?" He asks. I turn around. He hands me my car keys.
"It's all good." I paid before. I nod and walk out, getting in my green jeep wrangler and drive towards home. I remember something and hurriedly call Finn. "Hello?" He asks. "Finn I forgot. Don't tell anyone we're coming I want to surprise them." I say. "Don't even answer them if they call, tell Ann." I say as I pull into a spot right in front of the stairs at my apartment. I get out, grab my bag, lock the car and walk upstairs. I unlock the door and then drop my bag on the table next to the door and head into my bedroom. "Okay. I told her." Finn says. "Alright. See you tomorrow." "Okay Kitty. Love you."
"Love you too." I hang up, plug my phone into charge, and then pull my suitcase out from under my bed. I never really got a hang of packing nicely, although I'm extremely OCD. I'm very neat. I can't let a little mess in my house without going crazy. Oh, and I'm ADD. It's naked it hard to focus on one thing and gives you a trillion different thoughts in your head at once. I have to take meds for it. I dump all my drawers into my suitcase, add my ADD pills, and then strip naked and walk into the bathroom, throwing my clothes in the hamper. I turn on the shower and step in. I lather my hair in my oak smelling shampoo and wash it out and then wash with coconut body wash. I shave and then shut off the water and get out. I wrap myself in a towel and then go back into my room, get a bra and underwear, pull them on and then walk into the kitchen and start boiling noodles. I don't normally wear clothes around the house. I get a cup and turn on the hot water. I fill it most of the way and then drop a tea bag in it, stirring the noodles while bouncing the tea bag up and down. The water quickly goes dark and I throw away the tea bag while dumping he noodles into the strainer and then back in the pot. I shut off the stove and then add sugar and milk to my tea. I pour ranch dressing into the noodles, mix them and then dump them in a bowl. I set my tea and food aside and then wash everything. I jog into my room and get my phone, which is fully charged. I have six unread text messages. I get my tea and noodles from the kitchen and walk out to the couch, setting everything on the coffee table and then sitting on the ground in front of it. I set my alarm for 9:45 tomorrow morning and then turn on Pretty Little Liars. I unlock my phone and go to the messages. One from Mom, one from Dad, one from Ethan, one from Jo, one from Lauren and one from Prim. Mom: boo...
Dad: honestly are you depressed? Ethan: hey we haven't talked in a while Jo: hey bitch Lauren: hey kat Prim: are you gonna come? I can't answer them. I sigh and press home. I eat silently, taking occasional sips of tea. I get up and wash my bowl and tea cup and then put them in the cabinet where they belong and then lie down on the couch. It's dark now. I don't bother turning on the light. I double check he volume on my phone is on full blast and then lie down and turn back to Pretty Little Liars. In the end, it shows A stabbing one of the dolls. CeCe, no doubt. The roll had a black hood. That doll was CeCe, which means CeCe is gonna die. I roll my eyes and start the next episode. I start to get a bit tired and end up drifting off halfway through.