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jhsgf82 · 2 years

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Feel the Beat, Always

Here’s a snippet of a new fic. More to come later. @daydreamsandcaffeine and I watched this movie, and it was just too cute and so Everlark, and I just couldn’t resist Everlarking it. Fantastic supporting cast, btw. Based on Feel the Beat (Netflix, 2020).

Katniss raises her arms above her head, stretching her lean, lithe body; she links her thumbs, bends her knees, and arches her chest as she drops her head back, leading with her fingers. Slowly, she goes into a full standing backbend, then drops down and catches herself. She bends her elbows and goes into a reverse tabletop position for about ten seconds, then lowers herself down to the mat.

She’s been up since sunrise, limbering up and running through her dance routine, twice. Now she’s completing her post-dance stretches. Maybe she’ll go through the routine once more, though, for good measure.

After all, her big audition is TODAY.

And big shot producer Alma Coin is going to be there.

Dance is Katniss Everdeen’s life. And she’s good at it, really good. Oh, she’s not a star by any means, but she’s managed to land a couple of larger roles which have gotten her name out there, and she’s kept steady gigs in the chorus line of several popular stage shows. It’s been enough to make a living without having to work two or three jobs, which is a small miracle here in New York City. Her place isn’t a penthouse, obviously, nor is it a rat’s hole‒it’s just a simple loft, and it’s just right for her. What she loves best is that there’s plenty of space to dance.

A small town girl leaving her small town life to make it as a performer in “the big city” is relatively unheard of–well, no, not unheard of. It’s all too common, actually. What’s not common is to be successful at it. But Katniss has talent, and she’s aware of it. She can sing; she can dance, and if only she could act, she’d be a triple threat; however, she sucks at acting. But that’s okay. She doesn’t really need to; she can make her body work for her when her words and facial expressions fail her.

Katniss goes into a butterfly stretch.

Her mangy old muddy-orange cat, Buttercup, whom she inherited when her grandmother passed, comes up beside her, brushing her with his tail as he passes. He stops beside her to stretch out, too, elongating his body and sticking his butt in the air as he digs his nails into the gray and beige geometric-patterned rug. Then he trots over and jumps up on her couch and assumes the loaf position. Lazily, he watches her with rotten squash-colored eyes. He blinks at her once, and Katniss’s lips twitch.

Buttercup, an unlikely companion (and one she didn’t like very much at first), is quite possibly the ugliest cat she’s ever seen with his mashed-in nose and half an ear missing. He was definitely unwanted at first, but he’s grown on her. He’s her only company, truly, the only person in her life, and he’s not even a person. Katniss hasn’t had a date in…some number of years, but that’s okay. She doesn’t really need anyone; she only needs the stage.

As for family, there’s only her dad. She was an only child, and her mom left when she was little. She does try to call her father at least once a week. They don’t have much to talk about, but they get each other all the same. For one, he’s good about not guilt-tripping her for never coming to visit; he’s just happy to hear her voice. It’s not that she doesn’t want to go back to New Hope, West Virginia, or maybe she doesn’t. Admittedly, it would be too hard to see…certain persons, namely one, and of course, she’d have to hear everyone drone on and on endlessly about how she abandoned the town to make her way in NYC.

#dancer!Katniss #dance teacher!Katniss #exes!Everlark #Prim and Peeta siblings #Peeta has sisters instead of brothers #Mr. Everdeen is alive #football coach!Finnick #dance dad!Finnick #super proud daddy!Finnick #super proud brother!Peeta #not sure about the name of the town #or state #lol #Feel the Beat #Feel the Beat AU

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awhiskeyriver · 9 months

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The Tutor: Chapter Nine

Summary: When Finnick Odair, star quarterback and golden child of the Panem Nightlock’s football team is seriously injured on the field, his coach is willing to go the extra mile to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Enter Annie Cresta. From ‘The Bet’ universe.

Rated: M

You can read it here!

#the tutor #the panem nightlocks series #odesta fanfiction #finnick odair #annie cresta #thg #the hunger games #thg fanfiction #the hunger games fanfiction #sports romance #college romance #college au romance #college au

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finnickfan8 · 6 months

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Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince

Pairing: Peeta Mellark x reader

Genre: high school AU, fluff, smut

Summary: Peeta is the same age as Finnick along with the other tributes and they’re all 18 year old seniors in high school! Reader and Peeta have crushes on each other and one thing leads to another.

Warnings: Smut, language

Your dad, Haymich Abernathy, was a victor. This meant that you were one of the richest families in District 12. Your mom, Effie Trinket, was very supportive of everything you wanted to do. This meant that you mention wanting something or wanting to do something and the next week it was done. This was how you had played at least ten different sports throughout the years and had thousands of toys. Your dad, however, was more of a disciplinarian in a sense. He wanted your people skills to be top notch in case you ever were reaped, leading to the compromise of pageants. It was a way where you could show off your talents, your mom could dress you up, and your dad could coach you on speaking.

Your walls were filled with crowns, medals, and trophies. The soft glisten of your triumphs were sometimes blinding, but in a good way. Glitter and rhinestones lined not only your dresses, but also your future.

Your grades were pretty good, they have to be for pageants. Everything you did just screamed pageant girl; you were popular, you were very feminine, and you were adored. Everyone loved who they thought you were, your performance. You had everything, but a boyfriend.

Your best friends were living the life with their cliques and boyfriends. Well, not Johanna, everyone thought the two of you were dating for a while. You didn’t mind, she agreed that y’all would get married if you’re both single at thirty, but for now you had other plans. You had had a crush on the shortest captain of the football team, Peeta Mellark.

Peeta was always at your house, hanging out with your dad, and you always ran your pageant walks for him. Katniss was also over frequently, but less now that she was caught with Gale in the broom closet. Katniss was your friend and she knew you liked Peeta, but that never really got in the way.

Your first period, you sat between Johanna and Annie, but behind Peeta. You slowly tapped the blonde boy on the shoulder, Peeta jumps, turning his head slowly. “Yeah Y/N?” The attractive man smiled, twirling his pencil.

“Dad wants you over for dinner tonight if thats okay with you.” You gently smile at him. You glance at his hand, watching the pencil swirl rhythmically in his burly hands.

“Yeah, of course it’s okay.” The male notices you staring and chuckles internally. “Six still?” You nod, glancing in to his puppy dog eyes. Today he was wearing a white cotton shirt and some brown cargo pants. The shirt was baggy but tight on his arms, making his biceps bulge gloriously. The purity of the white fit him like a puzzle. Although 18, Peeta was less tainted than his peers. Peeta had never had a real kiss, only an on camera one with Katniss in the games. Compared to the desperately promiscuous gremlins at your school, Peeta was an angel; pure, sweet, and radiating light.

You smooth over the hem of your skirt, nervously pleating it back up again before repeating. Although a moderate temperature in your house, you felt cold in your core, your abdominal muscles contracting. The frigidity of the room faded as you flapped your hands up and down to shake the nerves. Tonight you were going to catch Peeta’s attention. You curtly head downstairs, your heels clicking on the hardwood floors, your hair flowing swimmingly behind you as you accumulated some speed in your step.

Peeta had every girl in school fawning over him now that he was rich. Love notes were a daily for the young adult, nevertheless he diffidently declined all of his admirers and vixens. One thing was on his mind; becoming Haymich’s son officially. By that he intended on marrying you. Admittedly, it was a little fast for him to already have images of you in a white dress. Peeta paid no mind to the fact that the two of you weren’t even dating yet, he wanted to make you the happiest girl ever.

This is why his breath stopped at your elegant waltz down the grand staircase in the middle of the Abernathy house. Your eyes traced his figure, his dress shirt and slacks doing it no justice. You had seen what you would call “sporty Peeta” in all of his glory; pads on, jersey raised slightly revealing his glistening abs, tight white snap in football pants, and messy wet hair sticking to his sculpted face. You had much discernment as to what he hid under the button up.

You sat next to Peeta, your perfectly manicured nails pressing against the table to provide mental relief. Your dad signals for you to eat as soon as your well adorned mother joins the three of you. Effie had always been a doting mother and to your dismay, an oversharing one too. This entailed anything from her sharing baby pictures to strangers to inviting random classmates of yours to your pageants.

“Y/N here is participating in the ‘Miss Career’ pageant next week, isn’t she just so talented?” Your mother started the conversation out with an awkward gloat about ‘her precious Y/N.’ Peeta looked you dead in the eye, boring in to your soul before nodding at your enthusiastic mother. “She’s about to make an appearance on the big screen for the next Hunger Games if she wins. As a prize, you get to be the opener for the games.” Effie claps her eager hands.

“Oh I know, Y/N is quite beautiful.” Peeta smirks at you, searching for a reaction on your now thunderstruck face. “She’s also one of the smartest girls in our class.” Your father lets an approving smile grace his lips, nodding at you. “Would you guys mind if Y/N helped me on some assignments after dinner?” a chorus of ‘no’ from your parents rang melodically through his willing ears. The dinner got progressively more lively before coming to a halt via Peeta’s ‘academic drive.’

You lead the older to your room, softly taking his calloused hand in yours. The shine of silver crowns blinded your study buddy’s doe eyes, “Your mom wasn’t kidding.” He mused, taking a seat on your bed. “I guess i’m not the only one who thinks you’re the most beautiful girl in Panem”

You whip your head towards him, “Is that what you tell all your fangirls?” You roll your eyes narked at his roster of women who would be happy with him simply sighing in their direction.

“No, actually.” Peeta motions for you to sit before gently cradling your face. “I tell them that I have a girl I’ve liked for a very long time.” The warmth of his touch was nice on his rough yet weirdly velvet hands.

“Who? Katniss? What you said on T.V. seemed pretty legit.” You leaned closer on the last few words to emphasize them. Your breath warmed his lips, his large lands moved to brush them through your hair.

“What I said, was about you Y/N, or should I say Miss Americana?” That was your latest title that you had just won the week before. Enamored with how Mr. Capitol had found out, you put your clammy hands over his.

“How’d you know?” The weary words cracked past your lips like an impossible feat. A smile greeted you from the blonde athlete’s face.

“I was there.” You haphazardly tosses caution to the wolves, pulling him in to kiss you. His buttery soft lips pressed back against yours, lovingly. “Wow. I never figured the Y/N Abernathy would be the one kissing me.” He teased before pulling you in again. You broke the kiss, much to Peeta’s complaints, to go lock your door.

You continue to lock your lips and let them dance in feverish passion. Your hands roamed over the silk of his freshly pressed charcoal dress shirt. Peeta’s ready hands start to unbutton his own shirt, helping you slide it off of his broad shoulders as you start on your own garment. His taught muscles are hungry for your cherished touch. You slide your now unbuttoned blouse off your body.

Peeta wasted no time before kissing on your neck, nearing your round bosom. “May I?” Peeta never wants to make you uncomfortable, so he insists on affirmative consent. You simply not in response, although you seem just as needy as him, a nod wasn’t enough. “Use your words please Lovely.” His voice isn’t demanding, but it’s firm and strict yet caring.

“Yes, please Peeta. I’ve liked you for so long please I want you to do this.” You pleaded before he finally took your red bra off, your breasts hardening in the crisp air of the room. He slowly trails love bites starting at your neck. ‘Love bites’ was the only way to describe the marks he left. There was no feeling of possessiveness or even lust in them, just a physical expression of how much Peeta loved his woman.

Peeta suckled on your tender nipple softly, making sure to be gentle with his ‘Love.’ You let out a soft breathy moan as his sucking gets a little rougher. “Mm Peeta you’re doing so good.” you praise quietly. Blood flushes to Peeta’s now hard member at the praise.

“I don’t really know how to say this, but can I please eat you out?” Peeta had always wanted to make you feel good and your first time was going to be the best, he’d do whatever it took. You continue to moan at touches to your hips.

“Please Peeta, Please do that.” Your wish is Peeta’s command, he hangs on your every word. He hikes up your skirt, leaving kisses on your now soaked underwear. He basks in the delight of being between your thighs. He pushes your panties aside, taking a long strip up the middle and around the outside. The taste of your arousal was intoxicating, addicting, his new vice.

With a pointed shape, his tongue slowly drags in a zig zag pattern, flicking his tongue to your swollen clit. The skill in his mouth elicits a wanton moan to escape from your puffy lips. His tongue draws patterns and shapes in to your greedy heat.

Your hand flies down to Peeta’s hair, tugging gently. “Oh my goodness, Peeta!” you cry, thank goodness for thick walls. He slowly adds his ring finger in to your soaked hole. You squeeze your thighs gently around him, writhing under his skilled touch.

“Feeling good, Princess?” You moan in response to the nickname. He speeds up his finger in your hole, curling upwards. You nod at his question, earning a stern look from the older. He speeds his finger up, “Words, Lovely.”

“Yes oh my, yes!” You cry, wiggling your hips up at him as he adds a second finger. You wince at the stretch but are okay with it after a second. Peeta leans in to lick your clit, causing a build. Your walls flutter around his thick fingers. He could tell you were close.

“Please Y/N, please let me make you feel good.” He begged. You whined, needing more as you bucked your hips at him. Your edge was near. “Come on Baby, cum on my fingers. You got it, you’re doing so good.” With that you came undone, liquid coating his fingers. You panted and looked at him with half lidded eyes. A large hand rubbed at your thighs lovingly, “Would you like to continue? We can just cuddle and watch something if you would like.”

“No, I need you inside me now please.” You pulled him in for a desperate kiss. You put your hands were on the back of his head/ neck, pulling him in for more. He got the idea and started to undo his belt without breaking the kiss. You both gasped for air as he slid his tip in your slick, swiping it back and forth. He slid his tip in and paused.

He slid in inch by inch until he bottomed out. Before he started to move, he noticed blood run down your thigh. “You’re a virgin?” he held your hand as you nodded. He kissed your forehead tenderly, transferring the warmth of his heart to yours. The pain caused by his huge length and the stretch of your puckered hole. Then he started to move, giving his all to you like you’re giving to him.

His eager hands palmed at your breasts, his girth filling you out in a way like no other. You never knew your first time could feel so euphoric. The Brobdingnagian amount pleasure you felt right in that moment made all of the pain worth it. All of the waiting to have Peeta in this position had paid off. Call you a prognosticator because you knew you could have him twirled around your finger eventually.

Peeta put your legs over his shoulders so he could hit your spot better. His big hands pressed down softly on to your stomach, feeling himself moving within your tight walls. He was besotted with the mesmerizing sensation of you clenching round him, sucking him in subsequently to his ravaging thrusts.

“Peeta” You groaned before pulling him in, syncing the thrusts of his hips with your mouth. You lean up to mark his muscular neck. You left sloppy kisses atop of him. As Peeta starts to get close, he tweaks at your perky nipples. You’re both nearing your edge. “Peeta you make me feel so good!” you scream, clawing at his bare back. He flipped you around, your knees on the expensive comforter, your fleshy ass up so Peeta could see the fullness of your cheeks.

He threw his head back in ecstasy as he thrust up in to your muscly heat. You needed closeness to your lover, you kept your hands behind your back. He took a them and held them, rubbing his thumb over your white knuckles. He left small kisses on your neck, pressing his affection in to you. The intimacy in the acts sent both of you to the edge of your climax.

“Shit babe, close.” He mutters to you. As you cum, he pulls out and cums in to a condom that you didn’t know he had on. Your legs were still quaking when he went to your attached bathroom to go get you a towel.

As Peeta wiped you off, he kissed your inside of your thigh. “You’re.” kiss. “So.” kiss. “Perfect.” Then he placed a kiss on your lips. Peeta had his own room in your house, as did Katniss, because their families usually spent holidays and other events with yours when they weren’t doing so well. Peeta slid his boxers back on and headed to his room, grabbing a shirt and a water out of the mini fridge that Effie constantly restocked. Peeta headed back to your room, giving you the shirt and water.

Peeta searched your drawers to find a sports bra, figuring it would be more comfortable. “I’ll go in to the bathroom so you can change.” He started towards the restroom, pausing at the door fran before turning his head. “Drink some of the water, call me when I can come out, I’ll go get you a snack once you’re done.” You gave Peeta time to wash up before calling him back in.

“I’m not hungry.” You proclaim before remaking your bed and collecting the discarded clothes. Peeta makes you go sit back down, continuing the clean up. You sip on your water, observing. “Would you like to cuddle, or do you want to be left alone?”

You didn’t even think, “Stay, please.” You pat your bed and climb in. You let him put new boxers on before he climbs in next to you. Peeta pulls you in to his chest before handing you the remote so you can pick a movie.

Peeta cranes his neck down to look at you. “Y/N, would you maybe want to be my girlfriend?” Your golden angel boy asked. You shoot your head up to look at him.

“Duh” You responded before pecking him on the cheek and pulling him closer to your now warm body.

“I can’t believe the queen of pageantry herself is my girlfriend.” You roll your eyes playfully at the comment.

“Whatever Mr. Heartbreaker.” You tease back before he kisses you. What a perfect night.

#peeta supremacy #the hunger games peeta #i love peeta #peeta x reader #peeta mellark #thg peeta #team peeta #peeta my beloved #peeta smut #mockingjay #thg series #thg fanfiction #thg #the hunger games #hunger games

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thgfanfictionlibrary · 2 months

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Friends to Lovers Fics Masterlist (3)

Part 1 / Part 2 /

Created: March 18th, 2024

Checked:---

~Unmasked~-katnissdoesnotfollowback (ao3) Summary: Historical Katniss and Peeta hate each other. They attend a masquerade ball and for some reason end up kissing each other. Sparks fly everywhere. Katniss tries to find the man behind the mask but Peeta knows it was Katniss though he doesnt say anything. They end up bethrothed even if they 'despise' each other.

Friend is a Four Letter Word-Abagail_Snow (ao3) Summary: Peeta and Katniss try 30 days of dating. Based on the blog "Forty Days of Dating." Leave of Absence-amelia_day (ao3) Summary: When Peeta Mellark enlists for the army just after graduation, everyone was thinking the same thing. Not him. It wasn't supposed to be him… Prayers Answered-Alliswell (ao3) Summary: "Lord almighty in heaven, please show me the plan you have for my life… may I be a bright light in the darkness, a blessing upon another soul. Show me what plan there is for me," Was the nightly prayer of a boy who survived the Mayflower voyage to the new world, he waited patiently for and answer, until the first harvest Plymouth Colony celebrated in the new land, when God showed him a girl, as broken and alone as he was, in need of a defender and a helping hand. Loosely based on Historical accounts citing the voyage of the Mayflower and the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. Sunsets on the Grass-Alliswell (ao3) Summary: Katniss has been in love with a man 18 years her senior most of her life; her patience, resilience and selflessness will conquer all odds. Prompt: Her parents said that it was just a childhood crush and that she will outgrow it. But why does her heart flutters. When she’s finally old enough to get a job, she immediately gets a part time job to be close to him. Will is pursue her love against people’s negative views because he’s so much older than her. Or go for it and make him fall in love with her. Age Gap Older!Peeta. The Challenge-amelia_day (ao3) Summary: Gale Hawthorne is certain he’s never met a girl as opinionated, infuriating or attractive as Madge Undersee. And he’s met a lot of girls. There’s a few things she ought to be certain of too, though. He loves a good challenge. And he hates to lose. The Most Unlikely Serendipity-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: Katniss's mother decides to play matchmaker and marry her off to the bakers son, and it certainly will change her life. At first, she is sure it is for the worst. But discovers perhaps it could possibly be for the better. The Tutor-amelia_day (ao3) Summary: When Finnick Odair, star quarterback and golden child of the Panem Nightlock’s football team, is seriously injured on the field, his coach is willing to go to any length in order to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Enter Annie Cresta. The Unexpected-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: Katniss ventured into surrogacy for her best friend, Peeta. Things change and go against their plan, and she had to face that when she ends up helping Peeta raise the baby she carried, that maybe this is what she wants. When Peeta met Katniss-Alliswell (ao3) Summary: "Men and women can't be friends, man are only seeking ONE thing" or at least that's how cynical, disillusioned and guarded, Katniss Everdeen feels about interpersonal relations; her long time acquaintance, Peeta Mellark is bent on showing her wrong, becoming her best guy friend, until a double blind date goes array…

#friends to lovers #masterlist #friendstolovers #thg fanfiction #everlark fanfiction #thg #everlark

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ao3feed-hayffie · 2 years

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Feel the Beat, Always

by JHsgf82

AU. Based on Feel the Beat (Netflix 2020). After dancer Katniss fudges up her shot at a big Broadaway production and is evicted from her New York City apartment, she moves back to her small hometown for a while. There, she runs into her former dance teacher, who encourages her to teach dance, as well as her ex-boyfriend. When Katniss discovers who the celebrity judge of the dance competition is, she agrees to teach the young girls all she knows and hopefully, take them all the way. Will she learn to care more about the girls than her career, and will she reconcile with her ex-boyfriend and his sister in the process?

Words: 6509, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: The Hunger Games (Movies), Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games Series - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Effie Trinket, Delly Cartwright, Primrose Everdeen, Original Characters, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy, Mr. Everdeen (Hunger Games), Mags, Rue (Hunger Games), Foxface (Hunger Games), Finnick Odair, Annie Cresta, Annie Cresta and Finnick Odair's Son, Finnick and Annie's daughter, Cinna (Hunger Games), Portia (Hunger Games), Alma Coin

Relationships: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark, Annie Cresta/Finnick Odair, Delly Cartwright/Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy/Effie Trinket

Additional Tags: Fluff, Romance, Family, dancer!Katniss, exes!Everlark, Primrose and Peeta are siblings, Peeta has sisters, proud dance dad Finnick, proud dance mom Delly, Gelly - Freeform, everlark, Hayffie, Odesta, football coach!Finnick, dance teacher!Effie, based on Feel the Beat (Netflix 2020)

Read this story on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/LJArbsh

#author #haymitch x effie #the hunger games #haymitch abernathy #effie trinket #author: <a rel= href=

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seasonsofeverlark · 3 years

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Press in the Locker Room

Author: @hutchhitched

Prompt: College or professional (American) football opening weekend. Katniss and Peeta can be involved (player/cheerleader/coach/trainer) or spectators (from home or attending the game). [submitted by anonymous]

Summary: Katniss is a reporter in the Carolina Panthers’ locker room after the game. Peeta’s the linebacker who recovered a fumble and scored the winning touchdown. He’s also shirtless.

Rating: T

Author’s Note: It’s the most wonderful time of the year for a(n American) football fan! We’re two weeks into college football and today is opening Sunday for the NFL. I fully intended to write a tailgating story, but my fingers decided to write reporter!Katniss and middle linebacker!Peeta instead. Happy reading, and go Chiefs! ______________

Katniss shoves her shoulder against the mass of muscle that presses her to the wall of the tunnel underneath the stadium. Although she doubts Thresh, the defensive end that sacked the opposing team’s quarterback in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, means to do anything other than jog to the locker room, he’s still invading her personal space. It’s not his fault she’s small and petite, barely standing at 5’2” while most of the players tower at least a foot taller than her. Still, she’s proven herself as one of the first female sports reporters to cover the Carolina Panthers, which is the team she’s cheered on for ages—all the way back to when she was a small child in a coal mining town in Appalachia.

As she’s bumped and prodded down the tunnel, she swivels her head in an attempt to find the middle linebacker who scooped up the fumble Thresh caused and ran it back for the touchdown that won her team the game. Mellark is his last name, and she doesn’t know much about him. He’s new this year, and she’s only managed to get a quote from him a couple of times since the Panthers traded for him a few weeks before the season began. He’s quiet, especially in the boisterous, loud, testosterone heavy atmosphere of the NFL.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite member of the media,” a honeyed voice drawls when she steps inside the locker room. “Here for an exclusive on all my secrets, Katniss? I can make it worth your while.”

“Thanks, but no thanks, Odair,” she answers with a laugh. As cocky as the wide receiver is, he leaves it all on the field, and he’s definitely easy on the eyes. “Any chance you can get me a minute with Mellark? He’s a tough one to nail down.”

Finnick sweeps his gaze over her frame, and she shivers at his scrutiny. Maybe his look is inappropriate, but it’s hard to be offended when he takes her rejections with such humor and humility. Wink at her, he calls over his shoulder without breaking eye contact. “Hey, Peeta! Got someone here that wants to talk to you. Better make it quick before the other vultures invade. Besides, I think you might like this interview.”

With that, Finnick drifts away and a stocky, blonde linebacker appears before her. He’s no more than a foot taller than her, so he can’t be too much over six feet, which makes looking up at him a little more comfortable than her interactions with most of the other taller players. A friendly smile graces his handsome face, and he’s shirtless with a sheen of sweat that makes his skin glow.

“Peeta Mellark,” he says with an extended hand, and she tries desperately to get her mouth to close and then to form coherent words. She wasn’t expecting the crackle of energy that sizzles between them, especially since this isn’t their initial meeting. It is, however, the first time she’s seen him half-clothed, and it’s a life-changing experience.

“Kiss me,” she blurts and then immediately turns bright red.

“Excuse me?”

“Katniss Everdeen,” she corrects quickly and thanks her lucky stars that her name rhymes with her outburst. “I’m the sportswriter for the Charlotte Observer. Can I get you on the record?”

“Sure,” he answers as he ducks his head. “I mean, if you want.”

“Oh, I definitely want.”

Peeta cocks his head to the left and rubs the towel he’s holding in his right hand across his chest. She can’t help watching the cloth as it makes its way over tight pectorals and down to pronounced abdominals that are graced with a trail of dark blonde hair disappearing into stained, skin-tight, white spandex over thick thighs.

“Well, I’m happy to give the lady what she asks for.”

If he didn’t look as surprised as he does at what he’s said, she might roll her eyes. Instead, she finds his shy come on charming, and she bestows a soft smile on him.

“What a gentleman.”

“I try,” he says sheepishly. “Sorry if that was…not okay. What I said, I mean. Sometimes I stick my foot in my mouth.”

Glancing around, she realizes she only has a few minutes before the rest of the press is allowed access, so she’d better get to her interview immediately. Shaking herself and waving off his apology, she clicks the record button on her phone and asks her first question.

“Tell me about your fumble recovery. When you picked up the ball, did you think you’d run it back for six?”

To her surprise, Peeta’s a great interviewee, articulate and detailed without bragging or talking down to her. She manages two more questions before she’s interrupted by other journalists and works her way around the locker room to chat with a few members of the team who are always willing to give her a quote. As she finishes up, she glances around but doesn’t see Peeta anywhere. With a sigh, she packs up and leaves so she can file her story. In the parking lot, she stops at her car and digs into her purse for her key fob when she feels a hand on her shoulder and lets out a shriek so loud it hurts her own ears.

“It’s me! Sorry, sorry, sorry. It’s me.” Katniss turns with her hand on her heart to find Peeta standing there with his palms raise in surrender and a sheepish look on his face. “Sorry! I really didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s— Holy crap. It’s fine,” she gasps, heart in her throat. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I, uh, noticed,” he replies with an awkward laugh before shifting back and forth. “I just didn’t want to wait until I saw you the next time. Although now that I’m standing here, I’m wondering if I miscalculated. I’ll let you go.”

As he turns and takes a step, she grabs his arm. “If you’re going to scare the bejeezus out of me, the least you can do is tell me what you want. Or, you know, you could buy me a drink as an apology.”

Peeta swivels slowly, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I could do that. The drink, that is.”

“I’ve got to get my story filed first, but I can meet you in a couple of hours?”

“Sure. I’ll text you the place.”

After they exchange numbers, she slips into her car while he holds the door and gives him a little wave as she leaves the parking lot. This story will be the quickest thing she ever writes. She’s got a date to make.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #summer #summer 2021 #hutchhitched #submission #prompt

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