Chapter Text
”Come on, Mockingjay. Don’t you want Snow to see you having the time of your life? Come, dance!” Johanna says over the noise of the crowd.
My ribs still ache from treatment, but Johanna’s right. I have to let Snow see me having fun. He has to know that he hasn’t crushed the spirits of District Thirteen. We’re having a wedding, for goodness sake! “Okay, fine. You’ve persuaded me,” I say in a mock-defeated tone. For some reason, I’m surprised when Johanna holds out her hand for me to take. I don’t know who I was expecting. My mother and Prim are already dancing with one another!
I step forward and take Johanna’s hand. She leads me out to the dance floor just as the fiddler starts a peppy dance song. Johanna and I fall into a rhythm. We’re in the middle of the room now, dancing together. She spins me. I twirl her. Some people have taken to just watching us and clapping along to the beat of the song. Someone is filming us for a promo. I feel happier than I’ve been in a while. Then the song is over, and I come down from my high. My ribs sting, I feel weak.
As a romantic song starts, I feel hyperaware of Johanna’s hands on my body. Her left hand on my hip, her right on my shoulder. Her hands seem to be sending gentle shockwaves through my body. She lulls us into a slow, sweet dance. I keep tripping up because I can’t stop staring at her. Johanna leans in and puts her forehead on mine. “Distracted by something, Everdeen?” She teases. I feel my cheeks go pink.
”I—I’m just not very good at slow dancing,” I lie. What on Earth is wrong with me? I’m feeling something similar to how I felt on the beach with Peeta. I think I’m just intimidated by her. Yeah, that’s it. She’s intimidating.
Johanna slides her hand to my waist. My whole body seems to short circuit, and I fall over on to the dance floor. I can’t seem to move. Johanna’s laughing at me. My cheeks flush, and I run out of the room. I’m grateful that everyone’s focusing on Finnick and Annie at the moment. I plant myself on a bench in the hallway. I hear Johanna’s footsteps running after me. “My god, Katniss, am I seriously hot enough to make you fall over?”
”No, it’s not that! It’s just,” I interrupt myself, “I mean, not that you’re not attractive, I just—“ Johanna cuts me off. “Here’s what. I’m going to kiss you since it’s obvious that’s what both of us want. Then we’re going to waltz back into that room as if nothing happened. Sound good?”
My cheeks manage to get redder than they were before. I wish I could be one of those people who doesn’t blush. I stand up. Swiftly, Johanna leans in and kisses me firmly on the mouth.
A pulse of so many emotions goes through my body. I lean in further. Kissing Johanna feels right. At this moment, it’s just Johanna and me. There’s no rebellion, no war. It’s just her beautiful kiss and the softness of her skin.
Prim’s voice. “Katniss! Are you alright? I saw you and Johanna run out and-“ Prim gasps.
Johanna and I break apart. I guess we’ve been caught.