Cruel Summer Sequel

So now that 'Cruel Summer' is coming to a close, I wanted to formally announce the sequel!  

'Shades of Winter' is the official title, and it will be posted on my ff.n site and A03 on 11.13.12.  (My birthday!).  Below is a little preview of what you can expect in the first chapter!

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She glanced at the archaic landline phone on her desk and smiled.  “You said you’d call first.”

“I couldn’t wait,” he laughed.  He waved happily, his blue eyes darting around the screen as he took her in.  Katniss sighed and leaned on her hand.  Skyping certainly didn’t do Peeta Mellark justice.  He still looked as handsome as ever, but she couldn’t help but want to reach through the screen and tough him. 

“Heeeey,” he laughed.  “I kicked all the guys out so we could talk,” he explained. 

“I’m not getting naked.”

Peeta stuck out his bottom lip. 

“That’s not why I got Skype, Mellark,” she snorted.  “So how was move-in week?”

He shrugged.  “Same old.  We got all the freshmen moved in and did nothing but drink beer for a week.”

“Oh yeah?” she asked.  “Lots of cute new freshman girls?”

Peeta leaned forward, his blue eyes bright in the light of his computer.  “Not as cute as you. Plus, you automatically win because you put out, so….”

Katniss covered her mouth and laughed loudly at the thought.  She was glad she had a single this year; she was sure she didn’t want a roommate overhearing this conversation.  “I’m glad I don’t have a roommate.”

“Me too.  I wish I didn’t sometimes.”

“Speaking of Mark, where is he?”

“Jock boy?  He’s at the gym.  He’ll be there for at least four hours.”

Katniss shifted in her chair as her mind suddenly went to a dark place.  She remembered Peeta telling her about Cassie that summer and how she had broken his heart.  She couldn’t help but wonder if he had seen her yet.

“What are you thinking?  I can see you’ve got something on the tip of your tongue.”

“Maybe,” she hummed. 

“You look really beautiful today by the way.”

“Flattery won’t get it out of me, Mellark.”

He shook his head and gave her a flirty smile.  “I love it when you say my name.  Especially when you said it like I’m in trouble or something.”

“Mellark,” she quipped again, giving him a saucy wink in the webcam.  Peeta giggled. 

“Now will you tell me what’s clearly on your mind?”

“Oh, fine,” she relented.  “Have you um…seen Cassie?”

Peeta’s face fell slightly.  “Oh, yeah. I was meaning to tell you about that.  Guess who she hooked up with over the summer apparently?”

Katniss shrugged. 

“My roommate, Mark.  So she’s been frequenting our dorm often, slutting it up,” he said in an annoyed tone.

Katniss frowned.  “So she’s been in your room?”

Peeta nodded.  “Oh yeah.  I already walked in on them um…you know,” he sighed.  “Lovely, right?”

She felt her stomach sink.  Peeta’s roommate was now dating the only other girl he had slept with.  She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.  Cassie had broken his heart into pieces last year, but what if he wasn’t over her?