"Out of the corner of my eye, I see Peeta extend his hand. I look at him, unsure. "One more time? For the audience?" he says. His voice isn't angry. It's hollow, which is worse. Already the boy with the bread is slipping away from me. I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go."
The train door slides smoothly open and I glance at Peeta. His eyes are glued to what is set in front of us. I gulp and squeeze his hand, hoping for a response, but his eyes stay hollow.
He begins to gait out into the sunlight towards the overwhelming crowd with a fake smile plastered on his face. He entwines his fingers into mine as a fake gesture of love and waves to our familiar district gathered in front of us. Cameras for news reporters flash in our faces and I put on a cool smile. I raise my hand and mimic Peeta's waves as my other hand grabs hold of him in a tighter grasp.
"Peeta," I whisper, hoping for a response. A group of reporters grab a hold of us, separating us from one another. "Peeta!" I yell again, trying to create a dramatic moment. Ooh's and aah's vaporize from the crowd as they fall for our fake love. Peeta is escorted to another area of the crowd while I'm pushed forward. Out of the distance I can see him running up to embrace his family. My heart burns as I remember mine is still nowhere in sight.
I twist my head back and nearly squeal when I see Prim jumping in front of me with her arms pulling me down.
"Katniss! Katniss! You're back!" she screams and hugs me with her twig-like arms. With no extra power, I lift her off the ground, noticing how tall she had become ever since I left her.
"Primrose! I missed you so much," I cry onto her shoulder. Another set of arms takes me in and I lift my head and see my mother.
"Mother," I whisper and snuggle against her body, tears streaming down my face.
"Sweetheart, I believed in you," she coos while brushing back my hair. I want to hold on tighter but the crowd opens up for me to go back to the train platform. I return to it and take a seat where Haymitch and Cinna are on one side and Peeta and Effie on the other. Effie, in her glamorous outfit, begins voicing out all the comments she is asked about. She seems overly confident. After all, this was one of the few years she had a winning team. Haymitch on the other hand seems like his normal self, drunk. He just waves off all the reporters that try to ask him any questions.
Peeta moves his hand to take a hold of mine as another camera flashes. I look at him for a sign of life, but again, his eyes are hollow and dead.
"How did you feel when the Peeta was dying from the sickness?" a reporter blares at me. Haymitch motions for me to answer and I gulp down a heavy ball of dread.
"Horrible," I whisper while gazing at Peeta, and I did mean it. I could've sworn I could feel Peeta's hand tighten and his eyes glow for just one second. I let out a grin but again, his face becomes lifeless with only fake features.
"And you Peeta? Right when you heard the Capital say there could only be one winner in the end, how did you feel?"
My body tensed but Peeta's didn't budge an inch. He sucked in a breath and replied smoothly.
"I wanted to die. I would give up my life for her." My breath caught in my throat and I let out a nervous cough, covering it up with a laugh.
"Thank you, Peeta," I say with a rasp. The media began to ease out after a while and I stood up to leave.
"Sit," Haymitch orders, making me automatically make my way back to my seat. He glances from me to Peeta, signaling me to finish this interview with a good ending. I shake my head and grow red but another stare from Haymitch makes me turn to Peeta.
The media stood there, waiting for our finishing touch, I realized. They were waiting for this moment. I clear my throat to grasp Peeta's attention and he looks at me with understanding on his face.
"Sorry," I whisper.
"Me too," he says, sending a jolt of pain down my spine. He then dramatically places his hand on the back of my head and announces for everyone to hear, "I love you Katniss," and settles in for our final kiss, probably the last we will ever have.
We stay kissing for longer than we ever had while I savor every moment. I could almost feel the want inside of him grow into me. I grab a hold of his neck and press my fingers against him, wanting him for me and only me.
Peeta breaks our grasp and pulls away with new energy in his eyes that dies out easily. We both turn to the crowd, stand up, and make our final bow with our hands entwined before leaving the platform.
I take one last glance towards the crowd and for the first time notice someone standing by himself in the back in plain hunting clothes. Gale.
His eyes are fixed on me and I show him a weak smile, a sorry smile.
"Gale," I whisper. Peeta turns his head to me, thinking I'm talking to him. Once he realizes what I said he follows my stare and stumbles as we reach the steps. My hand holds his tighter and I look back to him with my mouth slightly parted. His eyes, at last, let me see through him. He shows hurt in his features and I feel the same pain he does. I felt worse than that; I felt confused. I nearly stumble as he did and his hand is ready, holding mine even tighter and leading me down the steps.
"Thank you," I whisper again.
"Any time," he replies. And this time, I knew he meant it.