CINDERELLA STORY
Prologue
If there was one thing Katniss resented more than the everlasting abundance of hatred and complexity in the growing world, it was her ostentatious step sisters and step mother. At the feeble age of eleven, Katniss had travelled through more hardship than any other girl ten years older tan her. Her mother had suddenly fallen ill, her sickness was irreversible and soon became so powerful it pulled little Katniss' mother away from the living world. As though that wasn't enough to haunt her childhood years, Katniss' father soon remarried, claiming he needed not only the company, but also the help to provide for their imploding family and the harsh economic views of society lately. Katniss had always been reluctant in letting the three strange women into her house, however she had no say in the matter. At first they were nice to her, always treating her as though they were blood related family members. But Katniss was intelligent, and she knew that an awful imperious side lay to the the intruders of her and her father's lives.
Shortly after her father had remarried, he disappeared one afternoon coming home from work, there was no word of anything being found after he vanished from sight. Katniss was distraught, her last true family member was ripped from her cruelly, teaching her that love was impossible and only caused hardship in your life. Her step mother and sisters proved that to her more than enough. Their harsh words sinking deep into her, playing tricks with her mind and self conscious.
And that is how she grew up, littered with hatred and cold glares. Her fathers disappearance had caused her step mother to gain full custody of the little girl, nothing could be said or done about it. And Katniss no longer had anyone left in the world she loves, she knew that if anyone were to ever find a place in her heart, they would be ripped away from her to cause her even more pain. That was what she believed the world was like.
"Katniss I swear if you don't get down here this instant you will regret it!"
The sound of Glimmer's shrill voice piercing through the still air wakes me from my sleep. I rub my eyes tiredly, wondering how I have survived this far on the bare minimum.
"Katniss!" Glimmer shrieks again.
I slide off the thin, lumpy mattress and make my way up the basement stairs, wanting nothing more than to snap cruelly back at my horrible step sister. However I had soon found, not long after the three awful women came to live with me, that being my usual fiery self around them created nothing but havoc. The awful woman found pleasure in tormenting me, their evil demeanour opens an opportunity to make sure my life is a living hell.
I hesitate before entering the drawing room. I can hear Glimmer, Clove and my step mother's excited murmurs through the door and wonder what they could possible want to do this early in the morning. Then again, the possibilities are endless. I knock on the door softly before entering. Upon walking through the door, I notice two things seemingly out of place.
The first being the unusually happy smiles plastered across my sister's faces, the second being a scroll opened before them, the parchment crisp and gleamingly white. It was from the palace, that much was obvious.
"What is it?" I ask hesitantly, stepping further into the room.
"Oh Katniss! The prince has invited us to his ball, he's holding it in honour of finding a lady to wed!" Glimmer gushes as her cheeks blush from the excitement.
"Is my name on the invite?" I ask curiously, if the prince is looking to wed, it's no doubt he invited every mistress within age range in our small country of Panem.
"Yes" Clove pouts, her face immediately turning sour.
"What's wrong with me attending?" I ask nervously, wringing my ratted dress in my frail hands.
"Well we decided..." Clove begins, glancing at her mothers nod of approval to continue. "The prince isn't going to even spare you so much as a glance. It would be an utter waste if you were to attend, so we all though you should stay home, you know, do something useful."
I look down shamefully, I should have known they wouldn't allow me to attend the ball. I look at my dirt-caked nails and feel tears well in my eyes. I blink them back, don't let them see you cry.
"Please" I beg, turning to my stepmother. "Please let me attend, I know I have no chance with the prince, especially when Glimmer and Clove will be there."
I instantly feel regretful for lying, especially such a terrible lie as it implies I think my two step sisters have a chance. But it does the trick in pleasing all three of them.
"I'll tell you what" my step mother smirks as she steps up close to me, using her height as an advantage. "You can attend the ball tomorrow night if you finish all your jobs. Oh and by the way, I've added to the list." She flings a roll of parchment into my hands and I instantly feel sick as I unroll it. My eyes scan down the never ending list of jobs.
"B-b-but I'll never get all these done!" I protest, feeling my heart sink as I realise I won't be able to attend the ball.
"The deal stands as it is, if I were you, I'd get started" she sneers as all three of them storm past me out the door. Clove makes sure to bump my should roughly as she passes, causing me to wince as she hits the large bruise which formed there after Glimmer 'accidentally' knocked me down the basement stairs yesterday.
I give myself only a moment to compose myself and blink the tears back before heading out the door to start on my jobs. The list seems endless, by the time I am a quarter of the way through, my hands are red and raw. I look up at the clock upon the wall and realise I must have missed dinner as its well past eight o'clock. My stomach rumbles uncomfortably at the thought, but I know I can't rest, i'm determined to prove them wrong and finish all the chores.
The sun is just breaking through the horizon when I finally hit three quarters of the way through the jobs. I had ceased to rest at all for the entire night, my eyes sting rapidly from the lack of sleep and I feel as though my muscles have completely seized up. I can barely move.
By lunch time I have auspiciously finished the jobs and despite my extreme drowsiness, I manage a smile at the thought that I will get to attend the ball. Ignoring the harsh signs my stomach is sending me, I stagger down to the basement and fall onto my bed. For once I don't even notice how thin and uncomfortable the mattress is, I just fall straight asleep.
I wake up and the first thing I notice is that the sun is nearly down in the sky. I jump up from the bed with a start, glancing at the clock and sighing with relief when I notice that they haven't left yet, though I do only have twenty minutes to get ready. I open the door of my cupboard, the wood creaks and shudders. I only have one nice dress, it was one of the only things I got to keep from my mother when she died. The dress is beautiful, it's an emerald green, sleek, elegant and works perfect with my tan complexion. I slide the dress on and then hang my only other possession of hers around my neck. It's a silver locket, it was my mothers also.
I look in the mirror and decide I don't have time to do anything with my hair, it will have to stay down. I rush from the room, practically running through the large house until I reach the front entrance where all three are preparing to leave.
"Wait!" I call out. They all turn to look at me, mixed expressions of shock and fury etched onto their heavily made up faces.
"What are you doing here?" Clove sneers.
"I finished my jobs" I huff from running, I look towards my step mother.
"Your dress? Did you steal that from one of the girls closets?" She asks suspiciously.
"No" I say defensively, "it was my mothers."
"Well you can't go to the ball wearing that" Glimmer smirks.
"Why not?" I ask fearful as I glance down at the dress.
"Because..." She says as she reaches forward towards me; "it has a rip in it." Her hand snatches at the fabric and before I can jolt away, her hand rips down, effectively tearing a hole down the side of my mothers dress.
"No!" I cry out moving away. Before I can do anything both Glimmer and Clove have jumped forward and started tearing at my dress and hair. I scream at them to stop but I know it's no use, they will never listen.
They all flaunt out the door, laughing as they leave me standing in the entrance. I watch as the carriage pulls away and turn towards the large window. My hair is tangled, a knotted mess. My dress hangs from my body by thin strings of fabric as the emerald dress may as well have been a plastic bag. The special dress which my mother had loved so much. I feel a lone tear slide down my cheek and drop to the floor.
I let out a sob as I run from the room, making my way out to the backyard as I collapse against the fountain, laying my head in my arms and letting the tears finally fall. I should have known they wouldn't have ever let me go.
I don't know how long it has passed before I feel a tap on my shoulder. I sit up abruptly, spinning around to look at the most absurdly dressed woman I have ever seen. Her pink hair is curled and pinned atop of her head, gold eyeshadow and eyeliner outlines her eyes. It's extremely unusual for this time of the age.
"Who are you?" I ask nervously.
"My name is Effie Trinket" she pronounces. "I'm here to help you attend the ball." She claps her hands together excitedly.
"But I can't go, my only nice dress is ruined" I murmur, looking down at the remains of my mothers dress.
"Oh not to worry, we'll have you fixed up really quick" she says turning around and starting to walk off. When she realises i'm not following her, she turns around and waves at me quickly. "Well come on then."
I get up and quickly follow her down the back path, we arrive at two carriages. Effie leads me into one of them and i'm amazed at how many dressed hang around the room.
Effie hands me a silver dress and I slide it on.
"Oh it fits perfectly, it even matches your eyes" she gushes as she takes in the dress. I look down nervously, I've never worn anything as nice or expensive as this before. "Now let's fix your hair and then you'll be beautiful."
I sit down at the vanity while Effie quickly styles my hair into an intricate braided up-do. Once she has finished I turn around and hug her tightly.
"Thank you so much Effie" I whisper, "but I don't have any way of getting to the palace."
"Oh I'll have my other carriage take you, but make sure you are home by midnight, I heard word that your stepsisters will be leaving at that time."
I nod my extended thanks excitedly as I grip her hand tightly. "Thank you so much" I say as I make my way to the other carriage. I climb in and no sooner had the door shut then the carriage jolts to a start, I can't help the smile from spreading across my face.
My stomach twists nervously as I walk up the steps towards the palace entrance. I can hear the music and there is only a few stray people around as the ball has most likely already started. One of the guards directs me down the hall, my heeled shoes clicking against the marble floors as I make my way to the main room. I wobble slightly, not used to wearing such exasperating shoes.
I feel my eyes go wide at the sight of it all. The decorations and the long table of food are the first things that capture my attention, and quickly after that I notice the large amount of people. It seems everyone has created a large circle around the centre of the room where there are couples dancing. They spin in elegant circles as they hold onto each other.
I only ever wanted to attend the ball to escape the house and also experience the ball, I have never been to one before. I stand off to the side and scan the room. Eventually I spot my two step sisters as they cling to a large crowd giggling and whispering as they follow someone around. I only assume it is Prince Peeta. I spot the back of his blond hair as he talks animatedly to an older man. The giggling group of girls watch from my side of the room as they gush over him.
I can't seem to think what it is that everyone talks about, why all the girls fawn over him and talk about how they wish nothing than to be his wife. I have never actually seen Prince Peeta, in person, I have of course seen photos in the news. I am about to shuffle back from the crowd a little more when Prince Peeta turns, his eyes locking onto mine from across the room and suddenly it feels like every ounce of gravity has flown from my body. His eyes are a deep azure blue, and they capture mine, holding me in place as he stares.
I can't think, I can't speak, I don't even think i'm currently breathing. I am about to force my eyes to tear from his when the group of girls comes barging through my path, effectively knocking me to the ground and stepping on my fingers as they hurry towards him. I groan as I try to lift myself from the floor. The people around me keep dancing and talking, paying no attention to me.
"Are you okay?" I hear a voice. I look up for my spot on the floor and feel my eyes bulge as I see Prince Peeta standing above me.
"Um, yeah" I look around awkwardly. He leans down slightly and extends his hand. I grip it tightly as he pulls me up from the floor. I spy the group of girls over Peeta's shoulders giving me death glares, Glimmer and Clove amount them. They must not recognise me from this distance and because i'm not wearing my usual braid and rags.
I only now notice the closeness between Prince Peeta and I. I take a step back, looking around to find an out, I've never been good at talking. He picks up my hand from where it hangs limply at my side, he examines my fingers and it's only know I notice they are turning purple from all the girl's heels standing on them.
"It's fine, I've had worst" I blurt out, instantly regretting it as he looks at me curiously, his eyes wide and fearful. "I-I mean.." I sigh frustrated when I can't seem to think of the words to fit my sentence.
"Hey it's okay" he says, noticing my struggle. "Do you want to dance?" He nods his head towards the dance floor.
"Oh. Um, I can't really dance" I say quietly.
"Don't worry, I can't either, it's all in the fun." He pulls me towards where everyone else is dancing and reaches out to pull me closer to him. I feel his hand rest on my waist and the other he holds in his hand still.
"Everyone's staring" I murmur when I notice that almost everyone's head has turned in our direction.
"Relax" he whispers. "I just realised I don't even know your name."
"It's Katniss," I look up at him through my eyelashes.
"That's a beautiful name, it's a flower right?"
"Yes" I whisper, "well a root actually, or waterplant, but not many people know that." He pulls me closer and I find myself not minding. "Your beautiful you know that?"
I stare at him in shock and then slowly shake my head. "No...no i'm not, i'm-"
"Yes you are" he says almost fiercely, his eyes piercing into mine.
"Everyone always tells me i'm waste of space. That i'm plain and unprepossessing."
"Well their wrong, they're just jealous Katniss." He says, so determined to convince me.
I release I've revealed too much about my life to this practical stranger, but I can't seem to stop myself.
"Come" he says quickly, pulling me from the dance floor and into the entrance hall.
"Prince Peeta?" I ask in confusion.
"Don't call me that, please. Just Peeta is fine" he tells me. I nod as he pulls me close to him again. We continue to dance, the music drifting from the doors. The closeness of him is consuming, his scent is overwhelming and somehow comforts me. I want to so him what we are doing away from all the people but I don't, instead I stay quiet and rest my head against his chest as he pulls me closer again.
I don't know where these abrupt emotions are coming from within me, but it's not something i'm used to at all and I really don't know how to react. Peeta leans back slightly. Gazing at me with his blue eyes. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.
"I would very much like to kiss you, if you'll allow it" he whispers, leaning down closer to me.
"I've never been kissed before" I whisper, not sure what to think.
"Then I'll be your first, and you'll be mine" he confesses. I'm not sure what to think of this, surely Peeta has kissed someone before. I'm unsure of what to say in answer to his question, however the one thought that makes up my mind is that I will probably never meet another man who will want to kiss me.
"Okay" I murmur.
His face slowly moves closer to mine, as though he was giving me time to change my mind. Instead I stay; and as his lips press against mine my mind goes entirely blank, and at the same time it bursts with thoughts and emotions. His lips move against mine and I slide my hands up from his chest to around his neck, not being able to stop my eyes from fluttering closed.
It is the first chime of the bell that startles me and makes me jump away from the kiss. Peeta's eyes are wide as he looks at me in confusion.
The bell chimes again and I look up to see both hands on the large clock pointing upwards, directly towards the sky indicating midnight.
"I'm sorry" I say hurriedly as I start to back away.
"Wait!" He calls, "don't go!"
"I'm sorry but I have to, it's not you I promise, I just have to go" I say in a rush as I turn and flee down the stairs. I can hear Peeta calling after me hurriedly but I don't turn back, I can't. I jump into the carriage and it no sooner takes off down the long driveway. I turn in my seat and spy Peeta standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring after me hopelessly. I sit back in my seat, willing myself to forget about what happened, because i'm never going to see him again.
I get home just before Glimmer and Clove. I've managed to shower and have just gotten into my old working dress when I hear a commotion downstairs, signalling their arrival home. I make sure that I hide the sliver dress, I can't have them knowing I disputed their rules and attended the ball.
It's been four weeks since the palace ball, I haven't heard or seen anything from that day when I kissed the Prince. I would be lying if I said it hadn't affected me. It's one icy day whilst I am making lunch for my step family when I hear the footsteps behind me and I immediately freeze up.
"Katniss" I hear my stepmother say sharply.
I turn slowly, making sure to turn off the stove because I know this will end in no good, I can't risk leaving it on.
"Yes" I murmur quietly, wringing my hands together, careful not to look at her in the eye.
"Glimmer and Clove want wild berries, your required to go out into the woods and find some" she orders.
My eyes snap to hers instantly. "But, it's the middle of winter! I'll never find berries!" I protest.
"I don't care, your to leave now and don't even think about returning until you have a full basket."
I open my mouth in anger, I'll never return home if that's the case.
"Do you ever listen? I said go!" She snaps pointing to the kitchen door.
I hurry off and just as I reach the door I hear her sneer "it's no wonder your father never came home that day, a defiant child like you."
"Don't talk about my father like that!" I snap, "he was a good man, more than twice the person you will ever be." I feel the slap before I see her hand. The sting echoes across my cheek, spreading across my face with dreaded pain. I yelp out, jumping back and clutching at the side of my face desperately. I run away before she can do or say anything else. I'm up quick to grab my warmest coat and a basket from the pantry. The door clicks behind me as I stare out at the woods, this is going to end in disaster.
The wind is bitter, especially for winter and it spikes against my face as I search every bush in the woods for berries. But they are all frozen over. I search all through the day, my face and hands turning blue from the bitter cold. Once the sun starts to go down I decide I better go home, i'm never going to find anything and getting into trouble in the warmth of the house sounds better than staying out here all night.
The walk back to the house is brutal. The winds forcing my hair to billow around my head. I pull the hood of my coat up and wrap my arms around my body tightly, trying to hug some warmth into me. My cheek stings painfully, even now more so from the biting cold.
Once I see the warm glow of the kitchen window I almost sigh with relief at the thought of getting to warm up. However after I climb up the steps and turn the doorknob, the door only opens a millimetre before it jams. My feel my heart drop as I jiggle the door, trying desperately to open it. They've locked me out.
I walk around to the other doors but they are all the same, dead bolted from the inside. I check all the windows, each one is shut tightly and not budging. They've thought of everything possible to make sure i'm locked out indefinitely.
I feel my eyes water at the thought of having to spend all night outside. There's no use in trying to get heir attention, they will only taunt me further. I stumble across the yard until I fall to rest under a tree, curling my legs so that I can hug them tight to my body.
After about an hour the bitterness of the winter night is too much for my frail complexion to cope with. I need to keep moving. I stand up and wobble away from the house, I walk alongside the road, hoping that a carriage will come past and be kind enough to help me. However nothing comes, the road is deserted and I can only feel myself growing weaker with the winter bitterness swirling around me.
Is this how I shall die? Like my father, never return home, the whole of Panem confused by my sudden disappearance. No, I wouldn't make half the impact my father made, he was well liked and popular, just like me when I was a little girl with ribbons in my hair. Now however, i'm sure nobody remembers I exist. The ball was the first time since my father died that I actually left the house for something other than chores for my retched step family.
I feel my legs give out seconds before my weak body hit the floor. It doesn't help that I was already living off the bare minimum of food, and now with no lunch or dinner or shelter, i'm scared. And i'm allowed to admit that, I can't be strong all the time as much as I wish I could be. My determined and fiery personality died with my true family.
I see the headlights as they pass me, I hear a shout, blurred by the ringing in my ears as I press my face against the ground, desperate to just fall asleep, just for once to sleep without being tainted by raging nightmares.
The lights come back and then suddenly I feel someone at my side. Their hands on my face but I can't seem to force my eyes open. I feel their hand press against my cheek and I whimper at the pain. I hear a sharp intake of breath and feel gentle hands brush back my hair. I want to open my eyes, to see who it is that is helping me. I want to tell them that I've had worse than the harsh slap.
"Katniss" I hear a man whisper. At first I panic, how does this stranger know my name? But when he whispers it again, this time more pained, I recognise who it is. I want to say his name, call out to him and tell him I'll be okay, my mouth can't seem to form the words, frozen from the cold. I can only seem to manage stumbling over the first letter of his name.
"Shhh" he hushes me, his hand brushing against the good side of my face gently. "I'm going to help you."
I feel his hands slide under my back and knees and then i'm lifted up into his arms. My head falls against his chest and i'm consumed by his scent. It makes me feel safe immediately. I feel him cradle me against his chest as he sits in the carriage, stroking my hair and whispering in my ear, soothing words that make my blood warm up immediately.
"Your so cold" he whispers, his voice shakes as he wraps something around me tightly. A blanket, or maybe his own coat. I feel the carriage lurch and can only assume there is someone else controlling it since Peeta certainly is not as he hold me close to him.
I want to open my eyes but i'm too tired, the weight of everything that has happened pulls me under and suddenly I can't even think, I just fall into a sleep, praying I don't wake up from my night terrors.
When I come to, my face is buried in soft plush furs, a heavy warmth covers my body, my whole body seems warm, except for my cheek, were the skin throbs and feels as though it is pulled tight. I blink my eyes open and get a shock when I don't recognise the room i'm in. This is not my basement bedroom, it's bursting with sunlight, the bed i'm in is twice the size of my own and gold decorates the room everywhere, making the warmth seem more real and it shoots through my body.
"Hey, your awake" I hear a voice behind me. I look up startled, and relaxing only a tiny bit when I see Peeta standing in front of me as he comes and sits down on the edge of the bed.
I'm confused at first, and then everything starts to come back in patches of memory. His voice, him carrying me and cradling my to his chest as he attempts to spread some warmth back into my frozen body.
"What am I doing here?" I ask, my voice is croaky and I bring a hand up to my throat as I feel it spread with dry pain.
"I'll get you some water" he says, walking briskly from the room before I returning with a glass of crystal clear water. I let the cool liquid slide smoothly down my throat, welcoming the quench to my thirst.
"Thank you" I rasp. He shakes his head.
"Katniss what were you thinking? Being out that late at night in the dead of winter?"
"I was locked out" I murmur, looking down at the empty glass in my hands.
I feel Peeta's hands cover my own and he slowly uncle chest my hands from their death grip and gently places the glass on the bedside table.
"What do you mean you were locked out?" He asks, his eyebrows furrowing.
"My step mother and sisters, they sent me out into the woods to find berries and then locked me out." I explain quietly, suddenly feeling angry at their evil ministrations.
"What?" His face drops, utterly shocked. "They did that to you?"
"It's normal behaviour for them."
"And this?" He asks softy, his hand reaching out to gently touch my bruised cheek.
"That was for talking back" I whisper. I watch his eyes fill with unshed tears as he stares at the side of my face. It can't be that bad can it? Maybe it looks as bad as it feels. I look away from him, I don't know how to deal with emotions.
"Where are your parents Katniss?" Peeta asks quietly, as though he knows the answer.
"My mother, she died when I was younger and my father disappeared a while ago, just never came home from work. Nobody knows what actually happened."
Before I can say anything else i'm being pulled into his arms as he hugs me tightly.
"Is that why you ran away, the night of the ball?" He whispers.
"Yeah, I had to be home just after midnight. I'm sorry about that by the way."
"It's no problem, I understand, really." He assures me. "You must be hungry, did you want something to eat?"
"Um yeah, if it's not an inconvenience..." I say awkwardly.
"Why would it be an inconvenience?" He chuckles as he gets up and hands me a stack of clothes. "Um your dress was pretty ruined, you can wear these if you like. They are the smallest I have."
I thank him as he leaves the room and I slide out from under the covers, only now noticing that I am wearing one of Peeta's shirts. I feel my face heat up at the thought of him undressing me. I walk over to the mirror hanging on the wall and gasp when I see the large purple and yellow bruise spreading across the side of my face. The skin is swollen and looks as painful as it feels. I tear my eyes away, not able to look at it any longer.
I pull on the tracksuit pants and shirt Peeta gave me. I have to roll the pants up at the bottom and pull the drawstring tight, but other than that I can't help the thought that they are incredibly comfortable and smell exactly like Peeta.
I walk down out the bedroom door and am already lost. There are three different staircases leading down and two leading up. I look at all five of them and wonder which one Peeta went down. I am just about to go for the one on my left when I see Peeta emerge from the middle one.
"They look better on you then they ever did on me" he smiles and I feel my face heat again. "Come on, I made us breakfast."
"I should get going" I say, pushing back from the table.
"What?" His face is shocked as he stands up too. "Your not going back home."
"Why not?" I protest, crossing my arms.
"It's not safe, look what they did to you" he waves his hand in my direction.
"Peeta I have to go back" I say backing away until my back hits the wall behind me.
"No you don't" he says, stepping closer to me until he's standing right in front of me. I can see the different shades of blue swirling in his eyes.
"I have nowhere else to go, Peeta."
"Stay here, with me." His hands come up to frame my face.
"I can't, Peeta" I shake my head softly.
"Yes, yes you can. I want you to, I want you, I haven't stopped thinking about you since the ball."
"Why?" I whisper, "why me?"
"Don't you understand?" He whispers back fiercely.
I shake my head. "You don't really want me Peeta. I mean, look at me." I laugh sadly through my tears.
"Your so beautiful though."
"I should go" I murmur. His face falls but he nods slowly.
"I'll take you back. Just in case."
The ride home is silent. Peeta and I sit in the carriage while the driver sits on the outside, directing the horses.
"The night of the ball, you weren't supposed to be there were you?" He asks softly.
I shake my head, "no...I snuck out. I just needed to see for myself...I just...I..." I sigh angrily into my hands as I struggle to explain it. I feel his hand reach over and rest on my knee. Its all I need to calm down.
When we pull up out the front of the house, the atmosphere between us changes immediately. I glance out the window at the deadly silent house. I know Peeta can feel the same thing, my step family are angry.
"I'll wait, just in case" he says. "And don't try to protest, it's not going to work."
I nod because I really don't want him to go yet. Just in case.
I open the door slightly but it slams shut when Peeta pulls on my arm, swinging me around and pressing his lips against mine. I'm frozen with shock at first, but then my lips start to move against his of their own accord. My hands are in his hair, curled against his chest as everything is suddenly uncontrollable. His lips part against mine and its unlike anything I've ever felt before. His hands are everywhere, sliding around me and pulling me flush against him. I pull away when I need a breath.
"I had to do that" he whispers. I take a deep breath trying to register everything and channel the energy racing between us, before I reach up around his neck and pull his lips back to mine. His mouth opens against mine and its more passionate than anything I've ever felt before.
"I have to go" I breath against his lips, his nods and kisses me once more, this once quick and chaste.
I open the door and look at him once last time before I step down from the carriage and wave goodbye to the driver nervously. I find the front door open when I turn the doorknob. I haven't even gotten to shut the door before someone reaches out and pulls on my arm roughly, slamming me against the wall, a strong arm pressed against my throat dangerously.
I hear Peeta scream out and the sound of the carriage door banging as he attempts to open it. It must have jammed.
I look up into the face of the person pinning me to the wall. I don't recognise this man. He is tall, much taller than me and his arms are like tree trunks as they effectively block my airway. I grab at his arm, trying to pull it off me.
"Katniss dear" I hear my stepmothers evil voice sneer.
"Would you like to explain where you have been this whole time, and why you returned with no berries?"
I open my mouth to explain but the tight hold on my throat causes me to only whimper as I grab at the unknown man's arm.
"Katniss!" I hear Peeta's strangled voice call out from the doorway. His face full of anger and shock.
"Well if it isn't the prince" she smirks.
I hear myself gasp as I struggle for air.
"Please" Peeta begs, pain and panic flooding his voice as he stares at me in anguish.
"So you've been acting frivolous with the prince have you?" She addresses me. "I thought I told you to go find berries."
"I did" I rasp, "there were none."
"Please" she scoffs.
"Let her go" Peeta begs.
My eyes flick between him and my mother as they stare each other down.
"Okay" she says, almost too easily. It only makes me suspicious.
The man lets me go and I immediately slump against the wall, falling into Peeta's arms as he darts forward and I gasp for air. Once I have composed myself enough I stand up, Peeta's arm stays wrapped around my waist though.
"Your not staying here" he whispers in my ear. I nod because that previous event not only scared me slightly but also confused me immensely. I take his hand and pull him past the prying eyes of my step mother and the strange man as I lead him to my basement bedroom.
"This is your room?" He asks, his voice pained as he looks at my shabby room. I nod as I gather up the few possessions I have left. My mothers locket included.
I look around, realising that I'm not going to miss this place at all.
"Come on" I mutter, leading him back up the stairs.
"Oh my, it's the prince" I hear an excited giggle. I turn and glare at Glimmer.
I see Clove emerge from the side room, her face lighting up.
"You must be here for one of us, there's no way you would be here to ask poor Katniss to marry you, I mean look at her" she scoffs.
"Um actually, I am here for Katniss" he says awkwardly.
Just to prove that he's mine and they can't have him, I reach out and take his hand, tucking myself against his side. I don't know where it came from, I've never been this type of girl but suddenly I feel the need to let them know that Peeta doesn't want them.
They stare at us shocked, their eyes flitting quickly between our faces and our joined hands.
"Lets go" I mutter and pull Peeta along, I can practically hear the shocked emotions raging out of my step sisters.
We pass my stepmother and the man on our way out, I feel like snapping something rude at her but I know that will get me nowhere in life. Instead I walk right past her, chin held high as though everything she did never affected me. I couldn't be more wrong.
There's something comforting about the thought of staying with Peeta. I don't know if it's because he has a calming element to his disposition. Or if it's simply just me being able to recognise the fact that I don't have to see my horrible step family again. At least not at this point of time.
Peeta has been nothing but kind to me ever since I came to live with him. His family, while his mother is a little on the rough side, have being exceedingly welcoming. His younger brother, it seems, has taken up a particular interest in teasing us, letting us know at every opportunity that we are so cute together and that we should make some babies. A totally inappropriate topic to bring up, especially in this day and age.
It's four weeks after I've been living here when I first wake up from a horrifying nightmare. I've been having small nightmares, but never ones to this degree. Never ones that makes me wake up screaming, covered in sweat and crying for my dead parents. Never one that makes Peeta come running into my room, panic draw across his face as the door slams open.
"I'm sorry" I gasp through my tears. "It was just as dream."
"Hey no it's okay" he says as he comes over and brushes some hair back from my face. "Are you okay now?" He asks softly.
I shake my head, "can you stay with me?" I hate that my voice sounds so small, but it's all I can do not to completely break down.
"Yeah of course," he climbs under the covers and I curl up against his side. "Always" he murmurs as he kisses my hair softly.
"I love you" I murmur, and the freeze. I hadn't meant for it to come out, it was just something I had been thinking about over the past few weeks.
I feel his breathing hitch and then it goes back to normal. "I love you too, you know," I can practically hear the smile in his voice and suddenly I realise that this is right. Nothing else seems to ever be, but we are.
I close my eyes and within seconds I am back asleep, this time dreaming of a future, a future of a meadow and dandelions, and two children playing in the sunshine. One with blond hair and the other with a long dark braid; and when I look down, the sun catches on my wedding ring as it sparkles in the sun.
And nothing else has ever felt so right.
So this was the first one-shot I've ever done. Let me know what you thought and if you guys would like more one-shots to come in the future... They might improve overtime...hopefully.
Let me know!