Star crossed lovers

Chapter 1- Life after the games

The day I arrived home from the victory of the Hunger Games everything seemed different. The air seemed clearer and I felt as though nothing could go wrong. I walked through District 12 heading towards my home the place where everything is awkward, the place where I have to play mum. I have to admit I enjoyed being looked after at the Capitol and I didn't have to worry about not being fed. I look to my right and see everyone is now staring at me. I see Gale running towards me and I open my arms to allow the love I need hug me.

"Gale!" our body moulds together and I weep into his shoulder

"It's okay I'm here now"

"I've missed you Gale" my heart is racing and a slight pang of guilt washes over me as I realise I haven't yet seen my sister and mother. I pull away from the hug "Where's Prim?" I'm desperate to hug her and calm her anxiety but I think I need to be comforted more than she does. A flash back from the blood bath of The Hunger Games invades my mind and I'm angry that I allowed that to happen. "She's back at the house preparing something for you" I smile for the first time in ages and I feel blessed to have her in my life. I head back to the house faster than I ever anticipated and stop in my tracks as I reach the door. My mind is telling me to enter but my body doesn't seem to be responding. Gale is behind me now and nudging me giving me the confidence I need to face my mother "I know it's hard Catnip but you need to do this… for Prim" The bond between both me and my mother seemed to disintegrate when father died. "Come on Catnip" I'm annoyed at the fact Gale is forcing me to do this. He leans over and opens the door I turn to him "I can do it" I walk in and I'm greeted with the beautiful smile of Prim staring right back at me, I smile and she hugs me "I knew you could do it Katniss"

"I did it for you Prim like I promised"

"I have something for you"

She pulls out a beautifully decorated box from behind her back

"Prim you shouldn't have" The box looks like it cost a weeks' worth of food and I instantly feel grateful. I carefully untie the ribbon making sure not to break it. I open the lid to find a beautifully crafted picture of us all stitched into a piece of soft material

"Did you do this?!"

"It took me the full 4 weeks you were away I started as soon as I got home, it kept me busy and made me think I was close to you every time I was working on it"

"Oh Prim…"

A tear rolls down my cheek and I wipe it away instantly, I told myself I wouldn't do this I put the picture on the table. "Where's mum?"

"She's in the kitchen making a meal for you we gathered you'd be hungry with all that traveling"

I walk past the cat and he hisses at me nothing has changed. I see mum stood at the stove slaving away her hair a mess and the clothes discoloured, I cough, she spins round surprised.

"Katniss!" she goes to hug me and stops. I move towards her and hug her; surprisingly this embrace is the one I've needed the whole time. My body relaxes and I begin to calm down, I've never needed my mother I've always been my own person putting other people before me. I come out of my daydream and I hear mother has started to sob, I pull away and hold her by the shoulders.

"I'm here, I'm alive"

"I thought I lost you"

"That will never happen"

I hug her fast so she doesn't see the tears roll down my face, what is wrong with me? I never cry! Her grip has tightened and I released this has been harder than I ever thought. There's a knock at the door. I head to the door and answer I'm greeted with a waft of vodka. Haymitch…

"Hello sweetheart" He wobbles on his feet like there is an earthquake I see Peeta and I smile he sees Gale and looks towards the ground

"Haymitch what brings you here?"

"There's been a slight rule change may I come in?"

He barges in and throws himself on the coach. Peeta stays standing

"Due to the rebellion of the star crossed lovers that kept both of you alive the Capitol have demanded that you to must marry to settle the rebellion, the Capitol are in grave danger of an attack because of you two. They have demanded you to marry"

I'm speechless I don't want to marry the boy with the bread he was only a friend a boy who saved my life, the boy I will always owe. I look at Peeta he looks how I feel.

"How does that even work" I start to shake

"Look sweetheart, like I said Panem is demanding to see you two together after the games and how life is for 'the star crossed lovers"

Peeta looks at Haymitch "That was an act Haymitch this is not going to happen"

"They don't know it's an act though do they, look it's what President Snow said is happening so I'm afraid that's how it is. He wants proof you two are married he doesn't want to be betrayed that could result in serious consequences for not just us but for your families"

I look over at Prim she's as confused as I am. Gale is furious

"He can't just demand this out of the blue, no one has even agreed to this!" He's red in the face

"Look son, he's the president and can do whatever he wants to whomever he wants there's nothing we can do. Katniss has to do this and so does Peeta whether you like it or not"

Haymitch pulls out his small bottle of alcohol and drinks it my mother stood at the door stunned

"So when is it?"

"Mother!" this comment has made me furious

"What! There is nothing we can do so we might as well get it out of the way"

Haymitch laughs "I like that attitude, Snow wants you to start planning it now, the makeup artists will be here tomorrow to discuss your dress and hairstyle. Meanwhile we have to plan your proposal. I have an idea for Peeta to take yo-"

"He's not taking me anywhere"

"Sweetheart there is nothing we can do, Anyway he can take you to the centre of District 12 we can hire some singers and add some fire and you act surprised he then gets down on one knee and presents you with the biggest ring District 12 has ever seen"

Peeta sits down "We can then televise it across Panem and make Katniss look desirable"

"Are you serious?! You actually taking part in this" I storm upstairs and slam the door to my room I hear a heated discussion downstairs and someone coming up the stairs. There's a knock and Peeta emerges.

"Gale wanted to come up but I wanted to talk to you on your own"

"I don't know why we have to do this Peeta, I thought we got over this in the arena. I don't want to marry Peeta"

"The kiss…"

"What?" I roll over and look at him straight in the eyes

"In the cave, didn't that mean anything?"
I never thought about it until now but when I was in the cave the kiss meant something, I liked Peeta he had grown on me but I could never face it. Every night I would lie in the rocky domain and think about him about the kiss and I would smile to myself

"Katniss"

"What?"

"The kiss"

Silence

"Katniss I do care about you not all I said at the interview was a lie"

I turn and hit him

"Don't do this to me Peeta! Don't!"
I roll over and cry I hear Peeta move and now he's staring me right in the face

"Let me in Katniss"
I find myself moving over to let Peeta on the bed, I need him but I can never say. What about Gale? What about his feelings? I check to see if the door is closed and Peeta gets on the bed.

"Come here"
He pulls me towards him and hugs me I try to pull away but he doesn't let me
"Let me be here, let me help"

For what seems like an eternity is only 5 minutes. I feel my eyelids falling over my eyes and everything goes black and I'm falling. This is when everything sinks in and I'm dreading tomorrow