Half walking, half dragging myself to Victor's Village, I was ready to sleep for hours after my first real attempt at hunting. Upon finally reaching my front hallway though, I took one look at the stairs and they might as well have been a mountain. With a groan, I thumped myself down at the kitchen table, waking Buttercup from his nap. Stupid cat, he deserves it.
Every muscle in my body ached from trying to move after how many weeks of rest? I paused a moment to think about how long I've actually been… motionless. Three weeks, I think. Though after the first, Greasy Sae and her granddaughter stopped coming at night and only showed up in the morning to make sure I ate and didn't kill myself overnight. I haven't even heard from Haymitch, though I'm guessing he's in the same condition as I am.
At some point I must have fallen asleep, too exhausted to have my reoccurring nightmares, because I woke up, having fallen off my chair, to a knock at the front door. Scrambling, I wiped my hand across my face too remove any signs of sleep and hurried as fast as possible to the door. Only when I reached it did I wonder who would be visiting me. Recoiling my hand from the doorknob, I thought. Greasy Sae and Haymitch wouldn't knock. Gale and my mother wouldn't either, but they're halfway across Panem. It could be some of the new government, reconsidering my trial and here to take me back to the Capitol. Though if they really wanted to lock me up, I have a feeling I'd already be kicking and screaming in a hovercraft.
Hesitantly, I opened the door and came face to face with the baker's son. Ours met, his seeming to ask if he could come in, but I didn't trust my voice to work after not talking for so long, so I simply headed back into the kitchen, leaving the door open to Peeta, if he actually wanted to come in. I don't know whether I wanted him to or not, partially wanting his company, but partially fearing it.
He entered and carefully approached the chair I was perched on as if I was still the mutt he used to see in his mind. He frowned slightly when I didn't tilt my head up to meet his gaze, but then kneeled down in front of me so I couldn't look away.
"Katniss?" Peeta said, almost questioningly, like I'm not really me. In all honesty though, I don't if I am still the same Katniss.
Again, I said nothing to him.
"Katniss, are you alright?" he asked doubtfully.
I nodded vigorously, deciding I did fear his company. Why is he even here? And how did he get here, too?
"That was a rhetorical question. You and I both know the answer is no." Is that why he came back? To pester me about my well-being? If that was the case, he was a little late.
Either way, my head tilted up so I could fully look at him. He wore green, probably in an attempt to win me over somehow. Peeta also looked like he had been keeping himself busy, as his muscles were building back after all the malnutrition and torture he went through. I quickly stopped thinking of that, and just kept my gaze steady, my mouth silent.
"Ok." Peeta sighed. "You're obviously going to make this difficult, so I guess I'll do all the talking." Though it didn't seem like a good thing, he almost smiled saying it, like it brought him back to our first games when we were friends. He took another deep breath before continuing. "You aren't healthy Katniss. I'm willing to bet that nightmares have been keeping you awake all night and even through your clothes I can tell how skinny you are. Have you even been eating when Greasy Sae doesn't check on you?" Peeta's voice got slightly louder at that question, making it his frustration obvious. I shifted my eyes to the floor, away from his face. "I'm sorry," he said, quieter than before. "I'll come back tonight with some bread. And you'll eat." I think this made him feel a little better and more confident, because he stood up. I don't know why though, because the only way I would eat is if he sat there and watched me. Unfortunately though, knowing Peeta, he will.
He walked down the hallway to the front door, pausing after he opened to turn around. Then, either because he hoped I couldn't hear, or he knew I would, Peeta whispered I can't lose you again Katniss."