"Look up." President Snow commanded and I looked up from the ground. "Good Girl." he said as I played with the hem of the silk loungerie he had me wear. "You look nice."
"Thank you, Sir." I said fighting back tears. 'For Prim. For mom. For the Hawthorne's. For Peeta.' Just thinking of my loved ones hurt. I cant get the image of Peetas' face when i told him I was leaving still haunts me a week later. I have gone through many lessons on how to act. I had also been warned on what will happen if I don't do as I'm told. Thinking of when I was told caused me to shudder.
"I have to do what?!" I gasped at President Snow as he sat it the chair a crossed from me.
"Work for a few of my...clients" he struggled to find a nice for customers. "Let me warn you what will happen if you don't. Your sister, mother, your 'cousins', and your lover will be executed or worse." What could be worse than death? "Tortured." he answered my unspoken question.
"What will i have to do?" I asked trying not to cry knowing Prim would hear.
"I have a special job for you." he said with a cold smile.
"When do i start?" I said folding my hands in my lap trying to keep them from shaking.
"We leave as soon as your packed." he said standing.
A knock brought me from the daydream.
"Come in." I called as seductively as I could. He walked into the room just as I stood up from the bed.
"Well Ms. Everdeen. Don't you look...nice" he whispered in my ear and I did everything not to push him away.
"Thank you, Sir." I said tilting my head to look at him and he smiled.
"Shall we." he said leaning in to kiss me. I closed my eyes and pictured I was back home. I wrapped the blanket around me tighter as he dressed and walked to the door. "Thank you Ms. EVerdeen." he called back as the door shut. I grabbed the robe and walked into the bathroom. I heard the door open and the redheaded avox from the penthouse I stayed in walked over to the bed and changed the sheets. She looked back at me and her face gave me a look of pity. She quickly left as I showered. I sat in front of the mirror re-braiding my hair when President Snow walked in.
"Well. He said you were very well behaved my dear." he said putting his hands on my shoulders.
"I did my best, Sir." I said fighting back the urge to shove him away.
"Your next client will be here in half-an-hour so be ready." he called walking back out the door. I finished braiding my hair and walked to the closet. I ran my fingers over all the fabric. I smiled at how soft they all were then frowned at the reason my I had them. I grabbed the black lacy outfit and sat back at the mirror.
"Why are you leaving me?" Peeta asked with tears in this eyes. "Did I do something?"
"N-No. Peeta please. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. I just need to get away." I said standing.
"Katniss. Please. What can i do to make you stay?" he asked, his voice breaking.
"Nothing. I've made up my mind. I'm leaving on the next train. I just wanted to say good-bye." I said giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Katniss. Please." he said grabbing my wrist. "I love you." he whispered just loud enough for me to hear. I slowly turned back to him and watched as he let the tears fall down his face.
"Peeta. Don't. You just want me to stay. You don't know what your saying." I said.
"I don't know- Of course I know what I'm saying. I'm saying I love you and you don't believe me." Peeta said looking like I had just slapped him.
"Peeta. let go." i said pulling my wrist free. "I don't love you. Just forget me. I'm gonna forget you." I said walking away. I sat waiting for the train to leave. I wrapped my arms around myself and cried. Cried because I had just lied to the only other person I was sure that I loved other than Prim.
I wiped my eyes and walked over to the bed as the door opened.
"Hello." I said standing as he eyed me.
"Hello there MS. Everdeen." he said walking over to me. I closed my eyes and imaged I was hunting with Gale as he kissed me.
Over the next 3 months I had about a hundred different clients. I was aloud to go home to visit for a week. I packed a few things and made my way to the train station. I spent the next 10 hours getting more and more nervous about seeing everyone. As the train pulled up i saw Prim and my mom along with Gale and the rest of the Hawthorne's. I looked around for Peeta as i walked off the train. After about ten minutes of welcome backs and saying I looked great I finally saw Peeta...with his arm wrapped around the shoulder of a blonde girl. He smiled at me, leaned down and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. I let out a small gasp when I saw her face. There stands the boy who, just three months ago, said he loved me kissing Madge Undersee.