When I step out of the train, I am blinded by a thousand cameras taking my picture.
"Katniss! Peeta!" People cry.
I am holding Peeta's hand so hard I am sure I will crush it, but I can't loosen my grip. Haymitch catches my eye and gives me a lingering glare. I know what I have to do. Nudging Peeta slightly, I begin waving, smiling, and we look like a happy couple: if only.
Once we are out of the way of reporters, we are led to separate rooms where we can reunite with our parents. Peeta seems to have no problem taking his hand from mine. When he does, our eyes meet and I see the emotions inside his remarkable blue colour: disappointment, hollowness, pain, hurt, and love. He doesn't say goodbye to me as he turns around and enters the room in which his family are waiting.
Sighing, I head into the room I was assigned.
The moment I open the door, I hear a squeal and am hit by a girl. She's tall, clean, and healthy-looking: it's Prim.
"Prim!" I cry hoarsely. "What happened to you?!"
"Katniss! Katniss! You won! You and Peeta won!" Prim jumps up and down excitedly, a smile glued to her sweet face. "And the baker was so nice! Peeta's father: he gave us everything we needed! And then I went down to the Hob and sold so much! Katniss, everything's right! Everything's perfect!"
Behind Prim, a figure rises: my mother. I give her a quick hug and look up into her eyes: has the hollowness gone? It doesn't look like my mother. Like Prim, she seems happy, clean and healthy. It seems like the hole in her heart from my father's death has now begun healing.
"Congratulations, Katniss," she whispers. Suddenly, we're both crying. My mother was back! She looks pretty, too, like they told me she'd looked before my father died.
After more talking and crying, Haymitch bursts through the door and practically orders us to pack our bags to move into the new house.
I'd almost forgotten: we didn't have to live in the Seam anymore!
"Not you, Katniss, District 12 demands a report from you and Peeta together," Haymitch grimaces.
This meant more acting. We have to pretend we're completely in love to cover our scandal with the berries. The thing is I'm not sure that I'm pretending anymore...
"There's one more visitor for you, Katniss!" Effie Trinket totters down the corridor in high heels with a boy shuffling after her. Gale!
I don't hesitate to rush into his arms. He crushes me with his hug. Haymitch, knowing that we want our moment to be private, pushes us into a room and shuts the door.
"You did it!" he exclaims. I nod. He senses something is wrong. "It's him, isn't it?"
The way he says 'him' sounds bitter and despising.
"Do you mind?" I ask nervously.
"I thought you were pretending," Gale shakes his head, as if refusing to believe the information I portrayed.
"I was... at first," I sigh, sitting down. "Why do you care anyway?"
"I'm not sure about him..." Gale bites his lip. "Perhaps I should tell you now, a reason why I'm so protective of you."
Gale wasn't in love with me or anything. No way. He couldn't be! There must be another reason!
"Katniss, you know my father and your father died in a mine accident," Gale begins slowly.
"Yes..." I urge.
"Well, Catnip, they're the same person: my father and your father," Gale confesses. "You're my half sister."
I sit there, stunned. No: Gale my half brother?! But... that meant I was holding Peeta back for nothing. I thought that Gale loved me, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings which was why I didn't let myself properly fall in love with Peeta!
I jump up. Gale looks worried.
"I have to go," I blurt out, rushing from the room.
"Where are you going?" Gale stammers.
"To Peeta's!" I yell. I need to get to Peeta before it's too late.
I catch him as he's on the stage. I realise that there's crowds of people looking at us, but I can't see them. To me, Peeta and I are the only ones standing there.
"Peeta!" I cry.
He whips around and I run up to him so that we're close.
"Hello, Katniss," he replies politely, glancing at the audience and then back to me again.
"Peeta, I love you," I breathe loudly. "I didn't realise it before, but I love you so much. When we were in the arena, I tried to deny it, pretended I was kidding myself. I didn't know where I stood with Gale, and I didn't want to lose his friendship by convincing myself I was in love with you."
"And where do you stand with darling Gale now," Peeta sneers, but not in an insulting way. I can see that he's hurt, but there's some adoration in his face as well.
"It turns out Gale is my brother, Peeta," I never take my eyes away from his. Peeta's mouth opens, closes, opens, and closes again. He's in shock, as am I.
"That makes no difference, you didn't love me and I thought you did," he says, trying to make himself look as though he's bored and impatient.
"It does make a difference, because now I know, Peeta, I know that I love you," I notice that I am crying, and salty tears are sliding down my cheeks.
"Katniss, do you realise you are saying this in front of cameras and people?" Peeta gulps.
"I know," I close my eyes, begging for forgiveness.
"So I hope you don't mind that I do this," he whispers softly.
As I open my eyes, I see Peeta winding his arms around my waist. I wrap mine around his neck, and then lean in and kiss him. My fingers twine through his golden hair and my grip around his shoulders tightens. I elevate onto my toes and caress the side of his cheek. At the same time, he pulls me towards him and holds me, keeping me safe with him. I know now that I was meant for Peeta.
In the audience, I hear a sigh and some 'aww's. I peek out of the corner of my eye and see Gale giving me a secretive smile, Prim beaming, Mum clapping, and Peeta's family with them.
Everything seems perfect.
Especially now that Peeta and I can be together forever...