Chapter 1
Peeta and I stand on the platform in front of district 12. I wear a smile, Peeta's the accessory. I spot Prim on Gale's shoulders, with my mother standing next to them, smiling. We stand there for what feels like forever. Holding hands kissing waving. Finally the crowd thins and moves on with their life. Reporters follow me as I attempt to go home. Urging for more pictures of Peeta and I. Finally I am forced to follow Peeta to the bakery. In the window, a cake sits reading Welcome Home Peeta! After 30 more minutes of blinding light from the camera's Peeta manages to make it out of our crowded and into the bakery door. He leads me to the back and I look around taking in the sweet flowery smell. Peeta's father runs around the corner hugging Peeta. Soon he is followed by two boys, Peeta's brother's maybe? I notice a women standing in the doorway, lips pursed. After a few minutes Peeta's father gives me a hug.
"Welcome home, Katniss." I smile.
"Thank you." I say politely.
"Martha." He hisses.
The woman walks over extending her hand. I reach out to take it but she only allows me a few fingers.
"I'm-"
"I know who you are, you seam bitch." She snaps.
I nod and avert my eyes from her. It's silent for a minute before Peeta speaks.
"Katniss, these are my older brothers, Rye and Leo."
"Hi." I say shaking their hands. They both have, like Peeta, Prim and my mother. 'Merchants hair and eyes.'
"Um, Katniss, why don't you come with me?" I nod awkwardly taking Peeta's hand and following him.
Peeta leads me down a hallway, into a room. I walk over sitting on the bed placed in the center of the room, patting a seat next to him.
He sighs and smiles. "It's nice to be home."
"Which I could say the same," I mumble.
Peeta laughs lightly but sweetly then smile, a charming smile that I have am forced to smile back to.
"Can we talk? About us. If there is an us, that is," He trails off.
I look down. Suddenly very interested in a thread coming out of the comforter.
"I'm sorry." Peeta says so abruptly I fall backwards.
"I just ignore me and-"
"That's the thing. I love you. But I know you love Gale."
My mouth drops open. "You think I like Gale?"
Peeta nods as if it should be obvious.
"Gale's my cousin." I try to say with as much confidence as possible.
"Haymitch told me the capital will force us to get married and probably have kids..." He says ignoring me.
I knew this. But it was hard to hear. I had only been home a matter of hours but the realization of what I had gotten into was setting in.
I nod. I biting my lip and look at Peeta. My future husband and father of unwanted children.
