I know that Peeta and I can never have a normal life together. But I want to try. I've never felt this way before. Not even with Gale. My feelings for Peeta have such depth that I feel that no one can understand them. Not even myself. Peeta is so devoted to me in a way that I can barely return, if only because I don't know how to. As I think about all of this, I forget where I am. There is a hand entwined with mine. Peeta's. I squeeze it, and he squeezes back. As we wait to be called out as victors for an interview with Caesar, we stare at our shoes, unable to speak. When it's our turn to go, we look at each other,smile, and Peeta leads toward the stage.
Once visible, the crowd goes wild for us. Peeta is smiling and waving. I give them a beaming smile,and I am not faking it. I'm so happy that I'm alive.
"Katniss. Peeta. Welcome back!" Caesar says with his usual charisma as we sit down."Well, Peeta, you did it. You won the Games and got your girl. Ladies and Gentlemen, the star-crossed lovers of District 12!" He shouts to the crowd.
The rest of the interview passes in a blur of smiles, giggles, and even blushing as Peeta kissed my cheek near the end of it. At the end of the interview, Peeta and I rise, holding our united hands over our heads, causing the crowd to erupt with cheers. We were then whisked away to a train headed to District 12. On our mere two-day trip Peeta's room was left unused; we both slept and changed in my room.
Effie thought we ought tobe a bit more discreet about things, but that would just be making an unnessary mess. Instead of just hiding out in my room, we went to the common quarters, playing games of all sorts, and just trying to get to know each other.