Chapter 2: Shotgun Wedding
With shaking hands, I affix the veil to my head. Prim helps drop the silky satin over my face. At only 16, I never thought that this would happen. Hell, I had once promised that it would never happen to me at any age! But here I am.
I am getting married today. To a Merchant. Peeta Mellark, the Baker's son.
My fiancé stayed with us the rest of that Thursday and into the night, helping us to bury my mother under the cover of darkness. Even though the Peacekeepers now know of her demise, we leave Lillian Everdeen's final resting place unmarked. The rest of District 12 is not aware, and even if they have heard of my sudden marriage to Peeta, they'll expect my mother to be there.
On Friday, Prim and I spend the whole day getting ready for the wedding. I will be wearing my mother's bridal dress - it's the only one we own. I know it is what she would have wanted, even if I intended for the dress to be worn by Prim and only Prim. On her wedding day. Not mine.
Around mid-morning that day, Peeta comes to call. Prim playfully tries to keep him out ("It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!"), but I order her to let my soon-to-be-husband in. I think Peeta and I can agree not to be bothered with such frivolities like superstition. Upon entering, Peeta informs me that he has told his family about his surprise nuptials.
"My mother disowned me," he relays without a shred of irony. "Swears that no son of hers will marry a Seam..." He is fighting against even saying whatever heinous word his witch of a mother cast down on me, on us both.
I raise an eyebrow. "Slut?"
He winces even as he nods in affirmation.
I just huff. "I've heard worse, Peeta. Believe me." A thought comes to my mind. "What about your father and brothers?"
"I tried to invite them, Katniss, but Mother wouldn't have it. She'll probably pressure them out of not going. Quite a shame, really - I was hoping to recruit my dad into walking you down the aisle, since yours..."
Before I know what I'm doing, I've given him a hug. "Thank you," I express, a small smile forcing its way onto my face. "You did your best."
He grins back. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He suddenly swoops down and pecks me right on the lips. I blink in surprise. "Until then."
I actually chuckle. "Until then."
Why do I feel flutters in my stomach as he strides out of my bedroom?
Bright and early Saturday morning, I don my wedding dress. Holding up the train, Prim guides me through town to the Justice Building. I try to ignore the gawking onlookers peering at us from out their doors and windows. And ignore their whispers, for that matter.
"Katniss Everdeen taking a husband? Getting married?
"Never thought I'd see the day!"
"No idea how the Mellark boy wooed a fiery soul like her!"
Ha! If only they knew the truth.
Prim and I enter through a back door of the Justice Building, and are led to the Chief Clerk's office. Peeta waits inside, all alone, and I feel a pang of sympathy for him. At least I have my sister. Him? He has no family here to see him get married, and it isn't due to irreversible circumstances. Yet when Peeta sees me, his face lights up as if he has not a care in the world.
"You look beautiful," he whispers to me. I find myself blushing.
The Chief Clerk smiles at us both. "Well, then. If everyone is here, let us begin..."
"Wait!" barks Thread, who is lining the back of the office with other Peacekeepers. It does not seem remotely necessary. What does he think we're going to do? Run? I certainly can't - not now. "We haven't got a witness!"
"I can do it!" Prim pipes up.
"Someone who is of age," Thread corrects, and I scowl at his condescending tone. The Vice Peacekeeper snaps his fingers and several of his men hustle out of the office. I look worriedly at Peeta.
"What are they doing?"
"Going to find a witness," he shrugs, grimacing helplessly.
And what a witness they find. For when the men return...
"THE FUCK YOU DRAG ME DOWN HERE FOR, THREAD?! REAPING DAY'S NOT FOR ANOTHER MONTH!"
I stare in abject horror as Haymitch Abernathy himself, District 12's only living Victor of the Hunger Games, is frog-marched by his arms into the Chief Clerk's office. Even if I had ever entertained the thought of what my wedding would be like, I would never - in my wildest dreams - have imagined that I would marry with only a falling-down drunk as a witness.
"We need you as a witness for this marriage, Abernathy! Poor kids don't have anybody else! And you need to walk her down the aisle!"
At Thread's command, Haymitch's bloodshot eyes try to focus on mine, to little avail. "You don't look too bad. But can you make this quick, sweetheart?"
I scowl. Why is every man I meet suddenly calling me sweetheart?
Trying not to openly cringe, I take Haymitch's arm as he walks me down the aisle. Well, actually, it's more like he stumbles down the aisle. It's honestly hard to tell who's walking whom.
The Chief Clerk hastily puts the documents in front of us. One is the official marriage contract. My soon-to-be-husband signs his name - Peeta Joseph Mellark. I follow suit, signing my maiden name for the last time - Katniss Sierra Everdeen. Then it's the drunk's turn. It takes Prim's and my combined efforts to get him to sign Haymitch Abernathy across the dotted line.
"Mr. Mellark, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Peeta smiles, beaming with pride.
"And do you, Ms. Everdeen, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," I affirm.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
I'm ready this time. When Peeta swoops me into his arms and kisses me, I take him by surprise when I seize his lapels and pull him closer, passionately kissing him back. I know Thread is watching, so I have to sell it. Besides, Peeta is a really good kisser...
Prim dutifully applauds, and Haymitch clumsily joins in. Then, without warning, he barfs all over Thread and promptly faints dead away. Peeta and I cannot help but burst out laughing at the look on the Vice Peacekeeper's face.
"We'll always remember that, sweetheart!"
I can't help it. I kiss Peeta chastely on the lips.
Before we can leave, the Chief Clerk also has us both sign documentation so we can become Prim's legal guardians. We are then given the deed for our house that District 12 provides all newly married couples. It is on the edge of the Seam, right over the Merchant border. Peeta and I walk arm-in-arm to the place, Prim skipping in front of us. As for Haymitch, he is carried from the hall and all the way back to Victors Village.
As we approach the front door of our new home, Peeta bows with a flourish. "May I, Mrs. Mellark?"
"What are you - Ohhh!" I squeal as Peeta suddenly sweeps me off my feet and carries me, bridal-style, across the threshold. He kisses me once before I can object, Prim applauding.
"Primrose, stoke up the fire!" Peeta gently instructs.
There is one more tradition that has to be observed: the toasting. Every married couple, whether Merchant or Seam, toasts a bit of bread and shares it on their wedding night. No one in District 12 feels truly married without this formality.
My - I still can't believe it - husband toasts the bread to perfection, as only a baker's son can. We each share a piece, giving the remainder to Prim, before sealing it with a kiss. In only two days, I have become quite accustomed to Peeta Mellark's lips pressed against my own.
By now, the sun is setting, and Prim falls asleep on the couch. We still have to move what possessions we still have over from our mother's house, and I don't know what Peeta intends to bring. But there is at least one double bed with a mattress... ready for Peeta and me.
As Peeta changes into his nightclothes in our bathroom, I tenderly take off my wedding dress and hang it in the closet. I can feel myself shaking, and it's not from the chill. I must prepare myself for what I know is to come. It will hurt, so I've been told. But I must give myself to him. I am his wife now; Peeta will not refuse me. And if nothing else, it can serve as a thank you. For saving my life, and Prim's. For Peeta really did just that. He saved our lives.
As soon as Peeta emerges from the bathroom, I launch my naked body at him. Framing his face in my hands, I tenderly kiss his lips, his cheeks, his necks, everywhere. I'm still an awkward kisser, I know, but I hope he knows as little as I do about making love. When my husband does not respond, remaining stiff, I rub my bare breasts and womanhood up against his body. I even grope for his balls and cup them in my hand. Peeta lets out a choking sound.
"Katniss... what are you doing?"
"Ssssssssshhhhhh," I whisper, molding him in my palm faster. "Just... mmmmmmm... just let me... please..."
"Katniss." Peeta pulls away from my embrace, taking me by the shoulders so he can look me in the face. "Look at you! You're crying... why are you crying?" It's true. The thought of sleeping with, losing my virginity to, a man who is still almost a stranger makes my eyes prick with tears.
"Katniss..." and Peeta's voice is gentle. "You don't have to give me that."
"But it's our wedding night! Isn't this what you want? How else can I repay you?"
"Just be my wife. Be a good mother to Prim. That's payment enough. I'll do the rest. Make you happy. You and Primrose will want for nothing." His hand brushes my cheek. "I promise."
He won't make me do anything I don't want to do. And I am so grateful. If I had married freely or actively sought a mate, Peeta would have been an ideal choice.
