~~~Chapter 2~~~
Before I know what I'm doing I am running towards Peeta's house. It's just three houses away from mine but it feels so far away. I don't want him to leave, I have to admit. I don't know what I would do without him. I know I didn't want to see him anymore but something inside me just can't let him leave. I know he's not the same Peeta he used to be before but I can't let him leave, not again.
I open the door hurrying to his room. "Peeta!", I yell. I don't get a response, is he gone? Am I to late, I can't be! I open his bedroom door and find no one in there. I'm too late, now I will be truly alone. I fall on my knees and start crying again. This isn't happening, I tell myself. I'm just dreaming, I tell myself.
He left and it's all, my fault, how could I have done that! There's nothing I can do now, I guess it was better to just die. I hear someone walking up the stairs, so I go hide in the closet. I know it's probably Haymitch, and I'm not in the mood to see anyone or get a lecture. I don't want to talk to Haymitch especially since I will probably become a drunk like him. "Katniss", I hear Peeta say. Peeta, he's here! He didn't leave me!
I run out of the closet and hurry to see him but no ones in the room. Did I just imagine hearing his voice? No it couldn't have, all been in my head, he must be here, but then where is he? "Katniss?", I hear Peeta ask again. I turn and I see Peeta walking into the room. I run to him and place my arms around his neck burying my head in his chest "I thought you left", I choke still crying. "I wouldn't leave without saying good bye to you", he says, trying to comfort me. "Don't leave!", I cry, "you can't leave me, not again!".
I start crying harder. "I thought you wanted me to leave, anyways", he says, I hear the confusion in his voice. "I didn't mean that, I just can't stand. . . how I'm. . . the reason your life is ruined", I manage to choke out. "Do you really want me to leave?", Peeta asks nervously, I know it must hurt him to ask that. "No", I reply quickly, I begin to blush. I hold on to him tighter, dreading the moment I will have to let go.
I gulp and then ask, "Will you stay with me?". "Always", says Peeta. A smile spreads across my face. I move my head out of Peeta's chest and see a grin on his face. His eyes look happy, and I know I am too. I do not want the boy with the bread to leave me. He wipes the tears on my face away and I stop crying. I don't want him to leave me, I wish I could just stay like this forever.
"Hello", I hear Haymitch say. Startled, I break away from Peeta. "You're staying?", Haymitch asks Peeta. "Yes", replies Peeta. "I'll go back to my house and let you unpack", I tell Peeta. He nods and I leave. On my way I see Buttercup lying on my porch, looking depressed.
I walk in to my house and find Greasy Sae making lamb stew, my favorite dish from the capitol. I see her granddaughter sitting on the table, starring sadly at her bowl of lamb stew. "Thanks", I tell Greasy Sae, with a smile in my face. I notice that this is the first time I have smiled since Prim's death. "He's staying?", she asks. "Yes", I reply. Why did it hurt so much when I thought Peeta was going to leave? Do I have feelings for him? I can't, I remember. I try to push the thought out of my head.
Peeta arrives minutes later wearing different clothes, a blue shirt and denim jeans. Greasy Sae serves him a bowl lamb stew and then leaves with her granddaughter. After were done eating, I try to help Peeta remember some memories from his past. He asks questions like, what color was my dress in District Four during the Victory tour? What color were the bakery's letters? Later he begins to ask me 'real or not real' questions. "Coin wanted to be a fierce ruler. Real or not real?", he asks me. "Real", I tell him. After hours of playing 'real or not real", it's time for bed. I hadn't noticed how much time I had spent with Peeta today. "See you tomorrow", Peeta says as he starts to open the door. "Don't go!", I shout. "Are you sure?", he asks. "Yes", I reply beginning to blush.
I feel happy to have Peeta, keeping me sane through all of this. I feel bad for Annie, Finnick, the love of her life died because of me. Finnick had helped her keep sane, and now he's gone and I don't know how she's doing. I remember how back in District Thirteen, Annie would cover her ears with both her hands and Finnick would try to calm her down. She called yesterday that she will come to visit someday soon. She's now pregnant with a baby boy, who will never see his father and it's my all fault. I move my head carefully so I don't wake Peeta up, I see he's already asleep. I fall asleep, my head rests on Peeta's chest.
When I wake up Peeta is gone. Did I dream that he stayed? It can't be, it felt so real. I notice that last night I didn't have a nightmare, he must have been here. I walk downstairs and find Peeta baking bread. He must have gone to change clothes at his house because he's wearing different ones. "Good morning", I tell him. "Good morning, did I wake you?", he asks, concerned. "No", I reply. Peeta serves me a plate of cheese buns and cereal. I hear the phone ring, "It's probably Annie she's going to tell me when she'll come to visit", I tell Peeta. I pick up the phone and hear a man's voice, "Hello, Catnip".
