This chapter may or may not have happened in real life. That's all I'll say now. Read the notes at the end of the chapter (and it's short so that's not too much to ask, is it?).
I Just Can't
"Oh come on Katniss! Just do it!"
"No Peeta, stop. I just can't!"
"You can! You said so yourself, the only thing to fear is fear itself. So stop letting fear control your life and get it over with!"
"But Peeta, you don't understand!"
"Oh come on Everdeen! I've known you since we were in kindergarten. We've been friends since we were in high school. If anyone understands you, it's me."
"No. Prim understands. Madge understands. Gale understands."
"Prim, Madge, and Gale are poor excuses for you. Because we all know that Prim babies you, Madge indulges you, and Gale does whatever Madge tells him too."
"Ugh. Peeta. I don't need you to be my voice of reason. I need you to do this for me."
"Nope. It's time you stood on your own two feet Everdeen. Time for you to take matters into your own hands. You're a hunter for Pete's sake! You take down deer and small rodents with no problem. I don't understand why this is any different."
"Because, Peeta. Because it just is. Please help me!"
"I am helping you. I'm helping you to grow as a person. If you're going to eat the lobster, you need to be the one to put the lobster in the boiling water. Just lift the lid, put it in, and shut it really quick. I won't even laugh at you when you scream because it's trying to jump out of the pot!"
And at that admission, Katniss left the clicking lobster on the counter and ran out the door. Lucky for Peeta, because now he had two lobsters to eat instead of just one!
End Notes:
I live in a place where lobster, when it's in season, is cheaper than bologna. The fishers tell of when they were younger and they were made fun of for bringing lobster sandwiches to school because it's all their families could afford. Coming from the Midwest, where lobster is a luxury item, this always fascinated me. So I had fun putting Katniss and Peeta into this little scenario.
