Back To Green Ch. 2.
I tell him my idea about the book, and a large box of parchment sheets arrives on the next train from the Capitol.
I got the idea from my family's plant book. The place where we recorded those things you cannot rust to memory.
"Does this look okay, Katniss?" Peeta holds up a delicately drawn still of Rue, poised on her toes, arms slightly extended, like a bird about to take flight.
"Its lovely, Peeta, thank you" I nod my head in appreciation and begin to paste the photo onto one of the pages in the book.
He grins. "Your welcome." He tells me, and leans in to quickly kiss me on the cheek.
The act is so bold, so spontaneous, that it is as if I have turned into a statue. I'm frozen still, staring at the page of Rue, trying to comprehend. Peeta, however, goes back to his original position and attempts to add on the names of tributes that he and I had small encounters with.
I contemplate on asking him, but my mind seems to be elsewhere. I cannot keep the words from leaving my lips "You just kissed me, real or not real?" My voice comes across a combination of disbelief and exasperation. Almost aggression. I do not want to seem angry at him.
In fact, that is the opposite of what I am. I am just curious.
He looks contrite, guilty even. I am just about to assure him of his innocence when he says, "Real. You want me to do it again, real or not real?"
Without thinking, I blurt out, "Real." I barely have enough time to counteract my comment before he softly kisses me again. This time, not my cheek.
He kisses my lips.
Its foreign at first. Sweet and gentle, but still foreign. I have not felt his lips on mine for the longest of times, as it seems.
It feels so, incredulously, good.
Real, I tell myself. This is real. All of it.
Peeta is kissing me. I am kissing him. There is nothing between us but the smallest of spaces.
And it feels amazing.
Peeta's lips detach from mine a short while after. He just gulps, his adams apple bobbing up and down, as if to show nervousness. Surely he wouldn't be nervous, would he? After all, he was the one who ignited it to begin with. "I-uh, um. . ." he stumbles with his words. This comes as shock to me. Peeta is not one to be at a loss for words.
I breathe out deeply and crack a small smile. "Your lips taste like peppermint." I let out a faint, breathy laugh as my front teeth latch onto my bottom lip. I feel prickly heat dance upon my cheeks. I am blushing. Hard.
He nods. "That makes sense, I had some tea earlier." His voice seems to be back again.
I look at him, our eyes boring into each others for what seems to be an endless amount of time. My eyes break away while I delicately place the book to the side and lean into him, placing my head on his chest, my fingers sprawled against it.
He exhales deeply and tightens his arms around me.
"Can you stay here for the night?" I ask him timidly. I don't want him to think I am being to forward, yet, I would do anything for him to say yes.
He takes his time replying "Of course" he tells me eventually.
We work on our book all day. By sundown, I have gotten used to his kisses. I know he thinks that I am comfortable with them because he does it increasingly often. It's as if he needs to kiss me as much as he can before it is all over. Although, I'm not entirely sure what "it" is, and I'm beginning to get the idea that Peeta doesn't either.
But, it isn't like I mind.
Greasy Sae comes for supper, her granddaughter prancing in behind her. We politely greet her as she begins to start cooking, straight away. Sae is, as always, elated that she has some of my fresh game to prepare tonight. I find it almost refreshing that someone can be so happy about the smallest of things. I secretly hope that one day I will be able to seek joy in my surroundings, like I had when I was younger.
Sae's granddaughter sits in front of Peeta and I on the floor. I believe her name is Valeria. She's nice, very pretty. How old is she again? 9 years old? Almost. Just.
"How are you?" she says calmly as she sits.
"I'm well" I answer.
I cannot help but notice her maturity. Every time she visits, she's always on her best behavior.
She must have been through a lot, for only the best of behaviors come from the most horrific of experiences. Suddenly, a hollow pang of sadness rushes through me.
I realize that she's probably with Greasy Sae at most times because something may have happened to her parents. Something awful, forcing her to grow up, to look at life through different eyes.
I'm sorry this happened to you. I think to myself. I'm sorry you've grown up, I'm sorry you cannot be a kid anymore.
I truly am sorry. Children we already forced before to mature during the Games. It makes me sick to know that it's still happening.
It's terrifying to think about, sickening even. But, no matter how much you refuse it to be true, It is.
We're still just pieces in their games.
We have stew for supper, rabbit stew. It's good, as usual. Anything Greasy Sae makes is good.
The sun is well set by the time Sae and Valeria leave.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Peeta yawn deeply as he is assisting me in cleaning up.
"Are you tired?" I ask him soothingly.
"Huh?" He turns around, rubbing a tired eye "Oh, um, no I'm not, it's okay, we should finish cleaning up first." He turns back to the sink and continues rinsing off a pot.
"Peeta," I say more assertively, "go to sleep, we can finish in the morning."
He blinks back sleepy eyes and nods. "Yeah, okay."
"Let's go." I whisper to him. I grab Peeta's hand and slowly ascend the stairs, mostly because I am tired as well. I find a nightgown in my drawer and head towards the bathroom. "Get to bed" I tell him and walk into the bathroom.
As I'm getting dressed, I smile to myself. I have 2 other beds in my house, but of course I want Peeta to stay in mine. Judging by his lack of resistance and questioning, so does he.
I don't think about it too much, why I enjoy Peeta's company and his warmth beside me as I drift off into sleep. Mostly because I'm afraid of telling myself that its true.
That I actually might love Peeta.
I turn to face him already feeling my eyelids getting droopy. He sleepily smiles at me. "Sleep." He whispers and kisses my forehead.
I nod and move over to kiss his lips before drifting off completely.
