Immediately there is a lump in my throat. I dont know whether i am happy or just in to much shock, because I can't even confirm Peeta that I understand. Instead, I just drop the phone and run over to the couch. I squeeze the pillow that was recently soaked with cleaning spray and just rock back and forth on the seat.
It is just like the long time I spent on my rocking chair not wanting to live. Although this time, I want to be alive for this moment. I wasn't expecting Peeta to be here already, let alone call me only to inform me of him being normal. I'm not sure if he was calling me after he had planned for my death. But I can't think that way. His voice was just so... Peeta. I need Peeta. And Peeta needs me.
After realizing that me sitting here and crying isn't going to get me to Peeta, I run out the door and barge into Haymitch's house.
"Haymitch! He's here! Haymitch!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
"Who is here?" A voice says. That's when I grab the chair sitting just under the table, and I clutch it as I slowly turn around.
"It's okay, Katniss. It's me. It's Peeta," he says to me in a calming voice. Then he walks towards me in a soothing gesture, but something on my mind tells me otherwise. When he touches my shoulder, that's when it pulls the trigger.
Before I can think, I start slapping and punching at him. Everything that surrounds me either shatters or finds some way to break. All I am doing is trying to protect myself, right? I begin to feel guilty but the rage continues. I am crying and screaming harder than ever before. What is wrong with me. Some noise in the background sounds and I know it isn't me who is making these noises. Then I hear him.
"HEY!" Haymitch yells and splits Peeta and I apart. His face is filled with confusion and I know I have done something wrong.
"I was only protecting myself. I didn't know what else to do!" I shout at Haymitch. I know he had anything and everything to do with the return of Peeta. Otherwise he'd be the one attacking Peeta to protect me.
"Katniss I told you what happened. It's okay. You can trust me," he gently touches my back and I flinch a little, but then my body calms itself.
I start to cry yet another time and soon after I think I run out of tears completely. Standing there silently, I don't say a word. Neither does Haymitch or Peeta. I hear distant talking outside of my unclear mind. I soon find out that Haymitch and Peeta are talking in low voices. I snap back into reality and say, "Peeta," in a calm voice I speak and I hesitate to grab his muscular body and hold it into my fragile and lonely one, but I eventually squeeze him tight.
I squeeze him tighter and tighter and when I can't do so any more I just hold him there. I hold him like he is my father. Like I used to do with my dad before I went off to another day of school. But this hug is more of a sensual hug. When he hugs me it warms my body with love and trust. Trust. I trust Peeta. I trust Peeta. Soon enough I repeat out loud, "I trust Peeta...I trust Peeta," after a while Haymitch pats my back and replies, "You trust Peeta with all of yout heart. You love him. Right Katniss," I slightly shake my head yes and I decide to release from Peeta's shaken body.
"Peeta, I'm sorry I..."
"No Katniss. You have no reason to be sorry. I was the one who got this all messed up for us. I was the one who tried to.. Ugh. I honestly have no idea how to ask for forgiveness. I would never want this for you or for me. I just want you to know that I wouldn't do anything purposefully to hurt you this way. Can we just try to make this better? Now right away, but in a slow manner. Would you do that for me?" He asks me, touching my face softly.
I nod in response balling my eyes out and say, "I love you, Peeta," and with out thinking I run straight into his comforting arms and the emptiness goes away. I hear sobs over towards the kitchen and it makes me choke up to see Haymitch actually crying. I laugh a little and Peeta joins.
"It won't be perfect. But I will try. I know I can trust you," I tell Peeta. I wipe away a tear that falls perfectly down his face.
After that, no one says a word for a good hour or so. I decide it would be best to leave Haymitch alone to himself again. Right as I hop off of the couch I've been sitting on, Peeta grabs my waist and turns me around. For a while, he just stares at every part of my face. I do the same. Before I open my mouth to speak, he kisses me. It is a short but relaxing kiss. He does this to remind me that he is better. I wouldn't mind a longer kiss, but I continue out the door and I prance to my house. Yes, I was prancing to my house. Dork.
Tonight I decide to just heat up the leftover soup from last night. Once the timer goes off, I grab the bowl out of my microwave and chug the tasty soup down.
As I am walking to the market, a few thoughts come to my mind. I guess I wouldn't mind getting married to Peeta, but that wouldn't be any time soon. I am only 19 and my mom would not approve of it until I am at least 20. Gosh, I haven't seen my mom in ages. I can't believe this but I actually miss her, a lot.
I finally arrive at the market and I go straight to the section where the food is. I need vegetables, oranges, some milk, and some sugar. I hear the store door open, and I turn around to find Peeta walking in. I tell myself to get out of his sight, but instead, I just stare at him. I watch his every move and we then make eye contact.
"Already falling in love with me?" He laughs and smirks at me.
Crap.
"Oh hush you," I snap at him and that is exactly what he does.
"What are you up to?" He asks me as if he doesn't already know.
I just hold up my food items in response, and he nods. I see him looking at the fine jewelry and curiosity strikes me. I am immediately interrupted when I see a hovercraft flying just outside of the store. A short, plump man is placed on the ground of district twelve. As soon as I recognize his face, I know something is up. That could only mean one thing...