A/N The second chapter has arrived and i've skipped the games, basically the exact same thing happened as in the book, but dont worry the kiss has not been forgotten.
Enjoy!
I wake up to a blur of shapes and colours. A bright light demands my attention so forcefully that I have to snap my eyes shut again as to not be blinded. How long have I been out of the arena? Maybe a few hours, more? I squint just enough to let my eyes adjust and see Haymitch enter my hospital room and sit down next to my bed.
"Nice job sweetheart, you managed to get yourself outta there and save the boy at the same time. More than I gave you credit for," he gives me what I think is meant to be a smile and it's the closest I've ever come to seeing Haymitch be genuine.
"Where's Peeta? Is he alright? How long have I been out of the arena? When do we get to go home?" I'm out of breath by the time all my questions tumble out, I also notice how hoarse my voice sounds which makes me wonder again how long I have really been out of the arena.
"He's fine, just resting same as you. Though you're not allowed to see him yet, they want to do your reunion live on air at the ceremony," he shushes me before I can protest. "You've been out of the arena for nearly a day now, they had to keep you under for an extra couple hours; apparently you had so many different scars that it took a while to smooth them all away, only the best skin for our newest victor," he winks at me.
As I lift up the sleeves of my hospital gown I feel a wave of nostalgia come over me as I see that even my older, deeper scars acquired from years of hunting in the woods with Gale have been wiped away, erased by the Capitals touch with all that's left in their place my shiny, polished new skin.
Noticing my slight shift in focus Haymitch not so swiftly changes the subject to my last unanswered question.
"All you've got left to do is the winners ceremony and then Caesar's interview and it's back to district 12, should be on the train by tomorrow morning if all goes well according to Effie's excessive planning,"
"Go with Cinna now, he's got to get you ready," I look up to see Cinna leaning against the door, having silently entering my room without noticing. He gives me a smug smile and as we walk to the prep room he turns to me and says.
"Told you I was betting on you, girl on fire."
I'm nervous as I wait for Caesar to call me onto the stage, the only thing keeping me steady is the fact that it's one step closer to getting to go home, to seeing Prim and my mother again and the Hawthorne's and Gale. When I think of Gale I'm not sure what I feel, I'm excited but also scared, what will he think of me now? Am I still his Catnip or am I just a head over heels in love capital sell out? I'm not entirely sure I know myself, I'm just happy that I'll get to go home and just be me again.
There's no time to think about that now though as I see Haymitch walking towards me. He engulfs me straight in a hug which I barely have time to register as strange because he starts talking straight into my ear, my hair concealing his lips.
"Exactly the same as in the arena okay sweetheart, completely, madly in love with that boy. Wouldn't want anyone to think that little stunt in the arena was an act of rebellion would we," As soon as Haymitch pulls away I'm filled with a dread coursing straight through me. Of course I was stupid to think that I could go home and just be me, the games haven't ended and maybe this parts more dangerous than the arena.
Haymitch gives me a reassuring smile which ends up to be more of a grimace as the trumpets blare and I'm pushed forward awaiting my entrance.
Our prep teams enter first, all giggles and bouncing around, next is Effie, who receives massive cheers from the crowd as she curtseys on stage. When Cinna and Portia are introduced the crowd is almost deafening, obviously having found favourites from the design team and I strongly suspect that they will be upgraded through the districts next year. Haymitch's entrance brings mixed reviews from the crowd some now unsure whether or not getting his first 2 victors makes up for 25 years of not caring about being in the limelight.
And then it's me being propelled forward straight into Peeta's arms, we cling together and as he kisses me all I can hear is the crowds unwavering roar ringing in my ears. I'm ecstatic to see Peeta and make sure that he really is alright, and after about 10 minutes of us being in our own little bubble are we pulled aside by Caesar to start the viewing part of the ceremony.
I remember Haymitch's warning and I tuck myself straight into Peeta's side whilst putting my feet up on the seat, the crowd aww's as he accommodates me perfectly and I start to wonder if Peeta really knows how much danger we could be in if we don't pull this scene off.
I'm glad to have all the attention directed off us as the lights dim down and everybody turns to watch the 3hour showing of the highlights of this year's games. I try to prepare myself as I realize that my fellow 22 tributes death will be projected on the screen for everybody to see once again, the idea of seeing Rue's lifeless body makes a tear roll down my cheek, I quickly wipe t away because I can't show that I feel remorse for these tributes lives, after all if they weren't dead I would be.
It's easy to tell what the story behind these games were this year as an excessive amount of camera footage is spent on showcasing mine and Peeta's supposed love, and apart from seeing every single death in excruciating detail the rest of the tributes don't have much light shed upon them. Every death I see makes me feel sick and I feel Peeta's arm tense when fox face appears on the screen. Rue's death is the shortest one shown and I notice how the omit the part where I lay the flowers around her, seeing her face nearly makes me breakdown right there and the only thing keeping me on the stage is the bright lights trained on me at all times reminding me of how well this must go. Cato's death is by far the most gruesome and the Game makers have even gone so far as to have cameras zoom right in as he's torn apart limb by limb, I turn to hide my face in the crook of Peeta's neck when I raise my arrow, by the time I've turned back were being announced as victors and I've missed how they portrayed out winning.
The anthem plays and I'm glad that Caesar is not able to ask me any questions right now, although I know that will happen later tonight, at least I'll have more time to prepare my answers. I barely pay attention as Snow enters from the left wing to congratulate us on being the newest victors and present us with our crowns. It's the closest I've ever stood from him and I feel extremely uncomfortable as his snake like eyes bore straight into mine.
Waving and cheering follows and it seems like an eternity before Caesar finally bids the audience goodnight and the lights turn off. Peeta and I are ushered off stage in a rush and then separated as Effie takes him one way and Haymitch takes I another, I crane my neck to try and see where they're going but Haymitch yanks me forward before I can see.
"You did well sweetheart, Capitol ate it up," he says, but I know that it can't really be the capitol that's the problem.
"And Snow? Do you think he bought it?" I question. Haymitch seems on edge about something but he just gives me a short nod and just says.
"We'll find out soon enough," I'm not sure what he means and don't ask, he then tells me that in the morning we have the interview with Caesar and then we'll be travelling back to district 12. I can't completely contain my excitement as we reach the door to my room and I head inside hoping to get my first proper goodnights sleep in what seems like forever.
I'm woken up bright and early by Effie's clamouring on my door and everything seems to go by in slow motion as Cinna prepares me for the interview with Caesar. Any excitement I have over finally getting to go home is overshadowed with worry about what this interview will entail, if my answers aren't perfect I'm in even more trouble than I am now.
I don't get to see Peeta until right before we sit down with Caesar and I'm starting to think that this insistence on our separation is happening on purpose. I have no time to question anybody about this though as Caesar engulfs me in a warm hug when I enter the room and then starts to proceed with the interview.
Instantly were being broadcast live to the entire country and I suddenly can't help wondering whether Gale is watching or rather what he thinks of the entire games really. I know he must feel hurt considering that he kissed me before I was reaped and I'm now going to return home a victor and with a 'boyfriend' as well. I hope he's at least proud of me for surviving though and he must have missed me as much as I have missed him. I haven't even been able to think about the kiss, but it seems as though that's pointless now, what future could Gale and I ever really have now? If I even wanted one, I am glad that the kiss happened now, as brief as it was at least I got to experience a real kiss before the arena.
Peeta brings me back to reality by calling my name and Caesar is staring at me intently, obviously having just asked me a question,"
"Err I'm sorry could you just repeat that for me please Caesar?" he gives me a faint chuckle before he answers.
"I asked you when you realised you were in love with Peeta?"
"Oh, I err…" I laugh nervously as I rack my brains trying to come up with an answer before Caesar saves me by answering his own question.
"I know when I thought you were, when you called out his name sitting in that tree, you could really tell you were in love with him in that moment,"
I'm so grateful for his answer that I nearly get up of my seat and hug him. "Yes, I guess that was one I finally realised Caesar, your right," I say.
I tune out again as Caesar directs his questions towards Peeta again, occasionally I hear a few aww's from the room and I know that Peeta is probably spinning some beautiful love story, he's much better at this than me.
I pay attention once again when Caesar turns to me and says.
"Now Katniss I have one more question for you," I'm suddenly filled with dread. "What was going through your mind when you took out those berries in the arena?"
This is the question; everything depends on whether my answer Is completely perfect, I glance at Haymitch briefly before answering.
"I don't know… I just couldn't…bear the thought of… being without him," I try to look as convincing as possible and from the look on Haymitch's face it was the right thing to say.
Caesar wraps up the interview by wishing us well as we return home and then were walking toward our rooms with Haymitch and Effie in tow.
"Was it okay," I whisper as soon as Haymitch is within ear-shot.
"Perfect," he tells me. I breathe a sigh of relief.
"So," Peeta says. "Are we getting on the train straight away?" he has a shine to his eyes; he must be as excited to get back to district 12 as I am.
Nobody answers and I look from Haymitch to Effie not missing how both of their faces look like there hiding something.
"What?" I say staring straight at Effie knowing she's the mostly likely to spill whatever secret it is.
"It's Snow," Haymitch is the one who answers me.
"He wants to see you."
A/N Please review.