On the 4th May, all of us returned to the Capitol. Since me and Peeta had our argument, we had forgiven and forgotten just as we always do. My mother and I had not spoken another word about Prim and Annie had started discussing Finnick with me again. All had returned to normal.
The moment I stepped foot in my home, Effie and my prep team whisked me off my feet and up the stairs to start prepping for tomorrow night's events. I tried to keep up conversation and smiled in the right place however my prep team did nothing but make me more repelled by this party that was being thrown in my honour – all attention on me. Great.
Once the team have made me look pretty again, it was time for wardrobe which is my least favourite part since the death of my stylist Cinna; I would rather sit through a whole extra hour of waxing just to avoid this. I have nothing against my new stylist, Aphrodite. She's extremely gorgeous with long glistening blonde hair and the biggest and darkest brown eyes I've ever seen. Plus, he body makes her one of the biggest sex symbols for men across the country. She's just not him.
Once I had been dressed in a long, sea green ensemble, I was photographed by Effie. Deprived of her usual Old Capitol fashion, Effie looked bare – you could almost call it exposed naked. Her wigs that had been taken away have not been found and returned to her so she has and grown out her natural hair however it is still at a short pixie cut stage that she says she despises. She is wearing less extravagant clothing because of budget cuts but she seems to be enjoying not having to walk everywhere in her killer heels. I smile and pose, trying to hide the truth, that my soul is tearing itself apart inside me.
"Good girl, Katniss," Effie said patronisingly with her irritating Old Capitol dialect, "Go to bed now and get some beauty sleep. You need it."
I'm sure whether I was supposed to hear the last part but either way I ignored it and gladly went up to bed after Aphrodite stripped me of her beautiful work.
I woke up in Peeta's arms. He must have snuck in without disturbing me last night when he came back from his meeting with Beetee. Surprisingly, when I got up to go have breakfast he didn't even stir.
"Peeta?" I whisper. Still nothing.
Eventually, I get bored of staring at the big pile of mess that he was on the bed and crawled over to him. Unsurprisingly, his breathe smelt strongly on alcohol yet again. The sad truth is that to get other the nightmares he still gets from the Games, he partially drowns himself in alcohol until he is incoherent. This has been going on for 2 years but he won't admit it and I dare not say anything to him about it as it is such a sensitive subject – I of all people understand that.
I decide that now is not the time to wake the sleeping dragon and I leave to go have breakfast. I stroll downstairs and find myself surrounded by people. Due to the fact that it is morning and I had a late night yesterday, it takes me a while to even figure out any recognition I have with these people.
First of all, I spot my mother and Aphrodite in the corner trying to stay out of the busy crowds. Then, I spot Effie talking to my prep team and a few other ex-Old Capitol citizens. Much to my misfortune, Ceaser Flickerman (the television host had survived the rebellion and forgiven for his crimes due to his popularity and celebrity status in the country) spotted me from across the room. As soon as I figured out that I had been seen, I grabbed a delicious chocolate croissant and sprinted up the stairs two at a time.
When I make it back to the master room, Peeta is still fast asleep so I decide to grab my books and sit out on our balcony. The balcony overlooked grand parks of greenery and a few small forests in which I love to hunt. Breaking the horizon that should be in front of me is the Capitol. I find it disappointing, although many think otherwise, as it is not as marvelous as I first though. The fumes from the city can be seen from a long distance and there are many ugly buildings along the skyline which blocks the view of the beautiful sky at night along with a lot of sunlight during the day.
A while later, I decide I am too bored to not wake Peeta now.
"Baby?" I whisper into his ear as I gently shake him.
All of a sudden his eyes spring open and before I can even react he is flipping me over so he is lying on top of me. He smiles down at me and starts kissing my neck. Oh, his lips feel so sweet and warm going along my neck and down my chest. At first, he kisses me gently and calmly however it starts to become stronger, more passionate and wilder. He's grabbing me and biting me and doing all the things he knows I love.
We haven't been this sexual and close for months and for once I'm not scared. I want this. I want his touch. I want his passion. I want his pleasure. I want his love. And I never want it to stop. So, I let him continue – I let him in. We keep going together until we are both screaming in pleasure. I'm scratching at his beautifully shaped muscular back and he is either biting down hard on my neck or he is moaning in my ear. Too soon, it is over.
"Katniss?" Peeta breathlessly murmurs next to me.
I look over at his perfectly chiseled body as he breathes. Up and down. He is the pure picture of physical perfection and he is all mine to keep forever.
"Yes?" I reply.
"Happy Birthday."
