Somehow-Someway
Somehow I manage to drag Peeta to the couch and on it. I try to stay calm though my heart is pouding and my chest is heaving. A tear escapes my eye and I plant my hand on his wrist-he is alive. I grab the phone from the nightstand by the couch and diall 9-1-1. Then, after I explain what I see I hang up and diall Haymitch. I honestly can barely keep myself together. I ignore the blood that is all over my hands as I feel around Peeta, examining what seems to be wrong.
He has a large gash on his arm. It is very deep. It looks like a wound from a knife- but why would Peeta cut himself? I also see him ankle is twisted. It must have twisted when he feel, although nothing seems to be broke. I kiss Peeta on the lips and lean my forehead against his, telling him how much I love him and how sorry I am for being so stupid all along. The guilt I feel is very painful deep inside my chest. I wrap his arm in a blanket I find on the couch to stop the bleeding.
The paramedics come quickly and put him on a stretcher. Haymitch arrives just as I am stepping inside the ambulance. I nod to Haymitch to follow us to the hospital. I climb in a sit next to the very still Peeta. I take his hand in mine and kiss it. The paramedics wrap up his arm in gauz and wrap up his ankle. I do not let any fear or sadness show. I stay completely emotionless. It hurts, but I know that this should all be over soon. The paramedics tell me he fractured his ribs as well and he will be in a ton of pain when he awakes, not to mention a huge head ache. They ask me for promission to give him medication. We arrive at the hospital and I follow the paramedics into the emergency room. They tell me I have to wait and I can barely do. Haymitch runs through the doors and wraps me in a hug. Though he smells of spice and mint, he has not been drinking.
"It's okay sweetheart. Just tell me what the hell hapened?" He asked as we sat down.
"I went hunting and came home to find him on the ground." I say, my voice cracking.
"Did you fight?" He asks eargerly.
"No." I say plainly.
I awake three hours later to Haymitch pushing my shoulders. I stand up and notice I am in a hospital room. I see Peeta on the hospital bed asleep. He looks pale, his arm is bandagd and his foot is in a splint. I look at Haymitch and he nods to the doctor who just came in.
"Katniss Everdeen?" He asks me, his glasses sitting at the edge of his nose. I nod so he continues, "Peeta Mellark has lost quite a lot of blood. We think he was sitting there bleeding for a long while before you found him. He twisted his ankle pretty bad but that should heal quickly as long as he elevates and ices it. Also, his ribs are a bit bruised so he will need to ice that as well. He has five stiches in his arm at the moment so pain medication will be given to him to take as necessary. Other than that, once he wakes up he should be ready to go home but he will need someone to look after him."
I nod, "I will look after him." I say plainly and the doctor leaves.
Peeta wakes up about fifteen minutes later.
"Ow," He says, rubbing his head. "Why am I in the hospital?"
"You got hurt, Peeta. You hurt yourself." I say, standing and walking over to his bedside. I take his hand in mine and sit next to him.
"Oh yeah, I was having an attack." He says, looking down.
"Why did you hurt yourself then?" I ask in pure confusion.
"The mutt told me to hurt you. I ran after you then came back, fighting myself. Once I got into the kitchen I grabbed a knife. I cut my arm then crashed into the table. Then I twisted my foot and fell. I blacked out after that." He says, in a whisper.
"It makes the flash backs leave," Haymitch concludes and Peeta nods sadly.
"Well, we can go home now." I say with a small smile.
"Before we go, can I ask you something?" Peeta asks and I nod.
"You love me. Real or not real?" He asks a few moments later. I reach down and kiss Peeta lightly on the lips and whisper,
"Real."
Two weeks after the incident, Peeta is feeling much better. His foot is healing and he can walk on it just fine. His stiches just came out so he is a lot more comfortable now. His headaches stopped a while ago. We walk a lot since the doctor said to walk for his foot until it hurt. We hold hands, kiss, and hug a lot as well. Not to mention I sleep with him every night. I think we might be together but I have not asked. I feel as if I say anything- he will leave or we will fight or a flash back will happen.
"Katniss?" Peeta asks as he steps into the living room. I look up at him and so he continues, "C-can we go on a date?"
My heart starts beating faster and my stomach fills with butterflies, "Of course." I say with a small smile. I have never been on a real date before so this is all very exciting.
Peeta takes my hand and leads me outside. We walk for a while until we reach the meadow. He lays out a blanket and a picnic basket. He picks a primrose flower and tucks it behind my ear. I can not help but to blush. This is so amazing. So romantic. So beautiful. I watch as Peeta pulls out sandwiches and fruits. We eat and talk and share stories about our childhood. We laugh together. I love it when we laugh together.
"So Katniss, who was your first kiss?" He then asks, still smiling.
"Well.. uh, you. In the cave." I admit because I know I can't lie. I never hung out with guys except Gale and I never went on dates. I found them pointless.
"Really? Wow." He says smiling. "My first kiss was with Delly. It was horribly slobbery and very awkward." He says and I laugh.
We talk for a long time until the sun sets and we watch it together. I lay back into him, my head leaning on his shoulder, my body resting against his.
"I'll be right back." Peeta says hurried. He stands and runs off and I can no longer see him. I sit and wait for a total of three long minutes until I see him again. He gets very near and kneels down on one knee. He grabs my hand and I become speachless.
"Katniss Everdeen," He starts nervously, "I have loved you from the moment I saw you. You are the most beautiful, amazing, funny, and charming girl I have ever met. We have gone through a lot together, and we are both very broken, but I know if we stay together our love can conquer anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to always be there for you. Always." He pauses a moment as a tear slips down my cheek.
"Will you, Katniss, marry me?" He asks in his perfect voice with his perfect lips and everything right now in this moment feels perfect. I nod slowly since words can not find my lips. He slides a simple pearl ring with a gold band, onto my fourth finger. He then stands and takes my face in his hands.
"You are my forever love." He says as our lips meet.
