Chapter 3
And I've missed it! I've missed my chance! Because those extra couple of seconds I've lost by not being ready are enough to change my mind about going in. My feet shuffle for a moment, confused at the direction my brain wants to take and then I lunge forward, scoop up the sheet of plastic and a loaf of bread. The pickings are so small and I'm so angry with Peeta for distracting me that I sprint in twenty yards to retrieve a bright orange backpack that could hold anything because I can't stand leaving with virtually nothing.
I sit on the couch flipping channels. When I find an old movie, Bridge to Terabithia, I stop. This is one of Peeta's favorite movies. Peeta looks up from his seat on the floor at me and smiles. When we looked back at the TV, I start running my fingers through his hair.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Yep. But you need a haircut."
Peeta smiles and laughs. "And I suppose you will take care for that right?"
"Sure. Just not now."
Peeta smiles again. I haul myself onto the floor next to him and lie down, resting my head in his lap. Peeta seems studying my face closely so I scrunch it up and ask him what so interesting.
"You." he say plan and simply. We both smile at each other. I start looking around the living room. Plain. I decide that I really want to redecorate. Not just the living room but the entire house.
"Katniss. You know normally I would be all for that but not in your condition. And I can't redo the whole house before the baby comes, keep an eye on you and the bakery."
"I am pregnant, not a cancer patient and we can hire a building crew."
"Okay but where do you propose we get all the furniture, and where do we stay until everything's ready?"
"Look around Peeta. There are 9 other victor house we could live in for the time be."
Peeta sighs. "Okay sure."
"Wait really!"
Peeta laughs. "You sound surprised."
"A little..."
"But on one condition."
"That is...?"
"I get to do the nursery."
"But we don't know if it's a boy or girl."
"But we can. All we have to do is go to the doctors while where in the capital picking out furniture."
"But I don't want to know." say almost silently.
"Well I just don't tell you. All they do is taking a picture like thing then ask if we want to know the gender."
"Okay... but I don't want to know."
"Deal." he says kissing me lightly.
...
"Hey Mom." I say walking into her house, my old victor house.
"Hello Katniss, Peeta." she says with a smile.
Prim comes around the corner. Yes Prim. After she got hurt she only went into a coma and was severely injured. She was taken hostage by some capital people and only 2 years ago had she been returned to district 12.
"Hey there little duck." I say despite the fact my sister is 19. Good and bad habits die hard I guess.
"Hi Katniss." I give her a hug.
"We just wanted to stop by and say good-bye, we will be back in two weeks, so don't worry about us okay."
Prim laughs "Katniss, I think you're the one who will do all the worrying for all of us!"
I laugh again and look at my sister. She is really tall, taller than me, and very beautiful. I think about how her boyfriend Rory, Gale's brother is a lucky boy.
I feel Peeta nudge me causing me to jolt out of my thoughts.
"Sorry." I mumble.
"Pregnant people." Peeta says with a laugh. I playfully slap him then say we need to get going. We make our way over to Effie's house. She and Haymitch are there. We stay for a bit, Haymitch tells us that while in the capital we are going to be more famous than anyone else, and to just smile for the cameras and sign the autographs, we thank him, say good bye then go to the train station. The long silver train sleeks into the station. People scurry off, the new passengers make their way on.
Peeta and I get really nice soft seats in first class. As we go from district to district people beg us for autographs. Finally we get some pace when we have pasted all the districts are nearing the capital. Peeta wraps his arms around me and I lean on him. Drifting off into a deep sleep.
When I wake up the train is in the capital almost to the station. I quickly Brush out my hair and re braid it, fix my makeup and straighten my shirt. Just in time too. When I get off camera's flash in my eyes. Peeta helps push me to the exit gate. We quickly call for a car and climb in. Some people follow but quickly get left behind.
I turn to Peeta and we both can't help but laugh.
The car takes us to the hotel, something now very common in most districts and the capital due to traveling being allowed now.
We go inside and up to the penthouse. I am really tired so I go upstairs and collapse on the bed and fall asleep.