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Peeta's POV

I wake up in a haze and find Katniss in my arms. I'm wearing brand new clothes. My hands feel immensely better but the rest of my feels out of place. My stomach is churning and my head feels like I've spun around 100 times. I can't seem to open my eyes all the way and my nose is all stuffed up. I try to get out of bed, but that was just a waste of energy. It makes me too dizzy to even sit up straight. Katniss wakes up and turns to me.

"Peeta." She says.

She feels my forehead. She frowns then walks out to the kitchen.

Katniss' POV

He feels so hot. Just like when I kissed his forehead yesterday, but even hotter. I grab the thermometer and a cold washcloth. I put the washcloth on his head and stick the thermometer in his mouth. 102 degrees. He seems to ignore me and says something out of the ordinary.

"When you sang to me yesterday, the birds outside the window stopped singing." He says.

"No they didn't." I say.

I didn't listen for the birds. So they could've stopped singing without me knowing.

"Oh yes they did." He says. "Every single one."

I change the subject.

"I got the cake back." I say. "Maybe we can go in the woods sometime again. And this time actually do something."

"Today?" He asks hopefully.

"No Peeta." I say. "You have a temperature of 102 degrees."

Peeta's POV

Well that explains why I feel so sick.

"How did that happen?" I ask.

"Your hands got infected." She says. "Today you'll have to come watch the tribute parade in the kitchen though. I wonder what Delly and Gale will look like."

Both she and I know what they'll look like. Coal miners. Each year in the tribute parade you have to wear a costume that represents your district. District 12 always ends up as coal miners. Poor Delly has to dress up in that.

"They'll probably look like coal miners." I say.

Katniss' POV

"I wish I could tell Delly something." Peeta says.

"What would you tell her?" I ask.

"That she doesn't need to worry about me anymore. I have someone to take care of me." He says.

I feel my cheeks get hot. I know that person is me. I'm not good in these kinds of situations.

"I have to take care of you, Peeta." I say.

Actually, I do. I promised Delly I would. But that was a secret I can't tell Peeta. Delly knows I'll be taking care of Peeta. So in a way, Peeta's wish came true. He just doesn't know that. The truth is though; I want to take care of him. In 2 weeks he might be my only friend.

"You must be hungry." I say.

"No Katniss. The thought of food makes me want to throw up." He says.

"Well you have to eat if you want to get better." I say.

I go into the kitchen and look for food. All I find is the cake. Cake can't be good for a sick person, though. Peeta needs something nutritious. The only option is to go hunting.

"I'll be back soon." I tell Peeta.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"Hunting." I say. "I'll be back."

Without any more discussion, I get up and go. I throw on my hunter's jacket and snatch my game bag. I run out the door. When I find the break in the fence I climb under it. By routine I grab my bow and arrow from under a log. I go back to the spot Gale and I always met. There's no Gale here. I feel weak and collapse on the ground. I sit there for a second and feel hot tears run down my cheeks. Gale and I will never hunt together here again. I look up and see something familiar, exciting and extremely sad at the same time. I see about 8 of Gale's traps hanging with dead game. The last 8 traps Gale ever set. This makes me about burst into tears. He's not even gone yet and I'm already crying. I see tons of wild turkeys scurrying around. I don't even bother trying to shoot them. Being alone here in the woods is doing no good. I NEED to get food though. Not any of these 8 traps. That would cause even more tears. I stalk the 3 wild turkeys and kill all 3. They're pretty small turkeys, but they'll make nice soup. Then I see a prize possession. Carrots. I pull them up by the half dozens. I gather about 30 and put them in my game bag. 3 turkeys and 30 carrots. Then there are those traps I have to gather eventually… Today will not be that day. Just when I think I'm feeling better, I see a tree. Not just any tree, our tree. Me and Gale's. Where we used to meet every day. In the tree in engraved G+K Hunting Partners. Something we carved in the tree when we first met years ago. More tears stream down my face.

"Gale!" I scream.

No answer of course. I take off out of the woods and back to my house. I drop the game bag and throw off my hunting jacket.

Peeta's POV

Katniss runs into the room and collapses on the floor. She hysterically sobs. What could've gone wrong? It takes a lot of effort, but I get down on my knees and hug her from behind. She turns around and hugs back.

"Shhh. Katniss it's okay." I say. "What happened?"

"I… was in the woods…" She says between sobs. "And Gale… he wasn't there."

I wipe her tears and look into her wet gray eyes. I can imagine how this feels for her.

"You'll be okay Katniss. I promise." I tell her.

She looks up at me with puffy eyes.

"You should be in bed Peeta." She says.

"By the way…" I say. "Your mother and Prim said they'd be back at 3. They're at the hob."

"If you need me I'll be in the kitchen." She tells me.

I sit in bed for about a half hour. I wonder if my parents have even noticed I was gone. My brother's probably didn't notice either. Katniss walks in with a bowl and spoon. I look up at her.

"What wrong Peeta?" She asks me.

"Have my parents asked about me?" I ask.

"Not that I know of." She says.

I'm not surprised.

"Here Peeta. Eat this." She says.

She sets the bowl and spoon on my lap.

"I can't really pick up the…" I start.

So she just feeds me. Only two bites in and I'm done.

"No more." I say. "I'm not hungry."

She sets the soup bowl down. Her mother and sister walk in.

Prim shows me a loaf of bread.

"Your father says to feel better." She tells me.

"Well that was nice of him." Katniss says. "Let's go in the kitchen to watch the parade."

Mrs. Everdeen and Prim disappear into the kitchen. I try and get up but immediately fall back into bed.

"It's no use Katniss." I say. "I'm too dizzy."

She grabs my hands and helps me up.

"I'll help you." She says.

We sit down in her kitchen and the TV flicks on. The capitol anthem plays and Caesar Flickerman talks.

"Welcome to the 74th Hunger Games tribute parade!" He says as the carriages file out. "Just look at these costumes! How marvelous! And what's this?" He directs towards the last carriage.

And there they are. Delly and Gale. They're not coal miners, but they're in black costumes that seem to be on fire! They hold their hands up together in the air. The crowd goes wild and throws roses and things at them.

"I love that!" Caesar says. "Thanks for watching this year's tribute parade! Tune in tomorrow for the interviews!"

Not that we have a choice. We have to tune in. The TV goes black. Katniss gives me a look and just says

"Wow. That was… really unexpected."

"Yeah." I say. "I'm really tired now Katniss."

She guides me back in bed and she lies down on the floor with a blanket on top of her.

"Don't want to catch sick." She says.

I finally drift off to sleep when I hear screaming again. I kneel down on the floor then shake Katniss awake.

"Katniss it's okay. Just a nightmare." I assure her.

"Peeta." She says. I notice she's crying. "Stay down here with me."

I shakily grab a pillow and put it on the floor for me. I wrap my arms around a quivering Katniss.

"I wish I could tell Gale something." She says.

"What would you tell him?" I ask.

"That he doesn't need to worry about me. I have someone to keep my nightmares away and make sure I'm safe…" She says.

"And I'll always be here." I tell her.

Then I lean in and kiss her full on the lips. It's a huge stretch, but it should make us both feel better.

"Peeta..." She starts.

"There's no way I'll ever let you go." I tell her.

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