Thank you to everyone who has read my story! I really appreciate the reviews that I have received! This chapter didn't end up as long as I had hoped, but I am very happy with it, and I think you will be too! My next update won't be for a few days. I am trying to figure out exactly how I want to keep you on the edge of your seat for the next couple of chapters. I promise it will be worth the wait! Only one more week until the movie releases! Yay! I have just reposted all of my chapters with the proper grammar fixes. Thank you to my reviewers for catching those for me! I apologize to my subscribers! I may have just spammed you with a ton of emails because I had a lot of trouble reposting them…I kinda did it backwards so it started with Chapter 7….I wasn't thinking when I did that! So if you got spammed with email notifications, I'm so sorry!
Chapter 7
The day I have been dreading has finally arrived. The last three days have been dedicated to the pampering of Peeta and me. My stylists worked to the bone to make us look beautiful. I barely notice my scars that have taken over my body. It is so strange to look into the mirror and see this strange girl; I almost feel the last three days were worth it to not see the scars. I never realized how much they bothered me.
"It's a big, big day!" Effie rejoices. I think she is mostly happy to get back to the luxuries of the Capitol. I mean, besides the few crazy people left in District 12, who in their right mind would want to stay in this bombed hell? Getting the Capitol rebuilt was the first priority of the new government. It didn't take long for the privileged to return to their old ways in a hurry. No other district was hit as hard as ours, but we have made tremendous progress in such a short period of time.
As my stylists finish up with my last minute adjustments in the bathroom, I start to wonder where Peeta is. They worked on him first this morning knowing I would take the longest. I turn Effie. "When do we have to be on the train?" I ask only half caring. Effie looks up at me with her over enthusiastic expression "Seven o'clock on the dot!" She lets out a tiny squeal of delight. "We mustn't be late, my dear. We have a very strick schedule to keep."
Why does this not surprise me? It may come as no surprise that when I think of Effie and all of her rich clothing, I can't help but always feel rushed. I suppose I should be thankful to her, she has been of great service to both Peeta and I. I guess I just get overly annoyed by her enthusiasm for the Capitol.
"Oh! We must get going or the train is going to leave without us." No, I couldn't get that lucky. The whole country would wait forever for me to show my face on tv again. I look down the hall expecting to see Peeta and I don't see him, so I rely on my ears instead. My heart sunk at both senses failing me. "Effie, where is Peeta?" I ask almost urgently. She looks at me in an annoyed fashion; she finds it silly I would be worrying about him when we have a strict schedule to maintain. "He should already be at the train station, Katniss. Someone knows how to be on time!"
My thoughts go rampant while I ponder his absence. I have had so little time to spend with him these last few days. Any time that I have not been poked, smudged, and probed I have been with my mother. She left last night on the train that was heading to District 4. I wish she was going with us to the Capitol, but I know she couldn't handle being here; it reminds her too much of everything we have lost. Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through the same thing she avoids.
We finally arrive at the train station and I finally see him. Somehow the stylists performed miracles, similar to mine; Peeta looked as he did before the war. His hair was longer, somehow. His curls were more defined and shiny. My eyes grew wide as I saw his scarless body; is he just as shocked at my transformation? From the look on his face, I would have to say, yes.
Peeta walks over to me and grabs my suitcase out of my hand and gives me my favorite smile. "You look beautiful, love." My stomach flutters at his words. He starts walking away to give the conductor my luggage. "Let's go, now, Katniss. We must find our rooms and then we shall meet for lunch in the dining hall." I start looking around for any signs of my drunk mentor and he is nowhere in sight. I gently grab Effie by the elbow as she was boarding the train. "Effie, have you seen Haymitch?" She gives a small sigh even thinking about him. "I was told he boarded awhile ago; to load himself on all the free alcohol he can muster I am sure." I can't find an argument to defend him, he makes that impossible.
The train transports me back to before the games, before I knew just how much my taking Prim's place at the reaping would change the world. So many things have changed since then; a lot of bad, but I'm starting to see some of the good. I smile at Peeta as I see him walking towards us from down the walkway. Effie turns to me and stops in front of a luxurious door. "Katniss, this will be your dormitory for the duration of our trip." She opens the door for me and Peeta and I start to enter. Effie grabs Peeta by the arm. "Tut, tut, tut…You will be down the hall, Mr. Mellark." I turn around and frown at him. He gives me a smile and silently lips "I'll be right back" with a wink.
After Peeta allowed Effie to escort him to his room, I start to unpack a few items I will need during the trip. A moment later I hear a quiet tap on the door. I leap at the thought of finally getting some alone time with him! I ran to the door and was sorely disappointed at seeing Effie again. "Just wanted to remind you that we will be eating lunch at 12 o'clock sharp..Perhaps you would like to take a nap? We won't be having any meetings until lunch, so you may spend this time doing whatever you like." She gives me a perky squeal and is off to do whatever it is she does when she doesn't feel the need to babysit me.
I hear her knocking on Peeta's door and repeating the same speech she just told me. I am getting so impatient waiting for him. I go to the bathroom to examine my newly done skin and face. I am so fascinated at my stylists ability to hide all of these scars. I didn't think it would ever be possible to do it, but they have…with ease. I hear a much louder knock on the door and this time I know it is him. I run to answer it and I am rewarded with his beautiful face.
He looks so amazing and I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach. He gives me a giant smile and the next thing I know he slams the door behind him and I am in his arms; he is rushing me towards the wall. His hands are all over my body. In my hair, down my sides and gripping my waist, tugging on me to pull himself closer; I notice I am doing the same to him. We are both breathing heavy. I can feel his tongue on my lower lip so I open my mouth for that deeper kiss. Finally, he urgently pulls up my dress and lifts me up onto the dresser. My fingers are pulling at his hair as I try kissing him deeper and more passionately.
Everything is going so fast. I start pulling at his shirt and he stops kissing me long enough to get it over his head. He grabs me from the dresser and quickly walks over to the bed. He lays me down as gently as he can for us both being in a hurry and still trying to remove our clothing. He starts kissing my neck, and then down my torso. Every touch leaves a tingling spot on my skin. I am relishing in how my body is reacting to his warmth. Finally, he starts to slow down. The kissing is less urgent and he starts tracing my skin with his fingers.
His hands rub down my sides and down my legs. He removes my underwear and kisses my stomach, neck, and finally I am rewarded with his lips. I feel his finger enter me. I can't help but moan. "Oh Peeta!" He kisses me again and more urgently moves his fingers back and forth. I can feel how hard he is and I start to rub him. He moans in my ear and sighs with ecstasy. Finally, when neither of us can stand it any longer, he wraps my legs around him and I can feel his warmth inside of me.
This time is nothing like the first. We are more familiar with each other's bodies and are more in sync with one another. He starts thrusting faster and we both moan loudly. He puts his hand over my mouth. "Shhhh! Effie will hear you." He whispers in my ear laughing. I can't help but giggle in an unfamiliar girly way. My body is moving perfectly with his, it is almost like we were made for each other. I put my hands on his chest and tighten my legs around him. He rewards me with going faster and deeper.
Peeta lowers himself to kiss my neck and I can't stand it any longer, I let out a loud moan and my whole body starts convulsing with pleasure. "I love you, baby." He whispers in my ear. I close my eyes and let myself enjoy the last few seconds of my climax when he lets out a moan and collapses on me. He moves a few stray hairs out of my face and gently traces my cheeks and lips. I lift my head to kiss him again.
He rests his head on my chest and I can still feel his warmth inside me. I never want this moment to end. I run my fingers through his curls; he is damp with sweat. I can only imagine how sweaty I am. For a minute, I hope the makeup can withstand the heat, because if it doesn't the whole train will know what we have been up to. I start to laugh.
Peeta starts to raise himself off of me and snuggles in behind me. "What are you laughing about?" he says in a blushing fashion. I get out a few more giggles before I can speak. "I was just thinking that, if our makeup starts melting, the whole world is going to know what we were doing." I turn my head to kiss him. He returns it and wraps his arms around me. I can feel him tickling my arms, but it feels nice. "Well, sooner or later they are all going to find out that you are my gir….." He stops abrubtly and his body tenses up. "What?" I ask a little confused as to why he didn't finish his sentence. "Nothing…its nothing."
Peeta starts getting up to clean himself up; I roll over in a panic. "Did I do something wrong?" I say franticly. His face softens. "No, sweetheart, I did." I look at him with a confused look on my face. I don't understand what has just happened. A minute ago I was in complete ecstasy and now I'm panicking and my mind is racing at what he just said. Finally I pick up on what he paused at and I understand.
He starts putting his clothes back on, bends down to kiss me, and was about to rush out of the room when I grabbed his hand to stop him. "Where are you going?" I ask in almost a yell. He stops and doesn't look at me. He slowly sits down on the bed and I move towards him; I wrap my legs and arms around him and lean my head against his back. He sighs. "I don't want to…pressure you…I don't want to make you do or be anything you don't want to be." A tear streams down my cheek as I understand. For the longest time, I have made it very clear that Peeta doesn't have a future with me because I thought I would never want to get married, and certainly no kids.
I let out a tiny sob and he lifts up his arm and grabs me. I am almost sitting in his lap. He kisses my forehead and straightens my hair. "You know I love you, right?" I nod my head. "And you love me, right?" I nod my head again. "Would it be so bad if I were to call you my girlfriend? I know you have always been so against a relationship, but Katniss…I want to show you off to the world. I want all the people to know that you are mine, and I am yours. I don't want to pretend for the Capitol anymore…what I want is real…this" he says while pointing to the both of us. "This is real, we are real."
I let out a louder sob and he wipes a tear away. I can feel his head resting upon mine. I grab his hand and we lock fingers. I look up at him and I see the hopefulness in his eyes. They are so clear and innocent. I love this man, why do I refuse to give him what he wants most? All of a sudden it is raining and I am soaked and cold. My stomach is growling because I haven't eaten in days. I am so weak from malnutrition and I know it is only a matter of time before my body gives out. I can hear a woman yelling at me to get away and then there he is…the blond haired boy. He hides behind his mother and then runs inside. His mother follows and I hear her screaming at him, clearly beating him…I keep staring at the door. Finally, he comes out and starts throwing burnt parts of bread to the pigs and then tosses me the remaining loaf.
He risked everything for me, then, in the games, being hijacked, even now…he deserves a woman who will love him and take care of him. Finally, I look into his eyes and pause. "Okay." He looks at me shocked. "What?" I look at his hand and kiss it. "Alright, I'll be your girlfriend." I say with a smile, thinking that I feel like I am back in junior high again. "Ar…are you serious?" He says with enthusiasm. "Baby, I love you, and if this is what will make you happy, I will do it." He grabs my face with both of his hands and starts kissing me like before. He lays me on the bed and we make love for a second time.