Peeta's POV

I side glance every once in a while at Katniss as we push ourselves through the trees. I know she still feels some guilt about killing Enobaria. It concerns me to see her always take her killings so personally, because I don't want death always servicing her mind all of the time. I'm not saying that I'm not a hypocrite in this circumstance, for I've suffered over killing others in the games many times before. I just don't want her to have another burden to carry.

Katniss turns left and then cuts in front of me to pull apart some stray vines, revealing the beach. After the twelve o'clock hour hit, Katniss and I decided it would be best to return to the beach. It worried us how close Finnick, Johanna, and Beetee were to us when we realized who had injured Enobaria. I'm sure they are making their way to the lightning tree, because the Blood Rain section is only one hour away from twelve o'clock. I am almost certain now that they are going to continue with their plan by midnight tonight. Katniss and I will leave the beach once it becomes dark. Strangely, I can since it. The end to these games is near now.

Our feet make deep prints into the sand as we finally reach the water. It glistens in the afternoon sun and seems to welcome us with open arms. Katniss, without hesitatation, wades all the way in. We haven't washed ourselves off since... I can't remember. Following her, I do the same. I duck my head under the waves and squint to open my eyes. Everything is blurry and the water slightly burns my eyes, but it feels relieving all the same.

I emerge to find Katniss massaging water into her hair and cupping handfuls to wash over her face. I am caught staring when she shoots me a quizzical look. I avert my eyes with a smile and copy her.

As we clean ourselves, I feel a flick of water hit my face as Katniss's hair whips around as she takes out her braid. Feeling oddly mischievous, I casually spray some water her way. I see her eyes side glance at me, but she ignores my gesture. This only makes me want to tease her more, because without thinking I take a huge handful of water and dump it over her head.

"Peeta!" She practically screams, her eyes wide with shock. I laugh hysterically and grab her around the waist, pulling us both down under the water. She struggles from my grasp and comes up coughing, which soon turns into a laugh as well. Though, I can tell that she is somewhat angry for the whole thing. Pushing the water towards me, she splashes my face in return, giggling uncontrollably.

"You're going to pay!" I exclaim, swimming after her. She smirks and wades away from me quickly. I bound after her as water sprays everywhere.

Katniss's feet reach the sand and she tries to scrabble away, but I catch her forearm. She attempts to yank away with such force that we both end up collapsing on the wet sand. She falls on top of me, her sparkling eyes gazing down at mine. My heart races as I realize how close are bodies are pressed together, and the fact that her arms wrap tightly around my neck. Yet, she doesn't seem to notice. Her cheeks blush deeply and she is grinning more than I have ever seen her. I lean forward to kiss her cheek.

Soon the smile fades though, I can see it in her eyes that her thoughts are drifting elsewhere. She remembers that we are still in the Quarter Quell and that only one of us can survive. There can never be just the two of us. Without any troubles, without any danger, without being stuck in the spotlight of the Capital.

Katniss gently slides off of me. She clears her throat a tad before deciding to set out her bow and sheath to dry in the sun. My heart aches for her. If only things could be different. I sit up and brush the sand off of my wetsuit before following her.

"Do you want to head to the lightning tree tonight? I was thinking... if they happen to be there like we think, we could get this over with." Katniss says quietly, setting herself on the ground. I sit beside her.

"Yes. I think we should go there." The sooner the others are killed, the sooner Katniss gets back to District Twelve. I haven't even begun to consider how I'm going to play on my death. Katniss isn't going to kill me-I know that already. I just need to find a way to escape from her sight to commit the act.

It hasn't dawned on me until now what it will be like when I die. Will I be scared? How will I do it? Will I actually be able to do it? ... I think I will. I believe I can do anything for Katniss. It will hurt me much less to die rather than to watch her die instead.

"Peeta... what happens if they aren't at the lightning tree like we think?" Katniss asks me. I turn to her.

"If they aren't, we'll see them eventually. The gamemakers will have to force us all together at some point." I answer, my thoughts thinking back to the 74th games. I'd rather not be here for the finale with whatever the gamemakers have up their sleeves. The quicker these games go by, the better.