I did it. I won. I survived.
I stood tall on the balcony of the large building in the Capitol, citizen's shouting and cheering from down below.
I smiled my brightest smile, but it wasn't because of my victory. Or because of the cheering fans down below.
It was because I was finally, after weeks, going to see Peeta again tomorrow.
I was finally going to have the chance to tell him how I feel.
Even though I'm young, even though I'm not to most confident girl, I knew, positively knew that I loved that boy.
I heard the cheers erupt louder as the door behind me opened and closed.
Suddenly my heart dropped in my chest, a lump beginning to form in my throat.
" Hello Ellis. " His regal voice drew out, " And congratulations."
I didn't dare glance in his direction as he approached, each step seeming to stake years, until he stopped in front of me, a golden crown in his withered fingers.
His snake eyes stared at me with a devious glint.
President Snow.
"I must say, I didn't expect to be seeing you." He said, lifting up the crown, slipping it onto my head, it resting around my forehead. My strawberry blonde hair was down in curls, and a sky blue dress covered my body.
I did my best not to glare, keeping a fake smile in place, saying " Sorry to disappoint."
He grinned, still speaking in his regal tone, his rose pinned perfectly to his lapel.
" You could never disappoint me. You were smart enough to win the Games. It's the kind of citizen every president hopes to have,"
"Thank you," I said grimly, my teeth gritted as I stared into those glinting snake eyes, " Father."
[-]
"We're here! " Effie said, bounding past me towards the train door, her heels clicking loudly.
I sat, staring out the window, still dressed finally in a lavender blouse and white skirt. I bit my lip, scanning the faces of the people of District Twelve, all smiling and clapping as we pulled into the station.
I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, causing me to look up. " You okay kid? " Haymitch asked, his overgrown hair lying in his face.
I nodded, standing, saying, " I'm just anxious." I paused for a moment, before glancing at him, saying, " How do you deal with it?"
" With what?"
" Having people look at you and know you killed someone?"
He sighed, glancing at the many bottles of alcohol on the counter beside us. " You don't want to deal with it the way I do. "
He wrapped one arm around my shoulder as we began to walk towards the train door, him speaking again. " Just remember, I'm here. "
I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder, saying " Thanks."
As I stepped off the train the crowd clapped and chanted loudly, smiles on their faces.
I grinned, waving, smiling as I saw people I knew, smiling even more when I saw ones I didn't recognize looking just as excited as the others.
I scanned the crowd, looking for his blonde head, my smile faltering as I didn't see him.
" Someone wants your attention. " Haymitch whispered to my ear, pointing towards the back of the crowd, a blonde head trying to push his way to the front of the crowd.
My smile grew as I whispered "Peeta."
I ran over to the stairs, bounding down them quickly, pushing my way into the crowd, people congratulating me and slapping me on the back. " Peeta!'
" Ellis!" I heard his voice shout, getting closer.
I pushed my way past two more people, suddenly finding myself in a clearing, and the boy I needed more than anything across from me. " Peeta!" I said, running over to him.
I jumped into his arms, hugging him closely, his arms wrapped around me as he lifted me easily, spinning us in circles.
"Ellis." He said softly into my hair, placing me back on the ground, his arms still around me in a tight hug.
I could smell his familiar smell. The scent of freshly baked bread from the bakery. I pulled away slightly; resting my forehead on his, his messy blonde locks falling slightly into his eyes. " I missed you so much." he whispered, the crowd around us starting to disperse, going back to their homes to spend their evening.
" You have no idea." I said just as softly as we pulled apart, him grabbing my hand, interlacing our fingers.
We began to walk, where to I didn't know.
But it didn't matter. In that moment all that mattered to me was that my best friend was with me.
That we were both safe.
Tell him. My mind shouted as we walked along the fence, our hands still interlaced. Tell him you love him.
I swallowed hard, my nerves building up in my chest.
I opened up my mouth to speak, only to have him speak first.
" You know, " he paused, sighing, " You know it was terrible. Watching you fighting for your life."
I nodded, waiting a moment before beginning to speak, only to be interrupted again, Peeta not really looking at me. Rather, he was staring out past the fence as he spoke, a distant glint in his eye. " And that Leo guy."
I stopped breathing momentarily.
He saw.
" About that, I was just -"
" Don't Ellis. Just let me finish." He said, turning towards me for a moment before looking back out at the woods beyond the fence again. I nodded, waiting.
" At first, it made me jealous. I was mad at you, mad at you for kissing him. Mad at you for trusting him. Then I was mad at myself for being mad at you." He rambled a bit.
"Peeta." I said, trying to get him to reach his point, my nerves still growing inside me.
"Sorry, " He said, blushing slightly. " It's just that, when you kissed me before you left, "
Here it comes.
" I just, I was going to tell you I liked you. "
Oh my gosh.
" But while you were gone, "
He's going to tell me he loves me.
" I realized that I wasn't being fair to you, because I did love you, but not in the way you loved me. "
What?
" I liked you Ellis. In a more than friendly way. "
Liked.
" But I think you should know I'm over it. I loved you, Ellis, in a more than friendly way. And I was going to tell you before you left, but I knew it wasn't fair. I knew that it wasn't fair to keep this from you. So I worked on it, and seeing you with Leo made it hard, but I'm over it now."
Oh no.
I could feel my heart shattering with the worlds coming from his mouth, my eyes glued to him.
" I don't want anything silly like that to come between us. Your my best friend Ellis."
Silly.
I gulped, nodding, a plastic smile in place as he glanced at me, smiling as well.
He looked back towards the woods, releasing my hand. I followed his gaze, my eyes landing on a girl with a long brown braid, ducking behind a tree,
And that's when I knew I had lost him. I had lost my chance with Peeta.
I lost him. I lost him to a girl with a brown braid.
And it was entirely my fault.
[-]
Sad stuff :) So the mystery man is revealed! haha :)
I realize this Peeta part wasn't exactly happy, but its important for the events to come!
Leave reviews :)
Thanks guys!
