Disclaimer: I am not Suzanne Collins, therefore the Hunger Games Trilogy does not belong to me.
Chapter 8
"So, this is the place Finnick was talking about." Katniss said, looking around at the rooftop garden.
"He was right. It's the perfect place to talk." Harry said, after an analytical look around.
"So, what's the plan?" Katniss asked.
"You know the star-crossed lovers angle Haymitch and I were discussing?" Harry began.
"Yes, I was in the car during the conversation." Katniss said.
"Well, the Capitol citizens are suckers for a good romance. Basically, we ramp up the lovey-dovey stuff in the arena," Harry said.
"Ramp up? Are you saying you have to pretend to love me to keep us alive?" Katniss demanded, her temper showing through.
"I won't be pretending Katniss. I'll be doing what I've always wanted to do, just in front of hundreds of cameras and an entire nation worth of people." Harry told her, kissing her softly.
"Alright, back to the plan; although we will be discussing our relationship at some point tonight." Katniss said.
"Of course, now, the game will come down to the two of us, and we do the whole 'no, you kill me, I can't live without you' thing, and maybe the Capitol will let us both win, for fear of having no Victor." Harry said.
"That sounds crazy enough to work." Katniss said.
"The only immediate problem I can see is the 'if' factor." Harry said.
"What do you mean, 'if' factor?"
"As in, 'if' the plan works. Then phase two comes in."
"Why would we need to plan for after the games?" Katniss asked.
"Because the games are never truly over, Katniss. If we both win, phase two will come in. If only one of us wins, we'll be heartbroken, but I have what I call 'B-plan: a' for if I die. If you die, I'll wait until Posy's reapings are over, and then work to get back to England. If we both die, then Gale has my money, and has agreed to provide for both of our families." Harry said.
Katniss had to take a minute to process what she had just been told. Harry had planned past the games even, when she was wondering how she would survive training.
"You really do have everything planned out, don't you?" Katniss asked. Harry nodded, and sat down at the edge of the roof.
"You aren't going to tell me what phase two, or B-plan: a is, are you?" Katniss asked.
"Phase two is still in the works, so telling you would be counterproductive at this point. B-plan: a wouldn't have any chance of working if I told you about anything other than its existence." Harry said, sighing.
"Alright, now, on to the matter of our relationship." Katniss said, trying to move away from the topic of the games.
"Alright," Harry said.
"What did you mean by 'I'll be doing what I've always wanted to do'?" She asked.
"Katniss, I've admired you from the moment you managed not to throw up or faint that day we met. You were the angel that saved me. You didn't leave me to die in the forest. I've grown to care about you a lot over the last few months. So much so that I'm tempted never to go back to my world. Katniss, you're the reason I'm alive today, and you're the reason I want to keep living." Harry said, kissing her softly.
"I've had a crush on you for a long time you know. Prim heard me talking about you in my sleep, so I had to make her swear an oath of silence." Katniss said when the kiss ended.
"Does that mean I'm allowed to buy you pretty things?" Harry asked.
"How did you jump to that conclusion?" Katniss demanded.
"Your mother told me that secretly, you like it when I buy you pretty things." Harry said. Katniss grumbled a bit, but didn't deny the statement.
Harry kissed her again, and pulled her to her feet.
"Come on, we have a big, big, big day ahead of us tomorrow." Harry said, copying Effie's ridiculous Capitol accent.
The two laughed as they descended the stairs, back into the penthouse for the night.
Author's note: Hey people. Sorry about the short chapter (and I had two chapters with over 1,000 words too. I'm so disappointed.) but I wanted to get onto training. I don't think I'll be writing any interviews other than Katniss, Harry's and Rue's, and small glimpses at some others, but that could change. Read and Review!
