Chapter Ten
My feet go to a place my mind doesn't know. I feel the snow is starting to come down a lot heavier than usual. My only concern right now is making it to the bakery before it gets worst.
It takes me a little bit longer than usual as I can still see the street lamps lighting the way. I see that the kitchen light is still on and therefore I know that he will be there.
I open the door to find him there.
"Hey Papa," I say.
"Peeta, what are you doing out in this weather," he says.
"Well I really wanted to talk to you," I say.
"It couldn't wait huh?" He says.
"No," I say. "I just don't know how to say it."
"We'll sit down and you tell me when you are ready." He says.
I sit down at the usual little round table with four chairs. Even though we are five, there were always four chairs. Whenever we would eat, my father would always volunteer to stand. One time we all sat on the ground so that everyone can enjoy the meal together.
"Are you happy Papa?" I ask him.
"Well what more could I want Peeta? I have great boys whom I proud of each one of them. I still can provide for them, although they are getting older and got your mother." He says. "Is this about Katniss?"
"Yes, sir," I say with my head hang low. "I don't know if I would make her happy."
"Is it about the other fellow that was getting whipped today?" he asks.
"Sort of." I say. "I mean I just want her to be happy."
"Well then that is your answer" He asks. "Are you happy when she is happy?"
"Yes, when I see her smile and laugh it is like nothing else matter in life." I say. "Even if it isn't with me, I just want her to be happy."
He stands, hugs me, and says, "That is why you are a Mellark."
He hands me two loaves of bread and places them in a bag. I place the warm breads under my coat and begin to walk back. As I walk, I am reminded of when we were eleven. I can still see her grab the loaves of burnt bread I threw and placing them under her shirt as she quickly walked away.
It doesn't take me long to see that the kitchen light is still on in Katniss's house. I walk in through the kitchen door and find her there, her hand still holding his. She is happy, and that is all that matters. I place the loaves of bread on the counter and just watch her sleep. She would die to protect the ones she loved. I know I have felt that coming from her.
I slowly walk over to her and shake her shoulder. She opens her eyes to me.
"Go on up to bed, Katniss. I'll look after him now," I say.
"Peeta. About what I said yesterday, about running, -" She begins to say.
"I know," I say. "There's nothing to explain."
"Peeta, -" she starts.
"Just go to bed, okay?" I say.
I see her go upstairs and finally I just sit there and watch Gale. The time moves slowly and I can tell that he is either having nightmares or that he is in pain. I go to the warm water in the basin and soak a clean towel in the mixture. I let it dry and begin to dab his forehead. It seems that he is finally drifting asleep again.
I hear someone coming down the stairs and find that it is Katniss's mother.
"You cleaned his wounds?" she asks.
"Yes, I followed what you did, hopefully I did it correctly." I say.
She comes over and checks.
"Yes you did it alright." She says.
"I made Katniss go to sleep, she needed her rest. I hope that it is okay that I am here?" I ask.
"You really do care for my daughter, don't you?" she asks.
"It is sort of hard not to." I tell her.
"You must be tired, why don't you go home." She says. "It is alright you have done more than enough or expected to, if you want you can get some rest. The sun will be coming up soon and I will let her know, okay?"
"Okay," I say. "I have left some bread there for you and your family."
"Thank you, Peeta," she says.
I can see that both my house and Haymitch house have no light and no smoke coming from the fireplace. I walk over to Haymitch's house and find that my good mentor is passed out on the couch. He didn't even make upstairs, poor guy. I grab a clean blanket and place it on him. Grab some dry wood from the kitchen and start up the fire. I leave him the other loaf of bread that I got from the bakery, in the kitchen. After a couple of minutes, I wait for the storm to die down. I can see that the sun is about to make its daily appearance.
I walk back to my house a couple of doors down, and when I finally get upstairs to my bed, I just collapse exhausted. The dreams come and for the first time I cannot even remember them. I wake up to hear the phone is ringing. How long did I sleep I wonder. The sun is already out and yet the snow is coming down.
"Hello," I answer.
"Hey. I just wanted to make sure you got home," she says.
I smile and tell her, "Katniss, I live three houses away from you."
"I know, but with the weather and all," she says.
"Well, I'm fine. Thank you for checking." I say. "How's Gale?"
"All right. My mother and Prim are giving him snow coat now," she says.
"And your face?" I ask.
"I've got some, too," she says. "Have you seen Haymitch today?"
"I checked in on him. Dead drunk. But I built his fire and left him some bread," I say.
"I wanted to talk to – to both of you." She starts and I know that it isn't safe to say anything over the phone, especially over the lines that Capitol installed.
"Probably have to wait until after the weather calms down," I say. "nothing much will happen before that, anyway."
"No, nothing much," she admits.
We hang up the phone and finally I can fall asleep. The dreams comes of a time when it we were in the bakery with Prim. To the times we were on the train, asking each other questions about ourselves, getting to know each other. To the moments in the Capitol where we were just tasting everything in sight.
The sunlight comes through the blinds when I finally get up. These whole couples of days have been somewhat of a blur. Waking up and not knowing if it is morning or afternoon, and of what day it is.
The phone rings and find that it is Katniss on the other side.
"Hey, how are you?" she asks.
"Isn't that what I should be asking you?" I say.
"Well I am fine, and was wondering if you would like to accompany me to the Square?" she asks.
"Of course, Katniss." I say.
"Great, I will see if Haymitch would like to come to," she says. It is code for today is the day we discuss the plan, if there is still one.
"Do you want me to go and get him?" I ask.
"No I will, just be ready in thirty minutes," she says.
As we were walking towards the Square, Haymitch finally says something.
"So we're all heading off into the great unknown, are we?" he asks.
"No," she says. "Not anymore."
"Worked through the flaws in that plan, did you, sweetheart?" he asks. "Any new ideas?"
"I want to start an uprising," she says.
Haymitch starts to laugh, "well, I want a drink. You let me know how that works out for you, though,"
"Then what's your plan?" she asks.
"My plan is to make sure everything is just perfect for your wedding," says Haymitch. "I called and rescheduled the photo shoot without giving too many details."
"You don't even have a phone," she says.
"Effie had that fixed," he says. "Do you know she asked me if I'd like to give you away? I told her the sooner the better."
"Haymitch," Katniss pleads.
"Katniss." Haymitch mimics her. "It won't work."
We make it to the Square and what we find it unbelievable. In exactly two days in the middle of the blizzard, Thread, has transformed the Square to something that we saw in District Eleven. There are now some nests with Peacekeepers with machine guns. There is a whipping post, several stockades and a gallows.
I turn and see smoke in the distance.
"Thread's a quick worker," says Haymitch.
I grab her hand, and she looks to the smoke.
"Haymitch, you don't think everyone was still in" she starts to say.
"Nah, they're smarter than that. You'd be, too, if you'd been around longer." He says. "Well, I better go see how much rubbing alcohol the apothecary can spare."
We look at each other confused. "What's he want that for?" she asks, then realizes "we can't let him drink it. He'll kill himself, or at the very least go blind. I've got some white liquor put away at home."
"Me too. Maybe that will hold him until Ripper finds a way to be back in business," I say. "I need to check on my family."
"I have to go see Hazelle." She says.
"I'll go too. Drop by the bakery on my way home," I say.
"Thanks," she says and walk towards Gale's house.
We find her in her house taking care of her daughter.
"I couldn't leave her," she tells Katniss. "I knew Gale would be in the best possible hands."
"Of course," she says. "He's much better. My mother says he'll be back in the mines in a couple of weeks,"
"May not be open until then, anyway," Gale's mother says. "Word is they're closed until further notice.
"You closed down, too?" she asks.
"Not officially," she says. "But everyone's afraid to use me now."
"Maybe it's the snow," I say.
"No, Rory made a quick round this morning. Nothing to wash, apparently." She says.
Rory wraps his arms around her, "we'll be all right."
Katniss places some money on the table says "my mother will send something for Posy" and walks outside.
Her face is one of desperation. She doesn't know how to fix this. She looks from side to side, not knowing what to do. I grab her hands, and she looks at me.
"You go on back. I want to walk by the Hob." She says.
If there were a time when she needed someone to help her through this was now. I had made a promise to myself that I would be there for her as long as she wanted me there.
"I'll go with you," I say rubbing her hands with my thumb.
"No. I've dragged you into enough trouble," she tells me.
"And avoiding a stroll by the Hob …that's going to fix things for me?" I say with a smile. "Come on."
We walk through the streets hand in hand until we finally reach the Hob, or at least what is left of it. The snow is covered with black liquid, almost like the building is bleeding.
"It's all that coal dust, from the old days." She says. "I want to check on Greasy Sae."
"Not today, Katniss. I don't think we'd be helping anyone by dropping in on them." I say.
She agrees and we walk back towards the Square. They are tons of Peacekeepers keeping watch around the Square. When did all these new peacekeepers come into the district?
The door chimes and my father walks out of the kitchen.
"Well hello there," my father greets Katniss.
"Hi, can I have some cakes?" She asks.
"But of course, why don't you try these. Peeta made these yesterday." He says.
He hands her a spoon to have on the counter.
"So, Peeta, interesting weather we are having?" he says to me.
"Yes, lots of mountain of snows all around." I tell him.
"Your mother is upstairs complaining of it, actually makes it seem like this is my fault." He says.
We have an understanding and we know that we are really not talking about the weather.
"Well who knows, spring may come soon." I say, and he smile. "Well wouldn't that be something."
"We have to get going, say hello to mom okay?" I say.
"Yes of course Peeta, and Katniss, it is always a pleasure to see you around. Don't be a stranger" he says.
"I won't." she says.
We walk back to the Victor's village; it has been a very tiresome couple of days. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.
"Peeta," she says.
"Hmm?" I say looking at her.
"Thank you for being here with me." She says.
"There is no were else I would want to be." I say.