I went back to the hotel today. I had forgotten the book Rebecca lent me and I had to go get it. My father was there laying on the bed staring at the ceiling. I grabbed the book and left not wanting to talk to him. Now I am reading the letter Katniss has sent to me. It is great to hear that everything is okay in 12. I am so worried that something is going to come up.
To tell her my relief I rip a piece of paper out of a notebook Rebecca let my use for the letters. Then I started to write my response to Katniss. Unfortunately I couldn't come up with anything to write so I left the notebook and pen on bed and walk downstairs. It is almost time for Rebecca's lunch break so I head down to Sparks Fly.
There she is waiting outside for me with a turkey sandwich. We sit outside and eat on a bench by the store. I tell Rebecca about how I'm relieved about Katniss and how I can't wait to see her. "So when are you two getting married?" she asks.
"What! We're not getting married!"
"Sure seems like it the way your talking about her. I think you love her more than you even know."
"Yeah I guess so but I don't think we're ready for that."
"Yes you are. You're just denying it because you don't want to get turned down."
"No that's not true!" I start to protest, but I give up, "Okay yeah maybe it is."
"So why don't you ask her when you get back?"
"I...never thought of that."
"Well, you should think about it. Heck, I can even help you pick out a ring for her here at the shop."
"Yeah, I really do love her and I know we're ready and...I'm going to do it!" I exclaim. Rebecca just smiles and leads me into the shop to pick out a ring. I follow her and we walk around the store for the next hour consulting every piece of jewelry in the whole store. I decide on one of three rings that are my favorite and finally pick the best one.
It's a beautiful sparkling diamond encrusted silver ring that I know she will love. I pay Rebecca and thank her while leaving the shop. I can't wait to see Katniss! I go back to Rebecca's house and sit down with the notebook paper and the pen.
Dear Katniss,
I'm very sorry to say this but my father and I won't be back for another two or three days. We have more business to take care of and even though I'm not really on speaking terms with him, it's for the good of the bakery. I hope to see you soon and I love you very much.
Love always,
Peeta
I tell Katniss in the letter that I won't be back until later this week so I have time to prepare for what lies ahead. I need to figure out how I'm going to ask her and plan it all out. I'm so excited to start that I cannot wait and I walk out the door of Rebecca's home and back to the shop to enlist her help.
We talk about what I should say and what I should wear while asking her and I even help Rebecca with customers that day. By the end of the day I have a renewed sense of energy and I go to the hotel to apologize to my father. We make up and I tell him that I still won't be living in the hotel and that I will be coming home a day later than him. He just nods and I walk to Rebecca's home.
There Mrs. Ray is working on dinner and the kids are laying on the kitchen floor banging on pots. Mr. Ray is no where to be found as usual and I'm feeling in an especially good mood so I ask if I may bake a cake for dessert. Mrs. Ray says that's fine and I get out the ingredients. About an hour later a warm spongy cake comes out of the oven. I lay it on a plate and mix together the icing then decorate the it with swirling patterns and bright colors.
By the time dinner comes I am done decorating and it looks really good. I take one last look then sit at the dinner table with the Rays. Mr. Ray walks in with a book in hand once again and I can't help but want to say I'm sorry for last night. I hold back until it is dessert time then ask if he can forgive me and that I forgive his actions. He just nods curtly and I serve the cake to the family.
They sit eating, giving praises at my amazing baking skills. I nod and go along with it telling them that I just love baking. When dinner is over I help clear the table then run upstairs and fall into bed thinking about Katniss. You just wait Katniss, I'll be back soon and then you will be mine forever.
There is a knock at the door and Rebecca comes in to talk. She praises my baking skills then applauds me for making up with her dad and my dad. We talk for a while and then she leaves to go off to bed. I follow her lead by getting ready and then crash into the comforting layers of my bed.
Soon I am off to Dreamland and no longer thinking about any thing bad in my life. It's funny how much dreams can cure anything...