Hey everyone! Sorry it took me sooooo long to update! First off, I've been having a lot of questions about his story. So I'll just answer them right now!
Is this story going to get inappropriate? No, it is not. It's only rated T. You'll never see ANYTHING inappropriate in this story. I promise. :)
Why do some of the same chapters keep updating? My computer. It's really glitchy, and often updates chapters when I use Fanfiction. :P Sorry about that guys.
Why does it take so long for you to update? I'm a very busy 8th grader, with lots of projects, practicing instruments and other things. Also, I'm very slow at typing, which might take me a couple of days.
Why do you keep the same poll for awhile? Hmmmm. I'm not really sure. If you guys want, I can change it every time I update! Leave me suggestions for polls in a review or a PM!
Anyway, enjoy!
Katniss' POV
How and when will we ever get home? I am in no condition for walking a few miles. Not even if I'm leaning on Peeta the whole time. Maybe he could carry me? No, that wouldn't work. I told my mother I'd be back around 5. Judging by the sun, it looks about 3 now. And the interviews! They start at 7. There's no way those will be postponed. Unless, the master of ceremonies, Caesar Flickerman gets sick, or a tribute has a heart attack or something. Both very unlikely, but it's happened 2 or 3 times in the years I've been alive. If I don't see the interviews tonight though, I can go to Madge's house. She has this thing from the capitol that records television. And since The Hunger Games is a mandatory watching, the it automatically records them. So I'll see the interviews when I get back... Peeta and I are still making small steps towards the little house.
"How do you feel? Hot or cold?" Peeta asks.
I stand there for a second. My body begins to shiver slightly.
"Cold." I say.
"We better get that wet bathing suit off you then." Peeta says.
"Okay um, go outside for a second. I'll tell you when to come back in." I say.
He walks out. I throw my wet suit into a corner. I look around and find my clothes in a small heap on the floor. I put them on along with my father's hunting jacket. The jacket doesn't even begin to warm me up.
"Peeta." I say weakly. "You can come in now."
He walks back in with the blankets, canteens, and cheesy buns. I slowly stand back up and walk over to my wet swimsuit. Peeta stops me and grabs it himself.
"I'll wring it out outside." He says.
He lays the blankets, canteens and cheesy buns down and picks up his clothes.
Peeta's POV
I walk outside, take my swimsuit off and put my clothes on. I wring both bathing suits out and walk back in to a shivering Katniss. I quickly lay the suits on a windowsill and walk over to her.
"You're still cold?" I ask.
"Just a little." She mumbles.
I pick up the two blankets and drape them over her shoulders.
"How do I start a fire?" I ask.
She lets out a small laugh then looks at me.
"You get sticks and leaves and put them on the fireplace." She says.
"Be right back." I say.
I walk outside the tiny house. Finding sticks and leaves isn't hard. They're all over the place. I pick up an armful of dry leaves and sticks and walk back in.
Katniss' POV
Peeta walks in and sets the sticks and leaves in the fireplace.
"Now what?" He asks.
I crawl over to my backpack and take out a small box of matches I always have with me.
"These might help." I say faintly.
Peeta strikes a match, and throws it in the fire. Within seconds, the dry leaves and sticks are catching fire. The small flames become bigger, until there's a good fire going.
"Good job." I murmur.
"Stand up for a second." He says.
I stand slowly and he takes the two blankets off me. He lays one blanket in front of the fire, and the other right on top. He pulls the pillow out of his backpack and sets it down for me. He fold the top blanket back.
"I guess I can make a bed." He says.
I try to laugh, but it just turns into a cough.
"Better get in bed." He says.
I lay down under the covers and Peeta goes out to fill the canteens with water. I look around the room. The fireplace glows with warmth, everything neatly organized in backpacks, swimsuits drying by the window, and Peeta. Taking care of me. What would it feel like if life were like this everyday? Plenty of food, water, things to do and forest to explore. It seems like a perfect option. Except, I have Prim and my mother. I'm sure Peeta wouldn't mind leaving his family though.
"Drink up." Peeta says as he walks in.
He sets a canteen next to me.
"It really would be something. Wouldn't it?" I say sitting up a little bit.
"What?" He asks and stops drinking.
"You know." I say. "Living here. In the woods."
"Well it wouldn't be much fun living alone." He says.
"Peeta." I say. "I wouldn't be living alone."
"Who would you live with?" He asks.
"You know... My mother... Prim... You." I say.
"Me?" He asks.
I bite my lip and nod.
"Are you hungry?" He asks changing the subject.
I ask myself this question. My mouth longs for a cheesy bun, but my stomach disagrees.
"Not really." I say. "But we have to cook that squirrel before it goes rotten."
"Okay. What do I need to do?" He asks.
"Go in my game bag and get the skinning knife and the squirrel."
He takes the knife and skins the squirrel with ease.
"How did you..." I start.
"My father buys your squirrels a lot. I'm usually the one stuck skinning them." He says. "Now what?"
"Put a stick through it and roast it over the fire." I say.
I feel... so tired. And I can't breathe well, and my stomach hurts. Maybe a little sleep will help. It's only 4 O'clock though. Oh well.
"Mind if I take a nap?" I ask.
"No go ahead." Peeta says.
"Just wake me up when you're done cooking the squirrel." I say drifting off into sleep.
"Okay." I hear him say.
He kisses my head and I drift off.
"Katniss. Katniss wake up." Someone says.
My eyes flutter open and I see Peeta.
"How long did I sleep?" I ask.
"Around a half hour. How do you feel?" Asks Peeta.
"Not good." I say.
Peeta gives me a sad look.
"Looks like we'll have to sleep here tonight." He says.
The thought registers in my mind. We won't be seeing the interviews tonight. There's a long pause in the room.
"What about the interviews?" Peeta asks.
"We wont see them tonight no matter what I guess. Either it gets postponed till tomorrow or Madge records them." I say.
"This might be the last time I see Delly..." He starts.
"Alive." I finish.
The expression in his face looks like he's about to cry.
"If you want... I can get up right now and pull through. Really." I say.
"No." He says.
"No? Why not?" I ask.
"It's not what I want. The last thing I want to do is watch you suffer." He says. "Here. Eat some squirrel meat."
"Not hungry." I say pushing it away. "Go ahead and eat the whole thing."
Peeta eats the whole squirrel in silence while I take small sips of water.
"Thanks for the squirrel." He says. "It was delicious."
"Thank Gale." I say. "He's the one that set those traps."
"You're the one that saved us from that bear." He says.
"You're the one that saved my life. Again." I say.
"Again?" He asks.
"That day you threw me the bread Peeta. It saved me... and my family. I can never stop owing you for that." I say.
"You've already repaid me." He says.
He leans in for a short kiss. Then, I hear a pitter patter on the roof. I look out the window and see the rain. Coming down slowly. Then it comes down harder, and harder, until it's pouring outside.
"No way were going back now." Peeta says.
"Prim will be so worried." I say. "What about your parents?"
"They probably don't even notice I'm gone." He says and looks down at the floor.
"I notice when you're gone." I say.
"We've only know each other for a few days." He says.
"Yeah." I say.
Suddenly I have another coughing fit. I will not stop coughing. I seriously cannot stop.
"Katniss! Are you okay?" Peeta asks frantically.
I'm on my hands and knees coughing my lungs out. When finally it feels like I'm out of air to breathe back in, I black out.
Thanks for reading! Please review, favorite, and do the poll! I love hearing from you guys! Once I get 5 reviews for this chapter, I'll update chapter 11! :)