Hi guys!
Quick authors note today as I'm meant to be in bed…oppsss…I would have posted this chapter earlier but it's my birthday and I had some of my family round for tea, plus I only just finished this chapter.
Also my best friend NCISbabe101 has posted a Hunger Games one shot called birthday surprises so go and check it out please.
Anyway, here is chapter 11. Enjoy!
Chapter 11
The rest of the day passes by fairly un-eventful. After Peetas flashback this morning he only has a few more, all of which weren't as bad as we thought they would be. Only consisting of Peeta zoning out for a few minutes but returning as soon as he felt my arms around his waist.
Currently it is late afternoon and me, Peeta and Haymitch are sat around a small table in the canteen area of the train trying to hide our faces. We found out as soon as we started stopping off at the more popular districts that they had a huge fascination with us.
Basically just an hour of people and photographers screaming for autographs whilst we tried to get into our compartment. It wasn't until I threatened to shoot them all with my bow that they decided to back off.
Yes, it did take me taking my bow out of my case and pointing at them for that to happen… and before you ask yes I do have my bow with me – just for security reasons.
What can I say – we needed it!
We then spent the rest of the time before lunch searching for suitable disguises. I ended up wearing one of Peetas hoodies, a pair of large sunglasses and I took my hair out of my braid.
Peeta on the other hand had to find some oversized sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. He is also sporting a pair of sunglasses.
Haymitch? Yeah, we'll leave that one.
Anyways after we had found our disguises – I think we did well with them considering what we had to work with – we ordered lunch in our compartment as none of us really wanted a replay of what just happened and then basically just lounged around.
Until we realised we really wanted a change of scenery. One can only be in the same space as Haymitch for so long before they snap.
That then led us to moving to the canteen. Which brings us to where we are now.
My head is currently in Peetas lap and I know if it wasn't mandatory for me to have the stupid hood up his fingers would be playing around with my hair. I have my legs tucked up underneath me on the chair-bench thing whilst Peeta keeps his feet firmly planted on the floor. Haymitch looks like he's unconscious so we might be able to have a few hours of people.
Note I say 'we might', we can't forget about the incoherent snores that are escaping his mouth every once in a while.
But other than that I am feeling fairly relaxed… well until the little girl sat behind us drops her doll on my head.
Peeta picks it up and stupidly decides to speak, "there you go." Three words. But three words in Peetas voice. Plus he turns around… big mistake.
The little girl doesn't know anything different, she takes her doll off Peeta mumbles a shy "thank you," and continues dressing it. But her mother however, has other ideas.
"Are you Peeta Mellark?" she asks "I heard you were on the train but no one's seen you for a few hours. We all presumed you'd got off."
I quickly sit up. Knowing Peeta he'd tell the truth and I really cannot be bothered to go and hunt for my bow again. "NO!" I say hurriedly "Well… they were on the train but… I've never met them before. No he's not Peeta… we erm… get that a lot…" I trail off thinking of some sort of excuse.
None come to me.
Unfortunately just to put the icing on the cake Haymitch decides this is the right time to wake up…and take his hood off at the same time.
Idiot.
"Keep the noise down sweetheart. Some of us are trying to sleep" he states still half unconscious. He then realises the whole of the dining compartment are watching us. "Did I interrupt something?" he asks clearly confused.
I decide that whatever game we were playing we have lost so I rip off my hood and glasses.
"Well in case you have forgotten Haymitch we are trying to hide. Are you trying to tell me we just wasted these beautiful disguises?" I say gesturing to our outfits and noticing Peeta is removing his hood and glasses too.
I then turn to the woman who is looking slightly lost. "Yes he is Peeta, and yes I am Katniss, and yes this is Haymitch but if you weren't told we had an unfortunate event earlier with some crazy fans and we were TRYING to hide." I finish with a pointed look at Haymitch and he holds his hands up in surrender.
"So you're really it then?" a man across from us speaks up "You're the Mockingjay?"
"Unfortunately, yes" I reply and Peeta gives me a look.
"I'm off to the loo," he says and I give him a concerned glance, he gives his head a small shake, telling me not to go after him.
But I have a feeling that he doesn't need to use the toilet. He needs space to overcome a flashback. All this attention can't be good for him and the last thing he wants to do is try and kill me in front of a train full of people.
That really wouldn't help our image. I make a mental note to check on him after I've sorted out this situation.
"We won't tell anyone we've seen you, promise," the little girl who dropped the doll speaks shyly and I can't help thinking how cute she is. "But who are you?" she adds.
Her mother gives her a horrified look like she couldn't believe her daughter had just said that to me. Me? I couldn't care less.
"She is a pain in the ass," Haymitch says.
"What does ass mean?" the little girl asks
Haymitch is about to point to his bum when I stop him "It is a rude word that Haymitch is saying. Don't say it, it's naughty."
"Alright" she whispers "But no one's answered my question."
Her mother sits her on her lap and starts to speak to her. "She's the Mockingjay, remember when we were very poor when you were little? Well she stopped that. She…"
I look at Haymitch and nod. He understands. I need to get to Peeta.
I walk down the corridor, not caring that my face is on display. I find the toilet and stick a hairgrip I found on the floor in the lock to open it. I slip inside and am met with an awkward situation.
A man about sixty years old is sat on the toilet. A newspaper in his hand.
"Ermmmm…" I turn beet red and the man looks at me horrified. "I'm so sorry" I say "I thought someone else was I here."
I cover my face with my hand, turn away and am about to leave when the man speaks up.
"Katniss right?" I nod my head still turned the other way, wondering why he hasn't screamed at me yet "Peeta was here, yes. But he left a few minutes ago. I'm sure there are plenty of other places for you two to fulfil your wishes" he says laughing at the end.
I then realise what he thinks I was going to do.
Oh my God. I will never be able to show my face again.
"I wasn't going to do that!" I say mortified "I best be going. I run out of the toilet and run straight into Peeta carrying three cups of hot chocolate. He looks at me and then the toilet.
"Wasn't there someone in there?" he asks me raising his eyebrows and smirking, "Maybe an old man?"
"Well… I thought you were in there and from the way you left I thought you were having a flashback and might have needed my help." I say desperately.
"I see. So you jimmied the lock and found an old guy sat there."
"Yeah" I say drawing out the word with uncertainty, "He took it the wrong way." I say, my blush still very prominent.
"I bet he did. Let's hope he keeps it a secret right?" Peeta says laughing.
"Yeah, shall we get back?" I ask him.
"Good idea," he says.
When we get back the girl's mother has finished her story and the girl is beaming at the prospect of having met me.
Haymitch looks at me confused.
"He went to the loo, then to get hot chocolate," I tell him "He wasn't in the toilet," I add quietly.
Haymitch guffaws, nearly spilling his drink. "Bet that was fun" he says smirking.
"Yeah, course it was," I say sarcastically
"Age?" Haymitch asks
"Sixty or so?" I reply, prompting another set of laughs from Haymitch "he got the wrong idea."
"I bet he did!" Haymitch laughs, saying the exact same words as Peeta "Wouldn't you?" he then asks.
"No because unlike you I do not have a dirty mind." We leave the conversation there as the looks we are getting are quite strange. It's a good job us three know each other so well we don't need to communicate in full sentences.
The closeness comes from surviving two Hunger Games and a rebellion together. Trusting each other to make the right decisions. Sometimes decisions between life and death.
I look over at Peeta trying to calm my embarrassment down only to see he is sat next to the little girl, engaged in a deep conversation.
"So what's your name?" Peeta asks her.
"Rose" she replies timidly. I have to force myself to not shudder. I hate roses. I know Peeta does too but he puts on his most brilliant smile.
"That's a nice name" Peeta says causing Rose to beam, "What have you go there?" he asks pointing to her doll.
"This is Rose, my favourite doll, she's named after me and look you can undress her too!" she says enthusiastically.
"Wow, that's amazing. You wanna play with her?" he asks
"Will you play with me?" she asks shyly, retreating back inside her shell.
"Of course" Peeta replies and me, being me can see he really wants to play with her.
I am again met with the fact of children. Watching Peeta now I can tell he longs to be a father. I have no doubt that he will make a wonderful father. He is patient, loving, caring and protective. But what I don't trust is the world we live in. I guess Peeta could compensate for my poor mothering skills and between the two of us we could make me an alright parent. But it's our world. Nothing is set in stone. The games could return. Yes, Snow is dead but that doesn't mean there isn't some sort of force out there. A force wanting to overthrow our new president – Paylor – and the new, fairer government.
I admit it. I'm scared. I don't trust anyone or anything anymore. Apart from Peeta, Haymitch, my mother and the other victors I have formed friendships with, I trust no one. I always question people's motives. Why they are doing the things they are doing? What are they doing it for? Will this harm the people I love?
But for children – if Peeta somehow convinces me to have any and may I add that would be a huge achievement in itself – we would have to be married.
Marriage? Something I'd never thought about before Peeta. But there are a lot of things I hadn't thought about before the games… before Peeta. I was just trying to keep Prim alive. Myself alive. My mother alive. But over time I have learnt that it's not just you, you have to think about. There are other people you have to think of.
Then I remember my visit to the lake a few months ago. One step at a time.
The first step was marriage. And right on this train. Right now. I decide if Peeta ever asks me to marry him I will say yes.
That new realisation brings the brightest smile to my face as I continue to watch Peeta and Rose play.
That night when me and Peeta are laid bed. I begin to think over the day. An eventful one at that. Lots of awkward and embarrassing situations and a huge realisation on my part.
It looks like Peeta is thinking the same thing – well just not the realisation bit, that was just me…maybe?
"Well that was a fun day," he laughs.
"Yeah, talk about it. It seems a lifetime ago when we woke up," I agree.
Peetas arm tightens, holding me closer. "Eventful much?" he asks.
"I just wish I could have avoided the bathroom incident," I answer truthfully.
"You've got to admit that was funny," Peeta starts laughing and I playfully punch his shoulder but even I start laughing.
"Well I suppose…" I admit and Peeta gives me an 'I told you so' look. "But it wasn't fun."
"Rather you than me," he says.
"I guess," I reply, exhaustion taking over me as I snuggle closer to him. Peeta kisses my hair and whispers in my ear.
"Goodnight beautiful,"
I smile "Night Peeta."
And I fall into a dreamless sleep. Overtaken with tiredness from the events of the day.
Awkward situations there! They were really random, sorry. The toilet thing just came to me whilst I was writing it. Don't even ask where I got it from!
I'll try and get a new chapter up at the weekend but I'm having a sleepover with my best mates and I get my Hunger Games cake! Yayaya! :D so no promises.
But it's the Easter holidays next week and the week after! Two whole weeks of fanifiction and NO SCHOOL! :D
Until next time peace out!
NormyMellark99
Xxx ;)
