The sunlight streamed into my window, nearly blinding my burning eyes, as I laid on Peeta's chest. I touched my eyes to see why they were burning and when I felt their puffiness, I remembered. Gale left, I cried in front of Peeta, over Gale. I then remember being to numb to respond to him after he told me he loved me. I instantly felt guilt pain my stomach. I had tuned everything out and I was just like my mom after my dad died. I can't afford to be that way. I can't afford any weakness, not now. I will miss Gale but, he left me and I am in love with Peeta. I look up to see he is still sleeping peacefully. I sit up and lean my mouth down to his ear and whisper to him.
"I love you too Peeta, I promise, I do." I then get up and change into my hunting clothes. I walked into Prim's room and kissed her forehead, it was too early for anyone to be up.
I walk outside and take the familiar path to the woods. I club under the fence and go to retrieve my bow. I walk to the meadow area where Gale and me would sit. I not only lost my best friend, I lost my hunting partner. Another wave of guilt comes over me. His family. They have to eat. I know if I had been the one to leave, he would still feed my sister and mom. I hunt for a while and then walk back to the fence and climb under again, taking my game to his house. His mom is kind to me. I wish she wouldn't be so kind though. I caused her son to leave. I slept with Peeta and got pregnant causing your son to leave, but of course she doesn't see it that way. I walk back to my house where I am greeted in a warm hug by Peeta.
"Hey where did you go so early?"
"I went to the woods," I smile as I hug him back. His arms are warm, they are safe. This is how it can, should, and will be. This is the man I love.
"Oh, get anything?"
"Just the basic food," I say pulling a squirrel out of my game bag.
"Good, I guess your fixing everyone dinner tonight."
"Yeah, and I guess you're doing the dishes and baking the bread tonight. Then hunting tomorrow."
"Okay, then I'll take the bow," I glare at him and he laughs, "I'm kidding Katniss. I'll cook. Prim woke up wondering where you were, might want to go talk to her."
"Yeah. Thanks," I kiss his cheek then walk upstairs to Prim's room.
"Katniss," she comes over and hugs me, "I thought you left too. I thought you went after Gale. "
"No Prim. I'm staying right here." My mom walks into the room then.
"Good," she smiles as she walks over and hugs me, "Mandatory Capitol broadcast tonight at six sharp." My heart sinks to my feet. What other torture do they plan for me now?
"Okay. Thanks mom." I hug Prim and walk back downstairs to where Peeta is. I look at the clock. Only four and a half hour before the plans for whatever the capitol has are announced.
"Katniss, once this is finished, I have to go to my house. Capitol orders."
"It's just a broadcast Peeta!"
"Katniss," He stops cooking and comes over wraps his arms around me, "I promise I will come back the second the announcement ends."
"Please stay Peeta," I almost start crying. These damn hormones!
"Hey," he runs his thumb over my cheek, leaving a blush, "Don't cry. It's okay." I turn my face into his chest.
"Damn pregnancy hormones," I mutter into his shirt, causing him to laugh.
"Not all of them are bad," he smirks, I know which one he's talking about not being bad. He's such a guy.
"I love you."
"I love you too Katniss," he smiles and kisses my cheek while turning away to finish dinner. I go back upstairs and take a shower. I get dressed and go back down stairs. It's 5 o-clock and Peeta is getting ready to leave. There is dinner on the table.
"Peeta! Please stay, at least to eat!"
"I can't Katniss," he walks over to me and I walk into his arms, "I'll be back before long."
"I'll miss you," I sighed, knowing he couldn't stay.
"I'll miss you too," he laughed, ugh I hate hormones. I leaned up to him and kissed him. He kissed back and gently ran his hands down my back. He knows I love when he does that and I start to kiss him deeper. I don't know how long we were kissing before we pulled away for a breath and then brought our lips, and tongues, together again. I ran my hands through his hair and he picked me up and took me to the couch where he laid me down and I pulled him closer to me deepening the kiss more. He lay on top of me, but made no move to remove any clothing, I didn't care right now as to where we were. I tried to pull off his shirt, which he gladly let me do. He gently ran his hands under my shirt but didn't try to remove it. After a few minutes I reached down the his pant's zipper.
"Katniss..." he sighed, "I have to go. The broadcast starts in twenty minutes." How the heck can he just stop like that!
"Wait," I tried knowing it wouldn't work. I knew for sure, since he was pressed against me, he wanted more.
"Kat, I'll be back tonight," he laughed and stood up. Putting his shirt back on, just in time because my mom and Prim walked down ready to eat. They looked over at us on the couch. My mom just gave me that 'be safe' look and Prim just gave a knowing smile. Then they walked in to the table.
"Promise?"
"Promise." We stood up and held hands as we walked to the door. He pulled me into a tight hug, once more confirming he wanted it, and leaned down to my ear.
"I told you not all hormones where bad," he whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek and walking out. I walked to the table and ate, finishing just in time for the broadcast to start.
I hear Snow start talking and am immediately filled with hatred.
"This is the 75th year of the Hunger Games. As reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power off the capital," panic shoots through me, "The male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."
Prim looks shocked and my mother screams. I am the only female victor from District 12. I am going back into the Arena.