I am so so so so so sorry that I didn't update last week. I found it really hard to write this chapter which is why it is a bit shorter than usual.
Plus I got my braces on last Thursday so I was taking twice as long to eat everything and twice as long to brush my teeth so that was fun(!)
AND I wanted to get an early night as I woke up at 2am to watch the CATCHING FIRE TRAILER which didn't end up getting released until 4am then my dad got up at 5am so I didn't get any sleep after 2am.
But it was worth it! THE TRAILER IS AMAZING! I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! (Well apart from the Katniss and Gale kiss as I am a HUGE Katniss and Peeta fan) BUT ANYWAY IT WAS STILL AMAZING AND I HAVE LOST COUNT OF THE AMOUNT OF TIMES I HAVE WATCHED IT! *MASSIVE FANGIRL SQUEAL!*
Also one of my friends Jellybearmonster has just got a fanfiction account, she's posted a hilarious Katniss and Gale fanfic (I know I said I didn't like that couple but you have to read the fanfic!) it's called 'his guilty pleasure' and his sooo funny!
Anyway with that out of the way here is chapter 14!
Chapter 14
Later on that evening me, Peeta, Effie and Haymitch are all sat in the living room around the television. Me and Peeta on the big couch snuggled up in one corner, and Effie and Haymitch on the smaller couch.
I have to say they do look quite cosy!
The TV is on but there is nothing that really interests me on it. Just a news reporter droning on about reconstruction in the Districts really. I am much more interested in curling up bedside Peeta and going to sleep.
Not that I get much chance to do that because the reporter starts talking about the upcoming 'freedom festival'.
I know, could they have come up with something cheesier?
"Now today Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy, Annie and Finn Odair, Johanna Mason, Beetee and Enobaria have arrived in the Capitol for the next weeks festivities," the reporter starts to say while pictures of us start to come up on the screen behind her. "They are all currently staying in the old training centre ready to participate in the upcoming events."
Pictures of me, Peeta and Haymitch trying to run away from the paparazzi and fans at the train station come up on the screen and I hide my face in the crook of Peetas neck. I can just make out the reporter laughing about our 'unfortunate arrival'.
Well she wasn't there to see that the 'unfortunate arrival' was a little bit worse than just 'unfortunate'.
"Also if any of you were wondering about how our victors are coping after the war we have exclusive interviews tomorrow night with them all."
Wait, WHAT! Interviews on our second day? We're here for seven days! How many are they going to be able to cram in to that?
I pull my head out of Peetas shoulder and look at Haymitch, my eyes narrowed.
"Sorry sweetheart," he says "I tried to get off with as little as I could but we're dealing with Plutarch here."
I sigh, "I'm going to kill that guy," I mumble into Peetas shoulder. I didn't think anyone could hear me but apparently Effie could.
"Katniss please try to be happy. I have your schedule here, as Haymitch said we tried but we can't do everything," she says.
"Can we see the schedule?" Peeta asks somewhat hesitantly. I'm not surprised he's hesitant. I really don't want to know what's on that schedule if Plutarch has had anything to do with it.
"Of course you can, I've only got one though, sorry," Effie replies.
"Don't worry," I say reaching out to take the pink piece of paper. Me and Peeta both pour over it wondering what horrors we will have to face.
The paper reads this:
Katniss and Peetas schedule –
Day 1 –
9.53 – train arrives at the station
10.01 – meet me at entrance 2B
10.06 – get in the car
10.34 – get to the hotel
FREE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
Day 2 -
8.00 – breakfast
9.00 – report to prep teams
13.00 – lunch with other victors
15.30 – FREE
17.00 – report to prep teams
19.30 – interview with Ceaser Flickerman
Day 3 -
7.00 – leave for radio studio
7.13 – arrive at radio studio
7.30 – radio interview
9.00 – photo shoot
12.00 – FREE
Day 4 (reaping day) –
6.00 – breakfast
6.30 – report to prep teams
8.00 – morning interview on 'Good Morning Panem'
9.00 – FREE
17.00 – report to prep teams
19.00 – banquet and ball in mansion
Day 5 –
8.00 – breakfast
9.00 – meet and greet with fans in city hall
16.00 - FREE
Day 6 -
10.00 – meeting with Paylor and other victors
15.00 – doctor's appointment to discuss mental state
Day 7 –
FREE
19.30 – arrive at train station goodbyes etc.
20.00 – train departs
I finish reading the sheet slightly before Peeta, in the few seconds longer he takes to read it I look over at him, trying to decipher his emotions by his facial expressions.
Well he's frowning, possibly he's just read the bit about the doctor's appointment. But he's obviously handling it better than I did. I gave Effie a glare and was tempted to rip her throat out.
But I don't murder people anymore…except maybe Plutarch Heavensbee.
How dare he or Effie say we have 'mental problems'? I know we do but we are coping very well if I say so myself. I know we have our bad days but even so you don't have to remind us.
Other than that he looks alright. I can't see his eyes properly so I have no idea what emotions are hidden in there. From what I can see though he looks relatively calm.
I suppose it's not like I didn't expect any of it. We still have free time and if we are in the Capitol we mays well give people what they want.
Peeta finishes reading the sheet and tucks it into his pocket. "Thanks Effie," he says "I think we'll be off the bed now. It's been a long day," he adds. Even though he's hiding it I know him too well. The stress of the day combined with the flashbacks, meeting Annie, reminded of painful memories.
He's exhausted. So am I to be honest.
"That's fine, you get some rest," Haymitch says "It's been a long day."
I nod my head slightly before looking back at Effie.
"What time do you want us tomorrow?" I ask her.
"Depends on how long you want to get ready. Shall we say I'll wake you up at seven thirty? Then you have about an hour and a half to get ready?" she asks us and Peeta and I nod.
"That would be lovely Effie," Peeta says "Thank you,"
"No problem, now leave us alone," Haymitch says sounding exasperated. "I am not reading you a bedtime story!"
"Wouldn't want you to," I reply "night!"
"Goodnight Katniss and Peeta," Effie says as we walk out of the room.
As soon as we are out of sight Peeta puts his arm around my waist and leads me to the end of the corridor where we are faced with a slight problem.
"Who's room?" he asks me and I laugh.
"Is this our life now?" I say "we have a choice of different rooms? One for every night all with different décor, different gadgets, different views?"
"Calm down Katniss ,we have two rooms, same décor, same gadgets and nearly the same views," he reminds me.
"They are different views, one's at the back, one's at the front and don't burst my bubble," I tell him sternly playfully hitting his arm whilst Peeta makes an over-exaggerated "OUCH!"
"Can we sleep in yours?" I ask him, "it's at the back, mine overlooks the square," I add wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my head in his chest.
Peetas arms automatically wrap around my waist, one hand going to my hair, running his fingers down my braid as he holds me closer to him. "Of course we can, but you have to face it sometime. You can't avoid it forever, I don't want to push you or anything, but you do have to be able look at the mansion. We're doing interviews and having lunch there tomorrow." He explains to me.
"I know, I know," I tell him. "It's just hard you know?"
"I know, I felt the same with the bakery," he tells me and I immediately feel guilty. I always forget the fact that he lost his entire family. I only really lost Prim. He lost his brothers, his dad and I know he even misses his mum. I mean she was a bitch but she's still his mum.
"I'm sorry," I whisper into his shirt.
"Don't be," he whispers into my ear. We stay like that for what seems like hours but could have easily been minutes. Remembering the blinding lights that abolished everything we loved.
Well, nearly everything. I still have my mum my friends – most of them – and Peeta. The heart that I can hear beating next to my ear. The heart that reminds me I am not alone
And I know that as long as he is here I never will be.
My dreams that night are horrific. I wake up about ten times. Each time overcome with memories threatening to crush my soul. Each time Peeta holds me until I calm down enough to tell him what's happened. To calm me down enough to go back to sleep. Sleep that never really comes.
Me and Peeta end up wrapped around each other. Until it comes to a point when I don't know what limbs are mine and which are Peetas. We lay there silent. Only calmed by the fact we are next to each other.
Both dreading the moment when Effie will wake us up.
The moment when I will have to face the reality of who I have become.
Sorry for the late update again. I will try my very hardest to get the next chapter up on time.
There will hopefully be some more action and fun parts in it as their trip in the Capitol begins!
Thank you all for reading. We have passed 50 reviews which is amazing! Maybe we can get a few more? The little blue button is just begging to be pressed ;)
See ya later!
NormyMellark99 ;)