Chapter 14: Paralympics
Peeta gets his shot.
Katniss doesn't get a block from the studio before her cell phone rings.
"Hey Haymitch, what's the story with you and Effie Trinket?"
"Never mind that. You just told the world where you are headed."
"I didn't, Gale did."
"No, you just gave them a time and place."
"So?"
"So. Now I have to scramble to get more security in place. Do not get out of the car at the airport until I get a bodyguard to meet you."
"I'm not missing this flight, Haymitch."
"You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into Sweetheart. Once you win the gold medal, everything changes. You and Gale have been too busy to notice that things are different now. Think about what it's like when you go to an interview with the people standing outside. Now, imagine there is no security or barricades for them to stand behind. Did you think you were just going to walk to your gate without anyone noticing?"
"OK! I get it. Are you doing this for Gale too?"
"Gale knew enough not to give a live television audience his flight information. He has some discrete security but you're heading into the belly of the beast. Just stay in the car. I'll let your driver know."
Katniss can't help but think her life will never be the same. Haymitch calls back a few minutes later with instructions for her and her driver.
"Effie Trinket said to send you her love. What's the story there?"
"It was a long time ago, before I came to live with you and your sister." He tries to dismiss this line of questioning but Katniss won't let it go.
"Did you date her?"
"Don't know if I call it dating. I remember she was dynamite in the sack."
"Eeeew."
"Then don't ask. She looks good though, wears too much makeup but she's still a good looking bird. Maybe I'll give her a jingle"
"Let me know how that goes. Or wait, don't." Katniss laughs.
"Have a good flight Sweetheart. There will be security waiting for you when you arrive. Don't give them any trouble. You'll have security at your hotel too. They've got Peeta and his family's names so don't answer your door to anyone else."
"Hey Haymitch? "
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Stay safe. Have fun."
The first sign that things were not as they once were hit as soon as Katniss left the limo, she was immediately surrounded by paparazzi asking rude questions and snapping pictures. Now that she thinks about it, she's never travelled without Gale. She does feel a little unsafe. Getting inside and into the first class lounge is like running the gauntlet but, she's delivered safely and handed off to the airline security guard.
Once the plane is off the ground, the flight attendant approaches her.
"Miss Everdeen, there's a young girl who is very excited that you are on the same flight. She wants to know if she can get a photo with you."
"Sure, of course."
A few minutes later Katniss is shaking hands with a very excited young girl. "Hi , What's your name?" She greets the little girl whose face falls when she sees Katniss is alone.
"Where's Gale?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, he's not with me. "
"My name's Rue. I'm a skater too. Why are you going to Korea now?"
"I'm coming for the Paralympics. I have a very good friend, my boyfriend actually, who plays on the hockey team. I'm coming to cheer him on."
"I thought Gale was your boyfriend." She says disappointed.
"No, sorry sweetie. He's not my boyfriend. He's like my brother though. We've been together our whole lives. Do you have a brother?"
"Yes, he's a skier. He's skiing in a couple days for the USA."
"Well what's his name, I'll cheer for him."
"Really? His name is Thresh, Thresh Daniels. He thinks you're pretty."
"Yeah. I'll write it down to be sure to find him." Katniss says using the same pen Rue had given her for an autograph.
"What's your boyfriend's name? Is he cute."
"My boyfriend's name is Peeta and I think he's very cute." Katniss can't help the smile on her face. She can say it now. Peeta Mellark is her boyfriend!
After the flight attendant takes her little friend back to her seat, Katniss has a minute to think about the last time she was making this trip. "Flying to our destiny" Gale had teased. All her life she had one single-minded quest and she was flying to it. It was a long trip, there were huge obstacles in the way; the loss of her parents, and later their coach, Darius and her own insecurities and worry that followed. Gale provided support. Haymitch provided for her survival and she got through it. And now, Peeta is her future and she wants to do more than get through it. It was a little over a year ago that she first saw those blue eyes following her as she came to practice. She felt a small thrill the first time he smiled at her but she couldn't imagine the place he would hold in her life just a year later. It's seems like it has taken a life time and it seems like it was just a blink of the eye but he has a hold of her heart. He could have been the end of her partnership with Gale but somehow his presence has strengthened it. It doesn't really make sense, except to say, Peeta is special.
After the World Championships, she and Gale will decide where their career will go next. Peeta and Madge will play a part in their decision. For now and for the first time, she's a going to be a spectator at an Olympic event. She's just a girlfriend watching her boyfriend play hockey. A girlfriend that needs a security escort through the airport but just a girlfriend, nonetheless.
Her arrival in Korea is a madhouse. She is ushered through a crowd of over excited Korean schoolgirls to a golf cart. Sitting backward in the cart, she feels like she's in a parade waving to the people as they call her name. She checks her phone and there are two messages from Peeta. The first one telling her they won the semi-final and are playing Canada for the gold. The second simply asks her to text when she arrives.
There's also a photo from Gale. He's with Madge on a secluded beach in the Bahamas. They look happy in the sandy beach selfie he sends.
She responds to Peeta. "I'm baaaaack!"
Peeta: Can't wait to see you. Dad will pick you up at your hotel for the game. Gotta go. Love you.
That evening, there's a knock on her door. She looks through the peephole expecting to see the smiling face of Peeta's dad. Instead she spies two blonde heads of hair. "Get out of the way, she doesn't know you goofballs. Katniss honey, it's me, Bannock Mellark."
Katniss opens the door to the Great Wall of Mellark. Mr. Mellark stands between two men that bear a strong resemblance to Peeta. "Sis!" they yell in unison. "Damn you're prettier in person, Peet was right," One says. "Much too pretty for our little brother." Says the other
Katniss doesn't know what to say. "Stop it boys, you're embarrassing her. Katniss these are Peeta's brothers, Rye and Bran. And, His mother, Phoebe."
Katniss turns to see a very distinguished looking woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun. She wears USA earmuffs and a red, white and blue scarf over a white cashmere sweater with a gorgeous fur lined swing coat. It looks as if she's trying to dress to fit the occasion but she can't imaging wearing sport gear. The brothers and Mr. Mellark are decked head to toe in USA Sled Hockey gear.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Mellark. I wasn't aware you were all coming."
"Well, my son is playing for the Gold Medal. Plus Peeta told us you were coming, we thought it would be a nice opportunity to meet you. We thought you'd be here a few days ago though"
Katniss translates this to say: What a nice opportunity to judge you and you're already failing. Boy, is she glad she took a nap before they showed up. She could not imagine facing this group jet lagged. "Yeah, sorry about that, we had a few more appearances to make. I wasn't going to miss this game though."
"We're under orders from Peet to give you this to wear tonight. He figures as long as you're out now, you should wear it." Mr. Mellark hands Katniss a shopping bag. Katniss looks inside to find his official white uniform sweater. "They're wearing blue tonight, he wanted you to wear the white one. Katniss holds up the huge jersey to see the number 12 MELLARK on the back and she smiles.
She runs to the bathroom and puts it on over her t-shirt and black leggings. She looks ridiculous. She's swimming in it and it's down to her knees. She loves to wear Peeta's shirts to bed and around the apartment but, this is made to go over hockey pads. She steps out of the bathroom and the boys laugh.
"We can fix it, maybe a belt." Mrs. Mellark says.
"Good idea! I'm never good at this sort of thing, Thank you."
Mrs. Mellark has Katniss looking pretty good when they leave, with the belted and bloused sweater with her snow boats and her hair in a braid so you can see MELLARK on her back.
As they leave her room, her security guards take up positions in front and behind. They stop her from getting in the tiny elevator with the Mel larks.
"Ma'am, Gentlemen, We will follow on the next elevator. There's not enough room for all of us."
When she joins them in the lobby, she apologizes. "This is new to me too, I'm hoping it won't be like this for long."
"It is a lot," Mr. Mellark says, until they step outside of the hotel. He corrects himself "But maybe needed." They are blinded by flashes and pushed by fans trying to get to Katniss. Peeta's brothers automatically join the security team in forming a wall around Katniss and their parents as they shuffle the group into their waiting car.
"It's my fault for saying I was coming here to see my boyfriend on television. "
"Awe don't say that. You should have seen how happy Peety was when you said his name." Says one brother, Katniss isn't sure which yet.
"He was happy?"
"Puffed up like a god-damn peacock." Says the other brother. "So I told him not to get too full of himself, Gale is still better looking." The volume of laughter in the limo is deafening.
Dealing with the crowd is easier once they make it to the ice hockey arena. There is a rumble through the crowd when they step into the stands and necks crane to get a look at Katniss. There are whispers when they see Katniss in the MELLARK sweater and surrounded by three men all sporting number 12 as well. Her security, allows her to sit in their seats alone. They take up positions nearby to be able to watch the crowd, not the game. She finds herself in a sandwich between the brothers. She thinks the bodyguards may have arranged this with them in the car. Katniss feels safe and even ignored once the game begins.
The first period of the game is uneventful. You can tell both teams are hyped up and ready to play and there's a lot of back and forth on the ice and more than a few body checks into the boards but every attempt on goal is blocked. Mrs. Mellark gasps the first time she sees Peeta knocked off his blade.
Between periods Peeta's brothers see some friends they met after the Russia semi-final game and they go off to say hello, leaving Katniss with Mrs. Mellark. "Is this the first time you are seeing him play?" Katniss asks.
"Third. There was last night and I saw him once before when they played a game near home. He had just moved to Colorado a few months before. I couldn't make it through a full game."
"It's hard to see. I want to run down to the ice every time. He used to say that about when I'd fall too. It's natural, I guess."
"I don't understand why he wants to do something that can cause him pain. He's been through enough."
"That's the point though. They don't want to be treated like men who have been through enough. They want to be hockey players. They want to play and compete at the top levels of competition." Mrs. Mellark looks at her like she's speaking Martian. "Have you had a chance to talk to the guys on the team yet?" She shakes her head. "They're from all walks of life and are all there for different reason. Some were born disabled, some had accidents, like Peeta. A few are war Vets who credit sled hockey for helping them fight PTSD, and live again. They've been through hell some of them. But it's never enough, not if they get to feel like they do on the ice."
"Peeta has always talked about starting an organization to help kids with disabilities get into sports."
"I know, it's one of the first things we ever talked about."
"Would you, with everything you have going on, support that?"
"I would and he'll support me in whatever I decide to do when I stop skating. We'll work it out together."
"Are you planning a future with my son?"
"If he'll have me." Katniss looks her straight in the eye. She knows Peeta and his mother have had a difficult relationship but right now, she's seeing a woman, protecting her son.
Play resumes in the second period and the US finds themselves down 2-1 at the end of it. The crowd is going crazy, a Canada/ US final is what everyone wanted and it is not disappointing. Katniss is hoarse with all the cheering. Peeta's brothers are yelling and bumping Katniss back and forth between them. They even start a chant of "Peeta, Peeta, Peeta!"
The US scores again late in the third and it looks like they are heading to overtime when the forward for Canada loses the puck in a pass under his sled. Peeta sees it and is in a position to steal. He digs into the ice with this sticks and heads for the puck. Another Canadian player catches him from behind and they both fall from their blades. Peeta is on his side, on the ice when he sees the puck just out of his reach. There's no time to right his sled on the blade so he pushes off to slide on the ice just barely capturing the puck on his stick. He immediately flicks his wrist to pass it to his teammate, Marvel who is heading full speed to the Canadian goal. Marvel fakes one way then passes the puck under the front end of his sled and catches it with his other stick. Quick as lightning he fires on the Canadian goal.
The goalie is good and stops the shot with his pads but he doesn't control the puck and it bounces out just enough for Marvel to get it again and put it just beyond the goalies reach. The goal horn sounds and seconds later the game clock winds down. The US has repeated as Olympic Gold Medal winners.
Pandemonium rains down on the ice. Fans are screaming the players have thrown their pads in the air and are piling on top of one another. Peeta's brothers take turns picking Katniss up and bouncing her in the air. Peeta's father has his arm around his wife. Bannock has tears welling in his eyes and Phoebe's eyes are glassy as well, one single tear falls and she wipes it away quickly. They embrace and Katniss reads Bannock's lips as he says "That's our boy!" Phoebe just nods and buries her face in her husband's shoulder. They spent years worrying about their disabled son then he grows up and does something so extraordinary. Their pride and relief show on their faces.
The US team, salutes their opponents and then the celebrations continue as the players circle the arena to look for their families in the stands. Katniss can't stop herself, she leaves her seat and finds her way to the rink's edge. Her bodyguards fly into action and help her reach her goal. One of Peeta's teammates sees Katniss and calls, "She's over here Peeta!" Peeta is on the other side of the glass from her as he tries to find an access point for Katniss to join him on the ice. Suddenly a partition opens near the bench and Katniss finds herself face to face with him. He's removed his helmet and his hair is a curly, sweaty mess. There's a small cut under one eye. He's never looked better to her. She bends down as he reaches up to her and they kiss. Cameras are clicking all around them. "Hi Girlfriend." He says when she stops kissing to congratulate him. One of the team coaches drapes an American flag on Peeta's shoulders and Katniss kneels down to kiss him again. Peeta scoops her up onto his lap. She wraps her arms around his neck and sitting on one of his legs, she pulls her legs up to her chest and braces her feet on his other thigh.
"Can you balance like this?"
"It's what I do, Peeta!" she says kissing him again. She grabs the flag and keeps it wrapped around them as he uses the sticks to propel them around the rink with the other players.
Later, as Peeta and the team accept their medals and the anthem plays, Katniss is overwhelmed and starts to cry. A year ago, they made a pact. Their goals came first. Then little by little it was obvious that no matter how much they tried to block out love, sometimes it still finds you and your life is better for it. Falling in love wasn't one of her goals but it's funny how it worked out. Standing here, watching him achieve his goal after she achieved her own just a few weeks ago, should feel like an ending. It doesn't. It feels like a beginning.