Once I said it I was certain. I love her. I love Katniss. Suddenly it comes into my head. Everdeen. Katniss Everdeen.
I take her face gently in my hands and press my forehead to hers.
"No, I definitely love you, Katniss Everdeen." I whisper. She lifts her head and her nose brushes against mine slightly. We lean into eachother slowly. Centimetre by centimetre until we are hovering over eachothers lips. I'm not nervous. I'm not scared. This feels so right.
"You havn't changed one bit." She whispers. Her breath tickles me and I smile. I havn't changed.
"I'm still Peeta?" I ask. She nods and looks down at the tiny space between us. I don't want it to be there.
Suddenly the door opens.
"Peeta," It's Cinna. He pauses. "I know you're behind that curtain." We freeze and we hear him coming closer. I look at our position. We are so close. He can't see us like this.
"Wait." I say. "Don't open the curtains."
"And why shouldn't I?" Cinna asks impatiently.
"Because…" I struggle for words. "Because I'm… I'm… I'm naked!" I exclaim. I look at Katniss and she is trying hard not to laugh. "Just give me fifteen minutes, okay?" I say.
"Oh," Cinna says. "I'm sorry, I'll just… erm… leave then." We hear him rush out the door. Once we can't hear his footsteps we burst out laughing. Katniss clutches her stomach and I lean against the wall trying to catch my breath.
"Okay we have fifteen minutes." I say.
"I don't think he will be coming back soon." Katniss chuckles. I just shake my head. I lean in and kiss her forehead. I don't want to move. So I stay like this. My lips softly pressed to her skin. She smells like flowers. I like it. I love it. I love her.
"I should go," Katniss says. "He can't see that I was here, I'll come back later. I need to see Prim."
"Your sister." I say. I don't know how I knew that. She nods and smiles so wide I can see all her perfect teeth.
"I'll see you soon." She says as she jumps off the ledge. She pulls the curtains back and turns to leave but I don't want her to so I grab her hand. She turns back around and a smile plays across her lips. She walks closer and stands on her tip toes. She presses her lips to my cheek. Warmth spreads from the spot. I close my eyes, savouring the sensation.
"Bye." Katniss says as she begins to walk away.
"Bye." I reply. I watch her braid sway as she walks.
I love her.
I slide from the ledge and walk to my bed. I feel stronger even though I practically fall onto the bed. I feel lighter even though the burden of confusion still lies on my shoulders but it doesn't matter. I know something for sure, I love Katniss Everdeen.
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in." I say. I realise that I'm still smiling. I don't bother wiping it off my face.
Cinna pokes his head through the crack of the door.
"I'm descent." I say. I laugh but it's not about Cinna's precaution I just wanted to let out the butterflies that were rising in my throat.
"Okay," Cinna says and he sits down on the chair. "I just wanted to say that you will be ready to leave in about two days."
I smile. I'm going to leave. I will be free.
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When Cinna left I don't have to wait long until Katniss comes back.
She strides in and plops herself on the chair. She is still smiling. I pat a space beside me on the bed and she leaps up without hesitation and lies beside me. It still doesn't feel right so I gently pull her in closer. She lays her head on my chest and her arms around my neck. I put my arms around her small waist and head on her shoulder. This feels right.
We sit here in comfortable silence and I feel like Peeta Mellark again. I feel whole. Katniss is what I was missing. She wasn't a missing piece of my memory she was a missing piece of my heart.
I feel my eyes drooping. I try to keep them open but my eyelids are too heavy. I just let my mind go blank and let sleep take me unde it's spell.
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The sunlight streaming in the window force my eyes open. I blink until my eyes adjust to the light and I look at my surroundings. I see Katniss huddled againts me and the memories of yesterday come back to me. I feel my lips turn up in a smile and a tighten my grip and bring myself closer.
She looks so much younger in her sleep. Almost like the little girl I my memories. This doesn't feel like a nightmare anymore. With Katniss I feel safe.
I love her.
I place my head back on the pillow and shut my eyes.
I'm sitting in a chair. It's so rigid and hard and my back shivers when I lean against it. I hear a sizzle and a zap. The pain is blinding and I cripple over. My body shivers.
The sizzle is coming again. I cry out and my legs grow weak. I can't breath. My heart can't beat. I try to remember the feeling of love but it's slipping away with all my memories.
Zap.
And I wake up. Katniss has awoken and she has my face in her hands. I can hear the sizzle coming closer. I curl up in a ball. I'm not ready for the pain. I hear it coming closer and closer. I shiver in fear. The pain is still racing through my body. I let a cry escape me. I feel tears run down my cheeks and it drips onto my hands. I tuck my head into my knees. It's coming. I feel her warm hands on my back. I stop wimpering. She comes infront of me and leans her forehead against mine. Her arms wrap around my shoulders. She whispers 'I love you.' Over and over again. It blocks out the sizzling. It kills the pain. It washes away my sea of tears. I let out a breath and close my eyes. I know this pain will come back and I know the only person who can comfort me is Katniss.
"Stay with me?" I croak.
"Always." She replies.
