All the attention is too much for me to handle. Luckily, Peeta looks towards Gale and gives a nod which seemed to say a lot with such little movement. "Gale how are things in District 2?" he inquires changing the subject.
"It was a difficult at first for everyone to adapt. Resentment was thick, but once everyone started to work together to rebuild the District bonds were made and those relationships helped everyone obtain some perspective to the other person's point of view." He talks with reverence. I wonder if he formed his own bonds with formal Capital citizens. He was never fond of any of them before. He thought the compassion I had for my prep time was absurd and that saddened me. He couldn't see that they didn't know any better.
"How about you? Have you adapted?" Peeta inquires placing dinner on the table. I grab the hidden bottle of liquor and pour everyone a glass. Haymitch glares at me. He knew I hid some of his liquor from him and now he has proof. I return a simper smile as he grabs the bottle from my hands. Laughing amused by his annoyance I go sit next to Peeta.
"I miss 12, but I have made some new friends. 2 may not have a forest close but it has a lot of entertaining attractions that help pass time. I have experienced a lot in this last year. To be honest, I still find myself resenting them from time to time. However, after I started to get to know a few of them I realized that most of them have good hearts." he says smiling while putting an arm around Effie.
"Watch the outfit. Those are real feathers!"Effie removes Gale's hand beaming a slight grin. Gale smirks thoroughly enjoying annoying her. It appears that this is not his first offense. "Why your not too bad yourself, Gale." Effie gestures her hand towards Gales direction. Haymitch takes another drink and starts shoveling his dinner in his mouth while grunting something inaudible under his breath.
"Do you two work together often?" I ask moving my fork from one of them to the other.
"I am Gale's publicist." Effie proclaims. "I help him interact with the upper class citizens like myself. You know I have always had a way with words. " Effie boasts her own self worth.
"Yes of course you have." Haymitch laughs. Effie's face reddens. Her hands are braced on the table steading her so she can rise up but before she moves Peeta interrupts quickly.
"Your speeches were always my favorite. Each was written eloquently and I thought they were very influential." Peeta words calm Effie enough for her not to charge on Haymitch for the moment.
"Thank you Peeta, but enough about me. I want to hear more about you two. It's been too long." She huffs in defiance towards Haymitch and turns looking at Peeta and I.
"What is there to hear?" I question not understanding where she is leading the conversation.
"Well you guys live together. Peeta is going to be the owner of a Bakery. All very exciting. Are you guys planning a wedding anytime soon? It is the proper thing to do since you guys are sharing the same house." she states audaciously clasping her hands together.
"Wait! What! No! That is none of your business." I forcefully get up from the table causing glasses to spill and storm out into the living room.
As I leave the room I hear Haymitch retort, "Well as much as these two go at it shouldn't be too much longer." He was just couldn't wait to pay me back for hiding his liquor.
Why does she think that we would be planning a wedding just because we live together. I am fuming and about to go back and kick all of them out but before I make my way Gale enters the room.
"Hey you know Effie doesn't mean any harm. Come back out she is upset that you left so abruptly." he gestures with his hand towards the kitchen.
"So when did Effie and you become friends?" I inquire mockingly.
"We have worked together since I was first transferred to 2. At first, I wanted her gone but she was a reminder of you and I knew you would be mad at me if discarded her so easily."
"So you became her friend because of me?" I reply flustered.
"No not necessarily. Plutarch assigned her to me. Hoping it would help forge the bonds between the capital citizens and the rebels. We didn't get along at all in the beginning but if I was going to be good at my new job than I was going to have to try to work with her. She is extremely over the top but she has helped me tremendously." Gale moves to the couch and we sit side by side.
"I know Effie thinks I am behaving rudely for leaving the kitchen, but I am not going to apologize." I don't like Peeta's and I relationship being a talking point anymore. We are no longer a show.
"I'm not asking you to apologize. What's wrong with talking about marriage anyway? You guys were fake married before the Quell?" he talks about it like no big deal, to be married. Marriage leads to children.
"Ya but like you said that was fake. We were trying to stop the games. We don't have to get married. We can just live together like we have been before either of you came." his eyes depict a tinge of hurt. Peeta and I were doing just fine before the ceremony and I wish we could go back to not having visitors.
"I can't believe I am doing this. I am sure he wants to be married to you, Katniss. He loves you and you love him, anyone can see it, but I am sure he would never ask you because he is terrified it would run you off."
"I never wanted to get married." I say defeated. Gale is right. Peeta wouldn't risk asking me knowing how I feel about the topic. Is Gale right though about Peeta wanting to marry me? Remembering back when I mentioned marriage on the tour Peeta agreed but secluded himself the rest of the night. Haymitch told me to leave Peeta alone because even though he wanted to get married he wanted it to be for real.
"The world is different now than when you first said that to me in the woods. There are possibilities now that never existed and you don't have to live in fear anymore." there is certainty in his stare, but I am not convinced yet.
"It's only been a little over a year. Coin wanted to have use the Capital's children in the games. What if another war breaks out?" I counter. If I am not fighting a nightmare I live in constant fear of the future and Peeta's and my place in it being past victors and soldiers.
"Katniss you have to live your life and not worry about things that may or may not happen." Gale attempts to reason with me. There maybe some truth to his statement but I need to go back out and make peace with Effie and hurt Haymitch. To my disappointment Haymitch and Peeta are gone.
"Peeta was a dear and walked Haymitch home." Effie explains. "Katniss sweetie, come here and have a seat." She gestures towards the chair next to her. I inhale deeply and walk to take a seat. "I wasn't trying to upset you. I am just so happy for both of you that you have each other." she sincerely says.
"I know Effie. I am sorry I stormed out. I am just not use to having civil guests. Could you ever forgive me?" I wasn't planning on apologizing but how could I hurt this woman, when she really is happy to see Peeta and I together.
"All is forgiven. I completely understand having to eat dinner with that animal Haymitch." her expression appalled at the returning thought of him. Peeta returns and we help our guests get settled in for the night. Gale and I make plans to meet at our usual meeting spot at dawn. Once we finish cleaning up dinner Peeta and I head upstairs. I am exhausted and plop directly on the bed, kicking off my shoes. Peeta follow suit taking my head and resting it on his chest.
"What a day." he yawns, stroking my hair.
"No more visitors, for a while, please." I would prefer to hide out here for the rest of our lives with him.
"No more visitors." he kisses my forehead. His lips are cool against my warm skin and send shivers down my spine. These kisses always bring a calm over my whole body. "It appeared you made up with Effie and Gale and you are hunting tomorrow?" he tries inquiring serenely but I hear the discretion in his voice.
"Effie was just being... well.. Effie. I can't fault her for it. Are you okay with Gale and I go hunting before the ceremony? I am trying to be his friend again. Prim wouldn't want me to push him away." I should have thought it through I don't want to cause another episode. Well maybe I do in the future, but tomorrow wouldn't be a good day for it. Peeta needs to be fully alert for the bakery's grand opening.
"You're right. She would want you two to be friends. I can control my episodes now around him." he sounds assured. I am relieved he so certain of himself now when before just the thought of Gale enraged him. Gale and my conversation regarding marriage keeps replaying in my head. Especially why Peeta hid himself away on the train. Haymitch said he wanted it to be real, that he wanted me to want it too because I loved him and not to appease Snow to save our family and friends. He knew what was at cost and he put his own feelings aside to help me. I could do the same for him.
"Peeta. Can I ask you a question?" my voice breaks and I immediately wish I could take it back.
"Yes. You can ask me anything." he notices my hesitation and sits us up looking me worriedly in the eyes.
"Do you want to marry me?"