Okay...so it's been two years since I updated...man, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say, I've just been so busy with school, and life, and my boyfriend :)
But I'm back to write for you again now!
First of all, I still don't own the Hunger Games (No surprise there)
Second of all, On with the story!
Chapter 16- The Dilemma
But luck did not seem to be on his side, for as soon as he returned to the main training room, he discovered that Glimmer had invited himself and Cato over for dinner, along with Finch and Clove.
The curvaceous blonde babbled on about it being her and Marvel's anniversary, but Peeta couldn't help but notice that the spear thrower seemed preoccupied.
"Do you want me to help you cook?" he asked quietly. Marvel stared at him incredulously. "Cato told me Glimmer can't cook, so that means you have to do it by yourself." Peeta added so as not to offend him.
"Oh. No, this dinner was my idea actually." Marvel looked nervous at the very mention of dinner.
"Are you…alright?" Peeta asked gingerly. The career appeared to be sweating bullets the longer he looked at Glimmer.
"No! Uh, yes! I'm just…nervous. I hate these fancy things, but Glimmer loves them so…"
"You're doing it because it makes her happy." The blonde said with understanding.
Marvel nodded slightly. "Besides, I've suffered worse. I'll survive. But I WON'T wear a tie!" he said, looked pointedly at Glimmer. "The damn things are out to strangle me!"
"Now, just because you had one bad experience doesn't mean they're out to get you." Glimmer cooed.
"I wouldn't call getting my tie caught in the back door for half an hour just a bad experience." Clove supplied unhelpfully, giggling until Glimmer shot her a glare.
"Okay, you don't have to wear a tie." The pretty blonde relented with a sigh.
Everyone laughed as Marvel enthusiastically pumped his fist. "Yes! I get to live another day!"
As soon they arrived at Cato's house, Peeta managed to escape to his bedroom under the pretense of finding something to wear. Cato had offered to help, of course, but Peeta knew Cato just wanted to be with him. He had been kinder to the baker lately, and a little more compassionate, but Cato had become even more persistent with his question. What unnerved Peeta was the expression on Cato's face whenever he told him no, he still didn't love him. In the past, Cato had tried to be nonchalant and act like being rejected was no big deal, but now he looked hurt and sometimes a little angry. The last thing Peeta wanted was for Cato's bad temper to return.
Once he was certain Cato wasn't lurking outside his room, Peeta gingerly pulled the stack of paper from his pocket, fingering the pale pink ribbon. Untying and stuffing it into his drawer, the blonde unfolded the first piece of paper and carefully held it next to his bedside lamp. Slowly, the lemon juice browned and words began to appear. Peeta's breath caught as he recognized Gale's bold printing. As soon as the entire paper was legible, he began to read.
Peeta,
I've never been good with words. That was always you, wasn't it? I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye on most things, but I think we can agree that what you did was stupid. Brave, but stupid. Don't feel like I'm demeaning you or what you did. It's just… you don't deserve this, especially not after what you've already been through. Katniss couldn't write you a letter, but she wishes we could rescue you. Always has to be the hero, doesn't she? The baby was born 2 days ago, and it's a boy. We wish you could see him. Catnip insisted we name him after you, since without you, he might not have been born…
Peeta couldn't bring himself to read anymore. With Cato and the careers trying so hard to distract him, it was sometimes easy to forget what they had almost done. Despite how thoughtful Cato had been recently, it was hard to believe he could change in just two months. Peeta thought of the anger that flashed in Cato's eyes and felt his stomach plummet. Who knew how deep the sadistic murderer lurked under Cato's surface. Suddenly, the last place he wanted to be was anywhere near Cato, let alone at dinner with a room full of careers.
Heavy footsteps in the hallway had him scrambling to hide the stack of what he assumed were more letters under his bed before Cato opened his door and poked his head in.
"Hey Peeta, are you ready yet?"
Fighting to keep his nervousness hidden, Peeta shook his head. "No, Cato I…I don't feel very good. I don't think I should go."
Cato approached the bed where he sat, looking concerned. "What's wrong? Is it your head, your stomach?"
"Stomach." Peeta mumbled. It was true, he felt as though he was about to introduce the contents of his stomach to the white carpet.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Cato asked, awkwardly rubbing Peeta's back.
NO! Peeta's mind screamed, but he answered calmly. "No, you should go. Glimmer will sulk if we both aren't there."
The career stood up, looking reluctant to leave his fiancée alone. Peeta really did look sick; all the colour was gone from his pink cheeks and he kept shivering as though chilled to the bone.
"Are you sure?" When Peeta nodded, Cato begrudgingly made his way for the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can. If you need anything…"
"I'll be okay, Cato." The blonde baker reassured him. "I'll see you later."
Cato looked like he wanted to say something else, but then changed his mind and walked out the door. Once he heard the front door close behind the career, Peeta fished out the letters and set about revealing the text of each one.
The second letter appeared to be from Prim and Rue.
Hi Peeta,
Rue and I hope you're okay. We really miss you, and so does Katniss. Thank you so much for saving her, and my nephew. Wow, it feels so strange to write that, but I have a nephew, thanks to you. You're such a special person, Peeta. Please don't let Cato take that away from you. I probably shouldn't be saying this, but we're looking for a way to save you and bring you home. You deserve to marry somebody you love, and besides, we all want to be there when you do. Don't give up Peeta!
Love, Prim
PS. Rory and I are dating
Thresh's letter was short and to-the-point.
Peeta,
You better be okay because you deserve better than this. And if it's Cato, and not Peeta reading this, I will show you a world of pain if you so much as touch him.
Thresh
Each letter from the pile was worse than the last.
Dear Peeta,
It better be you reading this and not some heartless career. Things are pretty good in District 12, but it's not the same without you. Everyone is wondering where you've gone, and we've had to lie to so many people. You mean a lot to everyone here, and we just wish we'd shown it before you went and sacrificed yourself. But District 2 will never be your home, no matter what Cato might say to you. He doesn't love you Peeta, and he never will. It might sound a bit harsh, but we just don't want him taking advantage of your good heart. Just stay strong and do everything you can to avoid marrying him, because we will get you back.
Your brothers,
Bran and Rye
Peeta put the stack down sadly, slipping it back beneath his bed. He could feel tears starting to gather in the corners of his eyes, which he blinked away. It was strange to think that he had almost gotten used to life in District 2, but some days he could almost imagine the district as his home. Regardless of how hard the careers were working to distract him, the blonde missed his family and friends more than anything.
Reading their words, Peeta could almost hear their voices; Prim's sweet tone, Thresh's deep rumbles, Katniss's dry wit, all melding into a perfect harmony. Thinking about his friends and family, whose lives he was missing out on, caused his stomach to sink right back into the pit he had been struggling to avoid for days. He just couldn't ignore it anymore, even though the past few days had been more enjoyable than he expected, Peeta still wanted to go home.
Down the street at Marvel and Glimmer's house, the former careers and Finch sat around a large oak table eating roasted chicken and potatoes that Marvel had made.
"This is amazing, Marvel, thank you for this." Finch said, sending a smile in the direction of the tall District One boy.
"No problem!" he answered distractedly, poking at his food with a fork.
"You okay babe?" Glimmer asked, fixing her boyfriend with a concerned gaze. Marvel shook himself and gave her a boyish grin.
"Yeah, yeah, just tired I guess."
Clove swallowed a bite and smirked at him. "Tired from when you got your ass handed to you, you mean?" The careers broke into laughter while Marvel grumbled and crossed his arms.
Glimmer gave him a hug. "Cheer up babe, we're just kidding." He continued to sulk, ignoring her completely. "C'mon….you're so handsome when you smile!"
At this, Marvel perked up and shared an affectionate look with Glimmer, while Clove muttered "Whipped." before covering it up with a cough.
It was Finch who noticed how distracted Cato was. The whole dinner he had barely said a word, and though he ate heartily it was clear that the blonde was on autopilot.
"Is everything alright, Cato?" she asked gently. Cato looked slightly sheepish when he realized he'd been caught.
"I'm just-"
Clove cut him off with a laugh. "He's worried about Peeta, Foxy, couldn't you tell? He's all Cato thinks about after all."
"He is not! I think about other things, Clove! But he really didn't look okay tonight and he's all by himself…"
"But he told you to come, right? He wouldn't have said that if he was worried." Clove reasoned.
Cato shook his head. "Yes, he would. He wanted me to come so that we could have a good night. He always puts everyone else's happiness before his." A small smile crept across the huge blonde's face as he thought about Peeta's kind and giving nature. It was that nature that had led Peeta to become his fiancee, after all.
Glimmer gave him a look of compassion. "I get it Cato, I know I'd feel the same way if Marvel was sick and alone. If you want to go home, no one would blame you."
Cato was already rising from his seat when she said those words. "Thanks Glimmer, I-"
"Wait!" Marvel stood up abruptly, his face white and his shoulders tense. "I need to say something first." Cato moved to argue, but Clove gave him a look.
"It's just a minute, Cato. What's up, Marvel?"
The spear thrower turned to look at the blonde girl beside him. "Glimmer, we've been dating for a few years, right?"
"Yes! Five years and counting!" the blonde beauty said with a smile.
"Right. Everytime I look at you I get taken back to the first time we met at training. You were the most beautiful girl in the room, and I thought I'd blown my chances with you after I knocked you over. Sometimes, I still can't believe how lucky I am to have someone as beautiful, loving, and kickass as you for my girlfriend."
Glimmer giggled.
"And even though I am disappointed that we weren't able to compete in the Quarter Quell, I'm also extremely happy that I can spend the rest of my life with you. Glimmer..."
Marvel carefully lowered himself onto one knee next to her chair. Glimmer gasped, tears welling up in her emerald eyes, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box. He opened it, revealing an elegant and classic diamond ring.
"Glimmer Constance Oberon, will you marry me?"
Immediately, she leapt out of her chair and threw her arms around him in delight.
"Yes! Yes,yes,yes, I will!" All of the tension drained from Marvel as he swept her into his arms for a deep and loving kiss. Clove, Finch, and Cato recovered from their surprise and began clapping and cheering for their overjoyed friends.
"I knew it!" Finch crowed. "I knew that was why he was so nervous!"
Clove giggled, giving her girlfriend a hug. "You're brilliant."
"We're getting married!" Glimmer cried, jumping up and down. "I'm so happy!" Marvel looked like he wanted to do some jumping himself, but settled for kissing his fiancee again.
"You know what?" Finch said to Cato. "I think we're going to give you guys some alone time for tonight so you can celebrate."
Glimmer beamed at them. "Thank you!" She turned back to Marvel, then had a thought. "Cato, make sure you tell Peeta that Marvel proposed! It's too bad he couldn't be here."
Cato, nodded distractedly, already halfway out the door.
As soon he arrived home, Cato rushed upstairs to Peeta's room, and gingerly opened the door, not wanting to wake him if he had fallen asleep. When he peeked into the room, he noticed that the lamp was on, but Peeta lay facing away from the door so it was difficult to tell if he was asleep.
"Peeta?" he muttered, moving quietly around the bed to face the smaller blonde. There was no response, as Peeta was indeed fast asleep, one arm dangling off the bed as he lay on his side.
Reaching out one of his large hands, Cato gently stroked Peeta's soft hair out of his face to feel his forehead. To his relief, the younger boy was cool to the touch, and his breathing was even and peaceful. Enjoying the feeling of Peeta's soft skin under his hand, Cato stroked down his face to his cheek, then stopped abruptly. Peeta's cheeks were damp. Had he been crying?
Why was he sad? Lately, Peeta had seemed happy to him. He spent time with Cato and the others and was happy to call Cato his friend. Sure, he still was a little nervous around Cato at times and he still rejected any romantic advances, but he was no longer crying at night, or so Cato thought. Feeling frustrated, the career looked around the bedroom, as if it contained the answers as to why his Peeta was unhappy.
A small sigh from the bed drew his attention back to the blonde sleeping behind him. Cato smiled softly as he looked at the baker's sweet face. He desperately wanted to kiss his soft pink lips, but he also didn't want to wake the younger blonde. So the brute settled on kissing his forehead before leaving him to sleep, hoping that in the morning he could cheer him up.
Peeta breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind Cato, leaving him alone once more. He felt slightly guilty for pretending to be asleep when Cato was obviously concerned about him, but he didn't feel up to talking to him. Rolling onto his back, Peeta sighed in frustration. What was he going to do? Cato had been kind to him recently, and Peeta couldn't deny that he was a good friend, but he missed his friends back home more than anything. It was becoming clear to the baker that the career cared for him, and it was getting harder for Peeta to answer his question every night for fear of hurting Cato. But Cato was hurting him by keeping him trapped in District 2.
Kind of a filler chapter, I know, but still important to move the story. My favourite parts are coming up next, so stay tuned! As always, please leave a review!