Chapter 10: One Awkward Moment
Peeta plays with my hair as he speaks, and I don't know when the warmth of his body and the baritone of his voice has me falling into a deep sleep.
Katniss POV:
When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is Peeta. His eyes are shut, and his blonde curls are reflecting the light streaming in from the window like the glow of a halo. I watch him carefully, wanting to memorize all the features of his sleeping form. I want to remember this moment forever.
Feeling brave, I slowly reach out my hand to touch his face. His skin is smooth and inviting. I run my fingers along the curve of his eyebrows, and the ridge of his nose. Then, as if without my conscious thought, my fingers move to Peeta's lips. His lips are soft and remind me of all that they have done. I think back to the way Peeta kissed me last night.
As I reminisce, Peeta opens his eyes. His deep blue eyes bore into my soul, and I feel my heart flutter in response. I try to pull my hand back, but Peeta takes my hand and presses a gentle kiss onto the back of my hand. I feel myself flush. Peeta meets my eyes once again, and I'm about to lean in for a kiss when I hear a knock.
Me and Peeta bolt upright in the bed. "Katniss… Your mom?" he panics. I gesture for him to be quiet. Wrapping the bedsheet around myself, I get up and go to the door.
"Who is it?" I ask loudly.
"Me, open the door," I hear my sister say.
"Prim, I'm changing, I'll be down in a minute," I reply.
"Um… Okay," she responds.
I press my ear against the door listening for the sound of Prim's footsteps. Once I can't hear them anymore, I rush to the bathroom and quickly change my clothes. When I come back out, Peeta has dressed, put his prosthetic on, and is waiting for me.
"Katniss, how will I leave?" he questions.
After a brief pause, I say, "Prim and Mom will probably be in the kitchen, so you can sneak out from the front door."
Peeta nods in response. I carefully open the door and try to be as silent as possible as we climb down the stairs. Peeta's steps are heavy, but I know he is trying to be quiet. Once we reach the last step, I hear my sisters laugh coming from the direction of the kitchen. Peeta and I freeze in response. Once it feels safe, me and Peeta go to the front door. Once there, I open the door as quietly as I can and when it's open Peeta makes his way outside. "Bye, Peeta," I say.
"Bye, I'll see you later, okay"
We look at each other for a minute, and I nod in response. I have barely shut the door, when I hear Prim's voice behind me, "What are you doing?" I feel like I've been caught thieving. What should I say? Prim looks at me with a mischievous glitter in her eyes. "Were you going to see Peeta?" she interrogates.
"Um… uh… no… I was… um" I stammer
Prim starts to laugh. "Katniss you do know that all of Panem knows that Peeta is your boyfriend," she giggles. "Come have breakfast, you can go see Peeta after," she says, grabbing my hand and leading me to the kitchen.
In the kitchen I see my mom dropping a few herbs and leaves into a pot of boiling water. "What's that for?" I ask. She tells me that it's for a patient and we sit down for breakfast. After we finish eating my mom tells Prim to go clean her room. I'm about to get up and leave myself, but my mother stops me.
She strains the herbal medicine she was making and hands it to me. "Uh, who do I give this to?" I question, assuming she wants me to deliver it.
"It's not for a patient Katniss," she discloses, "It's for you"
"But I'm not sick," I state.
My mom looks at me and asks me to sit down. "Katniss, this is not for sickness, it's a preventive medicine," she explains. I look at her confused. Prevent what? She continues, "umm I know Peeta was still here this morning, I saw him in your room this morning." I look away from my mother embarrassed. "Katniss, it's okay," she says handing me the medicine, "this will prevent children, just take a teaspoon every morning, and let me know when you need another bottle." Before I can reply she leaves, and I'm left staring at the bottle of "medicine".
I don't know how to feel. I cannot wrap my mind around my mother's words. I want to tell her that it isn't what she thinks, but I'm not even sure what the truth is. Last night was good, but me and Peeta are not really together. Are we? The things we did last night happen in between couples. Does that make us a couple? Does Peeta think we are together now? My thoughts jumble up inside my head until it starts to ache. What should I do?