"Katniss," Prim called from downstairs. "Cinna's on the phone," she said. Katniss smiled and walked down the stairs.
"Hi Cinna," she said. She still had a hard time talking to him on the phone. She still just never had closure to what happened to him. Even though he was alive…she just wanted to talk to him. To really talk to him.
"How's my Girl on Fire?" he asked. She smiled.
"Better, now that I get to talk to you. Are you working on my beautiful fashion line?" she asked. Cinna chuckled.
"You really are hopeless. Have you been studying the script I've sent you? Like really studied this time?" Cinna joked. Katniss snorted.
"I wish we could have come up with something better," Katniss grumbled.
"I'm sorry. No one wants to see Katniss Everdeen shoot a deer and skin it, cook it and eat it!" Cinna told her.
"But that's what I'm talented at," she said sarcastically. He laughed again.
"Are you sleeping?" he asked. She let out a deep breath.
"Sometimes…it's hard to sleep through all the nightmares," she admitted honestly.
"I know Katniss. If you ever need to, you can call me. I don't care that it's in the middle of the night. Please know, that I love you. And if just crying over the phone with me and having me just listen and not say a word helps you, then I want you to. I'm always going to be here for you," Cinna said. She let tears fall down her face.
"So, you wait until they give you the go ahead. Then you can come out of the woods and head straight to the Bakery. Wait till you get approval before you leave. Don't go out the front door. You leave first, and then Peeta will be allowed to leave later. You can go sleep over at his house tonight. But after breakfast, you gotta go home," Haymitch told her. She nodded her head.
She left and went to the woods. She just sat around for a little while, trying not to get too dirty. Just waiting until she was allowed to leave.
She thought this was a terrible idea. Having dinner with Peeta's mom? That woman was a witch! Everyone in the Seam referred to her as the witch. And that witch hated Katniss. She never could understand why Katniss' face always brought so much anger to her, until Peeta revealed in their first time in the Games that his father was in love with her mother. Then it all made sense.
Her watch vibrated. She got up and walked out of the woods. She waited in the back alley for a few minutes until her watch vibrated again and walked up to the backdoor of the Bakery and knocked. A moment later, Wheet answered the door. He smiled kindly at her.
"Hey. Come on in," Wheet said, moving aside for her.
"Thank you. Peeta's here, right?" Katniss asked. He nodded his head. Just then Ryee came into the kitchen with a piece of raw meat on his eyes.
"That Butcher was all to fucking thrilled when I walked in with Peeta's money to get this hunk of meat. Shame to waste it though," Ryee said and pulled the meat down. "Oh hey, you're here," Ryee said. He had a terrible looking black eye. She just knew how that happened. The witch hit him.
"Katniss. It's good to see you," Peeta's father said as he came into the kitchen, with Peeta following behind him. His father hugged her.
"Thank you for having me over Mr. Mellark," Katniss said.
"Thank you for joining us," he said.
"Peeta couldn't stop talking about it on the way over here. Thank God the mics were on for the past hour, otherwise I'd- "Ryee stopped as Peeta shoved Ryee's hand back into his face to cover his eye with the meat.
"Keep that on your eye and be quiet," he said to his brother. He turned and smiled at Katniss and went over and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you for coming," Peeta said. He pulled back and kissed her.
"Happy Birthday," she said. He smiled brightly.
"It's much happier now," he said and kissed her cheek.
"Thank God I can't see anything," Ryee said. Peeta glared at him and Wheet chuckled. His dad grabbed Ryee's elbow.
"Go upstairs," Mr. Mellark said. "Wheet, let's see if dinner's ready," he said. Peeta's father and brother went upstairs. Peeta turned back to Katniss.
"Hi," he whispered. She smiled.
"Hi," she whispered back to him. He leaned down and softly kissed her and touched his forehead against hers.
"I've missed you," he whispered as his hands settled on her hips, rubbing up and down.
"I've missed you to," she whispered back to him. After a moment he pulled back. The smile wouldn't leave his face.
"I really love that you're here. I'm really happy I get to spend my birthday with you," he told her. She chuckled.
"I don't know if you'll still be saying that once your mother sees me," Katniss said uncomfortably.
"Well, it's not gonna be some surprise for her. I already told her. It's not her birthday. It's mine. And everyone else is fine with you coming over for dinner. So, come upstairs," Peeta said. Peeta saw her face and chuckled. He kissed her cheek.
"Stop worrying so much. Come on," he took her hand and led her up the stairs to the second floor.
When she got up there, she was surprised. She had never seen what any of the homes looked like for any of the merchants in town. She didn't expect it to look like any of the homes in the Capitol. But she didn't think it would look so…not new.
She always imagined that the merchant's family's homes would be so much nicer. His home was nice. But some of the furniture was mismatched. The dining room table looked like it had been passed down for a few generations.
It looked odd. Like life was fighting its way through their home. It was trying to be a home, but something was stopping it. Like his mother.
"Come on, I'll show you my old room," he told her. He put his hand on her back and directed her down the hall and into one of the bedrooms. This looked more like him. The furniture was still old, but this had Peeta's name written all over it. She stepped in and looked around.
She could see a bunch of his drawings that he made. There weren't any that were colorful though. Here and there. She saw some orange sticking out more than any other color. She figured they either didn't have the money to get markers or crayons, or his mother didn't want to waste their money on something like that.
His bedspread was faded blue, and he had one pillow that had a yellow pillowcase. He had an old chair at an old desk.
"Ryee tried to fix the chair once. But then my mom got mad, and she hit him and it got knocked to the ground, so it wobbles more now," Peeta said, shaking it a little.
She looked at his closet and saw his clothes. Peeta never took any of his clothes with him. Maybe a few things, but not much. Hey eyes caught something on his dresser. It was part of a flower sticking out of a notebook.
"What's this?" Katniss asked. He stood up to see what she was looking at and then blushed. He scrubbed his face and scratched the back of his head. "What?" she asked. He was embarrassed.
"Just…go ahead and open it," he said. She lifted a book off the notebook and opened to the page where the flower was sticking out. It was a dried dandelion. She looked back over at him. His face was beet red. Peeta never usually got embarrassed. She didn't get it. She turned back and stared at the dried dandelion, and then she realized what was behind it. The page!
She turned the notebook sideways so she could see it. She was looking at herself, picking up a dandelion. This was the day after Peeta threw her the bread. She was in awe.
She turned the page and saw her standing up and smelling the flower. The next page made her gasp. It was of her sitting up against the tree. Crying. She covered her mouth with her hand. This was the day that she fell in love with Peeta Mellark. She just never knew it.
"I don't know what to say," she whispered.
"I saw you pick up that dandelion. And when you walked away, I went over and picked one up to. Ever since then, every time see a dandelion, I think of you," he told her. She stared up at him. He thought that to? She couldn't help but think about what her dad said, about they were meant to be together. Were they always being given these chances to be together?
She carefully put the flower back inside the notebook and shut it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him and they rested their foreheads against each other.
"Katniss Everdeen. In my childhood bedroom. You've been the star in my dreams every night I slept in this room," he whispered, making her chuckle. He looked up at her. "Wanna make one of my fantasies come true?" he asked. She pulled her head back, warily. But he chuckled.
"It's nothing bad I promise," he told her and pulled her towards the bed and made her sit down next to him. "I dreamt of you sitting on my bed a million times," he told her. He leaned in and started lightly kissing and licking her neck. Her neck was on fire everywhere his lips and tongue touched her, making her pant heavily. She felt her stomach in knots as he lit a fire in her. He kissed his way up to her ear.
"Will you make another one of my fantasies come true?" he whispered huskily. Sending shivers through her body. She was so caught in the moment, that there was no way she could say no. She nodded her head.
Peeta lightly pushed her back and pulled her legs up onto his bed and laid down on top of her.
"Now, I can die a happy man. Katniss Everdeen laying in my bed. This is what I have imagined in my head since the moment I laid eyes on you," he whispered and leaned down and kissed her. She chuckled into her mouth.
"Wasn't I sleeping in your bed last week?" she asked. He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Yes. But this is where I've dreamt the most about you. This is where I made all my plans in my head. To ask you out. To kiss you. To hold your hand. To marry you. To make love to you," he whispered. She felt herself blush from the top of her head all the way down to her toes. He stared down at her lips and was just going to kiss her again when they heard a thump in the hallway.
They swiftly sat up and watched as Wheet came in. He was trying to hide his smile.
"Table's set," Wheet said and turned around. Katniss groaned. Peeta laughed and stood up, pulling her along behind him, down the hall and into the dining room. They made it just in time before their mother came stomping up the stairs. She would have probably yelled at them if she realized that they were in Peeta's old bedroom. On his old bed. Making out.
"Dinner's ready," Mr. Mellark said.
"Thanks dad," Peeta said as he held tightly to Katniss' hand and pulled her to the other side of the table with him and sat down.
"What's your dad's name?" Katniss asked suddenly. Peeta smiled.
"Breeoshe," Peeta told her. She nodded her head. "It's a type of bread," Peeta told her. She smiled.
"Really? Like Ryee's name?" Katniss asked. He smiled wider.
"Wheet, Ryee and me all have bread names," Peeta said. She squished her nose and he chuckled. She only knew Ryee was a bread name.
"My dad's name is supposed to be spelled b-r-i-o-c-h-e. But my grandfather spelled it b-r-e-e-o-s-h-e. So, when Wheet was born, my dad changed how to spell it as well. He did it for all of our names. He changed them all to have two E's. It's kind of a family tradition. There haven't been girls in the family in a really long time. But they all have bread names," Peeta told. She smiled at him.
"I like that. It's clever," she said. His mother came in and slammed down a bowl of stew and sat at the other end of the table. Peeta's father sat at the opposite end, but next to Katniss. Peeta's brothers sat across from her and Peeta.
"It's nice to have a full table," Mr. Mellark said cheerfully. His mother didn't say a word. They went around the table and, passing the bowl of stew. "Happy Birthday Peeta," his father said.
"Happy Birthday," his brothers said at the same time. Peeta thanked them and looked over at Katniss. He rested his hand on her thigh and smiled. It felt right to Katniss, having his hand on her thigh. It was something so normal, but so sweet.
"You know what's really annoying? You two don't have to finish school," Ryee said suddenly. Everyone looked at him.
"What? If I realized that I wouldn't have to go to school after I won the Hunger Games, then I would have volunteered," Ryee said. Peeta put his head in his hand. Wheet's shoulders shook silently, trying not to laugh. Ryee always had the worst timing. He was always the one seeking to defuse the tension in the room…but he was the opposite as Peeta, and always managed to say the wrong things.
"Did you get to meet any of the other Victor's? Who's the hot one from District 1? The blonde that has the brother," Ryee asked.
"Cashmere, right?" Wheet asked. Ryee snapped his fingers and nodded.
"Yeah her. Did you meet her?" Ryee asked. Peeta cleared his throat.
"No, we didn't. We only met a few Victors. They usually stay with the Tribute's from their District that they're mentoring. I just happened to meet a couple by running into them," Peeta said uncomfortably. Katniss couldn't even understand why Ryee was asking such stupid questions. It's not like the microphones were on. Or that he didn't remember everything.
"Next time District 1 has a winner and they come here on the Victory Tour, you have to introduce me to her," Ryee said. Peeta just shook his head. Wheet still just sat there softly laughing. "Oh, even better, that hot one with the ax from 7," Peeta choked on his water, and Katniss chuckled into her hand.
"Johanna," Katniss said, trying not to laugh.
"Oh yeah. I wanna meet her," Ryee said.
"Ryee was really fascinated by the sword," Wheet told Katniss. Ryee's eyes went wide.
"That thing was amazing. Do you think the next time you go to the Capitol you could bring me one? Did they save the one Cato used?" Ryee asked.
"The sword that almost killed Peeta because he was stupidly trying to save a Seam girl?" his mother asked. The room was dead silent. Well, that didn't take too long, Katniss thought.
"Doreen. Please don't start," Mr. Mellark said. She ignored him.
"Instead of trying to kill the Careers, he joins up with them. So, when they find the Seam girl, then he can jump in front of her and die for her. That was a smart idea," she said. Peeta gulped.
"Can you please stop it. She's not the Seam girl. She has a name. It's Katniss. And I have no regrets for anything I did in the Games," Peeta said proudly and took a spoonful of stew.
"Of course, you're proud. Because you're blind to some girl. Acting like a fool,"
"You can think I'm a fool all you want. I held my head high when I walked out of the Games. And there's nothing that you can say or do to change that," Peeta told her. His mother snorted.
"So, I was thinking of making your sister's goat a little house. You know, when it's raining, she'll have a place to stay dry. Like a doghouse," Ryee said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. At least this diversion wasn't inappropriate this time.
"The only reason why you walked out of that arena is because that Seam girl saved your life. You laid pitifully on the ground for almost a week. Calling out her name in your sleep. It was embarrassing," she said. Peeta's eyes widened.
"Well, it worked didn't it? Because he walked out of that arena when 1,725 children died in those arena's," Katniss said. She took a bite of her stew. "So, he must have done something right," Katniss said.
"Did you just make that number up?" Ryee asked. Peeta looked down and shook his head. Of course, that's what Ryee would focus on.
"74 Games. 24 kids each year. Except the 50th had an extra 24 kids. That's 1,800. Take 75 winners away," Katniss explained.
"That's terrible to think about," Wheet muttered.
"It was supposed to be 1,726," his mother said. Peeta felt his heart stop beating. Did his mother really think he should have died in the arena?
"Did you seriously want your own son to die in there?" Katniss demanded, her words echoing his own thoughts.
"Katniss just let it go," Peeta said, shaking her head.
"At least he wouldn't have humiliated himself in front of Panem,"
"Who on earth thinks that he humiliated himself? Everyone in the Capitol loves him. All the Districts love him," Katniss told her. She scoffed.
"I guess everyone in the Seam also loves him, right? Because all the Seam trash love all the merchants," she snapped.
"Everyone in the Seam knows who the Baker's son is. They also know who Peeta's witch of a mother is. Because everyone in the Seam knows you as the witch," Katniss told her. Ryee burst out laughing. His father smacked his shoulder.
"Stop attacking her," he told his wife.
"He's always kind to everyone. And generous. How could you be so hateful to him? You have one of the bests sons in the entire world. How could you treat him this way?" Katniss demanded. She looked over at Peeta.
"It's not worth it Katniss. Just let it go," Peeta said softly. Katniss ignored him.
"He did nothing in those Games except follow after you and lay there while you did all the work to save him,"
"He saved me! I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him. Cato would have killed me with the sword. Cato would be the winner right now if it wasn't for Peeta. He almost died trying to save me. We saved each other. What is the matter with you that you don't see what kind of man he is," Katniss told her.
"He's a lovesick little child. And everyone knows it," she said. Katniss was getting angrier and angrier.
"Everyone does not know it. Have you ever met any of the parents that lose their children in the Games every year? Because I have. All those mothers who lost their sons, are proud of him. Proud that he not only was able to save himself, but he was able to save the girl from their District as well. They wish to God that their son was like Peeta, because maybe they would be celebrating their son's birthday," Katniss said.
"Katniss it's ok,"
"No, it's not ok," she looked back over at his mother. "And every mother, who lost their daughter, wishes that they went into the arena with a Peeta. Because maybe he would have brought their daughters home to them. No one in this District thinks less of Peeta. They're proud that Peeta came from District 12," Katniss told her, getting a little choked up. His mother scoffed again.
"What makes you think I'm going to listen to anything some selfish, lying Seam trash says to me," she asked. Peeta slammed his hand on the table.
"She is NOT Seam trash. She's not selfish. She went into the arena to save her sister. That's the least selfish thing that I've ever seen. She never even thought about it, she just did it and then realized it once she was on stage. No one in District 12 has ever volunteered because everyone's too afraid to do it," Peeta yelled at her. Katniss glanced at his brothers, who put their heads down. She hoped Peeta didn't realize what he had said, because it would hurt him, to know that he hurt his brothers by saying that.
"She was willing to die for two little girls. One who she raised and one who she just met. And she's not trash. No one in the Seam is trash. And she's loved by everyone in the Seam. Long before she was in the Games. So, you have no idea what you're talking about," he told his mother.
"What kind of mother are you?" Katniss asked.
"The kind that didn't raise a pathetic sissy of a man," she sneered. Katniss stood up.
"Well, you didn't raise one of those. You didn't raise any of those. Wanna know why? Because Peeta's father raised him. And thank God he's just like his father. All three of them," Katniss sneered back at her. Peeta stood up as well.
"Thanks for ruining my birthday," Peeta told his mother. Katniss crossed her arms.
"I know the real reason why you hate me you know. It's very obvious," Katniss said smugly.
"Why?" Ryee said before he could stop himself. Wheet yanked on his arm.
"Because I'm her daughter," Katniss said. It was all she needed to say. She was the daughter of the woman her husband had been in love with. Peeta guided Katniss to the door, but his mother's voice stopped them.
"I don't ever want to see you in this Bakery again," she told Peeta. He turned around and stared at her. He turned his head back to Katniss.
"I'll be right back," he said and ran down the hall. He came back a minute later with the notebook that Katniss had been looking at earlier and stood next to her again.
"This is my Bakery to. And you're not going to kick me out of it. I'm going to keep coming here any time I want. And I don't care if you like that. You can throw whatever insult you want towards me. I don't care. But you will never. EVER! Speak that way to Katniss again," he told her sternly. He turned to look at his father, who look devastated.
"I'm sorry she ruined this night for you. I know you were really looking forward to it," Peeta said. His father nodded sadly. Always thinking about how everyone else felt. They turned and walked down the stairs.
"Peeta I'm so sorry," she told him. He shook his head and grabbed her watch and hit the button.
"It's ok. I just want to get out of here. So, the sooner you leave, the sooner I can to," Peeta said. They heard a loud thump from upstairs, and then heard yelling.
"How did you live like this?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders.
"You just learn to survive," Peeta said. Her watch beeped, letting her know they were ready for her to leave. He kissed her lips. "I'll be home in a little while," he said and smiled. She kissed his cheek and walked out the backdoor.
What a horrible dinner. She had maybe three bites of her meal. God, how on earth did Peeta grow up to be the wonderful man that he is, with that witch of a mother.
"You're back early," Haymitch said from his porch. She walked down to his house and sat in the other rocking chair.
"Yeah, his mother kinda ruined dinner for everyone," Katniss said as she sat back and crossed her arms and legs. Haymitch snorted.
"I always hated that witch," Haymitch said as he took a drink from his cup. Katniss could imagine what was in there. But she snorted at his response. "You know she banned me from the Bakery?" he chuckled. Katniss looked over at him.
"What?" she asked. He just laughed. "Why? When did that happen? Were you drunk?" she laughed.
"Not enough," he said and took another drink. "I don't think Peeta ever remembered it," Haymitch said. He was getting lost in a memory.
"That witch was always rude to me. She remembered me from before I won the Games. She loved to call me Seam trash. So, I'd go in there from time to time. Make a little mess when I knew her husband wasn't around, so she'd have to clean it up. So, I went in there one day. No one was up front. I was craving chocolate cake. I was gonna take a few bites and throw it at her," he laughed. Katniss joined in on the laughing.
"What? Were you really? Have you ever done that before?" she laughed. He nodded his head.
"A few times. I just grabbed the cake and just tossed it at her face," Haymitch said. Katniss burst out laughing. "She deserved it," Haymitch defended himself. They laughed for another moment, and he got serious again.
"No one was up there. And I was just going to help myself. But then I heard a smack and then a little cry. I ran back behind the counter and through the kitchen. I burst out the back door…and she was standing there, just smacking Peeta over and over again," Haymitch said. Katniss gasped.
"Where was his dad?" she whispered. Haymitch shrugged.
"Somewhere across town. I don't really know. But I ran over and pushed her down. Peeta was just screaming. Bruises all over him. And bleeding. He was maybe 3 or 4," Haymitch said darkly, drinking more.
"What did you do?"
"I picked him up and he just clung to me. She tried to grab him, but I backhanded her," Haymitch said, eyeing her. Katniss smiled.
"I told her if she wanted her son, she could come to the Justice Building to get him. If she wanted to run her mouth about me hitting her, then I would stand right there, and tell them how she beat her son. If she wanted him back, then her husband could come get him," he said. Katniss covered her mouth.
"So, I carried him to the Justice Building, and we just sat there on the stage. Where we always stand," he snorted, thinking of the irony of it all. Him and Peeta, sitting on the stage of the Justice Building, where they would stand together again. Haymitch was the first one to save Peeta.
"I think he was relieved that somebody saved him from her beating him. We just sat up there for a couple of hours. He was a funny little kid," he reminisced, smiling. Katniss just watch him. Haymitch liked him. From the very beginning. He knew Peeta when he was a tiny little boy.
"His father came up there. He looked like he had been crying. Peeta was so excited to see him and jumped off the stage into his dad arms. Breeoshe just hugged him and kissed his head. And he thanked me for taking care of his son. And then said his wife banned him from the Bakery, so just make sure to come by when she's not there," he chuckled.
"Why did he let her do that to them?" Katniss asked. Haymitch let out a deep breath.
"You can't just throw your wife out Katniss. You can't just divorce people. And when you do, the father always loses the kids. And unless a Peacekeeper saw her hurting them, he couldn't do a damn thing about it," Haymitch said.
"How come you've never told Peeta that story?" Katniss asked. Haymitch shrugged his shoulders.
"Just hasn't come up," Haymitch said. He looked over to the windowsill and nodded. "The present for Peeta's right there. Effie wrapped it and everything. It says it's from me though," he chuckled. She grabbed it and chuckled with him.
"Well, you're not claiming my present to him," Katniss told him. He chuckled as Peeta walked up to him.
"Well, hey it's the birthday boy. I got you a present," Haymitch said, pointing to the present in her lap. She smacked his shoulder. "It says my name on it boy. Don't let her lie to you," Haymitch laughed. She just shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Are you ok?" she asked him. He smiled and nodded his head. She was worried about him.
His mother was so horrible to him. She hated hearing from Haymitch how his mother was beating him as a little boy. How could a mother do that to her child? Peeta had been good with Haymitch, who was a stranger to him. She knew he had been a sweet, kindhearted little boy from the beginning. The thought of anyone hurting Peeta made her blood boil.
She shook her head. She didn't want any of those bad memories of Peeta being tortured to make an appearance tonight. This was Peeta's birthday. This day was about him!
"Yeah. Nothing I'm surprised by. But I just wanted to spend my birthday without the cameras and microphones on me anyway. So, I got exactly what I wanted," Peeta said and smiled.
"Has Haymitch ever told you about how he threw cake at your mom's face?" Katniss laughed. Peeta chuckled.
"Oh, I saw him do it a few years back. I was scrubbing the floor and he came in, dropped a bunch of money on the counter, grabbed a cake and just full on threw it at her before she even had a chance to react to the bell on the door," Peeta said. The three of them just laughed.
"I remember that day. It was the pink frosting," Haymitch laughed. They waited until their stomach's stopped hurting before Peeta shook his head.
"Thank you for the laugh. That made my day Haymitch," Peeta said.
"Happy birthday boy," Haymitch told him. He smiled.
"Thank you," he looked over at Katniss. "Wanna go inside?" he asked. She smiled and nodded, and he held out his hand.
"Don't knock her up," Haymitch warned him. She spun around and grabbed the drink out of Haymitch's hand and threw it across the yard. "God damnit Katniss," Haymitch yelled as they walked back over to Peeta's house, laughing.
When they got inside Peeta started turning his lights on and taking off his shoes. "Are you ok?" Katniss asked. She was worried about him.
"Yeah, I'm ok. I was hoping she would have just stayed quiet. But it's not like I was shocked. She's actually always kinda ruined all our birthdays. In one way or another. It was just gonna be different this year. Because of everything that we've all been through. My dad really wanted to have a nice birthday dinner for me. It was the thought that counted," Peeta said as he leaned against the stairwell.
"I'm sorry that I yelled at her," Katniss said.
"Why? It was kinda nice to see someone yell back at her for a change. You should have heard Ryee when you left. He was giving the play by play of the whole dinner. She hit him in the other eye with a rolling pin. I went back to the Butcher and bought a few more steaks. My families been keeping them in business lately," he said as he shook his head. He walked into the kitchen, with her following him.
"I have something for us to eat for dinner. I figured we wouldn't get far," Peeta said. He heated up some food and then they sat at the table and started eating. She pulled out her present for him.
"Ignore that it says that it's from Haymitch. He called Effie to have it sent on the train for you. But he had to tell her it was from him. I take it she figured he wouldn't wrap it or anything," Katniss said, making him laugh.
"Everyone knows Haymitch to well," he laughed as he started unwrapping the box. He pulled the lid off and looked at what was inside. She cleared her throat.
"You were writing your songs in a notebook and writing the notes in there. Now you can write everything down on actual music paper," she said. He looked up and smiled at her.
"I love this. I didn't even think to ask. I hadn't told anyone that I was doing it," he said in awe. He leaned over and kissed her. "Thank you," he said and hugged her.
"This is all I wanted for my birthday. Was to be with you," he said and kissed her shoulder.
"I'm glad you like it," she said.
They had a nice quiet dinner, and then realized that they had sat at the table for over an hour. "Wanna take a shower first upstairs or down here?" Peeta asked her. She smiled.
"I like the big shower better," she chuckled.
"So, make me take the smaller one down here," he joked as he started clearing the table to wash the dishes.
"You get to use your big shower all the time. My mom has that shower at our house," she laughed. He kissed her cheek.
"It'll take you as long as it takes me to clean up the kitchen and take my own shower down here. So, go now," he lightly pushed her. She shook her head and walked up to his room.
He watched her go upstairs. It was nice. Tonight, was nice. Just being together. Talking and laughing. This was exactly how he wanted to spend his birthday. He ignored everything that was going on in their world for one day. The Hunger Games didn't exist today. Cameras and microphones didn't exist. Snow, the Capitol, the Rebellion. None of that mattered today. Just getting to spend his birthday with Katniss was all that mattered.
True to what Peeta said, he had cleaned up the kitchen, took his own shower and just walked in as Katniss came out of his bathroom towel drying her hair. He raised his eyebrows. "I told you, "He said. She rolled her eyes and threw her towel at him.
He threw the towels in his hamper and saw her crawling under the covers. When he walked over, he didn't realize that she had brought that notebook from his bedroom at the Bakery upstairs up there with her.
"Is it ok that I look through it?" she asked. He nodded his head and got under the covers, sitting up against the headboard. She leaned into him and opened to the first page.
She saw different moments in her life. From when she was five until before the Reaping. There were pictures of her and Prim looking through the window of the Bakery. Her sitting by herself at lunch. Sitting at the top of the bleachers at his wresting game. Walking back with Gale from under the fence. Walking down the road with Madge. Walking with Prim and Lady, after Lady had gotten out one day. So many moments that Peeta had been watching and committing to memory.
"These are beautiful," she whispered. She leaned up and kissed him. "Thank you for always caring about me like this. I never knew anyone could care for me like you do," she whispered, looking down at one where she was laughing with Prim.
"Yeah well, I was a goner. From the moment I saw you. I knew I'd never find anyone that I'd love even a quarter as much as you," he whispered. They stared at each other for a moment. Their breathing became heavy. They slowly leaned in towards each other like magnets, until their lips connected.
Soft, sweet kisses. His tongue tracing her lips softly. She turned more of her body, so she was leaning into him. He took the notebook and placed in on his nightstand without leaving her lips. He pulled her left leg over his hip and sandwiched her right leg between both of his own.
He softly pushed his tongue into her mouth and met hers. Their hands softly touching each other. She held onto him and moaned softly into his mouth. As the time went on though, Peeta's kisses were hotter. She felt like she was dizzy and falling and needed to hold on for dear life.
Those kisses that they shared on the beach. That hunger and fire in her belly. It was coming back full force now. This is what she had been craving. She had longed to feel his lips on hers. She wanted to feel the intensity of his hands, that had somehow crept under her shirt, and she could feel his hands on her back, skin on skin.
She felt it flare up more. She had never felt like this before. That hunger that she felt on the beach was nothing compared to now. Everywhere Peeta touched her was on fire. She griped his shirt tightly in her fist and squeezed her legs tightly around Peeta's right thigh.
"Peeta," she panted as he sucked on her pulse point. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling it slightly. She needed more. She wanted him. She wanted this man who made her feel things that she never felt before. Who made her happy. Who she hurt, when he was hurt. The man who turned her inside out. This man who had made her want to love. Want to be in love.
"Peeta," she moaned louder. His name on her lips like this sent shock waves down his body. These kisses were only getting more intense. They had never been this strong before.
"Peeta please," she moaned. He pulled back slightly as they panted for air. He felt her thighs squeezing his leg tightly, moving slightly. This was different. He could feel it. This wasn't just making out and stopping because they didn't want to go to far. This was…starting something. He gulped.
"Do you need more?" he whispered. She bit her lip and stared for a moment. And then she softly nodded her head. He licked his lips. "We…we can do something," he whispered. She nodded her head again as he felt her squeeze her legs. He rested his forehead against hers.
"Do you feel something down there Katniss?" he whispered as he pushed his thigh into her softly, making her gasp and squeeze the back of his neck. She nodded again.
"Yes," she whispered shakily. It shocked her. What did he do?
He pulled back slightly and put his hand on her cheek.
"Katniss…do you want me to give you an orgasm?" he asked. He felt her body tense a little. She was nervous. He leaned down and kissed her ear. "Can I give you your first orgasm tonight?" he whispered, pulling gently on her ear with hit teeth.
"I just want to make you feel good…Can I make you feel good tonight?" He whispered. She was shivering with pleasure.
He felt her whole body shake, and she gripped his leg again, rocking slightly. He was sure she didn't even realize exactly what she was doing. She didn't even know what she needed. She was just going on instinct.
"Yes," she whispered quietly. He pulled back again so he could see her and nodded his head.
"Can I take down your pajama pants?" he asked. Her eyes darted back and forth. "You can keep your panties on," he told her. Her breathing was shallow, but she nodded her head.
"I'm gonna take mine down to, but my shorts will still be on," he told her. She nodded her head again.
"When I…remember what I told you. About how an orgasm is different for each of us?" he asked. She nodded her head. "When I have mine…you might feel it. Through my shorts. If you don't want me to, just tell me now. I'll just make sure only you have one," he said. She thought about it for a moment.
"It's ok. I want you to have one to," she whispered nervously. He kissed her again. He pulled back and bent over and to pull his sweatpants off and threw them on the floor. He looked back at her, and he could tell she was too nervous to move.
"Can I do it for you?" he asked.
"Yeah," she whispered. He smiled at her and leaned over. He slowly pulled her pajama pants down her legs. He threw them on the floor and just stared up at her. His breathing caught in his throat. Her whole body flushed deep red. He thought he would die as his eyes traveled up her legs and saw that she had on soft orange panties. His favorite color.
He crawled back up to her and kissed her softly. Were they really going to do something intimate? They were crossing over the threshold. This was completely new to their relationship.
"Wrap your legs around me like you were before," he told her, getting them back into the same position. "Don't just try to rush it. Just let it build back up again," he told her. She nodded her head, and he went right back to kissing her.
This time though, Katniss was just in panties and a shirt. Katniss Everdeen was in his bed, wearing nothing but a shirt and panties. He was literally touching her panties. He was ready to go! But he had to warm her back up again. He didn't mind warming her up.
"Can I…can I touch you?...down here?" Peeta asked. His hand on her lower back. She nodded frantically again as she bit his lip. He slowly let his hand move lower and lower until he cupped her panty clad bottom in his hand, making her gasp into his mouth.
It was everything that he had ever wanted. He squeezed her butt to him, pulling her against him and she moaned again. And then he felt it. Her legs squeezed his thigh again, pressing into him. She squeezed her legs tighter, and she was practically rubbing her whole body against his. So, he knew, she was there.
"You ready?" he whispered. She moaned and nodded. He pushed her back onto the bed and pushed his thigh harder up into her core.
Katniss arched her back as she felt the rippling sensation heat up from her center to all over her body. What was that? She had never felt this sensation ever before. But that hunger that she felt…it was connected. He pulled back and then pushed forward again. "Aaahh," she moaned. Peeta leaned back down and started sucking on her neck.
She had no idea that she could feel this way. The sensations coming from down there…she never knew. She just never, ever knew she could feel this way. She had never even touched herself down there before. And now here she was, with Peeta on top of her, pushing his body into hers and making her melt.
She never imagined she'd ever be in this position. She made it her life's goal not to be with a man. But this man right here…this man that was on top of her, giving her a sensation that she's never known, she felt like this was right. She was supposed to be with him.
His hand was still under her, and he had a good rhythm going. Moving his body against hers. Rubbing himself against her hip, as well as keeping a very firm pressure on his thigh to make sure that her clit felt everything. With every thrust down, he would squeeze her cheek, pushing her into him. Grinding her into him.
She was floating. She was completely outside of her body. She wanted all of him. She wanted him to touch every inch of her body. She was speeding towards something that she didn't know. That she didn't understand. But she felt whatever it was, rising up in her full force. Every time he pushed his thigh into her.
"Peeta," she moaned. He started going faster. Grinding into her. "Peeta please," she begged. But she didn't know what she was even begging for.
His name on her lips, begging him. He wasn't going to last much longer.
"Baby you're close. I can feel it," he panted as he sucked on her neck. "Just let it happen. Just let it take over your whole body," Peeta whispered. He wanted her to feel good. She arched her back and squeezed his leg so tight.
"I'm close," Peeta groaned. She was spiraling. Her whole body was on overload. She curled her toes. Her body was tightening. She was having trouble breathing.
"Cum for me Katniss," he whispered in her ear. And she exploded. She grabbed onto him tightly, digging her nails into his back as her body exploded with pleasure coming from her center. It was like a dam of pleasure had erupted inside her body. She felt a gush of fluid inside her.
"Peeta," she shrieked. It was enough to send him over the edge as he groaned her name.
"Katniss," he groaned into her ear. He felt spurt after spurt. He wouldn't stop moving. He wanted her to remember her first orgasm. He wanted her to feel so good. Prolonging it. He felt her body slow down, and he collapsed on top of her, both panting heavily.
He turned his face into her neck and kissed her, and then he rolled back, pulling her with him. Their legs never moving from how they were tangled. He could actually feel on his thigh that her panties were wet.
"Katniss," he whispered, running his hands through her hair and up and down her back.
"Peeta…that was…" she trailed off. He chuckled and pulled back enough to look at her face.
"How was it?" he asked her. She nodded her head and then let it fall onto his chest.
"That was incredible," she panted. He chuckled slightly.
"Yeah. Incredible is the perfect word," he panted back, and kissed the top of her head. They laid there for a few minutes in comfortable silence. Waiting for their hearts to slow down and return to normal. He ran his hands up and down her back as she laid on his chest, drawing circles on his sides.
He couldn't believe what had just happened. He never even imagined that they would do anything like this time. Or any time soon. It wasn't sex. She wasn't ready for that. But it was still special. Still intimate. They shared her first orgasm together.
"We should…I should change my shorts," he whispered. She nodded and sat up and let him get stand up. She didn't look down at his shorts. She was too embarrassed to do such a thing. But after what they just did, she didn't know how she could be embarrassed by looking at his shorts. He held out his hand for her.
She didn't understand why she was getting up, but she gave him her hand anyway, and he led her over to his dresser, grabbed something out of his drawers and brought her into the bathroom. He grabbed a washcloth and ran it under the water. It wasn't until he turned and looked down at her that she realized she didn't have anything on except for panties, and her shirt barely covered them. Her hands went to the hem of her shirt to pull it down.
She suddenly felt his hands on her cheeks and looked up.
"Don't be embarrassed," he whispered to her and kissed her softly on the lips. "Not after what we just did," he told her. She let out a shaky breath and he put his hands on her hips.
"I don't want you to feel embarrassed about sleeping in my bed with only a shirt and panties on," he whispered into her ear and kissed it. She felt shivers all the way down her spine. Whenever he would whisper something like that in her ear, she always shivered. No one ever made her shiver like that.
He stepped back slightly and took her hand away from her shirt. It went back up to show her panties. Then she felt the washcloth high up on her thigh.
She realized that he sat down on the toilet and was eye level with her stomach. He raised the shirt slightly, exposing more of her panties and he ran the warm was cloth up and down the top of her right thigh. When he was done, he leaned and kissed her by her right hip. Her breath caught in her throat, and he looked up and smiled, and then stood up.
"I'm gonna change really quick," he whispered. She nodded and turned and walked back into his bedroom. When she got to the bed, she realized that he hadn't shut the bathroom door. She couldn't see him though. It was such an intimate thing, leaving the bathroom door open.
She turned back and slowly lifted her pajama pants and stared at them. She just took them off so willingly. How did she get to this moment? She was so lost in her thoughts about what she just shared with Peeta, that she didn't realize he was behind her, and wrapped his arms around her lower stomach. She could feel his hot breath on her ear.
"Don't wear those to bed," he whispered and kissed her neck, licking it. His hands glided to hers and she let him take the pants from her hands, and he dropped them back on the floor.
"Ok," she whispered. She crawled back into bed with him following her. She turned back to him and snuggled up to him, laying her head on his chest. It was comforting feeling his heart beating. Hearing it. They stayed like that for a while.
"I've never felt this close to you before," he whispered. Bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked up and pulled her body closer to his, wrapping her arms around his back. Their faces inches apart. Peeta always wanted her to express her feelings for him. Express her love for him. It was so hard because, she didn't know how. But she would try.
"I feel the same way," she whispered. He smiled brightly. Baby steps.
"I want you to feel comfortable around me. Comfortable enough to sleep like this. In less clothes. I just want us to be close," he whispered. She kissed his nose.
"I'll try," she told him. It was enough for him!
A little while later, they were both falling asleep. They could feel each other's breath on their faces. "Katniss," Peeta whispered.
"Hmm?" she sighed.
"This is the best birthday I've ever had,"
Peeta wondered the next morning if Katniss would feel awkward about what they did last night. Peeta had only ever dreamed of doing anything intimate with her. They didn't make love, but if they wanted to do anything, he figured with Katniss this was the best first step.
He had heard Wheet and Ryee talk about sex for years now. Describing everything and anything they could. But there was no preparing him for having an orgasm with Katniss Everdeen. And nothing prepared him for giving her an orgasm either. It was their first time being intimate. It was her first time ever experiencing one. His 17th birthday was going to the be the best birthday he ever had…the second time around of course.
He still couldn't wrap his mind around it. Katniss Everdeen. In his bed. With just a shirt and panties. He could feel her bare legs against his. He could get used to this. He wished that he could fast forward to the day when he could be like this every day with her.
He was brought out of his thoughts by Katniss yawning. She stretched and opened her eyes and looked up at him and smiled. "Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she said and yawned again.
"Want some breakfast?" he asked her. She nodded her head and sat up. "How'd you sleep?" he asked as he rubbed her back up and down.
"Good. What about you?" she asked. He smiled brightly.
"Oh, I slept really good," he said. She smiled and turned her head, blushing. He turned so his feet were on the floor and she sat on the left side of him, facing him. Her feet curled to the right side of her. He looked down at her bare legs. She was the most beautiful woman in the entire universe. He turned a little so he could put his hand on her thigh and move it to her hip. She blushed again.
"Do you regret what we did last night?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head.
"Not at all," she told him. He smiled again.
"But you're still nervous about it. And about right now," he said, looking down at her legs and resting his hand on her thigh again. She bit her bottom lip.
"Yes," she admitted. He leaned forward and kissed her nose.
"Ok. I'll allow it," he told her. She chuckled. "Why don't you get dressed and I'll meet you down there," he said. He leaned down and grabbed his pajama pants. He went to grab hers, but she stood up. She looked at him nervously, and then walked into the bathroom and shut the door. He smiled. She didn't even bother to grab the pajama pants in his hand.
About ten minutes later she came downstairs dressed and stood next to him to see what he was making.
"Just pancakes. I didn't wake up early enough to make you cheese buns," Peeta told her.
"It's ok. Are you putting chocolate chips in there?" she asked curiously. He nodded his head.
They enjoyed having their breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen when they heard Haymitch yelling. "Is it safe to come in?" Haymitch yelled. Katniss rolled her eyes and followed Peeta into the living room.
"I didn't make any cinnamon rolls. We just woke up a little while ago," Peeta told.
"Bet I know why," Haymitch muttered under his breath. Peeta barely heard him. "I need to talk to you two. So, let's have a seat," Haymitch said. Katniss and Peeta looked at each other and then sat down.
"I have some good news, and bad new," Haymitch said. Peeta felt Katniss tense up next to him.
"One of Snow's Advisors was killed the first time around. During the Victory Tour. He was part of the Rebellion. They had to be careful on when they got him out and sent to District 13. They faked his death. So, he's been there for about a month now," Haymitch said.
"What does that have to do with us?" Katniss grumbled.
"Snow was angry-is angry. He wanted to humiliate you on your Victory Tour last time. This Advisor didn't want to put you both through that and convinced him not to do the Victory Tour the way he wanted…but now that he's in 13…he wasn't able to stop Snow," Haymitch said.
"What's he going to do?" Peeta asked.
"The tour isn't going to be a District a day. He wanted to make it big. Two Victors in love, and the year of the Quarter Quell. He's sparing no expense. So, the day we arrive in any of the Districts, we're going right to a parade, in your Honor," Haymitch said.
"A parade is what we did last time. That's no big deal," Peeta told him.
"What else is he gonna do to me?" Katniss whispered. Peeta wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"We'll be delivered to the Justice Building. You'll make your speech, and then depending on when the train arrives that day, we'll have lunch with the Mayor…and then this is where everything goes to Hell," Haymitch says uncomfortably.
"Damnit Haymitch just spit it out," Katniss snapped.
"You're going to go to the female tribute's house," Haymitch said. Both Katniss and Peeta's mouth fell open. "You'll eat dinner with them, talk about the female tribute…and then you sleep over. In the female tribute's bed," he said. Katniss gasped and covered her mouth.
"What? No one's ever done anything like that before. Why would he do that?" Peeta said.
"He's angry. He wants to punish you. And making you spend time with these families and sleep in their children's beds is a sure-fire way to punish you for the berries," Haymitch said. Katniss couldn't move.
"You'll eat breakfast, then you get to go on a Tour of the District. Then you'll go to the male tributes house. Eat dinner, sleep over, eat breakfast. Then you get to do an interview with Caesar while he's in the Capitol. But here's the part that his Advisor was trying to avoid. He wants you to sit with the other Victor's from that District,"
"We can't do that. It could change everything," Peeta said. Katniss started breathing heavily, and he wrapped both arms around her.
"Shh. It's ok Katniss," he said and kissed her head.
"Plutarch is there. He's a genius. He'll fix the damage. He has a way of getting into Snow's head. But he can't make the changes to the Victory Tour. It's out of his hands," Haymitch said. He took a flask out of his jacket pocket and took a swig.
"After the interview, you'll go to the party, hang out with the Victor's again. Wave goodbye and go to the next District, and do it all over again," Haymitch said, scrubbing his face.
"But he'll see us all together. He'll know something's up," Peeta argued.
"Not when none of you go off camera. You'll be in front of the cameras the entire time. There's nothing to plan. No rebellion talk. And you won't call them on the phone. And he'll know this,"
"Haymitch this isn't gonna be two weeks long," Peeta said.
"If everything goes smoothly, we leave District 12 on day 1, and we come back to District 12 for the party…on day 51," Haymitch said glumly.
"How the hell am I supposed to put up an act for that long? I can't do that," Katniss cried.
"Sweetheart we don't have any other choice. There aren't any cameras on the train. Just the microphones. Just don't talk about any of this stuff. We can make our plans about what to do to convince Snow that you're calming the Districts, and that you're in love. I'll give you pep talks every day. We'll fight with how you don't look like you're in love. We'll fight about how I think you're using Peeta and how selfish you are," Haymitch said. Katniss turned her head down and Peeta made a face at him.
"Haymitch come on," Peeta said.
"I don't really think that. I didn't even think that back then," Haymitch said. Katniss scoffed and scooted away from Peeta. Peeta glared at Haymitch.
"Listen. I know you had to pretend to be in love to save him. But when we were on the train, I started figuring it out that you did have feelings for him. You're the one that just had no idea," Haymitch laughed. Katniss turned and scoffed at him again for laughing at her.
"I'm serious. We just need to have those fights. Even you two should have them. I don't want you to always be nice to him. I want you to do exactly what you just did. Move away from him. Run away sometimes and slam the door. I don't want Snow to know to soon that you do care for him. We can't risk that," Haymitch said. Peeta put his head down.
"He's right Katniss," Peeta said.
"How am I supposed to preform for 51 days? I can't do that. I can't even go a few weeks without…" she trailed off again and turned her head. She was fighting the tears that were threatening to fall down her face. Peeta ignored her protest and pulled her to him.
"Listen. You hate public displays of affection. And when you're trying too hard, you're terrible at it. You're going to be awkward. That's perfect. And then when the Districts start acting up, wanting you to tell them the truth, doing Rue's whistle. You're going to have the same reaction. It's all very real. You can act natural. So, you're going to be fine," Haymitch told her while Peeta sighed.
"With the other Victor's, you're going to have to act a little. Pretend you like them to their faces. Don't get too close to Finnick, even though he's going to be all over you flirting. And get irritated with Johanna because she'll be all over Peeta. And then when we get back to the train, you complain about them. I'll coach you every step of the way," Haymitch told her.
"What if I don't sleep?" she asked softly.
"I got that covered as well. Effie got ahold of some more sleeping pills. But she doesn't have much. So, we have to be careful how often we use them. We don't have enough for both of you the whole time," Haymitch said.
"So, on her bad nights. That's a good thing. You'll be able to get some sleep Katniss," Peeta told her.
"We're going to be with you every single step of the way. Effie will be right there. Cinna and Portia. And depending on which District you're in, they're gonna be there as well. You're not alone Katniss," Haymitch told her. She let out a deep breath and put her face in her hands.
"Haymitch this tour is gonna be almost two months long. When are we supposed to leave?" Peeta asked. He didn't say anything at first, but then Katniss looked up.
"Three weeks,"
After Katniss went home, Peeta went to the kitchen to bake something, anything, when Haymitch came back in. "I'm not in the mood to make you Cinnamon rolls," Peeta said. He never even saw Haymitch come right up to him and smacked his head.
"OW! What the heck was that for?" Peeta demanded.
"I warned you not to have sex with her. She has no birth control in her body. If she gets pregnant now, this will ruin everything. Snow won't be able to put any of us in the Arena if she's that pregnant. Forget the Districts, the Capitol will go after him," Haymitch told him.
"What are you talking about? We didn't have sex," Haymitch laughed and sat down at the table. "I'm serious,"
"Oh ok. So, I just imagined her moaning and you groaning and calling out each other's names," Haymitch told him. Peeta blushed furiously.
"Oh God, you heard us?" Peeta asked. Haymitch nodded.
"I can't even get her the morning after pill. There's nothing to stop her from getting pregnant,"
"Except having underwear on," Peeta said. Haymitch tilted his head in confusion. "I'm serious Haymitch. We didn't have sex. Our underwear was on the whole time,"
"Then what the hell were you two doing?" he asked. Peeta scrubbed his face.
"Come on Haymitch, don't make me say it," Peeta pleaded. Haymitch smiled then, and then laughed.
"She was moaning that loud from you dry humping her?" Haymitch laughed louder and wouldn't stop.
"Will you shut up? And don't say anything to her. What happens in my bedroom is only for me and her. It's none of your business," Peeta told him, but it only made Haymitch laugh louder.
"Get out Haymitch," Peeta told him as he pushed his shoulder. Haymitch settled down after a minute.
"I hate to break it to you. But Johanna and Finnick are gonna find out. They're gonna see it in her eyes. She'll give herself away," Haymitch smiled, and his shoulder started shaking again. "And there's nothing I can do,"
Katniss constantly thought about Peeta after that night. She was amazed by what he made her feel. How he touched her body in ways that she never made her feel. She couldn't believe that she had actually done that and loved every second of it.
Katniss wasn't one to talk about her feelings. Talk about private things. But for once, she wished she had a girl close enough to her that she could talk about what her an Peeta shared the night before.
She couldn't talk to Prim. She was too young for that. She could easily talk to Johanna, but they weren't supposed to be in contact. She couldn't talk to Effie. Madge? No, they couldn't have that type of talk.
There was no one to talk to. She had to keep it to herself. But it was all she could think about some times. What did that really mean for them? What did this change in events do for them?
She couldn't help herself as she stood in front of her full-length mirror in her room. She pulled her pajama pants off and looked at herself in just a t-shirt and panties. This was all she was wearing that night. She looked at her legs and turned a little. Was she pretty enough for him?
She turned to see her backside and could remember what Peeta's hand felt like there. She had been so nervous to let him touch her there, but she lost all her coherent thoughts that night. She turned and imagined his hands running up and down her legs. And then looked at the spot where Peeta had placed his hand on her thigh and hip the next morning.
Peeta touching her, and giving her an orgasm was now all she could think about as she went to bed that night.
It had been like a bomb had been set off. Each day closer to the Victory Tour, was a day closer that Snow would be in her house. She was scared out of her mind. She didn't know how she was supposed to face him.
She had a hard time sleeping. She had stayed in her bed the first night. Her mom and Prim didn't know that she hadn't slept. She went hunting with Rory the next morning. No big deal. The next night she stayed in her room again. Went hunting with Rory the next morning. She had been avoiding her mom and sister, so they didn't see it.
On the third night of no sleeping, she said she didn't sleep well, and that she wasn't going to go hunting with Gale. She wanted the day off. She pretended to be sleeping the few times that Prim and her mom would check on her.
After the fourth night of this, Prim had just left for school. Her mother had left a little bit ago. Peeta was waiting to see if Katniss was going to go hunting. But Rory came over and knocked on the door. And he just knew. He pressed his watch as Rory walked inside of the house. Her mother came up the sidewalk and ran in with Prim right behind her.
"What's wrong with her now Peeta?" the rebel answered.
"I don't know but just turn all the mics off," Peeta said. He waited a moment and heard a knock on his door. He opened it and saw it was Prim and he stepped out. He looked over and saw Rory knocking on Haymitch's door.
"Go wake him up. Don't let Rory do it. Haymitch will slice him with the knife," Peeta told her. Prim didn't have to say anything. He walked over to Katniss' house and walked in. Katniss was sitting in the rocking chair facing the fireplace. His body went ice cold. This is exactly what he saw when he walked into her house…and she killed herself. He gulped and walked slowly over to her.
She was just staring at the fire. But she was shaking, and her eyes were swollen and bloodshot, with tears streaming down her face. She had dark circles under her eyes. But she didn't have a knife or scissors.
Haymitch came in a moment later with Prim and Rory right behind him. Haymitch stopped in his tracks as well. Seeing the memory in front of his eyes. Peeta and Haymitch stared at each other for a moment.
"She didn't meet me this morning. So, I went and told my mom I was gonna look for her," Rory said.
"Hazelle was on her way to meet Prim and ran into me first," Emily said.
"She's gonna be ok. I'll get her up to bed to sleep. You know she's always better once she sleeps. You two should go to school," Peeta said.
"I'll go with you. She hasn't taken a bath either," Prim said. Peeta knew she was right.
"Prim just stay with her till she gets out of the bath, then go back to school," Emily said. Peeta saw her wipe a tear away.
Peeta felt bad for her. She never could get through to Katniss. Not the way he could. Not the way Haymitch could. Or Prim, Finnick, Johanna, Cinna, or even Gale. He knew she always felt helpless, and guilty. Haymitch must have sensed it to because he put a hand on her shoulder.
"You know we'll take care of her. She doesn't like you to see her like this. Either of you," Haymitch to her and Prim. Prim nodded her head, but she was the only one that Katniss would allow to give her a bath.
Peeta stepped forward and knelt in front of her. "Katniss," Peeta called. Her lips quivered and more tears fell. Peeta brushed them away with his thumb and held her face in his hands.
"Katniss. It's Peeta. I'm right here," Peeta said. Haymitch turned back to the others.
"Head on out. Prim go hang out upstairs," Haymitch told them softly. They all nodded and went their separate ways.
"Katniss. Can you hear me? It's Peeta. Come back to me," Peeta told her softly. Katniss' eyes slowly started to focus on him, and he knew right away when she came to and smiled at her.
"Welcome back sweetheart," Peeta said. He took her hands and kissed them.
"Snow's coming to my house," she choked out. Peeta smoothed her hair down and cupped her cheek.
"He is Katniss. But I need you to focus on coming upstairs with me. Prim's gonna give you a bath, and then we're gonna lay down and go to sleep," Peeta told her. She started crying and he wrapped his arms around her. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck while she cried.
"I know Katniss. I know sweetheart. It's all gonna be over soon. I just need to take you upstairs ok. Let me help you up there," Peeta said as he pulled back and then helped her stand up. Haymitch followed them up the stairs and down the hall to the bathroom. Prim took over and shut the door.
Peeta and Haymitch just slid down against the wall.
"It's always the same. She doesn't sleep. We get her to the bathtub and then get her to bed to let her sleep," Peeta said and scrubbed his face. "She needs to sleep the night before he gets here. Otherwise…" he trailed off.
"Otherwise, we're screwed," Haymitch said. He shook his head.
"We'll make sure she gets some sleep the night before," Haymitch promised him.
After Prim had given Katniss a bath, Peeta laid down with her to go to sleep. She slept for 24 hours. After that they decided. Prim was going to be sleeping with her every night. To make sure she slept. Every night Katniss woke her up with nightmares, but Prim was there to calm her.
The day before the Victory Tour, Peeta waved Katniss over to his house when she stepped onto the front porch.
"Hi," she said. He smiled and kissed her and then shut the door.
"Good morning. I have something for you," Peeta said and guided her over to the piano.
"I wrote something else for you. I wanted to give it to you at the right time. I've been holding onto it for a while," Peeta said. She smiled at him.
"Thank you," she told him.
"Now I keep messing up the notes. So just ignore those parts," he laughed as
"You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be all right
You'll be all right,"
This song was louder than the last song. But it was perfect. She knew where he was going with this, just from the first verse.
"Cause when push
Comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend
'Til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees
You look up
Decide you've had enough,"
He looked right at her then.
"You get mad
You get strong
Wipe your hands
Shake it off
Then you stand,"
He was so passionate in telling her to get mad. Get strong. Then stand back up.
"Life's like a novel
With the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon
With only one way down
Take what you're given
Before it's gone Start holding on
Keep holding on,"
"Cause when push
Comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend
Till you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees
You look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad
You get strong
Wipe your hands
Shake it off
Then you stand
Yaa then you stand Every time you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place,"
This part was only music, and he looked up and smiled at her. But every time he did look up, he messed up on the music. It made them both laugh. He was reminding her to be strong. She couldn't figure out how to be what she used to be.
"Cause when push
Comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend
'Til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees
You look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad
You get strong
Wipe your hands
Shake it off
Then you stand,
He finished the rest of the song and then looked up at her. He swung his leg around, so he was straddling the bench and took both of her hands in his.
"I wrote this down for you. So, when you get those moments where you feel like you can't get out of whatever dream you're stuck in, I want you to read this. You're a strong person Katniss. You're going to keep falling. But get mad about it. Get angry," Peeta told her. She looked to her side and willed herself not to cry. It was all she ever did anymore.
"Just get angry about it. Shake off whatever's going on and stand back up. If you have to just repeat it in your head over and over again. Get mad. Get strong. Wipe your hands. Shake it off…and stand back up," Peeta told her.
The 'virus' had already started once the cold weather came. Around 300 people had 'died'. Only 9,700 to go.
The tunnels in the Seam had started being put to use, and District 13 was making their way back and forth to take in the new residents.
It wasn't a big deal yet with the Peacekeepers to monitor it. They had started out slow. There was going to be weeks here and there where the 'virus' took a lot of people. But it would slow down again.
Some of the Peacekeepers were helping, like Darius. He was making sure that these families made it to the tunnels safely. Last time he had gotten in trouble. He was taken to the Capitol, had his tongue cut out, turned into an Avox and then was murdered, right in front of Peeta.
The night before around midnight, Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch snuck out of their houses and went to one of the houses in the Seam that had the tunnel's.
They went through everything. Every detail of what they had to do. They made a plan that every time they stopped to refuel, they'd get off the train and talk. They were coached on how to act on the train. How to act at the parades, and when they give their speeches. How to interact with the other Victors. It was intense, but they got it down. And worst of all, her friendly little meeting with President Snow.
That was partly the reason why they went out to the house. Once Haymitch left, Peeta and Katniss went and laid on the bed. Katniss needed sleep, and the only way she would sleep is if Peeta was there.
So, they laid on the little bed. Peeta was surprised that she actually slept, but she did. Their watches vibrated to wake them up. They kissed goodbye, and went their separate ways, sneaking back home. Katniss got up a couple hours later and went into the woods like she was supposed to. She waited on the rocks for Gale.
"Hey. You doing ok?" he asked her as he sat down. She was shaking. "The stupid tour is gonna be over before you know it. And the meeting with Snow will only take a few minutes. You can do this you know," Gale said. She shook her head.
"I can't. I can't do this. Why don't we just run away? We should have done it in the first place. We never should have stayed. We can run to District 13. We can hide in the tunnels. They'll never find us," she said frantically. Gale grabbed her shoulders.
"Hey, hey, hey stop it. We're not running. You're not running. Katniss you can do this," Gale said, but she was shaking her head.
"I'm not going back in there," she said as she stared at the path towards the fence.
"Katniss do not let him win. If you don't go back, he is going to kill everyone. Your mom, your sister. My family, Haymitch. Peeta and his family. You don't get to change your mind. Whether you want to or not you're going back. You're gonna have that damn meeting and it'll all be over in a few minutes. You can do this. I know you can," Gale said. She hugged him tightly as shook.
"Come on Katniss. Let's go show him who's really in control," he whispered. She needed her mind to focus on something. Anything as he walked with her to the fence.
"Are you still angry with me?" she whispered. He looked down at her while they walked.
"I'm not mad. I was never angry with you," he told her. That wasn't the right question. What she wanted to ask was…Are you still in love with me? But how could she ask him that.
"I hurt you. Especially when we came back. Me choosing…" she trailed off. Gale knew Peeta's name. She didn't have to say it. She heard Gale take a deep breath.
"I'm not angry…I was devastated. But once we came back here…and I finally know how you feel. It's just gonna take some time to not let it hurt so much. It is taking time…but it's ok," Gale admitted.
"I miss my best friend," Katniss whispered. Gale looked down at her, and then stopped.
"I miss what we used to have, every day," he said and stared at her. Back when life was simpler. "I'd do anything to have my best friend back," Gale said. She leaned forward and hugged him tightly. He stayed close to her, until they had to go their separate ways.
"You're gonna be ok Katniss. I believe in you," he said and kissed her forehead. She was sure a camera caught it. To Snow, it would look romantic. But to them, it was the truth. It was friendship.
She felt like she was walking to her death. She did what she was supposed to. She walked into Haymitch's house and threw water on him. She told him if he wanted to be babied, he should have asked Peeta to wake him up.
"Asked me what?" Peeta asked as he stepped into the dining room with a loaf of bread.
"Wake me up without giving me pneumonia. You are a strangely dislikable person," Haymitch griped as she put the white liquor on the table. "But you do have your virtues,"
Peeta placed the loaf of bread down on the table and went over and hugged Katniss tightly.
"Would you like some bread Katniss?" Peeta asked, quietly kissing her cheek. Katniss continued to shake.
"No, I ate at the Hob. But thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Peeta told her.
"Brrr. You two have a lot of warming up to do before showtime," Haymitch told them. He reached over and grabbed Katniss' hand and squeezed it. She looked between the two of them.
"Which is in an hour. So, take a bath Haymitch," Katniss told him.
"I just did," he said. He turned a piece of paper around on the table.
Breathe. We know you can do this. So, go prove us right. Cinna and Effie will be there in less than 15 minutes.
She looked at them and nodded. Haymitch squeezed her hand tightly, and Peeta quietly kissed her again, and she walked out of the house.
"You think she'll be ok?" Peeta whispered very quietly. Haymitch nodded his head. Peeta watched her out the window, worrying.
Katniss walked into the house. She could do this. It will only be a few minutes. "Did you have a nice walk dear?" her mother called out. Katniss looked up and took off her boots.
"Yeah, I did," Katniss said.
"Mrs. Everdeen," one of the guards said. "This way please," he said. Prim squeezed her hand tightly as she walked down the hall. She couldn't stop from shaking. She was being weak. There was President Snow. Looking at his holograph TV. From when she and Peeta almost ate the berries.
"Such bravery. Such spirit. Such, contempt," he said bitterly.
"President Snow. What an honor," she squeaked out the last word. She cleared her throat as she walked to the chair.
"My dear. I think we can make this so much simpler, if we agree not to lie to each other," he said. His voice scared her to the core.
"Yes, I think that would save time," she said as she sat down.
"I have a problem Mrs. Everdeen," he said, leaning forward. She stopped breathing. The horrible smell of blood and roses. "A problem that began the moment you pulled out those poisonous berries in the arena,"
Katniss gulped. How much longer? She was trying not to throw up. From nerves, and the smell.
"If that Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane had any brains at all, he would have blown you to bits then and there. But he had an unfortunate sentimental streak. And here you are. I expect you can guess where he is?" Snow asked. Please let this be over. Please let this be over.
"Yes, I think so," she whispered.
"After that fiasco there was nothing left to do but let you play out your little scenario. And you were very good," he said, smiling. "That whole love-crazed besotted school routine. Impressive. Truly," he said nodding his head. "You convinced the people in the Capitol," he said. Well, Snow had to hand her that one. It was impressive. He was actually giving her kudos.
"Unfortunately, not everyone in the Districts fell for your act," he said dangerously. Her whole body went cold. Wasn't there a fire burning?
"You can't know this, but in several of them, people viewed your little trick with the berries as an act of defiance. Not, an act of love," Snow said. It showed how much he knew. It was an act of love. She was in love with him. During their first Games she was in love. That's why she tried so damn hard to save him.
"And if a girl from District 12, of all places, can defy the Capitol and walk away unharmed, what is to prevent them from doing the same?" Snow asked, his voice raising. "What is to prevent say, and uprising?" she felt herself shaking more.
"Uprisings have been known to lead to Revolutions. And then in a matter of time, the whole system collapses," It was her turn to speak. She took a deep breath.
"It must be a fragile system if it can be taken down by just a handful of berries," he smiled at her.
"Yes, it is indeed. But not in the way you imagine,"
"How should I imagine it?" she asked quickly. His response made her angry, because what he describes, did come to pass. Just like he said it would.
"Thousands upon thousands of your people dead," she tuned out there. She already knew what he said. He warned her. Right there! He warned of what he had planned on doing. She willed herself not to throw up. She worried that she might. Had she just done what he said right here! None of this wouldn't have happened.
"You fought very valiantly in the Games, Mrs. Everdeen. But those were Games. Would you like to be in a real war?"
"No," she answered before she could even get the sentence out.
"Good. Neither do I,"
"I didn't mean to start any uprisings. I didn't mean anything to come from the berries," she whispered. She couldn't stop the tear that fell, and she violently brushed it away. God, keep it together.
"You know what Mrs. Everdeen. I believe you," he told her sincerely. She gulped and willed herself not to vomit. "I believe that you act before you think. You volunteered for your sister before you thought about what that meant. You sang to Rue, placed her in flowers, and did your District 12 hand signal, without knowing that you were defying the Capitol. And I believe that you wanted Peeta to come home with you and you pulled out the berries to make sure he did so, without thinking about the consequences…so yes Mrs. Everdeen, I believe that you didn't mean to start an uprising," he told her. He hadn't said any of that last time. It was because she showed weakness. He chuckled.
"It doesn't matter now. Your stylist turned out to be prophetic in his wardrobe choice. The Girl who was on Fire. You provided a spark that, left unattended, may grow to an inferno that destroys Panem,"
"Why don't you just kill me now?" he chuckled.
"No, I don't want to kill you. I want us to be friends. If not friends, then allies," he picked up the cookie and examined it. "Did your mother make these?" she shook her head.
"Peeta," she answered. He sat back and smiled.
"Oh, he's a lovely boy," Snow said, like he was having a fun, happy conversation with a friend. He leaned on the desk again. "Tell me. At what point did he realize your…depth, to your indifference towards him?"
"I'm not indifferent,"
"DON'T LIE! You promised,"
"What do you want me to do?" she asked, putting her head down.
"When you and Peeta are on tour, you need to smile. You need to be grateful to the Capitol. And above all, you need to be madly in love and willing to end it all in love. You need to be in love,"
"I'll be the same on tour as I was in the Games, and when we won. Just like I was,"
"Just as you are," Snow corrected. She nodded her head.
"Just as I am," she choked out. But you are in love with Peeta. And Peeta knows that. You know that. Snow doesn't know that. Not yet.
"You'll have to do much better than just being in love, if the uprisings are to be averted. This tour, Mrs. Everdeen, is your only chance to turn things around," he told her. This is almost over. Just get through the last minute.
"I'll show everyone that I wasn't trying to defy the Capitol. I was just in love. I'll convince them,"
"Aim higher," he snapped. "Convince me," he smiled. He pulled out a white rose.
"For you, Mrs. Everdeen," he said, and stood back up. "How is the handsome cousin?" he asked. She couldn't speak. She just couldn't anymore. Not if she was pushing the bile that was now in her mouth, back down into her stomach. He laughed.
"Him I can easily kill off. You aren't doing him any favors by sneaking away with him every Sunday to go hunting. I only care about how it effects the dynamic with Peeta. Thereby effecting the mood in the Districts,"
"Please don't kill Gale. He did nothing wrong. He's my best friend. He's been my best friend for years. Everyone thinks he's my cousin. And he won't affect anything with Peeta," she rambled. God shut your mouth. She didn't want Peeta or Gale to die. Snow chuckled.
"Do convince me, Mrs. Everdeen. Because I know all about the kissing," Snow said, and turned to holograph back in to see Gale and I kissing. It switched to the other kiss. "Do convince me Mrs. Everdeen. For the sake of your loved ones," Snow says, and then leaves.
She had to get out of the room. She was being suffocated by the smell. She stood up and walked out and walked to the front door. Prim and her mother hugged her tightly.
"It's ok Katniss. He's gone now," her mother whispered so the microphones didn't pick it up. She squeezed her tightly, trying to stop the shaking.
"You got through it. It's ok now. You won't be that close to him for a really long time now," Prim reminded her.
"Effie and Cinna will be here any moment," her mother said. The door opened, but it wasn't Effie. It was Haymitch. They let her go and she jumped into Haymitch's arms, burying her face in his chest. He held on tightly to her.
"You're ok now. It's over. Your prep team knows nothing, so I need you to calm down. We're all with you now," He whispered to her.
"The rose. Get the rose out of here," she gritted through her teeth. He pulled back and looked at her.
"He gave you one?" he asked. She nodded her head as the door flew open, with Effie bursting through.
"MY VICTOR!" She yelled loudly. Haymitch let her go to throw the rose away. She hugged Katniss tightly to her.
"Keep your head up high my darling girl," she whispered. Katniss took comfort in her and buried her face in her neck. "You're with us now," she whispered. It brough tears to her eyes. Effie rubbed her back on more time and stepped back.
"Oh, my dear girl please don't cry. I'm right here with you once again. We're going to be having a FABOULOUS time," she cheered and clapped her hands. Flavius steps up first.
"Sweetie we've missed you," he rushed out, kissing bother her cheeks, as did Venia and Octavia. They went crazy about her hair and nails and everything about her body.
And then, Cinna walks in. She couldn't help it. She flung herself into his arms, crying. Her prep team awes in such a sweet sentiment. Effie sends them off to her bedroom to set up all their things.
"It's ok. You're ok. You got through the hardest part," Cinna whispered to her. He made Katniss stand up straight and he wiped her tears.
"My darling girl," Effie said. Katniss turned to her. "There is no reason to cry. You're going to be with us for 51 days straight. We'll be together, with Peeta and Portia," she said loudly and took one of hands in her own.
"And Haymitch," she griped. "And we'll all be here for you. I know you'll miss your sister and your mother, but don't fret. We're all right…here…for…you," Effie said. Nothing she said could be misconstrued. But the meaning to them was clear. Haymitch and Cinna nodded their heads. Cinna nudged her shoulder.
"Upstairs, you ugly, worthless thing," Cinna joked. "I'll get everything set up. All the clothes that you designed. And read these note cards. Effie can come up there and quiz you on them. Because I suspect you still haven't read anything I've sent you," Cinna said. She shook her head, and he rolled his eyes.
"Figures. You never learn," Cinna said.
"How did you have time to make all my clothes, my clothes, and design clothes to sell?" she asked. Cinna laughed.
"Me and Portia make a great team. Now, study those cards and for once, act like you care!
Peeta's prep barely takes long at all, which is a relief. So, he spends time with Portia, while his prep team is gorging on the food Peeta laid out for them. He did it to distract them. They walked outside so he could show her what was left of the garden, and the chicken coup.
"How are you?" Portia asked.
"Worn out. And tired. Really tired," Peeta said warily.
"She's not doing too well, is she?" she asked. Peeta shook his head no.
"Me and Haymitch think she might have an easier time on tour. She goes days without sleeping, and then just goes somewhere…mentally that's just…Portia it's just not healthy. She scares me. She was waving a knife around, screaming for Prim to hide one time. She ran into my house with a knife and hid in my room. Then she was just sitting in the rocking chair…" he trailed off. She rubbed his back.
"I thought she was gonna kill herself," Peeta whispered. He scrubbed his face. "I'm the only one that can get through to her when she's like this. But what if one time I can't? What if she just fades out during the tour? Or in the arena? Or in the Capitol when we're in the sewer- "Portia made him stop.
"Peeta you can't think like that. If you start doubting her, she's going to know. You need to stay strong for the both of you," Portia said.
"Hey," they turned and Haymitch came over to them. He had to come over because Peeta's prep team was going to get him ready as well.
"How is she? How'd she do?" Peeta frantically ask.
"I don't know exactly what happened with Snow. But she's ok. She's really shaken up. But they're all keeping an eye on here. And that damn prep team is entertaining her," Haymitch said, rolling his eyes.
"But she's ok?" Peeta asked. Haymitch nodded.
"She'll be ok. We'll all make sure of that," Haymitch said looking at Portia.
"We have her back. We'll all be with her. We're a team," Portia told him.
He finally sees her when Haymitch annoyingly shoves him out his door. He sees Katniss. It takes a moment but then she smiles and walks faster to him. He can tell she's not fully herself. She ran to him last time.
They meet in the middle to hug and fall. He hears Caesar laughing, and Katniss leans down and kisses him. It's a stage kiss. She HATES anyone seeing her kiss Peeta. Caesar clears his throat.
"Sorry Caesar," she says as she helps Peeta stand and then cuddles up to him. He feels her slightly shaking, so he tightens his arm around her.
"So, how's it going?" Caesar asked. His response had to be a little better this time.
"Things are good Caesar," he said and looked at Katniss. "They're really good," he said and turned back to the camera.
"We've been really good Caesar. Happy to be home. I still sometimes think we're still in the Games," he chuckles, with Katniss giggling with him. God the giggling sounds so fake. How did the Capitol citizens not see that? And in the Games? Again, why would being back in the Games be a good thing? They think he means because of their love story.
"That's all? Peeta give me some details! Is Mrs. Everdeen allowing you to be Katniss' boyfriend? Or is Haymitch chasing you around trying to keep you separated?" Caesar joked. Katniss covered her face in embarrassment and hid in his shoulder. Peeta laughed.
"Mrs. Everdeen and I have come to an understanding. I know my place. And Haymitch is always following us around," Peeta joked.
"Now, those picnics with Haymitch? Practical jokes on Haymitch? Tell me everything," Caesar said. Katniss and Peeta laughed.
"Well, Haymitch refuses to go on picnics with us. We're apparently too annoying for him. But I don't think he liked it when Katniss nailed his windows shut when it was really hot outside," Peeta joked, making Katniss laugh.
"Or when Peeta let all of Prim's chickens loose in his house," Katniss said. Caesar laughed loudly.
"You two didn't? Oh, that poor man. I don't think his life as your mentor is ever going to end," Caesar joked. "Katniss how are things with you?" he asked her. She gulped.
"Things are great here in 12. Thanks to the generosity of the Capitol, we've never been closer,"
"Yeah 25 yards to be exact," making Caesar laugh.
"Fantastic. We'll be checking in with you frequently on this AMAZING VICTOY TOUR! We're all so excited that this tour is bigger, and better for my two favorite Victors. The Victors on FIRE!" Caesar laughed and then said his goodbyes. But Snow was still watching.
"Nice acting," Peeta said sadly.
"You to,"
"I almost thought that kiss was real. But I'm not Gale," Peeta said sadly and then walked away, leaving Katniss standing there. Haymitch shook his head as he walked by her. Just like they planned. Cinna put his arm around her.
"Come on, let's go,"
Everyone went to the train station to see them off, except for Gale. They planned that as well. All the hugs and goodbyes, and then they were on the train. Katniss and Peeta looked at each other, and then went their separate ways.
They had planned for this to happen. They had a specific plan that they had to stick to. All of them. They avoided each other the first day. Later that night when the train stopped to refuel, Katniss grabbed Haymitch, and they went out to talk. Just like last time. Snow would know that she's finally telling Haymitch about their little talk.
"How'd it really go?" Haymitch asked.
"I couldn't help it. He saw me cry," Katniss said.
"That's ok. Crying can't make anything worse,"
"He knows I'm weak," Katniss told him, starting to get worked up. Haymitch scoffed at her comment.
"Katniss, who the hell told you you're weak?" Haymitch asked her. Katniss didn't say anything. "Yes, you're having a..a…a mental breakdown. We all know it. But the Games did this to you. The war did this to you. The death of your friends and family, did this to you. And Peeta getting hijacked did this to you. But none of it means you're weak. I've seen you at your lowest point, and I still don't see you as weak!" Haymitch practically yelled at her.
"I'm not gonna blow smoke up your ass. You know that. I always tell you the truth. No matter how much you hate me for it. I'll never spare your feelings. So, listen to me," he told her as he grabbed her shoulders and got right into her face.
"You're not weak. You're falling, but you keep getting back up. Even if it's just for a little while. But you keep doing it. You standing here right now, proves that you're not weak. So, stop fucking telling yourself that you're weak. Because none of us think that about you. We're right here for you," Haymitch told her. She felt another tear slide down her cheek, for the millionth time. Haymitch let go of her shoulders and wiped her tear.
"When you feel like you can't get up, grab onto one of us. It doesn't matter. On this tour, if you can't hold onto Peeta, then you have me. You have Cinna and Effie and Portia. And if for some reason we're not around, you can grab onto those damn Capitol fools," Haymitch joked, meaning her prep team.
"Grab onto us, and we'll carry you," Haymitch said. She hugged him again. "Let's get back inside sweetheart. It's fucking cold," Haymitch said. They got back into the train, and she went back to her room. She didn't sleep though. How could she?
She hadn't seen Peeta on the train since they got onto it. She had to wait until she had nightmares for Peeta. She probably would have one tonight, but he was on strict orders not to go towards her side of the train.
The next morning, Katniss had to wake up earlier then everyone else so her prep team could get her ready. It was absolutely ridiculous. She finally got to the breakfast table, and she finally say Peeta. There were no cameras, so she could smile at him. He squeezed her hand as she walked by to go around the table to sit down.
Effie was going on and on about the schedule and how she has all these spa treatments and massages. Haymitch was mocking her.
"Did you sleep?" Cinna asked softly. Katniss shook her head.
"Not really. I dozed here and there," Katniss thought that was an improvement.
When the train broke down again, Haymitch gave her a nod. Effie went on and on about schedules, and how we needed to be in District 11 at a certain time for the parade. How her two Victors deserved better treatment. How they deserved everything. They've earned it. Haymitch nodded again to her.
"NOBODY CARES EFFIE!" Katniss yelled. "Well, no one does care! And how can you say we earned this? We're here because we killed people," Katniss slammed her hands on the table and then walked to the end of the train. They all sat silent for a moment.
"She's always so bitchy," Haymitch said and looked at Peeta. "Why do you like that?" Haymitch asked, pointing towards the door that Katniss went through.
"Shut up Haymitch," he said and followed her.
"I'm really not in the mood for a lecture. I'll apologize to Effie later,"
"I'll keep it brief," Peeta said as he was walking in. Katniss looked over at him.
"I thought you were Haymitch," she said as he sat down. He took her hand in his.
"Having a bad day?" he asked.
"It's nothing," he brushed some hair back from her forehead.
"You don't have to apologize to anyone. Including me," he said. She looked down at their hands. "I knew even before the Games started. I knew you had something with Gale. I've always been jealous. I had no right to be upset that you were kissing him," she felt it in her eyes. She could hear the real conversation in her head. It broke her heart, that she hurt him so badly last time.
"And I know it's not fair of me to hold you to anything you said or did in the Games. You saved us. And I know that," he said. He scooted closer to her and rubbed her shoulder.
"But I can't go on acting for the cameras. I can't do that anymore and just ignoring each other in real life. So, if you can stop looking at me like I'm wounded, then I can quit acting like it. And then maybe, we have a shot at being friends,"
"I've never really been good at being friends,"
"For starters it helps when you know the person. I hardly know anything about you, except that you're stubborn and good with a bow,"
"That about sums me up,"
"No there's more then that you just don't want to tell me. And I know you'd risk your life to save mine. But that's pretty much it,"
"It's like I said- "
"You see Katniss, the way the whole friend thing works is, you have to tell each other the deep stuff,"
"The deep stuff,"
"Yeah,"
"Uh oh like what?"
"Like…what's your favorite color?"
"Oh, you've stepped over the line," she said. She smiled and chuckled.
"Seriously though what is it?" she smiled back at him.
"Green. What's yours?"
"Orange,"
"Like Effie's hair?" he snorted.
"No, not that orange. Muted. Soft. Like a sunset," he said. She smiled at him. He leaned his elbow on the back of the couch and pushed her hair back from her face.
"You know, everyone's been raving about your paintings. I feel bad I haven't seen them," she said. He stood up, pulling with him and hugged her.
"Come on then. I have a whole car full of them," he said and quietly kissed her cheek.
"I have to apologize to Effie first,"
"Don't be afraid to lay it on real thick," he joked. He pulled her back towards the Dining Cart to apologize. It was a fake one of course. All for the microphones. This was going to be a hard month in a half. Effie hugged her though and gave her a thumbs up.
They went into the car that had all of his paintings. She still had a hard time looking at the paintings from the Games. She told them that she hated them because they were all of the Games.
"Not all of them were from the Games," Peeta said, and pulled out some more. These one's were of her. Her heart stopped. He took so much time and care to paint her. How could Peeta love her so much. She just never understood it. She was speechless, and he just stood there smiling.
"You paint so beautifully," she told him truthfully. He showed her different one's that he had. Prim playing with the chickens. Katniss and Prim working in the garden. Katniss sitting on her front porch, holding a mug in her hand. They were amazing and she hugged him.
"Want to see my talent? Cinna worked really hard on them," Katniss asked. Peeta laughed.
"Later. Let's go back and look at District 11. We should be starting to pull into it," Peeta said and directed her all the way back to the train again. They watch as the enter District 11. Katniss shakes her head. She wonders if the fence ended up coming down after the war.
"I want Peeta to give the same speech in 11. Then I want you to come up and give your speech. I have no idea if Thresh and Rue's families remember. We don't know how many people in 11 remember. But you go out there like they don't," Haymitch told them. Haymitch leaned forward and grabbed Katniss' hand.
"You just speak from your heart. That's what made your speech beautiful. Because it was honest. If you have to throw in a few more things, then do it,"
"What about the man who was shot? I won't let that happen again," Katniss said frantically. But Haymitch sat back and smiled.
"That sweetheart, is already taken care of. He's not the one who will be whistling. Another man is. And when he gets brought up to the stage, a Peacekeeper will shoot him…or will he?" Haymitch said. Katniss and Peeta looked at each other.
"We've put in place a nifty plan. District 11's Peacekeepers on the stage are going to be ours. So, we'll bring the man up that whistled, and he'll be shot. But he won't really be. Beetee, the amazing man that he is, built a gun that's only for looks and sound effects. It'll sound like a real gun, look like a real gun. But it's not. The guy will have something on his scalp. The Peacekeeper triggers it by 'shooting' the gun. The, whatever the hell it is on his scalp basically explodes and looks like he was shot," Haymitch said.
Peeta looked over and smiled at her. Katniss was in awe.
"That's amazing," Peeta said and kissed her forehead.
"It doesn't even sound real," Peeta said. Haymitch nodded in agreement.
"When someone's executed, the families don't get their bodies back. So, the Peacekeepers will take him to 'dispose' of him. But they'll be sending him into hiding, until District 13 picks him up," Haymitch said. Smiling brightly.
Thank God for that. The man will be saved. They were whisked away to get ready, and before they knew it the train doors were opening. No one was there to meet them except Peacekeepers. They were driven to the start of the parade. They were all to sit in cars with no roofs. She thought she heard them say convertibles.
Their Prep teams went in the first two cars. Then Cinna and Portia in one car. Then it was Effie. Then Haymitch. And then last, her and Peeta.
They smiled and waved. District 11 residents lined the street to watch them, and just clapped for them. Some waved, but there was no cheering. They were grateful for Katniss and Peeta, but they couldn't celebrate two of their own dying. So, Katniss didn't give 'the beauty pageant wave' as Effie called it. She gave them a real wave. Not a big smile, her smile. District 11 always deserved the truth from her.
"That was the dumbest thing I've ever had to do. Eleven more freaken districts. I didn't win the damn 74th Games. And I'm stuck waving to everyone," Haymitch complained to Cinna, who just laughed.
"I'm sure they loved your cheery disposition," Cinna joked. They were led into the Justice Building again. The mayor made his speech, Peeta and Katniss came out. Purposely not holding hands. Haymitch came out and stood on the side of him.
Peeta started his speech, without the cards. It was the same as before, except in the middle.
"Neither of us would be here today, if it weren't for these two beautiful, strong, kids," Peeta said. Katniss knew her purposely said kids. That's what they were. They were all kids.
"Never does a day go by, that Katniss and I don't think of Thresh and Rue. We think of them during the day and see them when we dream. We will always remember your children. They will never be forgotten. Our only regret is that we didn't know them outside of the Games. And we never had a real chance to be friends with them," Peeta said, and then finished his speech, ending with giving them the money. He looked to Katniss, and she took a deep breath and then stepped forward.
"I didn't know Thresh. I only spoke to him once. He could have killed me. But instead, he showed me mercy. That's a debt that I can never repay…I respected him from the day that we started training. For his power. For his strength. For his kindness towards Rue," she said, getting a little choked up.
"One of the Careers started hitting another Tribute in training, because he thought the tribute stole his knife. But Thresh looked up, and I followed his gaze. Rue was the one who stole his knife and climbed up to the ceiling. He laughed and shook his head. He would have protected her," she cleared her throat.
"I respected him for his refusal to play the Games on anyone's terms but his own. The Careers wanted him to team up with them, but he wouldn't do it. He didn't let the Games change him. He didn't let the Games own him…You raised a wonderful young man," Katniss said, a tear falling down her cheek. She hoped his grandmother lived long enough to see him in the next year. She turned to Rue's family next.
"I feel like I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally in the Games. She was my friend. She'll always be with me. I see her in everything beautiful. I see her in flowers that grow in the meadow by my house. I see her in the mockingjays, and I hear her song. I see her flying from tree to tree. But most of all I see her in my sister Prim," she took a deep breath as she watched Rue's mother cry.
"She was too young…too gentle…and I couldn't save her," she looked towards Thresh's family. "We couldn't save either of them. And I'm so sorry," she choked up again. Peeta put her hand on her back.
"I know the bread was for Rue and Thresh…but thank you for sending them to me. I know what it cost for you all to send it. And I was very grateful," Katniss told them.
Peeta stepped up to her side and threw his arm around her shoulder. Haymitch also stood next to Katniss, shoulder to shoulder as she heard the whistle. More tears fell as she watched everyone kiss their fingers and raise their hands in District 12's sign. They didn't plan it, but both Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch, kissed their fingers and raised them as well.
Katniss looked down and saw the old man. He was smiling. Katniss gasped and covered her mouth as she let out a sob. Peeta and Haymitch saw him at the same time. But then the Peacekeepers started going through the crowd to grab the new man who whistled.
Katniss flew off the stage quicker this time, almost avoiding Peacekeepers to scream at them to leave the man alone. Peeta this time had jumped off the stage as well, trying to block the Peacekeeper from hurting Katniss.
"She'll go back inside alright. Don't touch her!" Peeta yelled at him. But they were all ushered off stage as the man was brought up. Katniss was screaming, and Peeta, Haymitch and Cinna had to yank her back. The doors closed, but not in enough time to avoid seeing the man get executed.
Katniss had been slammed to the floor when they yanked her in, so she jumped up again, and Haymitch grabbed her.
"Come over here. And shut up!" he ordered her. Her, Haymitch and Peeta went running up to that dome room as they did before. Peeta grabbed onto Katniss and hugged her.
"Oh God," she cried.
"Sweetheart you did perfect. You were perfect out there. This is what you were supposed to do today. And you were perfect," Haymitch praised her. She was hyperventilating. Peeta pulled her back and held her face. He knew why of course. She was reliving through this again.
"Katniss you need to calm down ok. You need to breathe. Everything is ok," Peeta said soothingly.
"We got through it Katniss. Now we're going to have a small party at the mayor's for lunch," Haymitch told her. Katniss slowly got her breathing back to normal. Peeta kissed her cheek.
"There you go. We did it. That was the hardest one to get through. That one's behind us now," Peeta told her.
"Did you see the old man?" Haymitch asked. Peeta nodded.
"I don't think he was in the front until they whistled. But he was standing right there with his fingers up. Smiling," he looked to Katniss. "He remembers. And he did that for you. He had no regrets for doing it last time," he said and kissed the side of her head.
"I think we're all in trouble for doing the salute back to them," Haymitch chuckled and rubbed his forehead.
"You would have thought we planned that," Peeta chuckled.
"Come on. Let's go back downstairs," Haymitch said. They were ushered to the train for a quick wardrobe change, and then sent to the mayor's house. They had a nice lunch, and then a small little gathering, or party. Whatever someone wanted to call it.
She was dreading this moment. Going to Rue's house, to spend the night. Who the hell thought of this? She knew Snow was regretting this decision. He was probably wishing to have me already on my way to District 10.
Rue's house was small. She was sure the Capitol was wondering how two adults and six children lived there. But this was nothing new to Katniss.
Rue's family were still upset but hugged both Katniss and Peeta. "It's nice to meet you," Rue's father said awkwardly. She wondered if they remembered.
The tributes families were supposed to give everyone a special dinner. Not just her and Peeta, but Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, Portia and their 6-person prep team. Rue's family had a long table outside of the house. There was no way that they could all fit in their house.
She could tell that the food was authentically District 11 food. But Rue's family didn't make it. Someone would have to work in the mines for a year to be able to afford a dinner like this. Probably longer than a year.
One of Rue's sisters sat next to Katniss and handed her something. It was a very old raggedy doll.
"That was hers. She'd want you to have it," she said. Katniss just stared at it.
"Thank you. We'll cherish this, just like we cherished your sister," Peeta said and squeezed her shoulder. Katniss turned and hugged Rue's sister.
"Thank you. I love it," Katniss whispered.
Their Prep teams went on and on about the Games. Being too stupid to understand that this family just watched their daughter be murdered. But they still thought it was an honor to be chosen for the Games.
"Oh, I nearly died when I watched Marvel catch her and trap her that net. My heart just stopped beating," Venia said dramatically.
"Oh, then he was hiding around the tree when Katniss got there. I just don't know what I would have done had Katniss not ducked," Flavius said. Rue's mother gasped and covered her mouth.
Haymitch slammed his hand on the table. Everyone stopped and looked at him.
"Now the real question of the day. Where is all the liquor? Do I really have to go back to the train to get some? I would have brought it with me had I known no one was serving it here," Haymitch said. Saving the day.
Katniss and Peeta were supposed to ask questions about Rue. The cameras were circling the table and waiting for them to start talking about Rue.
"What was Rue's favorite subject in school?" Peeta asked. Effie gave them a whole list of questions to ask, and they took turns asking. There was some conversation, but not much. After everyone had gone home, the cameras had followed them inside the house. There was just too many people. They had two bedrooms. The children all shared one.
Rue's mother cried as Rue's father showed them the room and let them know where they would be staying. There were something that resembled thin mattresses on the floor.
"The kids are sleeping with us tonight," her father said. Katniss and Peeta nodded. The camera man yelled cut.
"Alright let's get out of here. I'm starving," he said. Rue's family all looked around awkwardly. Haymitch had already warned Katniss and Peeta to be careful about what they said and did. There wasn't just microphones in the houses, but there were cameras. Snow wanted to watch them try to sleep in the dead tributes bed. Especially Rue's.
"I'm sorry about them. They have no idea what they say. And the camera man has no idea what it's like to be starving," Katniss said, embarrassed.
"We got to keep all the leftovers," one of Rue's brothers said.
"That'll last for the week," her father said happily to the kids. They would have fully bellies this week. Eat it before it went bad and enjoy it.
"Thank you for what you said," Rue's mother told them. She leaned forward and hugged Katniss and started crying. "Thank you for treating my baby so kind. Thank you for not letting her die alone," she cried. Katniss couldn't control the sob that escaped. She wanted to tell her that her daughter was alive. That she was in District 13 and waiting for her.
They stood there for a few moments, hugging until her mom pulled back and wiped her face.
"Thank you to both of you," she said and hugged Peeta as well.
"Please don't thank me. I didn't get a chance to do anything. It was all Katniss," Peeta said.
"You did more than you think Mr. Mellark," her father said, and took a step and hugged Peeta. Then he turned and hugged Katniss, and then stood back.
"Thank you to both of you, for being who you are," he told them. Then he looked at his wife. "We should let them sleep. They have to be up very early," they said their goodnights, and then Peeta and Katniss went into the bedroom. It was so small. And it looked like one of the bedrooms in the Seam.
"They don't have a bathroom here, do they?" Peeta whispered. Katniss shook her head.
"I saw their outhouse," she said and looked around. She wondered where the camera was. "I'm not changing in here. I'll just sleep in this," she said, pointing down to her clothes. Peeta nodded. There were cameras in here, so there was no way that she was going to undress in front of Snow.
"And I'm not sleeping in her bed. I'll sleep on the other one," she told him.
"Me to," he said. They walked to the other side of the room, and she laid on the other bed, while Peeta sat up against the wall.
The two of them never spoke another word, per Haymitch. Katniss dozed off here and there while Peeta dozed sitting in the corner of the room.
All to early was Effie there to take them back to the train to change. They were supposed to eat breakfast with the families in their pajamas, but with their hair and makeup done. They at least changed into their pajamas when they got back, and then pretended to wake up to eat breakfast with them.
The table was super small, and the kids ate standing up. But Rue's mother did cook it. She wanted to ask where she got the money to cook this, but hoped the Capitol paid for it. When it was time to leave, Katniss and Peeta had to change. Peeta picked up a sheet, and Katniss stood in the corner with Peeta covering her from any camera. Katniss tried to do the same for him but wasn't tall enough to cover him like he did for her. She at least was able to cover his bottom half because he could show off his chest.
They said goodbye and were given a tour of District 11. Katniss and Peeta held hands, but she was instructed to appear stiff. Like it was being forced. Well, it wasn't far from the truth.
They were in the groves looking at the citrus fruits. The one's that the residents of District 11 were never allowed to eat. That's only for the Capitol. Katniss walked off the path to where the oranges grow and looks up into the tree.
"Peeta," she called out. He stopped listening to the Tour Guide and she waved him over. Peeta eyed the Peacekeeper that was right there, watching the workers.
"Hoist me up. I want an orange," Katniss said loudly. Peeta chuckled.
"You will not climb that tree. Get back here right now Katniss Everdeen!" Effie told her as she started stomping over but having trouble because of her heels. Haymitch went and grabbed her. Cinna was laughing.
"Oh, come back before you hurt yourself," Haymitch said, exasperated. "I told you not to wear those damn heels," Haymitch said. Katniss raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Are you sure you don't want me to get it for you?" Peeta asked. Katniss smiled and shook her head. He bent down and locked his fingers together. She put her foot in his hand and he pushed her up the tree.
"KATNISS EVERDEEN! GET DOWN FROM THERE! PEETA MELLARK, YOU GET HER DOWN THIS INSTANT!" Effie screamed. Katniss hopped down with an orange, laughing. She put it on the ground and held her hands together. Peeta wasted no time and let Katniss hoist him up. Haymitch and Cinna were laughing loudly now.
Peeta tried to hop down, but he fell, taking Katniss with him. Everyone was laughing.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT! GET UP! BOTH OF YOU!" Effie yelled. Peeta helped Katniss stand up and bent down and grabbed their oranges. Katniss kissed his cheek. She hoped that got back to President Snow, and the Capitol. How in love they were.
Peeta started walking back over to the group, while Katniss hung back and peeled her orange. She took a step sideways to stand next to the Peacekeeper, and she took a big bite. She chewed it, pulled it out of her mouth and dropped it on his shoe.
"Oops," she said and walked away. Eating another piece of the orange. The camera did not catch her do that. But Haymitch did, and he glared at her. But she didn't care. She hated Peacekeepers. And she hated that they wouldn't let District 11 eat the fruits that they were growing.
Haymitch squeezed her elbow. "Don't start that shit," Haymitch warned her.
Katniss grabbed at each new piece of fruit she found. Sometimes running off the path to get something. Peeta always having to run after her. Effie yelled loudly at them. They purposely never kissed. They were supposed to, but they wanted to make Snow mad.
They were dreading that night again. Going to Thresh's house. By the time they got there, their table to was outside. Katniss and Peeta hugged Thresh's grandmother and sister. It was sickening. Katniss hoped that they remembered, because then this wouldn't hurt so much. Well, even if his family, or Rue's family remembered, would it even matter? Would they be told that Rue and Thresh were safe?
Katniss sat next to Thresh's grandmother. How could you sit next to the girl who got her son killed?
Her Prep team was at it again, with Peeta's this time. Talking all about Thresh.
"Oh, did you see him run right into the Cornucopia and grab all his things. The way he sliced that kid and just took off running. I nearly died,"
"And he stayed the whole time in the grove. I mean you have to hand it to him. No one else could have done that,"
"I nearly died when I saw them at the Feast. After he killed Clove because she killed Rue,"
"I thought I was gonna have a heart attack. I for sure thought he was going to kill Katniss,"
"I just couldn't imagine losing again. Every year District 12 loses and then we don't get to do anything else,"
The table was silent. How could they be so cruel? It was Effie who saved the day and started asking about what they had cooked. She hated this. She had to sit through 20 more of these.
She felt a hand grab her under the table. She looked at Thresh's grandmother. She just squeezed Katniss' hand.
She dreaded when everyone left again, leaving her and Peeta alone. They made small talk before the grandmother turned in early, as well as the sister.
"I can't sleep in his bed. I refuse to sleep in any of their beds," Katniss told him. He nodded his head.
"I can't stomach it either. We'll just sleep in the corners of the room," Peeta told her. They dozed on and off again, and then went back to the train to glam up and eat breakfast.
As they were saying their goodbyes, Thresh's grandmother handed her something. She looked down at the picture. It was of Thresh and Rue.
"Our families happen to be friends. He was kind to her because Rue adored him," she told Katniss. Explaining why he was kind to her. "She called him her older brother. When we said goodbye…" she trailed off and his sister wrapped her arm around her grandmothers' shoulder.
"He said he would die for her. But he couldn't fight with her. He wouldn't be the one to kill her. He couldn't feel his emotions if he was going to come back here and take care of us," she cried.
Katniss and Peeta sprang forward to hug her instantly.
"He saved us. He was such a good man. It's a debt I can never repay to him," Katniss said.
"We're so sorry for your loss," Peeta said. They pulled back and they all wiped their faces and said goodbye.
Haymitch wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the train. "I'm sorry sweetheart," Haymitch said.
They went and changed, yet again. This time they went to the Justice Building to show off their stupid fake talents. Katniss hated every second of it. And then it was time to get together with all the District 11 Victors.
There were only three District 11 Victors. The other two died of old age. But Seeder, Chaff and Marlah would be there. Katniss and Peeta knew Marlah. She won the year before they did.
"Now, you'll need to know the history of the Victors from District 11," Effie said at dinner the night before they got to District 11.
"Why?" Katniss groaned.
"Because you'll need to know for your interview in case they talk about the past winners. Bradley Fallow won the second Hunger Games when he was 16. He was 55 when he died, during the 40th Games. And then Molly Sash won the thirteenth when she was 17. She died during the 42nd Games at 58,"
"You think they're seriously going to talk to us about dead Victors? How old they were when they won the Games, how old they were and which Games they died?" she complained.
"District 11 loved Bradley and Molly," Effie snapped at her. She straightened up and cleared her throat. "Now, Seeder Howell won the 33rd Games when she was only 15. Chaff Mitchell won the 45th when he was 18. And then Marlah Orschard won the 73rd when she was only 16,"
"HAYMITCH!" Chaff yelled, hugging him tightly. "I brought you something, old man," Chaff said as he pulled out a flask and handed it to him. Katniss rolled her eyes.
"That's awesome. Get drunk," Katniss said. She turned her head just for a second. She shouldn't have done it. Because Chaff grabbed her on the back of her neck and kissed her. Katniss jumped back. Chaff and Haymitch laughed. She whipped her head over to see Peeta chuckle.
"He's very friendly. Don't invite him over or he'll drink up your liquor," Haymitch said. Chaff pulled out another flask and they clunk them together, laughing. Katniss crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Don't mind him darling. It's an honor to see you again," Seeder said graciously. Marlah smiled at them.
"Welcome to the club," she said sadly and went and sat down. Marlah had just won last year. What a pity it must be, watching the two poorest Districts win the Hunger Games back-to-back.
Katniss and Peeta sat on the love seat in the middle. Their seat was smaller, so they had to squish together. The other two were longer, so the others could sit on them comfortably without being in each other's laps. The girls sat on one side, while Haymitch and Chaff sat on the other one.
Chaff sat next to Katniss, and she glared at him.
"Switch seats with me," Katniss snapped at Peeta. His eyes widened and he did as he was told. She flopped down in her seat with her arms crossed. Chaff laughed loudly.
"Was it something I said? The Girl on Fire doesn't want to sit next to me," Chaff said loudly. Katniss just shook her head. The Capitol couldn't see them right now because they weren't on the air. But Snow was watching.
"Chaff's just like that dear. Pay him no mind," Seeder told her.
"He does it all the time to me to," Marlah said. Katniss glared over at Peeta.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh," Peeta apologized. But she turned her head the other way. Just like they practiced. He leaned into her ear. "I really am sorry. If he does it again, I'll say something," Peeta said. She looked over at him and stared, and then nodded her head.
Caesar came on the screen and introduced them and yelled excitedly at them. Seeing six Victor's together was so exciting for him, and the Capitol.
"Katniss, Peeta. What's it like to sit among three other Victors?" Caesar asked.
"What the hell am I Caesar?" Haymitch yelled. He laughed.
"I'm sorry. Four Victors. Tell me, what is it like?" Katniss' smile faltered a moment, but then she put on her fake one.
"It's been surreal. We've watched these people on TV for years. Or, just one year," Peeta said, holding out his hand to Marlah. "And I'm enjoying being here with Chaff, after hearing so many stories about him from Haymitch," Peeta laughed.
"Katniss, what about you?" he asked. She smiled again.
"It's really just an honor to be sitting here with the three of them. I feel a little star-struck," she said. God her voice was sickening.
Caesar asked all kinds of questions. What did the three other Victors think of the 74th Games? What was their experience with Thresh and Rue? Who were they betting on? And he asked Katniss and Peeta to talk about their favorite things about the other three.
Of course, they weren't alive for both Seeder and Chaff's games, but they've seen enough in reruns, and with the tapes that Effie had sent. They could talk more about Marlah because they had watched it live.
They showed clips from all of their Games. They laughed and told stories. Caesar had them give Peeta and Katniss advice for how to be Mentors this year, and from now on.
It was terrible. They all hugged like they were real friends. She tried not to hug Chaff, but he grabbed her anyway, and pinched her butt right on camera. She shoved him back and glared at Haymitch and stomped off.
Well, one group interview down, only 10 more to go. They got back to the train, with Katniss leading the way, stomping her way in.
"Katniss Everdeen. You get back here!" Effie yelled as Katniss went into her room and slammed the door shut. She started pulling off her jewelry as Haymitch came in.
"What is wrong with you now?" Haymitch asked. Peeta snuck into the doorway and leaned his shoulder against the door.
"He kissed me. And he grabbed my butt. How can you seriously ask me what's wrong?" She demanded.
"He's just having fun sweetheart. He's a really friendly guy,"
"Yeah, trust me, I know how friendly he is," Katniss complained and yanked the hair tie out of her hair. "I swear to God, if he comes near me again, I'm going to kill him. I don't care if it's on camera either!" she yelled at them. Haymitch and Peeta were smiling.
"I'm sorry. I was hugging Seeder and didn't know he did that," Peeta said.
"Oh, don't apologize to her for not seeing it. You need to relax. I'll make you a drink," Haymitch said and gave her thumbs up and left. Katniss rolled her eyes affectionately.
"I want him to stay away from me. He's sickening," Katniss told Peeta.
"I won't let him near you. I'll stay by your side all night. I'm really sorry Katniss," Peeta said. She let out a long sigh.
"It's not your fault," she said. Peeta smiled as Cinna came in.
"What did you do to your hair?" Cinna asked as he looked at the knot she made. Peeta laughed.
"I'll see you in a bit," Peeta waved and left. Cinna smiled her.
"Seriously, what did you just do to your hair?"
Hope you liked the song. It's Stand by Rascal Flatts