Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, I am not Suzanne Collins.
A/N: I'm the worst author ever and you all have the right to come hunt me down and murder me for making you wait so long for an update. I have off this whole week so I'm going to try to update tomorrow or early on Monday. I promise that the next chapter, things will be a bit steamy. Haha. Enjoy! (You can also murder me if this chapter sucks.)
Chapter Five.
I could do nothing but watch the clock on the bed side table. Every once in a while I would stand up and walk around the room to relieve the back pain. Each time I did so, I would walk to the window and check Peeta's old house. I could see that the bedroom light was on. Only, I was unsure if he had fallen asleep with it on or if he was lying in the bed still awake like I was.
I don't even remember what it feels like to not have Peeta next to me when I'm sleeping. I don't think we've even spent a night apart since we were teenagers. If I could, I would walk right over to the house, barge into the bedroom and wrap his arms around me and just fall asleep next to him.
But I couldn't and that's what hurt the most; and it wasn't even due to the fact that reporters could be lingering anywhere. It was because of the fact that if I did that, I wouldn't know how he would react. I was almost positive that we would fight again and that was the last thing I wanted to happen. All I wanted to do was apologize to him. He was absolutely right, I was only thinking about myself in this situation when all he was trying to do was make me happy.
Just go over there. The same thought had been pressuring me in my head since Peeta walked out the front door. Only the sun was beginning to rise and I knew reporters would be everywhere soon.
I sighed when I continued to see no motion inside of the other house. I dropped onto the bed and dragged myself to the pillows. I wrapped my arms around Peeta's pillow and brought it close to me. It smelt like flour and aftershave and only made the fact that he wasn't here worse. Still, it calmed me enough to allow me to doze off for an hour or so.
I woke up to a flood of voices coming from the living room downstairs. I sat up as I heard familiar heavy footsteps coming towards the bedroom. Peeta emerged in the doorway. He must have made his way over when I had fallen asleep. He looked at me before diverting his gaze to the window.
"Everyone's here. You should start getting up." He left without another glance in my direction. His face was hard the whole time.
"Peeta!" I called out while quickly trying to get out of the bed. It didn't help that I had a planet protruding from my abdomen. When I was on my feet I called his name again and heard his footsteps stop in the hallway. I wasted no time in rushing out of the bedroom to meet him.
He didn't turn around but his head was facing to the side to acknowledge the fact that he had heard me. I walked up to him carefully.
"Are you still mad at me?"
"Are you still wallowing in self pity?"
"Look, Peeta." I reached out to touch his arm and to my surprise, he let me. "I'm sorry I blew up like that. I'm sorry that whatever I said made you pissed at me. I'm sorry that I was only thinking about myself." I paused and waited for a response. He didn't even turn around. I got frustrated, "Can you at least look at me?" I nearly shouted. Though, I knew to keep my voice down since there was a whole group of people just down the flight of stairs.
I pushed at Peeta to turn him around and it barely nudged him. However, he did comply and turned to face me. I looked him in the eyes and saw that his emotion was still the same. I looked away when I felt like I would cry again. It was absolutely ridiculous as to how easily I could cry these days.
He sighed and then finally spoke. "I think we're just both stressed out. Let's just get through this day as best as possible and we can talk tonight. Okay?" I looked up, wiped my watery eyes, and nodded. His whole expression was softer. He took my hand in his and pulled me to his chest.
I wanted to stay like that for so much longer until I heard the stomping of footsteps running up the stairs. "Good luck, they have my prep team waiting downstairs." I breathed a laugh as he pulled away and walked downstairs, passing by the unfamiliar faces that now stood at the top of the stairwell.
"Katniss! Oh we're so happy for you!" There was a little chubby woman with blonde hair and bright green eyes engulfed me in a hug. I looked at the other two who were just as excited. There was another woman; she was tall with short grey hair and lots of make-up on her face as if she were hiding scars. The last person I saw was a man with short curly faded orange hair. It was him that I recognized.
"Oh my gosh! I didn't even recognize you three!" My excitement was sincere. I didn't think for a second that they would get my old prep team back together. Octavia, Flavius, and Venia, all three were in the flesh, practically attacking me with their embraces. They kept gushing about how excited they were about the baby and that they were going to send the top baby supply from the Capitol for me. I was actually beginning to feel calmer about everything knowing they were here.
Once they explained that Fulvia was sorry she couldn't come, but she had planned a gorgeous look for me, it was down to work. I felt like it was my wedding day again. I was scrubbed down and every misplaced hair was plucked from my body. My nails were filed and polished a light pink. My skin was practically painted with make-up in order to erase the look of my scars and then even more to highlight my face. My hair was curled and pinned and flowed longer than ever down to my lower back. Then, I was instructed to close my eyes while they put me into a dress. I didn't know how they knew what size to bring since my stomach has been growing day in and day out, though they zippered the back just fine.
When Flavius uncovered my eyes I was standing in front of a mirror. I was still at my normal height. They were kind enough not to put a five month pregnant woman in heels. They were right when they said Fulvia had planned something gorgeous. It was a shorter dress, just below mid-thigh; it was also strapless. It was the softest pink and somehow managed to give me back my curves with the band just below my chest. It was covered in sparkles and I was practically glowing in the light. The last part of the outfit was the flat shoes that were open-toe and buckled behind my ankle right above my heel.
"Well?" Octavia asked with a gesture to the mirror.
"It's certainly gorgeous, that's for sure." I smiled as I looked back in the reflection. Now I was almost eager to go downstairs and greet everyone finally.
"Wonderful!" Venia exclaimed.
"But it's time for you to get downstairs. They decided to do the interview right in your own living room. It's going to be amazing!" Flavius was shuffling me out of the room while he spoke. I reached the top of the stairs and felt as if my stomach was being tied into knots. I took slow steps, fearing that my legs my give in under me. When I was at the bottom I noticed everyone was looking at me.
I gave the most convincing smile I could. "Hello." I didn't know a single person in this room, yet they all knew me. It was so eerie to have all these faces watching me as I entered the room. I found myself calmer when I found Plutarch.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Mellark herself. I've been waiting nearly all morning to see you. And aren't you a sight." He smiled at me and I returned the gesture. I guess things have changed in the Capitol seeing as how clearly he had aged and how my prep team was suddenly all natural.
"Thank you. It's good to see you again. Though, it's strange that we're here. I feel like I should have in the Capitol for this." I honestly did. Having this camera crew, the prep teams, even having Plutarch here just made my own home seem foreign. He simply chuckled, thinking I was joking.
He looked past me and nodded. "Excuse me." He walked past me and I was alone again. I kept noticing people glancing over at me. I felt like I should greet everyone but the anxiety was beginning to take its full effect. Nausea was settling in my body and I rubbed my chest to ease the burning sensation. It wasn't long before the kicking in my abdomen begun. I moved my hand from my chest to my lower stomach when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"You look gorgeous." Peeta whispered close to my ear. He was in a much better mood and that at least helped me. It was one less thing to worry about knowing that he was talking to me again.
"Thank you." I kissed his cheek and took a look at him. "Not so bad yourself." He smiled at that.
"Okay, places." Somebody, with what looked like earmuffs on around their head, started to shuffle Peeta and I to the living room couch. The light in my eyes was so bright; I squinted and placed my hand in front of my face until I could adjust. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, Peeta turned to me when he noticed my breathing picking up, but said nothing. The baby felt as if it was trying to kick its way through my stomach.
I could hear Plutarch talking but my mind wasn't making out the words. "Katniss?" My head snapped towards the direction of Peeta's voice.
"What do you think it will be? A girl or boy?" My mouth felt really dry, I could feel sweat on my forehead beading up. I couldn't explain why I was so nervous. I've been through this enough time to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I looked at Peeta and he took my hand. "I'm hoping for a boy." He said with a smile and rubbed my hand with his thumb.
Everything seemed to stop then. I could see straight, I felt cooler, calmer, the baby stopped kicking, my breathing slowed down, and suddenly I felt like I could talk my head off.
"Well, personally I'm hoping for a girl. I guess we'll just have to wait until the due date to find out officially." I smiled back at everyone who was staring at me. I shifted closer to Peeta on the couch. I was relieved that this whole fight was behind us, that everything that was causing us so my stress was about to be gone, most of all I was relieved that Peeta and I would be able to move on with our lives. Even though, the thought of a baby still made me uneasy.