When I wake up, Gale is gone. I go downstairs, on a wild goose chase for him, when I realize what day it is. Its Posy's birthday, I think to myself. How could I have slept in? Why didn't he wake me up? I ask my self numerous questions before deciding it is of no use. So I quickly throw on some clothes and walk out the door. I go over to Hazelle's house, where Posy has been staying lately. When I walk in, Gale frowns at me and I pull him off to the side.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked.
"You're pregnant, Katniss. You're not 16 anymore. I don't expect you to wake up at seven in the morning. I'm not mad," he replies.
"I really care about Posy and I feel bad for being late," I confess.
"Just go over there and say happy birthday. She's happy you even showed up at all," he whispered. And so I did. Hesitantly, I walked over to Posy.
"Hey, Happy Birthday! How old are you now, thirteen?" I joked.
"Katniss! Oh my, thank you so much for coming! And you are too funny, I'm turning twenty," she mumbled shyly.
"Oh, wow.. I remember when I was twenty. The days.. Stay young," I said. I gave her a tight squeeze and walked over to Gale, who was talking to Madge. I scowled when I saw the way he looked at her, his eyes not moving from hers. When he looked at me, he saw my expression and tried to explain.
"Katniss, we were talking about the Games and how she gave you the Mockingjay pin, nothing else," he said.
"Gale, how many times have I told you that I don't want to talk about the Games? And I saw the way you were looking at her!" I scoffed. I couldn't believe that he was looking at another woman like that when he had a wife and soon a young child to tend to. I just tried to convince myself that it was Madge's fault and I let go of it pretty loosely. And then it hit me. Oh crap! I though. I forgot to go check up on Peeta.
"Hey, can I be excused for a few minutes? I'll be right back," I asked Gale. He nodded, probably because he knew that I was going to Peeta's house. I walked out and into the Victor's Village. I looked up and down the street, not a person around. When I got to his door, I felt as if I should knock, but I didn't. I just unlocked the door instead. When I walked in, I could tell Peeta had just baked some sort of banana bread because the delicious smell was spreading throughout the house. I looked around, but I didn't see him anywhere. "Peeta?" I called, but there was no response. "Peeta? Where are you?" I continued, but still, no response. I ran up and down the stairs about fifteen times and checked every nook and cranny of the room, but still there was no Peeta. When I walk around a corner and into a hall I hear chuckling. And I see those blue eyes again.
"Damn you, Peeta! You almost gave me a heart attack! What were you thinking?" I hollered.
"Calm down Katniss, I just wanted to pull a prank on you!" he laughed. I have to admit, now that I think about it, it was kinda funny, but at the time, it definitely was not.
"Alright," I mumbled, "how are you, today?"
"I'm doing alright. Here, want some banana bread?" he asked, sticking a plate full of the bread towards my face. I nodded. Besides, I was pregnant; I was always hungry.
"Peeta, I'm sorry about.. you know.. everything," I said shyly.
"No. It's my fault. It wasn't meant to be. You were meant to be with Gale. I was just too stubborn to realize it. I was so focused on taking you away from him that I never thought about what might happen," he replied.
"No, Peeta. I mean faking my love for you. I was the one who was too focused on winning those stupid games-"
"Katniss. Please. I know that you were just trying to keep us both alive. I'm so sorry for calling Gale names and causing a scene. I'm sorry for the argument after the war. I'm sorry for everything, " he said, cutting me off.
"I need to go. I think they'll be worrying about where I am," I said because I had nothing more to say without tears spilling over my eyes. So I set the plate in the sink, waved goodbye, and walked out the door. When I walked back to Posy's birthday party, I thought about everything that had just happened. I thought about Peeta apologizing and what I said. I was sorry. I knew what I had done to him was unspeakable; that no one would ever think about doing something like that, but it was to keep us both alive.
When I got there, it was time to leave. Gale and I both said our goodbyes and left. On our way home Gale asked, "What took you so long?"
"I'm sorry, we just got a little caught up in the past," I said, trying to hold back tears. And I could tell by the expression on Gale's face that he knew it. He knew what was going on in my mind when I didn't know myself. He knew if I was going to cry or laugh or scowl or scream, when I didn't myself. He then wrapped his arm tightly around my shoulders as we walked and kissed my cheek.
It was around 8:30 when we got home and we were already full from earlier, so we didn't eat. Instead, we went upstairs and climbed into bed. When we got settled, I felt a piercing pain. I let out a small cry and Gale was alarmed.
"Katniss, what's going on? Are you okay?" he implored.
"Get me…" I gasped for breath, "to a hos..pital." I felt my consciousness fading away and I saw Gale's crazed expression out of the corner of my eye. And all I remember is seeing a bunch of doctors and nurses surrounding me in a hospital.
"What.. what's going on?" I asked drearily.
"It's alright, Katniss. Only some minor complications," said a familiar voice.
"Mother? Is that you?" I beseeched. I hadn't seen my mother in… let's see… a few months, at the very least.
"Yes."
"What's going on? Please tell me!"
"You are eight and a half months pregnant, so you should feel contractions, but they are very dangerous, and we are going to have to deliver the baby very soon. No worries, everything will be fine and your baby will be alright." She was the only one of these doctors that I could trust, knowing that my baby will be okay. When Gale walks in, he kisses my forehead and that was all I remember because in just a matter of seconds I was out like a light.