Here's to girl power!
The next morning, Katniss snuggled into a sleeping Peeta. He took a deep breath, moving his arms around her. Flickering his eyes open, he looked at the beautiful girl in his arms.
"Hey," he whispered to her.
"Hi," Katniss blushed. "I can't believe that happened," she whispered with a smile, and he grinned.
"I know," he said back, pressing his forehead against hers.
"It was your speech," Katniss giggled.
"It was a great speech," Peeta joked. "But I meant every word of it."
Katniss sat up, slowly putting on her black nightdress. She began to braid her hair loosely as Peeta watched her.
Normally, he got headaches when he watched her braid her hair. Not thinking anything of it, Peeta sat up, pulling on his pants. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her cheek as she pulled on her boots.
"Where are you going?" He asked her.
"Breakfast," Katniss told him. "I'm hungry," she complained.
Peeta smiled at her, and she slapped his arm playfully.
"What?!" She exclaimed with a smile. "I never take food for granted. The fact that we have three meals a day here is… well it's unlike anything I've ever had… besides the week before the games."
Peeta closed his eyes, smiling. As he shut them, he noticed flickering images across his mind. Like a movie, his mind raced through his memories…
Prim screaming for Katniss as she walked on the stage at the reaping…Their first tribute parade, holding hands...her slapping the nightlock out of his hand and hugging him…their interview with Casear after the games…the victory ball at Snow's mansion…
"Katniss," he began, gripping her arm tightly.
The heat of the second games. The fog. The monkeys. Katniss' screams from the jabberjays…
"What's wrong?" she asked frantically, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Is it a headache?"
"I remember…" he breathed.
"I know, Peeta, you've started recovery-"
"No, I mean I remember…" he whispered, "everything" he said, looking into her eyes.
Katniss gaped. "H-How can that be?"
"I remember everything," Peeta whispered to himself again. "The first games, the victory tour, the jungle…you kissing me goodbye-"
"If you're just playing with me-" Katniss began to threaten.
"I'm not," Peeta told her honestly, standing up. "Ask me anything," he urged.
Katniss took a deep breath. "The color dress I wore… the first reaping."
"Blue," he answered quickly. "Your hair was in a bun…" he trailed off. "I remember my mother's last words to me before we left. She told me she thought district 12 would finally have a winner. But she wasn't-"
"Talking about you," Katniss breathed, her eyes flickering up into his. "How is this happening?" She took a deep breath as she remembered Prim's words.
There's always the chance of achieving personal connection with someone. The memories just… well they come back.
Standing up, Katniss threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up and whirled her around.
"God, I love you," Peeta told her as they hugged. He placed her down, looking into her eyes.
"I love you," Katniss said, blushing. She kissed him quickly, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Peeta threw on a sweater and his boots, before following Katniss out the door, bumping into someone. "Sorry…" he began saying, absent-mindedly.
Katniss looked into Gale's hurt eyes, as he watched frozen Peeta close the door to his room where they had just come out...together, her clothes the same from the night before. "Gale…" She started.
Not saying anything, Gale walked away briskly, his fingers from one hand pressing into his temples.
"Gale!" She called again, hoping he would turn around. He didn't.
Peeta watched her, confused. "Katniss…" he started.
Katniss' eyes welled with tears. "I didn't mean for him to find out like that," she began.
Peeta looked at her. "How did you mean for him to find out?"
"I don't know," Katniss stammered. "Maybe I would have… told him-"
"Maybe you would have told him?" Peeta exclaimed angrily. "Man, are you still playing this game with both of us?"
"Peeta, you don't understand," Katniss said. Shit.
"You're right, I don't understand," Peeta said quietly. "Why don't you explain it to me."
"I…" Katniss trailed off. "I don't want to hurt him. I don't know-"
"Do you love him?" Peeta asked. "After everything that's happened between us."
Katniss looked at the ceiling. "Don't do this..."
"Do what?!" Peeta argued. "Do you love him? It's a yes or no question."
"He's my best friend…" Katniss stammered shakily. "You don't understand, I can't just-"
Peeta began backing away from her, the anger in his eyes. "I guess some things never change."
"Peeta!" She called after him. "Peeta stop!"
She watched his strong back walk away from her. She never felt so alone. Looking around her frantically, she ducked into a supply closet down the hall, sinking to the floor, tears falling silently.
Haymitch paced around the large conference table. "Where is she?" He asked the rest of the group.
Gale, Cressida, Plutarch, Coin, and Commander Paylor sat next to the returning victors who had returned to the rebel cause to fight around the large conference table.
"Last I saw she was with him," Gale spat out, tilting his head slightly to where Peeta leaned against the back wall of the room.
"Peeta?" Haymitch asked him.
"I haven't seen her," Peeta said bitterly. "She probably went looking for you," he said, talking to the back of Gale's head.
"Enough of this stupid love triangle," Johanna Mason snapped.
"I couldn't agree more," Katniss said from the head of the room, all heads whirling towards her. The room fell silent as she strolled in, confidently, sitting down at the head of the table. "Can we discuss important things?" She asked the group, not looking at Gale or Peeta.
"It's time to invade the capitol," Plutarch began. "Since we've arrested Delly, Snow is caught off guard. He doesn't know what our moves are, now is the time to strike."
"I'm ready," Finnick said, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"Only problem is, we need the Holo to get through," Coin started. "And since Boggs died, we don't know who he left it to."
"I can try to unlock it," Paylor said confidently.
"He left it to me," Katniss said clearly. The group fell silent.
"That's ridiculous," Paylor argued. "He would never-"
"You want to debate this with me?" Katniss said, threateningly. "He told me with his dying breath…" she trailed off.
"What is it, Katniss?" Haymitch asked silently.
Katniss stood up, facing the group that was still sitting in their seats around the table. "He wanted to make sure I went to the capitol."
"No," Gale stated immediately, staring down.
"It's too risky Katniss. You won't make it out-" Haymitch attempted.
"I am the only one who can control the Holo," Katniss sneered. "You need me with you. It was Bogg's way of making sure that I went. You can't go without me."
Haymitch looked at Paylor, begging her to contradict what Katniss was saying.
"She's right," Coin says. "She has to go."
Katniss looked at Johanna and Finnick. "The other victors come with me…" Then she looked at Peeta. "Not you," she said bitterly.
"Katniss-" Finnick began, as Peeta rolled his eyes.
"Don't be dramatic, Katniss," Plutarch began. Peeta remembered his conversation with him only a few days earlier.
Let me know when you're ready to die for her again. No wonder he wants me to go.
"You've never had a problem with dramatics before, Plutarch?" Katniss snapped. "Remember the masquerade? Remember the propos?"
"Girl on fire is really on fire today," Johanna said, a greedy grin spreading from ear to ear. Plutarch turned red.
"We do this on my terms," Katniss snapped at the group. "You want me to fight?" She addressed them, finally turning and looking at Peeta. "I'm going."
"You will probably die-" Haymitch began.
"I've heard you say that twice now, Haymitch," Katniss glared at him. "Remember? Before both of the games?"
"Damn…" Beetee said. "I don't know what pissed you off, Katniss, but you're really ready to go!"
Katniss winked at him, slightly smiling. "One more thing, President Coin?" She looked at Coin innocently.
Coin, slightly annoyed at Katniss' new found inner strength, glared at her. "Yes, mockingjay?" She snapped.
"I'm the one to kill Snow," Katniss said, darkly. Then she looked at Plutarch and Cressida. "Make sure to get it on tape," she commanded.
Plutarch grinned. "Atta girl!" He cheered.
Katniss looked ahead of her, locking eyes with Coin. Her cold stare told her everything she needed to know.
Of course Snow wants me to go. She wants me to die, so I don't threaten her anymore. Katniss rolled her eyes at this realization.
Paylor stood up. "Training starts this afternoon. We leave the day after tomorrow."
Katniss nodded, turning and leaving the room. She was angry; angry at Peeta, angry at Gale. She no longer cared if she lived or died. She needed to take out her anger.
Neither of them even listened to me… She thought in her mind. Whatever, I don't need them. Two less people to worry about she attempted to convince herself.
Crowds spread apart as she walked through them, with a new confidence. She strolled into Bogg's office, looking under his desk and taking the holo. Then, on his desk, she noticed a gold ring. She placed it on her finger, feeling his presence.
I believe in you.
I believe in me, too.
The final battle is coming! Sorry to separate the love :( Will they ever reunite? Will Katniss survive the war? Stay tuned! XOXO DLL