When you woke up again, you were surprised to find that they had once again placed you in your bed. Your body ached and there was something cold and metal fastened around your wrist. You turned your head to the left and noticed you were handcuffed to your bed. Your heart fluttered anxiously in your chest, and you quickly turned your head towards the door.
"Hello?" you called out and within seconds, your door opened. You jumped slightly when Effie half-ran inside, stopping beside your bed and pressing her palm to your forehead.
"How are you feeling, dear?" she asked and you were taken aback by her genuine concern.
"Uh," you said, "fine?" She smiled as she let out a noise of relief.
"Thank goodness. We were all so worried about you!" You said nothing for a moment.
"Why?" you asked, sitting up and causing the handcuff to clank against the metal bed frame. "Can I be let out of this?"
"Oh, of course!" she said, reaching into her pocket and searching for the key, but coming up short. She checked her other pocket and then felt the one in the breast of her shirt. She furrowed her brow in confusion. "I don't have it," she said, "I could have sworn I did! Haymitch must have it. I'll go get him."
"Wait-" you began, having not been told why she was worried, and not wanting to deal with Haymitch's anger. You'd seen the way he had yelled at Peeta all week, you didn't want the same to happen to you. She looked at you, waiting for you to finish, but you were too lost in thought to so he turned and quickly left the room, sending Haymitch in to take her place.
"Good morning," he said unpleasantly, walking to your bed and holding up a key. "Looking for this?" You looked at it and then back at him angrily as he dropped it into the glass of water beside your bed. He sat down in the chair beside you and leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. You glared at him and he sat back up straight, crossing his arms across his chest. He cleared his throat. "Do you want to tell me exactly what happened yesterday?" he said. Your heart stopped.
"Yesterday?" you said and he nodded with a smirk.
"Yeah, yesterday, sweetheart." You couldn't believe you had been asleep for that long. They must have put you under with something. You began to chew on the inside of your cheek nervously. "What's the matter?" he asked and you looked up at him. You shook your head.
"Nothing." He scooted the chair closer.
"Nothing, huh?" he said, staring at you. You glared back at him and then avoided his gaze by focusing yours on the wall in front of you. "You're not nervous that today is the last day? That you missed your training and have to go straight to your interview when we release you?" Your head snapped back towards him.
"You said good morning," you said quickly, "what time is it?"
"it's 5pm, sweetheart."
"Then why did you say 'good morning'?!" you shouted. You heard feet shuffle in the hallway but you payed it no attention. "Huh?!"
"Because you just woke up. It seemed appropriate." Tears sprung into your eyes and you turned away from him, letting them fall freely from your eyes. Haymitch leaned forward.
"Suck it up, sweetheart," he said, "Tributes aren't allowed to cry." You turned towards him quickly, wanting to punch him, but you couldn't because you were handcuffed to the bed. He grinned and let out a laugh.
"Wanted to do me in like Katniss, huh?" he said. You said nothing, you just sat there fuming with your hands clenched tightly into fists. Someone appeared at the door.
"That's enough, Haymitch," Peeta said, and your eyes flew over to him and then away just as quickly as your cheeks began to burn. You turned away and swallowed as the air grew tense between Haymitch and Peeta. There was silence for a moment before Haymitch left the room, bumping shoulders with your fellow tribute on the way out. You heard him walk over and sit in the chair beside you, but you still didn't look over. There was silence between the both of you until he reached into the glass of water and grabbed the key, leaned over you and unlocked your handcuff. Your heart began to race as his body stretched across yours, even though you were trying so hard not to care. He pushed himself back and sat down in the chair again. He sighed.
"Why?" he finally said and you looked over at him. You said nothing. "Huh?" You shook your head.
"I don't want to talk about it." Peeta stood up quickly and walked to the door. You were scared he was going to leave, and you desperately wanted to tell him to stay, but he instead shut the door. He walked back to his chair and sat down.
"It's going to stay between us," he promised. You rubbed your wrist where the handcuff had dug into your skin. He reached forward and grabbed your hand, bringing it towards him. He began to rub your wrist with his thumb and you were surprised at how the simplicity of his motions were making the ache go away. You stared at his hands and then swallowed, looking back up at him.
"I really don't want to talk about it," you said quietly, pulling your hand back a little but he held on tighter. Neither of you said anything for a moment, and then he let go. You began to rub your wrist again. He scratched at a spot on top of his head and you realized his hair was wet. Anger shot through you as you remembered the threat Haymitch made if Peeta compromised their plan again. You threw your legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
"Your hair is wet," you said. He stood up as well, looking down slightly at you. He was a couple inches taller.
"I was taking a shower," he said, "for the interviews tonight." It made sense in your head, but you didn't believe it in your heart.
"No, Haymitch stuck you under that cold water." He put a hand on your shoulder.
"Jacklyn," he said, trying to sit you back down on the bed, but you didn't budge. "I promise, I was taking a shower. Trust me." You didn't trust him, but you had no energy to argue. You stared up at him worriedly, and then let yourself collapse back onto the bed. He sat back down as well as you threw yourself onto your back, spreading your arms out and staring at the ceiling.
"I'm not going to the interviews," you said. Peeta was silent. You looked at him. He looked confused.
"What?" he said.
"I'm not going." He raised an eyebrow.
"No one can get out of the interviews."
"How do they make you, though?!" you asked hysterically, "they can't make you talk. They can't make you walk out there. They can't make you do anything." Peeta looked sympathetic but he smiled. "Why are you smiling?"
"You just remind me of Katniss, is all." Your heart fluttered slightly in your chest as he said this, and then it turned cold when you realized whose name he had used. You turned away from him angrily and he sat on your bed in front of you. "Hey." You tried to keep looking away but he started to move up and down, making you bounce. You smiled slightly and turned to him, grinning at the goofy look on his face and then letting out a laugh. He smiled.
"Stop being nice," you said, "I don't deserve it." He shook his head.
"What?" You didn't answer. "Of course you deserve it." You looked at him. "Katniss isn't mad at you," he said, "she understands the stress you're under." Your cheeks flushed red. You looked away.
"I'm sorry," you whispered.
"Why are you sorry?" he asked. You swallowed, sitting up. You played with the end of your hair as he stared at you and then you threw your hands up in frustration, slapping them down on your legs.
"I don't know," you said, "I just am. I mean, Haymitch has been being a jerk since you tried to help me. And I feel like I'm supposed to be helping protect you, but Katniss keeps coming to your rescue! But she won't be the one there during the Games. I don't know, I just snapped." You looked up at him. He was smiling.
"Don't you worry about me," he said, "we need to worry about getting you out of that arena. I've done this before."
"Not with me. I'm a jinx." He placed a hand on your upper arm.
"You are not a jinx. I don't want to hear any more of that, you hear me?" You prayed he didn't see your cheeks turn pink. You half-smiled.
"Yes," you said, "sorry."
"And stop saying sorry!" he said, standing up, "you remember how you couldn't sit still when I was painting your arm?" he said. You nodded. "I remember that," he teased and your insides squirmed, imagining Peeta's fingers touching your body. You almost wouldn't mind it if you didn't hate being tickled so much. You laughed.
"Okay, okay," you said as he looked at his watch. "Sorry." His eyes snapped back up to you and he grinned, running at you and jumping onto the bed. You screamed and threw yourself back against the wall, drawing your legs back to your chest and hugging them tightly, trying to cover yourself.
"Oh no," Peeta said, grabbing your wrists and trying to pry your hands away from your legs. You let out another scream and held on tightly, laughing as he continued to pull.
"Peeta, no!" you begged as he managed to pull your hands apart. You quickly grasped them back together and he began to pry again. "Please!"
"Then what are you not going to say from now on?!" he said, continuing to pull at your wrists as you resisted with all your strength.
"I'm sorry!" you said, burying your face into your knees.
"Huh?!" he said, "I can't hear you!"
"I'm not gonna say sorry!" you laughed, lifting your head and looking at him. He stopped his attack and got up off the bed as you sat limply against the wall, breathing heavily. He grinned down at you.
"Good," he said. You smiled and he held out his hand. "Come on, dinner is probably ready. And you're gonna want to get ready for the interviews." All the good feelings that had grown inside you suddenly went away at the mention of the interviews. Your heart grew heavy and you frowned. He took your hand and pulled you up. "They are not as bad as you think. You just have to be yourself."
"I don't know who that is," you admitted. He opened the door for you. When you walked out, he pressed his hand to the small of your back and led you down the hallway.
"Don't say that," he said authoritatively. A chill went up your spine at his tone. You apologized. He pushed you into the wall playfully. You laughed.
"Hey!" you said, pressing a handing to his upper arm and pushing him into the wall behind him. He laughed, hitting it hard and you threw a hand over your mouth. You didn't expect him to hit it that hard.
"That hurt," he said, sticking his bottom lip out in a pout.
"Oh, put your lip away," you said, "you look like a baby!"
"Maybe I am a baby." He raised an eyebrow in cockiness. You smirked.
"You're one ugly baby." His mouth fell open in mock shock and you giggled, running the rest of the way down the hallway. He followed you close behind, grabbed you around the waist with one arm and flung you behind him. He blocked your path and didn't let you pass. You laughed. "Peeta, let me go!"
"No, take it back!" You tried to duck under his arm but he grabbed you around the middle and threw you up over his shoulder. You screamed.
"Peeta, put me down!" you yelled, pounding on his back. "Peeta!" you shrieked as he began to walk back towards your room.
"Take it back!" he warned.
"Okay!" you said, laughing and pinching him. It didn't seem to phase him. "Okay, I take it back!" You were scared your little games were going to make you late for your interview. And more importantly, the only Game that seemed to matter here.
"Take what back?" he said.
"You're a very handsome baby!" you said through your laughter and as he set you down, a voice behind you both said, "do you two need a minute?"
You gasped, turning around and stepping away from Peeta as if it was some crime that you two were caught together. Haymitch was staring at you as Cinna stepped around him, walking over. He took your hand gently.
"I hate to interrupt," he said, "but we need to get you ready."
"But I'm hungry," you said. Cinna smiled.
"I have something prepared for you in the dressing room." You looked at Peeta who gave you an encouraging smile. Katniss appeared behind Cinna. You both made eye contact and you quickly looked away, ashamed. She had a large blue welt beneath her left eye. Cinna squeezed your hand. "Come on."
"We'll see you soon," Peeta said as you walked off. You nodded, looking back at him, but avoiding eye contact with Katniss. As you walked down the hall with Cinna, your heart pounded miserably in your chest.
"What am I going to be wearing?"
"You will just have to wait and see," he said with a smile, letting go of your hand and leading you to your room as Peeta had done before in the hallway, with his hand on your back. He was leading you into the room that Haymitch had yelled at Peeta in twice before. Cinna reached in front of you hand turned the handle, opening the door for you. As you were going to walk inside, someone's hand brushed your left one and grabbed it, holding you back. You looked up in surprise and noticed Katniss there, smiling at you slightly. Her hand was closed tightly around yours.
"For good luck," she said, nodding curtly. You wanted to smile back, but you couldn't. Your face remained emotionless as she let go of your hand. All you said was, "Thank you." She smiled again and put a hand to your shoulder, pulling you close and hugging you.
"It's going to be okay," she said, "don't try and be someone you're not." she pulled away at Cinna's cue and you found it in yourself to force a small smile. You nodded in return.
"Okay," you whispered and with one last glance towards Peeta, who was walking towards his own dressing room with Portia, you walked into the room and Cinna shut the door behind you both. He went to busy himself with a dress bag hanging in the corner, and that's when you realized you were holding something in your hand. You looked down in confusion, unwrapping your fingers and gasped at what you were holding.
It was the Mockingjay pin.
End of Chapter 8