No. This can't be real.
It has to be a dream.
Peeta going into the arena again? Of all times, for the Quarter Quell?
The scariest part is that I can't go in with him. I can't sacrifice my life for him this time.
I look over at him. He's looking down, my hand still locked in his, our fingers intertwined.
"They can't do this." I say, trying to stand up. "They can-" Peeta cuts me off.
"Yes Katniss, they can. They will." He states simply.
"So you're just going to sit by and let this happen? You're going to, once again, risk your life in the arena to fix what I did?" I exclaim.
"For what we did." He corrects.
"No Peeta!" I yell, finally getting up and abruptly dropping his hand. "It's my fault! I pulled out the berries! I knew what they could do!" He stands up; I continue yelling.
"I planned for us to die! That, or for them to stop us! I knew what we were doing the whole time. I defied the capitol and put our lifes in dan-" Once, again Peeta cuts me off.
But it's not with words. He leans in and kisses me, wrapping his strong arms around my back and encasing me.
I kiss back. I like it.
But he pulls away and just stares into my grey eyes. He knows me too well, and I collapse into him and break into tears.
So much for being strong…
I just stand there, my tears soaking his blue shirt. He keeps his arms wrapped around me, and holds me tight.
Haymitch stands.
"Look kids." He says. "People in the Capitol won't enjoy this. They enjoyed the love dynamic. The sacrifice. The drama. But without you, Katniss, there won't be much of that."
He's got a point; It takes two to love.
Or so I think. And I realize all along, Peeta has been loving all by himself. Doesn't that kill him inside? It would kill me.
Effie raises too. She opens her mouth as to say something, lifts her finger, then sighs, closes her mouth, and walks out of the room with her head down.
Haymitch follows.
This leaves just me and Peeta in a room. It doesn't change much, honestly. Every time we kiss it feels like we are alone, anyways.
He lets go just a tiny bit and I look at him. His sweet face, loving arms, strong chest are going to risk themselves for me. And there's nothing I can do to stop it.
Or is there…?
"Peeta!" I exclaim, the lightbulb in my head coming on. "What if I was to come in the arena too?" I ask.
"Katniss are you crazy?" He yells. "They would make sure you don't live!"
Little too late for that one, bud.
"No, the capitol citizens would love it. They love us. And, nobody would want me to be killed by some gamemaker creation. They would want a fight." I add.
Peeta tries to say something, but I just keep talking.
"And I won't go down without one." I say.