Peeta's POV
Four hours later, whilst retrieving the debris from a different kind of war zone, Delly says once more, " I love you."
"You too," I reply, just like every other time. She wears my favorite shirt—and not much else—a cadet blue burnout sort of thing that was hand distressed with the shrapnel of the rebellion. Another girl wore it once, when the war was making its design, and now Delly wears it, trying to fit love into hate. Peace into war. A heart into the shape of a pile of smoldering ashes. Once it hung limp as the girl inside cowered in apprehension, and now it's full of confidence.
This new creature snuggles in close to me, so we lay down once more, discoursing about nothing as her hand rests on my chest. Do I laugh or do I cry? The script was written by a child and the actors were trained only as butchers. I swallow back guilt and regret and my face becomes of mask of idle contentment.
"Maybe…."
"What?" Delly pounces, the hope in her voice churning my insides.
"We should have a party. For our six month."
I always had a knack for persuasion. Yes, I could summon the world, like a siren, to its death if I worked hard enough… Of course, two still would remain unconvinced of my charm.
Slowly, her face turns up to meet mine and almost all of the tension in my mind dissolves. I am Peeta Mellark. I am perfect, as well as the perfect boyfriend. I can never fail.
Author's note: Sorry for the short chapter! The next one will be longer, I promise! :*