I bite and my finger nails nervously trying to take a mental note of the highest training scores. It doesn't come as a surprise when Cato and Clove both pull ten's. Peeta's arm slides around my shoulders as District Eleven comes on the screen. I glance towards Haymitch then at Effie. Both of them seem to calm to me, but maybe I'm just too nervous.
"District Twelve. Peeta Mellark." Peeta leans towards the screen pulling me with him. I stare up at Cesar on the screen praying Peeta pulled off a decent score. "With a score of, eight." I smile slightly letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I turn my head just enough to look at Peeta.
"Good job." I can't help but grin at him, as he smiles at me.
"And finally, from District Twelve. Katniss Everdeen," I take in a sharp intake of breath preparing for the worst. "With a score or eleven." Effie let's out a squeal before I can even process the number. Eleven! I actually got an eleven. But, how?
"Congratulations." Peeta whispers in my ear. His voice brings a smile to my lips.
"I thought they hated me." I breath out relief swelling inside of me. Both Peeta and I got great scores.
"Maybe, they liked your guts." Haymitch stands up as he speaks patting both Peeta and I on the back. The number eleven still spins around in my mind. I expected the lowest score possible, not the highest of all the tributes although who was I to complain? "You two had better get some sleep, you're training for the interviews is tomorrow."
I just no turning my gaze towards Peeta. Training, interviews, and games. We had next to no time left. I look away from him unable to handle the thought.
"Kat, you okay?" I look back at him letting out a sigh.
"Our time is almost up." My voice comes out almost inaudible. No, Haymitch wants to get you both out alive, and if he fails I have my plan. I remind myself of this as my eyes lock with Peeta's.
"No it's not. Trust me, Kat. We'll get through this." My lips turn up at the corners just slightly. He really had a way with words. He could make me believe anything, even the seemingly impossible. "We better get to bed." I stand up walking towards Peeta's room with him in silence. "Stay with me again tonight?" I arch an eyebrow wondering if this was a serious question.
"Peeta, I think you know the answer." His lips twitch into a smile at this.
"I thought so." I shake my head letting out a dull short laugh as he pulls me into his room to get some sleep.
"It's a big, big, big day." I groan, once again being pulled from my sleep by Effie's infamous morning line.
"Is it ever not a big day?" I pull my pillow over my face just as Peeta chuckles. I peak out from under the pillow to see him looking at me amused. "What?" I ask a little defensively.
"You're so cute." I roll my eyes letting out a humorless laugh.
"Whatever." He grins pulling me to him until our lips meet. I melt into the kiss, our lips locking together perfectly. My hand trails to the back of his neck tangling in the ends of his hair.
"Peeta, Katniss, don't make me come drag you out of bed." We pull apart laughing lightly. Everything felt so lighthearted for the first time since being in District Twelve. Oh, how I longed to be back home.
"Guess it couldn't last forever, right?" I roll my eyes sliding out of bed swiftly, with Peeta following behind me.
"I miss that. It all just being so easy, and lighthearted, and just normal." Peeta's words hit home.
"I couldn't agree more." Before we could get into a conversation that would make me miss it all more I walk hastily from the room.
"Alright, so do you two want to train separately or together?" Haymitch arches an eyebrow not wanting until we've fully even entered the dining room to ask. Peeta and I exchange a glance.
"Separately." I say sitting down beside Peeta. Doing it separately would make life easier on all of us, even though I want nothing more than to spend a whole day with Peeta it's not an option at this point. I need to remind myself that my wants mean next to nothing now a days. At least until we're back home and we can do what we want together, whenever without wondering if it's the right move for our survival.
"Alright, Katniss you'll go with Effie, and Peeta you'll come with me this morning. After lunch we'll switch." I nod in understanding stuffing my mouth full of yet another delicious Capitol meal. The food was the only thing except able about the Capitol honestly.
"You'll need to lift your skirt when you walk, but not above the ankles." I cross my arms scowling at Effie for what seems to be the billionth time this morning. I can't talk in heels, I can't lift my skirt right, or sit right, and don't have the right manners. I was getting really fed up with her.
I let out a sigh of frustration and lift the skirt of the dress Effie fought me into just so it brushes the top of my feet.
"Perfect, now walk." Effie's face brightens just the slightest until we find I can't walk completely straight in the heels. In my defense she put me in five inch heels, and I'd only be in two inches. That should be much easier. "Alright, let's try smiling."
I try to force a smile past my irritation and impatience. Effie's look of disapproval though tells me I don't have a convincing enough fake smile.
"Come on, dear. You need to smile even if everyone of us irritates you. Like me, I'm smiling even though you're frustrating me." I let out a groan throwing my hands in the air in defeat.
"I'm trying! I'm not good at this sort of stuff." I mumble things under my breath about Capitol people as I hike my skirt up to my knees and storm out of the room. I make my way to the dining room leaving my shoes outside the dining room. I glance around hoping Peeta had come early, but of course not. I excused myself.
After lunch, I find that my training with Haymitch doesn't go much better. We both have insulted each other plenty by the time we're half way done. According to him I can't be anything but bitter, which I couldn't exactly object to.
"Look, sweetheart obviously there's something about you that, that boy fell in love with. Use, that part of you to win the crowd over." Haymitch tips back a bottle of alcohol after he speaks.
"Well, he loves everything about me so you'll need to be more specific." My tone is icy as I speak unable to put up a friendly front.
"You know what sweetheart, I give up. You've got about as much charm as a dead slug, but there's something about you that's striking and that boy sees it. The only advice I have left is, if you can make sure to hint at your feeling for Peeta." I scowl at him, mad at him for telling me I have no charm.
"Why can't I just flat out say it?" I arch an eyebrow almost challenging him.
"You'll just have to see won't you?" He smirks and walks out of the room taking a drag from his liquor.
Peeta and I find ourselves on the roof after dinner watching the sunset together. I lean into him resting my head on his shoulder. One of his hands finds mine, our fingers lacing together perfectly.
"That right there. That's my favorite color." I look at Peeta to find him already looking at me.
"I know. You never told me why it's your favorite color though." It had been his favorite color since we were thirteen, and when I asked why he blushed and looked away changing the subject.
"Well, I wasn't going to tell you when you didn't have feelings for me. It's my favorite because that day after I tossed you the bread we watched the sunset from the woods. The beautiful dull orange against the dark green trees was breathtaking, and not to mention you were there. It was pretty much perfect, and that's why it's my favorite." I can't help but smile and lean in kissing him.
It's a soft kiss, but full of passion. A kiss that defines Peeta. Gentle, kind, soft yet full of passion. I lean in more deepening the kiss. We kiss until we need to come up for air.
"I love you, Kat."
"I love you too, Peeta." Our voices are hushed, our gazes locked.
"Always." He whispers cupping my face between his hands.
"Always." I echo smiling widely. "You're mine, and I'm yours."
"Wouldn't have it any other way. I swear we'll make it home, and one day I'll convince you of marriage and you will be mine forever." He leans in stopping my words with kiss. I wasn't going to argue about marriage, not now. We're only sixteen and there's no guarantee we'll both make it home. I think it's safe to say though, that if one of us dies, the other isn't lasting much longer.