Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or any of its original characters. Those belong to Suzanne Collins. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 8
When we finally arrive back at my front door after what feels like forever, I run up to my room without giving Peeta so much as a kiss. I slam the door closed, lock it, and pretend I'm asleep and cannot hear Prim when she asks how dinner with the Mellarks went.
I sob into my pillow, for once feeling like the feeble teenage girl I am. For once feeling vulnerable - as if words literally have the power to hurt me.
I may have won the Games, and I may have won Peeta, but I will never be anything more than the girl at the Seam, who hunted illegally just to get by. I will never be as honest and open as Peeta is, and maybe Mrs. Mellark is the only one who can see that. Maybe she's the only one here who's choosing not to blind themselves.
The next day Gale calls, asking me to come with him to find a tuxedo to wear to my wedding. I agree, only because hearing Gale's voice on the other line is such a pick-me-up, and he sounds like the old Gale from Before.
Peeta calls too, but I make Prim take it and pretend that I've already left to meet Gale. But I'm caught in the lie when I walk out the house ten minutes later and bump into Peeta.
"Hey," he says, looking at the ground before looking into my guilty eyes. "I thought your sister said you went to go find Gale." He doesn't sound accusing - like he should - or angry. He sounds soft and light as he usually does.
"I'm running a bit late. I left, then I had to run back to the house because I forgot my wallet," I fib. I flinch internally, hating to lie to him twice in the same hour. But I don't want to be caught in my previous lie, and the only other choice is to make up another one. I don't want to hurt him.
Peeta shrugs, and I look at his hands. Only now do I notice he's carrying a platter wrapped in tin foil.
"What's that?"
He smiles halfway. "It's a plate of cheese rolls. I was going to drop them off so you could have them when you come back. I wanted to cheer you up." He looks the rolls then at me from under his lashes. "I know that you had a harsh night yesterday."
I bite my lip. "Harsh night" to say the least, I think, but I don't dare say that out loud. "Yeah," I admit sheepishly. "But I'm feeling better now." Lie after lie. Maybe it's becoming a habit.
"Well, I'm going to go pop in and say hi to your family, if you don't mind. Have fun tuxedo shopping." He leans over to kiss my forehead, and I swear he makes me feel more guilty every second. Not even just guilty for lying, but for something I can't even explain to myself - for existing. Because maybe if I didn't, Peeta would have a real shot at love, with someone his mother would approve of. Someone who wouldn't lie to him.
Short, in-between chapter before Katniss & Gale see each other after she told him she was engaged. Reviews? :)