Chapter 2 - Coming Home

"I can't wait to just live a normal life with Katniss. Away from all of your prying eyes!" Peeta smiled at the cameras, doing his duty one last time.

We were stepping off the train and already were assaulted by reporters and well wishers. I saw my family in the crowd, "Prim!" I yelled out.

One of the reporters near my mother chirped "What do you think of your daughter's new boyfriend Mrs. Everdeen?"

I was so grateful when she shook her head and replied "He's as fine as a young man can be, but she's not allowed to have boyfriends yet." Everyone laughed and there were hoots and jokes.

I hugged Peeta one more time and kissed him lightly, "I guess it's goodbye for now! At least until I can sneak out to see you!" Prim and my mother dragged me along as they waved off more questions.

"I'll be waiting!" Peeta blew me a kiss, and then turned to answer one of the reporters.

"I'm so happy to see you both!" I exclaimed once we were out of sight of the crowd. "Prim, you've grown!" I held her so close she can barely breathe.

"Oh Katniss! I'm so proud of you! I knew you would win, I just knew it!" Prim had happy tears in her eyes.

"Yes Katniss, we are both very proud of you," my mother echoed.

I gave her a small hug and decided to try to forgive the past. "Thanks Mom."

"Now come on, let's go to our new home! They set it all up already, we moved in earlier this week to get it ready for you and they've already filmed it before your arrival."

Good thing they did, because I was not in the mood to have more cameras around. I did ask them the one thing I've been thinking about most the whole time I was away. "How's Gale?"

"Gale is great Katniss. He helped us out a lot when you were gone, he even gave entrails to Buttercup!" Prim answered happily. "He's going to be so happy to see you!"

I'm not so sure about that. I don't know how Gale feels about me, but I knew watching Peeta and I "fall in love" must have at least been strange for him, if not difficult.

"How come he didn't come to the train station?" I asked.

"Oh honey, Gale has started working at the mines," my mother replied. "He only has sundays off nowadays."

"Oh ok. I guess I'll just go see him later."

I stopped in front of our new home, one of 12 they built at the nicest part of town, known as Victor's Village. It was huge, bigger than I ever imagined. I felt uneasy, like I didn't belong here. My mother and Prim were chattering away about the house, what's inside and what they've done to it. I glanced over at the other house buzzing with activity, and assumed it was Peeta's. How am I going to deal with being his neigbor? How will I be able to see him everyday knowing how much I hurt him? And what about Gale? Did he really not come to the station only because he had to work? Or is he angry with me too?

I composed myself for my family. "Let's go in and eat."