Chapter 2 – Bad News and Worse Luck
"Can I at least come in?" The voice booms to me and then echoes around the room.
"No." I snap back quickly and try to shut the door, memories of the past flooding my brain once again, "I thought once you left you were gone for good."
"I'm not here for you Katniss, I know I lost you a long time ago." Gale retorts, "But I have news from the capitol and they thought you should be told by someone who you know." This sentence suddenly catches my attention. Pulling the door open a little more I just stare at him.
"Katniss who is it?" Peeta asks as he shuffles out of the bedroom. As he sees who it is his jaw tightens and his eyes flare with fury. "What do you want?" He finally manages to get out. I now feel secure as Peeta wraps his arms around me from behind.
"You must believe me that this is news you should know before it goes public." Gale blabbers on. Peeta must sense some honesty in what Gale is saying because the next thing I know all three of us are sitting at the kitchen table waiting for one of us to speak up. Katniss keep quiet I tell myself because knowing me and my temper I tend to get myself into quite a lot of trouble.
"Gale." Peeta finally breaks the silence, "Why are you back here?"
"Because something important has happened in the capitol and it deeply affects you two." He says with all seriousness.
"You're not here for Katniss?" He asks maybe a little confused.
"No I came here to warn you for what is to come." He says. I finally sense the need to speak up and get this out of him so I do.
"Gale we know you came here all the way from the capitol or wherever but just tell us what already! I'm sick of all this back and forth stuff!" I snap to him. Peeta reaches for my hand.
"Baby why don't you just go back to bed? I can talk to Gale about this alone if that's okay." He looks over at Gale and Gale gives him an approving look. I get up and head towards bed and once I lay down next to my two angels everything seems to be okay again. I cuddle with the warm blankets as a substitute like I usually do when Peeta isn't here… but he is. He's in the next room over with Gale. The boy who I thought I had feelings for but then I could never forgive him for what he did. I manage to finally sleep and when I wake myself its around 9 A.M. I figure that Peeta has taken the kids to school already because I was sleeping and he didn't want to wake me. I pull myself out of the bed and then I find him sitting by the window in our living room. He looks like he got no sleep. Maybe him and Gale got into it? Who knows what happened.
"Peeta?" I ask quietly. He seems to be in deep thought so I say his name again trying to get his attention but there's no success.
"Katniss." He finally answers me, but without turning around to face me. He seems to be focusing on the window that is towards the Seam. I go over and rub his back trying to make him a little less tense. This isn't like him. We continue like this for a few more minutes but then I guess he finally decides we've been in silence too long.
"The Hunger Games." He says.
"What about them babe?" I respond quickly hoping to get an immediate answer.
"Their starting again." He can barely manage to get this sentence out.
"What?" I ask, shocked. I can barely process this through my mind. "Is that why Gale was here last night?" I ask.
"Part of it…" He responds. Peeta seems to be coming back to me now. Thank god.
"What was the other part?" I ask calmly, cuddling with him. Part of me can feel him tense up and he does not want to tell me but I make him either way.
"Gale said that they are going to bring the Hunger Games back because the districts seem to be getting out of hand and they don't like that. Oh and also that since you were pretty much the reason for the rebellion, our kids have a higher chance of getting picked at the reaping." He stammers out to me. I look to him and he looks relieved that he finally told me about this. My eyes fill with tears and I can't help but crying.
"Peeta they can't do this can they?" I sob into his chest.
"I'm afraid they can. Gale explained to me that the government has the power to bring back the games if they feel the districts are getting out of line and he also mentioned that this is how many people in the capitol feel so their bringing it back." He says all in one breath. Now I look up at him and see a tear roll down his cheek. We both lay down on the couch and manage to catch up on our sleep.
"Dad? Mom?" Teagan asks as he shakes us awake, "What's the Hunger Games?" We look at each other in disbelief and that's when I see my little angel walk through the door with Effie who I haven't seen in years.
"Katniss, Peeta, it looks like your going to be mentors." She says excitedly, "Oh and be ready for the reaping in a week!" She scurries off in those heels that I still have no clue how she walks and doesn't fall. Preparation! We have to prepare! I hear as Effie runs down the street. That lady truly does amaze me.
"Peeta, were about to mentor our only two children for The Hunger Games… teach them to defend and kill… teach them and hope they come back." I say finally getting the fact that there back. The Hunger Games. I can only mentally prepare myself for what lies ahead of Peeta, my children, and me.