Chapter 5 – Preparations For Our Daughters Game
The four of us walk to the building where the tributes are held. Peeta and I know we're going to be spending time with her so we leave Teagan and Gale to say their good-byes. Peeta looks at me and just by the look I know he has something planned.
"I'll be right back." He says to me as he steals a kiss.
"Where are you going?" I ask him curiously.
"I'm going to see the other tribute… that Avan guy." Peeta mentions, "I want to talk to him in private before we go to the capitol." I let him go without saying another word.
PEETA
I walk into the same room where I was many years ago but being in the same exact room brings back many painful unwanted memories. Avan looks up at me with a shocked expression. I guess he really didn't expect many visitors… like me back then. I take a seat trying to figure out what to say in my head but Avan takes care of that for me.
"Mr. Mellark I'm sorry for getting your daughter involved." He says without looking up at me. He has a powerful voice and by the looks of it he also has a powerful body. He continues, "I told her not to even talk to me, not to fall for me but she didn't listen. I knew us being together would bring trouble. I don't know what I was thinking I mean if I really loved her I shou-."
"Son stop right there." I say and he finally makes eye contact with me, "You are exactly like me when I was about your age." I take a chance to look around, "I was sixteen when I was thrown into the games. The woman I'm married to now was the other tribute from district twelve. I did everything in my power to make sure that she made it out alive and after that I realized I really couldn't live without her." Avan just looks at me with a puzzled look on his face. Maybe I need to make this simpler I think to myself. "Look, the girl I love was also in the games the same time I was and we both made it out alive and we had some bumps along the way but we did it. We made it because of love, we both truly loved each other back then and we still do to this day." With that I get up and head towards the door.
"Mr. Mellark?" He squeaks. I turn around to see him coming towards me and giving me a hug. "Thank you, I will do everything in my power to keep your daughter safe and to bring her home. Oh and I did watch the 74th Hunger Games so I do know about you and Katniss. That will be my inspiration for these games. Thank you again." I hug him back and leave. I see Katniss, Gale, and Teagan waiting for me.
"What took so long?" Katniss asked worried, "Is the boy okay?"
"I have a feeling he'll be just fine." I say as I wrap my arms around her and my son and we walk off.