Chapter 6 – The Train
"Peeta how are we going to make sure our daughter comes back to us safely?" I whisper to him, my head resting on his perfectly shaped chest. He kisses the top of my head, which he knows I love and then he looks at me with those eyes.
"I think we need to worry more about Avan at this point and then talk to Klarissa about him okay Kat?" He whispers back and I nod approvingly. A few minutes later I hear Peeta next to me snoring and I glance at the clock. It's about quarter to seven so I decide to get up and start getting ready before Effie comes barging in here or trying to knock the door down with her fists of fury. I do have to give props to that woman though, she gets things done. I try to get out of bed without waking my snoring but adorable husband but I automatically fail.
"Where do you think your going?" He jokes around still sleepy and grabbing my waist to pull me back down next to him.
"I'm going to get up and start getting ready before Effie makes her rounds and wakes us up recklessly!" I manage to say between my giggles. He lets me go and a few minutes later rolls himself out of bed. His bed-head look really is cute. We both dress and leave our rooms for the dining car. We pass Effie on her way to make her rounds and she nods at us in approval. I guess we're just so used to Effie by now there's a biological clock that tells us get up before we get scolded. Once we reach the dining car we see Haymitch there and we take seats across from him.
"Morning" Haymitch grumbles.
"Goodmorning Haymitch." Peeta responds. He hands me a cup of coffee and a biscuit, "You look good."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Haymitch asks defensively.
"Nothing." I butt in, "He's just saying that you look cleaned up and proper." I add.
"Oh…" He says feeling kind of bad, "Thanks then." After that Haymitch continues stuffing his face and Peeta stares out the window. I can feel all the memories coming back like the first time I ever went to the capitol for my games. The first time I got the slightest hint that Peeta not only liked me but also loved me. The first time I really felt scared. Peeta must sense this because he wraps his arms around me and gives me a reassuring squeeze. I look back from him and see Effie rush in with a worried look on her face.
"I don't know where Avan and Klarissa are!" She exclaims, "I went to each of their rooms and there was no answer!" She paces around in the train car her heels clacking with every step she takes. Haymitch, Peeta and I all exchange glances and finally Haymitch breaks the silence.
"I think I might know where they are." Haymitch says in weird voice and a sly look, aimed at Peeta and I!
"Haymitch!" I exclaim, "What's that look for?"
"Yeah Haymitch, what are you onto?" Peeta adds on. Haymitch looks at the both of us like we were born yesterday. Effie apparently picks up on what Haymitch is trying to get through to us and clacks on over to us.
"How could you have not caught on earlier?" Effie practically screams at us.
"What do you mean?" Peeta says innocently, but then he catches on and looks at me connecting with my eyes. I finally understand. The looks at the reaping. The sudden volunteering of my daughter. Peeta talking to Avan back there.
"They love each other and wanted to spend time together before they get thrown into the arena…" The words finally come out of my mouth. Peeta kisses the top of my head and holds my hips as I try to stand up without falling over. He gets up after me and takes the lead, my hand in his.
"Do you want us to come?" Effie gently asks and then motioning from herself to the seemingly sober Haymitch.
"No." Peeta responds, "But thank you for offering." And with that we're off in search of our twelve year old daughter and her mysterious lover. I hear nothing but I think Peeta does as he tugs my hand towards the direction that he must hear something. It's our room. Peeta unlocks the door and we see Klarissa sitting on the bed and the bathroom door closed.
"Klarissa." I say standing behind my perfectly shaped husband. She turns towards us in shock and her eyes wide with fear. She opens her mouth but no sound comes out. Just then the bathroom door opens a crack and steam joins us in the room.
"Klarissa can you please explain all of this to us?" Peeta asks but it comes out more like an order. He walks over and sits across from her. "Klarissa you need to tell your mother and I because we can help with this whole thing." Klarissa doesn't look up until the door opens up fully and Avan wearing nothing more than a towel walks out and looks shocked to see us.
"Mr Mellark." He says in Peetas general direction and then turns to me and say, "Mrs. Mellark." There is a silence in the room and then Klarissa finally manages to squeak out the truth to us.
"I'm sorry mommy, daddy, but I love him and I was afraid you would never allow it…"
"Sweetheart, why did you feel that way? We would give him a fair chance." I say while I walk over to her and hold her.
"I'm so sorry." She sobs, "This must look terrible."
"Well it doesn't look very good." Peeta agrees and I shoot him a look but then he motions in the direction behind her and I understand why.
"What were you doing with these?" I ask her as I grab them and hand them to Peeta. Before we can get an answer Effie comes barging in.
"We're going to be at the capi-." She stops mid-sentence and looks at what Peetas holding. "Am I interrupting anything?" Effie asks cautiously.
"Avan go back to your room and Klarissa stay here." Peeta commands, "And Effie can we talk out in the hall please?" He adds on. I notice that he wants me to join him and Effie so I do. Out in the hall Effie crosses her arms across her chest and looks at Peeta for an explanation, but I step in once again.
"We found these on the bed behind Klarissa." I speak up, "I think we got there just in time."
"I'll have a talk with them." Effie states and walks off. We both turn to each other when we hear Effie's unusual voice again say thank you and then she continues off.