Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read, favorited, followed, and reviewed this story so far. I really do appreciate it.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, the state of Texas, or the song 'Bleed Red' by Ronnie Dunn.
Chapter 4: Bleed Red
~ Let's say we're sorry 'fore it's too late, Give forgiveness a chance. Turn the anger into water; Let it slip through our hands. We all bleed red, we all taste rain. All fall down, lose our way. We all say words we regret, we all cry tears, we all bleed red. If we're fighting, we're both losing; we're just wasting our time. Because my scars, they are your scars, and your world is mine. You and I, we all bleed red, we all taste rain. All fall down, lose our way. We all say words we regret, we all cry tears, we all bleed red. Sometimes we're strong, sometimes we're weak. Sometimes we're hurt and it cuts deep. We live this life breath to breath, we're all the same, we all bleed red. ~
I remember one day from when I was sixteen. It was a cloudy day and the wind was blowing harshly outside, shaking the house. I was sitting beside Peeta on the old worn out couch that sits in his living room. We were watching some romantic comedy, and laughing at how corny some of the lines in the movie were. After the movie was over, Peeta had dropped on to one knee in front of me.
I remember how my heart began to beat frantically in my chest as he took my hands in his,"Katniss, you are the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep at night. I want to be with you, if you will have me. I love you."
"Okay Peeta, I think that is the corniest thing I have ever heard. You beat some of the lines used in that movie by a long shot." I said with a laugh as my heart rate returned to normal.
His smile dropped and he looked a little dejected. "Oh yeah, that's what I was going for…" He said nervously.
"Well you most definitely succeeded. Where did you hear that line anyways?" I asked.
"I remember hearing Pat say something like it to Kay once… but they were in a fairly compromising position so I'm not sure how much he actually meant it." Peeta had said and made a disgusted face at the memory. I stifled a laugh as he gagged at the thoughts that had invaded his brain. All I thought back then was that he was playing along with the movie but when I think back on it now, I wonder if he really meant what he said.
I wake up to the blinding lights of a hospital room. Pain is radiating from my right shoulder and someone is sitting next to me, tightly grasping my left hand. I turn to my left to see Peeta holding my hand. I look around the room slowly taking in my setting. There are a lot of people in my room; more than are allowed in at once for sure. My mom, Haymitch and Prim are all there sitting on my right side. All of the Mellarks are there standing behind Peeta, Kaylee and Volt are standing with them too. Standing at the foot of my bed is the one person I definitely did not expect to see. My father stands there handcuffed between two burly police officers.
"What are you doing here? You try and kill me and risk the lives of a bunch of people and then come in here to visit me. A little late to be a good father, don't you think?" I spit at my father, who refuses to make eye contact with me. Without looking, I know my face is red with anger and all I see is red. I want so badly to jump out of this bed and strangle him.
"Katniss, he came here to get your forgiveness. He has been charged with four counts of first degree murder, and one count of attempted murder. Under the Texas Penal Code he is to be given a death sentence. He said that before he is killed he needs to apologize." One of the officers says, I recognize him as Cato's father Brutus.
Despite knowing that he has killed three of my classmates and injured who knows how many others, I know that I need to forgive him. I've never been a religious person but I know that forgiveness is needed for everyone, even those who don't deserve it. Peeta's grip on my hand tightens, letting me know he is still there. Haymitch takes my other hand, trying to comfort me.
"Okay. I will hear out his apology but I want him to know one thing. He never has been and never will be my father." I say coolly. I squeeze both of the hands holding mine, letting them know I can do this as my father clears his throat getting ready to speak.
"I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I always let my anger take control of me, and the alcohol always made it worse. I hurt your mother, I hurt you, I've hurt everyone all because I wanted revenge for you leaving me in that house to die. It was never your fault and I realize that now that it is too late. I killed innocent people and I almost killed my own daughter. I know I have never been a father to you and I don't blame you for that. All I can ask is that you can forgive me for everything I have done. I don't want to die without your forgiveness… please Katniss, forgive me." He begs.
"I forgive you, but I will never forget what you have put me through; what you put all of us through." I tell him as we lock eyes; his eyes are filled with unshed tears but I feel no pity for him. I gave him the one thing he wanted and I don't need to give him anything else. The police officers drag him out of the room, leaving me with everyone else.
I turn to Peeta, "how is your side and who was killed?" I have a lot of questions and I expect answers.
"I'm better; the glass didn't go very deep at all. There are people that are much worse off than I am. The police just announced the deaths this morning, there were four total. Glimmer, Marvel, Finch and Dalton. Three people are in critical care right now: Thresh, Johanna and… and Gale." Peeta mumbles the last two names but I still hear them. Tears stream down my cheeks, blurring my vision. I cry for those who died because they will never get a chance to live their lives, they don't get to grow up. I cry because there is a chance that three people I care about could die. A lot of people leave the room, the only people in there when my vision clears are Peeta, Kaylee, and Volt. Peeta scoots his chair over so they can come closer, Volt steps forward first.
"I just wanted to say that I am really sorry about what happened and that I shouldn't have let Gale and Johanna drink so much. If they hadn't been drunk they wouldn't have tried to take down your dad. I should have stopped them but Ravius and I were both drunk and neither of us even thought to stop them. I'm really sorry; actually both Ravius and I are really sorry. Please don't hate us." Volt pleads; the guilt is evident in his voice.
"I don't blame or hate either of you. It was a party people get drunk and it impairs their judgment; don't worry okay?" I say and give him a small smile. He gives me a hug and says bye to us all before making a hasty exit from the hospital room.
"Poor guy has been waiting here since you were admitted to the hospital. Thought he was gunna burn a hole in the floor with all his pacin'," Peeta says with a light laugh then gestures towards Kaylee, "and this one here almost broke Patrick's hand because she was holding it so tightly worrying about you."
"I did not almost break his hand, he's just a wimp." Kaylee says with a smirk. Kaylee is a year older than Peeta and I. She is my neighbor and we have been friends since I moved here and she is like a big sister to me. She is at the Mellark's house as much or more than I am because she is best friends with Patrick; they are really close… and I mean really close. Kaylee smacks Peeta upside the head and then turns back to me, "I was worried about you but not nearly as worried as Peety-boy here. He never left your side once you came back from surgery. The doctors told him you would be fine, they fixed up your shoulder and then sedated you to help you heal. They said you should make a full recovery in two weeks. Peeta asked three different doctors just to make sure, and he kept calling my mother to ask her questions about your condition. Been drivin' everyone nuts waiting for you to wake up. I am really glad you're awake though, when I heard you were shot I rushed to the hospital. I was worried sick about my little sis."
"You shouldn't have worried so much; you know I'm a fighter. A bullet could have hit my heart and I would still be fighting. A shot to the shoulder isn't enough to get rid of me." I say somewhat seriously then my voice turns sing songy, "sooo how are things with you and Patty?"
"We haven't been together as much lately… because of stupid fucking Gemma. I want to stab that evil, narcissistic bitch with a rusty fork." Kaylee says and I laugh. Gemma made Kaylee's life a living hell in junior high and they still don't get along.
Peeta pipes up, "I would be willing to help." Kaylee and Peeta high five before Kaylee gets a text and announces she has to go; leaving Peeta and I alone.
"So it's just the two of us here… alone." I say dramatically. Peeta leans over and gives me a light kiss.
"I know that Katniss but we almost went too far at that party. Besides you need to be careful with that shoulder. There letting you out today but they said no physical exercise… at all." He says, wagging his finger at me.
I wink at him, "I hope you plan on keeping me company then, otherwise I might die of boredom. You will stay with me right?"
He locks eyes with me, "Forever."
I was released from the hospital about two hours after my conversation with Peeta. We had both ended up falling asleep, his head resting on the edge of my bed. After I was released, my family took me to home. Peeta came with us; my parents were letting him stay with us for a few days after I begged them. When I was with Peeta I had less nightmares, it has always been like that. When we get to my house we eat dinner and then I head up to my room, dragging Peeta with me.
"I'm so glad to be home. When I saw that gun pointed at me, my whole life flashed in front of my eyes and I just remember thinking I'll never get the chance to tell my mother that I'm sorry." I say as I grab pajamas.
"Sorry for what?" Peeta asks.
"I yelled at her right before we left for that party. I was mad that she hadn't told me my father wasn't dead. I needed to apologize and I needed to forgive her for not telling me. We all need to give forgiveness a chance." I say.
"That is very true, Miss. Everdeen. So forgive me for what I'm about to do." He whispers as he leans in to kiss me. The kiss is slow and passionate and seems to make every inch of my body tingle.
"That was a serious offense, . I'm not sure I can forgive you for that but I can try." I say sarcastically as we pull back. He winks at me and then pushes me towards the bathroom so that I can change and brush my teeth. When I go back into my room, Peeta is laying on my wearing a pair of basketball shorts. I lay down next to him and he puts an arm around my waist pulling me against his chest.
I remember my dream from early and turn to face Peeta, "remember the day we were watching that movie during that really bad storm. You meant what you said didn't you… about loving me?"
Peeta looks me in the eyes, "I meant every word, I really do love you Katniss."
"Peeta, I-" I start but Peeta cuts me off, "Katniss you don't have to say anything back, I understand if you don't feel the same. I mean we've only been dating for a few days."
I take his face in my hands and make him look at me, "That may be but we have been best friends forever. Peeta… I love you too."
Thank you for reading. My number of reviews for the last chapter was a little depressing; I hope to get more reviews for this chapter. I'm sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes, I have been so out of it lately. My mind is all over the place, that's what I get for trying to go non-stop. My two favorite boys, the grown one(haha) and the little one, have been keeping me moving.
Anyways, that's chapter four, hope you all liked it. Next chapter will have more flashbacks and there will be some more fluffy Katniss/Peeta moments I prefer writing happy scenes over the dramatic, depressing ones.
Thank you all for reading and don't forget to review. ;)
Love you all. – THGgoddess4ever :)