"He's crazy for you, you know," said Johanna from behind her. Katniss turned, looking at her in confusion. "Haymitch. You should see how he is after you fall asleep. He's got it bad for you."
Katniss shook her head disbelievingly. "A guy like Haymitch isn't going to look at a kid like me," she responded.
"He told us," Finnick piped up. Katniss turned so she was looking at both of them, and they at her.
"What do you mean, he told you?"
"He's told both of us he's in love with you Katniss," Johanna said firmly. "He said the day the quell was announced, you told him to save Peeta and not you. Your exact words were, 'Peeta lives, not me', correct?" Stunned, Katniss nodded. Finnick piped up to continue where Johanna left off.
"He told me that was when he knew, Katniss. That was when he knew he loved you."
Katniss was reeling from the onslaught of information. Could it possibly be true? Could Haymitch really love her? Cinna's words rang in her ears, and this time she didn't shove them away. She looked at Johanna and Finnick, not having the first clue what she was supposed to do. Johanna called to the beach. "Haymitch! Katniss wants to show you what Finnick's been teaching her!"
Katniss raised her eyebrows at Johanna as she and Finnick began to wade toward the beach to give herself and Haymitch some privacy. "Don't worry. He'll be thrilled." And then Haymitch was making his way toward her in the water and her heart began to beat double-time.
"What's up sweetheart? You look kinda pale." Katniss couldn't help but grin at him. She felt pale.
"I'm not surprised." Haymitch must have sensed that she the conversation to be private, because he moved closer to her. She didn't have the first clue how to start this off, though. "Just say it," Haymitch advised.
"There's a few people, Cinna, Finnick and Johanna to be exact, who all claim that you..." she trailed off and blushed, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"I think I know where this is going but I want to hear you say it sweetheart," Haymitch said softly, and she could hear the note of sadness in his voice.
She took a deep breath. "They've all said you're in love with me," Katniss said in a rush.
It was Haymitch's turn to take a deep breath, and he looked at her tenderly, cupping her cheek with his palm. The sadness was evident in his eyes, and even a small note of fear. He smiled at her, though. He took another deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily. "Yes Katniss. I am in love with you," he said when he opened his eyes once more.
Katniss felt her entire world spin off it's axis, and all she could do was close the distance between them and throw her arms around his neck, making sure her mouth ended up next to his ear. "I love you too Haymitch," she whispered to him. "I love you." Haymitch pulled back slightly, surprise evident in his expression. She smiled at him reassuringly, and Haymitch grinned in response before pulling her close once more.
They stayed that way for what they both knew was entirely too long, but niether seemed to care. When they finally pulled back, Katniss felt an overwhelming urge to kiss Haymitch, and thought that he probably felt the same by the look on his face.
