Hunger Games: Confessions and Consequences

Chapter 8 of my Hunger Games fanfic, hope you enjoy it.

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InLoveWithPeeta: Well, read on to find out :)
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peeta4themockingjay: Thanks, glad you are enjoying it.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins.

Chapter 8

PEETA POV

I rolled my eyes, we were expecting this, but who was this reliable source he mentioned? Everyone was muttering, shocked, President Snow turned to us, glaring.

"You have deliberately made a mockery of the Capitol in an attempt to cause rebellion," He declared before turning to the crowd, "The sentence has to be decided and…"

"Hold on." Caesar interrupted, Snow turned to him glaring.

Caesar swallowed nervously before continuing, "Shouldn't we…hear what they have to say."

Snow glared but nodded, Caesar turned to us. I quickly looked over at Katniss, her expression was blank but she was really pale and I could see the fear in her eyes that she was trying to hide.

Finally, after a brief pause Caesar spoke to us.

"Katniss, Peeta, is this true?" He asked.

I glanced over at Katniss again, she nodded and I spoke immediately.

"I can assure you, we are very much in love, it wasn't an act." I told them, using my most convincing tone possible.

Snow snorted, however one thing was working in our favour. Since Katniss and I really were in love now so whenever we looked at each other or touched, our expressions conveyed our feelings. The audience could see it and I could tell Haymitch and Effie were talking quietly, probably trying to come up with some idea to help us, Portia and Cinna were shocked, they weren't expecting this. Snow however stepped forwards.

"Enough lies, I've heard enough, as I said I have a reliable source." He spat.

Caesar turned to President Snow.

"Um…with all due respect, I'd like to meet this witness."

"With pleasure," Snow responded with a smirk.

It was then the witness appeared, I wasn't surprised to see who it was, Gale Hawthorne.

President Snow smirked as he led Gale forward, I could tell Katniss was glaring at him with hatred, I didn't blame her. President Snow smirked and then spoke to the crowd.

"This man here had revealed the truth, he has revealed their relationship was false and that, since he knows Katniss Everdeen well, he can over his assurance that she does not have any feelings for Peeta Mellark!"

There was stunned silence and during it I caught Gale's eye, I noticed something unusual, he looked shocked too, and guilty. He saw me looking and gestured to Snow before shaking his head and I understood. I leaned closer to Katniss, realizing that she too had seen Gale's performance but was unsure what to make of it.

"He simply made some out of place comment about his feelings for you, A Peacekeeper overheard him and he was brought here," I whispered to her, "He was forced to make some sort of confession against us and now Snow is twisting his words."

She nodded, I also nodded to Gale, indicating that I understood; now I had to try and think of a way out of this.

KATNISS POV

I waited, trying to pick my moment to call Snow's bluff, I couldn't believe this, Gale hadn't actually betrayed us, it was Snow once again. Just then I heard another voice, interrupting Snow's speech.

"Is he your only witness, after all, he's not a very convincing one!" It was Haymitch.

Snow glared and remarked, "No, I have more witnesses than him, perhaps you'd like to hear them."

The two witnesses came up onto the stage, I rolled my eyes, it was Mrs. Mellark and that creep Orion. Did he honestly think they were good witnesses?

"These two know the truth, listen to them." He declared and turned to them, "Tell them what you know, let them hear the truth!"

Mrs. Mellark didn't hesitate and launched into a tirade against me, about how I broke Peeta's heart about how I was still leading him along and how she wouldn't be surprised if I hurt him again. Orion also spoke, his words were directed against Peeta, stating that I actually loved him and Peeta had stolen me, I fought to keep a straight face, Peeta was having only marginally more success.

Snow noticed our expressions and glared.

"Care to explain what's so funny?" He growled at us.

Before we could Haymitch and Effie appeared on stage.

"I think they'd be too busy laughing," Haymitch said before shaking his head, "But contrary to what you think, these three are the poorest witnesses you could find."

"Excuse me!" Snow bellowed, Effie then spoke, sounding rather harsh, "They are unsuitable, they are biased witnesses so you can't count on them telling the truth!"

Silence followed and then finally I spoke.

"Yeah, not to mention Gale's 'information was gained through force," I spat, Snow turned to me, his face purple.

Peeta glared at the dictator and shook his head, "Yeah, what did you do to him, to force him to talk."

"It doesn't matter what he did, you guys saw the truth, thanks for that," Gale suddenly spoke, stepping away from Snow.

Almost immediately there was uproar from the crowd, cheering us and shouting at Snow, Mrs. Mellark and Orion. Orion fled the stage in shame, Mrs. Mellark glared at me and also left the stage, Snow glared, seeing his 'careful plan' unravelling.

Snow eventually gave up and simply stepped back, nodded to Caesar and let the Victory March ceremony continue. During it Gale turned to us.

"I'm sorry you guys, I…" He began but Peeta shook his head and cut across him.

"It's fine, we kinda guessed what happened," He told him.

I nodded, smiling, I then kissed Peeta's cheek, hearing Snow's growl Peeta smirked and we both kissed each other fully on the lips, I heard the crowd cheer and when we parted I noticed Caesar's smirk as he spoke.

"Well, it's time for the Victory Tour to continue, if you don't mind," He stated, fighting back laugher.

Blushing furiously we both stood up, holding hands as we prepared to leave the stage. Before we left however Snow stopped me and whispered menacingly into my ear.

"I'd be careful if I were you Miss Everdeen," He paused before adding, with a growl, "After all, 'accident's' can happen at any time."

I walked on, ignoring him, but what he said actually terrified me, what was he plotting?

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, what do you think, read and review please.