-Rachel:
I wake up from my nightmare around three in the morning. I'm not going to go back to sleep, not if I'll see the faces again. So I decide I'll watch the sunrise with Peeta today, like we used to do. I slide out of bed and dress myself in jeans and a T-shirt Peeta gave me for my fifteenth birthday two years ago. Two years ago. Was he really here then? It seems like it's been forever without him.
I make my way through the Seam in the darkness; I have to pass through it to get to the graveyard. It doesn't scare me like it does some of the merchant children. I like it, something about the coal dust on the road, the rickety houses, and the overall feel of it comforts me. I walk under the archway into the graveyard and make my way to Peeta; I could find him with my eyes closed and ears blocked.
I sit down next to the stone, not on top of him, just next to him. I will be able to see the sun rising perfectly, Peeta must love it, getting to see it every day.
"Hey Peeta, I love you" I grin and pat the ground. As I stare at the ground where my hand is a tear falls to it. Then another, and another, I just miss him so much.
Two hours later the first rays of light land softly on Peeta and I. A soft breeze goes against me, it brushes my lips. I smile; it's moist, but warm, almost like a kiss from Peeta himself. I bring my knees to my chest and allow myself to pretend Peeta is right there next to me, his arm around me. I raise my arm and point to the sunrise.
"There it is Peeta, your favorite color. You love it so much, since it's the perfect balance of red and yellow. Since it's only able to be seen for a short while before it disappears again. Before it fades and gives way to a new day."
Sure enough, a little while later the color disappears, fades away. I can see the people of the Seam are just getting up, the miners. They have to be in the mines in a little less than an hour. I notice one figure turn and walk under the arch to the graveyard; he makes his way towards us. When he's a few hundred yards away I recognize who it is; Gale Hawthorne. We're friends now, kind of. He was one of the only people near my age who would talk to me when I first got back from the Games, he and his girlfriend, Katniss.
"Hi Gale" I greet him as he comes up. He smiles at me, he doesn't smile much, so it makes me feel special, makes me feel like I'm not some monster.
"Hi Rachel, I heard you came back to see him" he nods towards the gravestone.
"Yeah, I had too, it just, wouldn't feel right if I stayed in the fucking Capital"
"Ya, I understand, I just wanted to give my respects for him before I went off to work. Katniss said she'll come down later on too, before she goes past the fence"
"Thanks, and I'm glad she'll come, it means a lot to me and Peeta"
Gale and Katniss didn't really know Peeta, but from what I've heard everyone respects him for what he did in the arena. For sacrificing himself for me and for loving me until the end. Everyone fell for my boy.
Gale goes up to the grave and places his hand on top of it, "Rest well my friend, rest well" he whispers, then he nods goodbye to me and is off to the mines.
I only have to wait an hour before Peeta's next visitor comes, its Katniss.
"Hi Rachel" she greets me with a smile too.
"Hey"
Katniss goes up to the grave and places her hand on Peeta's name. She closes her eyes and just stands there for a few moments. Then she nods goodbye to me. She walks right past me and slips out of District Twelve through a sore spot in the fence. It's illegal, but she hunts to feed her family, since her father died. Gale does too, but now he works in the mines. They've never been caught before, but peacekeepers know they do it. They don't care though, we're the poorest District, everyone needs food.
I stay alone for several hours after that, I go and gather flowers from a bush nearby and place them over Peeta. I smile at my work and stand back to look it over. I jump when I feel arms go around me; I look over to see who it is and see Finnick.
"Finn" I smile and turn and hug him. He came. Why did he come? "Why are you here?" I ask, he looks me in the eyes.
"To pay my respects, and to help you if you need it." He smiles.
"Thank you" I say as I get out of the hug. Finnick walks up to the grave and kneels on one knee in front of it. He bows his head and just stays like that. It's a simple gesture, but it means so much: respect, honor, and loyalty. Finnick gets up and comes back to me as I re-read Peeta's gravestone for perhaps the millionth time. Tears swell in my eyes and roll down my face. Finnick wipes them away gently. Some of Peeta's last words come back to me. "Finnick loves you, I could tell, the way he looks at you." I look up at Finnick, he smiles softly at me. Everything on his face soft; his eyes, his smile, his whole expression. His eyes are caring, loyal, and, Peeta's right, loving.
"Do you love me Finn?" I ask barely above a whisper, Finnick strokes my cheek.
"Ya, I love you"