Chapter 17
We learn to keep busy again. Peeta bakes. I hunt. Haymitch drinks until the liquor runs out, and then raises geese until the next train arrives. Fortunately, the geese can take pretty good care of themselves. Even Buttercup has learned to stay away from Haymitch's backyard. I guess the cat isn't as stupid as I thought, after all. He's made a habit of sleeping in Prim's room, though he always comes out to be fed. Perhaps, knowing how hard it is for me to revisit her life and death every time I walk into her bedroom. I suspect it to be the reason why I've spent more of my time at Peeta's. I've even gotten into the habit of bringing game straight to his house after a day in the woods. I still cook it, and Peeta is glad to help me out in between his baking chores.
Today would be like any other day if it weren't for all of the movement in front of the Justice Building. In a few hours, television crews will arrive to televise the official re-inauguration of District 12. Not that many people have returned to it yet, but Haymitch tells me it's the way the new government of Panem has found of showing former district habitants that it is safe to return, and even trying to appeal to members of other districts looking for a change of environment.
"I don't see the point," I tell Peeta as we walk through the square on our way to Greasy Sae's. She invited us for lunch and her enthusiasm makes me think she's eager to tell us something. Peeta is looking up at the Justice Building. It's strangely decorated in the same way it was adorned during our Victory Tour. The image sends chills down my spine, as if today was about nothing but another Hunger Games celebration. The absence of peacekeepers keeps me in check. Even so, I take hold of Peeta's hand, suddenly afraid the ground will slip from under my feet. He doesn't seem to notice, but I let go of it when I see curious eyes in the distance. Surprisingly, Peeta's lie to Caesar Flickerman stood the test of time, and a war, because most of Panem still believes we're married. Those who have already returned to the district know that's not the case, even if they don't say anything about it.
"You don't see the point in what?" Peeta finally considers my comment.
"The party. How many of us are back here? Maybe 200 people?" I tell him and then I see what he'd been looking at. On the corner of the building lies a giant banner featuring no one other than Haymitch, Peeta, and myself. I recognize the photo, it's one of the many we took in the Capitol at the end of our tour. Everything it represents is wrong. I'm flustered. I can't believe they'd do that. We were promised peace, I thought I was done with having my face blasted all over Panem. Peeta turns to me, trying to calm me down about the photo.
"It's okay, Katniss. It's the deal Haymitch cut with Plutarch. No interviews, no public speaking, as long as our photo could be up there. At first, Plutarch wasn't thoroughly convinced. But then we got Dr. Aurelius to rule that we aren't ready for that much attention, so he had to settle for the banner," says Peeta, though I don't like the idea of being exposed again, even if through just a photo. The past months made me accustomed to anonymity, peace and quiet. Though more quiet than peace, I think. But, like it or not, as soon as the district returns to normal, some of our victor status will return with it. I'll have to find a way to handle it.
"And about the party," he continues. "I don't think it's all that bad, is it? Don't the people of Panem deserve to celebrate every little victory from now on? It's a new beginning, even if most people haven't come back yet. Maybe now they will."
"Fine. But I still don't agree with the banner. Those were horrible days, Peeta. Being controlled by the Capitol," I tell him, somehow afraid those days aren't over yet.
"They weren't all horrible to me," he whispers.
"They were about to throw us back into the arena, Peeta! And there we were, smiling for their cameras. How can you say that?" I point to the banner. I'm aware of how uncomfortable I was in that picture now. Peeta had just proposed and I had an uneasy feeling about my future. Little did I know my life would change as much as it did.
Peeta shakes his head at me and turns away. "I don't know, Katniss," he says, an inch of sadness in his voice. "They just... I don't remember everything, but not everyday was as bad as you say."
We walk to Sae's house, not another word is shared between us along the way. I'm not hungry anymore and feel like ducking under the tallest trees in the woods and hiding there all day. Peeta's distant, absorbed in his thoughts, though he puts on a wide smile when Sae opens the door.
"Good to see you two," she welcomes us in. "I just saw that big banner on the Justice Building, you all look so beautiful."
Nor her too, I think. I ask to use her bathroom, trying to avoid another unpleasant discussion about today's festivities. Sae's house is simple, though clean and big enough for her and her granddaughter. She lives in the third house in a row of houses built immediately after Panem was freed. They were all ready when I returned, right after my trial. Haymitch told me she was offered one of the houses a Victor's Village, a way to keep a closer eye on me, I suspect. She declined them, arguing they were too big for only two people. That's the house where Thom lives with his family, which accommodates six people very well.
I wash my face in the bathroom and sit down on the covered toilet seat. I feel lightheaded, as is expected given the little sleep I got last night. I had one of my worst nightmares yet. Prim had gone out to look for Lady, her goat, and was taking too long. It began to rain heavily, so I put my hunting jacket on and went outside to look for her. I told my mother where I was going, but she didn't seem to listen to me. Her eyes were as shiny as glass and her breathing heavy, as if it took her all the strength in the world to inhale and exhale. I find Prim in the meadow and just as I'm about to hold her, the rain gets warmer and warmer. It burns through my jacket and pants, to the point I get a horrible burn on my leg. I look up and realize the water has meshed with fire, a bizarre spectacle as flames fall from the sky. The district is burning and, suddenly, Prim bursts into a million pieces, right before my eyes.
I opened my eyes in pain, strangely aware of all my scars. Peeta woke up with my screaming, and it hit me I was in his house, in his bed. I vaguely remembered falling asleep right next to him as we played a game about our favourite things, another way of helping Peeta stir up memories about himself.
"Are you okay, Katniss? It was just a dream," he whispered, holding me for the first time that night. The next thing I remembered was waking up to the smell of pancakes and maple syrup.
I wash my face again, before leaving the bathroom. My skin is warm, though I don't know whose fault it is: the hot day, my dream about a rain of fire, or the thought of Peeta's body close to mine. I'm glad to see Sae has made lemonade, as that should quench my thirst.
"Have a seat, girl," she pulls out a chair for me. "I made lamb stew. I don't know if it'll taste like the fancy one from the Capitol, but I even managed to get some dried plums, so who knows?" she laughs at it and brings the pot of stew to the table. It smells delicious, and as much as I want to protest about having the Capitol invade even Sae's cooking for the day, I can't wait to taste it. "What do you think?" she asks, waiting patiently for my input. I bring it into my mouth and am pleasantly surprised. It tastes exactly like what we had at the training center and the arena. Maybe even better.
"This is great!" I tell her.
"Yes, it's really good. Some nice chunks of lamb too," Peeta adds, bringing a smile to her face.
"Well, I'm very happy you liked it. I can officially add it to the menu now." She's smiling and she scribbles something down on a small notepad.
"What menu?" Peeta asks.
"My food shop. I applied for a license the day they announced it on television, but it's been so long. I thought they forgot. Then they said that you could have things expedited now that they're officially re-opening the district for business," she explains.
"I heard about that too." Peeta is suddenly very interested, and I know why. He's been waiting for a response to his bakery license application for months and hasn't heard anything yet. "I thought we'd have to wait until more people came to settle, though. We don't even have an elected representative yet. I thought that person would be the one to authorize things."
"Actually not. You see, boy, they're bringing some officials today. The woman on the news show said they could sign any applications, on a first-come, first-serve basis. I assume that means we'll be alright... not many people back yet to apply for anything."
Peeta's eyes are radiant with hope. I know how much opening a bakery means to him. More than that, I know how much it could do for his mind, to keep him grounded. It's what hunting does to me, and being able to bake as an occupation could do wonders for him. I offer to go see these officials with him, and only after I remember that maybe we aren't on speaking terms. I think he was upset with me at the square just a few minutes ago. Peeta's reassuring nod, inviting me to accompany him, lets me know it's all right. We enjoy the rest of our meal with Sae, and although we say we'll see her later during the opening, we have no plans to attend. They can prop a banner of us as high as they want. But that's all they're getting.
Sure enough, when we walk into the Justice Building, which we'd thought was previously empty, we find the set up to bring the district back in business. The lobby has a small information booth with directions to different departments. They're still empty, but a sign points to a temporary office due to open today. We walk there and wait until someone shows up. About thirty minutes later, a short woman with light blue hair and make-up as vivid as Effie's walks in.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. Didn't realize we'd have visitors this early," she says and then pauses, sizing us up. "Oh my! What do we have here? I didn't want to ride the train all the way here just for today, but this is worth it."
Her smile creeps me out in a way only Capitol people can, and Peeta puts his hand on the small of my back to let me know it's okay. I was so used to all of the attention, but the recent months of being left alone in the district reminded me of how much I hate being in the spotlight.
"Madam, my name is Peeta Mellark. I'd like to check on the status of a business license application," he says it casually, pretending she doesn't already know his name and much more about him. About us.
"Oh yes, my dear. What an honour! An exciting day, isn't it? Revitalization of the districts, it's simply wonderful. Businesses will help with that. I assume it's a bakery, isn't it, young boy? Oh, of course it is. Just give me a second and I'll check that for you. If I had known I'd have such illustrious company I would have requested some refreshments. Would you like me to order something? It's just a phone call away. I just came back from the kitchen and everything looks marvellous. Plutarch will be so pleased!" She finally exhales and proceeds to look for Peeta's application in a small electronic gadget. A blue hologram pops out of it and she scans its contents for names.
Peeta pays attention to her, as she brings out some papers and has him sign them. He's excited, though I saw him cringe at Plutarch's name, just as I did. The chance that Plutarch may have come down to this event, as small as it is, is very high considering he's been after us for a while. Somehow, both Peeta and I know it isn't safe to be seen in the district today.
"One more signature here... Yes. Just wonderful! Just wonderful," she says as she keeps a copy of the paper for herself and gives Peeta the other one. "Now, of course, this doesn't constitute a business license yet, since you don't have a proper place of business to operate your bakery. But it gives you permission to start construction work. Now, you didn't hear this from me, but I'm sure given your highly regarded status within Panem, they'll allocate you the best piece of land in the marketplace for your little bakery. The little perks of being a victor, aren't they?" She smiles, seemingly pleased with herself.
Peeta thanks her and says goodbye, and we rapidly usher ourselves out of the building while I mutter the little perks of being a victor under my breath. As soon as we're out of the building, Peeta interrupts me.
"You're doing it wrong, Katniss," he says and then pronounces her last sentence in perfect Capitol accent, with special emphasis on perks as he holds out the signed form for me to see. As apprehensive as I feel right now, Peeta's attempt at humour makes me relax a bit.
The problem is that if Plutarch really is here, we'll end up on television. With so many news cameras around, he'll find a way to entrap us. Fully aware of this, Peeta and I know exactly what to do. The square is almost ready for the event and a train is supposed to arrive from the Capitol with members of the new government and even some new habitants in an hour. So we run to our houses to pack everything we need for the day, and then, we take the back alleys to the woods. We spend our day by the lake, far away from the commotion. Peeta decides to sketch me, though I don't collaborate very much. Moving a lot whenever I feel his eyes staring straight at me. Finally, we sit and just appreciate the nature around us. I take a nap, my head on his lap, and wake up to find my one braid transformed in two. We watch the sunset together and slowly sneak back into the village when all the noises from the square die out. I turn to walk to my house when Peeta takes my hand, leading me into his home for a night of comfort and a quiet hope that things will be all right.
A/N: Oh my! Over 100 reviews! All I can say is thank you! You have no idea how rewarding this feels.