Chapter 8 is here! This was another difficult one to write. I hope you like it. ENJOY! I appreciate all the support. Readers are amazing!
Win a Date with Peeta Mellark!
Chapter 8
Katniss got out of bed and walked to her bathroom. She looked in the mirror at herself. With red blotchy eyes, tussled hair, and her clothes still on, she looked like she felt-completely miserable. She had lain in the bed for hours since she had been home, not that she got any sleep. Mostly, she just laid there and cried, the events of the evening playing in her head like it was on a continuous reel. Now with the sun streaming brightly through her window, Katniss decided she had to face the world at some point, starting with her sister.
She brushed her hair and walked down to the kitchen. Prim was ready with a cup of coffee for her.
"Want to talk about it?" she asked. "I saw the news last night, but wanted to hear from you exactly what happened."
"Well," Katniss began, "If you saw the kiss, then you got the picture of the worst that happened. It was just the icing on the cake to a terrible evening." She went on to tell about being left alone, overhearing the vicious comments, and everything leading up to seeing Peeta and Glimmer. Ending with her leaving and catching the flight home, she finally let her sister share her thoughts.
"Those people are horrible!" the girl commented. "Honestly, I think Peeta should have helped you more, but I can't really believe her would kiss another girl like that. There must be more to the story. You said you wanted to talk with him the whole evening. Did you ever do that?"
Katniss shook her head. "No. I never got the chance, and then I was so upset that I just left."
Prim surprised her by the sternness of her next words. "Katniss! All of this stuff happened, and you didn't talk to him and hear his side of what happened? Did you ever think that maybe he was forced into dancing with that girl? From what I saw, it looked like she was the one initiating that kiss."
"I know what I saw, Prim!" Katniss yelled. She never raised her voice, but she was just so hurt that she was lashing out.
Her sister remained calm. "I still think you should talk to him. It was your first instinct to do so anyway."
Katniss turned her gaze away. "There's no point now. I said my goodbye in the note I left. He deserves someone who can be a part of his life. I don't belong. I'm just a librarian from District 12."
"You should let Peeta decide who he deserves and wants in his life. And from what I've seen these past few months-that's you." Prim turned to go upstairs. "Think about what I said. Talk to him."
Katniss drank her coffee and spent most of the day sitting in the window seat at the front of the house. She alternated between crying thinking over everything Prim had said. Could I have been wrong? Was there more behind what happened than what I saw? Her sister was right; she should have at least spoken with Peeta and given him a chance to explain what was going on. But, instead, she just believed her eyes and the hurtful words of strangers. All these months she believed she was in a fairy tale with Peeta. Her biggest fear had been that the bubble would suddenly burst, and she would be placed back in reality where there was no way someone like him would want her. Somehow last night, the fairy tale had been broken, and they had both let it happen.
Once Katniss allowed the thought that she could be wrong enter her mind, she found herself playing with her phone. During the night it had been turned to silent, but when she got up she had seen all of the missed calls and texts from Peeta. The last one had come at about 3:00 in the morning.
-Katniss. I know what you must have seen and I know it wasn't there for you. I'm so sorry. I want to explain. Please talk to me. I love you. -Peeta
. Everything inside her told her to dial the number and call. She debated over and over, her stubborn side saying that he should be the one to call her again if he wanted to talk so badly. There had been no attempt today by him to contact her. Maybe he had given up, thinking her as a lost cause. At one point in the afternoon Katniss hear the phone in their house ring. Maybe it's him. But it was for Prim.
"Hi," her sister answered, then looked at Katniss as she continued, "Yes….Yes…I understand. Thanks for letting me know. I'll make it happen." She quickly hung up and told her it was a friend calling about a project for school. Katniss went back to looking out the window and sighed. Did she want to fight, or give up? Did she love him that much? The answer to the second question was easier than the first, but decision made, she tentatively dialed the number. She only got Peeta's voicemail. In a shaking voice, Katniss left a short message.
"Peeta, if you get this, please call. I want to talk." She couldn't get any more out than that. She could only hope that he would call, but feared that he too had given up. Her phone continued to be silent, until she found that it was already evening. Prim came to her and suggested watching some TV.
"Come on, it will get your mind off things for a while." She encouraged. Katniss grudgingly followed her and sat down in the living room. The set was turned on, and after a few commercials some intro music began.
"It's the Caesar Flickerman Show!" a voice announced. "Please join us as tonight Caesar welcomes special guest, the star of Stir it Up! Peeta Mellark!" Katniss felt herself go still. Peeta was on the show. She also realized that her sister had planned this.
"You knew." she accused the younger girl.
Prim looked guilty, but said with assurance, "Yes, I knew. But you need to hear what he has to say."
Katniss didn't move, but started shaking at what lay ahead. Prim held her had as they watched. Caesar Flickerman came on the stage and did his usual monologue to get the audience warmed up. Making jokes about the weather and the current dance craze, he kept things light and easy.
Finally, Peeta was introduced. He came out, looking amazing as always, although Katniss could see the black circles under his eyes that the makeup couldn't completely cover up. He sat down and the blue haired host began the interview.
"So, Peeta, last night had to have been an extremely interesting night for you. Your new movie got rave reviews!"
"Yes," Peeta answered seriously. "I'm so glad that film was so well received."
'And that's not all that people are talking about today," Caesar continued.
"No, I imagine not," the guest replied. "And that's what I really came to talk about."
His interviewer looked intrigued. "Yes, please tell us about that kiss with Miss Glimmer Stone."
Katniss could feel her stomach tie in knots as she listened. She didn't want to hear this, but she knew Peeta deserved to be heard.
"That kiss was not what it seemed in the picture or video that you saw in the news. I am here because I want to make the truth known. I did not encourage Glimmer in any way. There was a dance announced and as I was looking for my date, she grabbed me by the arm and led me out there before I had a chance to stop her. Considering I didn't want to make a scene for her in public, I decided to dance with her. Was I right in doing that? Looking back on it, I made a bad choice" He took a moment to catch his breath, and then continued. Katniss could see the sincerity in his eyes. "I promise you, though, that if you watch the video, you will see that it is Glimmer who kissed me, not the other way around. I did not ask for it, nor want it. I told her so as soon as I pushed her away. I talked to her today, and she told me she would confirm this fact if asked."
The crowd murmured at the revelation, but Peeta kept on. "I was forced into it, yes, but that doesn't excuse the fact that I let it happen, or the mistakes I had already made that evening. Because of everything, I hurt someone I care about very deeply. I let her down, and for that, I cannot be sorry enough. What I had specially planned to be the best evening of our lives turned into a disaster."
"You had a special plan?" the host prodded him. Katniss was curious about this, as well. She sat with eyes glued to the screen.
"I did." Peeta replied, this time with a small smile. "As you know, there was a contest to win a date with me months ago." Caesar and the crowd showed that they remembered the fact. "The girl who won turned out to be the most amazing person, and I fell in love with her. So much so, that I had planned to ask her to marry me last night at the premiere."
Katniss was taken aback. He had planned to propose to her? She didn't have time to process this as he continued on. "After what happened, Katniss was so hurt that she left. She won't talk to me so that I can explain to her what Glimmer did, and how sorry I am. So, I came on tonight, hoping that she is watching. I wanted to tell her how I feel."
She was almost in tears as the host asked him. "What do you want to say to her, Peeta?"
He looked straight into the camera and spoke. "Katniss, I'm so sorry for what happened. Please know that I love you so much, and I know I hurt you. I have to believe that we can work this out. Please talk to me. Let me know that you still believe too."
With that, Caesar thanked Peeta for coming, and wished him well. The commercials came on as Prim looked at her sister. Tears were in Katniss' eyes as she got up from the couch. Determination was in her face.
"I have to call him now," she said. "I'll go there if I have to. You were right."
"Go get him," Prim answered with a smile. Katniss went to her room to pick up her phone. She thought about what she should say to him. After a few minutes, she decided on a simple text.
-I believe.
Within a minute, her phone had a reply.
-You saw the show?
-Yes. We need to talk.
-We do. Any thoughts?
Katniss let her mind try to think of the best way to do this. The phone was good, but this was really something that had to be done face to face. Should she go there, or could he come to District 12? It still meant time, and oh how she just wanted him here right now.
-I wish you were here with me.
-I do too. I've got an idea.
-What is it?
-Can you go outside into your backyard?
She had no idea where he was heading with this, but she let him know that she would do it, and headed out the door of her house. When she was where he had asked, Katniss let him know that she was there.
-OK, now look up at the sky.
Katniss gazed up at the full moon and stars that seemed brighter than usual that evening. Her phone buzzed again.
-If you want me there, then make a wish.
She picked out a particularly large star and said aloud into the night air, "Oh, Peeta. I wish you were here right now."
"Wish granted," a deep voice behind her said. Katniss turned and saw him in the moonlight. She gave a gasp and ran towards him. He opened his arms and she melted into them. They met in a deep kiss that lasted until they were out of breath.
She was the first to speak. "But how did you? I mean, you were just on the show!"
He laughed and touched her nose. "Caesar's show is always prerecorded. I did the interview late this morning, then flew right here. I've only been in town for about an hour. I thought for a little while I wouldn't make it in time."
She nodded in understanding, but then became serious. "Peeta, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that. I should have stayed and talked to you. I should have heard your side and not jump to conclusions."
"I'm so sorry too," he said wiping her tears. "I don't blame you for some of the conclusions you drew. It was wrong of me to let things get out of hand like it did. I let the craziness of my life and obligations of my career get in the way. I let you down."
"You explained, and I believe you," He was relieved at the thought that Katniss forgave him.
"That's all I ask. Just remember, talk to me if you're upset, okay?" He looked straight into her grey eyes.
She nodded, and they talked for a while, each telling of their experience at the premiere. He heard her pain at the vicious comments made about her, and he told her about how he kept trying to get to her while being pulled in by the reporters and crowd. They eventually came to an understanding.
When it got quiet, they found themselves sitting on the swinging bench on her porch. Peeta took her hand in his.
"You know, I still have a question to ask you." he said quietly. He turned towards her and pulled a small box out of his pocket. Getting down on one knee, he looked up at her.
"I never would have thought that Haymitch's crazy idea of a date contest would lead me here. But, it did. It led me to you. I love you so much, Katniss. Marry me?"
"Say yes!" a voice shouted from inside.
Katniss yelled back at her sister, "PRIMROSE! Go to bed!" Through the open window, she heard feet tromping up the stairs, a smile surely on their owners face.
Quiet again, she turned to Peeta who was laughing and leaned towards his ear to whisper, "Yes."
His smile was huge as he slipped the ring on her finger. With another kiss, he got up and sat with her, where they soaked in the happiness of the moment together.
Later, after Peeta finally left, Katniss went up to her room. Once again, he would be leaving in the morning for the Capitol. But this time, she knew that it wouldn't be long before they wouldn't have to part any more like this. They were engaged.
As she sat on her bed, she stared at the sparkling ring on her hand. She couldn't help looking at it and believing it was all true. She picked up her phone and sent another message to Peeta.
-Is this a dream, or are we really engaged?
A few minutes later she got a response.
-Oh, it's real. It's very real.
Katniss smiled as she punched in her reply.
-That's good, because if this was a dream, I wouldn't want to wake up.
WHEW! This one was intense to write. I hope that I got it right. So happy that I could get to the point where they are engaged. YEA! I hope that you all enjoyed it. Please keep reviewing and let me know what you think. Lots of love…