Chapter 17
Peeta dropped to the floor. He was so tried. So, so tired, but it didn't matter he couldn't sleep. Worry filled his dreams, even awake he couldn't bear to look at Lilac or Rye. He felt so guilty. Katniss was the only one with a steady job, if he could just convince someone he was a good worker he would be fine, but his brother's bakery had closed due to competition years ago; his family had shipped out of the district not long after. Maybe…maybe he should too. He had told Gale he would. They had been talking about it for years now, yet they stayed.
This is our home.
He moved through all the unfinished canvas. So much money washed, yet he hadn't even been able to complete them, let alone sell them. "Dammit." He felt his hand go over a small image, the green so vivid, he had mad his own paint for this. He hadn't really paid attention to Rue in the…but he hadn't needed too. Katniss was all he needed, and a bit of research, painful research, the reason why he couldn't finish it. He picked it up moving over to the pile of old paints. He picked up a brush and began to paint.
He was so absorbed in the work that he didn't notice Katniss, "Yes?" He yelled. "Peeta can you come see this? Lilac had gone and cut her hair with a lawnmower!"
"Katniss, I'm…I'm painting, can you bring her hear?" There was no response, then, "That's fine! I won't disturb you. Come on young lady, I'm going to give you a haircut before you go to school." Lilac's peed came echoing through the shack. "But Mum! It looks cool." Peeta smiled to himself and looked down to his painting and with shock he realised he had finished it.