I walk downstairs to hear my mom already yelling at my brother about bread. Great, she's in a bad mood and so am I. I got hardly any sleep last because of the information my brain withheld. I knew that Hawthorne was no good! He has a bad temper and probably did it before he could realize what he did but that's no excuse. Did he even say sorry? Does he even care is the bigger question. I can't believe that dirty, slimy, no good
"PEETA!" My mom yelled from the kitchen. What did I do now?
"Yes mother?" I asked cautiously hoping she wouldn't explode.
"I saw you last night with that… that Seam brat! You stay away from her she isn't worth a penny! What am I going to get out of that? A squirrel at the best, what's wrong with you boy? Are you trying to make us starve or worse poverty ridden? Uh, I can't believe you!"
Before I could get anything out in defense she slapped me, worse than slapped me hit me with a hot pan that just came out of the oven, that's going to leave a mark! I can feel the burning sensation starting to form on my cheek. Great, now everybody will know about my abusive mother! I can feel the blood boil inside my veins, anger forming from the inside out and my fist clenched so tight they were turning purple.
"You know she is ten times better than you or any of those merchant girls! She may not have all the money in the world or live in a big house in town but she has more guts and personality than you've had in a lifetime!"
Before I realized what I said my mom was in tears with either anger or the lack of satisfaction of her son, either way I knew it wasn't because she was upset with the insulting things I said, it was because she lost hope of me marring a rich merchant girl who had a rich merchant family for her satisfaction not mine. She looked at me disgusted with what I said and the way I defended that "Seam brat". Good, maybe now she'll leave me alone for a little while, one less pest to handle.
I hear someone knock on the back door, please don't be Katniss! I slowly open the door hoping Katniss won't be there. I cross my fingers and open my eyes Gale! He has anger in his eyes, towards me I don't know but I do know he remembers our argument from last week. I just want to punch him in his no good face but I have to keep calm. "How many?" I ask him. He holds up his left hand and spreads his fingers apart, five. OK so one loaf of bread. "I'll be back." I go into the kitchen and get a loaf of bread in return with a good punch in the face. Good one Mellark should've seen that coming! "Look I know we had a fight but that's over now. It was nice doing business with you." I shut the door trying not to seem too concerned. I need a minute to gather my thoughts. Gale came to trade, I gave him bread and obviously mad he punched me in the face. I sit on a stool in the kitchen and before I could relax someone came barging through the door. It's Prim? The sweet little girl who always loves to look at my cakes. She has her hair in two braids instead of one, wow that's familiar.
"Hi Prim, how are you today?" I ask in the kindest way even though I want to explode, not at her of course but because what just happened with Gale. She's been getting no sleep I can tell by the black circles under her eyes, something's bothering her. She looks like she's about to have a breakdown any second now.
"There is something wrong with Katniss! She's upset, she won't get out of bed, she refuses to hunt and she needs somebody, someone who is kind and sweet and caring. She needs you, maybe you can help her!" The way she says that makes me uneasy, is Katniss depressed? The girl whose been raising Prim on her own since she was twelve depressed?
"Prim look, she doesn't need me maybe she's just…"
I then get interrupted by Prim "I know what happened the other night, she told me! She needs you Peeta, please! "Great, now she was begging and worse in tears, she really cares about Katniss. I don't know how to respond, how to I say no to Prim? Everybody loves Prim, I couldn't break her heart.
"OK" I mumbled hoping she thought I'd said no and gone away but instead she jumped up and down in joy and waved me out the door, I slowly followed. We walked through the square, then town and finally we reached the meadow, so many memories at the meadow. Katniss's house was a few yards away from the meadow, must be nice to see such beauty every day. I saw her house it was made of wood and old-looking but it had a sense of warmth in it that was nearly impossible to find anywhere else. I opened the door and it creaked causing Katniss to rush out of the hammock she was laying in. She stopped in mid run and scanned me like I was some criminal in prison that didn't belong. It was odd, Katniss Everdeen examining me. I slowly shifted my weight to one side hoping she couldn't tell I was uncomfortable. She had black circles under her eyes worse than Prim's, she was in her pajamas; which was a pair of sweat pants and a lose T-Shirt, and her hair was loose and flowing. Her hair, her hair looked gorgeous. I just wanted to put my fingers through it and tell her it was OK but instead I just stood there. The silence was extremely uncomfortable, and then Prim finally spoke. "I'm going to fed Lady, Katniss I brought Peeta over here. You guys should talk, he's nice," And with that she left.
"Hi Katniss, look if you want me to leave I will. Prim came over and asked me if I could come over and I couldn't say no to Prim." She looked up at me and just stared. After a couple of minutes of silence I decided I needed to leave. Katniss didn't want my company; she didn't even want Prims company and she loved Prim to death.
"I'll see you later Katniss." I walk towards the door and reach fro the door knob. I can't believe I left so early! I didn't even try, what a shame.
"Wait," She said it as quiet as a mouse, almost like a whisper. I turned around slowly just to make sure she was actually talking to me. I look into those dark grey eyes and search for truth or irritation. I found nothing. "Wanna go on a walk?" She asked ever so gently as if cautiously.
"OK," I say ever so slowly but with a grin on my face. I hope she didn't notice the grin or I would've made a fool of myself! I let her walk out first and I follow, not knowing were we are going. I look at her, the way she stiffly walks, the way her hair blows freely in the wind and the way her eyes sparkle in the sunlight. I never realized how perfect she was. She and I arrive at the meadow, she looks over at me and it gives me this uneasy feeling like she knows I've been here. She looks at me expecting me to say something so I start.
" Look, don't be upset, Katniss. I know this is hard but you can get through this. I know you can. Do it for Prim." She was looking down at the floor until I said Prim. Her eyes were teary and I knew this was going to be harder than I thought. Maybe I've said the wrong thing!
"Katniss, you've been through worse and I know you can get through this." She looks at me and I've said too much, she wants an explanation. Although she already knows what I meant, I'm going to have to say it.
"I remember it like it was yesterday, I mean how could I forget. You were starving! I was horrified! You were near death and had no food. Sure being a bakers son all I had was stale bread but I had something. I remember putting the bread in the fire on purpose and the slap I took to the face. I remember looking out for my mom to make sure she wouldn't catch me. I threw it and I knew I had helped you."
"You saved me Peeta!" I was started and so was she. She looked as though she couldn't believe the words that just came out of her mouth. I looked at her tears rolled down her eyes, most likely from remembering what happened and her father.
"I'm sorry." I could barely choke that out. I caused her so much pain and have only talked to her twice. What a great companion or emotional supporter, whatever I am, I'm bad at it!
"Sorry! Peeta! You're sorry for saving my life? You can't be sorry for that, can you?"
"No! No, Katniss. I'm sorry for making you cry, I'm sorry for making you bring up so many bad memories and I'm sorry for coming here. Truly I am sorry." She looks calmer now almost as what I had said relieved her in a way. She might be relieved but I've never been more distressed. I want to run and walk away, never speak to her again, make her life better but that'd make me be a coward and she might need me.
"Don't be sorry Peeta. You have been the only one, besides Prim, to actually talk to me and try to help me. I just don't know what to do anymore, Peeta!" Here come the water works again, poor Katniss! She's only a girl! She's just sixteen and she's been through what mos people don't until they're grown. She hugs herself, blocking herself from everybody trying to forget or hide.
"It's OK, Katniss. I promise. Soon everything will be all better." She looks at me and runs into my arms. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that! I gently caress her hair as she sobs. I don't know what to do either but I'll make sure she'll be alright. After a while she looks up at me and she actually half smiles. I don't know if it's my imagination or it actually happened but it made me smile too, maybe a little too big.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything"