Chapter 7: Where

"Katniss?" Theria says, entering my room. "They have finished evaluating! We are free to go!"

I look over to Theria, standing in the doorway. I rub my eyes.

"Really? Wow. Took a shorter time than I expected." I pause for a moment. "Where's Peeta?"

"Oh, he has just gone down to the ground floor, to uh. Get something."

"Get something?"

"Yeah, so if you want to, go see him now. Go, now."

"Well okay then."

"Hang on, just saying. Your mother has offered us to stay at her house whilst we are here. So we can organize a train back to District 12"

"Oh, I'll go talk to her soon, I'll just go to- uh, y'know." I say quickly.

"Wait! You're still in your hospital gown!"

"What does it matter? This is a hospital."

"Well! They're ugly!"

I wave her off. Then I walk as briskly as I can outside the door to the elevator. I walk in to the elevator and push the 'ground' button. There are a few people in the elevator.

"Glad to see you're well again, Katniss."

I look over to the man who said that, I smile at him and thank him. Once the elevator dings, we are on the ground floor. I turn back to the man,

"Thank-you" then the elevator door shuts.

I look over to the other side of the room; Peeta is standing looking outside the window near the reception.

"Peeta!" I yell. But not too loudly, since this is a hospital. His head turns slowly in my direction. His eyes lock with mine and I begin to walk over to him. Then I notice he is holding something behind his back. I forget the thought when he embraces me with his left arm, I place a kiss on his cheek and we both pull away.

"Hey. I got you something." He says, revealing a small bouquet of flowers and handing them out to me.

"How traditional," I say, with as much humor as I can put into those words.

"Very traditional."

I lean in closer, "Just kidding, I love them." I wrap my arms around Peeta's shoulders and pull him in for a hug.

"Mommy! Look! It's Katniss!" A little girl calls.

I pull away from him. Then the litter girl runs over to my spot, her mother not far behind her. She has blond hair. Much like my little sister's hair. As she gets closer I can see she has bright green eyes like Finnick's.

"Oh hello," I say to the little girl, "What's your name?" I'm horrible with kids. I think to myself.

"Hi, My name is Phoebe. And you're Katniss! You're so much prettier in person!"

"Thanks you, and, that's me." I say. Her mother comes behind her, picking her up.

"Sorry about that. She just gets excited when she sees people she hears about on the television."

"Not a problem,"

"Katniss?" Phoebe says,

"Yes?"

She leans in, her mother still holding her, she whispers.

"I think he likes you." Pointing at Peeta.

I just laugh,

"I think so too." I reply.

She giggles then turns back to her mother. The mother places a hand on one of my shoulders.

"I was devastated when I found out you had lost the baby to the fence in the Quell."

Oh of course. I was 'pregnant' during the Quell.

"U-uh, yeah. So was I."

She takes her hand off my shoulder.

"Lovely to meet you. See you around." The mother says.

"Bye Katniss!" Phoebe says cheerfully.

"Bye," and they both walk off.

I turn around to Peeta.

"I'm so bad at lying."

"No, no. You made it sound like you didn't want to talk about it. Perfect acting if you ask me."

"Thanks," I smile, "But I don't like lying."

"I know I don't either. But I think some of the stories will fade away from the Hunger Games. In time."

"I guess you're right. We just have to put up with it until then."

"Hey! Peeta! You left this he room!" I hear Theria's voice call. We turn around and I see she's holding a couple bags up.

"Oh, right! Sorry!" He calls back,

She walks over to us and hands the bags over to Peeta.

"Katniss, your mother should be down soon. She'll take us to her house to organize the trip back home." She says.

"Okay, should we just sit down in the waiting room then?" I ask

"I guess so. C'mon" she replies.

We all sit down near a table.

"So uh, nice flowers you got there." Theria says. Then she winks at me.

I laugh, "Yes, they are."

There is silence for a moment. Theria is making one of those awkward faces you make when it's quiet and there's nothing much to say.

"Hello you three."

I turn to the direction the voice came from. It's my mother; she must have gotten out early.

"So, shall we?" she says.

"Yes." I say in reply.

"Lovely flowers, Katniss." My mother says.

I laugh, "Yes. They are."

"That sounds familiar," Theria says, "Maybe because you said it a few minutes ago…?"

"Oh shut up." I laugh.

It's a short walk back to my mother's house. At first glance, it's defiantly way too big for only one person to live in.

"Wow, this place is huge." I say.

My mother laughs. "That's one of the main reasons I invited you three to stay."

"Thanks again for that." I say,

"Not a problem," she says, she walks up to the door and pulls a key out her pocket and unlocks the front door, we all walk inside into the living room.

"Anybody want some tea?" my mother asks.

"Yes, thank you." Theria says.

"Me too," Peeta says.

"I'll help you mom."

"Thanks."

I walk into the kitchen with my mother, and then I notice I'm still holding the flowers.

"Hey mom, do you know where I should put these?"

"Oh just put them on the table. I'll put them in some water later for you."

"Okay," I say in reply, putting the flowers down.

"So how are you feeling? Any better?"

"Better than three days ago." I chuckle.

"I'd think so," she says.

"Could you boil the water Katniss? I'll just go get the tea leaves."

"You grow your tea?"

"Yes, I find it nicer that way."

"Alright then. I'll boil the water." I say.

After I boil the water on the stovetop in the kitchen. My mother is back with the tealeaves. She fetches three mugs from one of the cupboards below the sink, and I pour the water in each of them. She grinds the tealeaves and puts them in each cup. Then stirs them all.

"I'll take two of them. You can take the other." I say,

We walk into the room and I hand Theria her tea. Then I give the other to Peeta. Then I take a seat next to him and mom gives me my tea.

"Here we are. Enjoy." She says.

"Thank you," Theria says, then she takes a sip of the tea. "Wow, this is really nice!"

"Thanks, I grow the leaves myself." My mother replies.

This is nice. I'm glad we are staying at my mother's house. I'm happy to spend some time with her.

Meh, for some reason this took a while to write. Thanks for all the reviews, the input is nice. :D and there will be more chapters soon. :D School is out. so maybe the chapters will come out quicker. ;)