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Chapter 8: Hold
We've finished the tea and we had a long chat about everything, what's been happening, I have been able to sneak a few kisses to Peeta without my mother looking, but Theria defiantly knows what's going on. When she smirked at me this one time my mother turned around and looked at us. We had pulled away in the nick of time. I think I want to tell my mother that we are now, I don't know, together? Now? I have gone to get changed into some clothes that Peeta had packed for me before we left District 12 when I was unconscious. Since I was still in my hospital gown. Theria was right. These things are ugly. He's packed a few changes of clothes for me; night clothes, tracks, trousers, shirts, sweaters. I just slip on my nightclothes. It was nearing the summer. So the nights are getting warmer. Speaking of night, it's getting quite dark outside. I walk out of the room I am staying in and everyone seems to be in their rooms that my mother has let them stay in. I walk into the living room. I presume everyone's gone to get ready for sleep, but my mother is sitting on the couch by herself, I take the seat next to her and greet her.
"Hey,"
"Hey, Katniss."
There is a long pause. I speak up again though, to break the silence.
"So how's it going? With the hospital and everything, the house."
"Good, how about you? You know, Peeta. Some other things."
"Good…" I say, I feel my face flush red. But it must not be too bad since my mother has not taken any notice. Or she thinks its warm and I'm getting overheated. I don't even know why I am. It's stupid.
"So. I think it would be good if you went to bed, just so your shoulder can rest."
"Alright then mom, night" I pull her in for a hug,
"Night."
I pull away from her and get up; I make my way to the room I'm staying in. I sit on the edge of the bed for a moment. Will I get any nightmares tonight? Will I scream and awaken everybody? I lie down, over the covers; it's too hot anyways. I shut my eyes and I try to go to sleep.
I'm crashing through the trees, Peeta not far behind me. We are running from the mutts. The mutts that represent each of the tributes' faces. We are sprinting at full speed towards the Cornucopia. I look over my shoulder, Peeta is running far behind. Then I see him get caught.
"Peeta!" I shriek. I hear only the cries coming out of him as the mutts tear away at him.
This is it. No more running. I stop running towards the Cornucopia, and I start running towards where Peeta and the mutts are. I take aim with my bow and arrow, and shoot one. The others take notice of me and start chasing. I take my aim upon all of them until I have no arrows left. I keep running around whilst the others chase me. So I can retrieve the arrows from the dead mutts. This strategy eventually works. And all the mutts are dead. I make my way over to Peeta's limp body; his chest is still rising and falling. He's still alive. But he is injured badly. I can't do anything.
"Peeta.."
"Katniss, you have to go." he pleads.
"No. I'm staying here." Tears are falling down my face,
The footsteps behind me tell no lie. I'm going to die. Right here right now.
Of course I'm screaming. Also breathing heavily. I look around the room and the moon's light illuminates the room so I can only just see. I get up from the bed and I walk out of the room. No more of this. I can't take it anymore. I walk down the hall and stand in front of Peeta's door.
"Katniss?"
"Wha?"
I turn around, to find my mother in the doorway of her room.
"Oh, hi. You scared me," I say.
"Are you okay? I heard you scream," she says in a hushed voice.
"Yes. I was just going to.."
"Well, I'll leave you to it then." She gives a slight nod and goes back into her room,
I sigh, and open the door to Peeta's room. He's asleep so all I do is walk to the side of the bed and sit on it. I take hold of his hand and give it a shake. This makes him wake up.
"Katniss? Did you have another nightmare?"
"Yes," I pause for a long while, should I say it? Should I not? What if he says no?
"Can I stay here? For the night?"
He hesitates for a moment, and then I see a smile in the faint light from the moon.
"Sure," He pats the space next to him, gesturing that I should lie down. He moves over slightly to give me room, and opens the sheets. I swing my legs on the bed and under the covers and lie down. This is the first time I've been in the same bed as Peeta since the Quell. To be honest, I've missed this. I sling an arm around his chest and I move closer to him. He wraps an arm around my waist. He kisses me on my head and a small smile plays out on my face. How I've missed this. I close my eyes, and I slowly drift off to sleep in the arms of the boy with the bread.