Hey Everyone! Back for another update! This one is probably one of my favorites so far, so I hope you enjoy it! I'm not going to yammer on this time...but I do want to say THANK YOU for the reads, and reviews! You all make me smile! Here's the chapter!
"Peeta, there-there…there's something. In my stomach. An-And whenever I'm around y-yo-you. I feel something. Small, but still continues to…come back. To show me something. I-I-I don't know what-or how. I just know…something in me…-just. It feels. Right when I'm with you…And when we touch…I-I-I." Peeta's blue eyes peer up at me in some mix of happiness, and uncertainty. I can't tell if it's my stumbling over the words, or Peeta just being the true gentleman he is deep down…but he doesn't rush into anything the way Gale did with the kiss. Peeta just looks long and hard into my eyes. I feel a part of my stomach melts when his eyes lock on mine it doesn't feel strained nor forced. We both take several minutes just to look at each other. Something that I would have thought impossible the day I found out Peeta was coming back to twelve; and now we sit here in the dark room, only lighted by the full moon, just analyzing every last detail of each other's faces. The glare of the moon shines through the lone window and catches Peeta's sparking blue eyes; they look like pools, and reflect like the lake in the woods.
Right in this moment, he is the most beautiful thing I've seen rebuilt from the war. There are still scars in various places on his face, but it looks stronger… We may not be the same seventeen year olds from the first games, but the stress over the years doesn't show quite as evident on Peeta's face as my own. My fingers tremble with each breath I take in, I try to control my nerves, it eventually results in me breaking eye contact and staring down at my feet. When I look back up Peeta hasn't redirected his attention in the least. I can feel my cheeks heating up and I just pray that the darkness of the room has disguised it, because I can feel the blush running up to my ears, and I manage to find a word or two.
"Sorry."
"For what?"
"I-I-I just always do that…I guess I am screwed up in the head." I crinkle my nose in disgust over how crazy and nervous this boy can make me. Without any words, he can send me from confident and ready to kill, to some love sick little girl who can't even hold eye contact.
"You're not screwed up in the head for feeling awkward…You're just you."
I can feel his warmth against my cheek. His hand carefully and slowly moves the stray hairs away and out of my eyes. His face is very close to mine, and I again feel my cheeks heat up. It's barely audible but it's loud enough to send a half smile shooting across my face.
"God you're beautiful, and perfect just the way you are."
Those few words have made all the difference. I can't see anything but Peeta in this moment. The fact that Peeta can see all my flaws and scars, yet still call me beautiful and perfect; speaks so much more than any amount of rash kisses Gale has sprung on me.
I am never a rash person. Never in my life have I not thought something through, at least a few times. But in this moment I act on impulse, and only think about it as its happening. I am just able to see Peeta's mouth widens in a cheeky grin, before my lips are pressed against his. My stomach lays flat against the table and my hands cup his jaw, my hand smoothly begins wandering through his wavy blonde hair. After a few more seconds of this, I find myself having to tear away for only a second to catch my breath.
I rest my forehead on his, and listen to his breathing even out in synchronization with mine.
"Kat…can I take that as some sort of affection?"
His amused and humorous grin shines in the moonlight. I just nod slowly and half smile back.
"Hmm Kat. Doesn't this mean we're back to the star crossed lovers?" He lets out a couple silent laughs and I pull back slightly and give his face a gentle slap.
"Shut up." I let out a single giggle and stare back into his eyes without hesitation. It's him this time that takes a chance, he leans forward and I close my eyes expecting a kiss, I still get one, but it's a very gentle and cautious peck on the nose. I find myself with that same crooked half smile, that only Peeta has brought out.
I play with his hair for several minutes before there some sort of knock on the door. I begin panicking and breathing hard in fear that it's Gale at the door. Peeta cups my cheek with one of his hands and motions for me to relax.
"Yeah?"
Neither me or Peeta hear a response. All of a sudden the door flies open, and a shadow emerges. My heart feels as if it will pop out of my chest. I jump so high that I decide to stay on my knees underneath the table. I open my eyes in fear and I'm face to beak with that stupid piece of crap Haymitch calls Bernard. I let out yet another scream and bump my head on the table. I rub my head in frustration and crawl out from under the table, Peeta helps me up and holds me in his large protective arms for a second. That second would have been endearing if he hadn't been laughing his head off…
"What's so funny?" I feel a small scowl become apparent on my face. He rubs my cheek with his thumb and kisses my forehead.
"That goose does like torturing you doesn't it?"
"I told you so."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry." Peeta gives me his bright, and signature Peeta smile. I rest my head on his chest and just let the slanted thing I call a smile spring back onto my face.
"You know…You let me win too easily." Peeta raises an eyebrow at me and something of a frown pulls at his calm and steady expression.
"Well, I figured after all the things you've been through…the least I can do is humor you over that "demonic" goose."
I give a halfhearted scowl and stand on the tips of my toes to rest my chin on his shoulder. I feel his rather large nose nuzzle into the side of my neck. I turn my head ever so slightly and my lips brush his neck for only a second, and uncontrollable chills run through my body. This to me is the perfect moment. I haven't felt safe, even before the first reaping. But in this moment, I feel like nothing in this world can separate me, nothing can harm me, and nothing can taint this moment. Peeta's breathing is so perfectly consistent, that I begin to fade out to sleep. I wrap my arms around his neck to support myself and half smile into his shoulder.
"Katniss Everdeen, is that a smile I feel?"
"Half smile, you idiot." I teasingly and soundlessly laugh.
"Hey, that still counts."
"Counts for what?"
"I have started keeping track of the times you smile."
Normally something that spontaneous and quirky would have sent me into a fit of embarrassment and anger. But coming from Peeta…I find it…thoughtful…almost sweet…
"How many smiles are you up to?"
"Seven… Seven beautiful, perfect, and shining smiles."
Peeta rubs my cheek, it makes that demented half smile appear again.
"Eight." I let out a soundless laugh and look down at my feet; I subtly wrap my hand around Peeta's and breathe out a small sigh of happiness and relief. Now more than ever is when I realize my choice has been made. But in both Gale and Peeta's mind, the choice favors towards them.
When in reality, there's still a small part of me that truly begins to think that me and Peeta are repairable.
That without each other we would both die, or sink into some depression. But together…we could get through it. That things could be...good, again… That there's a small light of our lives that will never fade to the darkness of the Capital, that there is always a small bright meadow within us. I quietly pull Peeta behind me and lock us into my bedroom.
"Katniss-"
"Not in that way. I just don't think I could survive another night of nightmares before interviews."
Peeta looks down at me cautiously and I give his hand quick reassuring squeeze.
"Please stay with me." Peeta nods slowly and the exhaustion become apparent under his eyes. I rest my head on Peeta's chest and his large and gentle hand plays with my hair. He kisses the top of my head and I close my eyes for only a second.
"How do you feel about the interviews Kat?"
"I don't want to do them."
"I have a plan to get us out of them, if that's what you'd prefer."
"What's the plan?" I look up at Peeta with big eyes and he takes a deep breath in.
"It's a long shot, but…I was thinking about possibly just…running. When we are let out of the train in the capital… Gale is being forced to leave the train next time we stop, so rumors don't rise…So what if when we get in the capital we just run?" Peeta's breathing becomes uneasy and he won't look directly at me.
"I think it's worth a shot."
"You realize I'll be running too…"
"That's the only reason I'm saying yes." Peeta's smile only gives me the same hunger that I felt on the beach. He leans over and I feel my stomach flip over kissing him. But he "misses" my mouth and kisses me in between my eyes. I just close my eyes and fall asleep to Peeta's breathing and smells.
Before I can get my bearings I look up and see Peeta is gone. Surely Gale didn't get to him…
I jump out of the bed and run towards the door, it flies open at my touch and I scan the hallway for any sort of blood…I stumble out and find Peeta in the kitchen sipping something out of a mug.
"Good morning beautiful."
Peeta approaches me and hands me a mug. I smell the substance and realize it's that drink called hot chocolate. I gulp down several mouthfuls and just smirk at Peeta. He smiles back and kisses my cheek. Though he suddenly gets serious, and takes my hand.
"Are you sure you still want to go through with this?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
Peeta nods and walks in the opposite direction. I look behind me and see his reason why.
"Hey Catnip."
"Hi."
He leans forward and I just push his face back.
"No. Don't touch me."
"What's wrong with you?"
"I changed my mind. I don't want this."
I take in his appearance and see he has a bag thrown over his shoulder.
"I'm packed. I'll meet you in the capital…wait for me."
I shake my head frantically, but it's too late, he's out the door and walking away. Peeta peeks his head around the corner and walks by my side.
"We'll be in the capital in fifteen minutes…they are bumping up the speed so we can answer some reporters." I nod and follow Peeta into a spare room. He has his bag and is emptying all the clothes he can find into the one small bag. I don't remember much from that fifteen minutes, I just know the second leading up to when the train doors slide open. Peeta leans down to me and whispers cautiously. "Ready?"
"Yeah." I kiss Peeta's cheek and turn to wait for the door to open.
That's when I hear something so loud I feel as if my ears will start bleeding at any moment.
It's a woman's voice. And it could only belong to the other girl on this train. Annie. Me and Peeta run towards her train car, Peeta kicks the door down and we stare in disbelief at our friend.
Annie's forehead is soaked in sweat, her pants are soaked and she is grasping her stomach. She is breathless and yet she can barely stop screaming to yell out four words.
"The baby is coming."-
Hey Guys! What did you think about today's chapter? Hate it? Love it? Let me know in the reviews below! Sorry to leave you all on another cliffhanger, but the chapter's words were right at where I cap them off! I am sending previews out this week so leave a review and I'll send your preview out on Thursday! I love you all so much and can't thank you enough for reading! Talk to you all soon!
~Freezethemoment 3