A/N: I hope you enjoyed that last chapter! Thanks for reading it! I must admit that last chapter was probably my favorite so Mayor John, Elizabeth, and Gale will be in this one hopefully! Enjoy! I love you all!
Disclaimer: Suzanne Collins owns these characters!
Katniss's POV – Death
It was strange. Strange because things had been going oddly well lately; usually Peeta and I get into some kind of mortal danger, but lately everything has been good. Lately as in yesterday. With the wedding in a week and half away, Cinna was busier than ever; he always had me in my dress, pinning me up, and then moving onto the bridesmaids dresses while we tried to keep Peeta away from his room.
Annie had taken over trying to keep him away, since with Peeta's love for me he usually wants to follow me everywhere, while I was in my wedding dress; because Annie and the others were going by 'if the groom sees the bride in the wedding dress before the day it is bad luck,' or something to that affect. But, since I didn't want any unnecessary fights and was fine with it either way, I simply agreed with them.
Peeta had invented a game along with Finnick and Haymitch; who both couldn't see the dresses either. The game was simple and annoying, Peeta would know when I was getting into my dress and he would send Haymitch or Finnick up there to bang on the door and while we were yelling at one, the other would creep around the side to look in the window. Curse Cinna having a downstairs bedroom.
That problem was fixed however, because Cinna switched to the room that I wasn't using in the upstairs; which demolished part of their game. Also, if the person not getting dressed wasn't either of us, Annie and I could distract Peeta and Finnick. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to distract Peeta with a couple of kisses; of course I willingly complied with the distraction, but that is beside the point.
Currently, Peeta and I were playing a game of chess; which his father taught him how to play and he said that he wanted to teach me; I didn't care much for the game, but with that much excitement on Peeta's face I couldn't say no. So, here we are playing chess together while Peeta tried to teach me.
"…. The bishop can move any way it move any way except diagonal. Your objective is to knock over the king which can only move one space in any direction. " Peeta finished telling me what every piece did. "So, do you have any questions or would you like me to start winning already?" He grinned.
"Are you trying to make this into something?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back in my chair.
"Do you mean like a bet, sweetheart?" Peeta replied mimicking me.
"Yes, something like that, honey." I replied. Peeta thought for a second.
"Okay, what about this," Peeta spoke, "If you lose I get a peek at you in your wedding dress."
"And if I win?" I asked narrowing my eyes.
"If you win, you win the lovely prize of showering me with kisses." Peeta grinned motioning to his body.
"No, if I win," I thought for a second, "you can't play your little games, with Haymitch and Finnick, of trying to see everyone in their dresses for the wedding."
Peeta looked at me for a second and then nodded, "Deal."
"Deal." I replied and we shook hands over the table.
"I forgot to tell you one rule, love," Peeta told me sneakily, "White goes first." He said moving a pawn forward.
After a few shots of him taking out my players, I glared at him and then grinned evilly.
"I didn't hear you say anything about mind reading not being allowed." I told him.
I could feel Peeta's eyes on me and the he looked down at his king desperately.
"I'll tell you what; loser gets to be showered in kisses." I told him, knowing I would win now.
Peeta's face turned one of desperate to smiling and happy in a matter of a second. He flicked over his king and leaned forward on the board.
"Thanks for teaching me how to play, Peeta!" I thanked Peeta and started to get up.
"I do believe that I was promised a shower ." He told me smiling.
I smiled back and gave him a light chaste kiss on the lips before kissing his cheeks in the same fashion. Then, I pulled away and stood up before he could get me back.
Peeta groaned, "That wasn't what I had in mind."
I bent down and hugged him around the neck quickly, "No more games, Peeta." I whispered in his ear. He groaned again and tried to catch me, but I ran upstairs.
"Katniss, we need you to come with us on a mission." Haymitch stopped me on my way to Peeta's room.
"What?" I asked, completely dumbfounded.
"The Mayor mentioned to me last night that there is a prison, much like what the boy -" Haymitch started
"His name is Peeta, Haymitch," I interrupted.
Haymitch didn't seem to notice my interruption, "And Johanna went through, that takes kids and tortures them in a way to make them attack people. He asked me, you, Finnick, Gale, and the boy-" Haymitch stopped.
"Peeta." I interrupted irritated.
"To go to the prison and try to break in and save as much people as possible." Haymitch explained quickly.
"When?" I saw Gale and Finnick coming up and walking downstairs with backpacks.
"Now. Get your bows, change, and whatever else you need to do." Haymitch replied running down the stairs. "I don't think Peeta should come." He told me suddenly.
"I don't think so either." I replied quietly.
"Not because I want to protect him, because he doesn't have the same mind as you, Finnick, and Gale." Haymitch replied. "I am staying behind too, only to watch you all." Haymitch suddenly shook his head, "Go get ready!" He yelled at me and then ran outside.
I nodded to his back and then ran to Peeta's room to get changed, I had moved my suitcase in his room, since Cinna took my room. I grabbed some clothes and then ran into the bathroom; I put on my mockingjay uniform, braided my hair, and grabbed my fire-looking bows. Then, I walked back downstairs running into Haymitch and Peeta in the entry doorway. They looked to be in a heated discussion about what I guessed to be the about the mission.
Peeta turned to me in a heart breaking expression, "You are going without me?"
I instantly hugged him, "I have to Peeta. You know what you would do if we ran into a prison guard; you would try to reason with him. Please don't be sad." I pleaded.
"Excuse me for not wanting to kill people." Peeta crossed his arms over his chest and looked away from me.
"You know it's not like that, Peeta," I walked in front of him and placed my arms on his arms to get him to look at me. "Peeta, of course I want you to come." I whispered.
"Then why can't I?" Peeta asked looking into my eyes.
I stared at him for a second and shook my head looking away from him, "You should be able to. I am not the boss of you; I just want to keep you safe." I shrugged.
The next move he made was shocking, because Peeta pulled me into his arms; hugging me. Stunned but willing, I hugged him back; my arms coming up to wrap around his back.
"You are so cute when you are trying to save me." Peeta whispered in my ear.
"Thank you?" I thanked him but it sounded like a question.
Peeta pulled smiled pulling back, "Katniss, I will let you go as much as it upsets me. I want you to go without me, Katniss."
"But why?" I asked confused at his sudden change of heart.
Peeta kissed me lightly, "Because I know you can handle yourself, because I am not your father, because I love you and I think you should help people."
"You and your words." I shook my head laughing.
Peeta laughed and hugged me again, kissing my forehead, "I love you. Come back home safe to me." He tried to seem casual but I could tell he was pleading me.
"I love you too, Peeta. I will." I promised.
Peeta pulled back and then held up an earpiece, that I wasn't aware he was holding, and started to put it into place on my ear. He worked with care and sensibility, making it as comfortable as possible on me. When he was finished, he stroked my cheek lightly before removing his hand.
"You better get going." Peeta told me.
"Okay." I whispered, but I couldn't help myself from kissing him in a searing but short kiss. "I will be back soon." I promised before stroking his cheek and walking out of the door and into the car.
We had a driver to take us to whatever place we are going to. I was sitting next to Finnick, who was silent, and Gale, who was on the other side of Finnick, peering out of the windows trying to map where we were going. As we neared, suddenly I became very nervous as to what we are about to encounter.
"I am going to drop you all a block away." The driver grunted at us after a long period of silence. We simply nodded our reply.
After the driver said this, we were dropped in a dark forest and I could faintly see a building in the distance.
"This way, Katniss." Finnick whispered from beside me, pointing to a tree tunnel that would protect us from the sky and also keep camouflaged in the dark.
I nodded and followed him under the tree's and I could hear Gale's thoughts behind me as we ran up to the building. Finnick found an air vent that we crawled through, getting covered in dirt and dust, but we did get in. Then, I checked to see if anyone was coming that we didn't want to see.
"No one." I whispered as we kept running, checking for thoughts with every step we took.
For a while, we came across no one as we zigzagged through hallways and rooms, but I thought it as eerie and bad and not good. We came across a large dirt pin that looked to be at one point a cafeteria, because there were metal tables backed up against the walls there was also a sidewalk along the walls of the upstairs and there were several doors that lead to rooms, I supposed. Finnick and Gale said that they would go check the doors and I nodded, pulling out my bow and loading it. Suddenly, I heard a woman running towards me.
"Mother?" I asked completely confused as she ran towards me.
"Help me, Katniss. Help me!" She pleaded and before I could nod there was a loud gun shot.
I looked around to find the noise and saw men lining the sidewalk upstairs, all with big guns and white outfits; Peacemakers. There was a lone man with his gun smoking as if by a shot directly in front of me, behind my Mother, the man had a terrified expression on his face. I couldn't worry about him, however, as my mother grabbed both of my arms; blood coming out of her mouth as I saw a bullet hole through her stomach. Mother started to fall and held my gaze before her thoughts cut off and she was motionless.
For a moment, I simply stared not believing what just happened. Then, I looked up at the man who shot her, his terrified face turned to panic but he did not run; probably to scared to run. I looked around the edges of the sidewalk and then raised both of my hands; both of them flexed, then I turned around in a circle and then clenched my hands and pulled my hands down to the dirt floor, bring my body down with it. What that did was simple; it pulled all of the men except for the one who shot her, down to the ground. The men falling on their necks, backs, and ankles. I left the one man on the sidewalk because I wanted him to be scared, I wanted him to be frightened of me, and I wanted him to watch what was going to happen to him after I finished with the men on the ground.
After that, I stepped in front of my Mother's motionless body on the ground and started to fight. I didn't shot a single arrow but I did send several kicks and bullets. Several men shot their guns at me, but with my telepathy I smiled stopped them before they could hurt me, then I sent them flying right back at them. All the while, I managed to stay close to my mother's body.
When all of the men on the ground were finished, I paused looking up at the man I left to watch; showing him how good I was, showing him that I could and would kill him. I was huffing and puffing, feeling sweat run down my face and arms, but I could not stop. The man and I made eye contact and for a long second, no one moved; apart from our breathing. Then, I took a step forward and the man moved so fast I couldn't stop him even if I wanted to; he raised his gun to his head and fired the trigger.
It was as if I had died with him as the realization hit; my last family member, dead. Father is dead. Prim... is dead. Now my mother is dead. I was literally surrounded by dead people.
"Katniss?" A voice asked, very far away from me. I looked up, searching for the voice as if it were my lifeline, because I wanted to think of something anything other than my families' deaths. I looked up to see Finnick; the bronze haired pretty boy.
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Finnick smiled sadly.
"Come on, we need to get going." He told me, helping me to my feet.
Finnick places arm under my arm; half dragging me to wherever we were going. I could not see Gale, but faintly I could hear his footsteps behind us, probably doing all he could to keep us safe while Finnick helped me.
"I'm here, Katniss. I'm here, I'm right here, don't worry Kat." The voice of Peeta suddenly haloed in my ear.
That was not a true statement. He wasn't here. Peeta was not here with me. I think he would like to believe he was, but he wasn't. Peeta had not just watched his Mother's death, Peeta did not have a sister that was killed by his best friend, and Peeta was not a Seam poor person who didn't have enough money to even step foot in the Mellark bakery. Peeta was not me.
Also, Peeta deserved more than me. He was perfect. Peeta deserved more; much, much more. Peeta deserved more than an olive skin, grey eyed, and brown haired girl. Peeta deserves more than a girl that had to survive without a father and fully functional mother. He deserves much more than a girl who wakes up screaming to nightmares every night. He deserved a woman who was as perfect as he was.
A muffled scream cuts off my thoughts. I looked around, even stopping for a second, but I couldn't see where it came from. Finnick and Gale seemed not to have noticed it, so we kept walking. But, the scream simply got louder with every step we took.
I stopped completely, turning behind myself to see what it could be.
"What is it, Katniss? What's wrong?" Gale asked.
I looked at him thinking, do you really not hear it? Could it just be my nightmares already coming to get me even though it is still the day? Instead of asking those questions, I simply shook my head and kept walking. The screams became uncomfortable and antagonizing; calling me to come to them.
I turned once more, this time Finnick and Gale both asked me what I heard but I simply walked towards the sound. Not knowing what it was, just knowing that I had to go to it.
But, before I could go far giant half lizard mutations came running towards us on all four legs. I couldn't do anything but hold my hands up to my ears and block out as much of the yelling as possible. Once again, I felt weak as Finnick and Gale started to fight and I curled up on the ground trying to get the noise out of my ears.
The screaming was unbearably loud. It was not a calling scream but a scream you would hear in an insane asylum, a scream you would hear after a beating a scream you would hear if you just lost your whole family. The horribly loud pleading scream that craved for someone.
Slowly, I came to realize that the screams were only in their minds so that was why Finnick and Gale couldn't hear them. I also came to realize that it was actually only one screaming because every time Finnick would kill one with his trident the screaming wouldn't falter for a second.
"One…one… just one…" I mumbled behind the screams still burning in my head.
"Which one is it, Katniss? Tell me. Point to it!" Gale frantically yelled, his yell sounding like a whisper against the sounds in my ears, so I had to strain to hear it.
Point to it? How could I point to it when I the noise was so loud that I couldn't tell my elbow from my legs? Point to it when I was bleeding from the ears? I knew Gale only wanted to help me, besides killing my sister, so I tried to read the minds of the lizard mutants. It was not the ones Finnick was fighting or Gale's. It was another that was simply sitting and staring at me while it tortured me in his mind.
When it realized I figured it out, somehow it screamed louder. I was thrown on my back and curled my legs up to try and protect my ears even more. My eyes squeezed shut as if that would help anything. Slowly a pace as fast as a snail, my hand lifted off my ear, flexed, and at suddenly the speed of a cheetah I grabbed one of the cafeteria tables and flung it at the screaming lizard, cutting it in half in the process.
I took a short moment to just bathe in the silence, simply worship it. I laid on the ground thanking the Lord while I basked in as much silence as possible.
Then, I tentatively raised a hand to my ear, put a finger to it, and looked at my pointer finger after I pulled it out. I was bleeding. I was bleeding from the ears. I knew it was possible but I didn't believe it until I saw the glistening red blood on my pointer finger.
After that, I looked around to take in my surroundings as if we were not in a life or death situation; as if there still weren't three more lizard mutants now trying their hardest to get past Finnick and Gale; as if this moment right here was the most peaceful moment of my life.
As a large white lizard came running at me on all fours, a snake tongue dashing out of its mouth as if to trap me, four legs with eight claws per leg throwing dirt everywhere they hit.
Calmly, I pulled out my fire bow and an arrow and hit the creature it in one of its red eyes. The monster yelled in pain standing up on its hind legs as if its mutant legs could help him. I took the advantage to shot him in the heart. The monster fell back, dead.
"Katniss? Come on, we are going back to District 12." Gale said, crouching down where I was still sitting, and taking in the blood spilled out of my ears.
I looked at him in confusion. Didn't District 12 get bombed to pieces? He should now, given he killed my sister. Gale noticed my confusion.
"They have been reconstructing it ever since the… bombs hit." Gale replied sadly.
I nodded, looking around for Finnick so that he could help me, because there was no way I was letting Gale touch me after he killed Prim. I saw Finnick standing behind me with a handsome smile on his face, turned myself away from Gale, and held a hand out for Finnick to help me up. He glanced at Gale in apology before he grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.
We walked out of the prison, and outside I was surprised to see a hovercraft waiting just around the block; where the car was supposed to be. Finnick helped me in as my legs were still mushy and un-responsive so in the end he just had to lift me up and carry me into the hovercraft.
Finnick sat me down on one of the couches, into someone else's warm arms. I pulled back to see that I was in Peeta's lap and then I hugged him tightly.
"It's alright, its okay." Peeta kept whispering. There was my dandelion again.
I simply hugged him while his hands rubbed my back in a soothing matter. I did not cry and I also did not speak.
"We are going straight to District 12." Another voice said, a female's voice, which was followed by a wet cloth dapping at my ears. I didn't look up to see who the voice was because I knew all I needed was Peeta's arms around me.
"I have seen pictures, Katniss." Peeta whispered in my ear. I didn't know what he meant, but he kept going, "I have seen pictures of District 12, the new 12, and every house looks how Victor's Village looks. Do you remember Victor's Village?"
I nodded my reply against his shoulder. Of course I remember Victor's Village.
"Also, there are new buildings, a new bakery." I could tell Peeta was smiling at that, "A new huge school and even a college."
I liked that idea. I was always good in school without really trying, maybe I could attend the college... first I suppose I would have to finish High School. I shivered, knowing that I would be treated like some kind of goddess
Peeta took my shiver as a bad thing, "Or you don't have to go to college. I just thought since you were good in school that you might want to go back but you don't have to." Peeta trailed off.
I just hugged him tighter trying to make him see that wasn't what I shivered about. Peeta hugged me back and kissed my cheek. "Maybe I guess wrong?" He thought and I nodded. "I love you." He hugged me tighter rubbing my back.
"I love you." I mouthed in his ear. I could tell Peeta was smiling.
After that, the hovercraft landed and we exited. There were some very nice huge houses being built and just finishing as we walked through town, Peeta holding onto me tightly; as if I would slip away. I looked up at him, only reaching his chin, but I kissed his jaw as we walked. Peeta smiled at me and then he kissed me very softly on the lips.
Then, somehow I had gotten away from the group to walk into the woods, although I was sure they were following me but I appreciated their kindness. I crawled under the fence and walked into the woods, sitting down in the meadow that I had so many fond memories of.
Softly, I plucked a primrose flower from the ground twirling the yellow flower between my fingers; admiring its beauty.
When I heard someone walking loudly to sit next to me; I did not turn to see who it was, I simply kept staring at the flower. After a few minutes of silence, I glanced beside me to see the person was Effie. I was pretty amazed that she came after me; wondering how she got under the fence in her heels. I shook that comment off, however.
"What do you miss most?" Effie whispered staring into the woods.
"The little things." I replied immediately.
"What things?" Effie asked turning to me.
"Did I ever tell you the story about how Peeta and I first officially met?" I asked instead of answering her question.
Effie seemed shocked, "Peeta told me about the time where he threw you the bread."
"No, not that time; the time where we first actually started talking to each other." I replied calmly.
Effie shook her head, "No, you haven't."
I stared back into the woods and started my story, "It was a few months before the Hunger Games started, my sixteenth birthday had just passed. It was in the month of June, I would be lying if I told you a date because honestly I can't remember. Anyways, I had a slight cold and Mother had asked me to deliver squirrels to the Mellark's in an effort to thank them after Peeta threw me the bread and saved my family."
"Prim and Mother didn't want me to go, they said I should instead stay home and rest, but I refused that idea because I was already in love with Peeta and felt like I had to go and thank him for the bread myself. I remember walking out of my home with the dead squirrels in a bag but before I could leave, Mother stopped me and said that I needed to be on my best behavior because the Mellark's had three boys and one of them might be my husband one day," I laughed at how right my mother was, "I rolled my eyes and said I would."
"Then, I walked out of the Seam and between coughs and sneezes I managed to get to the bakery. I remember pausing before walking in and taking a deep breath, before I pushed the door opened and the bell chimed. I was amazed at how much food was in the store and felt guilty as I tried to see how much one would cost; hoping that my squirrels would repay Peeta for his kindness." I closed my eyes, remembering the memory.
"Raiko was behind the counter she didn't seem to recognize me, but she saw the squirrels and said, 'You must be Miss Katniss Everdeen, aren't you?' to which I nodded, Raiko rushed me over to the counter 'Well what are you waiting on?' she asked, eyeing the squirrels. I hastily placed the squirrels on the counter and covered my mouth as another round of coughs hit me.
"'Well that is a nasty cough you have! Did you catch the influenza? I hear that has been going around.' Raiko asked me, I shrugged before saying, 'I don't know, Mrs. Mellark. I hope it is not the influenza virus.' I replied honestly. Raiko nodded in understanding, 'Please, don't call me Mrs. Mellark it makes me feel too old, my name is Raiko. These are handsome looking squirrels.' She introduced herself before the three boys walked into the bakery."
I smiled slightly, "I remember Peeta stopping right when he saw who I was, Connor looked shocked, and Ryan looked pleasantly surprised. Raiko introduced us all and Peeta wouldn't look at me, I remember being heart-broken because I thought he didn't like me. 'Look what Katniss brought us, boys, don't these squirrels look good?' Raiko asked the boys. 'They look great.' Connor nodded with a wink at me. 'What do we owe you?' Raiko asked after Connor's reaction."
"I was shocked wondering if she did not know about Peeta giving me the bread, but I thought I should keep the secret, 'Nothing.' I shook my head. Raiko gave me a look, 'I am going to give you something, Katniss, these squirrels probably took a long time to hunt and they are fresh, here I will just give you one hundred.' Raiko muttered as if it was a dollar and she handed me the crisp green bill."
I laughed, "My mouth fell open in an audible gasp as much as I didn't want it to, 'Raiko, ma'am, please I don't need that much these are just a few squirrels and they are honestly not that hard to get.' I remember being not sure whether or not to give it back or take it. Raiko seemed shocked by my reaction and looked around her bakery for a second, 'Alright, how about this; a twenty dollar bill and a tray of croissants?' Raiko suggested. I remember being still not happy with the deal but I nodded as I realized she was not going to go any lower than that."
"I couldn't count how many times I thanked her," I laughed again, "I always thought of how lucky Peeta, Connor, and Ryan must be. As I was walking back to my house, I could hear someone behind me, calling my name, and thinking it was Gale I turned around."
I paused smiling again, "Peeta came running down the path with a container of something waving at me. I stopped, wondering what he had to say. Peeta stopped in front of me, 'I'm sorry; Mother just said that you forgot this.' Peeta hand me a small jar of medicine, 'This is not mine.' I replied with a shake of my head, Peeta smiled at me, 'No, but we all thought you should have it because you look very sick.' I remember staring up at Peeta in shock of how kind the whole family was and I thanked him several times as well."
"Peeta brushed it off the thanks, 'Don't worry about it, I suppose we are even now.' He then winked at me as I looked up at him in shock, 'Peeta, thank you for the bread… this time and the last.' I whispered. Peeta grinned again, 'Of course, I was happy to help.' He made a move as if to brush hair out of my eyes but then decided against it, 'Why have we never talked before now?' I asked him my thoughts. Peeta shrugged but did not reply. 'I think that needs to change.' I replied with a smile and you know what happened after that." I smiled at Effie, returning from my long memory.
"That is a lovely story." Effie whispered.
"I remember it so different." Peeta's voice came from behind me and he sat beside me with a smile.
"How do you remember it?" I asked looking at him.
"I remember you flirting with me and when I gave you the medicine I kissed you on the cheek." Peeta told me.
I thought for a second, "I didn't flirt with you but you did kiss me on the cheek." I nodded. "I'm sorry I forgot to mention that." I told him smiling.
"Oh! I wish I had your camera!" Effie said.
"You don't have to capture every moment Effie." Peeta spoke what I was thinking.
"Never mind that, what else do you remember?" Effie asked me wanting to hear more stories.
"Katniss, you don't have to-"Peeta started.
"I think talking about it is good for me." I interrupted him. Peeta nodded and made a motion for me to keep going.
I turned back to Effie, "I remember my father used to take me out here after everyone was asleep and point up to the stars and show me all different constellations. We would name stars and fall asleep here. Mother would be mad at us, but my father would just reply with 'I just wanted the stars to meet there star down here.' Then he would place a hand on my shoulder bend down to me and say, 'You are going to be a champion archer-photographer,' then he would kiss my cheek and put me into bed." I smiled, remembering my father.
"He sounded like a great man." Effie whispered.
"He was." But it wasn't me who responded, it was actually Gale as he came up to sit in front of me. My smile turned into a glare. "Katniss was lucky to have him for the time that she did." Gale said only looking at my glaring face.
"Gale is right, I was." I hissed at him.
"Do you remember anything else?" Effie asked linking an arm with mine.
"I remember nonsense memory, but mostly I remember that it is my entire fault they were dead." I meant to keep that last part to myself but it just came out.
"Katniss, no its not." Peeta soothed me immediately.
"Yes it is." I whispered, dropping my head, and not looking at any of them.
"How?" Gale asked and I could hear Peeta hit his foot.
"It's my fault!" I was suddenly yelling, "Everything that has happened to my family has been my fault!"
"Katniss, no it isn't." Peeta whispered trying to wrap me in his arms, but I stood up.
"We didn't have money, Peeta!" I yelled, "All I wanted was a camera; dad started working extra shifts! I am not saying that he could still be alive, but let me hold onto the slight hope that he could! Mother pleaded with me to help her, maybe if I had my back turned to that man I could be the one dead now! And Prim, it wasn't even your fault," I pointed at Gale, "We should've left the Capitol as soon as we had Peeta and Johanna back, but we didn't! I could've saved her. If I hadn't been in the Games none of this would have happened!" I finished my rant.
"Well then it is her fault!" Gale yelled pointing at Effie.
"How is this my fault?" Effie asked in a small voice.
"It is in no way Effie's fault! How could it be? Because she pulled a piece of paper out of a bowl? I volunteered it was my fault!" I protected Effie and yelled back at Gale.
"If the Games had never existed Prim or your mother wouldn't be dead and you would be with me!" Gale stood up as well and I noticed Peeta had a light hand on my shoulder.
"No I wouldn't!" I shouted. "Gale as much as you don't like it, Peeta and I are getting married! We are happy together; get that through your thick skull!"
Gale glared at me, "You can't tell me that you don't love me too, can you?" He asked suddenly quiet.
"I did love you Gale, but as a brother as a best friend which we were nothing more!"
"Katniss, come on you don't have to explain yourself to him." Peeta whispered in my ear.
Gale seemed shocked by my answer, "But I love you."
"I know, Gale! But I love Peeta!" I yelled.
Peeta grabbed Effie's arm gently and pulled her up, he was preparing our getaway.
"Why don't you love me more than a best friend?" Gale asked walking closer to me.
I stepped back when he stepped forward, "Because you killed my sister! You are not my best friend!"
"You just said that was your fault!" Gale yelled back.
"It may be my fault, but you still killed her." I suddenly whispered. Peeta wrapped an arm around my waist, tugged at my arm, and started to pull me back.
"I did not kill your sister, Katniss! I love you, how could I do that to you?" Gale yelled before I was pulled out of sight by Peeta. Faintly, I heard Gale running deeper in the woods, away from us.
Peeta pushed me all the way back to Victor's Village in a loving manner.
"I'm sorry." I whispered to him and Effie, seeing her on the other side of Peeta.
"It is not your fault, Katniss." Peeta told me firmly back, I had a strange feeling he wasn't talking about yelling at Gale.
"It is." I whispered, looking away from Peeta and back to the newly paved road.
Peeta didn't say anything else, he probably just wanted to talk to me later about it, but Effie ran over to the other side of me, linked our arms together and squeezed my hand. I gave her a small smile. We walked into my home at Victor's Village, not stopping by the crowd that I knew was still in my house. Peeta led me upstairs.
"Effie, will you tell them what happened please?" Peeta asked on the stairs, not turning around.
"Yes." Effie nodded, squeezed my hand once more, and then turned walking down the stairs.
Peeta started walking up the stairs again and I took a deep breath before following him. We walked into my bedroom and he pointed to the bed, wordlessly asking me to sit down. I sat down on the bed and watched him pace in front of me.
After a few minutes, he stopped running a hand through his hair, "Do you want to postpone the wedding?" He asked.
I was shocked by the question, "No, Peeta." I shook my head.
"Okay." Peeta nodded, turning to my drawers and pulling out a orange dress for me to wear, before turning his back to me and waiting.
I knew he was giving me my privacy to get changed as I noticed that I was still in my mockingjay uniform. I dressed quickly and silently, "You can look now." I told him after a minute or two.
Peeta turned back around then walked over to me, wrapping me in his arms and hugging me tightly, "Can we just forget this for right now?" He asked looking down at me.
I wrapped my arms around him, "Yes." We hugged for a long time.
"I love you, Katniss please never forget that. As mad as you or I get, please remember that I love you and will always be here for you if you need to talk." Peeta whispered after a long silence.
"I know I love you too, Peeta. I love you so much." I whispered.
Peeta pulled back to give me a long deep kiss.
A/N: Thanks for reading! That was supposed to be a short chapter, but then I wanted to add more to it! Thanks! I love you all! Next chapter will be the wedding, but I have to ask, do you guys want a lemon? Or do you want me to keep it clean? Tell me please!