A/N: I felt like the last chapter and the beginning of this one needed to follow the original story a little closer than the rest. It was a good setting to allow her to ponder thoughts that she isn't used to.
Update 3/12/13: Reformatted the text, inserted more line breaks for easier reading
Fresh Twist
I didn't get much time to process my newfound revelation as I walked in the back door of my house and my mother was there instantly with a nervous smile.
She informed me in a whisper that I had a visitor and as I peered over her shoulder, the unmistakable presence of the Capitol hit me like a ton of bricks. I proceeded to go into the study and upon entering, the smell was overpowering.
It's another trait of a hunter. A keen sense of smell. Before my eyes even focused on the figure sitting behind the desk, I could smell the engineered scent of roses – laced with something that I likened to poision.
His snake-like eyes narrowed in my direction and his solid white beard framed a devilish smile as he welcomed me into his presence.
"Miss Everdeen, won't you come in and have a seat?" he said.
I was relieved to be sitting down as I don't think my shaking knees would have supported my frame. Over the next thirty minutes President Snow cut right to the core of my soul with the revelation that he was well aware that I had not been truly in love with Peeta and that he believed my actions to be that of a rebellious girl.
He began to talk about a small spark and something about a fire, but I was momentarily distracted by the thoughts that entered my mind as I flashed back to that moment of truth in the arena.
That moment was one that I have relived so many days and nights.
At first I was trying to figure out the real intention of threatening to eat the berries. I could see how the Capitol saw this as an act of defiance, but with the new idea that I may really have deep feelings for Peeta, I tended to lean more toward the only choice I had to not live a life without him.
I snapped back to the present as my subconscious had taken in all that Snow was telling me. He was placing the weight of the nation on my shoulders with the sure promise for bitter torment and punishment should I fail to succeed.
"Convince the whole of Panem of my undying love and affection for Peeta," he had said.
Then he added something else that I didn't quite register at the moment. His firm jaw line and glaring stare told me that he was sure I would fail and that this was just a formality, a sort of step in his plan that he could look back on and say I warned her.
But in those moments something else was battling for my minds attention.
Each time Snow mentioned my act with Peeta it sounded foreign to me. Just the very word act was unsettling as if it was battling for a place in my mind and my heart.
The battle was between this simple word and that unidentifiable feeling that had been steadily growing since the days of the games.
"I will convince them all, you can count on me." Those words flowed from my mouth before I even thought about their meaning.
I slowly began to give in to the truth behind those words though. I wasn't just trying to convince the world, I was at the same moment confirming to my heart my true feelings for Peeta.
There was no point in denying it any longer. Even if the possibility for it to be reciprocated had come and gone, I was not going to fight to push it out of my mind and my heart. I wanted Peeta.
I needed him in my life as my best friend and so much more. All those years of growing up around him and the years since the bread had slowly etched his place onto my heart and in a moment of awakening, I let my mind agree with my heart.