Chap 23

Mystery Voice

by BreadBoy

This story is not connected to Fire Daisies or Panem High.

The songs in this story are not really sung or written by Katniss, but just let it go. She writes them in this story.

Katniss's POV:

I remember being carried in Peeta's strong arms, the umbrella keeping me dry, but Peeta was soaked. His shirt was dripping. I was so cold. All I could think about was the cold.

I felt like I was frozen. So numb, so numb, I couldn't even feel. I couldn't even think that Peeta would actually come. I closed my eyes, since it was a struggle to keep them open. I felt a burst of warm air hit me, and I knew we were back in the dorm room. I heard the umbrella close and Peeta grunt a little while he readjusted me in his arms. I heard the elevator doors open, and then I fell asleep.

I woke up in Peeta's room, under the warm covers. He was staring at me, at the side of the bed, which creeped me out at first, but it was an affectionate gaze.

"Hey," Peeta said.

"Hey," I repeated gently. He brushed a piece of hair out of my face. "I didn't know if you passed out or fell asleep," he said.

"I'm okay."

We stared at each other for a moment until I looked away, up at the ceiling. "I can't believe you came," I whispered.

"Katniss, you could've died. I have no idea what the hell you were thinking," Peeta frowned.

"I don't know. I was looking for you," I said, my voice cracking on the last word. I didn't want to cry in front of Peeta. I felt pathetic. Most times, I was tougher than Peeta.

"I love you," Peeta said, looking into my eyes, which aren't looking back at him. I'm still focused on the ceiling. I love you. Peeta said. I love you. I replayed it in my mind.

"I . . . I know," I said to him. I regretted it. He looked away. I couldn't think of anything to say. "Peeta. Peeta, don't take it that way."

"What way?" Peeta shakes his head. "What way, Katniss?" I sit up and pull his shirt so his face is closer to me.

"I think I'm in love with you. I'm just waiting until I'm sure so I can say it," I say the words carefully, making sure they're right. I know it was the correct thing to say when Peeta offers a warm smile.

"That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Peeta chuckles.

"Hey! What are you saying?" I pushed his shoulder.

"Nothing! You're not the complimenting type, that's all. You'd probably have a lot more friends, no offense."

"I'm bad at kind, aren't I?" I ask him softly. I want to be kind. It's always been hard. I never know what to say when someone is kind. I only know what to do when something bad happens.

"You're good at doing in the most important parts, Katniss. Who cares about kind when you're about to be bombed? You'd probably save everyone one way or another," Peeta tells me.

"I love you," I say suddenly. It's the right thing to say. He turns his head to look at me. He looks confused, but smiles.

"I love you more."

Finnick barges in, and I smile at him. I feel kind now. I want to smile at everyone. It's a funny thing. When you smile at people, they smile back. And that's what Finnick does, he smiles at me. "Hey. Katniss. You're awake. Cool. Yeah, um, Cato won't go away from our door, I think he saw you carrying Katniss into here. He's so fucking annoying. You are obviously not interested, right? God, that fucker needs to learn," Finnick cursed, obviously annoyed. "How do we make him leave?" Peeta and Finnick both look at me.

"I'm not talking to him," I cross my arms.

"He's yelling that he's gonna fucking break the fucking door, damn it!" Beetee yells from down the hall, aggravated as well. He always cursed, but there was anger in his voice. "Hey, stop cursing. We have a guest," Peeta says.

"I'm not talking to him," I repeat, wanting to disappear. Then I heard banging on the door. Peeta and Finnick continue to stare.

"Just go," Peeta says reluctantly. "Be right in the hall. We'll watch through the peephole in the door. If you don't something worse might happen."

"Peeta's right, fuck," Finnick has a permanent grimace on his face like he tasted something bad. "You're seriously making me go?" I ask them. More banging. I sigh and get out of the bed as they follow me. Beetee opens the door, and I feel like I'm being walked to my execution or something. They shut the door behind me, and Cato is there, chest heaving.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"You wouldn't answer. Thought something happened. You sick? Peeta carried you," Cato leaned in to touch my arm, but I jerked away.

"I'm fine. You wouldn't care. . . And so what? I didn't answer your calls. Actually, I declined them. So you stalk me all the way over here? What? I clearly don't want to talk to you, because I declined your calls, so can you...can you fucking leave me alone?" I cursed at him loudly.

"Hey, calm down. That message wasn't real-"

"It's not about the message. It's about you. And if you think that a relationship depends on a text message, then you're even more messed up than I thought you were," I was almost screaming now.

"Fine. Then since you're enjoying screaming at me so much, why don't you actually tell me what I did wrong?" Cato looks at me quite uncomfortably. I'm a little scared he's going to beat me up, but I keep going.

"Okay," I nod to him. "Okay, I will tell you what you did wrong. You, are an asshole. You, think that you can get whatever you want, because you're popular!" I smile at him sarcastically. "You caught me on purpose when I was desperate. I was hurting. And you took advantage of that. That makes it even worse. And guess what, Cato? It's not like that anymore. I'm not desperate, I'm not hurting, I'm strong, and probably more of a man than you are. So why don't you fucking leave me alone, and never talk to me again."

I go back into the dorm room before he can respond. Finnick whistles. "You told him!"

"I don't think he'll be causing any more problems," I tell the boys. I turn to Peeta. I think about it for a second before telling him. I am strong, and I am worth it. "Peeta, do it."

"What?" he asks.

"Tell them. Put my face on YouTube. I'm sick of Glimmer."