Chapter 8 – Fighting Back
The smell of french toast greeted her the next morning. Katniss smiled as she sat down to breakfast. Ever since Cinna had pointed out the camera embedded in the wall in her bedroom and had indicated that her bathroom was camera-free, Katniss had calmed down and accepted that she was being spied on.
She didn't like it, but there were ways to get around it, to make it a kind of game even. For example the previous evening when she and Peeta were working on the recipe book, she had written him a short note on the bottom of the lamb stew recipe to pass along the information Cinna had provided about the camera in her bedroom.
She had handed the recipe to Peeta to illustrate. He'd looked over the page, smiled at her, and then said, "You copied it down wrong." He'd crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the unlit fireplace, and then handed her a new sheet. "Here, I'll dictate it again."
There were always ways to elude the Capitol, she thought, thinking about how she'd helped her family for years when hunting was illegal in District 12.
"This is so yummy Peeta," Effie declared, as she poured more syrup over her french toast. "I'm going to take you home with me to prepare all my meals when this is over."
Irritated at Effie's forward comment, Katniss noticed Peeta's face turn a bright shade of red. "I have a job at my parent's bakery," he mumbled.
"Oh silly, I'm only kidding," Effie said, her hand resting on Peeta's.
Why is Effie flirting with Peeta? Katniss narrowed her eyes at the woman. What was she up to?
After breakfast, Peeta showed Katniss how to make bread. They made two kinds, hearty whole wheat and a lighter white bread.
"Which kind is your favorite?" Katniss asked, while she was kneading the dough.
Peeta said he liked the wheat bread best. "I don't have it too often because it usually sells out first and we get stuck eating the leftover white bread."
Katniss was surprised to realize that even though Peeta's family owned the bakery, they didn't eat fresh bread, but rather subsisted on the stale leftovers. It seemed unfair. She wanted to ask him more about it but she didn't want to embarrass him on t.v., so she kept quiet.
Fulvia joined them for lunch. Afterwards, Fulvia helped Peeta clear the table, while Effie lectured Katniss on tricks to keep a man's attention. "Be intriguing," Effie said. "Don't talk about yourself all the time."
Katniss scowled.
"See you've already got that part down," Effie noted. "Ask questions. Find out what he likes."
Katniss nodded. Effie's suggestion did make sense. But Gale was her friend. She knew a lot about him already.
She knew about his hunting skills, his ability to make snares that would trap the cleverest of animals. She knew that he cared about his family and that he would sacrifice to help them in any way he could.
But she didn't know how he felt about her. Did he think she was pretty? Would he want to marry her if he had been given a choice? Maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought.
After a while, Fulvia came out of the kitchen carrying several boxes of baked goods. She told Katniss that tomorrow Effie would begin prepping her for her interview with Caesar Flickerman. "The district contestants will arrive in two days."
Suddenly Katniss felt very nervous. Would she get chance to talk with Gale privately, without cameras around? Unlikely. Maybe she could write him a letter and explain everything. She wasn't much of a writer though.
"When will I meet them?" she asked Fulvia.
"You'll meet them on Caesar's show. He'll interview you first and then interview each district's contestant. Afterwards there will be a cocktail party at the house where the men will live during the show."
"Cocktail party? What's that?"
Effie looked at her astounded. "Cocktails are alcoholic beverages."
"Oh," Katniss said. Being the daughter of a healer, she was familiar with the effects of alcohol on her mother's patients. It worked as an anesthetic, numbing their pain. She knew that some people, like Haymitch Abernathy her district's only living victor of the Hunger Games, imbibed regularly and as a result were disgusting drunks.
She wondered what the point was of gathering all the contestants together and numbing them. How was she supposed to learn more about these men if they were all in state of numbness? But then again did it even matter? She didn't need to know these men. She already knew how the game would end.
Cinna arrived shortly. He brought a sketchpad with him and some fine-point markers. He spent a couple of hours going over fashion design with her, showing her how different design elements in clothing could change the way a person's appearance, like how a short person could appear taller.
Katniss thought it was very interesting and admired the way Cinna drew so beautifully. "You're a good artist," she told him. "Peeta's good too."
"I know," Cinna said, and Katniss realized that he'd probably been watching them on t.v. the previous evening when they'd been working on the recipe book.
When Cinna left, Katniss went into the kitchen looking for Peeta.
"I'm starving," she called. "What did you make for dinner?"
He was facing the stove and when he turned around, Katniss could see that he was upset.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
Immediately a mask covered his face. "No," he insisted, stretching his face into a tight smile.
He opened the oven to show her a pan filled with a roast and tiny potatoes.
She helped him carry the food to the dining table. Besides the roast and potatoes, Peeta had made three vegetables and chocolate pudding for dessert.
"Surprise, surprise," Effie called out as she left the table once the food appeared, and retrieved two bottles of wine from her room. As she walked back toward the table, she punched some numbers into a keypad on the wall. Automatically the lights in the room dimmed.
She opened one of the bottles and asked Peeta to find some glasses for them in the kitchen. When he returned, Effie poured the wine.
Katniss had never had real wine before, only a weakened homemade version her mother used in cough syrups. She thought about turning it down, but then she wondered what exactly were the effects of it. Would it numb her to the nervousness she was feeling as the hours ticked closer to the start of The Match Game?
She took a sip of the tart, dry liquid, secretly thinking it could be improved with a few spoonfuls of honey. Peeta eyed her as she drank, but he was already a few sips ahead of her. Effie, meanwhile, had drunk her entire glass and was pouring herself a second one.
"What do you think? Effie asked her.
"It's all right."
"It's a real treat we don't often get in District 12," Peeta said.
"Unless you're Haymitch Abernathy," Katniss giggled.
Effie frowned.
Katniss giggled even more. She didn't know why she was laughing at her own joke. Could it be an effect of the wine? She'd nearly finished her glass. Her head was feeling a bit cloudy. She set the wine glass down and took a long drink from her water glass.
Dinner was soon over and Peeta stood up to clear the table.
"No, no, let me," Effie said. She stood up quickly then held her hands to her temple.
"Are you alright Effie?" Peeta asked.
"Just a little head rush." Effie regained her composure and gathered up the plates to bring into the kitchen. When she had cleared the table, she poured the remainder of the bottle into her glass, and then opened the second bottle of wine to top it off. She chugged the entire glass down.
"Now you two just finish this off for me. Don't let it go to waste."
Effie stumbled out of the penthouse leaving Katniss and Peeta sitting at the table with two glasses and a mostly full bottle of wine.
"Do you want some more?" Peeta asked Katniss. Her glass was almost empty. She shook her head. "No." The cloudy feeling was gone and she didn't want it to return.
Peeta, whose glass was empty, filled it half-way. "It beats the stuff Ripper makes."
"Have you tasted her liquor?" Katniss asked. "My mom uses it for anesthesia for her patients."
Peeta laughed. "I can believe it. Rye bought a bottle and let me have some. After half a glass I couldn't feel my tongue. I had the worst headache the next day."
"Can you imagine how Haymitch must feel every day?"
"No wonder he's so grouchy when he comes into the bakery," Peeta said.
Katniss stood up and walked over to a cabinet that stood in the corner of the room. She opened it, pulling out the sketchpad and one of the markers Cinna had left behind. She carried it over to the table, opened the cover, and wrote something down.
"Cinna was showing me how to draw today," she said, handing the tablet to Peeta.
He lifted the cover to see what she'd written.
Do you think the cameras are working now if the lights are practically off?
He reached for the marker that Katniss still held in her hand. She gave it to him and he wrote an answer to her question.
I don't know.
He moved the pad around so she could read it. She nodded and the two exchanged glances. He turned the pad to himself and wrote more.
How are you feeling about the show? Are you excited for it to begin? He handed the tablet and the marker to her.
She bit her lip as she wrote out her answer.
I feel terrible, like I'm trapped in a nightmare. None of this seems real.
She handed him the marker and the pen. He read her answer and a puzzled expression crossed his face, before he wrote down a response.
Why did you agree to do it then?
Katniss read his question and wondered if she should tell Peeta the truth. Even though they had never been friends in District 12, they had become good friends over the past few days. Maybe it was because he was her only link to home in this strange place or maybe it was because she had gotten to know him and discovered what a kind person he was.
Regardless of the reason, she wanted him to think well of her - to know that it was not her choice to participate in this Capitol game of exploitation. She took the marker from him and wrote her answer.
Mayor Undersee said they would open the medicine factory in District 12 if I participated. That would bring a lot of jobs into our district. It would be another work option for people in the Seam besides the mines.
She handed the pad to Peeta. His eyes widened as he read, his mouth dropped open.
A flash of anger crossed his face. You're being blackmailed, he immediately wrote.
She nodded in agreement, as she read his answer. She glanced up at him.
"I'm sorry," he mouthed. Katniss could see the sadness in his blue eyes.
"It's not your fault," she said aloud. Why was Peeta apologizing?
"But it is," he muttered. He grabbed the pad from her and began to write furiously.
Was Peeta delusional? How could it be his fault?
He wrote for a couple of minutes before hesitantly handing the pad back to her. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He reached for his half full wine glass and took a quick swallow.
She looked down and read.
It's my fault because I've had a crush on you ever since the first day of school when you sang the valley song in music class. It's taken me thirteen years to work up the nerve to even talk to you. I should have said something. I should have told you how I felt.
If I hadn't been such a coward, maybe things would be different. Maybe you wouldn't have been pressured to be on this show.
Astounded at Peeta's written words, Katniss didn't lift her head to look at him. She stared hard at the paper, as her cheeks grew warm. So Madge and Gale were right. He had been staring at her because he liked her. But he'd been too shy to do anything more than look.
She lifted her head to grab the marker from his hands, avoiding his eyes. She wrote back to him.
It wouldn't have made a difference. I've never wanted a boyfriend or anything to do with romance or marriage. Besides I'm from the Seam. I'm sure that would thrill your parents liking a girl from the Seam.
He took the pad of paper back from her and read it quickly, then reached for the marker she had set down.
It might have made a difference. I can be fairly persuasive. As for my parents, well, I couldn't care less.
He handed her the paper. She read his answer and burst out laughing at his confident response. She looked up for a moment grinning at his audacity and caught his eyes. They were filled with hope.
She looked away. There was no hope. Everything was already set into motion.
It's too late to do anything now, she wrote.
He pulled the pad from her, glancing at her answer and quickly writing one of his own.
It's not too late. I have an idea. Will you trust me?
She was puzzled when she read his answer, but she looked into his eyes and nodded. If Peeta knew some way to get her out of this mess, she was interested.
"I'm still hungry," Peeta said, his voice breaking the silence. He stood up. "I'm going to get some bread from the kitchen. We can make a fire and toast it."
Katniss' eyebrows shot up, her eyes growing big. "What?"
But Peeta had already left the room. Katniss began writing. When Peeta came back with a few slices of bread on a plate, some metal skewers, and a small box of matches, Katniss handed him the pad.
How is a toasting going to help me?
Peeta picked up the marker and wrote down an answer.
It's not a real toasting if you haven't filed paperwork in the Justice Building. But I bet people in the Capitol don't even know about this District 12 marriage custom. You can get out of this whole mess if they think you're already married. Especially when the ceremony has been on live t.v. in the Capitol.
After reading it, Katniss grabbed the marker.
What about the medicine factory?
Peeta smiled, and wrote an answer.
It shouldn't matter. You'll have kept your side of the bargain by coming to the Capitol and picking a husband on television. Just not in the way they expected.
Katniss looked at his words and frowned, hoping he was right. All she knew was that she wanted a way to get out from under the Capitol's control. She didn't want to be forced to marry anyone. She didn't want Gale to hate her for getting him involved as well.
Peeta wrote more.
Katniss, it's not a real toasting. I'm wouldn't hold you to anything like that. I just want to help you.
She bit her lip and nodded at him. She trusted Peeta. And she was a little hungry. A slice of toast would be nice.
He tore the page they'd been writing on from the notepad, crumpled it and tossed it into the fireplace.
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"There's a nearly full bottle of wine sitting on that table and those kids are passing notes back and forth to each other," Plutarch shouted. "Are they playing tic-tac- toe? I can't believe this. I thought they were going to get drunk and be all over each other. Fulvia, get me an antacid."
"Oh look, Peeta is lighting a fire," Effie sighed. "I knew things would heat up in a more romantic setting. Look how cozy the two of them look together toasting their bread slices. How polite they both are to offer their first bite to the other person. I guess my example of good manners has taken hold."
"Who eats toast without butter and jam?" Fulvia licked her lips, remembering the box of cheese buns in her refrigerator at home.
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"Trust me," Peeta whispered. "On the count of three."
"Hold it out so everyone can see," Katniss said softly.
They both removed their slices of bread from the skewer and offered each other a taste before eating the rest.
When they were done, Katniss leaned into Peeta murmuring,"what next?"
He smiled. "You wait for the right moment to tell them."
Giddy with the thought that Peeta might have helped her to outwit the Capitol at its own game, she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
He seemed startled at first, but then he turned quickly and his lips gently captured hers.
It's one of those quick feathery kisses Effie told me about, Katniss thought as Peeta pulled back.
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A couple of blocks away Effie screamed. "Oh, oh, oh, they kissed."
"About time," Plutarch muttered. He looked at Fulvia. "Did you tell him he's not a contestant?"
"Yes," she muttered. "He wasn't happy."
"Well, it obviously was the kick in the pants he needed. Maybe now he'll get down to business." He glanced up at the screen. "Why is she standing up and leaving?" he yelled.
They watched as a pink-cheeked Katniss said goodnight to Peeta and walked off in the direction of her bedroom. The shot on the television screen then cut to Katniss' bedroom as she entered. She grabbed a nightgown from the dresser and went into the bathroom to change.
"Nooooo," Plutarch whined, as the scene cut back to the living room as Peeta sat staring into the flames of the dying fire. "I'm going to have to refund everyone's money. What is it with these backward people from Twelve? It's a wonder the district is even populated."
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Katniss pulled back her comforter, climbed into bed, and turned off the lamp on table next to her.
She stared upward in the dark. She ran her index finger over her lips remembering the sensation of Peeta's lips on hers. Did I just pretend to marry Peeta Mellark?