Chapter Fourteen

My eyes automatically fill with unwanted tears that I quickly try to blink away as I stare at the boy in front of me. "It's all my fault," I whisper, my teary eyes looking him up and down.

"No," Peeta replies as he shakes his head. The movement causes him pain and he winces. "You will not take the blame for this. I should never have followed you home yesterday. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did."

I take a step forward, closing the gap between us. "Don't be sorry for doing the right thing, Peeta. I ran away without giving you an answer. It wasn't fair of me."

I look away from him then, and my eyes fall on the crowd watching us with eager eyes. My face turns hard as I address the crowed surrounding us. "Do you people having nothing better to do than-"

"Katniss," Peeta jumps in, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Don't."

I want to ignore him, forget his advice and speak my mind, but I have caused Peeta enough trouble already. I don't want to make the situation even worse than it already is. even though taking his advice would probably be the wise thing to do. I take a deep breath and turn back to Peeta. "Come on. I'll have my mother take a look at you."

I don't wait to see if he is following me as I start toward the door. Once I make it outside, Peeta calls after me. "Is it a good idea for you to miss another day of school?" I slow my pace just enough so he can keep up with me.

"I'd rather be at home than listen to all those people twist the truth," I say, my tone portraying my anger.

"What did they say?" Peeta asks as he limps besides me.

"Just that I'm a Seam slut that doesn't know who the father of my baby is. You know, because I have supposedly slept with you in the meadow and Gale in the woods and also sold myself to Cray," I snap.

"You know the truth. Your mother and Prim know the truth. That's all that matters. It's just a stupid stereotype."

I turn to him. "Look at you," I say, my voice barely above whisper. "This is why I didn't want to tell you. I knew she would do this."

"Telling me was the right thing to do, Katniss. I'm not afraid of her."

"Why don't you leave?" I ask.

"Because I have no where else to go."

My eyes meet his before I look away and continue walking.

"This would never have happened if I had just answered you yesterday instead of running away. If I had just agreed to marry you we would have a place to live and raise our child and you would finally be free of your mother. I'm sorry, Peeta. I was being selfish and only thinking about myself. I never wanted marriage or children, and then when you suggested it..." I trail off, the words getting caught in my throat. I swallow hard before I continue. "All I could think in that moment was how much my parents had loved each other, and how my mother fell apart when my father died. I never want to love someone as much as they loved each other. His death ruined her. Love is destructive."

"I'm not asking you to love me, Katniss," he whispers.

"I know. I'm just scared."

"There's no reason for you to be scared. I'm not going to leave you, Katniss. I'm staying."

We walk the rest of the way in silence, and soon arrive at the house. I call out to my mother immediately, and she rushes into the hallway to see what is wrong.

"What are you doing back? Is something wrong?" she asks, and I step to side, revealing Peeta. Her eyes widen at the sight she sees. "Come into the kitchen."

Peeta and I follow my mother into the next room, and I guide him over to the same stool he had used only yesterday.

"That woman should be reported to the Peacekeepers," my mother says as she gathers several items to clean Peeta's wounds.

"I'm pretty sure they already know," Peeta mumbles, wincing as my mother cleans the deep cut on his forehead.

"You shouldn't have to put up with this," mother says.

"I'm to blame," I speak.

"That's not true," Peeta replies.

"I am to blame, Peeta. None of this would have happened had I stayed clear of the meadow on the night Gale was reaped and..." I trail off. I don't finish what I started to say. Instead, I leave the room.

I take a deep breath as I lean against the wall in the hallway. I am still close enough to the kitchen to hear what is being said.

"There are definitely a few broken bones. I'll have to wrap you up tight and give you something for the pain," mother says.

"Thank you… again," Peeta replies.

"You are welcome here anytime," my mother speaks. "But I should be thanking you. Not many young men would step up and take on the responsibility of being a father."

"I understand that it is going to be hard, but I am more than ready to try. That's all I can do," Peeta says, and I walk back into the room before another word can be spoken. I have made up my mind. I spare a glance at my mother, and our eyes meet. I look towards the door and she follows my gaze. She nods her head slightly before she leaves the room, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder as she goes.

I walk closer to Peeta, so I am standing directly opposite him. I realise that I haven't prepared what I am going to say. I swallow and feel my face heat up and hands grow clammy as Peeta watches me. "I accept."

"You accept what, Katniss?" Peeta asks, looking at me as if I have grown another head.

I find myself nervously playing with the end of my braid, and I quickly drop my hand back to my side. "I accept your offer, your proposal. What I am trying to say is... I will marry you."

"Katniss," he says, his voice a whisper. "Don't do this just so I will be away from my mother. I want you to want this."

"I do want this, Peeta. I want this for you, for myself, and for our child."