Author's Note: Thank you if you reviewed, you are the reason I decided to continue writing this story.
Disclaimer: Would I be on a fanfiction website if I owned the Hunger Games?
Chapter 3
Peeta POV
My first thought was I'm doomed. My second was that's a horrible thing to think. My third was poor Katniss. My fourth was interrupted by my mother.
"Your brothers are in for it this year, thanks to you," she says. My mother doesn't usually come by to see me, but today she did. She told me she wanted to make sure I didn't lose my head seeing Katniss in all those wedding dresses. In reality, she just wanted to be there to remind me it wasn't real. Katniss loves Gale. And it seems that everyone wants me to remember it, including the president.
"I don't know, I think that Katniss' cousin will be higher on the list of males considered than either Challah or Roti," I say dryly, trying to hide all emotion from my mother. It was well known in my family not to let my mother hear any emotions that might be considered weak or vulnerable. It's one of the main reasons I'm her least favorite child. "You lean towards your dad, you do," she'll tell me. Or maybe "I wish you would be more like your brother."
Still, she reads through me like a book. "Jealousy, eh? Maybe this is good for you. Maybe you'll grow out of all this mushy stuff and grow a backbone like your brothers. Like your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend. Especially not now. She probably is already at Gale's, consoling him and his family. Maybe they've already run away," I say bitterly. I try not to be bitter, I really do. But Katniss makes it hard. I give her everything and ask for nothing in return. I just wish maybe I got something back once in a while."
Just then, Haymitch walks in half-drunk. He sees my mother and grunts. "Get out, woman. I need to talk to the boy."
"What right do you have—" my mother begins, never being one to like being told what to do.
"I'm a victor honey, I can do whatever I want." He sits down on the couch and waits for her to stand and leave. When she finally walks out with a huff and a puff, he looks at me. "So, I'm sure we both are aware exactly which 19-30 year old male is going to get reaped."
"Yeah," I say, not exactly sure what he's here to tell me. It's Katniss Haymitch always tells things to, not me. I know we made a deal to keep me in the loop, but I didn't expect that to change what has always been true: Katniss and Haymitch, then me. Still, I'm curious. "What about it?"
"It's gonna be rough watching her protect him," he says matter-of-factly.
"I can't stop her, though. And I wouldn't want to either. She deserves to be happy, with me or without me," I say, and despite everything, I mean it. If she would be happier with Gale, she should be with Gale. It'll be a large pill to swallow, but I've been trying anyway these past months and I plan to continue to do that throughout these Hunger Games.
"You're so much better than either me or her, you know that boy?" he says, almost in awe.
"That's what she always tells me," I say, just as she walks in holding Gale's hand, yelling for Haymitch.