Life goes on

Chapter 12

I have been at Peeta's for a few days now. There would be no point in going to my house rather than his. Besides, I like it here. It always smells like something just came out of the oven.

Peeta has been the kind person that he is. Always asking if I'm okay or need anything. He's good at taking care of me, which is exactly what I need based on these past few months.

The first morning I was here I desperately needed a shower.  There were no problems until I stepped out of the warm water and realized I didn't have any clean clothes. I looked around for a towel but couldn't find any.

Peeta was in the other room so I quickly hurried to his closet and started to open and close his drawers looking for any clothes I could wear.

I was just about finished when Peeta walked back in and saw me butt naked. I screamed at him to get out and didn't dare turn around to reveal any more of myself.

I was facing the other direction but I'm pretty sure I heard him snicker. He was probably making fun of my torn up skin and ugly scratches. But that doesn't sound like Peeta.

That was a few days ago, now I've been at Peeta's for a little less than a week and I know he'll want to kick me out soon. But for now I don't want to go.

We don't do much but that is what's nice about it. He tries to teach me how to paint and bake but I just like watching him. You notice certain things that usually would just slide under the radar. Like the way his face has a certain look of concentration when he's painting. Or when his muscles show we he grabs a large sack of flour.

Everything feels normal. It doesn't feel like we went through two games, a war, and one of us being hijacked. Everything is peaceful and for the first time I start to feel relaxed. Of corse, that couldn't last for long.

I ran out of clothes so Peeta offered to grab some from my house. I'm sitting in his kitchen with a cup of warm tea in my hands starring out the window. I hear the door close to confirm that he has left. He'll be back shortly, our houses are just across the street from eachother.

I'm so lost in my thoughts I hardly notice the flash. It came from outside, what was it? Probably nothing, maybe the sun reflected off of something but then I see another one in a different spot. I decide to go investigate, which was a big mistake.

I walk up to the window and see a sworm of people crowded in Peeta's backyard with cameras.

Once they see me in the window they rapidly take photos and yell things at me. Things like "Is that the girl on fire?" "It's Katniss!" "Are the star-corssed lovers back together?". Then they start screaming for me to look at their camera.

All the flashing blinds me and I am stunned as a back away from the window. I start to yell for Peeta then I remember he left to go get me clothes.

Oh no, if there were people out back there will definitely be reporters and photographers out front.

I run to the front door and open it to find a massive amount of reporters and cameramen. None of them are pointed at me though. They're all focused on someone in the middle of them. I then see it's Peeta and he's trying to get back to the house while having microphones shoved in his face and cameras everywhere.

He looks up at me and that's all it takes for everyone else to see me too. Suddenly all the cameras shift towards me and people are screaming my name.

I haven't had to deal with cameras in a such a long time it shocks me, especially not this large amount.

Flashes from before the war rush to me. Going to the games, the Victory Tour, the Captiol. I'm going to the games. I am going back. I just stand there paralyzed with terror.

I'm going back to the games. Snow's back and he's angry. Everyone's angry and they're forcing me to die through torture in the arena.

Just when I feel like I'm about to pass out Peeta rushes up to me. He must have made his way through everyone.

"Peeta, we're going back to the arena!" I shout over the reporters.

He pulls me inside and slams the door on the reporters.

"Peeta, we have to go! We have to get out of here!" I scream while looking wide-eyed everywhere. My heart is pounding and it's getting harder and harder to breathe.

"Katniss, shh it's ok. The games are over." He says a little loud to be heard over the commotion outside.

"We're all going to die. We're going back into the arena and we're going to die." I press my back against the wall and sink down to the floor.

The people outside have made there way up to the door and are pounding on it which causes me to cry.

Peeta gets up and goes to the phone. I hear him say Haymitch's name and tells him to "do whatever it takes" then he makes another call to I don't know who. I stopped paying attention. I'll have to go to my interview with Caesar soon before they ship me off into the arena.

"I think she's having a panic attack," I hear Peeta say. Who is she? Certainly not me. Anyone would be nervous for going into the games. I bet everyone will love it when another tribute kills me.

Peeta sets down the phone and walks over to me. He picks me up easily and carries me up the stairs. The photograpers catch a glimpse of this and are besides themselves with excitement. They're sick. Getting excited about us going into the games.

He closes the door once we're in his room and sets me down on the bed.

"Katniss, we're not in the games." Peeta says in a soothing voice. "The games are over and they're not coming back. You're safe with me. Snow isn't going to hurt anyone ever again. It's okay. You're okay."

He keeps talking and eventually calms down. This whole time he has been stroking my hair which settles me a bit

"We're not going into the arena?" I ask.

"No, we're done with The Hunger Games.  You'll never have to go into an arena again. I promise," He says. Peeta gets up and looks out the window. When he comes back he reports his findings to me.

"Haymitch is outside taking care of everyone with District 12's authorities. You're good and safe."

Good and safe. This is what I told a Mockingjay after Rue died when it blurted out her melody. Good and safe.
Rue is safe and they can't hurt her again. Prim is safe too.

Good and safe.