Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Forty-Five

Katniss POV-

"Peeta?" I call as I walk into the house.

Finnick waited with Carter outside until Bristol arrived, then he left.

"I'm in here, Katniss!" Peeta calls from the kitchen.

I walk in and find the curtains have been drawn and all the lights in the kitchen have been switched off leaving the room completely dark.

"Peeta, where are you?" I ask, straining my eyes by looking into complete darkness.

I look down at the floor and see Peeta sitting there in the dark.

I laugh, "Peeta, what are you doing?"

I hear him laugh, "Before you do anything, I want you to go to the downstairs bathroom and do what the note says." He orders me.

"But-" he cuts me off.

"No questions, go." He says, jokingly stern.

I groan playfully and walk to the bathroom.

I flip the light on to find an outfit that I bought earlier today and a note.

(Note from Peeta)

"Katniss,

I want you to put this on because I know you'll be mad at me if you don't. Come to the kitchen for a surprise. I love you! Happy birthday!

-Peeta."

I smile and take the shirt and leggings off of the hanger, quickly putting the outfit on and applying a little makeup since I didn't earlier and I head to the kitchen.

I find that the kitchen door is shut now, so I open it.

I see the room is illuminated with candles, candles that Peeta arranged into the shape of a heart.

He sits in the middle of them, in nice jeans and that gray jacket I insisted on buying him and the locket around his neck.

A smile on his face and a cake with many candles in his hand.

I let out a breathy laugh, "Peeta, what are you doing?"

Peeta gives me that adorable-innocent smile he gives me quite often and laughs too.

He waves me over and tells me to sit down with him.

I carefully step over the flames and sit down across from him.

"Careful of you hair." He says, when my hair gets too close to the lit cake.

I laugh and nod my head and push my hair back away from the flames.

"Hi." He says, tears in his eyes.

I laugh, "Hi."

"This is going to be weird so don't laugh at me." Peeta begins.

"I won't laugh at you." I assure him.

Peeta clears his throat and takes a deep breath and begins singing;

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Katniss. Happy birthday to you." Peeta sings to me.

I have the biggest smile across my face and I can't help but to laugh at him, though, I promised not to.

He smiles, "You promised not you laugh."

I let out a chuckle, "I'm not laughing at you." I say, as tears begin streaming down my cheeks as Peeta holds the little cake out to me.

"Make a wish." Peeta says, smiling.

So I do.

I blow out all twenty candles and Peeta lowers the cake and gives me a soft, loving smile.