He was coming home. The games were over. They tricked the capitol into letting them both live, and they were coming home. Watching him on the screen, knowing he might have been so close to death, was the worst feeling in the world. I couldn't calm my stomach, and the screen was wavering in and out of focus. But they had made it.
They had a final interview there, and then we watched as they were escorted onto the train. We were all in the bakery, the smell of fresh bread doing nothing that it usually does to calm me down for the upcoming encounter. No one was coming in, not while the games were still in everyone's minds. But Peeta's mother insisted that we should stay open nonetheless. I think she wanted to make sure he knew he would be welcome home.
I was so scared. Not from the inevitable explanation that he did in fact love Katniss, and that they were happy together, but from facing someone who was different than the person who left. He has been through so much, and there was no way the games didn't change him. He was put in front of death, dangled like a doll that had no meaning, and I knew that what I felt and was afraid of was of no importance.
After a certain time, I had lost track, I decided I would go and see if there was more meat we could buy. This was of course a distraction, and perhaps even avoidance. And they knew, not they said much about it. I have a feeling like Peeta's mother, at least, knew that I was in love with her son. I walked at a slow pace, swinging a basket from my hand, barely feeling the cold whip through my hair as I walked. Seeing and hearing nothing around me.
I could cope with it. Them being together. He did seem happy with her. As much as he could be with people trying to kill him anyway. And they did make sense. Being star crossed lovers worked for them. And the capitol. Of course the capitol would have a huge play in most of this.
I bump into someone on the path, bringing myself back into reality. I apologize and move out of their way, but they follow me. I look up and realize who it was.The world stops. Katniss. They were back.
