Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Peeta POV-

I start getting out, to follow her but Bristol stops me.

"Just leave her alone, Peeta." Bristol says lifting her head up.

I shrug, "She really cares about you, you know." I say.

Bristol closes her eyes and inhales deeply, "I know."

"You're the only friend I've ever seen her fight like that with. Usually, she just tries to help them the best she can but she's adamant to keep you up." I tell her truthfully, seeing such a change in Katniss with Bristol.

If it's Annie, they cry together and fix the problem or if it's the other girls, she merely just tries to help.

With Bristol, Katniss seems determined to keep her afloat no matter what the cost.

"If you know she cares so much then why don't you just try to act like you're not so upset?" I ask her.

"Because I can't, Peeta. I love Brandon."

I frown, "If you love him and Carter, you need to stay away from him. Maybe he will realize what he's missing out on and stop acting like he does."

"I doubt it." She says.

"If you don't wanna help yourself then at least help your kid. Katniss and I aren't going anywhere but that doesn't mean you should treat Katniss poorly, because she is trying." I tell her.

"I don't need your help anymore. I've gotten so much help from you two and I will be forever grateful but I wanna do this on my own now." Bristol says and my heart sinks.

"So, you mean you don't want us around anymore?" I ask her.

"I didn't say that. I mean you two aren't always going to be available and maybe it's time I hightailed it out of Twelve."

I shake my head and ignore her last comment, "Running away isn't going to solve anything. Why wouldn't we be there for you?" I ask.

"What happens when you two start your own family? You're not going to have time for someone else's kid."

I shrug, "That won't be for a long time anyways, don't worry." I say.

Rough subject for me.

"I doubt it, Peeta. The way you two look at each other, it won't be long. You two deserve to be parents more than anyone." Bristol says softly.

I lean my forehead against the head rest of the passenger seat and sigh deeply.

"You have a perfect baby. Annie and Finnick have a perfect baby and I want one too but Katniss and I have had that conversation a billion times and you need to feel lucky you have it now." I start.

She shrugs, "I do feel lucky but I just wish I would've waited, for someone other than Brandon."

"But then you wouldn't have Carter, she would look different and act different and everything would be different so don't say that."

Bristol groans, "Ugh. Peeta why can't you two just see things from my point of view?"

I lift my head up, "I'm sorry we don't understand you but we are just trying to help you." I say, now I know why Katniss was so frustrated and left.

Bristol shrugs, "Don't you tell Katniss this, but I think I'm moving to Ten to be with my family again."

My heart sinks again but I don't say anything at all.

It's a long time before I just decide to dismiss this and deal with it later.

"Okay, well let's just go and we can discuss it all when we get back to Twelve." I say softly and she agrees.