Always

Chapter 1: Past

"Your leaving?" Tears stream down my face.

"I have too. My parents want to live somewhere bigger." His blue eyes become lighter as he lets a few tears slip.

His hand goes to my cheek and he gives me a half smile. I close my eyes and put my hands on his.

"When are you leaving?" I mumble.

"Tomorrow at 4:00, but during that little time we have I will spend it with you." He leans down and kisses me softly.

*

We end up laying down in the back of Peeta's truck. Thousands of blankets and pillows surround us. I giggle to myself.

"What are you giggling about?" I look up at Peeta and giggle again.

"We have a lot of blankets and pillows, Peeta." He laughs.

"I know. I didn't want you to get cold." He rubs his noes against mine.

After talking and laughing for a while we look up at the stars. We count how many we can find. But new ones appear and disappear every time I count one.

"They keep disappearing!" I laugh and look at Peeta. Tears stain his cheeks.

"Peeta?" He looks at me and frowns.

"I'm gonna miss this." He wipes his tears away. "You. Me. Looking at the stars. Together."

A tear slips from my eye. I look down and pull Peeta closer to me. I never want to let go of him.

"Look at me, Katniss." I lift my head. He points at the stars and I look at them.

"How many did you count?"

"To be honest, I gave up." I giggle.

I hear him laugh and pull me closer. "How many did you count?"

He looks at me and smiles. "I also gave up." I smile.

We lay there, smiling like fools. In the middle of the night. He sits up and pulls me into his lap.

"Katniss Everdeen." He whispers.

"Peeta Mellark." I whisper back.

He grabs my hands. "Every thing about you is perfect, Katniss Everdeen. Your eyes shine brighter than the stars. Your smile lights up my world. Your laugh makes my heart beat faster. Every single thing you do makes me notice how special I am to have a girl like you in my life. Your the love of my life, Katniss. I love you. Even though I'm moving thousands of miles away, I will still love you more and more everyday. I love you, Katniss Everdeen. I always have, and I always will."

His blue eyes fill up with tears. "Your my life, Katniss." He kisses me softly.

Silently tears fall down my cheeks. "I love you too, Peeta." I wipe my tears aways. "I always have, and I always will. Never forget me, Peeta." I kiss his nose softly.

He leans forward and kisses me passionately. "I'll never forget you." He says between breaths.

"I will come back. For you. Always." He whispers.

*

"Peeta, we need to board the plane in a couple minutes." Peeta looks at his dad and nods.

Peeta looks back at me. He leans down and kisses me. I smile and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Katniss." I look to see Peeta holding up a necklace. "Peeta, you didn't-" he stops me with a kiss.

The necklace has a shiny white pearl with mine and Peeta's names carved on it. I spin the pearl around to also see 'always' carved into it.

"Turn around." I turn around and he puts the necklace on me.

"Peeta, it's beautiful." I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him. His arms go around my waist. Pulling me closer, every time I try to pull away.

"Peeta. Your plane." He looks at me and smiles.

"I love you." I kiss him.

"I love you more." He kisses me.

I smile and kiss him again. "Call me every night." I whisper. He smiles.

"I will." He whispers back.

"Don't forget about me." I mumble, a silent tear slips down my cheek.

"I'll never forget about you." He wipes my tears away with his thumb. "I will come back for you."

"I love you, Peeta Mellark."

"And I will always love you, Katniss Everdeen." He gives me one last kiss.

We pull away and he walks off.

"Always." I say.

He looks back and replies, "Always."

Then he's gone.