BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

32

Ember

Something's wrong with Peeta.

Johanna and I took quick notice to his behavioral change over the past few days.

He's angry. Unfocused. And most of all- avoiding any discussion of Katniss. He used to not shut up about her, and now I couldn't even get him to utter her name.

"Peeta," I call.

The boy ignores me.

"Loverboy," says Johanna.

"Don't call me that," he responds, his words laced with anger.

Jo's eyes meet mine. "Well, that's what you are, right?"

She's pushing. Testing to see what it is they were doing to him.

His face twists up in a mix of frustration and confusion. He grunts, his hands tugging at his blonde locks.

"It's okay, Peeta," I assure him. "Would you like to talk about something else?"

"I don't know!" He suddenly exclaims, seemingly on the brink of tears.

I scoot closer and reach a hand through for him to take. "What don't you know?" I ask.

Peeta glances at my hand for a moment. Trying to decide whether or not to take it. Very much in contrast to the night we met. But, he grasps it tightly within his own anyway.

"Everything," he whispers.

Seeing him hurt like this hurts me.

"Let's start with the basics. Jo would you like to help?" I ask her.

"Not like there's anything else for me to do," she answers.

She can act uninterested all she wants, but we both know that she had grown to care for Peeta too.

"Repeat after me," I start. "You're Peeta Mellark from District Twelve."

"I'm Peeta Mellark. From District Twelve."

"You and Katniss Everdeen are the winner of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games," adds Johanna.

His grip on my hand tightens. "Me and...Katniss Everdeen...are the winner of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games."

I frown. What is with this sudden diversion to the girl he loves so deeply?

"You're a painter."

"I'm a painter."

"And you love Katniss."

He squeezes my hand so tightly that I wince. Peeta immediately drops it.

"I'm sorry, Ember!" He apologizes.

I manage a smile and pull my hand back. "It's alright, Peeta. Do you want to talk about it?"

His eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Talk about what?"