The Return of the Hunger Games [FALLEN ASHES] Book II

(5)

I quietly open my bedroom door and tiptoe to the top of the stairs and sit down. In walks in Haymitch and Effie, and everybody is all happy to see them, especially me. I wanted to run up to them and hug him and never let go. But instead, I was hiding up here. Everybody greets them. "Look who finally showed up." Said Johanna, giving each of them a hug. The only one's left to the party were my parents. The only ones I really wanted to reunite with.

*Katniss's POV*

Haymitch and Effie make their way into the house, but just as the door closes on its own behind them, Peeta asks to talk. But I look into his eyes, and I know something isn't right. "Peeta, whats wrong?" I ask.  

He holds my hand and its as if time stops all over again. "I want you to remember that day we had all to ourselves. The day we fell asleep in eachothers arms in your room in the capitol. The day I fell more inlove with you." I was beginning to shake, my eyes were tearing up only because it was the day I began falling inlove with him as well. I shake my head. "Always." I say. He smiles at me. "I just want you to know, that no matter what, I'll always love you. After everything we've been through, and even after everything we will go through, I will ALWAYS love you." He tells me, and the tears stream out his eyes. Where is all this coming from? Why is he saying all this? I couldn't control crying and I hugged him. Held him in my arms and he held me in his. I closed my eyes and imagined my family back together again. With Prim, Will and Elissa still alive. But then I open my eyes, and they're gone. I have to learn to accept it. We let go of eachother and we make our way to the front door.  

I open the door, and there they all stand. I see Annie's smile, Johanna's smirk, Beetee's look of enthusiasm, and then there's Gale. I look at all of them, then I just stare at Gale. He walks up to me, and I look into his eyes. He hugs me, and I dont know what to do. What to say. I hug him back, and I feel as if I'm in another universe. "It's good to see you again Katnip." He says. I give a slight chuckle. We let go of eachother, and I just focus on his features. He has grey hairs, wrinkles, but he still holds that gaze in his eyes from when I last saw him. When I last saw him. No. I had to forget. I couldn't bear to look back at that memory.

*Elissa's POV*

The way she hugged him, and the way she was looking at him. It was as if she was looking at my father, so passionatly inlove. But it wasn't my father. It was some man who I didn't even know. Who nobody ever mentioned. I looked at my father, and he was sitting on the couch with his head down. I wanted to tell my mother to look at him, not Gale. To look into my fathers eyes like how he was looking into Gale's. My mother finally pulled away from his gaze, and turned to smile at Annie. "I haven't seen you in years." She says, giving her a big warm hug. "I've missed you so much." Annie says. They let go and my mother hugs Beetee, then Johanna.  

"Why is everybody here?" My mother asks.  

"Intervension. Stop drinking." Johanna says teasingly.  

Everybody gives a laugh, but things soon turn seriouse.  

"We have to talk about things." Says Haymitch. They all take a seat and my heart begins to race. Whatever has been kept secret, whatever has been twisted, and whatever lie they've told, had to come out in the open. It was time.  

"What's first?" My mother asks.  

All heads turn to Beetee, and then he soon speaks. "I have some news." My mother is very focused on him. She's scared. "Paylor is dead." My mother and fathers eyes widen. I can see in thier faces how much pain they were in. "Fallon." My mother said.  

"Yes." Beetee answered.  

My mother shakes her head. "All the more reason for me to shove an arrow down his throat and make him crap it out."