Moving on: an Everlark fanfic

Chapter 9: The lake

I slowly open my tired eyes as I take in the bright sunlight that manages to fill this dull room with a little happiness. I place my hand next to me, my fingers expecting to run into the strong and warm arms of a sleeping boy. I'm greeted with the cold sheets instead.

Peeta must've woken up early to make breakfast for me, even though it is my house. Just Peeta being Peeta. The scent of cheesebuns that managed to make its way into my room confirms this idea.

He's been staying over a lot lately, not that I'm complaining. he always stays to help me with my nightmares that haunt me in the middle of the night. Always there to calm me down and hold me. I couldn't be anymore thankful. It feels good, the feeling of finally having someone to help you, be there for you. I hadn't felt that in a while.

I walk down the steps quietly, using hunter's feet that I've learned to adapt, the old and rusty floorboards creaking lightly under my weight. I make my way to Peeta's turnt back and tap on his shoulder. He jumps and has to compose himself to stop himself from cracking up the same way I am.

"You scared the living daylight outta me, you know that?", He says, smiling, still clearly shaken up,

"Well, what can I say", I reply, shrugging my shoulders while lightly laughing.

"I made us breakfast. I made sure to include cheesebuns", he says sweetly.

I thank him and we sit to eat the delicious breakfast in a comfortable silence. I can tell Peeta would look up and glance at me once in a while but I tried to act as if I notice. But then I can't take it.

"Would you stop staring?", I say suddenly, looking up, catching him red handed.
"Well, I'm sorry. I can't help it your so beautiful", he says making my cheeks turn into an ungodly shade of red.
"Stop it. I'm not beautiful, ok", I say trying to hide the fact that I'm blushing like there's no tomorrow.
He chuckles. "You still can't take a compliment can you?", he laughs at me, his angelic blue eyes lighting up, showing no trace of ever being hijacked or anything unfortunate ever happening.

I smile at that thought. I'm happy he's finally recovering better than ever. I'm getting my old Peeta back.

"Anyway, what should we do for today?", I say, trying to change the subject.
"I don't know. Don't really have anything planned."
"I'll teach you to swim.", I say suddenly.

"What do you mean?"
"There's this lake in the woods. my father would take me there when I was young. He would teach me how to swim and about plants and a ton of other things. that's how I knew how to swim in the Quell", I explain, trying not to linger on the last part, to avoid a flashback.

"You told Finnick you learned to swim because you have a big bathtub. Real or not real?", he says his brows furrowed together trying to remember.
"Real. It was our special place. But I wanna share it with you", I say
"Well then Ms. Everdeen, I would be honored to accompany you to your 'special place', he says in a posh accennt, lifting the mood. He always knows the right thing to say.

"Then you better get going if we're gonna want to get there before sundown", I say. And with that we get going.
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It already is a long hike in the woods to get to the lake. Peeta's prosthetic leg wasn't helping with the process either, with it getting tangled in a bush or something every two seconds causing Peeta to keep tripping.

Despite the delay though, we finally get there nonetheless, both of us exhausted. But it was definetly worth it. As soon as we got there, Peeta was astounded by its beauty. It truly was a sight, from the willow trees nearby, gently leaning forwards the lake, to the evening sun's rays reflecting in the lakes calm ripples.
"This is perfect. Thank you for sharing this with me, Katniss",he says, still admiring the view.
"You welcome", I say, happy at his reaction. "Well come on then, are we gonna waste all of our time staring? Let's get started!", I say.

"Alright alright. I just wanted to capture this moment so I can remember to paint it later", says Peeta.

We start small, both of us in waist high water, with me trying to teach him how to move his arms in the correct way. He can barely keep his head above the water though. After hours of me hopelessly trying to teach him, we both know it's useless and just start playing around the water, splashing each other and laughing.

It's starts getting cold after a while as the night air starts to kick in. The sun slowly descending revealing the beautiful diamonds in the sky. Me and Peeta just lay there in the grass, side by side, our shoulders touching as we quietly admire the stars, both of us still soaking but not caring.

I start to shiver a little. Peeta notices and wraps his arm around my shoulder pulling me closer to him. I instantly feel warmer and smile into his chest. "Thank you for this, Kat. I really enjoyed today.", he tells me softly.
"No problem. I wish it could be like this everyday", I reply looking up at him.

And with that, I find myself leaning in closer and closer until I make contact with his soft lips. At first he seems surprised by this gesture but responds almost immediately. He puts his hands around the back of my neck pulling me even closer to him, if possible.

I get that warm feeling in my chest again. The same one I felt during that cold night in the cave and at the beach during the Quell. Warm and curious, wanting more. And this feels so right. As if it was meant to be like this the whole time and I was too blinded by other things to realize it. But I understand now and that's all that matters.

We finally have to pull away. Stupid lungs with your stupid air. We rest our foreheads against each other, Peeta's hands never leaving there placing on the back of my neck as we look into each other's eyes. I see many things. Happiness. Disbelief. And also confusion

"You love me, real or not real?", he says hesitantly, as if my reply could make or break this situation.

And without hesitation, I say what I finally feel, me being to blinded in the past to realize it.

"Real"

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Yass!! She finally got it over with. Took you long enough, Katniss. Three books to be exact. I'm actually really proud of this chapter.
Soooo the mocking jay part 2 trailer.....OMFFGG!!!
Finnick and Annie's wedding scene though. Omf I can't even. That was so beautiful and just like how I imagined it in the book. I think the trailer was perfect. It didn't give too much but was the bomb!!😉 *wink wink* oh prim😓. Here I go again. Tell me your opinions about the trailer and your favorite parts. Vote and comment! Love yall
-Gigi❤️