The Hunger games - I'm still breathing (Everlark)

Chapter 14

"Shall we go for a walk?" I ask Peeta. Haymitch left fifteen minutes ago, unable to go another second without a drink.

"I don't know if that's a good idea Katniss. You have a cold, shouldn't you be resting?" he asks back.

I shake my head.

"I'm okay, I think some air would be good. We could just walk to the edge of the woods? The strawberries will have grown by now, we can collect them and bring them home to eat tonight," I say, desperately wanting to get out of the house.

"Okay, but you have to wrap up so your cold doesn't get worse," Peeta says.

I nod in agreement and turn to make my way up the stairs. I hear him slowly following behind me, his false leg catching every now and then on a step. I think again about the kiss we shared last night, how his lips were exactly what I needed at that time.

When we get to the top of the stairs, I spin round and hug him, slightly throwing him off guard. He instantly returns my hug.

"What's this for?" he asks, running his fingers through my hair.

"Just for being there when I need you," I reply, never wanting to let him go.

He pulls his head back and smiles down at me.

"I always will be," he says, leaning down and kissing me on the forehead.

Once were changed we head out of the door, grabbing a basket along the way to put the strawberries in. We walk through Victors Village hand in hand, the sun beating down on our backs. The air is stuffy and makes it even harder to breathe through my blocked nose. Despite the warmth and the layers of clothing I have on, I still feel myself shivering.

"Are you cold?" Peeta asks, looking at me with concern.

"No," I lie.

"You're such a liar, Katniss!" Peeta says, laughing and throwing his arm around my shoulders. I laugh with him through my chattering teeth.

"Are you sure you want to walk today?" he asks again.

"Yes I'm sure, those strawberries have our names on them," I say.

Our feet walk in sync together, deliberately avoiding the path that would take us into what used to be the town. We take the back way, trying not to notice the few bones that had not been dealt with yet. When I don't think I can stomach the sight of another skull, I bury my head in Peeta's shoulder. He doesn't say a word, just guides me along the path.

When Peeta stops and I glance out from the safety of his shoulder, I feel relief to see that we're in the meadow. We casually walk through it, dodging the rabbit holes and molehills as we go.

"I bet you hate me when you see all those bodies, don't you?" I ask, the bluntness of my words surprising me.

Peeta is speechless for a minute, as though he is also surprised that those words left my mouth. I walk on without him, not wanting to hear that that's how he secretly feels.

His hands come down on my shoulders, stopping me mid-stride and twisting me round to face him.

"It isn't your fault that those people are dead, Katniss. I don't hate you for anything because you haven't done anything," he says, staring me straight in the eye.

"Now who's the liar," I say, pushing away from him and turning towards the woods again.

"I'm not lying to you Katniss!" he says, trying to grab my hand. I pull it away from him and march on.