How to Tell You Love Him.

CHAPTER ONE

My eyes open. I'm cold, really cold. The clothes feel like sandpaper on my skin. The lights are too bright. I'm on a hovercraft, one that looks like it belongs to the capital. Beetee Latia is still knocked out to my right. Dressed in the same drab clothing that I am. How did I get into these clothes? Last I remember, I was still in the jumpsuit from the arena.

Peeta. The memory of the arena floods my brain with the images of him. Where is he? If we are on a capital hovercraft, I must get him now. I need to take him out before the capital takes him and tortures him. They can't have him. He's mine, which means he is mine to save.

I rip the clear tubes out of my right arm. It stings a little, not as much as it should. As I look to my right, I see a stand with a long, sharp syringe on it. I grab it, knowing that's how I will take him out if I need to. The room I'm in is small and circular. All gray and completely void of people other than myself and Beete. Two beds are empty just in front of ours. The hospital grade sheets are ruffled as if there was someone there. Was one of them Peeta? A large door sits closest to those empty beds. I move forward, pressing the syringe into the skin of my wrist as if to hide it. As I get closer to the door, I can hear voices. One of them is husky and familiar. Haymitch. What is Haymitch doing on a capital hovercraft?

"What is going to happen to us and the other victors?" That voice, that sentence, sends me into a spiral as it registers. It's Peeta. The same voice I know so well. The door opens before me to reveal Haymitch, Finnick, and Peeta sitting at a long table together. The type you would hold meetings for more than three people on. Plutarch is standing next to Peeta.

Peeta stands and meets my eyes. "Katniss, are you okay?" Instinctively, I drop the syringe on the floor. Haymitch stands as well to see my next reaction. But I don't care. The silent tears begin to fall as I make my way towards him. He knows what I need. He opens his arms to me, pulling me into him. I lock my arms tightly around his neck. "Shh, it's okay, we're okay." He repeats into my hair. Again, he comforts me. Even when I do not deserve it.

I hold onto him as long as I am allowed. Until Haymitch is patting my back and asking me to sit down. Peeta pulls away to sit, but I grab onto his arm. He pulls me towards the chair he was previously sitting in, and settles me in the one directly next to it. Before he can settle into his chair, I pull it closer to my own so I can hold his hand. I can't explain it. But I need to be touching him right now. Plutarch puts a meal in front of me. Peeta and Finnick already have one placed in front of them, completely untouched.

Plutarch begins the long speech about the rebellion plan. Haymitch tries to talk to me. I ignore him. I'm not happy with him keeping secrets from both Peeta and I. I place my head on Peeta's shoulder. At this moment, I only care that he's here. And alive.