I sit in my room, looking out the window. The backyard of the castle is full of beautiful red roses. I rather like them. I hate white roses though. Their scent is too potent and it makes me sick.
"Admiring the garden dear?" a high pitched voice asks and I turn to see its the wardrobe. This whole enchanted castle thing is still really creepy.
"Just looking around Effie," I say.
"Didn't the master grant you free rein over the castle and its grounds?" she asks.
"I broke his trust once, I don't want to overstep my grounds and hurt him again," I say.
"You care about him?" she asks.
"He's not my enemy if that's what you mean," I say opening her up and pulling out a soft blue dress with matching heels. I go behind the blind and get dressed.
"Oh, but think he's much more than a friend to you," she says. "You spend all your time together and it's not a secret that you guys sometimes sleep in the same bed."
"That's only cause we both get nightmares," I say. "We understand each other."
"Well if you ask me there's something more between you two," she says.
"Yeah," I say laughing as I slip on one of my shoes,"Like what?"
"I'd say you're in love," she says making me stop laughing for a second. Could it be? No.
"And I'd say your crazy," I say. "Although I think I'm gonna take you up on that idea of looking around in the garden." I walk out of the room and down the stairs. I walk out the back of the castle and am greeted by the fresh summer breeze and the sweet scent of the flowers.
I walk around and cringe at some of the creatures that are sculpted into the water fountain, but my guess is that it's just part of the curse. I come to one of the rose bushes and gently touch the petals of the beautiful red roses.
"Beautiful aren't they?" a deep voice behind me says, making me jump. I turn to see Peeta standing there. I hit his arm.
"Don't do that!" I say and he starts laughing. "Its not funny!"
"Yes, it is," he says.
"I'll get you back wise guy," I say.
"Yeah," he says. "sure you will."
"You won't see it coming," I say. "And it's gonna be good."
"Oh I'm so scared," he says.
"You should be," I say. "But you are right. They are pretty. I don't really like roses, but these one are nice."
"What kind of flowers do you like?" he asks.
"You're gonna laugh," I say.
"I promise, I won't." he says.
"Dandelions," I say and he starts laughing. "You said you wouldn't laugh."
"I'm sorry," he says. "Its just so much like you to like something others hate."
"What do you mean?" I ask him.
"Well you like me," he says. "Most people are disgusted or scared of me."
"That's because they don't know you Peeta," I say. "Just like they don't know how useful dandelions are."
"They're useful?" he asks.
"I survived a whole week after my father died living on dandelion salad," I say. "That and some nut bread that a boy gave me. He never told me who he was or why he did it. He never even spoke. I always wished I could have thanked him, but I never saw him again."
"Maybe someday you will get to," Peeta says.
"That's funny Peeta," I say. "It's not like he's just gonna wander into the castle." He looks down at his paws before bending down and picking something off the ground. He comes up with a bright, yellow dandelion.
"For you," he says holding it out to me, making me laugh.
"Thank you," I say taking it from him. "It's beautiful."
"You are welcome," he says. "I think I'm gonna go inside and see how far off lunch is."
"Okay," I say and watch him walk off. I feel something as I watch him walk away but I shake it off and start walking around the garden. But I can shake that feeling. Am I really starting to like him as more than what we are? No there's no way. It's not possible. I sit on the edge of a fountain and look at my reflection and sigh at the thought of how screwed up my life as become.
"If there's a prize for rotten judgment
I guess I've already won that
No man is worth the aggravation
That's ancient history, been there, done that" I sing but I hear these little voices in my head contradicting me.
"Who d'you think you're kidding
He's the earth and heaven to you
Try to keep it hidden
Honey we can see right through you (Oh no)
Girl, you can't conceal it
We know how you're feeling
Who you thinking of?"
"No chance, no way, I won't say it, no, no"
"You swoon, you sigh, why deny it, oh, oh"
"It's too cliché, I won't say I'm in love
I thought my heart had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My head is screaming 'get a grip, girl'
'Unless you're dying to cry your heart out'"
"Girl, you can't deny it
Who you are and how you're feeling
Baby we're not buying
Hon we saw you hit the ceiling
Face it like a grown-up
When you gonna own up that you got, got, got it bad?"
"No chance, no way, I won't say it, no no"
"Give up, give in, check the grin, you're in love"
"This scene won't play, I won't say I'm in love"
"We'll do it until you admit you're in love"
"You're way off base, I won't say it
Get off my case, I won't say it"
"Girl don't be proud, it's okay you're in love"
I sigh and look at the little yellow flower that I'm twirling in my fingers. A gift from my own personal dandelion.
"At least out loud I won't say I'm in love"
YOU ARE READING
The Beauty Beneath The Beast
FanfictionPeeta Mellark didn't ask for this. He didn't ask for his father to anger a sorceress and cause her to cast a spell on his castle and all who lived in it. He didn't ask for his father to make a deal with the sorceress to spare himself and his two eld...
