My dandelion-Everlark fanfiction

Chapter 24

"I think we need to check on Haymitch. We could bring him some of my mothers herbs to help him get better sooner", I say to Peeta as I drink the rest of my breakfast tea.

"Yes that's a good idea. We'll go soon, cause Effie arrives in the afternoon and she'll be looking after him then." I am too busy with drinking that I just give him a slight nod behind my blue cup. "Do you think they're together?" Peeta asks, and I finally place the empty mug on the table.

"It really seems like it. Effie visits here really often and it can't be just that she has nothing to do in the capitol, as she claims. I'm sure she's not that bored there", I answer.

"Yeah. I'm happy for them. It's good to have someone to look after and someone who looks after you too, someone special", he says looking me deep in the eyes. I turn my head down, smiling and pick up the empty cup, staring at it and twirling it around. There is a long silence and as it gets oddly long I look at Peeta who seems to be considering whether to say something or not. As he sees me looking at him he begins with a somewhat serious tone that makes me really nervous for some reason.

My mind starts to wonder and everything possible, impossible and everything between goes through my head. He's going to break up with me. He has met someone nicer. Maybe he's going to propose. It's too early for that. He is leaving you. Prepare. Why would he leave you after that long stare and saying it's nice to have someone special around. I'm not the special one? Is there someone else?

"Katniss, I've been thinking that-" the phone ringing cuts him off. He breathes out heavily. I can't decide whether it's, because he's annoyed or relieved. He rises and goes to his study to answer the phone. I am left to sit in the kitchen alone and I can vaguely hear what he's saying.

"Hello." Pause. "Yes, good thinking." More silence. "I'm fine thank you. And you?" Silence. "Great to hear." A tiny laughter from him. Is that the girl he's going to leave me for. I can hear he clicks the pen a couple times. "Yes. I'll tell her to give you a call." Me? What? "Yes, thank you, have a nice day. Bye bye." His footsteps start to get closer and closer, until he appears in the kitchen again.

"Your mother called" he says with a small smile, trying to read my face for how I feel about it. How do I feel about it? She left me on my own when I had no one. Once again she shut me out. She's in District four now and I don't think she really cares about me anymore. "Is it a good thing she called? And was it okay that I said that you'd call her back?" he asks sitting down next to me.

"I don't know how to feel about it", I just say confused, staring at his kitchen wall in front of me.

"What do you mean?"

"She abandoned me again when she.... when Prim..." I need to swallow my tears away and Peeta can without a doubt see my pain.

"yes", he just says sadly, indicating that he knows what I'm talking about and courages me to continue. He takes my hand in his for comfort.

"And it feels like she doesn't care about me anymore. She left me when I most needed someone", I answer and notice a single tear rolling on my cheek. I wipe it away with my free hand and finally dare to raise my glance to look at Peeta.

"Of course she cares Katniss. That's why she called. She said she had sent you a letter, but doubted you ever even read it. And she had tried to call you many times, but first she had the wrong number and then when she got the real one, you just never picked up. She cares, believe me. She's worried, but you know she has been through a lot. Just like you. Lost important people and seen all kinds of horribleness. You are the only family she has left, and she is the only real family you have left, of course you care for each other." I give him a small smile and squeeze his hand.