Real - An Everlark Fanfiction

- Chapter Four -

Everyday Peeta has another surprise for me. Another memory to add to my collection. I'm usually not one for adventuring, but I figure Peeta is only trying to make my life more enjoyable. Every minute I spend with this boy seems to make up for my lifetime of sadness, loss, and misfortune.

I've had a lot of time to think about Peeta lately. I know he has nightmares every night. Because I do. Every time I wake up it takes at least 20 minutes to confirm that I'm okay. That there are no games anymore. That I'm completely safe. In District 12. Sometimes I find myself using the technique the doctors told me to use during the war. To start with the simple things and work towards what's more complicated.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am 18 years old. My home is District 12. The Hunger Games are over. It's been a year since they ended. I'm spending all of my time with Peeta. Peeta is alive.

I don't know how Peeta deals with the nightmares, but I don't ask. What I really don't know is where he finds time to plan all of these presents for me. He's at my door right when I wake up, and leaves when I tell him to, which is usually before I go to bed. Is he sleeping at night? He didn't in the games; he would stay up the entire time, just because he didn't want to wake me. I hated him for that. Of course, that may have been one of the reasons that we won. If I'm not well rested, I can't be completely focused on anything.

I decide to give Peeta a surprise back, to show my gratitude. I wake up early and go to the clearing in the woods, with the bright yellow dandelions, and pick him a bouquet. I know this won't compare to all that Peeta has done for me, but at least he'll know that I care about him. That I'm not just taking advantage of what he plans for me.

I run back home, hoping to have beaten him to my door. I hide the flowers behind my jacket. Lo and behold, Peeta Mellark is standing on my porch, looking out at me with a huge grin. I walk up to him.

"Good morning," I say, revealing the dandelions from behind my back. Peeta's eyes widen, and he acts way more excited towards his gift than I have towards anything he has ever gotten me. I smile, and I know he likes it. He scoops me up like I weigh nothing and kisses me on the forehead. Like he always used to in front of the cameras. There are no cameras now, and I know this is real. I've missed the feeling of Peeta. The feeling that I'm safe. I only get that feeling when I'm in his arms.

"Thank you," he whispers in my ear. He puts me down, but I wish he wouldn't.

"Now it's your turn," and he guides me to a huge, beautifully wrapped present. The paper is my favorite color, green. I immediately think of the forest, which I believe was his intention. It's not until I walk closer to the gift that I notice the orange ribbon encasing it. Orange. Like the sunset. I smile, remembering the day on the train. When we became friends.

"Go on," Peeta says, laughing, and I notice I've been staring at the wrapping paper an awfully long time by now. I rip off one of the corners and know immediately what he's done for me. It's a painting, and just from a quick glance at it I can already see the beautiful colors.

When I see the entire painting, I step back in awe. It's me, in the games, kneeling over. The sunlight makes my apparent braid glow. There is a lake behind me, and I can see a cave in the background. I'm touching the ground but I don't know why. I carefully look at the sparkling rocks underneath my hand and realize what he has painted. This picture shows me, finding Peeta. When he was camouflaged within the rocks. When we realized that we had hope. And I tear up.

I don't have to say anything for him to know that I love it and hate it at the same time. I just sit down on my porch, staring at the picture, trying to take in every detail. Peeta at my side.

It takes me about 30 minutes for me to recognize the nightlock bush in the lush forest behind me. There is a tiny orange figure near the plant. It then takes me another 30 minutes to realize that, though this may be a mistake, Peeta has painted Foxface.

I really start to cry when I see what Peeta has created in the sky. One of the clouds looks exactly like the silhouette of Rue, and I'm sure this isn't a mistake.

I bury my head into Peeta's chest and he rubs my back. I will never stop owing the boy with the bread, and I'm just now learning to accept that.

Peeta finds the perfect place for the painting - above the mantle. I guess a reminder that I really am the "girl on fire." We spend the rest of the day sitting on my couch. We're facing the giant hologram TV, but we don't turn it on. We just sit, occasionally conversing. The last time I watched this television was when I was told that I'd have to go into the Hunger Games again. When my mother and sister were sitting next to me. Before I became a threat. Before the entire nation became a threat. I've been a bit paranoid about turning it on ever since. I could do it now, though, if I really wanted to. With Peeta here to protect me.

"When did you have time to paint that?" I say, breaking the silence.

"I always paint in my free time, Katniss. And usually you're my inspiration," he answers, looking at the picture. "This one is about 4 months old."

Peeta spent a whole year painting me. When I wasn't there for him. I really wish I had visited him sooner.

"You don't think I'd stay up all night just for you," he says, raising an eyebrow. I smile and look at the floor.

"Why, of course not." I say, putting my head on his shoulder. It's only 8:30, but I fall fast asleep.

~•~

I see Prim. Sparkling in the sunlight. And Rue. They're playing together in the meadow. With beautiful tall grass hiding them from the dangers of the world. I smile and I know they're happy. That nothing can hurt them. I hear a familiar voice playing loudly. Through a speaker it seems. Like in the games. I figure it's Claudius Templesmith, but I'm wrong. The voice belongs to Cato. I turn around and in a flash he's holding Prim and Rue by their necks. "Shoot me and they go down with me," he yells. I sprint up to them and I hear Prim scream, the same scream that I heard in the arena at the Quarter Quell. When the jabberjays drove Finnick and I to insanity. Everything is happening so fast and then the parachutes go off. And everything is silent.

I wake up sweating. Screaming. Peeta is right by my side holding my hand. I know everything is okay.

It's 12:46 and he's been here the whole time. Protecting me.

Once my breath goes back to a steady rate, I turn towards Peeta.

"Stay with me?" I ask. I look right at him.

"Always," he replies.

~•~

When I wake up. Peeta is right by my side. Like he promised.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am 18 years old. My home is District 12. The Hunger Games are over. It's been a year since they ended. I'm spending all of my time with Peeta. I love Peeta.

I hope you enjoyed! Be sure to vote, comment, and follow me! Thank you!

-Melanie 🦁