You Said Always

Chapter Eight

Peeta's POV:

After our kiss, I pull back, realizing what I've done. I lick my lips and taste Katniss's salty tears.

"Peeta?" She says, astounded that I was the one who had kissed her. She has tears streaming down her hollow cheeks.

"Please don't cry." I beg her. That only makes her cry harder. I pull her into my embrace, and hold onto her like a lifeline.

"I'm sorry." She sobs. Bringing her head up from her hands.

"For what?" I ask, confused. "I was the one who hurt you."

"No!" She yells. "I should've eaten the berries and died like I was supposed to. All those people would still be alive."

I here footsteps coming our way, so I get up and lock the door.

"If you had died out there, there would still be a hunger games." I argue.

"But you would've been happy with Melanie." She snaps. "She only started cheating on you when I can back from the Capitol hospital. She thought you were cheating on her with me."

She starts to sob. I start to rub her back, because I don't know what else to do at the moment.

"So, I'm sorry." She says after a long period of crying. "Prim would be alive." She croaks. "My little duck."

Her eyes dilate to pinpoints. "Katniss!" I yell. She gets up from the bed and frantically looks around the room. She's having an attack.

"Prim!" She yells, then collapses onto the floor.

She starts to scream, trying to scratch at her ears. I run over to her.

"It's not real!" I yell, but she can't hear me over her own screams. I try to shake her but it's no use. Her eyes are closed so she can't see me.

"Katniss!" I yell at her. "It's not real."

"No!" She screams at the jabberjays in her attack.

When an hour passes, she opens her gray eyes, to show that they're normal again. But she's still whimpering and shaking from the attack.

"It's okay. It wasn't real." I assure her. She still doesn't look up at me. Her eyes close again.

"Come on Katniss. It's me." She still won't stop shaking and she won't open her eyes.

I cradle her in my arms, trying to get her to calm down.

"Will you sing to me?" I ask her, and I see grey orbs as she opens her eyes. "The song you were singing before. Please, finish it." I beg her. She starts to sing, while I'm still holding her in my arms. She nods, and closes her yes again.

"Don't you dare look out your window

Darling everything's on fire

The war outside the door

Keeps raging on

Hold onto to this lullaby

Even when the musics gone

Gone

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You an I'll be safe and sound."

She stops. I'm speechless. All I can do is smile down into her red, puffy eyes.

"I love you." I coo.

"I never stopped." She answers, making me feel guilty. I had left her alone to cope by herself, and what's happened after to her, I wouldn't be able to live. I see her eyes getting heavy. I lift her onto the hospital bed.

"Peeta." She says, grasping onto my arm.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Stay with me?" She asks, her eyes closing.

"Always." I whisper.

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