The Aftermath(a post-mockingjay story)

Chapter 15

Katniss POV

Today is Peeta's birthday. After the bad news we got a few nights ago, this is at least something to take the pressure off of the Games. We needed something to take our minds off it, so perfect timing! Right? I don't exactly know what to do about the whole situation. When we were voting 'yes' or 'no' for the Games, I said yes. For prim. For revenge. Paylor, now our president, voted 'no'. That's why Im surprised she went through with it. I still can't process the whole thing. I passed out when I heard the news. Peeta will have to train new Capitol tributes with me. I wonder how he's been taking it.

I prepare for his party by baking him a birthday cake. Yes, Im baking a cake. I can't even cook for my life, but baking seems a little easier. I bought the boxed mix. Ssshhh. Anyway, I bought red velvet mix. Peeta's favorite flavor. I frosted it with cream cheese. frosting, and piped on the words. "Happy Birthday Peeta!!!" I try to make it cheerful, so I try piping flowers like the kind he does on the cookies in the bakery. The first flower I attempt at is an unbloomed rose. A few days ago i watched him pipe the flowers, because I had this planned already, and carefully try to match his work. The first two came out pretty crappy, but with a little practice they got a lot better. The colors of the flowers were orange, of course, becasue orange is Peeta's favorite color. but he doesn't like the bright traffic cone orange. No. he likes the softer shades. I think its a pretty color, but I still like green better. I attempt to pipe carnations, open roses, daisies, and tulips. the only acceptably looking flowers were open roses and tulips. The cake turned out beautiful for my first try. I hang the decorations, the generic kinds. Streamers, balloons, a sign that says 'Happy Birthday', but nothing really special. His presents will hopefully be better than the party itself, but I try to make it look nice.

The party is a surprise, and Ive invited everyone. Peeta is out hunting with Gale, and Gale is not supposed to bring him back for another two hours. That gives me just enough time to get everyone here and settled down. I have to put out some chairs, since there will be a few extra people here than there was at my party. The chairs will do some good and let some extra people hide when Peeta walks in the door. I found Delly's contacts and called her over. She is one of Peeta's friends that survived the bombings in the district during the war. She will be staying for a couple days so they can catch up. Its only fair since I have Gale here with me, and Peeta should have a friend here too. She arrives earlier than expected, but she has to settle in her hotel for a second before she helps finish put the party in order. She came here on a train all the way from district 2. Its funny. After the war, a lot of people moved out to district 2. You would think it would be district 1 they move to, with their main industry being luxurious stuff and all.

Peeta POV

I wake up early to go out hunting with Gale. he and I have been making an effort in getting along for Katniss. I think she really appreciates it. After our first Games, Gale and I had a rivalry over Katniss. She chose me, OBVIOUSLY, and I kinda want to rub it in Gale's face. But I don't. I have changed. I have grown up a lot. I promised myself before the Games that I wouldn't let them change me. But the Games do change you as a person. The Capitol get to you. You watch people your age being killed by other people your age. Almost being killed. But Katniss finding me was a stroke of luck. If she hadn't, I would've died right then and there. I don't know how to heal peopl, I couldn't hunt at the time, I couldn't tell which plants were poisonous and which were not. The Games and the Capitol change everybody. Ever since I was hijacked, I will never ever be the same person again. But I don't want to talk about that now.

Gale and I check our snares first thing. He is better at making them than me, but he has had a lot more practice than I have. He had to hunt because his life depended on it. Mine never did. I only go hunting on Sundays and Thursdays, and he used to go out almost every night to catch as much as he could for dinner. All of our contributions go to his family every time. He lives in district 2 and is doing well. It is one of the 'Career' districts. The area is around the North American states called Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. But the district doesn't take up all of that space. just the corners of the states. District 12 is in an area called Appalchia where the Appalachian mountains are. There is a lot of coal mines in that area. the states it takes up are Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and both of the Carolinas. There's a geography lesson for ya.