Pleasant Nightmare

Chapter 7

Author's note:
Hey, guys! I'm sorry I haven't been able to update for awhile. I was having my midterm and I got so many paperworks to do. By the way, if you ever wondered, I'm a sophomore in international relations major. Anyway, thanks for reading my fanfiction! :)
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Seeing Cato confessing to me is like an ecstasy for the Capitol. I'm amazed that Cato actually has a plan to save our asses from Snow. Playing the romance card all over again is actually brilliantwell, it gave Peeta and me lots of sponsors back in the game. But Peeta and me was real, it was no game just to win sponsors. It's not a great time to break, isn't it?

The interview surprisingly goes very well, no hard topic about rebellion possibility comes up. The interview is all about me and Cato and the possibility about us being together. I give Cato huge credit for him being brain and beauty.

Cato drags me to the backstage after the interview finishes. In the backstage I see Effie crying her eyes out saying how beautiful the interview was, Haymitch has his eyes open so big and smile so wide, even Brutus and Enobaria smile on approval.

I hug Cato before Effie or Haymitch can hug me. "Thank you for saving our ass." I listen to his rising heartbeat. I won't deny that mine is thumping too. Hugging Cato feels safe and nice and exciting altogether.

"Nah, don't worry, we are in this together after all." Does he just blush?

"I'm grateful that it is you in this with me." We laugh in unison.

"I'll see you around, Katniss." He pats my head lightly, and damn it feels nice.

Effie and Haymitch come and hug me as if they've been queuing after Cato. "The interview was beautiful, dear." "That boy is not bad."

"Do you think he likes you for real though?" Effie is wide-eyed with the possibilities.

"Quite possibly." I wink to tease Effie.

This is the last night I'd spent in the Capitol. Tomorrow morning I will leave for Twelve and stay for a couple of months before the victory's tour starts. I'm ashamed to say that life here is pretty swell, but nothing compares to home.

Haymitch, Effie, and I dine in together celebrating me and Cato slaying the interview. Effie even lets me to drink one glass of wine because it is worth celebrating, it is also a farewell-at least for a while-for Effie and me. Effie does seem pretty upset about the idea of me leaving.

After dinner is over, I'm thinking that I need to say my goodbye to Cato. It has to be tonight, because tomorrow we'll be busy with our own business before leaving the Capitol. So I call Cato and ask him to meet me on the rooftop right now.

When I get on the rooftop, Cato isn't there yet. I take my time leaning on the edge watching over the lights that surround the city. It's almost midnight yet the city is still bright and alive. I don't hate the Capitol, I specifically hate the citizens.

"Don't fall over, I don't want to be alone in this." He smiles, I laugh. He looks somehow nervous, he keeps shifting his legs.

"That sounds like a good idea." We laugh. He moves closer, now doing exactly what I'm doing.

"Capitol is not that bad to be honest, I just hate the people." He scans over the city below.

"I think so too. Are you excited that we'll be leaving tomorrow?"

"Actually yes. I miss my little brother and sister. Other than that, I have nothing to look for back home."

"I miss my sister too. We've never been apart this long. I practically raised her. I'm gonna miss you though." I smile and look at his pool-blue eyes that I notice have gotten softer and
warmer.

"Oh, don't cry on me like that." He hugs me tight when we're still laughing over how petty I sound. We finally part after a solid minute laughing while hugging. When we part our eyes meet; his pool-blue eyes against my deep grey eyes. I never notice that he has greenish patch in his eyes.

And then he kisses me. It happens so fast I'm not aware. His lip presses mine gently, no rush but still with passion. I don't kiss him back, yet I don't back away either, I just let him do the job, I just can't think straight at the moment.

When we part away, I can see lust, depression, hesitation, and affections in his eyes. How can someone's eyes mirror so many emotions?

"I'm sorry I'm being impudent. But the truth is, Katniss, what I said in the interview was not just a game to save ourselves. My confession was real. You must hate my gut, but please forgive me because I can't stand being away before you know the truth."

With that I'm left alone on the rooftop, still shocked about the events earlier. I guess that's our goodbye. But is it enough?

With nothing left for me on the rooftop, I decide to go back to my room and try to have some sleep, but instead I almost stay awake all night. I can't make up my feelings for Cato. I mean, yeah I do feel something about him ever since our first 'date'. But is it appropriate for me and Cato to go out like this? I mean, I barely gotten over Peeta. The thoughts really exhaust me. It's 5 a.m. when I drift off to sleep, finally in my own room.

I wake up on someone's lap, again. And I know it's Peeta's again.

"You silly, you can and you must get over me sooner or later." He brushes my hair with his fingers.

"It's not easy to forget someone like you, you know. And after what we had."

"I'm not saying to forget me, just get over me, move on with your life. Do whatever makes you happy, I'd be happy with that."

"Even if it involves monstrous career boy?" I tease him and pat his head.

"He actually seems nice. Maybe he's just a lost puppy."

"True that. You were as lost, I want to squish you because you were an adorable lost puppy."

We laugh and laugh and it feels like Peeta is alive and laughing with me, not just a fraction in my dreams.

When I wake up, I feel exhausted because I only had two hours of sleep before Effie wakes me up. The train is leaving in two hours. Effie is slightly upset because Haymitch and I is about to leave. She keeps telling me to always be careful and learn to act more ladylike, and that she couldn't wait to finally meet me in a couple of months. There I've said my goodbye to Effie. Even Cinna and my stylists come to my apartment to have breakfast together and say their goodbye.

After I finish my breakfast and say my goodbye to everyone, I'm supposed to head straight to the train that will be leaving in thirty minutes. But instead I decided that my goodbye with Cato last night wasn't enough. I barge to Cato's train looking for him. The Capitol gives us separate train so it won't ruin the celebration upon our arrival in our own districts. I find Cato sits on an armchair, daydreaming.

"Cato?"

"Katniss? What are you doing in my train?" He stands up and moves closer to me.

"I just need to clear up something before we part."

And then I kiss him, this time ferociously. Now I can go home without burdens.

"There, this is a more decent goodbye."

We laugh, we hug, we kiss, we say our goodbyes, before we part into our own trains and ready to head home. He promised to call me once he get home-now that I have telephone in my new house in victor's village-but I can't wait to see him again in person. I'm sure he can't either.