As Radiant As The Sun

Chapter 16

Katniss's point of view

Where do I go? Back to the woods? Oh I'm not sure I could handle going back there. I might as well find somewhere to sit down and figure out my little situation before it gets totally dark. I go to the park across from the bakery and sit down on a bench. Looking at the sunset reminds me of Peeta. Sunset orange, His favorite color.

I'm not sure what I would have done if the Mellark's hadn't taken me in. I would probably be dead. I would be dead.

I lay down on the bench and look up. I could see if Gale, Madge, Finnick, and Annie could take me in. No, No, I couldn't do that to them. Sae? No, She's got enough to do already, and she lives on the other side of town. It's no use. I'll figure something out in the morning.

When morning comes, I realize I am not in my cozy bed at the Mellark's house. I am on a bench. I am cold. I am stiff. I should've known. Nothing good stays with someone like me. I stare up at the sky and think about my mess of a life. I think about the death of my family, my living in the woods, Peeta and the rest of the group befriending me at school. Peeta taking me in at home, getting a job at the bakery, Peeta in the hospital. Now I'm here. My time with the Mellarks gave me hope. as those days replay in my memory, one catches my attention. I suddenly know where to go.

Peeta's Point of view

I haven't slept since I got back from the hospital. My head swarms with thoughts. Tomorrow is Monday, but I don't know how I'll do at school. I'm distracted when all I need to do is stare at a wall. Not only that I haven't gone for around 3 weeks, so I will need to pay extra hard attention. Great. I go to sleep hoping I will actually benefit from the few hours I get. I need it. unfortunately, I wake up more tired then I started off. And I'm supposed to go to school today since I have missed 3 weeks already. And trust me, I tried to get out of it. My dad said no. As I pull up at school, I lean my head against the headrest before opening the door and walking inside. After walking toward the office for a couple minutes, until I hear my name being called. I turn and see Madge and Gale coming towards me.

"Peeta! You're back!" Madge gives me a hug. I smile and nod.

"Hey buddy! How's it going? You look exhausted!"

"Yeah. I haven't slept in a couple of days."

"Oh no! Why not?" Madge exclaims with a look of worry. I just sigh and keep walking to the office. Tears are beginning to fill my eyes.

"I don't want to talk about it." I sulk away, and go to class.

Katniss' Point of view

I walk up to the door and raise my hand in a fist to knock. My bags are slung across my back. I take a deep breath. And knock. I wait for a few seconds. I don't see anyone coming, maybe I have the wrong house. God I hope not. Maybe he's not home from school yet. I am about to turn around and go back to the woods, when the door opens. I turn around and he is standing there, looking at me waiting for an answer.

"You need to help me. Please help me!"

He gestures toward the house, inviting me inside. Thank you. Oh Thank you.

Peeta's point of view

I just got home from school, and decided not to work today. My dad was okay with it. He knows I am scared and can't concentrate. My day was rough. Couldn't turn my mind off. I want her back. Where did she go? I need her. She changed me, she changed me for the better. I miss her. All of a sudden, It hits me like a ton of bricks.

I Like Katniss.

I can't believe I didn't realize it before! I like Katniss. Everything about Her. Her innocence, making her independent and pure. Her intelligence, making her smart and kind, Her strength making her brave and approachable, and her beauty, expressed through her physical appearance and her soul.

This was my wake up call. I need to find her now. I slip on some shoes and run to the woods. It's go time.

I walk across the street and go the bench where I saw her crying, the night I found out she lived in a tree. I sit down and try to think of the path she showed me that day. It's hard, because I was distracted and It was getting dark. I stand up, and start to trudge into the woods. I try to remember the directions from that night, and as I go deeper, I get more lost. But then I see something. I see a piece of rope tied to a tree. Then I wonder: Did Katniss put these here? And then I look to another tree, and see another piece of rope. And then, another. So I follow the pieces of ribbon. And I end up at the foot of the tree. Her tree. I look up, searching for her frail body. I don't see anything, but I see something up there. It looks like a string of some sort. I don't see her bags. Where did she go? I start to scale the tree. Climbing to the fork in the branches she used to call home. I find the string I saw was actually a blue ribbon tied to the tree. I untie it and see something flutter to the ground. I wrinkle my brow in confusion, and start to lift myself of the branch to go down, but I look around first to make sure there's nothing else up here before I go down. My feet hit the ground, and I stumble a bit before regaining my balance and posture. I grab the letter and shove the blue ribbon into my pocket.

I seat myself in a rock, and unfold the letter revealing Katniss' flawless handwriting.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Prim

I miss you more as the days go by. I am alone. I bathe in the lake, even though it is freezing. Personal hygiene is not on the top of my priorities list, but when it comes to the point where the smell of yourself makes you gag, it's probably time.

I work at a burger joint called the hob. The food tastes good and provides me with a little money. Other than that i'm on my own.

Dad,

I love you and miss you more every day. I wish I could see you again. You passed to young and I couldn't be more thankful I got to spend time with you when I did. You taught me so much; if it weren't for you, i would be dead 100 times over by now. I miss you Daddy. Love you. Thanks for raising me well.

Mom,

I love you. You taught me so much about life. How to always put others before myself and such. I wish i could've known you better. I feel like I didn't have a very good relationship with you, and that is something I regret. I regret not learning more about you and building a better relationship with you. My mother. I miss you mom. I love you. Thank you for teaching me the rules I live by.

Prim,

I love you, sweet prim. I miss you more than ever you know. I miss braiding your hair. I miss playing with you. I miss calling you little duck, if that even makes any since. I wish it would've been me. I wish you would've been able to live the long life that you deserve, but I guess not. Oh well. There's nothing I can do about it now. I miss you prim. Don't worry about me.

Don't worry about me.

-Katniss

Don't worry about her?! Sorry, Katniss, I'm gonna break your rule. I look up and see the sunset, my eyes filling with tears thinking about the time I told her sunset orange was my favorite. I decide to go back home before it gets completlety dark. I stand up, take one last look at her rock, and walk away.

Katniss' Point of View

I step into his house and look around. There isn't much, just a couple of pictures sitting on a shelf. Other than that, the place is pretty much empty, besides a couch and a TV. He comes out of his kitchen with a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of toast.

"Eat that. I'm going to get your room ready. You are welcome to stay as long as you need, Katniss."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Hey. sorry it's been forever. I'm trying to write a little every day from now on to get this book back up again. I have about 900 reads on this story, and I was just wondering what i should do for 1000 reads.

Comment: who you think the "he" is katniss is staying with

And what i should do for 1k

-Becca-