What if?- A Mockingjay Story

Chapter 41

What if?
What if I can just forget all that has happened this morning? What if I should? Obviously I can't completely but for now? Peeta says he has plans, do I really want to ruin all he has done? What if its only fair, with the amount of work he has put in to today that I forget all about Gale? What if I can forget about Gale? For both Peeta and myself to be happy?

What if? What if? What if....

---

He places the parcel on my lap. It's quite long, I have to hold it so it doesn't fall off my lap. It's wrapped in a beautiful light green wrapping paper, with small dandelions on it and finished with white ribbon The effort he goes to is unbelievable, even the smallest details. I look at him and say with a small smile on my face

"Peeta you really didn't have to...."

He interrupts me with a grin

"But you deserve it. So don't argue and open it"

So I do. I slowly pull off the ribbon and place it aside. I then slowly tear the wrapping paper, trying my best not to rip it. Eventually I slip it off, revealing a wooden box. I glance at him and he gives me a nudging look to open it. So I open the two clasps on the side and open the box. Inside laid on top of fabric is a bow. Not just any bow, the most beautiful bow I have ever seen. I slowly take it out of the box is awe and rub my fingers daintily along the newly polished wood. I say in such a quiet voice

"Peeta... It's beautiful"

He smiles and says

"Everyone chipped in. Effie even bought the wood, mahogany I think. She kept ranting on how its a brilliant kind for everything and anything"

I laugh. Mahogany. I put the bow aside and tell Peeta

"It's amazing Peeta, thank you so much..."

I hold his face in my hands and kiss him softly. Once we pull away I carefully place the bow back in its box and when I turn to face Peeta again he is holding his hands out, a small box sitting in them.

I feel a huge lump form in my throat, my supply of air cut off at the same moment my heart skips a beat. Its not, is it? He really can't be... I'm only 19. He places it in my hand and says quietly

"Open it"

I nod, taking a deep breath as quiet as possibly. My hands tremble as I open the box and I am relieved and granted oxygen again when I find that it does not contain a ring, but something else. A small protective cushion lays on top, which I take away and glancing quickly at Peeta. His eyes sparkle with giddiness and excitement. I hope he doesn't see the relief in mine, but instead the curiosity of what really is in here. As my eyes look back down at the box I see its contents. My fingers hold the end and slowly lift it up and lay it on my palm. A beautiful silver charm bracelet with several charms on it already. An arrow, a bird, a charm saying always and the pearl. The pearl from the quell, the pearl he gave me that kept me sane in 13, the pearl that's salty kisses kept me connected to the giver himself at the times in which there was many miles parting us. The pearl that kept a part of him with me when he was gone furthest from me, evem in thirteen when I felt he was so distant, so inretreviable. The pearl that accompanied me through it all. I feel my eyes burn with tears that I refuse to let escape as I say

"Peeta....How?"

He says softly

"I was cleaning the kitchen while you were asleep a couple of weeks back and I found it. I was actually surprised you kept it all this time"

I say hugging him tightly

"Of course I kept it. For a while it was all I had left of you"

For a while we just stay enclosed in each others arms. He murmurs into my ear

"I love you"

I whisper back

"I love you too"

Then we enjoy the silence a little more, comforted by each other. I love these moments with Peeta, the moments in which I can just enjoy his embrace in silence and warmth. Its something I used always take for granted but now I cherish them, appreciate my moments with him. No longer are they rare but to me they will forever be precious.

--

"Peeta where are you taking me?"

I say, though it feels like I'm speaking only to the darkness before me. My eyes are covered by a scarf, acting as a blindfold in which Peeta covered my eyes with nearly 10 minutes ago. I know we are outside, I feel the warm spring breeze on my face and I hear the crunching of stones beneath my shoes. Peeta stands behind me, I feel his hands holding my shoulders steady as he guides me around obstacles that to me are unseen. He says in reply

"I tell you that and it will ruin the surprise"

I can tell he's grinning. This is fun for him, he enjoys this. I enjoy it to a certain extent but I hate the fact that I can't just open my eyes. I'm not a child, I'm not excited but curious. I ask him in a whining tone

"Are we nearly there?"

He replies

"Nearly"

I feel myself becoming slightly nauseous as every few seconds Peeta steers me in a different direction. After a while I say trying to sound serious but ending up laughing

"Are you trying to make me nauseous? You're steering is terrible"

He laughs and remarks

"Well sorry I don't have much experience with steering a blindfolded person"

I laugh again. There is silence for a while, the only thing I hear is the sound of my feet walking on concrete. I know we are somewhere in the town now, which doesn't really help me trying to guess where he's taking me. Finally he says

"We're almost there"

I say to him

"Should I be scared?"

He lets out a laugh before saying

"Do you not trust me?"

I reply

"Well I don't really trust anyone who blindfolds me to be honest"

He laughs even more and I can't help but laugh too. Then he leads me up a few steps and I hear a small bell ring as what must be a door is opened before me. I hear my heart beating quickly in my ears with both anticipation and confusion. Suddenly I feel his fingers fiddling with the blindfold as he says

"3, 2, 1....."

Then he whips off the blindfold revealing his surprise before me.

---

Hey guys! Ooooo! Cliffhanger! Anyway I hope you enjoyed that! I hopefully will have an update tomorrow but if not I just want to tell you all I hope you guys have a great Easter! I just have one thing to ask you guys because this is kind of important to me and I want you guys to be honest... are my chapters long enough? Like they are 100-1200 words most of the time. Please comment what you think about the length of them and please be honest, it will be much appreciated feedback for me to make your experience reading my book even better! Thanks so much for reading guys, I hope you have voted on my 5k celebration too! Thanks so much and I hope you have a brilliant Easter!

-Em is out!