Linking Arms

Chapter 25

Peeta

I throw the picture frame on my bedroom wall, screaming as I do. A loud break echoes, the shards of glass scattered beneath me. Ryan's at college, and Semira, my 'mother', is out at the bakery; so I don't have to worry about anyone barging in.

I lean against the wall, sliding down as I do. I lean my head back and look up at the ceiling. The sticky white stars that that man placed up there when I was three are still up in the ceiling, staring at me. Except, I don't think of him when I see them-- I think of Katniss.

She was my star; so bright and beautiful and special to me. She was mine, all mine. . . and I lost her; all because of my stupid lustful actions caused by my stupid emotions. How could I use her like that? How could I use my marvelous girlfriend as a freaking sex toy? How could I be so rude and formulate a joke about her being a virgin?

I bring my head down in between my knees. I want to talk to her, but something's pulling me away. It's my fear, I guess. I don't want to imagine her looking into my eyes and saying she doesn't want me anymore. But do I blame her? I was practically another Gale, wanting her body and that's it.

But I'm not, I swear I'm not. I just want her love back.

Katniss

"Katniss?" Prim knocked on my bedroom door.

I sit up on my bed and wipe the remaining tears on my cheeks. "C-Come in."

Prim peeks her head in and slowly creaks open the door. She sighs once she sees me. She walks up to my bed, placing her hand on the edge of my bed. "Katniss, I know this might not be the time, but it's Saturday and you haven't eaten a thing since. . ."

Prim doesn't finish the sentence. We both already know what happened since. She sighs again and sits down on my quilt. "Katniss, please. You need to eat, you need to shower, you need to take care of your body. Look, I-I know what happened between Peeta and you, and it's sad, but you don't need to put your body through it to."

I shake my head, more tears coming. "It's not that easy, Prim. He hurt me."

Prim scoots closer to me. "I know what he did hurt you, but I know Peeta loves you."

"How do you know that?" I asked, crossing my legs together. "How could you possibly know he loves me?"

"You can see it in his eyes," Prim said, pointing to her grey eyes. "And he still does. It's easy to fall in love with someone, but it's hard to get out of it."

I cock my head at her, the tears still coming. "How did you get so smart, little duck?"

"I learned from you," Prim said, giving me a lopsided grin. "and I mean it."

I can't help but smile. I reach for her and pull her into a hug. "How the hell did you get smarter than me though?"

*

A knock on my door wakes me from my nap. I practically jump out of the couch. Prim stands over me, leaning against the couch. "I called your friends over. Thought you needed it."

I groan and pull the throw pillow to my face, shutting everything out. I hear the door swing open and footsteps approaching me. Clove grabs the pillow from my face and throws it across the room, revealing the three of my friends standing in front of me.