Linking Arms

Chapter 26

Katniss

If it was possible, I would go back in time.

I would go far back, before Peeta caught Gale and me kissing. I would go far before I met Peeta in the rain. I would go far before my high school years. I would go far before any of this drama began. I would go back to the day my daddy died. I would go back to the morning of his death, to when we said our goodbyes, oblivious of what was about to come.

I would tell him that I wanted him to stay home. I would cry my eyes out just so he would deal with his bratty daughter and maybe, just maybe, he would be with me right now,

when I need him the most.

Peeta freaked out. He dropped the primroses and scrutinized the scene for a good minute or two. And that's when the 'freaking out' part started. Gale said five words, and those five words made Peeta go ballistic.

"I think you should leave," Gale said.

"What did you just say?" Peeta said, indignant.

"I said," Gale started, agitated,"I think--"

"I heard you the first time," Peeta cut him off, stepping closer to the crime scene.

Gale stands up from his place from the couch and inches closer to him. Gale stands a good six inches over Peeta, but Peeta doesn't care. He looks him straight in the eyes and says,"Don't you ever touch my girlfriend again."

"Ex-girlfriend," Gale said with a grin. He chuckles at this.

I don't know who threw the first punch, but then again I don't want to know. The whole thing was a blur, a mixture of yelling obscenities and punching and me screaming at the both of them to stop. And of course, they didn't. I tried to stop them by literally getting in between them, but then I feel a hard elbow to my eye and down I went.

"Katniss?" someone's voice echoes. I turn my head and realize I'm on the floor. My forehead is pounding maliciously, and I shakily bring a hand up to it. "Katniss, are you okay?"

My vision's blurry, but I can just make out Peeta's messy blond blob of hair. He turns to what I think to be Gale. "What the hell, Gale!"

Gale did this? I try to sit up, but immediately regret it. The pounding becomes heavier and my vision becomes worse; I start to see purple and green splatters of spots everywhere. Panicking, I feel a hand gently laying me back down; Peeta's. I look up at him once again and the spots surround his face. I see fresh discoloring on his face, around his cheek. I try to say that I want him to stay with me, but only a squeal comes out.

"I'm not leaving your side," Peeta says, like he read my mind.

I reach out for him, but the green and purple spots take over and I black out.

~~~

I wake up to a towel and ice bag on my face. I hear some talking in the kitchen, but I don't focus on it. My head is pounding vigorously. I take the towel and ice off my hands and place it on the table next to me. I notice there's a bouquet of primroses beside me.

When did that get there?

I attempt to stand up, against my body's orders, and walk out to the kitchen, holding onto objects nearby so I don't fall. Mom and Prim stand by the counters, conversing on Mom's job. They immediately turn to me. The both furrow their eyebrows at me. Prim speaks up. "You shouldn't be up, Katniss. You took a hard hit."