The Miner's Wife

Chapter 14: Explode I

Katniss POV

I wake up; it must be the middle of the night. Disoriented, I take a look at the clock on the nightstand. It's three in the morning. Sighing, I slip out of bed to go to the bathroom. I listen for Ivy's slow, steady breathing. She's sound asleep.

In the hallway, I walk silently to avoid waking anyone up. I hear a door creaking behind me and turn around. It's coming from Peeta's room.

But it's not Peeta.

Cashmere doesn't see me at first; her back is towards me as she closes the door very slowly. When the door clicks shut, she turns around and her eyes widen in surprise. Her luscious hair falls freely over her shoulders. She's barefoot like I am, and wearing a cream colored silk nightgown which looks... fantastic. Of course.

I don't know what to do. If I had the strength, I would simply turn around and walk away. That would probably be the best course of action, but I don't. I'm frozen in place. There is a hollow feeling in my chest. I just stare at her - and she stares right back at me, but I can't read her expression.

Cashmere walks towards me. The guest room she's supposed to be sleeping in is behind me, but instead of walking past, she stops right in front of me. Now that she's closer, I see that she has dark rings under her eyes, and she looks tired. It's the first time I've seen her look anything but perfect. "Been up all night?" I ask. I wonder where that snarky remark came from. I'm surprised by how steady my voice sounds.

She smiles wryly. "Yes." Her shoulder brushes mine as she walks past me. "He's all yours."

"Wait."

She turns around and meets my eyes. "I didn't sleep with him, Katniss." Her voice is a whisper.

"But I know you have before." My mouth is dry. I'm whispering, too. I don't want to wake the children, and I don't want anyone to overhear this conversation. Peeta, least of all. I suspect he's awake. Cashmere did just leave his room.

She chuckles darkly, but she doesn't smile. "Yes." She pauses, studying me. I'm wearing an old oversized t-shirt that used to be Gale's and a pair of sleeping shorts. Both are washed-out and worn. My hair is mussed from sleep. Still, I straighten my back and refuse to look away. "Be good to him. He deserves it."

She turns around and instead of going to her room, she walks downstairs, leaving me in the hallway. Speechless.

Peeta and Haymitch follow Cashmere and Finnick to the train station. Arrow is excited at the prospect of seeing a train up close, and Peeta asks if he can come with them. I reluctantly agree. When I see how much it means to Arrow, I don't feel as though I can say no. I hope not too many Town - or Seam - housewives will see them, though. If the old hags see Arrow and Peeta together without me being present, it certainly won't seem like I am just Peeta's housekeeper.

Although I'm not just Peeta's housekeeper anymore, am I?

Letting Peeta take Arrow to the train station was probably a really bad idea. Still, I feel relief that the two victors have finally left. I feel like I can breathe more freely already, even though Finnick and Cashmere have only been out of the house for ten minutes.

To avoid thinking about the gossip and my confusion over what exactly my relationship with Peeta is, I busy myself by cleaning. It is my job after all. I strip the sheets off the beds in the guest rooms first, and then I find myself pausing outside of Peeta's bedroom door before I turn the knob. It's hard to look at his bed, knowing that Cashmere was probably in it last night. And our conversation in the hallway after? What was that? She said she didn't sleep with Peeta, and I suppose I believe her. Still, just knowing that she was in Peeta's bedroom makes me feel sick.