Catching Fire: The New Story

the Secret Mission

Peeta's POV

After a while of standing around in the dome of vegetation and keeping the silence relaxing with the occasional small conversation, Effie called us back inside claiming we would freeze if we did not come in at once; how crazy we were for being out in this sort of weather without proper clothing to keep from the cold. I laugh as I say this in my head, keeping her Capitol voice at its pitch. Katniss mimics Effie much better when Effie wasn't around to hear, she always did it better than anyone.

Katniss wore my jacket all the way to the living room of our Training Center floor. She kept it on even while we went over how we would answer Caesar in the interview. Many eyes fell onto me, then to Katniss while we focused on the questions one at a time, then to the others speaking without words. I know that everyone knew about all the nights on the train, the keeping each other safe from the nightmares and keeping the other company. It wasn't a secret anymore, it never really was one to begin with. I was worried for nothing, I should have listened to Katniss when she was trying to reassure me. Our prep teams seemed more than happy - ecstatic, really - that their go-for couple seemed like a real couple. They smile, warm and accepting, at us. We answer the questions everyone throws at us about this-and-that about our lives as Victors, making lies that sounded too happy to be up but seemed well enough for our Victor lives or at least close to telling the truth, until Katniss and I split to change at four.

Portia and my prep team fixed my hair back and over, then to the side, then back again and again until they liked it slicked up with a light blue gel. They apply little makeup to cover up the bags under my eyes. They help me into a dark green suit with black shoes and golden flames on the sleeves. It reminded me of Katniss, the whole thing suit. Her favorite color being green, yes? Yes. But how could they have known? Portia only smiles at me when I look into the mirror to see myself.

"Do you like it?" she asks, fixing the shoulders and cuffs once more.

"Yes, I love," I say, happily.

"Well, that's great!" Golirian said, her wild gold tattoos on her cheeks smashed together while she smiled. She was one third of my wildly colorful prep team who stood in front of me. They all wore different colors that clashed horribly, but suited them because they are from the Capitol and that is the best approach.

They giggle and gossip as they walk around me in circles, fixing anything that didn't fit to place the outfit or my face or my hair. Portia just stood to the side in one spot and stared hard at me. It made me a bit nervous, I fiddled with my fingers.

"You look great, Peeta," Portia said after my prep team was done. I smile. "I think Katniss will love it."

"Thank you," I whisper, ever so gratefully.

"Twenty minutes! You've got twenty minutes!" Effie screams, walking past my room and roaming down the hall to where Katniss was getting ready.

Everyone followed behind Effie as we walked around corners to meet Katniss, she walked besides Haymitch and Cinna. She was absolutely stunning, as always. Her dress was an orange-sunset hue. My favorite color, it was long and flowed around her like a halo to the floor. It had long sleeves that were see through, designed with flames. The skirt had many layers, thin with a splash of different reds and yellows and oranges with some light pinks. Her hair was half up in a braid behind her head, the rest left down her shoulder and back, curled. Light pink makeup and black eye shadow, making her gray eyes stand out and the dress to seem brighter than it was. Her smile pulled everything together perfectly. Like always. Always perfect to me, always.

I wrapped my arm in hers, kissing her cheek. We broke as Effie pushed us towards the door.

"... Welcome, our 74th annual Hunger Games victors, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark!" Caesar yelled. Caesar was so surprised as to seeing us so dolled up. He hasn't seen us since our interviews after we won the Games. That feels like so long ago, months ago- no not months, years ago. It felt like it never happened, like it was all a dream that seemed so realistic and plastic. But it was real, it is real, and the nightmares we have now and forever are real. The crowd screamed and jumped and cried as we walk out, there were so many people dressed in the most expensive looking cloths. Colors, feathers, diamonds that shone in the stage lights, sparkles on every inch of their face or clothing, colorful skin. Too much to take in at once, so I focused my eyes on Katniss as we walked to our seat by Caesar. Katniss was sparkling as I stared at her, but her hand was shaking in mine while she held on tight. I knew she was nervous like she was nervous for ever other district we have been to, but she looked amazing. Her smile perfect, her by my side, was perfect. It all seemed too perfect, too perfect that I was afraid of it, that maybe I would wake up at the best part of this dream and be damned back to my bedroom in the bakery where Katniss would still not know a single clue to who I was.

I just hope she doesn't get mad or over react at me for what I plan to do tonight.

My plan wasn't what we planned. Mine is completely different. And hopefully it will work out this time. Maybe the real time I do this it will work, maybe not. I might not do this twice, maybe I will, maybe I'll do it a hundred times before, but for her I will try my hardest to make it right. Just for Katniss.

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I hate filler chapters but I would rather just fix them up a little than to mix them with another to make a long filler chapter which would require more work.  Idont got time for that.

~Jez xo