Catching Fire: The New Story

Drinking has Side-Effects

Peeta's POV

I can't believe Katniss said yes! I mean, she didn't have the choice of saying no in front the whole Panem. She looked happy, and not the fake happy she uses in front of the cameras. It was a happy I hadn't seen in a while. Not since we were young and didn't have worries. It was real. I expected her to run out, embarrassed by my actions, embarrassing me. But that would have ruined everything. Our whole plot to convince the Capitol and the districts that we are madly in love would have crumbled. She would never embarrass me, I can't be embarrassed by her. Everything she does I love. I love absolutely every little thing about her.

President Snow steps forward and clears his throat. Everyone quiets down after he congratulates us. Katniss keeps her arm around my waist, along with mine on hers. I rub the last tears off her cheeks as she squirms into my chest. 

"For the Star-Crossed Lovers, it would be an honor to host their wedding. Right here, in the Capitol!" 

Snow's voice echoes around the large audience. They all stand and cheer of excitement. Katniss smiled again, wider than before. But this time, it is fake for the camera. Her real smile is gone, and I don't know why.

"Oh, thank you!" she says in her happy, Capitol voice. He congratulated us once more, telling us it is no bother to throw this party so soon. He walks backstage into the darkness and bustle. Caesar ends the show shortly after, thanking us for being here and wishing joy to us once more.  We wave to the audience one last time before walking backstage the way we came. Our prep teams surround us in hugs and kisses on cheeks and blessings. In a few short hours, there would be a party in the name of our engagement. They take us straight to the Training Center to get ready.

-

My prep team separate me from Katniss and quickly choose an outfit for me. I wonder how Katniss is now. Her change from real to camera happy made me uneasy. I don't enjoy the people of the Capitol much either, but she has no tolerance for them. 

I walk out in a dark gray suit and my hair slicked up. I meet Katniss at the door. Her back is turned toward me, most of it exposed as the back of her dress is completely open, closing at the small of her back. The dress is black with glistening, large detailing. The shoulders bounce out at about an inch, blood red feathers. One of the dresses she designed with Cinna. Her hair is down and natural, with two braids running from the sides of her head and meeting in the back. She turns around when she hears my loud footsteps. Her cheeks have been colored a dark pink, and her face angled with bronze powder. Her eye makeup is a bright rose hue, with extended eyelashes that sparkle when she blinks. They kept her lips natural yet plump. Jewelry decorates her ears and wrists. 

She smiles at me. It pulls off the whole outfit. She walks over, her simple black heels echoing in the hall. I fear she'll fall, but she looks steady. Still in heels, she is no taller than me. I smile down at her.

"Hi."

"Hi," I say. I kiss her forehead. Her scent of our home woods and her lavender soap. She smiles up at me and we exit with the rest down to the car. 

The car, Effie tells us as we enter, is called a limo. A long, luxurious, black automobile that we fill in with extra space for more people. There is a driver in the front who is blocked by a partition. The ride is filled with conversation and laughter we don't usually have. Katniss and I sit side by side and hold hands. She constantly twirls her new ring around her finger while staring out the window. 

Once we arrive and walk out, everyone cheers. We shake hands with anyone reaching out, keeping close together. Most come up to us and say a congratulations and wish us well. They shake our hands and move on, or stay and ask us some questions. We say hello to many people, talk quickly, answer truthfully or with lies. But we just try to get through everyone. We don't spend more than a minute with each person we stop to chat with, and Effie helps by dragging us along before we spend eternity there. Katniss's hand tightens around mine with every person we see.