Catching Fire: The New Story

a Normal Day :)

Katniss's POV

I remind myself of Buttercup beside the fire when I wake: outstretched arms and legs, yawning wide with slumber, and blinking thousands of times to adjust to the morning light. I take a big breath and feel around on the bed for Peeta. I find him laying on his side, his hand supporting his head as he watches me wake up. He is smiling and wide awake. He's happy.

"Good morning," he whispers, kissing my forehead. I smile.

I whisper back, "Good morning," and I turn onto my side as well. I lay my head on my hand and with the other, I reach up to touch his face. I watch him chuckle, I can faintly feel his heartbeat on my smallest finger as it lays on his neck. I run my fingers lightly over his features, studying him. He closes his eyes and I run my fingers over his blond eyelashes. His breathing becomes light, I almost believe he is sleeping until he grabs my hand as my finger runs over his pink lips. He slips his long fingers through my small ones. Peeta brings my hand to his lips and placed kisses along my knucks.

"Are you hungry?" he asks out of the blue. I nod. He smiles and kisses my forehead again. Peeta stands and leaves me on the bed to call in something. I stay laying in bed, curling up in the warm spot he had been in. I wrap the blankets around myself tighter and relax. 

I listen as Peeta orders oatmeal and bread with juice, a very simple breakfast. He came to bed once he placed the whole order and stayed with me until an Avox brought up the food. He left me cuddled in the same spot once more.

We sat together on the edge of the bed eating our breakfast on the table Peeta pulled over. Only quiet conversation was going on until Peeta fell off the bed, reaching for my hand and taking me down with him. The thin sheets tangle with us as we fall. I hold myself above Peeta and watch him laugh. All I could see on his face was happiness. It is the brightest I have seen him this whole Victory Tour.

Sooner than I wished, an Avox was at our door once we were done eating, laughing, and falling. She handed us a note and sped off having other things to do. The note was from Effie, informing us that we had precisely one hour until the train would come and take us home to Twelve. There, we would have to attend the last party hosted in our district. At that time, and since the two Victors are from Twelve, everyone will be setting up decorations and cleaning up for the party. Everyone will be celebrating the day of the party, not all will be in the Justice Building where it will be located, but everyone will be provided a festive meal. Although the joy of the party will lighten my mood, my favorite part about winning the Games has to be the packages, cans, boxes, and bags of food everyone receives every month. The children will be running around with cans of exotic fruit and vegetables, even candy. 

I jump when Peeta kisses my forehead. My smile fades and I look up at him. He stared at me confused.

"Anything wrong?"

I shake my head. "No, nothing. Did you say something?"

"I'm going to change, I'll be back," Peeta laughs. Before he walks out, he places a soft, light kiss on my lips. I want to bring him back and kiss him longer, but I let our hands drop to our sides. I stare at the door for a minute, but then it hit me - I don't have much time to think if the train is coming in one hour.

I quickly jump off the bed, making my head spin. I begin to have a migraine from last night's drinking and I slowly change out of my night clothes. I throw on a white, long sleeve sweater; thick, black tights; long, gray boots; and lastly, with an oversized coat, which I realize, after questioning why it was so big, was for Peeta. I keep it on anyway. I can take a deep breath after wearing such formal clothes. 

I walk out of the room with half an hour to spare. I have no idea where to go, so I stand in the middle of the hallway dumbfounded. How do I get to the train from here? I have never been in the Capitol mansion, or particularly out of Twelve, so I don't know my way around such a big place. I enter my room, trashing the idea of trying to get to where I need to be and getting lost in the progress. I sit on the unmade bed, thinking of what will happen once I get home. I'll get to see Prim again, and my mother, and Gale, plus the other Hawthorne's. Hazelle. Greasy Sae. My woods, my home, District Twelve.

"Katniss?" someone says from the door. I look up to see Peeta, ready in the warm winter clothing. "Are you wearing my coat?"

"Yes," I say sheepishly.

"Come on," Peeta says chuckling. I look down and away from him as I take his hand to help me up. He entwines our fingers and walks down the hall to the elevator. My stomach turned at the thought, but I enter anyway. I remind myself that it is a normal room that travels vertically, it is nothing like the ones that travel men deep into the ground in Twelve. I still close my eyes. I gasp when Peeta pulls me into his arms, holding me after realizing what was going on inside my head.

We are immediately whisked into the train after taking two steps out of the mansion. Effie drags us through possibly hundreds of cameras and paparazzi who surround us and scream our names. Although Effie is stressed and on a quick schedule, Peeta and I still smile and wave. We even kiss for them a few times, which makes them go haywire. Through the whole thing, Peeta never lets me go. The train is warm and welcoming. There are even cups of hot chocolate ready for us when we enter. The whole team walks to the dining cart and we all sprawl onto the couches and chairs set up. Everyone looks beat and tired.

"They're just hungover," Peeta whispers in my ear. I nod and shiver at his warm breath on my neck. Last night was a big night for everyone. I laugh a little at the thought of everyone drunk last night, myself included. 

Peeta and I stand quietly while everyone rests their eyes from the bright morning sun entering through the rectangular windows of the train. We all nod when Effie asks everyone if they want hot chocolate. It breaks the cold of winter away and makes the whole cart smell wonderful. Peeta and I sit on a large, plush couch. I more say on Peeta's lap while Peeta actually sat on the couch. We drank our hot chocolate in a peaceful silence we wouldn't get again in a very long time.

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These little filler chapters sort of piss me off but I love the idea of them. :)

~Jez xo