Sparks

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

My day is filled with pain and happiness.

Between tape being ripped off my legs, and my eyebrows being plucked to the point of a red forehead, I was happy. I was happy to have my adorable, selfish prep team back. As always they go on talking about good and bad news throughout Panem. Many people have tried to mimic Cinna's style tricks. Most people have gotten serious burns in attempt, but being a Capitol person, they blend the burns in with various style types.

"Did you hear about Districts 1 and 2?" Flavius asks Viena while combing my hair.

"No, what happened?" She asks in her high voice.

"Well, they are all quite shy and quiet now that the Capitol no longer favors them." Flavius says like a teenage gossip girl. "And the funny thing is, now that they don't have a need to party anymore, weapon stocking is increasing rapidly and we have no need for them."

I know I'm allowed to hear this, but I block it out, trying to follow Haymitch's advice.

Trying to distract my mind, I come up with the clothing topic. "What am I wearing?" I ask.

Now that I don't have Cinna, I don't know what I'm going to wear.

"Cinna was prepared." Octavia says with a smirk.

And was Cinna prepared.

He made thousands of different styles for me to last years on, all packed into boxes. Today specifically, I am to wear a blue leather jacket with a gray infinity wool scarf and black jeans with combat boots. After I'm dressed and my hair is put into its usual braid down the back, I walk downstairs to find Effie enjoying a cup of tea while Haymitch is stretched across and lounge sofa with a bottle of liquor. When he looks up, he smiles and rises. He walks towards me and pretends to fix my scarf but he's really playing with it to tease me.

"Well, don't you look ravishing." He says drunkenly.

Effie sighs and stands from her chair and walks over to us. "She looks beautiful." She agrees.

"Yeah, you could use a change of style." Haymitch smiles.

I ignore his comment. "Where's Peeta?"

"He's out with the camera crew. Now listen. President Paylor has grown a little stuff and she wants you too to put on a show."

"What? I thought..." Only Snow does this. Why would Paylor?

"Yeah, me too. But you just need to act calm, happy, and completely in love. Can you do this?" He asks.

I nod, then Peeta walks through the door, with a frustrated face. "Peeta, what's wrong?" I ask.

"Can I talk to you in private, Katniss?" He says.

"Sure." I say as he takes my hand and leads me to the study.

I walk over to the couch and he sits next to me. "Is their something wrong?" I ask.

He looks me in the eyes and his hands go to my jaw, pulling me into him as he presses his lips to mine softly as my hand goes to his cheek. When he pulls from me, he smiles. "We can do this Katniss. It will be okay. We will be okay." He looks down and takes my hand then looks back up. "I will be there. At your side, holding your hand, the whole time. I will never leave your side." He says.

I'm glad Peeta will be with me, the entire time. I really am, I need him with me every second if I'm going to get through this.

We sit there in silence, cherishing this private, quiet moment we have left together, after all we won't have a moment like this for a while, but we are interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Are you two done yet?" A drunken Haymitch screams.

"Screw you Haymitch!" I scream back. Peeta chuckles and gives me one last soft kiss and stands up. He leads me outside the room and Haymitch gives us an angry look.

"Sorry, Haymitch." I apologize.

Then his face goes soft. "I like your guts girl." He smiles and puts one arm around my shoulder. "Come on sweetheart. Let's go get'em." He leads Peeta and I to the front door and opens it.

Cameras.

Cameras everywhere. More cameras then I thought their would ever be. Why was Paylor doing this? I thought she was better than this.

Peeta and I link arms and stand on our porch, smiling and waving. Peeta gives me a small kiss on my cheek. It wasn't enough. I take Peetas shoulders and swing him to the side, so I'm holding him up by his shoulders. I lean in and give him a heartfelt, passionate kiss. His hands hold onto my waist as I struggle to keep him from falling. When I finish the kiss, I swing him back to his original position and smile at the camera as he tries to regain his balance. His hair is ruffled and his face is completely confused.

Once he's back to normal he smiles and leans in to give me a soft short kiss, then after leans over to my ear and whispers, "I love you."

"I love you, too." I say.

We then continue on through the path outlined by photographers and interviewers. Once we reach the train, we turn and give one last smile and wave. We then enter the train. As I enter the sitting room the scent of flowers and mouth watering food fills my nose. I breathe it all in and I'm relaxed. The familiar sitting room brings shiver though. Last time I was in here, I was being taken to my death, but I know now I'm safe with Snow gone.

I release Peetas arm and head for the buffet table, filled with various types of foods, including my favorite, beef lamb stew, cheese rolls, and hot chocolate. I take in the scent of the delectable food in front of me, but I caution myself. I don't give in. I know Snows gone, but it's the Capitol. You can never be positive.

After I've washed away all the makeup and hair extensions. I put on some Capitol pajamas and crawl under the sheets of the bed. The bed that brought nightmares and also chased them away. Of course with the help of Peeta and his arms.

As if on cue, Peeta walks in and sits on the bed next to me. Us sleeping in the same bed isn't a new thing. We did it all the time. When I would have bad dreams and scream at the top of my lungs, Peeta would find me and hold me in his arms until I fell asleep, but he never left. He stayed with me until the morning, and it was comforting.

He got into the bed with me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in closer to him as I rest my head on his arm. Just like old times. This place, this train made me feel like I was being put on a death sentence. Thinking of my first Hunger Games sent a shiver down my spine. Thinking of the Quarter Quell made me tremble. Peeta felt this and his grip around me tightens, trying to calm me.

No matter how comforting this was, I fell asleep, with dreams of the Quarter Quell.