Red Apples [Completed]

Chapter 3: The Ball

~The Next Day~

I gulp facing the doors of the office that my stepmother has requested to see me in, this can't be good at all, when she does this it's usually so no one can stop her oh I hope she doesn't hit me on the back with the broom steams. I open the door and it reveals stepmother who's looking out the window and I shut the door and just stand there till she turns, nothing but hate in her eyes

"You wanted to see me?" I ask sheepishly as she walks up closer to me

"Katniss. You will not be marrying that prince" she states and my eyes widen

"B-but---"

"No! I shall not be overthrown by a girl who doesn't know one thing about ruling. You are to cancel that wedding arrangement, I've always been fitted for the thrown"

"But... he loves me" I say looking down at my shoes and she scoffs and I look at her

"Loves you? Katniss, nobody loves you, you're cursed and I shall keep you here for as long as it'll take" she threatens and I gulp, she sighs still looking at me

"You know. You annoy me, your hair, your looks, your voice. I'm sure you annoy that prince" she adds and I look down feeling a tear fall

"Weak teenager who always needs someone to save her" she spits

"Now. Get out of my sight, I don't want to see your face ever again" and I walk out and only let the tears fall when I'm in my room, she's right, I'm weak and nobody loves me.

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Elaine smiles as my last hair is curled, I don't know if I can do this, I'm too nervous, I can't go down there in front of all these strangers. A specially not to the prince, stepmother would be furious if I interacted with the prince, after Elaine leaves I take a big breath and walk out following where the music is which is coming from the ballroom, as I enter I see many people dancing and others standing around or sitting at tables I go off to the side where I'm not interacting and I see stepmother give me a cold stare from her thrown

"You look beautiful" I jump when I hear the voice and I see it's Peeta

"Oh... Really? It's just a dress my mother once wore" I admit blushing and he smiles

"Beautiful dress for a beautiful girl" he says kissing my hand

"Care for a dance?" He asks and I see over his shoulder his father looking at us with happiness in his eyes, I guess one dance won't hurt will it? And so I nod and we go join the people who have already started dancing and I feel his warm hand on my waist and I place my right hand on his shoulder and with our spare hands we hold them together and we start to move to the slow calm rhythm of the music

"You amaze me Katniss" he starts and I bite my bottom lip

"How so?" I ask

"Well, you're unbelievably good with animals, it's like you can talk to them. Your smile brightens my day whenever I see it. That is how you amaze me Katniss Everdeen" he explains and I blush

"No one has ever complimented me in years" I admit as we keep dancing and he smiles

"Well. You deserve all the compliments you can get" he smiles and before I know it we're both leaning in and just as our lips are inches apart the music changes to more up beat and I brake away

"I-I must go" I say and he looks at me sadly and I pick up my dress and start running all the way to my room and I saw a glimpse of my stepmother also sneaking away but nothing like that bothers me, I just know that now I know I mucked up and I'm going to pay for my actions.

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It's been a little while since I ran from the party and I sit on my bed still in my ball gown, the music has stopped and I assume that everyone has gone, including Peeta and his father, just as I start to get deep into my thoughts my bedroom door opens and Elaine walks in with sadness in her eyes

"Katniss... I need you to come with me. Don't ask any questions" she states without looking at me and so I follow her, out of the castle and into the woods and it's not now till I realise she has a very sharp dagger

"The Queen has sent me to kill you. But I can't do it" she admits turning around and dropping the dagger and by now tears are falling

"Please Elaine. Don't do this" I beg

"Run Katniss. Into the woods, I want you to never return her. Run! Go!" And I pick up my dress and start running through the woods and it starts raining but I keep running far away from the castle till I slip and fall and I brake down crying hating my life, I've got no home, no one to love, no one to love me, after I calm myself I get up and venture through these unknown woods till I see.... a home.