As soon as we enter, “Surprise,” is all we hear. The lights turn on and all of our friends are here: Haymitch (of course), Johanna, Effie, and my mom. I thought I would see someone else here, but I guess not. “We really have a lot of friends.” Peeta says just loud enough for me to hear. I let out a slight laugh just quick enough before everyone comes up to us. Well, my mom and Effie come up to us first saying their Congratulations. I haven’t seen my mother in at least two months. She still works in… Four at the hospital. I completely forgot she still worked here. For some reason I feel somewhat guilty because we have been here a couple of days and I didn’t even call her to tell here we were in Four. I make it a point to call her at least once a week, because if I lose her too…
“Katniss, darling just look at that ring. Oh! Peeta you did well, you did well!” Effie screeches in her Capitol accent, giving us both a kiss on each cheek.
“I tried!” Peeta says jokingly, and then I look over to my mother and see her with tears in her eyes.
“Mom, why are you crying?”
“Prim would have been so happy, I know it,” is all my mom can manage to say. I start to cry too and my mom pulls me into a long warm hug. I have longed so long for my mother to be a mother, and I know she is truly happy for Peeta and I. “Go celebrate, don’t cry with me, sweetie.” My mom sounds like she got some humor since Prim died. I just thought about Her, after my mom said Her name, but I don’t want to cry because tonight is supposed to be a happy occasion, for my fiancé and me.
I make my way over to Johanna and Haymitch, but Peeta stays back and is still talking with my mom.
“You know, I am truly happy for you two lovebirds.” Johanna says with a smirk.
“Well thanks. I’m glad you approve.” I say laughing.
“You still haven’t lost your “sense of humor” I see.”
“Fight nice ladies.” Haymitch joins in. “Congrats, sweetheart.”
“I see you managed to stay sober. And thanks.”
“I’m trying.”
“ Like that’s gonna last,” I say in disbelief.
“I’m serious, Katniss. I’m trying for you and Peeta. I mean it.” I believe Haymitch because he called me by name and not ‘sweetheart’. I give him a quick hug, that I think startles him. “Someone’s touchy today,” he says in a snarky voice.
“I guess I’m just emotional today.” Peeta walks over and wraps his baker arms around my stomach and I can’t resist his soft lips. “What was that for?” Peeta says. I answer by giving him another passionate kiss. “Save it for later sweetheart.” Haymitch always has to put his two cents in. After the kiss we walk over to Annie. “So, how are you liking the party?”
“It’s wonderful, Annie,” I sound so giddy all of the sudden.
“I’m glad you are enjoying it.”
“Did you put this all together?”
“Well, I need something besides Flynn to keep me busy.” Annie says laughing. I spot Flynn, playing with his toys and I go over to him. “Flynn, did you know about this party?”
“Mommy says I’m good at keeping secrets, just like Daddy.” Flynn says this so innocently.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I say giving him a little kiss on his forehead. I just sit there playing for Flynn until Peeta comes over and tells us it’s time for dinner. As I get up I notice everyone staring at me, this causes me to blush slightly. I take my seat next to Peeta and whisper, “Why was everyone staring at me, I was just playing with Flynn.”
“That’s why, Katniss.” He responds rather coldly, but I pretend not to notice and just smile. “So, Peeta, I can’t wait any longer, tell us how you proposed. I want to know every detail- every detail.” Effie practically screeches. Before he speaks to turns to me and smiles and looks like he has slight guilt in his eyes, I guess from how he answered me.
“Well, we were just sitting on the beach staring into the ocean. Katniss just looked straight into my eyes and I in hers. At that point I wasn’t sure when I was going to propose or what I was going to say but at that moment I just knew.”
“On the train ride here we were talking about after the War and how we missed each other and the first time Katniss admitted to me she loved me. I knew that moment was the perfect moment.” He pauses to look at me and I get a tear in my eye. I have been getting super emotional these past few days, I honestly don’t know why I guess I’ve just been so caught up in everything. But Haymitch sees me crying, “You know, sweetheart, Peeta was able to propose to you without crying and retell it and you can’t hold it together when you are just listening?” Everyone starts to laugh, I find it quite insulting, to be completely honest. So I just sit there without saying anything, listening to Peeta.
“I had thought of this long soliloquy, that I thought was pretty sentimental, and it left Katniss speechless.” I’m glad he stopped there because I didn’t him to tell everyone about his flashback or later that night, either. “Have you thought about any wedding plans yet? Good, because I know just the people who wil-” Effie doesn’t even give us time to answer, and she stops when she hears a knock on the door. Annie goes over to see who it is, as she opens the door I feel a wave of emotions hit me: I don’t know whether to cry or scream, I don’t know whether to be happy or sad. Everyone’s face goes blank, but mine turns flush. I run to the bathroom and I get sick.I feel bad for Peeta because he comes in the bathroom to see me crying and vomiting. I don’t know whether I’m crying from seeing his face or from vomiting. Peeta just holds my hair and rubs my back. Finally when I am done vomiting, I stand up. Peeta brings me into a long hug.
“It’s okay.” Peeta says attempting to make me feel better. “Do you want to go downstairs?” I nod and he carries me down stairs. I don’t look up to see Gale’s face, partly because I’m not sure if I want to see him and partly because I feel like I am going to faint. I look up- he hasn’t changed a bit, the only thing that has changed is his eyes, and he has bags under his eyes. “I’m sorry Catnip,” is all he says.
Everyone is staring and I don’t know what to do. I don’t fell dizzy anymore but I do feel like throwing up. I feel frozen and trapped. I’m am so confused. My mother comes up to me and Peeta gives me a kiss before he walks over to Gale and they go outside. When they go out the door, Annie is apologizing, “I’m sorry, I invited him because I wasn’t sure if you wanted him here or not. He told me he wasn’t going to come. I’m sorry,” then she starts crying. “Its fine Annie,” now I feel dizzy. My eyelids feel heavy so I thank everyone for coming and reassure them I’m okay, then I make my way upstairs. I hear everyone talking but i just continue my way up the stairs.
I start thinking about all of the great times Gale and I had together, he has changed so much and I miss the old Gale.
I only fall asleep when Peeta climbs into bed with me and wraps his arms around me and kisses my temple. "I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier."
“We’ll talk about everything tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” he says, "I love you," and I start to cry.
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The feels!! vote, comment, and READ!! ilygsm!!
xx. Madd
- Rest easy Phil xx-
