The Beginning of the End

Chapter 16

-Peeta-

     I wake up the next morning with Katniss in my arms. She's completely uncovered and I run my fingers up and down her bare back. She's beautiful in ways I could never express, with paint or with words. I kiss her forehead softly, covering her with the blanket. After I get dressed, I quietly walk out of the room, letting her sleep.

     "Are you okay?" Gale asks when I walk into the kitchen. He's drinking coffee and eating a piece of cake we made the day before. "I saw Katniss run into your room last night after you screamed." I freeze, suddenly remembering my nightmare. My hands begin to shake and my breathing speeds up. "Hey, hey, it's okay. This cake is amazing." he says and I focus on his voice and the cake.

     Before I can say anything, Katniss bounces down the stairs and I'm surprised to see her wearing her usual hunting gear. She comes up and kisses me, then turns to Gale who's looked away from us.

     "Want to go hunting?" She smiles at him and I notice the way she's completely oblivious to his jealousy. He forces a smile and nods.

     "Of course!" He gets up and they walk out the door.

-Katniss-

     Hunting with Gale was a refresher. The thrill of the kill was finally back, and soon we ran out of time. The sun had completely gone down before we started heading back. We reached a small pond and we sat on a rock, watching the sun go down.

     "This has been really nice." he says, and he almost sounds nervous.

     "Yeah, it has. I can finally hunt now without..." I stop but we both know what I had been about to say. Without visions of Marvel in the games.

     "Katniss, it isn't too late." he says suddenly, and I look at him in confusion.

     "Not too late for what?" I ask. He hesitates, looking at the sky and taking a deep breath.

     "To change your mind. About me." he whispers. I sigh and stand up, leaning against a tree.

     "I'm married, Gale. It is too late. I love Peeta, he means everything to me."

     "He's suicidal. I wouldn't put you through what he's putting you through. He's weak and confused. Someday he's going to take his life and you'll be left with nothing." I ball my hands into fists.

     "How could you say that? I'm protecting him. I thought you cared about him but you don't! You just want me. You selfish little..."

     "No, Katniss. I do care about him. He's a good person but he can't love you like I can. He can't give you what I can give you." I snort.

     "I thought I was just pretending in the arena. I thought it was just for the games but it wasn't. I didn't realize how much I love him, but I did. I never really loved you, Gale. Not like that. You're like my older brother, but Peeta is my husband." I say. He looks away, tears in his eyes.

      "I'm leaving, Katniss." he announces.

     "What?" I gasp and sit back down next to him.

     "I want to find some work. I want to go to another district and see what I can do." he admits. I stay silent, not realizing how much I like the fact that he's been staying with us.

     "Can't you find a job here? Maybe work at the bakery, you've gotten pretty good with those cakes." I say and he laughs.

     "I don't know, Catnip. You and Peeta are going to want to start a whole new life for each other and I'd just be in the way."

     "No, you wouldn't. You're my best friend, I need you here with us." I plead. He looks at me, his lips pursed.

     "Okay. I'll stay for one more year." he agrees. I nod, knowing that's the best I'll get.

     We've just reached the front lawn when we hear a crash coming from upstairs. We race up the steps and into the house. Once we reach the bathroom, we see Haymitch standing over Peeta, who's unconscious on the floor.

     "What the hell happened here?" I scream at him. My hearts sinks down to my toes when I see a bottle of pills half-empty in Haymitch's hand. The rest are scattered around the floor.

     "How..how many did he take?" Gale whispers. Haymitch shrugs.

     "Not sure. I don't think he had enough to cause any harm. Maybe two." He looks back at Peeta.

     "I meant to knock the bottle out of his hands but he put up a fight and I pushed him on accident. He grabbed the curtain and the rod fell on his head. The klutz stepped on the curtain, slipped, and hit his head on the tub." I would have laughed if his original intent had been to end his life.

     Between the three of us, we manage to life an unconscious Peeta into his room and onto his bed. Gale and Haymitch leave and I sit down next to him, stroking his hair. As I look at his face, I think about Snow and the Capitol, and how unfair it is that they did this to the sweetest, kindest person I know. I remember his smile and the way it could light up my world. I think about the bravery he showed in the arena, and how much he cares about me. I think about the disgust on Haymitch's face when we were putting him on the bed, and what Gale said about him in the woods.

     "I swear I will protect you. I love you." I whisper to him, and kiss his forehead.