Catching Fire: Peeta's Story....

Chapter 39:

Chapter 39:

Atala, the woman who runs training, begins her speech right on time, unfazed by the poor attendance. Maybe she expected it? I look over to Katniss, who looks to be bored but worried about something else, entirely different than making friends. I bump her gently and give her a questioning look. She just begins to look more worried and holds up a finger to tell me to hang on a minute, and grips my hand tighter. When Atala finish's speaking, I pull Katniss to the side away from people, but I can see Finnick eyeballing Katniss.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted?" I ask, taking her hands and looking into her eyes with compashion. She looks around, and see's Finnick looking at her, so she moves me infront of her and out of his sight. "Peeta? I feel horrible." Katniss confesses. Here it is! "I feel horrible, about how I've been treating you lately, and Haymitch and Effie. But most of all you! I'm sorry Peeta! I Love You! And I don't want to fight with you or make you mad again! Can you forgive me?" She asks me.

"I'll think about it." I tell her, kissing her cheek, and grinning as I turn away. I walk towards the spears station with Brutus and Chaff, and I watch Katniss go to the knot-tying station, where no one is at. She spends half the morning over there, but after an hour and a half, I see Finnick walk over and go behind her and put his arms around her to finish off her hard knot, I start to tense up, because I see Katniss try to shrug him off, but he doesn't move. So Katniss pushes him off, and goes to the fire making station.

Later she's accompanied by the people from District 3. The woman is Wiress, and the man is Beetee. So I feel fine with Katniss hanging out with them. I go to the knife throwing station. Soon it's time for lunch, I want to get with Katniss, but the Careers have already pulled me into the dining area. I know Katniss will want to sit alone, but the Careers have a different idea. They pull all the tables together to make one big table, so we can all eat together and converse. I see Katniss go for the stew so I catch up to her, surprising her with a hug and kiss from behind. "How's it going?" I ask.

"Good. Fine. I like the District 3 victors," she tells me, "Wiress and Beetee."
"Really?" I ask. "They're something of a joke to the others." Katniss starts to sink now, because I told her this.
"I like Seeder and Chaff. I know you don't like him, but come eat with him, I promise I won't let him kiss you again."
"Fine. But if I don't like him, one thing that turns me off about him, I'm leaving. I'm gonna leave the table and you behind! Understand?" She directs me.

"OK." I say, giving her a big kiss on the lips, of course making us both drop our plates, and causing everyone to turn and see. Making them all hoop and holler.

And I can feel feel Katniss's face getting hot under my lips.