Catching Fire: You and Me

Chapter 3:

all goes well on the victory tour and oh yeah! did i mention PEETA PROPOSED!

at the engagment party Snow was putting on a few past Victors were there to greet us.

for some reason they all had the same tattoo of my mockingjay pin on their left wrist.

"hi i'm Cirrianetta! i won the 56th."she says shaking my hand.

"hey!" i say trying to sound excited, but really i just want to be alone with Peeta.

"Sage. 57th." her husband says.

"oh i remember seeing reruns of those games!" Peeta says.

"yeah. we got engaged at 17 too." Cirri says.

"the games really change you dont they." Sage says laughing.

"well then i never would have met Peeta." i say kissing Peeta's cheek.

***

we've been home for a week and ive been avoiding my mother and staying at Peeta's house.

we're walking towards the town sqaure when we hear people gasp loudly.

"stay down!"Peeta says climbing up on some crates to get a better look. "Katniss go home! i'll be there soon! just get out of here!" he says with a serious tone.

being the stubborn person i am he knows i wont listen. i push his arm out of the way and climb up.

i swear i almost black out when i see it.

***

without thinking i take off running toward Gale. Peeta's calling my name but i keep running.

i get there and do the first thing i can think of to do. i put myself between my best friend and this horrible person.

but before i can duck i hear a crack and in the blink of an eye my cheek is searing and pain and Peeta has finally caught up with me.

i collapse into his arms and Haymitch starts yelling at the man.

"do you know what you just did!" my mentor shouts. "she has a photoshoot next week! do you want the Capitol to know what you just did!"

The peacekeeper looks shocked.

with my hunting jacket and my hair tucked back in a braid i guess it might be hard to recognize me in the dim evening light.

Peeta helps me to my feet as i cup my face with my hand.

my eye has swelled up and feel dizzy, like im going to pass out, if it were'nt for Peeta holding me up.

a few miners who work with Gale come to help. someone hands me a knife and i free his hands.

he hasnt talked to me since i got home, but maybe my helping him will make him not mad at me anymore.

i dont even know what he's mad about!

why is it everytime i end up happy, someone else is getting hurt. ...