The Second Everlark Story

Chapter 1: The Mystery

Katniss's POV

"Honey, can you sneak some eggs from the shop before you leave?" Peeta works at the bakery every day even though we don't need the money. Between the two of us we have from winning the games, we have enough money to care for the two of us.

"Sure. Anything you want, dear," he replies.

"Okay, when are you going to be home? I miss you." I look at the clock. It's 5:07 pm. I have been on the phone with him since 3:54 pm. We never talk on the phone this long. It's so weird. I just... Can't hang up.

"I'm closing up Katniss. I will be there in just a few minutes. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just want to see you."

"Um, okay. I'm gonna hang up now. I love you."

"No-"

I decided to text him. Why am I feeling like this? He will be home any minute. I turn my phone off. Then I turn it back on.

Me- Why'd you hang up on me?

Peeta- I hung up on you because you are acting weird and I want to see you ASAP.

Me- I'm not acting weird I just love you and want to see YOU ASAP

Peeta- Exactly. I will be home in like two minutes.

Wow. That was so embarrassing. I go sit down on the couch in the guest room and I start crying. What is with me? I hear a sob and I cover my mouth. I can't let Peeta see me like this.

Peeta walks in and I realize that it looks like I'm trying to suffocate myself. I take my hand off of my face and I should be trying to explain myself but I can't. It is physically impossible to to anything but run and hug him.

I dart. He has a moment of fear, like I am trying to hurt him. Not like it hasn't happened before. I wrap my arms around him and I have never heard him laugh so hard. He lifts me up and spins me around. When he sets me down, he wraps his arms around me and strokes my hair.

He whispers in my ear, "what are the eggs for?"

"Oh yeah, I was gonna make omelets, I whisper back." He grabs my chin and turns my head. He kisses me. Right when I expect him to stop, I kiss him harder, so he won't. I put my hands through his hair. We kiss for a while, but then he pulls away.

"What are you doing," I ask impatiently.

"I'm hungry. Aren't you gonna make me some omelets?"

"Oh yeah. The omelets." He smirks.

"What?"

"Nothing," he replies with a grin. "Let's go make some omelets!"

***

When we are done making the omelets, I ate five and was still hungry.

"You okay there," Peeta asks, full of concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," though I'm starting to wonder myself. "Just a little hungry, that's all." I get up to use the restroom.

"Where are you going Katniss?

"Just to the restroom. I will be right back."

"Okay. Holler if you need anything."

I decide to use the one upstairs for a change. I haven't been up there in what feels like so long. I sneeze a few times and grab a piece of toilet paper to blow my nose. When I open the trash, to throw it away, I notice an old wrapper. It was from over a month ago.

I start counting. One... Two... Three... I was supposed to start six days ago. Oh no. Oh no, this explains everything. Why I am acting so weird around Peeta, my appetite.

"Katniss are you okay up there? You have a visitor," Peeta says with tension in his voice. Who would be visiting me so late?

I run downstairs and I almost faint.

It's Gale.