Finding the Missing Piece: An Everlark Story

Chapter Eight-Six

Peeta POV- (Three days later)

Katniss hasn't spoken to me in three days.

I have apologized and made lots of attempts to fix things but I guess I just need to give her more time.

It's killing me though while her depression slowly kills everything that once made her happy.

I know that I need to help her but it's so hard when she won't even help herself.

I have slept on the couch since our little fight and allowed her the bed. The last few mornings, before she woke up, about five in the morning, I snuck into our room, to be with her while she's not consciously angry with me.

Sometimes, I hear her in the middle of the night, sobbing loudly and the first night I went to try to comfort her, she ended up screaming at me to leave her alone, so I haven't tried again since then.

But I go in, to watch her sleep.

I'll even take her hand and press it to my lips, hoping it doesn't wake her or I'll brush her hair out of her eyes.

I feel bad that I got so upset with her the other day but she shouldn't have told her mother what she did. I know Katniss is just sad and stressed but she keeps pushing everyone away.

Even if it frustrates me, all I know is, I am never giving up on her whatsoever.

I can't.

She can be mad at me forever and I will not leave her like this, I won't leave her to deal with this alone.

I just need to give her space and maybe us not talking for awhile will help her figure things out.

I have to help her be happy again, for
Prim and for herself. And for her mother and father and myself as well, because if I don't, I won't be able to live with myself.

She just needs her space.

That's what I have to keep reminding myself.

After another lonely day, I finally decide that I can't take it any longer.

Katniss POV- (Four days later)

I haven't spoken to Peeta in several days but I don't feel like speaking to anyone really.

And I don't even know what to say to him.

I get multiple calls and text from my other friends, but I don't reply.

I get just as many letters, text, calls, and in-person apologies from Peeta but I just ignore them all too.

I know that he is sorry but I just need some time and maybe things will get better in time, maybe they won't.

I thought they were actually going to be good again but after that phone call, all hell broke loose.

As I lay on Peeta and I's once shared bed, I just stare at the celing fan.

I watch it circle for hours until I finally drift myself off into a restless sleep.

A few hours later, I find the house empty of anything living, well, other than me.

If you think about it I'm really just here, I'm not living really.

Peeta is gone and all that is left is a types note on the table.

I read it to see if it has any sign of where Peeta has went, because I do care.

(Note)

"Katniss, I am really sorry about everything but I miss you so much. I need you and I just wish you would quit pushing me away. I promised you a 'forever and always' and us ignoring one another is not helping us keep our promises. I will not break our 'forever and always' and if you no longer want one, sorry because that's what you're getting. I promised Prim that I protect you and make you happy, I will not break that promise. I love you and I am not going anywhere, but in case your wondering where I went today, I am just visiting my grandparents. I needed some time to think things over and I hope you can use this time to think too. I love you Katniss. Please, just let me help you?

Love, Peeta."

I really just need to talk to him again and be happy.

I am so tired of being sad and isolating myself from Peeta and the rest of the world but at the same time, it's exactly what I want.

But it is time to be happy again and I know Peeta is ready for that too.

No more moping around.

We have about three weeks until we start college and we have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of memories to be made.

I hear a little knock on the wall behind me.

I gasp and turn around.

That is when I turn to see Peeta standing there, watching me.

And I wonder how long he has been there.

Startled, I get up from the chair and slowly walk into his arms, hugging him closer than I ever have before and he hugs me back just as close.

He spins me around tightly and buries his face into my hair and I bury mine into neck.

Peeta and I just fall into each other's arms and for hours, we cry.

We don't speak any words but I know we don't have to speak to understand what the other person is feeling.

I know that he is sorry and he loves me and he knows that I feel the same.

I know he just wanted to help me and he knows why I said what I did, even though it was wrong.

That's the thing about love.

I think when you really love or know someone, you can basically read their minds and I know everything Peeta is thinking and he knows what I am thinking too.

After we both run out of things to cry about, we dry our tears and pull away enough to look each other into the eyes.

"I am so sorry." I whisper in a whimpering-choking voice.

"I am sorry too. I promise we will get through this. Please, just promise me that you will try again. For real this time." He says, voice cracking.

"I promise you, Peeta. I promise you that we will be happy again and we will both be okay again real soon." I tell him in a whisper.

"I don't know about you but I feel extremely better just knowing you and I are okay right now." He says wiping way a loose tear from my face.

I sniffle, nod, and bring my body close to his again. I lean my head on his shoulder, his head on mine.

We stand there again, for who knows how long but we don't mind.

Peeta and I are okay now.

We will be okay and we will get through this.

Because even the best fall down sometimes.