Gummy Bear Kisses

Chapter three

I lay awake. I can't stop thinking about the way Peeta probably feels. I know he hates me. He has to hate me. I'd hate that person if that person kissed a girl after he agreed to a date that I've been asking for forever. But then again he's not you, Katniss. I sigh and flip onto my stomach, burying my face into the pillow. I can't sleep. I need to talk to Peeta. I need to apologize. I lift my head to look at the clock.

2:34 a.m.

Who would answer the door this early? I wouldn't, but then again, on nights like this I would. He probably wouldn't though. He's probably sleeping peacefully now knowing that he won't get declined by me anymore. Or maybe he's sleeping peacefully now because he's a free man. I've been holding him down since kindergarten. He's had his eyes set on me, but since he thinks I've moved on, he can go for any girl he wants now. I beat my head against the pillow. Why am I so attached to him all of the sudden? Get it through your head, he hates you and doesn't want you any more. But I want him. I bury my face back into the pillow and squeeze my eyes shut. Maybe this is all just a nightmare. Maybe I'm just asleep on my private jet to Panem. Eventually, darkness engulfs me.

When I open my eyes again, I find myself in an unfamiliar bedroom. I try to move, but I can't. The only thing I can move are my eyes. I glance to my side and see a picture frame on the side table. I look and it's a picture. A very...intriguing picture. A picture of me in a wedding dress. I start laughing even though I don't know why I find this picture funny. The door to the room opens and I stop. Peeta steps inside holding a tray with food on it. He smiles and walks over to me. He sits the tray over my legs and kisses my cheek. Miraculously, I gain control of my limbs. "Good morning, Katniss."

"G-Good morning?" I ask. "Yep," he replies, messing with my hair. I glance back at the picture, but it isn't a picture of me in a wedding dress. This time, it's a picture of Peeta and a baby. I'm sure that my facial expression asks the question for me because Peeta touches my arm. "Are you alright, Katniss?"

"N-No," I start, but stop myself because I should enjoy this. This is what I wanted, isn't it? I wanted, and still do want to be with Peeta. "Yes, I'm alright," I say, smiling. Peeta smiles back and kisses me before there's a loud wailing sound. He sighs. "I'll go get her-"

"No, I'll do it," I volunteer. He smiles and I get up. Where am I even going? I step out of the room and follow the sound. I come to a door that's open a little. I push the door open and go inside. I walk towards the crib and look down. I see a baby with blonde hair and blue eyes just like Peeta. When she sees me, her crying subsides. I reach into the crib, but then I open my eyes again.

"Up, up, up! It's a big, big, big day," Effie cheers, pulling the sheets of of me. Out of reflex, I curl into a ball to keep warm. "Come on, Katniss, you have to be at Books-a-million by ten." I lift my head and look to the clock
.
7:14 a.m.

"Five more minutes," I groan into the pillow. "No, you're stylist is here already waiting on you." I get up and go to the living area, where my stylist, Cinna, is standing. I hug him. "Good morning, Katniss."

"Good morning."

"Ready?"

"Yes." He sits me down after having me brush my teeth and take a shower. He puts some whitening strips over my teeth and begins to do my makeup. After that, he does my hair, curling it. I sigh when he takes the strips off of my teeth. "All done," he says, stepping back and admiring me. Effie walks briskly into the room holding my outfit. "You look gorgeous, Katniss, now hurry quickly, Cinna took too long on you and now we have only thirty minutes to get you there."

"Okay," I say, grabbing the outfit and quickly pulling it on. Cinna tucks in my top along with my camisole under it, but leaves it loosely tucked. Effie makes sure my belt is perfect and helps me get my shoes on. As she buckles the side of my left shoe, there's a knock on the door. Cinna goes to the door and answers it. Gale comes inside with a wide grin playing on his face. "Good morning, Catnip," smiles, coming towards me and leaning in to kiss me, but I turn my head before he can. He takes the hint and steps back. He shoves his hands in his pocket and I look at him. I see the hurt in his eyes, but I'm hurt too. So is Peeta, Genius. "So...uh, you ready to go?"

"Yes," I answer, walking past him and out of the door. He follows me, though, and walks close. Too close for my liking. We get into the elevator and stand awkwardly as Effie rants to Cinna about thread counts and what I should wear next. Gale looks down at me. "Katniss, I'm...not sorry about what happened." He's not sorry? He's not sorry?! "You have some nerve," I spit. Effie goes silent along with Cinna. "What do you mean 'I have some nerve'?"

"You expect me to still want to talk to you after that?"

"Katniss, it was a kiss, not me killing someone! You act as if you didn't like it," he says. I sigh. I did like it...but that's not relevant because I love Peeta. "Do you hear me?"

"I'm not deaf, Gale. I can hear you loud and clear-"

"Tell me you didn't like it."

"I-I...I can't," I admit. "Then stop fighting it!" The elevator doors open and we walk out. Cinna goes to his car, but as for Gale, Effie, and I, we go to a black SUV. I jerk the door open and see Peeta, sitting there glumly, looking as if this is the last thing he wants to do. He clenches his jaw when he sees me and I feel my heart shatter to pieces. He's been crying. I see the bags under his eyes and the redness in them. I want so bad to just touch him, but I can't. I sit between him and Gale the whole way, in silence while Effie makes conversation with Haymitch. "Why so quiet, Sweetheart?"

"Nothing," I mutter. He shrugs it off, continuing to drive.

We eventually arrive at Books-A-Million. Peeta gets out with me behind him, and Gale behind me. Haymitch leads us through the crowd as people scream my name. I sit down at the table and the line begins to move. I grab the sharpie and begin to sign my name on a poster. Let the next eight hours begin...

I stand up from the table and stretch. I've had girls pass out, throw up, scream, and blank when they came to the table. Peeta sits a frappé on the table and turns away. "Wait," I say, stopping him. I glance at Gale, who's standing there like a statue, guarding me. "I need to talk to you," I tell Peeta. "About?"

"What I did."

"I don't want to talk about that," he says, stepping away. "No, please," I say, this time grabbing his arm. He looks at my hand and then me. He nods his head and I lead him outside to the side of the SUV. "I know you're mad-"

"For real?" He asks sarcastically. "Yeah, and I'm sorry." He chuckles and looks down. I laugh a little too, yet again, even though I don't know what's so funny. "Is that really all you can say? I'm sorry?"

"Peeta-"

"Sorry won't cut it, Katniss. Not this time. You've declined me so many times before, but this one hurt. And I'm not going to take it from you anymore. I've had it-"

"Peeta-"

"I'm done. You went and kissed another guy after you accepted finally. I was happy! I thought you actually cared-"

"I do-"

"If you did, you wouldn't have done it!" I don't know what to say. He's had it. He doesn't want you, Katniss. But you still want him. I swallow hardly. "P-Peeta," I start. It's now or never. "What? Are you just going to say, 'I'm sorry' agai-" I slam my lips against his. He's shocked at first, but eventually, his hands find my waist. Sparks are going off in my head. I see stars behind my eyes. I have a tingling feeling in my legs, like I can fly. I don't stop, nor does he, that is until I start hearing camera snaps...