Catching Fire: Peeta's Story

Chapter Two: Showtime

I enter my home just in time for Portia's arrival.
"Come on now Peeta! You're going to be late for the camera's!" She enthusiastically points out, despite the show not starting for another hour.
"Okay, what d'you need to do?" I ask her.
"Hair, makeup, clothes, nails. Everything." She answers, "so let's get started."

We head upstairs to bath me and make me look like an underdressed Capitol person. My makeup is light but highly noticeable, and my clothes are not what I'd normally wear. But it's what the audience the other side of Panem want so I get it done. After several cups of tea and a worthwhile talk about the tour, Portia gets me ready.

I can hear the soft voice of Caesar Flickerman from within my home, he addresses us as the victors from the previous games and I hear Katniss's name being introduced.
"And there she is, the 'Girl on Fire'!" Caesar announces. At that point I exit my house, smiling and seemingly happy of course.
"And there he is, Peeta Mellark! The baker's boy!"
'The baker's boy'? Is that my name now? Hardly 'on fire' is it? Either way I continue down the steps of my house, followed by Portia and the camera's glare. Katniss looks radiant in the moonlight as we approach one another. The noise of the Capitol roars as we embrace in the centre of our houses. But the pathway is icy and we're unable to keep our balance and tumble to the floor. Katniss lands on top of me and stares into my eyes as if we're greatly in love. She kisses me passionately, which obviously comes to a shock.
Caesar clears his throat, "anyone home? Shall we come back later?" He asks playfully.
Katniss clambers off of me with an unusually large smile plastered over her face.
"Sorry Caesar." She laughs.
"So, how is everything?" Caesar asks us both. My reply couldn't be further from the truth, despite Katniss and I having as much money as we need and our constant donations to the needy, nothing feels any different. People are still suffering here and Snow still keeps us under his tight regime and system that Katniss and I nearly destroyed with a few berries.
"We're good." I say abruptly. There is a slight pause as Caesar expects more from me.
"That's it? That's all we get? 'We're good'" he says teasingly, "come on Peeta! Give us some details!"

I try and concentrate the best I can, however my body is not used to telling fake tales into a camera lens.
"Everything's good here in Twelve." I manage to squeeze out.
Katniss jumps in, "thanks to the generosity of the Capitol we've never been closer."
"Twenty five yards to be exact," I speak my thoughts aloud. Katniss and Caesar laugh simultaneously.
"Fantastic! We'll be checking in with the both of you through he tour. Thank you so much Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark." Caesar signs us off and Effie shouts, signalling the end of our time in the spotlight. Katniss releases her arms from around me and faces me.
"Good acting," I say.
"Yeah you too," she replies bluntly.
"I almost thought that kiss was real."
As I shrug past her I return to my house with a pain within my stomach. I wasn't acting.