Mockingjay High

Safe and Sound?

Katniss

   "Does that mean?" Peeta trails off his eyes getting larger in anticipation for what I may say next. My brain whirs at the thought of possibly telling him the conclusion I had come to while talking to his brothers earlier on in the cafeteria. I love Peeta Mellark. However, even though I know this and I am aware how precious time can be when dealing with human life the next bit slips from my mouth before I can stop it.

   "Hmm?" I glance up at those beautiful baby blues through my eyelashes with the best clueless look I can muster. Peeta's blonde eyebrow raises in question before his cheeks turn a shade of pink and he looks away.

   "Uh, never mind." Peeta mumbles before shaking his head and refocusing on me. "Katniss, I just want to say I am really glad you are here. I mean you should be at home sleeping, we have school tomorrow." His large hand reaches forward to gently touch my cheek as he gives me an adoring look. I lean into his touch before chuckling.

   "Peeta we don't have school today or tomorrow. It's Saturday morning right now." I smile gently realizing he may have a concussion messing with his thoughts.

   "Oh. Right. Yeah, yeah. That's right because we just won that football game? Yeah,and you were cheerleading and, oh yeah you did those flips and your team threw you and man you looked amazing Kitty Kat." Peeta starts to ramble with an almost slur to his voice. I chuckle at his blunt words, I then notice the needles in Peeta's arm again and the morphine drip attached. Connecting the dots together on all the possibilities of why my usual pristine speaker is stumbling over his words.

   "Well I'm glad you enjoyed the show." I smirk as I purr the words to tease him a little. Peeta's face turns dark red and he chuckles softly.

   "Kat... I'm so tired but I just want to talk to you. My brothers have you talked to them? My dad said you were with them." Peeta murmurs as his hand drops from my face again, laying next to him on the bed in a show of exhaustion.

   "They are alright Peeta. They were worried about you of course... but we all were so." I trail off not really sure what to say.

"I meant how do you like them or were they nice? I know they can be... a bit much." Peeta's eyes start to droop some more and I know our talk will probably be cut short soon.

   "Oh, well they are very nice. Your family has accepted me in so fast I just can comprehend it. I don't understand you Mellarks you are all just so nice and accepting. " I smile and brush my hand across his cheek reassuringly.

   "Well. Most of us." Peeta grumbles his smile fading into a scowl that looks strange on his face. I sigh softly before readjusting to sit closer to him.

   "Well, she is the exception yes." I give him a sad smile brushing back those honey golden locks again.

   "Katniss."

   "Hmm?" I pause my movements to focus on him.

   "I think I... well I think that." Peeta stumbles and his eyes close for a few seconds here and there. I can tell the morphine is pulling him under pretty fast.

   "You think what Peeta." I softly prompt feeling like he has something important to say by how he is pushing himself to say it.

   "No. No I don't think Kat. No... I know, I just," He sighs and closes his eyes.

   "What do you know Peeta?" I murmur as I tilt my head to the side confused. He sounded so sure of himself even as his words drifted as he started to fall asleep.

   "I know Kat. I always have... Always." Peeta murmurs his eyes still closed and the last word just a wisp of his last word before falling into a slumber.