I get ready for bed. I curl up to Peeta and fall asleep. When I wake up I kiss him on the cheek. He starts to stroke my hair. We both smile. We are wrapped in each other’s arms, and we are just enjoying each other. I can feel his prosthetic leg under the blankets. He always forgets to take it off when he goes to bed. I just ignore it.

“I love you so much, and I hope that this week goes by slow because I want to savor every moment with you,” he says.

“Haymitch was right. I could live a thousand life times and still not deserve you. Because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I feel l that I still don’t deserve you. You are perfect in every single way, and I’m glad that you are mine.”

“I’m going to miss you so much. Who knows how long we will be apart.”

“You will always be on my mind, and when I miss you I will just look at my locket and know that every day I getting closer to seeing you again.” He smiles. Then it hits me. I need to give him something, and I have just the thing. I get up and dig through my bag. Then I find it, my vow. I hide it in my hand then get back in bed with him. He puts his arm around me.

“What do you have?” he asks. I open up my hand. His face lights up.

“Now when you miss me you can just read this and it will remind you how much I love you. And I didn’t read it all at the wedding, there is much more that I wrote.” I push it into his hand. He holds on tight to it.

“I love you.”

“I love you.” He leans in to kiss me when there is a knock at the door.

“Wake up it’s going to be a big big big day.” It’s Effie. I get up and open the door. “ I’m going to need both of you so get up and get over to the City Circle, you two need to rehearse your speeches and Katniss you need to tell Beetee what you want in the video that we will show at the reaping, you both have an hour to get down there,” she says. She leaves the room and shuts the door.

“I say we just lock the door and stay here all day,” he says.

“No, because they will probably just knock down the door anyway. Plus the sooner we get all this done the sooner we will get to spend time with each other,” I say even though I would rather stay here all day then go do some silly video.

“Well then I’m going to hop into the shower,” he says. He gets up and goes into the bathroom. When he gets out he’s in his dress shirt and dress pants.

“Your turn,” he says. I go in and take a shower. I get out, get dressed, and braid my hair down my back. When I come out I see Peeta combing his hair back. I am dressed casual compared him. I’m in black pants and a short sleeve light green shirt, with my hair braided down my back.

“You look nice,” he says.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I say. I go stand by him.

“When are you going to learn,” I say. I mess up his hair. “Comb it forward, it will look more like you.” So he combs it forward real quick.

“Better?”

“Better.” I grab his hand and we leave. When we get down stairs there is a car waiting for us. We get in and Peeta puts his arm around me, I smile. When we get there he opens the door for me. I get out and we head towards the stage where we see Haymitch. He puts us in the same room in City Hall and tells us to rehearse our speeches. He also tells me that I have three and a half hours until I’m needed with Beetee in a different room in City Hall. Then he leaves us to go and fix a problem with the stage. We write for what only feels like five minutes.“Who wants to go first?” Peeta asks.

“I guess I will,” I say. Peeta’s gaze is fixed on me. I unfold my speech and I begin.

“The Games have haunted my district forever. Then here you are watching people that we know and love die, and you find it entertaining. So now it’s your turn. Snow has been on my trail ever since Peeta and I won the 74th games. He was trying to do everything to kill me. Whether I am in a bunker in Thirteen or in a tunnel under the Capitol he was on my trail. So when I got the opportunity to kill him I knew I couldn’t because a couple hours before I was suppose to, I realized that he was going to die soon on his own so instead I killed someone that I equally hated. Before this encounter with Snow I witnessed my little sister die because of him which is why I decided to take this job. My sister died because of the games, because of Snow. Now you get a taste of your own medicine. You get to feel the pain of your loved ones in the arena you get to watch them die. But the games have brought my spirits up in amazing ways. I met Peeta through the games and he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love him with my entire heart and I recall don’t know where I would be without him. If it weren’t for the Games I would still be living back in Twelve, poor, hungry, and probably never get married. The games change people, but it didn’t change me and Peeta. Because it didn’t change us, we fell in love because no one really understood what we had to go through. We knew what we were going through so we could be there for each other. That’s how we fell in love, and it’s going to be everlasting,” Peeta begins to clap. I forgot he was there.

“Perfect.”

“Now let’s hear yours.” He clears his throat.

“This is the first time I am a mentor. My experience in the Games were the scariest and the best times of my life. The first time I was in the arena I teamed up with people that the people in Twelve called Careers. When we trapped Katniss in a tree, that night I didn’t even bother to close my eyes because I was so afraid that if I did she would try to escape and that another Career would wake up and kill her. When Cato slashed me in the leg and left me there to die I knew that I would never see my family again, and I knew that I would never be able to tell Katniss that I truly loved her because at the interviews that was real, but I told her that Haymitch and I planned it. And when she found me I knew I would have a chance to stay alive because she was a survivor. In the cave I thought I was going to die. But when Katniss kissed me I knew that she knew that I really did love her. She risked her life to save me. The second time we were in the games was scarier than the first time. But the only thing that got me through was that Katniss and I were a team the whole way. The terrors in the 75th were so bad I still get chills when I hear that number. The arena’s scarred me in a bad way, but it will always be something I will look back on with a smile on my face. The bad way was witnessing deaths, terrors, and mutts. The good way though is that I found my wife, the love of my life. I know that us meeting the way we did was fate. I love you Katniss.” I have the biggest smile on my face.

“I love you to,” I say. I check the clock and we still have two and a half hours left.

“Should we just pretend that it took us three and a half hours to rehearse to spend time with each other? Or should I just go tell Haymitch that I finished early, go get the clip done and then spend time with each other?” I ask. He smiles.

“How about you kiss me one more time then go do the clip,” he says. I smile, give him one more kiss then leave. I find Haymitch at the stage. He’s in the middle of talking to someone. But when he sees me he dismisses the person and walks over to me. This is the perfect plan. I will get to see Peeta in an hour and I will be absolutely fine with this whole “schedule” thing.

“What do you know? You actually left your husband to do work. I’m very impressed sweetheart,” says Haymitch. I laugh.

“Well it seems as though you’re out of luck, Beetee isn’t here yet. But since you have two and a half hours or so why don’t you go to the Prep Room so you and Gino can figure out what you’re going to wear in a few days,” he says. I was going to ask if I could spend time with Peeta but someone apparently needed Haymich ASAP so I didn’t get the chance. I make my way over to the Prep Room to see Gino and when I get there I see him drinking tea with my prep team. I go in anyway and they stop talking.

“What are you doing here?” asks Gino.

“Peeta and I finished our rehearsal early so Haymitch told me to come here,” I say.

“Well if you finished early why didn’t you guys just spend some time with each other?” he asks. I sigh.

“Well I thought that if I got the clip done early that I would have more time with Peeta,” I say.

“Well it’s your lucky day Katniss, I already finished your outfit. Your prep team is here because we are discussing on what your hair and makeup will look like.” This is amazing news. I’ve never been so happy. I have a huge smile on my face.

“Does this mean I can go to Peeta?” Gino nods his head. I run up and give him a hug.

“Thank you,” I say. Then I rush to the Training Center. When I get there I see Peeta watching the news. He hears the elevator doors close and turns around and smiles.

“That was fast,” he says.

“No, you see Beetee wasn’t here yet so Haymitch told me to go to Gino to see what I would wear in a few day and Gino said that he already finished it. So Gino said that I could go back to you to spend time with you,” I say really fast.

“Well I’m just happy you here.” I run over to him and lock my arms around his neck. I sit next to him and I put my feet on his lap and he starts to rub them. It felt so relaxing. But eventually I couldn’t feel my feet anymore so I took my feet off his lap and curl up next to him. “Look at these people out on the streets in tears. If they think that a Reaping will be hard then I wonder what they will be like in the arenas,” he says. I shrug.

“Well at least they know what we had to go through, I mean without me they wouldn’t have a game.” He starts to rub my back.

“Do you think that you’re ready for all of this?”

“I hope,” I say.

“What do you mean you hope?”

“I don’t know if it’s worth not being with you,” I say. He smiles. Eventually I just get comfy and start to doze in his arms. Peeta eventually shakes me awake.

“What?” I ask while yawning.

“They are ready for you at the stage.”

“Tell them I don’t care, I mean what will they do fire me?” I ask while getting comfy again.

“Katniss, Paylor is expecting you down there in five minutes,” he says.

“Oh well, she said I’m allowed to be with you whenever I want before the Games,” I say annoyed.

“Katniss you need to go. I know you want to spend time with me but this is important.”

“But you’re more important to me than a stupid video.”

“If I come with you will you go?” he asks. I nod my head. He gets up and starts to walk over to the elevator.

“You coming?” he asks. I just lift my arms up. He comes over and picks me up.

“I really spoil you,” he says walking to the elevator with me in his arms.

“That’s why I love you,” I say. I lean up and give him a kiss. He puts me down when we get into the elevator.

“When did you get lazy?” he asks. I shrug. He pulls me in close and we embrace each other. When we get to the bottom there is a car waiting for us. We get in and Peeta puts his arm around me. I cuddle up next him and try to fall asleep to get some shut eye before we get there but Peeta keeps me awake.

“You can’t show up there half asleep,” he says. I yawn then sit up.

“Fine,” I say. “Just be glad I love you or else I would be very annoyed with you.”

“Just trying to give you a warning because everything here is professional and I don’t want you showing up un-professional,” he says.

“I know, I know. But don’t worry, they won’t fire me if my hair is a little messy or I’m half asleep.”

“Actually I think you look beautiful.” I smile. When we arrive, Peacekeepers open up our doors and Haymitch walks towards me with anger on his face.

“Where were you, the President has been waiting for you for ten minutes,” says Haymitch.

“I was taking a nap,” I say.

“You stood up the president for a nap?” he asks with a lot of annoyance in his voice.

“No, I was spending time with Peeta and I fell asleep.”

“I sent you to the prep-room.”

“And Gino sent me to Peeta,” I say. Haymitch looks over my shoulder and sees Peeta.

“What is he doing here?” he asks.

“I told him I wouldn’t come if he didn’t come with me.”

“The President only asked for you.”

“Well Paylor said I could spend time with him whenever I want before the games.”

“She meant when you don’t have duties.”

“I don’t care. I love him and I want to spend time with him before we are split up by the Capitol for a week. I’m sorry I’m in love Haymitch!”

“You have an apology to make.” Then walks he away. Peeta grabs me from behind and puts his arms around my stomach.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” I say turning around. I put my arms around his neck.

“I just got to make some apologies.”

“Katniss! Katniss Mellark I need you up here!” I turn around to see who it is and I see Paylor yelling at me. She’s on the unfinished stage. I pull away from Peeta and start to walk towards her but Peeta grabs my hand.

“If you’re going to face her then we both should,” he says. I smile and we walk up to Paylor.

“Sorry I was late. I was spending time with Peeta and I fell asleep.”

“If you want to blame anyone blame me because I was still awake and I knew what time it was. I didn’t wake her because I wanted to spend time with her.”

“You’ve only been married for a week and you’re already starting to fall asleep when you’re together? Peeta must be pretty boring then,” she says. She’s right, I’m married. That word still gives me butterflies in my stomach. Peeta and I give each other a look, not sure whether to take it as an insult or a joke. We laugh to be safe. “Well, I’m not mad at either of you. Haymitch just likes to make a big deal out of everything.”

“So we can display affection here without getting arrested?” asks Peeta.

“We don’t make it a strict rule but we don’t prefer people kissing each other when they are suppose to be serious. But if you are on duty and you have no duties to fulfill then it would be allowable,” she says.

“Haymitch said if we were caught do PDA that you would do something terrible.”

“He is a drama queen, just ignore him about the rules here, if you have any questions about the rules then just ask me.” Peeta gives me a kiss.

“I’m glad that’s all cleared out,” I say smiling.

“Okay now Beetee will take you in the back to do the clip,” says Paylor. I grab Peeta’s hand and we start to walk towards the back, but Paylor stops us.

“Actually Peeta I have something for you to do while she’s in there because it’s privet,” says Paylor. Peeta lets go of my hand and follows Paylor. I turn around to see him looking at me then he leaves. Why would it be a privet viewing if it will be aired throughout Panem in a few days? I go into the room and see Beetee with a whole bunch of computers.

“Is this going to be hard?” I ask.

“Katniss, just the girl I wanted to see,” says Beetee. He gives me a hug.

“I haven’t seen you since the wedding. And by the way thanks for the firework show, I’ve never seen anything like it my entire life.”

“It was nothing, I actually enjoyed putting it together. I mean it was just simple physics including color schemes and explosives and have them rupture within the correct patterns at the very specific moment.” I nod my head pretending I know what he’s saying. “And this shouldn’t be that hard I just want to know what you want in it then I’ll show you what I come up with in a hour or so,” he says.

“Definitely put in Peeta and mine’s games and don’t be afraid to put in the most gruesome parts like when the mutts come out of the ground, or when Cato dies. In the second games definitely put in when Peeta runs into the force field, or that huge exit with the electricity and the bolts and the wire and when I get cut by Johanna. Put in anything from that in the video, and maybe even some promos.” It’s official. The Capitol is sucking me into their bloody powers.

“You sure know what you’re doing.”

“It’s a gift I guess.” I pretend to cover it up that I sound like a murderer. He doesn’t seem to notice.

“Well that’s some gift. You’re good, you can leave now, you’ll see the finished product at the Reaping” he says. I run out of the room to go get Peeta but I don’t see him anywhere. So I find Haymitch to see if he’s seen him anywhere but he has no clue where he is. I start to think that he’s back at the apartment so right before I decide to head back Paylor is running towards me screaming my name.

“Katniss! Katniss!” I start to run towards her.

“What’s wrong?!” I ask. We meet in the middle and Paylor starts to catch her breath.

“What, tell me,” I say.

“It’s Peeta,” she says.

“What about Peeta?”

“Well I was going to show him where you two would meet in the middle of the games to discuss your tributes and he saw a picture of President Snow.”

“Okay, so what’s wrong,” I ask with worry on my voice.

“He couldn’t hold back the flashbacks.” He hasn’t had a flashback since months before our wedding. I thought they were over. I guess I was completely wrong.

“So you’re saying,” I say starting to cry.

“He’s hijacked,” she says.

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OH SNAP! Did ya see that coming??? Comment what you liked and disliked and vote for the chapter if you liked it!

Love, Bookjunkie001