Peeta gets up and changes out of his hospital gown and into some regular clothes. Once he’s done he helps me up and we walk to my room with our arms around each other. When we get to my room Peeta shuts the door and locks it, then scoops me up and kisses me. I smile. He hasn’t done that to me in forever, and I’m glad it’s back.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you to Katniss,” he says. He lays me down on the bed then snuggles up next to me and closes his eyes. I start to stroke his hair.

“Peeta, do you really think that Paylor is the one hijacking you?” I ask. He is silent for a few seconds then pulls away and looks at me with tears in his eyes. I haven’t seen him cry in what seems like forever. The last time he cried because he was sad was before our wedding.

“Katniss, I’m pretty positive that she is the one doing this to me. I’m not 100% positive but everything I told you and Haymitch in the other room was all true, but I don’t want to play the blame game. And the truth is I don’t want you to leave my side because you protect me and every time you’re gone I’m hijacked. I’m afraid to be without you Katniss because you’re my guardian and odds are the next time you leave my side I will probably have a gun to my head. Paylor wants to kill me and I don’t know why. Katniss you can’t leave. You can’t go to the interviews and you can’t do this job.” His face is filled with tears and he starts to cry into my shoulder. This time I am here for him like he is always there for me. He is terrified. He is crying really hard. I’ve never seen him like this, ever. I start to rub his back. He can’t calm down. I can’t leave him but I have to or else who knows what Paylor will do to him. I wipe his tears away.

“You know if I had the choice I would stay here with you and protect you but I can’t because I can’t risk having Paylor hurting you even more than you have been. I love you and I know that you are already mentally hurt but I can’t risk having you get physically hurt. This is out of my control, but for now why don’t we just keep this to ourselves or else who knows who will be in danger.”

“Katniss, I’m afraid. Don’t leave me, please. We’ll break out of here tonight and go back to living our lives in Twelve,” He says trying to catch his breath. I wrap my arms around him and hold him. I stroke his hair and rub his back until he finally starts to calm down.

“Peeta, why are you so afraid now when you just were fine with this not that long ago?”

“Cameras are everywhere in that room, but only Haymitch can see it. Not even Paylor is allowed to touch it but it could get in the wrong hands. And come to think of it, if Haymitch doesn’t get rid of that conversation that we had we could get in serious trouble for blaming the President of something.”

“Well we will just keep that at the back of our mind right now. Listen Peeta we took our vows and we vowed to stay with each other even through hard times. We will make it through this, we will just have to take baby steps. Haymitch, or Johanna, or Annie, or even Beetee will stay here with you while I’m gone, alright.” He nods his head with tears still running down his face. “In fact I will call them right now.” He nods his head.

“Thank you, I love you.”

“I love you to Peeta, and there is no need to thank me I’m just doing what is right to protect someone I love. And if this gets to out of hand I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe and sound because you are my life.” He kisses me.

“I don’t know how many times I can thank you.” I give him a hug and I hold him close. His grip is tight around me and I don’t think he’s going to let go anytime soon. But when he does I get up and go to the phone in my room. He starts to cry again but he hides his face in a pillow. He is so miserable. I call Johanna, Annie, and Beetee and they all agree to spend time with Peeta when they are not getting sponsors. Peeta is so grateful that he has some close friends.

“Katniss because of you I feel safe again,” he says.

“Peeta you should always feel safe even when I’m not around,” I say. He gets up and puts his arms around my waist while I put mine around his neck.

“You are my angel, without you I would probably be dead because not only did you save me once, not twice, but this is third time you’ve saved me and that means the world to me. I’m so grateful that you are my wife and that you would do anything for me.” I kiss him.

“You are the only exception in my life and I always want you to know that I’m here for you night and day just like you are for me.” He embraces me. I could stay in his arms all day. But right after a couple seconds the door knocks. I pull back and it looks like he’s about to cry again. I give him a kiss then go open the door. Behind it was an Avox with a note. The note said that I was required to start getting ready for the interviews. I tell Peeta then call up Beetee and he was fine with keeping Peeta company. I go into the bathroom take a long shower then slowly towel dry my hair. I’m trying to take as much time as possible because I really don’t want to go. I dress in my black t-shirt and pants and come out to brush my hair. Once I’m done I go up to Peeta and put my arms around his neck and whisper into his ear. “Beetee will be here any minute so I’m going to leave. I will see you to night and I will just cuddle up next to you and fall asleep. It’s been a long day and we both need sleep so as soon as I get here we will just go to bed. I’ll spend as much time as I can with you in the morning. I love you.”

“I love you to,” he says. I give him a kiss.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Can’t you wait until Beetee comes? I’m still a little paranoid.”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m already late enough. Don’t worry he will be here soon and I think nothing will happen to you within a couple of minutes. I love you,” I say. I give him a kiss.

“Love you to.” Then I walk out the door. He will be fine. A couple minutes by himself might be good for him since he’s been starving to be with someone. I walk straight onto the hovercraft to see Gino sitting there. I sit down next to him and he has a huge smile on his face.

“I hear you two love birds are inseparable. It must be hard for you to leave his side since he just got done healing,” says Gino.

“Yeah, it was a little hard to say good bye, but I have Beetee there keeping him company so I think he will be fine,” I say. He smiles.

“Well I’m glad you two are back together,” he says. Just as “thank you” was forming my lips Haymitch walks in.

“Great news sweetheart, Paylor wants Caesar to do a special interview with the Head Gamemaker,” he says. I smile and pretend to be thrilled when I could really care less, but I have to but my stage face on soon and pretend I care. But that’s not the only thing on my mind. Peeta. I wonder if he’s okay without me there because he seemed pretty sad when I left. When I pulled away, his grip was so tight around my waist I could barely get away. I decide to call him off the hovercraft and Beetee picks up.

“Hello?” he asks.

“Hey, it’s me, can I talk to Peeta please. I’m want to see if he’s okay ,” I say. He hands the phone to Peeta.

“Hey, is something wrong?” he asks.

“No, I’m fine. I just want to see how you’re doing,” I say.

“I’m doing fine. Beetee came here about five minutes after you left.”

“Well I’m glad you’re not paranoid anymore now that someone is there with you.”

“I wish it was you here with me.”

“Trust me Peeta I wish I was there to, but duty calls and I have to keep the President happy or who knows what will happen.”

“I know. I miss you though and I really wish we could be together right now.”

“I love and miss you. I can’t wait to be with you tonight.”

“I wish I could spend every last second with you before I have to leave.”

“Me to, I wish I was with you right now and not here.”

“Hey, I’ll see you tonight alright.”

“Alright, love you.”

“Love you to, bye.”

Then he hangs up. I’m glad he’s doing better but I feel like keeping this joy to myself, so I go into a different part of the hovercraft and sit there for the rest of the ride with a smile on my face. Once we get to the Training Center, we get off the hovercraft and Haymitch and Gino are talking to some Peacekeepers so I slip away and go into the room that Peeta and I shared to get his stuff. When I get there everything isn’t there. The bed is made, the bathroom is clean, and all of Peeta’s stuff is missing. I frantically look all over the room and I can’t find it. I sit down on the bed and think of where it would be when a Avox comes in. I tell her to get Peeta’s luggage but she shrugs her shoulders and leaves. No one tells me anything around here. I look in one last place, the closet. I tear the closet apart and eventually find it in there, but it was hidden. That doesn’t make any sense. I found it in a bag, in a bin, in the corner of the closet. Someone tried hiding it for whatever reason but I think I know who did it. Paylor. Probably just to hide it when she kills him. I don’t know what the grudge is with her and Peeta, they barely know each other so why would she want him dead? I grab his luggage and walk out of the room, leaving it a mess. I put his luggage in the hovercraft and then I remember the engraving. I run into the bathroom with a piece of paper and a pencil. I put the paper against the engraving and start to trace it. I have to do it fast because Gino comes in a looks for me. I quickly finish tracing and run out of the bathroom. Gino has a suspicious look. I ignore it and he takes me into the Prep Room.

When I get there the Prep Team sits me down in a chair and do my hair and makeup as fast as possible. Apparently I have the first interview so they are rushing as fast as they can. Once they finish they bring me to Gino and he just puts on my Gamemaker Jacket and puts me backstage then leaves without a single word. I’m only backstage for three minutes when they bring me up. I guess I must have been really late. I walk onto the stage and I see Caesar in his bright orange hair. I’ve really learned how to act during an interview after the 74th games. But this is only my fourth interview, good thing I’m not nervous. Once I’m next to Caesar he takes my hand and kisses it then we both sit down. “It is so great to see you again Katniss,” he says

“It’s great to see you to, I haven’t seen you since my wedding,” I say

“You hear that everyone? Our cute little victor is married now,” he says while taking my hand that has the ring on it. He lifts my hand over my head to show everyone my ring.

“Yes, I’m very happy with Peeta.” The whole crowd awes.

“Yes, we will get to the Mellark family soon. But right now I think we want to know why you decided to take this position. What do you think guys?” he asks the crowd. They cheer loud.

“Well at first I wasn’t going to take this job but after Peeta and I thought about it I took the job because of my sister.”

“That’s right you had a terrible loss a few years ago, and that is always a terrible thing to think back to. In fact let’s take a moment in silence to remember about that terrible time when you lost a loved one.” Everyone is silent. That was nice. I haven’t thought that Prim would even come up in conversation any more. The thought that Caesar even remembered means the world. I wonder if Peeta and Beetee are watching. If they are also taking a moment of silence. Eventually the silence is over and Caesar goes back to asking me questions. “I was wondering how you think of this first year of Capitol tributes.”

“I think it’s a very unique bunch of tributes. This will for sure be a different year of Games.”

“Anything else of the tributes that you find different?”

“Well you can tell some will do well than others.”

“Now, isn’t your cousin and his girlfriend in the games?” I was dreading he would bring that up. I pretend it doesn’t bother me.

“Yes.”

“Well that has to be a coincidence?”

“It’s not, all the luck of the draw.”

“Now do you think because your cousin is in the Games that you will have an emotional bond to these games?”

“Yes, not only will I have an emotional bond because Gale is in it, but I’m also pretty close with Claudia, his girlfriend. We have developed a friendship and it was really hard to see her go into the Games.”

“Oh, so Claudia is Gale’s special girl. Now did you know your cousin is dating Claudius Templesmith’s long lost daughter?”

“I didn’t know until the reaping but with that twist I think the Games will be a lot more interesting.”

“Now, the whole nation is dying to know. What is your future with Peeta?”

“Well we just got married a month ago, and our friends set up a honeymoon in Four for us which was beautiful. We also have been thinking of starting a family. Not soon, but we will definitely have one together.” He smiles.

“Well I’m glad everything is going well for you two.” I smile. “Now I have one last question.” He grabs my hand.

“How’s Peeta doing?” I forgot, the entire nation thinks that Peeta has this rare disease that hasn’t been diagnosed.

“Um, well he’s getting better by the day but doctors still don’t know what happened to him.”

“Have you been able to see him?”

“Yes.”

“What are some of his symptoms?” I’m not going to lie.

“He can’t control what happens to him. Sometimes he’s absolutely fine and other times he’s very sick, but he’s been doing a lot better.”

“Well at least everything is going better for him, and I wish him his best from me and the rest of Panem.” We both stand up and he holds my hand above my head.

“Let’s have a big round of applause for Katniss Mellark!” The whole crowd is on their feet. I walk off the stage and find Haymitch.

“Great job sweetheart.”

“Thanks, can I leave now?”

“No, Paylor is requiring you to stay and watch the interviews.”

“Why, all I’m going to be doing is sitting in the audience and do nothing for the next hour.”

“Talk it over with Paylor, but I doubt she’ll let you go.” He turns around and points at her. I walk over and tap on her back.

“President Paylor I need to talk to you.”

“If it’s about leaving the interviews early the answer is no.”

“Why, all I’m going to do is sit in the audience and be bored.”

“I want you to stay here, now don’t argue with me.”

“I want to see my husband, why can’t I just watch it with him and take notes or something?”

“Because I said so, now leave before I have you arrested.” I leave but I don’t go to the audience I go to the back of the room and call Peeta and he picks up.

“Hey how’s everything going?” I ask.

“It’s going pretty good. Me and Beetee are just sitting on our bed watching the interviews and catching up. By the way you did great, so you coming back now?”

“No, Paylor is requiring me to stay for the rest of the interviews.”

“But that’s more than an hour long, I thought you were going to come back by now.”

“I know it’s just she threatened to arrest me and I can’t risk that, you know what happened to Seneca.”

“I know, I love you.”

“I love you to, I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Okay, I miss you.”

“Miss you to.” Then he hangs up. I slowly walk over to where I’m suppose to sit. I get there to see Gale walk onto the stage. They mostly just talk about our relationship, but when Claudia walks on they talk about our friendship. She told Caesar and the rest of Panem that I was like a sister to her. That really meant a lot to me. So then all of the other tributes come up. They are all boring. Caesar asked the boy with the orange hair how he was prepared and he responded by saying that he can almost hit the target with a knife. He will be dead in the bloodbath. By the time the one tribute comes up that caught my eye I found out that his name is Manco and he would work out every day which is why he is so buff. It feels like hours before I’m walking onto the hovercraft. I’m on the hovercraft for about twenty minutes when I get a frantic call from Beetee.

“Katniss, I went to the bathroom and I was gone only for a couple minutes when-,” I hang up. I break into tears. How? All he did was go to the bathroom for a couple minutes. It is late, Peeta probably fell asleep and Beetee probably thought he would be fine if he left him for a few minutes, but this is the President we are talking about. She’s everywhere, just sometimes you can’t see her. When we get there I run into Peeta’s room and he isn’t in there. So I run into my room and I see him there laying on our bed in handcuffs. I dismiss everyone in the room to talk to him. He’s well enough to talk to and not get hurt. I sit next to him and I hold his hand.

“Three minutes is all it took. Leave. I don’t even know what happened, but you need to leave right now before it comes up again,” he says. I start stroking his hair.

“Everything will be fine Peeta.” I kiss him on the forehead. He clenches his fists. I lay down on the other side of the bed and we both just lay there looking at each other. Eventually Peackeepers come in and move him into his room. I go into the bathroom and put on the locket he gave me. I lay down in my bed and I decide not to sleep. He’s not even that bad, but I guess he had a flashback and he couldn’t hold it back. I start to cry but I thought that there is no reason to cry because I know I’m going to do two things. I will have to get into the arena and I will have to kill Paylor.

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So I decided to make Paylor evil. Was it a good decision? Comment! And vote if you liked the chapter!

Love, Bookjunkie001