Chapter XIV

Kissing him was the same, it made her head spin and lose the strength in her legs. But Katniss didn't go there kiss. She didn't even knew why she did go there. She pulled away and stood staring at him from across the room, one arm over her waist and one hand over her mouth.

"Why are you running away from me?" Peeta asked, leaning against the wood secretary and crossing his arms.

"I think we should forget what happened between us." Katniss didn't know why she was saying that. Her words tasted bitter, she didn't felt that way, but it would be better. If he could forget.

"But I don't want to forget," he interrupted. "We didn't do anything wrong, we only fell in love with each other! We can't choose who you fall in love with."

"You can choose not to act on it." Katniss felt like she couldn't breathe. The air entering her lungs seemed to burn her inside. It's the lies I'm telling killing me slowly, she thought.

"Are you crazy?" He seemed shocked at her. And he had reasons. Did she met someone else? Why the hell was she acting like Laughed ?

"I don't know what you mean," she said, with a challenging look on her eyes. She hated when someone called her crazy, especially when it was Peeta.

"Yes you do" Peeta approached her, without touching her. "I went against everyone and asked you to marry me. And you ran away. You didn't even think about my feelings. You were selfish and only thought of yourself. I thought you loved me a little more."

"How dare you say I don't-" she began, visibly irritated.

"No, it's my turn to speak," he said, cutting her speech. "I was heartbroken. You broke my heart. And even then I looked for you everywhere. You don't deserve the love I feel for you, not after you went away again without giving me an explanation. And now you say that I have to forget."

Katniss continued to challenge him with her eyes. Peeta gave her the most hurt look she had ever seen and walked away.

"I think it's better if you go now." He opened the door and waited for her to leave so he could slam it after her.

The cold air from the street freezed her hands as she walked back home. His words still burned like embers. She knew it wasn't easy for him, but like they say, out of sight, out of mind.

She didn't manage to fall asleep all night. So when the morning and she arrived at Mr. Cinna's shop, he insisted Katniss returned home. Seeing her refusal, he then decided she would stay cutting molds for a wedding dress.

In the middle of the afternoon, with the dress almost cut, Mr. Cinna approached her to check her work. His great white smile was mischievous, and Katniss suspected something happened. When she inquired him, he only replied, "You have a secret admirer."

She looked out the window, and saw Peeta sitting on a bench across the street. "He was sitting there all day," Mr. Cinna continued, moving his fingers across the white satin on the table. "Maybe you should go talk to the boy. I think he desserves it."

Katniss felt a little irritated with Mr. Cinna's intrusion, but she standed up. She heard the characteristic doorbell when she left the store, and waited for the cars to stop passing by to cross the street to the other side. Peeta was standing, waiting to greet her.

"Hello," she said reluctantly.

"Hello."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, I've been up all night thinking I shouldn't have thrown you out like that," he said, a little flustered.

"Maybe you shouldn't have," she said, crossing her arms as a way to keep up the invisible barrier between them.

"I know I was wrong. But I was hurt and angry. I don't expect you to understand."

"I understand," she sighed, annoyied for having to admit it.

"You do?" Peeta seemed surprised.

"Yes-" Katniss made an expression of defeat. "I shouldn't have left you the way I did. I should have stayed and talked with you. But I was so afraid of how people would react to the two of us if we got married, and I couldn't think of anyone other than myself."

"I-I forgive you for that" he said, sitting on the bench. "I shouldn't have cornored you like that. I should have respected your wishes and wait."

Katniss sat beside him, holding his hand. "Peeta, it was beautiful. It's me who shouldn't have freacked out and put your family in a bad situation."

"They were terrified" Peeta laughed, looking at his feet. "Annie had an hysteria attack the next day. Not because you ruined her party, but because I never told her something was going on between us. And Mama... She was livid. I think she didn't manage to sleep for an intire week, worried you would change your mind and come back and embarrace them more. And Papa... He gave me an ultimatum, a month after the wedding. Either I stayied and married Madge, or I should leave and never become Earl."

"I can guess what you chose" said Katniss, with a sinking heart. He left everything he knew for her. And she wasn't even able to fight for him before.

"It doesn't matter" Peeta looked at her and smiled. "They'll come around someday. I don't believe they will leave their rightful heir to live in misery forever."

"Yes, they love you too much. It's just a fit. "Katniss smiled back.

"But I don't care if you have to live without titles or mansions the rest of my life, if I can be with you." His hand stroked her face, and she felt herself blush.

"Peeta-"

"Please, Katniss. Don't fight this anymore. We belong together."

Katniss looked in his eyes. "I hope this is the moment when you ask me to marry you."

Peeta laughed. "You always ruin my surprises."

"I'm sorry!"

"Don't be. Will you marry me instead?"

She smiled and embraced him.

"Yes. A thousand times, yes."

THE END

Author's Note: Oh My! I guess it's over now. Been trying to think about a decent finale for days and was stuck for a little while. But I think everything composed and the door is open for a spin-off fanfic sometime in the future (!). I will also re-read this fanfic and correct my typos and mistakes (I swear I see ten new ones every time I read a chapter again).

Thank you everyone who read this fanfic from the beginning, or that fell in love with it by every chapter. You guys deserve all the gratitude in the world, since a story it's nothing without it's readers!

For now I will dedicate myself to a new Hunger Games Fanfiction! Hope everyone will love it was well. Here's a tease:

After taking an important job in District 2, Gale is looking for a fresh start, trying to forget everything that happened. But a girl from his past, whom he believed dead, appears in his life, determined to never let him forget about the place where he came from.