Always

Chapter 22

Katniss P.O.V.

That afternoon, I sit on the couch and wait for Peeta to return. He went back over to his old house to finish cleaning it out. Peeta said Mom didn't leave a mess, but she left behind a lot of stuff that we could use.

Sure enough, when Peeta comes back, he's carrying a cardboard box full of food. When I open the door for him, I see he has a huge smile on his face.

"What are you so happy about?" I ask him as I smile back. His good mood is contagious. He sets the box down on the kitchen table and turns back around to face me.

"While I was over at Ellen's house, the Capitol hospital called her," Peeta starts talking so fast and excited that I have a hard time keeping up. "I told them she left and they said that was okay. They were just going to have her relay the message to me anyways." Peeta pauses a moment to catch his breath.

"Come on! Spit it out before you choke on it!" I say impatiently. Peeta gently takes me by the shoulders, leads me over to the couch, and we both sit down facing each other.

Peeta takes a deep breath before he speaks again. His hands don't leave my shoulders the entire time.

"They want us to come to the Capitol early and go straight to the hospital," Peeta says calmly. "They've found an antidote for my hijackings!" His voice rises in excitement.

I can't help myself. I practically attack Peeta. I throw my arms around his neck and hold him as close as humanly possible. Peeta has to hold onto the sides of the couch to keep from falling off. I start laughing and crying at the same time. I can't help it. I am genuinely happy. I pull back enough where I can see his face.

"Please tell me you're not joking," I say sternly. He shakes his head.

"Of course not Katniss," Peeta says softly as he gently wipes my tears away with his thumb. "I would never lie about anything this serious."

"I know," I say as I try to stop crying. "It's just too good to be true."

"I know," Peeta says as he looks at me and smiles. "But there's a couple little details I need to mention to you, but you're not going to like them."

"Okay, what are they?" I ask.

"After they give me the antidote, they have to keep me in the hospital for two days to make sure it is effective and that I won't have any side effects. During those two days, I have to stay away from anything that could possibly trigger a flashback." My heart breaks as what he says sinks in.

"Even me?" I ask as I fight back the tears. Peeta sadly nods his head.

"Listen, Katniss I don't have to do this..." I cut Peeta off by shaking my head.

"I'll do anything for you Peeta," I say smiling.

"Anything?" He asks. I nod my head.

"Anything," I reply.

"So you won't get mad at me if I tell you something that you don't want to hear?" Peeta asks.

"Depends on what it is," I reply. "So I'm not making any promises."

"Fine," Peeta says as he sighs. "Here goes nothing. I'm going to ask Haymitch to go with us so he can watch over you while..."

"No," I butt in.

"Katniss," Peeta begins to say, but I interrupt again.

"No Peeta," I say shaking my head. "It's going to start off with Haymitch babysitting me. Then he'll run off and get so drunk that I'll have to babysit him..."

"This isn't a babysitting job Katniss," Peeta says before I finish my little rant. "I just want Haymitch to go with us so he can make sure nothing bad happens to you in those two days that I'm going to be locked away."

"No," I say stubbornly. I know Peeta's only trying to protect me, but I am not spending two days with a man who stays so drunk that he doesn't even know his first name half the time.

"Too bad," Peeta replies calmly, but forcefully.

"What do you mean too bad?" I ask as I stand up from the couch.

"Haymitch is going with us and he will watch over you," Peeta says. I can tell he's getting aggravated because his voice is starting to get louder. I can't help it though. I have to say everything that's on my mind.

"No!" I say louder as I cross my arms.

"Then you'll stay here!" Peeta says angrily as he jumps up to his feet.

"No! I will not stay here and Haymitch will not go with us!" I say, determined that I'm going to win this argument.

"Either Haymitch goes with us or you will stay here!" Peeta yells. I look at him and my eyes widen. The real Peeta never yells at me like this. I check his eyes and for the first time, I hope they're black. Unfortunately, they're blue.

I have to bite my bottom lip to keep it from quivering. I turn around and start up the steps.

"Where are you going?" Peeta asks with a harsh tone still in his voice.

"We'll finish this discussion later," I practically growl as I stomp up the steps. I slam our bedroom door and throw myself onto our bed.

I know it sounds foolish, but this is the closest that me and Peeta have ever gotten to an actual fight. Even me and hijacked Peeta never fight. I wish I could have just kept my mouth shut and left things alone. But anyone who knows me, knows that that's almost impossible.

I lay on the bed and try to go to sleep, but there's too much on my mind right now. I can't help but feel that something was wrong with Peeta. Usually he stays calm and tries to make you see his side of the argument. Maybe he just lost his temper. A very disturbing thought runs through my head.

Maybe hijacked Peeta is taking over.