¨I havenˇt had the chance；〃 says Peeta with a slight shrug。
¨Itˇs my fault；〃 I say。 ¨Because I used that tourniquet。〃
¨Yes； itˇs your fault Iˇm alive；〃 says Peeta。
¨Heˇs right；〃 says Caesar。 ¨Heˇd have bled to death for sure without it。〃
I guess this is true； but I canˇt help feeling upset about it to the extent that Iˇm afraid I might cry and then I remember everyone in the country is watching me so I just bury my face in Peetaˇs shirt。 It takes them a couple of minutes to coax me back out because itˇs better in the shirt； where no one can see me； and when I do e out； Caesar backs off questioning me so I can recover。 In fact； he pretty much leaves me alone until the berries e up。
¨Katniss； I know youˇve had a shock； but Iˇve got to ask。 The moment when you pulled out those berries。 What was going on in your mind 。 。 。 hm？〃 he says。
I take a long pause before I answer； trying to collect my thoughts。 This is the crucial moment where I either challenged the Capitol or went so crazy at the idea of losing Peeta that I canˇt be held responsible for my actions。 It seems to call for a big； dramatic speech； but all I get out is one almost inaudible sentence。 ¨I donˇt know； I just 。 。 。 couldnˇt bear the thought of 。 。 。 being without him。〃
¨Peeta？ Anything to add？〃 asks Caesar。
¨No。 I think that goes for both of us；〃 he says。
Caesar signs off and itˇs over。 Everyoneˇs laughing and crying and hugging； but Iˇm still not sure until I reach Haymitch。 ¨Okay？〃 I whisper。
¨Perfect；〃 he answers。
I go back to my room to collect a few things and find thereˇs nothing to take but the mockingjay pin Madge gave me。 Someone returned it to my room after the Games。 They drive us through the streets in a car with blackened windows； and the trainˇs waiting for us。 We barely have time to say good…bye to Cinna and Portia； although weˇll see them in a few months； when we tour the districts for a round of victory ceremonies。 Itˇs the Capitolˇs way of reminding people that the Hunger Games never really go away。 Weˇll be given a lot of useless plaques； and everyone will have to pretend they love us。
The train begins moving and weˇre plunged into night until we clear the tunnel and I take my first free breath since the reaping。 Effie is acpanying us back and Haymitch； too； of course。 We eat an enormous dinner and settle into silence in front of the television to watch a replay of the interview。 With the Capitol growing farther away every second； I begin to think of home。 Of Prim and my mother。 Of Gale。 I excuse myself to change out of my dress and into a plain shirt and pants。 As I slowly； thoroughly wash the makeup from my face and put my hair in its braid； I begin transforming back into myself。 Katniss Everdeen。 A girl who lives in the Seam。 Hunts in the woods。 Trades in the Hob。 I stare in the mirror as I try to remember who I am and who I am not。 By the time I join theothers； the pressure of Peetaˇs arm around my shoulders feels alien。
When the train makes a brief stop for fuel； weˇre allowed to go outside for some fresh air。 Thereˇs no longer any need to guard us。 Peeta and I walk down along the track； hand in hand； and I canˇt find anything to say now that weˇre alone。 He stops to gather a bunch of wildflowers for me。 When he presents them； I work hard to look pleased。 Because he canˇt know that the pink…and…white flowers are the tops of wild onions and only remind me of the hours Iˇve spent gathering them with Gale。
Gale。 The idea of seeing Gale in a matter of hours makes my stomach churn。 But ind。 I only know that I feel like Iˇve been lying to someone who trusts me。 Or more accurately； to two people。 Iˇve been getting away with it up to this point because of the Games。 But there will be no Games to hide behind back home。
¨Whatˇs wrong？〃 Peeta asks。
¨Nothing；〃 I answer。 We continue walking； past the end of the train； out where even Iˇm fairly sure there are no cameras hidden in the scrubby bushes along the track。 Still no words e。
Haymitch startles me when he lays a hand on my back。 Even now； in the middle of nowhere； he keeps his voice down。 ¨Great job； you two。 Just keep it up in the district until the cameras are gone。 We should be okay。〃 I watch him head back to the train； avoiding Peetaˇs eyes。
¨Whatˇs he mean？〃 Peeta asks me。
¨Itˇs the Capitol。 They didnˇt like our stunt with the berries；〃 I blurt out。
¨What？ What are you talking about？〃 he says。
¨It seemed too rebellious。 So； Haymitch has been coaching me through the last few days。 So I didnˇt make it worse；〃 I say。
¨Coaching you？ But not me；〃 says Peeta。
¨He knew you were smart enough to get it right；〃 I say。
¨I didnˇt know there was anything to get right；〃 says Peeta。 ¨So； what youˇre saying is； these last few days and then I guess 。 。 。 back in the arena 。 。 。 that was just some strategy you two worked out。〃
¨No。 I mean； I couldnˇt even talk to him in the arena； could I？〃 I stammer。
¨But you knew what he wanted you to do； didnˇt you？〃 says Peeta。 I bite my lip。 ¨Katniss？〃 He drops my hand and I take a step； as if to catch my balance。
¨It was all for the Games；〃 Peeta says。 ¨How you acted。〃
¨Not all of it；〃 I say； tightly holding onto my flowers。 ¨Then how much？ No； forget that。 I guess the real question is whatˇs going to be left when we get home？〃 he says。
¨I donˇt know。 The closer we get to District Twelve； the more confused I get；〃 I say。 He waits； for further explanation； but noneˇs forthing。
¨Well； let me know when you work it out；〃 he says； and the pain in his voice is palpable。
I know my ears are healed because； even with the rumble of the engine； I can hear every step he takes back to the train。 By the time Iˇve climbed aboard； Peeta has disappeared into his room for the night。 I donˇt see him the next morning； either。 In fact； the next time he turns up； weˇre pulling into District 12。 He gives me a nod； his face expressionless。
I want to tell him that heˇs not being fair。 That we were strangers。 That I did what it took to stay alive； to keep us both alive in the arena。 That I canˇt explain how things are with Gale because I donˇt know myself。 That itˇs no good loving me because Iˇm never going to get married anyway and heˇd just end up hating me later instead of sooner。 That if I do have feelings for him； it doesnˇt matter because Iˇll never be able to afford the kind of love that leads to a family； to children。 And how can he？ How can he after what weˇve just been through？
I also want to tell him how much I already miss him。 But that wouldnˇt be fair on my part。
So we just stand there silently； watching our grimy little station rise up around us。 Through the window； I can see the platformˇs thick with cameras。 Everyone will be eagerly watching our homeing。
Out of the corner of my eye； I see Peeta extend his hand。 I look at him； unsure。 ¨One more time？ For the audience？〃 he says。 His voice isnˇt angry。 Itˇs hollow； which is worse。 Already the boy with the bread is slipping away from me。 I take his hand； holding on tightly； preparing for the cameras； and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go。
END OF BOOK ONE
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