Chapter Eighteen - Surprises

PEETA'S POV

Today is Katniss' and I's one year anniversary.

I want to make it super special, something she won't forget easily. So I am gonna turn her room into a romantic one and I booked us a dinner place at a fancy restaurant. I'm going to buy her a new red dress and accessories. I just hope she'll like it, and doesn't think it's too much.

I found a very beautiful necklace with a pearl in it, and I let the word 'Always' engrave in it. I want to say that I'll always be there for her. No matter what. I have to pick it up today.

It's morning now and today is a normal Monday. Sille and Grayn came home yesterday with cute little Aviana, and I have to say, I've never heard the baby at night. I guess the walls are really soundproof.

It's seven AM right now and I have to leave my house at eight. Time to get ready then. We have summer break right now, our final year starts next month. After that, we're going to college!

I just throw on some jeans and a T-shirt and use some wax to make the messy-bed hair.After that I head downstairs and make some breakfast. Just when I'm about to eat, Grayn enters the kitchen, still in his pajama shorts and bare chested. He has bags under his eyes and his hair is everywhere.

"Woah, what is up with you?" I ask.

"I need to get some formula for Aviana," he says. His voice is really groggy, a typical morning voice.

"Okay. How's it going?" I ask.

"She sleeps not for a very long time at night, until she starts screaming for milk again, it's just really tiring," he says.

I nod and continue to eat my breakfast. After I'm done I brush my teeth and grab my wallet and phone and hop out of my house. I jump into my car and leave for the mall.

I turn up the radio and drive to the mall. I park my car and walk into the mall, right to Forever21. There are barely any people in the mall this early.

I walk into the store and walk to the dress-section. There is a girl from my age sitting behind the counter, she's probably working here. She has brown hair and hazel eyes, from what I saw when I said hi to her.

I skim trough the dresses and see three red ones. A super short one with fake leather things and studs I immediately dislike, a maxi red one and a basic red one. I like the basic red one the most and decide to get that one.

Then, I walk into the accessory section and look at all the different rings and earrings. I have no single clue what fits good with the dress.

"Can I help you?" A voice says behind me. I turn around and see the girl from earlier standing there. She gives me a smile and a wink. Oh, no. That isn't gonna happen.

"No, I'm fine on my own," I try to stay polite.

"Just call me when you need me, name's Claudia," she say, before quickly stroking my forearm and walking away. Stupid girl.

I grab some pearl earrings and a silver ring with an arrow on it. I decide that that's enough and walk to the counter to pay. I place my things down on it and the girl from earlier walks towards me. She goes behind the counter.

"Hello, did you find what you needed?" She asks. She tries to sound seductively, but I just want to puke at her.

"Yes," I simply say, looking away. I'm not gonna make eye contact with her.

"That's going to be fifty dollars please," she says. I give her the money and she puts the clothing inside a bag along with the voucher.

"Thank you for your purchase and we hope to see you back again," she smiles and winks again. Do we hope or just you? Ugh.

I nod and walk out of the store, and walk to the jewelry to pick up the necklace.I walk inside and I'm greeted by an older man.

"Good morning sir, what can I help you with?" He says.

"I'm here to pick up a necklace, name's Peeta Mellark," I say, and smile politely.

"Oh! I know, I'll get it for you," he says and walks into the little office behind the counter. He walks outside again with a little black box. He hands it over to me and I open it.

The pearl is shining and placed in a silver dandelion, and silver strings are hugging it. I turn the dandelion around and see the word. Always.

"It's perfect, thank you," I say, smiling politely.

"I'm glad you like it," he says. "That'll be twenty dollars, please."

I pay and leave the store. To my next destination, the flower store. I know Katniss is going to her grandparents today, and her mother and sister are going to stay over for the night. Katniss thinks she is too but her mother approved to us having the house for ourselves today.

I walk into the store and to the flower section. I need to buy tulips to lay the petals on her bed along with candles spread around in her room. I spot them and make a quick bouquet with them. I walk to the counter to pay and then I leave the store.

Okay, what to do next? It's only eleven-thirty in the morning, and Katniss will be leaving her house at one-thirty. I'll just hang around in the mall, then.

I find a bench on a very quiet place and I sit down on it. I decide to look at the voucher from Forever21. I take it out of the bag and read the calculation of the price. It's exactly right. Then, I spot something on the back of it. It's a phone number. Claudia's, I think. Bitch.

I stand up and walk to Starbucks to get some coffee. I buy a Frappucino and a donut and sit down, just playing games on my phone. After finishing my Frappucino, I leave and walk to my car. It's 1 PM right now, so I think driving slowly I'll go to Katniss'. Just when I close the door, my phone buzzes.A text from Katniss.

From: Katnissss 🙏Hey babe. Gonna leave rn, heading to Grandma's and I'm staying over for the night. See you tomorrow! Love you 😘

I reply with see you tomorrow and a heart smiley. She's going to be so surprised.

I arrive at her house and see the parking lot empty. Good, she's gone. I walk into her house since I have the spare key. I close the front door behind me and take off my shoes. I'm not wearing a coat since it's summer.

I walk over to the radio and turn it on. Then I get ready to decorate.

KATNISS' POV

I'm at my grandparents' house right now, and I'm bored to death. They are sooo boring, like it's not even funny anymore. I let out a big sigh and continue playing games on my phone. It's three PM right now, and I have to stay here for the night.

"Would you like some tea, dear?" My grandma asks. I nod and smile. She's a sweet woman.

After a few seconds she sets a cup of steaming tea in front of me. It's green tea with honey, one of my favorites.

The next two hours I spend annoying Prim and playing games on my phone.I know it's Peeta's and I's anniversary day, we are together one year now. Time goes fast. I got him a locket with a picture of me and him together inside of it. One of the pictures we made in the photo booth. I'm going to his house tonight and surprise him.

"Katniss, darling, can you go home and pick up my bag? I forgot about it," my mom asks.

"Sure, can I use your car?" I ask. She nods and I throw on my shoes. Then I say goodbye and get into the car. I drive in silence and park the car in our parking lot. Strange enough, I see Peeta's car parked in the lot too. What is he doing here? Is there something wrong?

I quickly get out of the car and walk to my front door. I ring the bell, to confuse Peeta.

Then he walks up to the door and opens it.

"Hey, what are you doing here so early?" I ask.

"Doing things," he says and smiles. I walk inside and close the door behind me. I take off my shoes and turn to see Peeta. He walks to me and stands close to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck.

We kiss for a few minutes, full with passion and hunger. Rising hunger. I know he feels it too.I break away and Peeta pouts. I laugh and peck his lips once more.

"Happy Anniversary, baby," I whisper. I kiss him once more and he takes my hand, leading me upstairs, to my room. I know what he's leading me to.

He opens the door for me and I step inside my room. My jaw drops, as I see the beautiful sight in front of me. Tulip petals on the bed and floor and candles everywhere. Soft, romantic music is playing and I turn to Peeta. He smiles and I give him a beaming smile in return. His eyes lighten up a little.

"Peeta! This is so perfect! You didn't have to do this!" I exclaim.

"I'd do anything for you, baby," he says, pulling me into him for a long, passionate kiss. The kiss soon turns French and my tongue fights for victory, but Peeta's always wins.

We break away and rest our foreheads against each other's, staring into each other's eyes.

"I love you, always and forever," he says.

"I love you more, always and forever," I say. We smile to each other and kiss another time, before he breaks away and tells me to go to the bathroom and change. Why do I have to get changed?

I see a perfect red dress hanging on the chair, along with my silver heels and some accessories. Wow, Peeta has really outdone himself.

I change into the clothes and quickly touch up my makeup. Then I just improve my messy hair and walk out.

Peeta turns to me and his eyes grow big, along with his jaw dropping.

"Like what you see?" I joke.

"Very much, you look beautiful," he smiles. I laugh and hug him.

"I have a present for you, close your eyes," I say.

He does what I say and I take the little box out of my closet where I hid it.

I place it on his lap and sit down beside him on my bed.

"You can open your eyes now," I say.

He does so and smiles at me when he sees the box.

"Open it," I say. I'm way too eager to see his reaction. He chuckles and opens it.

"Oh Katniss, thank you! It's really pretty," he says.

"You can open it," I say.

He opens it and sees the picture of us together in it. He smiles and looks at me, pecking my lips lovingly, before pulling away with little tears in his eyes.

"Why do you have to cry?" I ask, worriedly.

"It's just so sweet of you," he says. I laugh, and so does he.

"Now I have something for you," he says.

He places a small black box in my hands and I smile.

"Open it," he uses the same tone as me.

I laugh and open it, revealing a beautiful necklace with a dandelion in it. In the heart of the dandelion there's a pearl. I get tears in my eyes and take it outside the box, examining it. When I turn it around, I notice a small word engraved in it.

Always.

I turn to Peeta as a tear slips down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away and give him a sweet big smile.

"It's amazing, thank you so much. I love you," I say.

"I love you too, always," he says. I kiss him for a long time.

He breaks away and I miss his lips already.

"We're going out for dinner tonight," he says. He tells me where we're going and I smile. It's one of my favorite restaurants.

When we decide it's time to leave, it's six PM.

Peeta is wearing a checkered blouse with some jeans. He helps me into his car and we drive away from my house, chatting about nonsense.

We reach the restaurant and Peeta helps me get outside before taking my hand and walking inside. We walk to the counter and say our names. We then reach our table and order some food. The waiter comes back a few minutes later with our food. Peeta and I just talk and laugh.

He often touches my leg with his foot, and when I look at him then he just smiles and acts like nothing's up. But I know better.

Our food is in our belly's very quick and before I know it we are already driving to my house again. Peeta helps me out again and we get inside, taking off our shoes and jackets. It's ten PM already, so we head to bed. When I place my coat on the chair, Peeta picks me up bridal style and I giggle in exclaim.

"What are you doing?!" I giggle and softly scream.

"Getting you to bed," he says. We reach my bed and he lays me down, before kissing me seductively. After that he leaves a trace of kisses down my neck onto my collar bone. And you know what happens next.

After that we snuggle close up to each other, me with my head on his chest and I listen to his beating heart. The sound calms me down. After a few moments I'm pulled into the world of dreams.

I wish I could stay in his arms forever.