#katnissmellark

[awhiskeyriver]

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Love you, friend! 💞

[everlarkstorytime-blog]

The Big Day Part 1

(Katniss POV)

Effie won’t shut up. Today she is wearing a simple light blue color for the bridesmaids. Of course, she’s wearing a blue wig and a heavy amount of blue makeup. But no matter what she wears, she’s still a bridesmaid. She was thrilled when I asked her to be a bridesmaid.

“Oh, my, oh my, oh my! What a huge, huge honor. Thank you Katniss,” Effie exclaimed when I asked her ten months ago. Ten months ago. The night Peeta kneeled in front of me during our picnic in the meadow and asked me to be his bride, I was overcome with emotion. Of course,  I was scared about what the future might hold.  But I knew I loved him. I wouldn’t let my fear get in the way of my love for Peeta. I had to say yes. And when I did his face lit up in a way I never saw it light up before. 

Then he swooped me up in his arms and kissed me, just like we did on the beach during the Quarter Quell, all my fears vanished. It is going to be me and him now. Mr. and Mrs. Peeta Mellark. 

My dress isn’t very flashy or extravagant. It shows my bare shoulders. The sleeves are lace, but the rest is plain white. My veil is  lace as well, and my hair is pulled into a bun, the same way it was on the day of the Reaping. 

My stylist didn’t do much. They put sparkly silver eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, and put a light sparkly lip gloss. It’s not like the Capitol. But then again, why would I want to be like the Capitol? 

My mother comes in. I’ve never seen her look so pretty. Her hair is pulled into a braid, just like all the other bridesmaids (except for Effie). She’s only wearing a light pink lip gloss. But makeup or not, she’s beautiful either way. 

“You look gorgeous,” I basically whisper, my voice harsh around the edges. I’m too nervous to try to fix it. 

“You look better than gorgeous,” Mom pulls a hair back that was in my face and kisses my forehead, “My beautiful daughter. Where has the time gone?” I see a tear trickle down her cheek. 

I know she’s thinking about Prim, how she would have loved seeing me. The thought of Prim threatens tears to creep into the back of my eyes. I won’t cry. Not today. 

Mom starts speaking in a cracked voice,“I love you, Katniss. Now call me if you need anything, you’ll find me just a few houses down. And you and Peeta can visit--” I cut her off by placing my hand on her cheek. She’s gotten a tad smaller from old age and with my heels on I feel like a giant compared to her, even though I’m only two inches taller. 

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I say, “Peeta and I will be fine.” Peeta and I. Me and Peeta. Finally together. 

“I know you’ll be fine,” Mom says. She bites her lip in an effort to stop crying, but a tear forces a way out of her eye. I hug her, and we stay in silence, mother and daughter. 

She steps away and wipes away a tear. “I better go where the others are,” she sniffs, hugs me again, and walks out the door. 

Then it’s just me. Effie left when Mom stepped in. I look at myself in the mirror. A scar from the rebellion is clearly shown on my arm, visible through the lace. It’s a thin purple line now, but I’m still self-conscious about it. But Peeta won’t mind. He’ll love me the way I am. 

Just then, Haymitch walks- more like slowly saunters- through the door. He made a deal with me to stay sober until the reception, then he can drink all the wine he wants. 

“Well look at you, Sweetheart,” He smiles. I look down, then look back up. 

“It’s not fancy,” I say. I wore much better attires in my day. 

“But it’s you,” Haymitch says. I’m startled he’s said something other than cracking a joke. 

“Thank you,” I say. There’s an awkward silence. I want to ask him to walk me down the aisle. I’ve known him for years now, and it seems right to have a bride be walked down by someone she cares for. And no matter how stubborn or drunk or inappropriate Haymitch can be, he’s been a great mentor and a great friend. 

Haymitch then turns to leave. 

“Haymitch!” I say a bit louder than I should have. He turns around. 

“Hm?” He asked. 

“W-will you walk me down the aisle?” I ask, choking on words. I quickly look to the floor, then back up at Haymitch. He’s smirking-- no, smiling-- and I see a hint of a tear forcing their way into his eyes. 

“Whatever you want, Sweetheart,” he says. I smile at him, and yet again, a tear is threatening to show. Why am I so emotional today? 

Just then, Effie burst through the doors. 

“Oh my, my, my! We have five minutes! Five! Joanna said I should remind you!” Effie screams. Of course, only my bridesmaid and friend Joanna would love the idea of Effie running in and spoiling a perfect moment, which she did. 

“Ok, ok, simmer down Effie. The girl just asked me to walk her down the aisle, it was a memriable moment!” Haymitch says. 

“Oh my! Sorry. But remember, now we have only four minutes! Four minutes!” Effie bursts out the door again. Haymitch turns and smiles at me. 

“Ready to do this, girl on fire?” He gestures his arm out and I link it with my other arm. 

“Ready,” I say. 

With that we walk out in the main hall, with the wide doors leading to the congregational room of the church building before us. The bridesmaids and best men are together. 

Then it’s just me and Haymitch. 

Now we hear the Meadow Song  playing on the piano. That signals the bridesmaids to go. After the bridesmaids and the groomsmen are all down the aisle, “Here Comes the Bride,” starts playing, a signal for me and Haymitch to walk down. 

Well, here goes everything.