***If you are reading this chapter for a second time it is because it has been re-uploaded and edited a bit, the whole story so far (6 chapters) is going through a "re-edit".***

A/N: I'm so so so so sorry for the late update! And that its kind of just a shitter filler chapter too :|Things have been hectic in my world outside of the internet haha. Anyways thanks to mpgngirl17 and BleedtoLoveHer for subscribing and to the reviewers!

To FictionFanatic22: I sent you a pm anyways but I can't wait for you to read Peetas reaction!. To teampeeta4ever: Thanks! I thought to myself, if I was katniss in this day and age and met a handsome, nice, gentleman who was rescpectful, was assumingly well manicured, drew flowers and baked I would assume he was gay hahahaand to my anonymous reviewer, I see a trend in interest as to why Peeta is gay, if you too are interested, subscribe and see what happens ;) ;) ;)

SO even though this is not the best chapter and there are probably heaps of mistakes considering it's 12:11am! I hope you guys enjoy :) if you do LET ME KNOW criticism (and compliments c;) are always welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to The Hunger Games, I do however own the intellectual property of this story (the plot and what not)

Chapter 4 - Insomniac Predators

That was probably one of the worst shifts of my life! Or at least the most awkward. I was on the cash register at the Deli/Butcher check out with Gale all night long. After that scene outside I didn't want to have to deal with Gale. The entire shift he simply stood there in silence, didn't even bother to look at me when he handed me something.

I'm in the work lounge packing my things back into my bag. Gale will understand about Peeta though when I tell him Peeta is gay, I mean he can't be mad about me having friends.

No, actually, he shouldn't be mad at all! We're not even together. I don't mind about him and Delly, even though they're just...Friends.

Ugh, why does this have to be so complicated? In theory it wasn't complicated at all, but in reality, when feelings are involved. I just didn't think it would be like this between us. I didn't really know what I expected to happen honestly.

"So that's why you wanted to know about Mellark last night hmm? You dating him now? Is that why you suggested we break up then?" Gale suddenly barges through the door of the lounge throwing around accusations. "You wanted to know if Peeta was a player not for Prims sake but whether or not he was a good choice to date? or are you just fucking him? is that it? Is he better than me Katniss? Do you feel good being with a Merchant boy?" Gale glares at me like I'm a mangy stray he wouldn't let in the house at night.

How in the hell could he jump from seeing Peeta give me a lift to work, to fucking him? What is wrong with him? He knows me better than that!

"Excuse me? I could ask the same thing about you and Delly! She slept at your house last night! You tried to brush off your best friend last night for her! Someone you don't, apparently, know that well and you're accusing me of something with the bakers kid?" I shout, violently packing my casual clothes into my bag.

I'm afraid to look up at him, he's not going to see me shed a single tear whether they're angry tears, hurt tears or... very very angry tears.

"There is no way I could ever be with Peeta like that. He gave me a lift to work because I was talking to him for Delly. YOUR friend who I was trying to help because she's YOUR friend." I turn around to jam my finger aggressively at his chest to emphasise my point. Instead, he grabs my wrist and pulls me forcefully onto his lips. We kiss hard and he slams me roughly, much too roughly, into the un-plastered brick wall.

The sudden pain startles me and brings me back to reality. What am I doing? more importantly what is Gale doing?

"Fuck! What the hell Gale? We're not together any more, you can't just do things like this! Play with my emotions like that!"

"That's not how you felt Saturday afternoon when you were fucking me and you certainly didn't when you were sucking my-" At that note I slap him so hard he takes a step back. How dare he!

When was Gale ever this mean? when did he become such a douche bag? when did he treat women like this?.

"I'm sorry Katniss, I didn't mean-"

"NO," I interrupt him, "You did mean it and you know what, screw you!" I shove him, hard, out of the way and storm out of the lounge, through the store. When I reach the front door I sprint, as fast as I can. It's late, so nobody should be at the meadow, I don't need Prim seeing me like this.

By the time I get to the big tree in the meadow tears are streaming down my face so hard I can barely see. I can't believe Gale. He was always that guy who was so nice and caring, always so protective and loving.

Sobs are now racking my body, they're coming so hard and so loud. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I jump in pain. Just how hard did Gale push me into the wall when we were kissing? Terrified it might be Gale coming after me for god knows what reason. I grab the unwelcome hand, pull as hard as I can and pin him to the ground sitting on his stomach.

It wasn't Gales hand though.

"Ow! What the- katniss is that you? I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you! I'm not a rapist or anything I just heard somebody crying and came to see if they- you were okay!" Peeta's shouts are muffled because my hand is pushing his face into the ground.

"What are you doing out here? Did you follow me? Change your mind on paying you for the drawing? Rape was a strange conclusion to jump to!"

"What? NO! Katniss, I'm sorry I understand why you're so hostile and I'm sorry, please." I know I'm being irrational, and stupid, and jumping to all the wrong conclusions. Gale really scared me, I don't know why, it's not like we never kissed roughly before if you get my drift, it's just...I don't know. I'm confused about my feelings but I know for sure that what happened with Gale is certainly what I don't want.

Rape.

It wasn't a weird leap at all for Peeta to make, rape is really quite common in District 12. Too common. Along with domestic violence. Maybe that's why I'm so frazzled, what if deep down I thought Gale would...

"Katniss please, I'm really sorry, I had no intentions of ever doing anything like that. Ever, to anybody." Looking down at Peeta I blush realising I'm straddling him.

Cautiously I slide off of of his stomach and quickly crawl back into a sitting position in front of the tree.

"I'm sorry Peeta, you just. Gave me a fright, that's all." I look away ashamed that he of all people saw me crying and more ashamed that I reacted by pinning him in the dirt when he was just trying to comfort me.

"It's okay Katniss, I should have announced my presence earlier. Are you- Are you alright? I just. When I touched your shoulder, well, there was blood."

Blood? I mean yea my shoulder blade is hurting but Gale didn't push me that hard did he? I mean it was in the heat of the moment, and it was a brick wall. I look up at Peetas face and his big blue eyes are so full of concern. Concern for somebody he doesn't even know. Why? Did he see what Gale did? And then follow me? I can feel the panic rising to the surface again.

"What are you doing out here?" I glare at him.

"I can't sleep sometimes, a lot. Actually I really don't get much sleep at all so I come out here and draw." He says sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. I look at the ground a few metres away and see a pencil and sketch pad open to a half drawn, now dirty, picture of a rose. Well I feel like a right bitch.

I can't believe I thought Peeta was sexual predator, or a predator of any kind at all! He's gay after all, not that gay people don't offend or anything, but he bakes cakes... He's a sensitive boy.

"Sorry Peeta, oh gosh I'm so sorry. You just. You gave me a fright and-"

"-No I'm sorry Katniss and if you don't want to tell me how you hurt your back, I don't mind. Just. I don't want to see you crying or hurt."

"Its ok Peeta, honestly. I come out here at night too, I'm on my way home from work, but I never see you here?"

"you wouldn't be out here at the time I am." Peeta smiles.

"You'd be surprised" I smile at Peeta. You can't help but smile at him, his whole face lights up when he smiles. I slowly start getting up, I need to get home to Prim.

"Well I gotta go, Prim is probably worried sick about me. See ya Peeta"

"- Wait Katniss, if that. If your back is like that because of. Because of Gale. Because he saw me with you I'm...I'm really truly sorry." Peeta says, looking down at me almost with tears in his eyes. I turn around to leave but he touches my arm and I flinch."I really am Katniss." I look up into his big blue eyes full of concern and unwarranted remorse.

"He's really not like that Peeta. He would never, intentionally hurt me. Really." I sigh, it's true. Gale isn't a bad guy. Tonight, was some kind of weird anomaly.

"Katniss this is serious, you know how many women are-"

"look it's not like that Peeta! honestly, it was a one time thing and it wasn't even...THAT...we're not even together any more." ugh why am I telling him all this

"oh...OH...oh is that why you were upset?"

"uh...no...sorta. Look I don't know you and I'd rather not talk about it." I snap harshly. Why I was crying was none of his damn business.

"ok, I'm sorry Katniss, what ever is going on with you and Gale is your business. You're right, we don't know each other, but I'd like to get to know you. If you'd let me that is" what is wrong with this boy?

"It's not easy." At that, I walk off.

Prim is probably worried sick, god knows how late I am already. Gosh when did things get so confusing and just plain weird? the gay bakers son wanting to befriend me? Delly Cartwright thinking I'm, nice. Gale being...just...not Gale-like.

When I graduate next year things are going to be different. I will work full time and be able to support Prim and my mother properly. I won't have to worry about boy problems because they really, in the grand scheme of things, shouldn't be so important and consuming.

Everything will get so much better when I graduate, then once Prim finally graduates hopefully I'll have enough money saved up to send her to college to be a doctor, maybe even enough money for me to move wherever she goes too. If only.

I finally make it home and Prim is a little hysteric.

"You're so late! I was getting really worried Katniss! You know what it's like out there at night! Are you okay? What took you so long?" Prim bombards me with worried questions.

"It's okay Prim, I'm fine, no need to stress I just ran into Peeta on my way home." I'm not lying. I did run into Peeta on my way home. At the mention of Peetas name Prims whole demeanour changes.

"Oh my gosh really? what did he say? did he invite us to the bakery again? what was he doing outside at night?" Prim smiles so bright you'd think I just told her she was invited to tea with Santa Clause, the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy.

I just laugh.

"Prim, chill, you need to go to bed. You know you might see him tomorrow," she might, I don't know that. "and tomorrow will come faster if you go to sleep sooner." Without a second thought Prim races upstairs into our room.

Crisis averted I sit on the end of the couch where my mum is lying. Looks like she moved today. Still in her pyjamas though.

"Peeta. Peeta Mellark. His father is a kind man"

I look down at my mother to find she's looking straight at me, her eyes bright with clarity. Clarity I haven't seen for a long time.

"Did you know Mr Mellark Mum?" I ask cautiously, afraid anything to abrupt might frighten her back into oblivion.

"yes. We were together when I met your father. He never begrudged me or your father though, that's the kind of man he was, he was happy that I was happy. Good night Katniss" My mother stumbles and slowly walks to her room.

Holy crap! What a bombshell. I wonder what Dad did to win her over? I wonder if Peeta knows this. It would explain why his mother is so bitter, knowing she wasn't first choice, ouch.

I'm making assumptions though and it's already 11:00pm, I guess I should try and get some sleep.

Look at that, it's 3:00am, how unusual to be awake at this time in the morning. UGH

[Google Search Bar: Define Insomnia -enter-]

"is a condition characterised by difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep."

No doubt I've got it, probably from Stress and my night terrors/night mares. Does Peeta have it too maybe? He said I wouldn't be at the meadow at the times he is. What if I am? He's a merchant boy what could possibly stress him out.

[Google Search Bar: What causes Insomnia -enter-]

"Insomnia can be caused by physical factors as well as psychological factors. Causes of insomnia include:

Drugs/Alcohol/medicines," well I highly doubt he's on any of those.

"disruption in circadian rhythm," I know he doesn't have jet lag or anything.

"psychological issues," very likely, but what? It shouldn't matter to me, it's not like we're friends.

"medical conditions," oh...I hope he isn't sick, I really really hope he isn't sick. He's so nice and all.

"hormones and other factors."

hmm...well I'm not a doctor, so why am I even trying to diagnose somebody, somebody I don't even know at 3:40am.

Ugh there is something weird about Peeta Mellark, something strange. He's too nice and I can't seem to get him out of my head. I will figure it out, maybe having him as a friend won't be so bad, he's gay so it's not like anything romantic will happen so I guess it's okay.

maybe.

hmm... We'll see.

A/N: Again sorry for that crappy chapter and for the late post! Thank you to who ever has read this far and I will try really hard to not leave updates too long! the more reviews and subscriptions I get, hell the more visitors I get alone will motivate me and the faster a chapter will come up :) I know people are interested in the whole Peeta Mellark gay thing so if you are, TALK TO ME ABOUT IT! :D :D :D I cannot stress that enough lol BTW I'd just like to mention that I know my writing isn't very good, I haven't done it in a long long time so when I finish this story I will go back and through this and basically re-write it because I have plans for the plot and character development so please don't punish the STORY because of the WRITING...if that makes sense... :) ANYWAYS

thanks for reading! XD

***If you are reading this chapter for a second time it is because it has been re-uploaded and edited a bit, the whole story so far (6 chapters) is going through a "re-edit".***