Disclaimer: I own a sketch book that has too many blank pages, not The Hunger Games

Peeta's P.O.V

I hear something coming towards me

I instantly turn around to realize that something is actually a someone. And that someone is no other than Katniss Everdeen.

My instant reaction is to defend myself but I had to remember she was a...friend? I'm still not sure what she is but an enemy is no longer one of the words to describe her. I know that now.

She looks frightened at first but then quickly hides her emotions and smiles. She speaks first.

"Hi" She hasn't spoken one word to me for weeks and all I get is hi?

"Hey Katniss..." Where is this even going.

We both start talking at the same time but then stop realizing we both have a lot to say.

"You go first" I say.

She clears her throat and says, "Peeta look, I'm really sorry about avoiding you the last few weeks. I've just been really confused about...well...us and I just really want to start over and move on. You know, just as friends. I'm not asking anything more from you because I realize this must be hard but I need you to know that I really miss you. Okay, your turn. "

"Oh...um...thank you. I-I mean thanks for being honest with me. I'd really like to have a friend again. It's been kinda hard being back home without anyone else here. But I need a lot more help from you okay? Because I still need to figure out who I am, or was...I just need you to be patient with me and not run away every time you see me. Maybe I can help you too. "

"What exactly can you help me with?"

"I live right next door to you Katniss. Don't think I can't hear you screaming every night from whatever nightmares are haunting your dreams. And the crying..." I trail off because I can see she doesn't like to seem weak. That's the Katniss I know.

"Can we talk about something else please? Like why you're even out here in the first place." She says.

"I just needed to get out of the house and I ended up here somehow. If you hadn't shown up I'd probably have gotten lost."

She started laughing and I couldn't help but smile. She laughs like a serial killer. I love it. Once we both calmed down I look at her questioningly.

"Sorry it's just that's something the old Peeta would say. You were never good at survival skills. " She moves a bit closer. A little too close I step back and let out a nervous laugh.

"Well I hope you weren't planning on hunting. We both know I'm hopeless when it comes to being quiet. " I say.

That made her laugh again. After that things got less tense between us. We sat down on a boulder near by and just talked. I don't even remember what we talked about but it was nice. Even for just a little bit, we were both happy to feel human again. To not worry about the future and just let everything go. And we laughed a lot too. That was the best part, the laughing. Because it gave us hope. Maybe our lives have been hell for the last few years but now we can laugh, maybe we can even be happy. I finally realized being here, with Katniss, it's not so bad. I could have ended up a lot worse. Maybe even dead.

The sun started to set and that's when I started to get nervous again. Being in the woods at night brought back too many memories. I guess she sensed my fear because she stood up and lent me her hand. I lace my fingers with hers and we started walking back. I didn't let go of her hand until we reached Victors Village, it didn't feel romantic, it felt comfortable, familiar, good. Nobody said anything the whole way there, it was peaceful.

When we got to her door we both lingered there for a bit, not saying anything. But there was still something I needed to say.

"Katniss, look I'm really sorry about everything. I don't want to be the bad guy anymore, I want to be me. You're the only one who can help. I need you. " The words came out from somewhere I haven't seen in a long time.

She grabs my other hand so that we're facing each other and speaks.

"Okay but I need you to know that I'm not going to hurt you, ever. We are on the same team okay? You have to trust me."

"Okay," I respond

"Okay," She says back

I'm just now realizing how close we are and part of me want's to close the gap between us. And I'll tell you this, I almost did. But I knew it wasn't right. We are suppose to be friends so I pull away from our intimate embrace and quickly head down her front steps. I look back at her disappointed face and give her a consoling smile.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" I say

"I hope so" She replies