A/N: Ah, so you've come back for more :P Are you all wondering what Peeta's situation was? Well, let's just say that it's kind of obvious, just kind of…not. It will be revealed very soon in this chapter. Like, VERY soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. The story is mine, although the characters are not.


Previously…

"Soo… I'm bored. I don't even know why Madge asked me to do this."

"Then don't."

"Good idea," She says smiling. "Goodbye, then." I give her a half wave. She grabs her backpack then leaves.

Well that was pointless… I think.

My thoughts are interrupted by a call.

'Peeta Mellark wants to FaceTime'. … 'Accept or Ignore'.


I bit my cheek. A habit I just can't get rid of.

So what if he likes me, we're still just friends. I tap 'Accept'.

'Connecting…'

Peeta's face shows up on the screen. He has a black eye, some cuts, and bruised arms.

"Oh my God, Peeta, what happened?" I shout in shock. Shout in shock, shout in shock, shout in shock. Oh, shut it Katniss. I think. I'm losing my mind.

He clears his throat, looks around, then says, "I can't tell you—not yet, just—let me get out of the house first." I nod slowly.

I examine his bruises and cuts, and see they're worse than I thought. The cuts are very deep, which will undoubtedly leave scars. His bruises look like they'll last a month or so since their very big, and thankfully, his black eye isn't too bad.

I see that he's running, running to get away from the house. His clear blue eyes show hurt. Once he sees he's far enough, he rests at a chair by a park, but winces before he sits.

"So, what happened?" I ask with concern. You're being selfish! He has bruises, a black freaking eye, and you're just trying to get an answer out of him? What's wrong with you? I think. Well, I need to know if he's okay, at least… What's wrong with YOU?A part of my brain snaps back. What the…? Just shut up! I think-say to the other thoughts. It's official. I've lost my mind.

Peeta looks around again; to make sure he's safe or something. Then he finally speaks up. "Katniss," He starts. "My mother beats me. A lot."

Beats him? By a lot, does he mean every day? Is that what that note in class today meant?

"She hates me," He continues. "She beats me practically on a daily basis, I'm lucky just to go a day without getting smacked in the head by a rolling pin." What kind of mother does this to her child? Not a very good one. For the first time, I actually agree with my thoughts. Well, of course you agree with your thoughts, you are thinking them. It tells me. I mentally punch that thought. Ow! Rude…

I look at him with worry. "I'm coming over there." I finally say.

"No, you don't have to,"

"No, I'm coming over there," I conclude. "Stay put, I'm going to end this call, and I'll be there." He's silent, so I hope that means he's okay with it...

"PRIM!" I call.

"Yes, Katniss?" She yells back.

"You have a new patient."


Prim examines his wounds, grabs her first aid kit, and treats them carefully. She sprays some anti-bacterial spray on them so he won't get an infection. Then she does a bunch of other stuff that I don't know.

I took a seat next to Peeta and watched Prim as she treated his injuries. She looked at his black eye, pursed her lips, and said, "That's going to be there for a while," He nods. "But not too long, since it's nothing serious—which is good." Peeta gives her a small smile.

"You're probably going to get some headaches, so take these," She hands him something. "Just in case you have a migraine, which is very likely." She gave him Tylenol.

"Thanks." Peeta says.

"It was nothing," She shrugs. I smile. "Well, we better get home Katni—" She stops and smirks at me. "… Or I will. You should stay, Katniss, in case the pain comes back, or something…" I scowl at her. She puts her hands up in surrender. "Just… Keep him occupied." I roll my eyes. She waves, and walks off.

Silence.

"I can't believe she does that to you," I whisper, hoping he doesn't hear. He does, though.

"It's fine. I guess it could be worse," He says, looking at me. I shake my head.

"No, it's not fine," I say. "She shouldn't be doing that to you. You should move out."

"I don't know, I guess," He sighs. Who would've guess that the sweet, caring Peeta gets beaten? "My family wouldn't probably notice, no one really needs me." My jaw drops.

"Peeta, don't you dare say that."

"But—"

"Don't you dare!" I interrupt. "You deserve better, really." He smiles, and… I smile back. Well, would you look at that? Katniss is SMILING! One of my thoughts think. No. Way. I didn't even think it was possible! The other one says. Just shut up, you two! I mentally shout at them. I'm insane.


Three days later…

Peeta didn't show up at school today, or the day before, and I'm probably the only person who knows why.

I visit his house every day so far to make sure he's okay. He's getting better, I'll admit that, but occasionally I see a couple, smaller, bruises on his legs.

We have small conversations, usually. Or we sometimes just sit on his couch and watch the TV, and laugh at the foolishness of the Capitol. Like this on show, 'Mahogany!' It's a weird soap opera, that doesn't really make any sense, but it's entertaining enough.

We also just work on our homework together, since our teachers give me the homework to take to his house.

Madge, still being her annoying self, thinks I like him. I keep telling her we're 'Just friends!' because she doesn't believe a word and says I'm in denial. At least Annie and Clove are mature about it.

Today was different though.

Madge was out of town with her dad—the mayor—and she had to go to District 2 with him on a business trip.

Clove called and said she broke her arm earlier this morning and had to go to the hospital.

Annie was present, though, but I couldn't hang out with her after school because she had to go meet with the swim team. That and the fact that we don't go to the same classes together.

Which left me all alone.

When I came over Peeta's house not too long ago, we did our usual routine; do homework, watch TV, his dad making us dinner, talk a little bit. But today, Peeta wanted to do something different.

"Want to go swimming?" He asked with a grin. I gave him a confused look. "What? We have a pool," I raised an eyebrow.

I finally gave in and said sure.

"Okay, fine. Just let me go home and grab my swimming suit." I tell him.

"Okay." He says with a smile.

So, I do as I say and put on a simple, aqua, bikini. I put on some sunglasses, let my hair down, put on a t-shirt and some shorts, and slip on some flip-flops.

I walked back to Peeta's house. He's already ready, but he did live here, so of course he changes faster. Oh, congratulations! You actually figured something out! One of my thoughts told me. Quick, somebody, give her a trophy. I rolled my eyes at my thoughts. My own thoughts insulting me. This is a problem.

He's wearing black swimming trunks with and a gray t-shirt, with sunglasses on his head, flip flops, and two towels in his arms.

"Ready?" He asks.

"Yup."


We go through the living room area by the kitchen, where his mom is at. She scowls at Peeta and I. And I scowl back. She gives me a death glare, which doesn't really scare me. I've seen scarier.

Peeta opens a door and we go outside his backyard. And it's beautiful.

He has a really big pool and surprisingly a very big hot tub. There are some chairs to relax or tan in on the sides, with an amazing view of mountains with a forest underneath.

I sigh in relief, and take off my shirt and shorts and immediately hop in the hot tub.

All this confusion and craziness has really been stressing me out.

Peeta takes off his shirt and joins me in the hot tub.

Don't look at his body, don't look at his body, I tell myself. No! Look! Please, Katniss, you're killing me here. One of my thoughts says. I roll my eyes again and chuckle.

"Ahh," I moan and go under the hot water a little bit.

"Enjoying yourself?" Peeta smirks. I nod.

"I've been really stressed lately, so this is nice." I say closing my eyes and start floating on my back.

"Really?" Peeta questions. "How come?"

"I've been a little confused lately," I say. "And I'm going crazy." I add. He chuckles.

"Why confused?"

"Just… things." I can't tell him why, when it has to do with him. He can't tell I really don't want to talk about it, so he lets that pass.

"Crazy?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, crazy!" I say. "I'm seriously losing my mind and sanity."

"Oh, really?"

"Is it normal for my own thoughts to insult and mock everything I do? Without me controlling it, or even meaning for it to happen?"

"No, not really," Peeta laughs. Aw, his laugh is adorable! One of my thoughts say… No, it wasn't. It was me who thought that, not the insane part of my brain. No, no, no. I didn't think that, it was just the random-thought-people intruding my brain.

"I just really needed to relax a bit," I tell him, opening my eyes and looking at the clouds. I start laughing.

"You okay?" He says with a puzzled expression. I stop lying on my back and sit down on those little seats in the tub.

"I don't really know." I say in a serious tone. "Madge and Clove have been trying to give me therapy sessions, and I think Annie might, too." He laughs.

"But then again, it's Madge, so..." I snort.

Then we both lie on our backs, and shut our eyes, and I actually find myself drifting off into sleep. But just after a couple seconds of sleep, I'm under the water.

I just woke up, so I accidently breathe in water, and I'm not even holding my breath. I start screaming, and trying to swim up to the top, but I also start drowning.

Peeta swims down, sees me, grabs and pulls me to the surface. I gasp and begin breathing heavily. He pulls me into a hug and tries to calm me down. I hear him say things like, "Katniss! Are you okay?" "You're fine, it's okay, you're safe," and "I'll never let that happen to you again." I eventually start breathing normally and relax in his arms.

I look up to him and smile sincerely. "Thanks," I whisper. He smiles back.

"Anything for you," I blush at his words, and he hugs me just a little tighter, but it doesn't hurt, and I'm not uncomfortable with the fact that I'm so close to him, nor the fact that I know he likes me. "Want to get out?" I nod.

I grab a towel and start drying myself off, and then I sit down in one of those chairs by the pool. Peeta does the same. I lie down for a bit until I start feeling dry. I rub my eyes and yawn, since I'm so tired. Peeta notices. "Tired?" I nod. "Yeah, me too. But that was fun, other than what happened."

"Thanks again, by the way," I say. This is the second time Peeta saved my life. And I owe him even more.


The next day…

I guess Peeta and I have become best friends over the past few days, which is pretty fast, but I'm okay with it. Madge is back, I was the first to sign Clove's cast, and Annie's not with the swim team today.

I'm just this close to sleep when I hear breathing. It's Madge.

I see she's been using that bridge.

I pretend I'm sleeping, until I throw a pillow at Madge's face. "Madge! What the heck?" I scream at her.

"First of all, ow!" She rubs her jaw, where I had hit her. "Second of all, I was bored, so I wanted hang out with you…"

"Oh. Sorry." I apologize.

"Nah, it's fine," She says. "So, what have you been up to since I've been gone?" She asks with an evil smirk.

"I've been hanging out with Peeta." I say simply.

"Oh, really?" She grins. "What'd you do?"

I can't tell her I've been taking care of Peeta while he had all those cuts and injuries, so I just say, "Oh, you know, just homework, TV, swimming,"

"Was that all?" I threw another pillow at her.

"Gosh, Madge just shut up already." She laughs.

"Okay, well, I'll be going back home now," She tells me. "BYE-E!" I wave.

She exits out my window and goes on her little bridge and through her window.

Oh, Madge. I think. Oh, come on, she's not that weird compared to you! The other thought says. The first one snickers. Shut. Up.I tell the two.

I'm losing it.


A/N: Lol, I'm kind of basing Madge one of my best friends :) XD Anyways, so I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! If you did, please review!