Sorry this took way to long to publish! I was out of town and did not have time to update sooner. However, I'm back and excited to continue writing this story!

I feel like it's finally progressing and I think you will enjoy it ;)

Your reviews and comments are ever so much appreciated! feel free to leave your opinion! :)

Also, I'm taking suggestions! Anything you would like to see happen, more character involvement, anything really. Feel free to tell me! I could manage to include it in the story :)

To make up for my absence, I've made a summary of the previous chapter to get y'all up to speed. Hope you enjoy!

Previous Chapter: Cato walks to school unexpectedly bumping into Peeta on his way there. Cato confronts Peeta of his emotional situation at home. Cato notices Marvel ignorance towards him during school. A flustered Cato indirectly flirts with Peeta before Peeta explains the situation with his mother because of a kiss with another boy named Finnick. Cato notices Peeta at the bus stop and invites him to his house instead to wherever he was planning to go.

Chapter 6

"Mom?"

No response.

"Nice home!" Peeta says.

"Ha, thanks. It doesn't feel like home though. I'm usually alone most of the time. Ever since my stepdad and Clove moved out, my mom has been working longer shifts in order to make more money. Certainly lost its touch," I sigh.

Peeta stares at me and pats me on my back. "I kind of know that feeling."

We walk into my kitchen and offer Peeta something small to eat.

"Want some yogurt? It's all I've got," I say.

He giggles and nods his head. He takes a seat on the table, and I grab bottled waters and set them on the table. He has messy hair. He looks like a derp opening the yogurt with his hair like that. I smile like a little girl receiving a pony for her birthday. He stares back.

"What you smiling at?" Peeta asks while licking his spoon with yogurt.

You.

I laugh and say nothing. I right away I offer to show him the rest of the house. I try not to look at him that much. I don't want an episode of massive blushing, increased heart rate, and sweating occurring in my own sanctuary.

We go to my room and set our books on my bed. I sit at my desk and turn on my computer. He sits, opening his bag taking out a couple of books.

"Shall we get to work?" he mutters.

"Yes, let's get this done!"

After about 2 hours of hardcore chemistry and English homework, we decide to take a break.

"Man, I've got a headache!" Peeta gasps.

"You're not alone! After all those tedious and redundant chemistry problems, I'm pretty sure I'm ready to kill Mrs. Everdeen."

He laughs and smiles. I look away.

I hear a text message tone and realize it wasn't my phone. I turn to see Peeta texting back someone. Hm.

"Who you texting?" I ask curiously.

Looking alarmed, he looks up while putting his phone back in his pocket.

"Oh, just my Dad wondering where I was at," he says fairly quickly. "I hadn't told anyone I wasn't coming home today."

"Ah, okay," I say briefly.

I get up and stretch. Unconsciously, I stretch my arms upwards and I feel my shirt pulls up too. You did this on purpose. My inner conscious thinks at my intentions. My body has taken over. I stare from the corner of my eyes and I notice Peeta looking surreptitiously at me. He bites his lip fleetingly. Cato, stop.

I sit down on the bed right next to him and fall on my back staring at the ceiling. I notice Peeta is sitting still with his hands folded over each other, silently shaking his feet. He runs his hand through his hair and he too finally falls back onto the bed. My heart is definitely racing right now. I have my hands on my chest, fiddling with my shirt, trying to get myself together.

"Must be nice to be graduating this year," he murmurs. "I wish I was graduating with you. I don't think I can make it through the rest of high school by myself."

I turn my head and look at him. I smile and giggle a little. "Peet, sometimes I forget that you're a sophomore. You're so mature, mellow, and quiet, I'm sure most people would think you're a senior," I share. "And you'll make it. Because you're strong. You're a fighter and you learned not to take shit from anyone. Even if some of those people include your own mother. If you can take your mom's derogative, shameful comments, then you can take anyone's and not let it get to you."

He smiles back and looks back at the ceiling.

"It's not as easy as you think it is," said Peeta while he moves his head to meet my eyes on our sides.

"Enlighten me."

"It's a difficult situation, Cato. Sometimes, I don't feel comfortable talking about it with myself."

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I will always be here to listen," I say softly. I smile at him and I see his eyes flutter. My body aches. I tense up as I move my head away. Those eyes of him are the trigger inside me. It's becoming intensely more difficult to hold myself back. Oh, how I could just kiss him right now.

What am I thinking? He has not came out to me. I haven't come out yet. I don't even think I'm gay. Yet, I feel like I'm falling in love with Peeta. But, I cannot ignore these feelings that are building inside exponentially.

"Cato, my mother threatens me. If I were to ever bring a boyfriend home, she'll kick him out, beat me up and probably kick me out as well. I don't even want to think of what will happen if my dad finds out about what happened. I get scared, you know?"

"That'll never happen, Peeta. Besides, you said that kiss was an accident. It never meant to happen. You're not gay."

I turn my head towards his. I meet his eyes. They stir in an unknown sea of fear and rejection. He turns his head away from mine and looks the other way.

"Are you?" I finally ask. Feeling anxious, I move my body closer to his. I'm on cruise control now. I grab his shoulder and turn him toward me. He turns his face toward the ceiling, avoiding my face. I get a defensive feeling that he's ignoring me or he may be mad that I asked him that question. My tone of voice wasn't even hostile. It was a simple question. A question I wanted to ask.

I shift my body away from his to give him space, and I turn my body and stare at the ceiling. It felt like an eternity. I wanted to make him feel comfortable. Make him feel safe. I turn my head towards him.

"Peet—"

I'm cut off. I'm caught by surprise. My heart is beating faster than it ever has before. I'm sweating. Wincing, I open my eyes, and I see the sight that I longed for. Peeta grabbed my face and started kissing me on the lips. The sweet, exquisite feeling I've longed for. The kiss is as perfect as a first kiss could ever be. He slowly pulls away from my lips as I look into his blue eyes. They're the color of the sky. True blue. I sigh and breathe in deeply. He blinks at me, truly bewildered.

"Sorry, I—" He stutters. He gets up from the bed and starts moving away. I don't let him. I grab his arm, and he turns his face to meet mine. "Don't be," I murmur.

He smiles and I caress his face.

"Cato, you're not gay. I've gotten the time to get to know you. Trust me, these feelings are just fucking with you. You don't deserve a mess like me. I'm beat up and confused, I—" This time, I cut him off.

"Peeta. Stop. You're right. I'm not gay. But I've gotten the time to get to know you. You're the only person that makes my heart speed up and slow down at the same time. You make me nervous. You make me happy. You make my life worthwhile. I don't know what I am. But, gay or not, Peeta, I think I've fallen for you."

He stares at me, bewildered again. He sighs and runs his hands through his hair again. He expression pulls me closer. I squirm under his intense gaze.

"Cato, you beguile me." He looks down then back up to meet my eyes and half smiles, showing his teeth. I smirk. I feel flustered as he starts to lean in towards me. We sit at the edge of my bed as he starts to caress my face. His hand gently touches my face and my heart starts racing a million beats per minute. I look down to grab his hand and look up into his eyes. Finally.

We lean in in synchronization and our lips meet once again. First our lips touch as I start to move my hand behind his head slowly moving my fingers through his soft hair. We start to kiss passionately and my body has taken over completely. I no longer have self-control. I have a need to fulfill. The only desire my body has wanted in weeks. A long, meaningful, delicately passionate kiss from Peeta Mellark.

We continue to kiss. His hand embraces my hair and pulls me closer to him. At this moment, I couldn't help myself. My mouth opens to meet his tongue. So sweet I think. I pull our bodies closer and I feel a surge of hormones rushing through my body. The desire for more increased. He begins to slow down and gently begins pushing me away. Needing to catch his breath, his lips leave mine and our foreheads meet looking down onto our connection by the hands. I let go of his hand. I must've held it pretty tight as his entire hand and wrist flood with blood as circulation is restored.

My eyes shift forward and I catch Peeta looking down still, sighing heavily, then looks up to meet my eyes and laughs. I too can't help myself as we begin to laugh and smile at each other as a feeling of enchantment takes over. I begin to feel warm. The feeling is so right.

Still speechless, his body language screams for attention. Illustrating a beg for more.

I start regaining conscious control of my body and begin to contain myself. I get up from my bed and begin to pace around the room. I go to the window and look out at the night sky. I feel Peeta come from behind me. I turn around to meet his eyes.

"Why me, Cato?" He asks. "You're such a handsome, smart, hard-working guy. You could have anyone you want. Guy or girl. I'm a mess. You wouldn't want to be with me," he murmurs.

I grab his hand and stare at him. I plant a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Nothing else matters. I want to be with you, Peeta. That's about all I know at this time," I mutter.

He smiles. I smile. I tug on his shirt, pull him closer to me, and we kiss briefly again.

The kiss is cut short. We both pull away from each other when we hear a door closing from downstairs.

Shit.

"I think my mom's home," I whisper.

"What should we do?" Peeta whispers anxiously. I glance around the room. My mom doesn't know I have company over. My thoughts are cut short when I hear my name.

"Cato, honey, you upstairs?"

I glance back at Peeta.

"Quick, act like we were doing homework," I whisper.

"Yeah, ma." I yell.

I grab some homework out and open a couple of books on my desk and pretend I'm doing an assignment. Peeta sits Indian style on my bed with his chemistry textbook on his lap.

My mom opens the door and sees us doing work.

"Oh, sweetie, I didn't know you were going to have company! I would've brought more pizza," mutters my mom.

"Hey ma, this is my friend from school, Peeta."

"Hi Cato's mom! I'm Peeta Mellark," says Peeta enthusiastically.

My mom's eyebrows rise.

"Peeta Mellark? You mustn't be the child of Cedric Mellark are you? Oh and please, call me Kyra."

"Yes, I'm his son."

"Nice to finally meet some of his family! Mr. Mellark is a very close coworker of mine! I'll be sure to say that my son is friends with you, Peeta." My mom starts giggling and I see a perplexed Peeta nodding and smiling in agreement as if she didn't want his father to know.

"You guys must be starving from all this knowledge stinking up the room! I have pizza downstairs. I only brought enough for two, so you guys can eat up if you want. I'll cook myself any leftovers I find in the kitchen."

She departs the room and I breathe a sigh in relief. I look over at Peeta. He doesn't look normal. In fact, he looks a bit nervous and uneasy.

"What's wrong, Peet?"

"She's going to tell my dad I was here."

"What's the big deal?"

"He's going to tell my mom that I was here."

I look at him confused. He stares back looking flushed.

"I should go," Peeta murmured.

Looking confused as he packs his belongings, I come to my senses but try to stop him.

"Wait, Peeta. Don't go. Have dinner with me? Please, just—stay a bit longer?"

He scrambles out of bed and sits on the edge with his hands in his face.

"It's just—if my mom finds out." I cut him off.

"Don't worry. I'll be here. I'll protect you. You have nothing to fear," I say. Everything deep in my body uncurls and then clenches in the anticipation that he will stay.

He smiles and sets his book bag down on the floor. I grab his hand and start leading him out of the room.

"Let's get some dinner, shall we?" I say staring at his face.

He smiles back as we make our way downstairs.

But before we arrive in the kitchen with my mom, we let go of each other's hands.