Hey guys! I know it's been a while since I updated but I've been going through some real life shit and I'm not going to take you through every depressing detail but I'm back now and I don't know if I'm back for good but I'm here for now.

I plan on making my chapters longer but that means updates won't be very frequent and I know this one is short but I just really wanted to give you guys something.

So enjoy.

Chapter 7

Katniss woke up to a world of pain. Madge had assured Peeta that her nose wasn't broken but it didn't stop him from staying with her until she fell asleep. It was sweet and Katniss was in too much pain to refuse him so she let him hold her hand until sleep overtook her. Katniss smiled at the memory. Madge had given her a bunch of medication to dull the pain. It was one of the really strong ones she had in the hospital and she kept at home for emergencies. Peeta had practically forced her to give it to Katniss.

Peeta didn't mention anything about the world finding out about them, instead he kept the conversation light, talking about the bakery back in Minnesota and funny stories about the strange people he'd met in Hollywood.

Katniss made her way to her kitchen to make a quick breakfast and was surprised when she saw a plate of cheese buns sitting on the counter. There was a note written in Peeta's neat printing.

I'm so sorry about yesterday but enjoy the cheese buns as a peace offering.

Katniss smiled and grabbed one. It tasted amazing just like everything else Peeta made. She took her phone out to text Peeta thank you when she saw a text from Gale.

I'm coming over in 20 minutes

Katniss sighed. She could tell he was angry and he had reason to be. In the month she had been dating Peeta she had never told Gale about him. She couldn't say she fully understood why. She had been working up to it but each time she got ready to tell him she chickened out and said something else. Katniss didn't want to admit it but she was scared of what Gale would think. His opinion meant everything to her and she didn't want to put herself in a situation where she would have to choose between Peeta and Gale.

It was a Saturday so she didn't have to work so Katniss found herself with nothing to do while she waited for Gale. She decided to see what was on TV but quickly regretted that when she saw the headlining news.

Peeta Mellark seen leaving a rundown diner with mysterious girl on his arm.

Katniss quickly changed the channel but it seemed like that was all any show was talking about, trying to solve the mystery about who this girl was. To her surprise a few shows had managed to get some information about her. The world knew that Peeta's new interest's name was Katniss Everdeen and she worked for the Caesar Flickerman show but thankfully they didn't seem to have much other than that. Katniss sighed. It was going to be a long couple of days.

Ten minutes later Gale barged through the door. If looks could kill she could be ten feet under by now. "Tell me this is all some sick joke." Katniss knew she couldn't so she chose to stay quiet. "Katniss how long have you been with him."

She felt sick to her stomach. She hated hurting Gale and knew that telling him they had been together for over a month would crush him. Still, she couldn't lie. "For about a month now."

Gale collapsed onto the couch, "I don't understand why you felt like you couldn't tell me. I know you don't feel the same way about me and I've moved on. You said you wanted to be friends and I understood that."

Gale developed feelings for Katniss a couple years ago and had even told her, hoping they would be able to pursue something but Katniss just didn't feel the same way and told him. She thought of him as a brother. But all this was years ago and Katniss knew Gale had moved on and she told him this but when he asked why Katniss had neglected to tell him about her relationship she found it hard to form the words.

Expressing her feelings had never been her strong suit and it frustrated her beyond words. "I just," she tried to explain, "You can get a little protective sometimes and I love you for that but I knew you wouldn't react well to me dating someone so famous."

Katniss's heart broke as she saw his anger melting away into sadness. They were silent for a while and Katniss desperately wanted to say something to cut he tension but she knew Gale needed the moment to think about her words.

"Is he worth it Catnip?" The fact that he called her Catnip did not go unnoticed by her, "People will judge you, find every little flaw to torment you on. Is Mellark worth all the trouble?"

"Yes Gale he is."

"Then I'm happy for you Catnip. I really am."

"Thank you Gale." They enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the morning before Gale decided to leave.

Katniss wanted to call Peeta but wasn't sure if he would have the time for her today. She wanted to properly thank him for last night and more importantly she just wanted to see him but she didn't know how to approach the situation. Finally she decided to wait for Peeta to contact her. It turns out she didn't have to wait very long because in only a couple minutes there was a knock on her door. She opened it surprised to see Peeta on the other side. He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before entering.

"I hope it's okay I came here. Everything is just crazy back in Hollywood and I needed a break."

"No, it's fine you can come here anytime you want."

He took a good look at her and his eyes softened. "I'm so sorry about everything Katniss. I wanted yesterday to be special."

"Hey don't beat yourself up about it. I had fun and you were so sweet about everything. It didn't go as planned but it was still the perfect night."

I'm glad you thought so, even though your nose was almost broken. Speaking of which, Haymitch wants to know if you want to press charges. We could provide you with a lawyer and everything."

Katniss didn't even have to think about it. She wasn't hurt that bad and even if she was, it was just an accident. There was no reason to press charges over something as simple as that. Peeta seemed to sense this and smiled, "but I'm guessing you're going to say no to that."

"It was an accident and I wasn't hurt that badly."

"I would press charges even if all he did was break you nail."

His comment made Katniss laugh. "I know you would."

Peeta made his way to Katniss's couch and grabbed the remote. "Oh, wouldn't recommend turning on the TV," Katniss warned, "All they're talking about is us and our relationship."

"I guessed as much but I do know one channel that couldn't care less about us."

Katniss waited expectantly for him to tell her but instead he just turned the TV on and changed the channel to the Cartoon Network. Katniss laughed when he called Katniss over to the couch. Katniss couldn't remember the last time she watched a cartoon but as they sat there together watching Looney Tunes she decided it was something she needed to do more often.

There was something just therapeutic about acting like kids for the afternoon without a care in the world even though they were the most talked about people in the world at the moment.

Peeta's phone was constantly going off but he ignored every call and text message. It wasn't until three o'clock when he gave in and answered a call from Haymitch.

"About time." He sounded irritated and he had the right to be. He had been trying to reach Peeta for hours. "If I knew where sweetheart lived I would've come here myself."

Peeta chose not to address the fact that he chose to call her Sweetheart, "Is there a reason you're calling?"

"Caesar wants another interview and I think we both know what he's going to want to talk about."

Peeta glanced at Katniss nervously, "Is there any chance I can decline?"

"You could but that would make them believe you have something to hide. It's best to come out and tell them exactly who Sweetheart is before the rumours blow widely out of proportion."

Peeta knew Haymitch was right. It would be in everybody's best interest if he did the interview but he knew that if he did it, it would make it real to everyone. They would be out of the little bubble they kept themselves in for the past month and it would be open for people to scrutinize and judge.

He glanced at Katniss who was shooting him worried glances. As he looked at her he realised that everything he did had to be in her favour. He was used to everything that would be thrown at them but she wasn't and she had to make sure the craziness wouldn't scare her away. He didn't want crazy rumours spreading around about her.

"Fine, I'll do it. I'll call you later."

"And I'll make sure not to pick up until you've called me fifty times."

Peeta rolled his eyes. "Bye Haymitch."

He hung up and turned to Katniss. He could tell she wanted to ask what they were talking about but didn't want to overstep her boundaries. "Caesar wants to do another interview with me. I didn't want to do it because it would make everything real, you know."

The moment the words left his mouth he realised that was the wrong thing to say.

Katniss's glare was instantaneous and she shot up from the couch, "So you're saying the past month has been fake? Maybe you should've told me that before the whole world found out about us Peeta!"

Peeta was trying to figure out what he could say to remedy the situation. "No no that's not what I meant. I meant that it'll be real to everyone else because we've been in this bubble where our relationship was only for us but now the whole world is going to know and it's going to be for them now."

Peeta was always known as the guy with the silver tongue but at the moment that couldn't be farther than the truth. He didn't even think he was making sense all he knew was that he couldn't have Katniss be mad at him.

"It's still going to be for us, Peeta. It doesn't have to be for them if we don't let it. This past month has been real to me and you have to decide if you feel the same before you do that interview with Caesar."

At this point Peeta was panicking. He hadn't meant to hurt Katniss with what he said. "It's real for me," he said desperately, "Everything I said just came out wrong. I was just so happy with us being in our little bubble but God Katniss I'm ready. I'm ready to show you off to the world and take you to fancy restaurants. I'm ready for the world to know that I have this beautiful, amazing girl who I know is always going to be there cheering for me wherever I go." Katniss couldn't help but smile at his words. Peeta saw this and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have overreacted like that."

"How bout we just bury this under the rug and never speak about it again."

"Speak about what?" Katniss grinned and Peeta mirrored her.

He glanced at the clock and frowned. "I should go. I'm sure Effie is going crazy wondering where I am and why I'm not answering any of her calls."

He trailed of when my phone started ringing. I answered it and was surprised to hear Rue on the other end.

"How about we get that coffee in like twenty minutes?"

Katniss nodded and they agreed to meet up at a small coffee shop near her apartment. Katniss groaned when Rue told her it was in Hollywood.

She relayed the conversation to Peeta and was surprised when he offered her a ride.

"I don't want you to go out of your way."

"My intentions aren't as selfless as you would think, I just don't want to let you go just yet."

Finally Katniss gave in and let him lead her to the car. Her stomach dropped with nervous excitement as she realised this was the first time they would be going out together with their relationship out there for everyone.

Sorry again for leaving all you guys hanging. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Don't forget to review!

Bye :)