Okay, alright, fine, I'll admit it; I have a major crush on Peeta. He's so cute and nice and sweet and funny and his smile and laugh just makes my insides get all warm and fuzzy.

But he still won't talk.

And it's pissing me off.

And I woke up after dreaming of him actually speaking to me, only his voice was my voice, and all he said was "I bet you wish I would talk to you" and then he laughs and muttered "it's never going to happen."

The room is filled with light, and even though it's Saturday, my lazy day, I get up, shower, brush my teeth and get dressed and walk out. Johanna and Annie aren't here, which means they're at Finn's.

I storm over there, because I've kept all the emotions bubbled up inside and I'm going to explode.

I walk into the room, my face flushed in anger. Finn follows my daggers to Peeta. Peeta looks alarmed.

"Let's get coffee!" Johanna blurts, and then Ann, Jo, Bryan and Finn leave.

I know they're going to eavesdrop with their ears on the door, so when they shut the door, I count to sixty in my head and then hit the door really hard. "Get the fuck away from the door!"

I hear then groaning, and then I open the door and they leave. I slam it and turn back to Peeta. "We need to talk. Or I need to talk." I cross my arms. He eyes the notebook. "Don't." he arches his eyebrows. "Don't touch the book, okay? Just…" I don't know how to say this. Our performance is literally ion three days.

I came up with the song. I came up with the dance moves.

And he just stayed silent.

"I don't…I don't know what your backstory is, but I've told you a trillion times that I'm here to listen! All I ever get from you is a laugh or a smile! I don't ever hear you talk!" He sighs and shakes his head. "I'm not making fun of you, so don't misunderstand me, I'm just…" god, how do I say this? Do I just come right out with it and tell him I like him, maybe even love him?

I think of the conversation I had with Mom last night.

"Mom I think I like Peeta, maybe even love, but he won't speak to anyone."

"Katniss…" she sighs. "I think you should just tell him how you feel. See what he says."

"You mean tell him I like him?" I ask.

"Yes and how you feel with the notebook thing."

"Okay."

"Dammit Peeta, you're making this so fucking complicated." He still doesn't say anything, and I'm so upset about this I'm about to cry. "Why don't you talk?" I blurt. "Is it family issues? Are you like…" I bite my lip. "Are you mute? Like are you not able to talk? Are you blind? Do you just not talk because you choose not to?" He holds up one finger. "The first one?" I ask. He looks down and nods. "Family issues," I sigh. "We have so much in common."

He shakes his head. "Peeta, are you forgetting that I used to be exactly like you?" He sighs again. "Look," I shut my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose and then drop down on Finn's bed. "I respect it if you don't want to tell me…but…I get everyone bullies you, but I'm not like them. I won't bully you. Please…" He starts shaking his head like crazy. "Will you get angry if I guess what happened?" I ask. He shakes his head. "Will you be honest if I guess the right one?" he nods. "Okay…" I bite my lip. "Are your parents divorced?" he nods. "Do you live with your Mom?" he nods again. "Do you keep in touch with your Dad?" he shakes his head. "Is your Dad alive?" he shrugs. "Do you hate your Dad?" he shakes his head like crazy. "Do you hate your Mom?" he nods insanely. "Do you have any brothers?" I ask. He nods. "How many?" he holds up two fingers. "Do you have any sisters?" he nods and then shakes his head, and then looks upset and frustrated. "Did you have a sister?" he nods. "Is she dead?" he hesitates and then nods. "Did she commit suicide?" he frowns and seems to consider it. Then he shakes his head. "Was she murdered?" he shakes his head. "How'd she die?" he frowns and holds up one finger. "She did commit suicide?" he nods. "Why'd you tell me no then?" he shrugs. "Is that all?" he shakes his head. "Are you living alone with your mother?" he puts up a hand and holds up two fingers and draws an s. "Two?" I ask. He nods. "Two…two sisters?" he nods. "And one of them is dead?" he nods. "The older one is dead?" he nods. "Are they both older?" he nods again. "How many brothers do you have?" he holds up three fingers. "Older?" he nods and points down. "One is younger?" he nods. "Okay, do you live alone with your mother?" he nods. "Does everyone else live with your Dad?" he shakes his head. "Who doesn't live with your Dad?" he points down. "Your little brother?" he nods. "Is he alive?" he nods. "Was he put up for adoption?" I ask. He makes a kind of sign with his hand. "He lives with another family member?" I ask. He nods. "Does your mother treat you nicely?" he shakes his head. "She yells?" he nods. "Does she…" I swallow nervously. "Does she hit you?" he nods. "She's abusive?" he nods again. "Enough to put you in the hospital?" he nods again, and points up. "Enough to kill you?" he looks down and nods again. "Is that why you don't talk?" he nods again, and I feel an overwhelming sense of hatred for his mother. "Do you want to live with your Dad?" I whisper. He buries his head in his hands and nods. I lean forward on Finn's bed. "I'll make you a deal." He looks at me, and his eyes are red rimmed. "You tell me your father's name with your voice, and I'll find him for you."

He stares at me for the longest time, and starts to shake his head, and then looks down at his hands, and back up at me and then down at his hands again. Then, he looks back up at me, and his voice is barely above a whisper when he says, "It's Daniel Alexander Mellark."