So...short-ish chapter But i think some good things happen lol. Anyway I wanted to thank the anonymous reviewers, I normally message back to thank the reviewers but since i can't message you guys I'll thank you here...THANK YOU =D. PS: STILL LOVE REVIEWS


Chapter 8: Games

Katniss POV:

The room is rapidly spinning and that sickening nausea that I felt when Effie called up Prim's name. "No… Why…Peeta." My eyes dart across the room, I don't know what I'm looking for but my body just can't stand still. Peeta just stares at the counter his face bright red with rage. Prim's sad expression remains constant. My mother busies herself with returning all the medical supplies to their proper place.

My body can't keep up with my brain, so many shadows are reemerging. I see Rue, curled in the floor; I see a bloodied, mutilated Cato, and a deformed Glimmer. Why would they do this, they who brought down the Capitol? I take hold of Peeta's hands and lead him out of the kitchen. Without realizing what I'm doing I lead him out of my house and into his. I sit him in the couch in his living room. I start a small flame in the fireplace to dispel the crippling cold that plagues his empty house. I settle next to Peeta unsure of what to say. My entire world is in disarray and he's the only other person who knows how I feel.

"When are they doing the reaping?" I manage to whisper breathlessly. "In a month, but it's not what you think Katniss."

"What do you mean?" he looks at me with a weak smile on his face. "She's safe Katniss, Prim is safe she can't be chosen for this because…because they are going to use only Capitol children."

My body relaxes slightly, but only momentarily. The idea of it just being Capitol children sickens me. "She's safe?" I ask him again, scared that I heard him wrong. "Yeah Katniss she's safe…"

"But they're still no better. Those kids…they didn't do anything wrong either. You should have seen the report. That woman was so cold."

"Woman?" I ask curiously. "President Coin…" he says with disdain in his voice. "It seems she was the head of the rebellion so she naturally took hold of the country. She's just another monster that rose to power. You should have seen her Katniss, she spoke without emotion. She wasn't any different Katniss; her eyes were so much like his." His voice is shaky and he clenches his fists, causing his bandages to become bloodied once again. I take his hands in mine. "Stop ok…look what you're doing to your bandages. How did this happen." I say as I pass my hands softly on top of the bandages.

"When I saw the report…I didn't know what to do with myself." He looks away and blush a little. "It's stupid…I just I lost it, I punched the television. But the glass nicked my arm." I looked at him surprised; I forget that even Peeta's controlled temperament has its limits. "Does it hurt?" he shakes his head. "Not right now, Prim and your mother are amazing aren't they?" I nod.

"When I was watching the report…she mentioned the games and I just thought of Prim…Katniss even if it's not her…those kids, why would they keep that hell…how is that justice." His words bring tears to my eyes. "I know Peeta, I know." For the first time I see his composure falter. I pull his head into my chest.

We stay like that for a while, his breath on my chest is calming. I take his hair in my fingers and for a minute I remember the kiss on the train.

"Peeta?" he looks up at me. "I don't' want to see it again. I just can't." he nods confidently. "We don't have to."

"Ok" I say and lean in for a kiss.

Peeta POV:

I feel my heart beating faster and my hands becoming clammier. I see her face moving closer to me and I reciprocate the gesture. I've wanted this to happen so much since the train, to be honest I didn't really feel that it counted that night I was drunk, it felt more like she did it to shut me up. Maybe she did. It doesn't matter though, all I can think of is right now.

My senses seem to be superhuman at the moment, her motions are slow, her sent is aromatic, all the colors of her being are jumping at me, pleasuring my mind. I feel her breath, staggered, as it reaches my lips, but right before they meet her eyes twist in confusion. My euphoria comes crashing down as she pulls away sharply. All I can do to hide my disappointment is look away. The comfort of her arms around me fades and becomes awkward.

"I'm sorr—"

"Don't…" I interrupt her sharply. "Let's just not talk about it ok."

I meet her eyes shyly and she nods. Instead we sit side by side in silence, taking comfort in knowing that we are both equally lost.

"What does she look like?" she says, the sound of her voice picking a bit of momentum. "President Coin I mean."

"She must be in her fifty's I think, she has this silver hair that falls neatly down to the top of her shoulders. But her face, I can't really say much, she's expressionless to me…maybe not expressionless but cold. Like if she's calculating everything." I look to see if she understands me and I see she's nodding.

"She was the one that decided on the games?"

"I'm not sure, she didn't really specify, and I doubt she would take the credit. I don't think most will approve. But at this point I don't think we have a choice." I feel a rough dryness on my throat. "You want something to drink?"

She rubs her throat slightly and nods. I guess the news affected her the same way. Or maybe it was our near kiss.

"Orange juice fine?" I say as I start to rise and head to the kitchen. I don't hear a response, but I've learned to understand her silence. In the kitchen I fill to glasses half way with orange juice. I struggle to carry the second glass though; I've become terribly aware of the cuts in my arm. The bandages on my knuckles become lightly bloodied. When I hand Katniss the glass she takes notice of my hand. "You really punched the television?" her question makes me chuckle for some reason. "Yeah…I did" I don't know if it's the pain in my hand or the awkwardness of the situation but I just laugh. Katniss looks at me with a questioning look. But I don't say anything I just laugh. "What?" she says, a smile spreading on her face? I still don't answer; the laughter is growing, wracking my body and causing me to collapse. I sit off the couch and settle on the floor. The smile that sprouted on her lips expands to a blooming grin. "Peeta what is it…" her voice shakes, making me laugh harder, my body falling on the floor. "Wh—" she can't hold it in anymore and she just begins to laugh wildly along with me.

For minutes we just laugh. When I can no longer breathe it finally subsides. I lay flat on the floor and look up at the couch to see her body collapsed on the couch, her arms draping off the edge to the floor. All laughter subsides.

"You and Gale…" I say, causing my heartbeat to quicken, I know I shouldn't ask, especially after all that is going on, but I refuse to let the moment we just had go. "Are you still together?" her expression becomes serious.

"Is this about that night? I told you he kissed me." I smile at her. "That still doesn't answer my question."

I see a small amount of frustration decorate her face. "Why are you asking me Peeta." Her voice sounds pained. "Why did you pull away? Him right?" She takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry you don't really have to answer. It's just me being selfish I guess." I say scared that my boldness will push her away.

"We're not together…me and Gale. We never really have been." I move my body back and lean against the couch allowing my head to drape backwards and rest near hers on the couch. I stare at the ceiling. "Still, I always felt guilty when I was with you, on camera I mean." I start to regret my question.

"He told me he loves me…" I feel her eyes on the side of my head; I turn to meet her gaze. "I figured." I say, a feeling of terror spreading through my body. "I think I knew too, at least once we got back from the games, he acted different towards me."

"Then why aren't you with him?" her expression twists into something I can't quite recognize, I imagine my face must be twisting in a similar manner. "Do you want me to?" I don't answer. "I love him too, he's really important to me." Her words burn through me. "Yeah…I figured that too." I start to shift my head, trying to break eye contact but she places her hands on my face, effectively stopping me. "Don't do that…I…he's like my brother, he's someone that has been my support for so long."

"Where does that leave me?" I feel strange being so direct with her. "I don't know…" she doesn't move her hands from my face. "When he kissed me…" she pauses to collect her thoughts. "It doesn't feel right." I feel a nervous wave bubbling in my gut. "What about with me?" she blushes. "You asked me something similar when you were drunk." She says, removing her hand from my face and shifting hers. I place my hand on her face preventing her from doing so. "I don't remember that." She smiles awkwardly, "that's because you were asleep when I answered."

"So tell me now…" her eyes shift nervously towards the ceiling. I turn around and get on my knees so I can position my face over hers. I look deeply into her nervous eyes and they calm down. I inch down towards her face, giving her enough time to pull away if she felt the need to. She doesn't, she just stares into my eyes. I stop just millimeters from her lips, giving her the final chance to pull away. When she doesn't I settle my lips gently on top of hers. The feeling is amazing, it always is for me. The warmth of her lips is more than satisfying. Her hands slowly travel to my face, and for a moment I'm scared that she will push me away. But she doesn't, she cups my cheeks.

It takes all my will not to lose control. I take her bottom lip in between mine and caress them gently. She does the same to my upper lip. My hands feel incredibly bold, but I know they don't have permission to be, instead I settle them on her face, pulling away for only a second to gather air.

Her intensity increases, she entwines her hands in my hair pulling it painfully but the feeling is still exhilarating. I feel the pull of her hands as she drags my body down towards hers. At first I'm scared that I'm misunderstanding her, but when she pulls the back of my shirt towards her I gain confidence.

Reluctantly I start to climb on the couch, careful not to lose balance due to my prosthetic leg, and fearful that maybe this is something we'll regret. My body is hovering on top of hers and I feel my lips throbbing. The heat of her body is comforting, beckoning me to explore it. She kisses my neck, sending a warm wave down my spine. I let out a staggered sigh. Her hands travel across my back, digging roughly into it every time my lips meet hers. Our bodies gain momentum together, swaying and swooning. I can't believe this is happening; the last we shared something this intense was in my sweetest dreams.

It escalates dangerously fast, soft kisses turn into rough passionate ones, shy hands grow bold. When her hands reach the buttons of my shirt, it snaps me out of the haze. I place my forehead against hers. "Katniss" I whisper softly. She looks into my eyes, hers clouded with passion. "Stop" she looks at me disappointedly and I curse myself internally for stopping a moment like this. "Why? Is something wrong?" I let out a breathy chuckle. "No, it's perfect…but it's not right."

"Why?" she says again, this time worry lacing her voice. "I told you I'm not with Gale." I hold back a smile. "I just want a moment like this to be when you have a clear head ok. A lot has happened; I want you to be sure." She nods reluctantly. "Come to dinner ok?" I smile, and before I answer he pulls me in for a soft kiss. "Don't be late." I nod again, the ecstasy diffusing from my lips into my brain.

I watch her as she slowly rises from the couch and walks to the door, before leaving she gives me a look that lulls me into a soft kiss. "Are you going to regret this later?" I ask her. "I don't think so." She says playfully. I smile and close the door softly as she leaves, walk to the couch and collapse from happiness. I'm going to have to make amazing bread today.

Katniss POV:

As I walk to my house I can't help but smile, my lips are still tingling, my legs feel weak, and my heart is racing.

"Katniss?" I hear Prim's soft voice the second I enter the house. "Yeah!" I yell shakily. Prim peaks out of the kitchen. "Hey…how are you feeling."

"Good." I say much to quickly and with a smile on my face. She gives me a concerned look. "And Peeta?"

"He's fine too, why…." I realize what she means and quickly answer. "Oh yeah, he might need you guys to replace his bandages, he started to bleed a little."

"Is he going to eat here today?" I smile to myself. "Yeah. I told him to." Suddenly a thought crosses my mind. Do they mind having him here? "Prim?" she meets my eyes. "Do you mind having Peeta here for dinner so often?" she shakes her head. "Not me, I like Peeta." I'm glad to hear that but I had another person in mind. "Do you think mom minds?" Prim shakes her head smiling. "No, she likes him too actually. She said he's good company." I fail to hold back my smile. "Oh that good to hear."

Prim nods, but gives me a quizzical look. "Oh I before I forget, Gale left but he said he'd come back later to check up on you. I think he might be coming to dinner." The smile falls from my face. A new thought surges through my brain, will this undo the progress I just made with Peeta?