Peeta walks me to my front porch and gives me a quick kiss goodbye on the cheek. I can see Haymitch in his front yard throwing feed on the ground to the new pets he acquired.

I can feel his pair of prying eyes burning a hole in my skull. As soon as Peeta is out of ears shot Haymitch yells to me.

"What the hell was that?"

"None of your damn business feed your ducks." I yell back.

"Geese! They're geese, and you're not getting out of answering that question Sweetheart."

I wave at him dismissively and I enter my house locking the door behind me. I don't know what to do with myself. I feel like I'm filled with a million bubbles and they're all ready to burst. I start to clean the house and then decide to make myself some food and turn on the TV. I usually never use the thing but my mom mentioned that her hospital's grand opening was going to be televised on the evening news so I thought I might catch a glimpse of her. I miss my mom, surprisingly so considering I distanced myself from her for so long.

Instead of the news I catch the tail end of a gossip show produced by Plutarch. A woman with glowing green hair narrates a series of video clips from last night's Independence Gala. They show Peeta's speech along with some unflattering photos of me looking distant and stern .Everyone else looks so happy including Haymitch who attempts to stage dive into a crowd of unsuspecting guest and then passes out cold on the dance floor. So that's how Peeta ended up babysitting him last night. Thank you Haymitch, I think to myself. The reporter interrupts my thoughts.

"Heartthrob Peeta Mellark and Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen seemed very distant last night. It seems like the sparks between the Star Crossed Lovers is fizzling but don't you worry about our favorite baker Panem. He seemed to have his hands full with a new lady love."

A picture of Paisley flirtatiously playing with Petta's tie flashes on the screen and I feel a sudden flush of anger. I quickly turn off the TV and walk to the phone. I dial Peeta's number and he picks up immediately.

"Hello." Peeta answers.

"I have a request, no a demand. If we're going to do…whatever it is we're doing."

"Okay." He says tentatively.

"I don't want Paisley anywhere near you."

Peeta's laughing at me. "You were watching TV weren't you. Katniss you should know better."

"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I can't stand that annoying, slutty…"

"Whoa killer! Okay I promise no Paisley….What about her friends?" He's messing with me now and I only find it mildly funny.

"I'm hanging up on you ."

"Kidding. I'm kidding you know that right?" he laughs.

"Good bye." I hang up the phone. I was going to call back and let him know I'm not mad but the thought of letting him squirm a little appeals to me more.

Over the next couple of months I busy myself with getting my life in order .I didn't realize how much I had let it go of things. I had piles of mail to sort through; weeds to pull in the garden, and the Memories book hadn't been written in since we wrote about Madge. I spend time with Peeta once a week. I keep asking him to stay the night after dinner or walks or whatever meaningless task it is we come up with to spend time together but he is sticking to the "normal" courtship rules he has in his head and it's driving me crazy.

As I'm sorting through my mail I open a letter stating that Dr. Aurelius has been relieved of his duties as my court mandated psychiatrist. I guess someone discovered his tendency to sleep on the job and put a minimal effort into his work. I'm getting a new head doctor Dr. Soie, she's a woman and we will be having face to face counseling sessions. I cannot understand why any doctor would agree to travel all the way to district 12 and meet with me meet once a month. This means no more 5 minute phone conversations .I'll actually have to bear my soul to a person who's sitting in the same room. The thought makes me anxious and miserable.

"I hate strangers." I tell Peeta over the phone.

"You never know maybe you'll like her. At least give her a chance before you decide you despise her."

I know he's right but I'm still not happy about the situation. Given the meetings are court mandated I really don't have much of a choice. So when my appointment comes around I reluctantly walk to meet Dr. Soie at her office in town. As I walk through the streets I'm amazed at how much they've changed. I've been in such a depressed haze the last few years I didn't notice how different my home looked. The new shop fronts and street lights make everything look cleaner. The streets have been paved and there's no sign of the gray ash left over from the bombings. I can feel my spirits lift a little higher at the thought of a fresh start.

Soon I reach the office building and knock apprehensively. As Dr. Soie opens the door to the office I'm immediately set a back. Maybe it's the soft brown hair or her calm demeanor, no it's her eyes it's definitely her eyes. They're green with small specks of gold in them and you can see the kindness that lingers in the soul behind them. She's the spitting image of Cinna.