HI EVERYONE! GUESS WHAT? I HAVE MY MICROSOFT BACK! AND, HERE IS CHAPTER 10! I see some of you might have noticed that it said I updated 'Unfolding Scars' already today, but here is what happened. I noticed that chapter 3 and 4 were the same and realized that I didn't post what was supposed to be chapter 4. So if I were you guys, I would go read chapter 4, because it is kind of important about Peeta. So to get chapter 4 in the right place, I had to delete chapters 5-9 then post them back after but then I lost my views I had for those chapters. So from being 8 viewers away from 1,600, I am now back down to 1,420. Help change that please? ;)
Anyway, in hope for you all forgiving me, I gave you the longest chapter yet! Enjoy sugarcubes ;)

*Note: At some point, go read chapter 4*

-Peeta P.O.V-

Minutes' Notice

Before I could object, there is a clicking noise that goes off once, indicating that Dr. Aurelius hung up. My body slugs against the curve of the counter, the dead sound of the telephone still ringing against my ear. Katniss comes into view, her mouth moving but I can't hear any words come out. By her body structure and face expression she asked me a question, but my body is paralyzed, not moving a muscle nor letting anything such as a croak come out through my lips.

He face suddenly contorts into a whirlpool of concern and anger. She then comes up to me and tares the telephone out of my grasp and viciously presses buttons. Without her saying anything, I know she is calling back Dr. Aurelius to yell at him.

Breaking out of my stance, I plush the telephone out of her grasp and press down on the 'end' button. Katniss is about to snap at me but freezes when she sees my face. She steps toward me with her hands outstretched, then hesitates, as if weighing her options. After a second's hesitation, she gently enfolds her hands around each of my wrists and holds them between us, "Peeta, what happened?"

"Delly and Randy…" I whisper, trying to find my voice, "They're wounded…hurt…in the hospital. Randy…is going to go to the mental…institution section…poor boy is probably traumatized. Delly is…Delly is going to come back here…to 12."

"What? How did they get injured? Are they going to be okay?" Concern rises in Katniss' voice, which only makes mine tremble more.

"I- I don't know! I- I'm still trying to p- process everything myself. Dr. Aurelius said t- that he would s- send a letter with more information shortly."

Katniss' eyes look solemn, "Peeta, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be asking you questions. But you need to calm down before you have an episode, okay?"

Knowing she is right, I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, "You're right. You are absolutely right. I just," I take another deep breath, "need to calm down."

Letting out my breath, I look down at Katniss' hands gently wrapped around my wrists. She hasn't attempted to touch me in any sort of comforting way. As if she knows what I am thinking about, she let's go of my wrists and walks over to the pot on the oven, "Did I do this okay?"

I walk over to the pot and try to focus on the new task, "Katniss you put vegetables in a pot and mixed it together, it's perfect."

"Great, call me chef," Katniss mumbles.

"Alright, Chef Everdeen," I chuckle while doing a solute.

"I was joking," Katniss laughs then playfully punches my shoulder.

I take advantage of her good mood and continue, "Hey, no violence in my kitchen! I'm going to have to escort you out now.

I pick Katniss up by the waist and start to walk towards the living room to dispatch her onto the couch when she starts to wiggle in my grasp and knocks me against the counter with her back against my chest. We both laugh so has that my body slides down against the counter, Katniss back still against my chest. While we laugh, our eyes meet and then we both stop laughing.

Before I could stop myself, I plant a kiss on Katniss; lips. She freezes for a moment then slowly sinks into me. Just as that happens though, the broth in the pot starts to boil. If I had it my way, I would have ignored the food completely and let it boil over, but Katniss jumps up, as if just realizing what she has done, and runs over to the stove to tries to shut off the fire but only turns it higher.

"I- I'm sorry," Katniss stampers, slowly walking towards the front door, "I didn't mean to. I just…can't." She sighs hen escapes through my front door.

At that moment I realized that there is no feeling worse than sitting on the suddenly freezing kitchen floor with splatters of beef stew flying askew and the empty feeling of the woman I love shrink away from my life.

-Katniss P.O.V-

What just happened? What just happened! Why did I just do that? Why did I open up to him, even if it was just a little? I'm so stupid! But why did I stop, though? Come on Katniss, you can't say you didn't like it at least a little; it was fun, having my guard down and not trying to hold it up all the time. But what was it? It was his eyes! That's what it was, his eyes. When the pot started going off and I saw his eyes, how they got rounder and shades darker, as if he was hungry for me. Something I am not willing to give.

"Who would have thought that intimacy could run the magnificent Mockingjay mad? If only President Snow had known that; would have saved him time, money, and you know, his life. Don't forget man power." Haymitch's sneer interrupts my thoughts.

"What are you talking about?" I grit my teeth together, secretly hoping Haymitch is too drunk and or lazy to pay attention and catch my terrible lying.

"You didn't realize you were complaining aloud did you? Ha," Haymitch snorts, "And you thought I was the one in a mental state."

What? I didn't even realize I was speaking aloud, "I messed up, didn't I?"

Haymitch strides over to the couch, of my living room, next to me and lowers himself down into the cushion. I expected him to say something along the lines of being around Peeta was a terrible decision or how being in Peeta's life is bad for our health but what he says catches me off guard.

"It seems as if you're always breaking the boys heart now; it looks like a new hobby for you."

"What did you just say?"

"Don't play stupid, it's not attractive,"

"Haymitch!" I snap, restraining myself from throwing the table-side lamp against his temple.

"All I'm saying is…" Haymitch pauses and freezes his face, as if in though, then says, "You would still listen to your dear old mentor for advice, right?" I nod.

"Well then here's some advice: That boy two doors down saved you a numerous amounted of times, now it's your turn to be selfless and save him."

"Save Peeta from what?" I question, putting enfaces on Peeta's name.

"From himself," Haymitch state plainly.

With a grunt, he gets up from the couch and truds to the front door. He opens it then pauses when he is between the threshold, "And one more piece of advice for you: listen to your heart and not your brain."

"What's wrong with my brain?" I ask wearily.

"It's been hit with too many cannons," and with that, he leaves, closing the door behind him.

What does that mean? Before I have any time to try to figure it out, the doorbell rings.

Walking to the door, I yell, "Haymitch if you came back here to tell me more of your 'life saving advice', I would leave if I were you before I stick a freshly pointed arrow up your-" I pause once I swing back the door to find Thom standing in the doorway, pouch of arrows over his shoulder and plastic bowl in his hands.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why hello to you too, Ms. Everdeen. It is a pleasure to see you." Thom attempts to speak with a District 5 accent, though I don't know where he got the choice of words from.

"Sorry, I'm still a little boiled from Haymitch," I apologize weakly, distracted by a heated and spiced smell.

"Well then you should be glad I stopped by. I was heading to the woods, Sae needs some game; you could let off some steam and help."

Thinking about it, I haven't been in the woods since Peeta had come back. Sae has helped me more than enough and I haven't done anything for her in return. This is why Peeta had every citizen of Panem wrapped around his finger, I think to myself, he automatically does good for others, while I, however, am selfish. It feels as if I am always in debt for others, someone helping me, and me giving a small nod and thank you, trying to leave as quickly as possible. Now-a-days a squirrel or rabbits feet isn't good enough for a trade, considering the new deals that Panem has to offer. On top of that, anyone is allowed in the woods now; 'The Nature Preserve Law' as Plutarch calls it.

"That would be more productive than smashing a table-side lamp against his head. I'll just go put on my boots." I say, moving out of the doorway so Thom can come inside.

He walks in and strides over to the kitchen, taking a seat and plucking a Capitol apple from the twig woven bowl, "What do you want me to do with this?" He thrusts the plastic bowl into the air, whatever's inside is making a swishing noise.

Once I grab my hiking boots that were once my fathers, I sit on the armchair of the couch, lifting my left foot and placing it in the boot. The backs of both boots have rolled up socks stuck against them so the boots won't be as big. Effie tried to talk me into buying Capitol Couture boots, but I objected right away. Her type of Capitol Couture boots are shoe's Capital citizens would call wedges; which are in no shape for the woods. "What's in it?" The smell that came across my nose comes back, making me sniff the air, "It smells good."

"Don't know," Thom places the bowl onto the table while taking a chunk of apple into his mouth, "It was on your doorstep. I thought about taking it and eating it for myself, but I'm what people call 'a gentlemen.'"

Laughing at the thought of him attempting to be a gentlemen, I suggest, "Well here's a ravishing idea. How about you open the lid from the bowl and check what's in it?" I slip on the other shoe and tie them in triple-knots so they stay on better. The sole of the left boot still has a soggy sense to it from when I stood in a puddle around a year ago, while the sole on the right boot is ripped to the point where I have debated of just taking it off and putting animal skin on it instead.

Thom places the apple between his teeth, which causes juice to drip from his mouth, so he can open the tightly placed lid. Once the lid is off, an aroma of spices, vegetables, and fresh meat floats through the room. Thom places the lid on the table and peeks into the bowl, "Looks like some type of stew." He swirls the bowl a little, "Beef stew."

Before I could even say who it was, Thom asks, "Why would Peeta just leave beef stew on your doorstep? Why not just knock on the door and hand it to you?"

"Who says it was Peeta who placed it there?" I blurt out before I could stop myself. There is no point in hiding anything from Thom; it feels as if he took place for Gale. Only partly. I could never open up to anyone like I had to Gale.

"Well it wasn't Sae because she doesn't have enough meat for this much stew, and I'm pretty sure Haymitch doesn't have a crush on you, so…" Thom trails off.

"Fine, say if it was from Peeta, but what does it matter?" I realize that I am holding up a shield when there is no point in it.

"Someone's on their period, I see," Thom mumbles, turning his face towards the corner wall.

Before I could object, Thom stands up, stretching his legs, "We should get going before sundown. Most of the animals have been out around this time-a-day for the past couple of months."

"Let's go, then," I grab my hunting jacket from the coat hanger and open the door again, leaving before Thom can follow.

I hear the refrigerator open then shut, I guess that he put the beef stew in it so it won't spoil. Even though I don't wait and stop, I hear his footsteps coming closer, jogging to catch up to me. Once he reaches me, he slows his pace, his feet falling in step with mine.

"Does Sae have anything in particular?" I ask, trying to figure out in my head what animals I should keep my eye out for.

"Just her usual: squirrels and rabbits, a deer if we can get our hands on one. I think she wanted to try something new, but she needs a bit of deer in it."

"It's a week until summer, if there's deer, odds are they will be where water flows," I point out. Thom does not know about the lake, nor does anyone else in District 12; only my father and Gale. The lake is far into the woods, so Thom usually stays around close enough to the fence that if someone ever needs him, he can come back just as quickly.

Once we get to the fence, Thom opens the gate and moves to the left, letting me walk in first. He then follows, closing the gate behind him. "Let's head towards the north-west trail then, maybe we can have some luck at the stream."

We walk silently towards an oak tree where I have stashed my bow and arrow, picking it up and throwing it over my shoulder gratefully. The weight of the pouch of arrows feels weightless to me from over the years of carrying it.

"So what's going on with you and The Muffin Man?" Thom asks curiously, his eyes roaming the forest floor.

"Nothing," I snap, then ask, "The Muffin Man?"

"Yeah, you know, he's a baker, odds are he makes muffins, too. And from how quickly your twig broke when I asked that question, it sounds like a little something something is going on."

"I have no problem shooting an arrow through your foot," I warn, "Besides," I sigh, "Nothing is going on. He is just doing a better job at being himself after everything he went through and I'm still the selfish girl from the Hunger Games."

"You are the last person I would think is selfish. Would a selfish person attempt to eat Nightlock to save someone's life? Would a selfish person save everyone around Panem? Would a selfish person risk her life for children to end the Hunger Games? No. So shut up and realize that you are not selfish." Thom says honestly.

Seeing a rabbit out of the corner of my eye, I slowly extend my arm behind me and take an arrow out of the pouch, placing it into the bow and pulling the string back. I take a deep breath and close one of my eyes, aiming to shoot its frost-blue eye.

"Everything the Capitol said about you and Peeta was and still is not true, is it?" He asks all of a sudden, causing me to lose focus and let go of the string. The arrow flies and lands pointed up in front of the rabbit, causing it to scurry into a nearby burrow.

"Damn you Thom!" I yell, jogging over to pick up the arrow.

Turning back to him I sigh, "No none of it was true. We weren't star cross lovers. We weren't engaged or planning to get married. We weren't having a baby. None of it was true!" I look down at my boots, using one shoe to flick dirt off the other.

"But you wanted some of it to be true,"

"Are we going to hunt or what?" I snap once again, turning on my heel and walking towards the north-west stream.

We don't talk for the rest of the way, though it doesn't count as an awkward silence. On the way, we kill a family of squirrels and a rabbit. We slow our walking once the stream is in sight, quieting our footsteps. Three deer's are drinking from the stream, their backs towards us. Thom and I don't look at each other to try to see which deer each of us are getting, knowing that at any moment one of the deer's could sense us and run away. We both lift our bow and arrows and shoot, both of our arrows going into the same deer.

"Shit," Thom grunts when the two other deer's start to run away. I know they will be heading to the lake where it is safe, which is just what I did not want them to do. Thom starts to run after the deer at full speed. I don't want him finding the lake because if he does, he will be there all the time hunting the animals, also he would tell everyone else at District 12 that it is there. Before I could stop myself I shout, "Thom no!"

Thom cranes his neck, slowing his speed, "What do you mean 'no'? Two perfectly good deer are running in that direction and we should be following them!"

Trying to think of an excuse, I whimper, "Please I…I can't go farther into the woods. Since I brought up the Games, the woods is terrifying me right now. Please, can we just grab the deer we have and go back to the fence?"

"Head back to the fence, I'll meet you back there in 20," Thom says, starting to run again, but freezes when I make my voice sound vulnerable.

"Thom please…I- I don't want to be alone," The last part is true, I realize after I say it. I don't want to be alone.

If it was anyone else, Thom would have just left, but it's me and he somehow has a hard time saying no to me. He looks back at where the deer's had run off too, then walks back to me, "Alright, lets grab the deer and head off to Greasy Sae's."

With a sigh of relief, we walk back over to the deer and take hold of it. With me holding the front end and Thom holding the back, we make a good pace back towards the fence. Once we get back to the fence, I let go of the neck of the deer with one hand to open the gate and then close it once Thom and I are through.

We walk silently towards the Hob, hoping not many people will be out and in our way when we try to bring the deer into Greasy Sae's. When we pass by Victors Village, I note that all of Peeta's lights are off; he must have went to the Hob, too. My brain tells me that I shouldn't go to the Hob anymore incase we see each other, but my heart is telling me that I should go and purposely try to find him. I shake the thought out of my head, reminding me of Haymitch's advice.

When Victors Village comes to view, Thom and I notice that many people are out and about. "Well that's great, how are we supposed to get through easily with a deer, game, and sharp weapons without either scaring people or hitting them?" Thom complains.

"They'll move for us, most of them at least," I say, trying to keep my eyes from looking for Peeta.

"Come on," Thom commands.

We both walk into the Hob, maneuvering the deer around so it won't touch other District 12 citizens. There is around two to four Peacekeepers in District 12, who station themselves at different sections around the Hob. The point for having Peacekeepers is just to make sure that everything is being built correctly and to keep an eye on a few people who yet to recover mentally. One of them, Nmet I think, stands at the beginning of the Hob, where the bakery used to stand. She looks at us with curious eyes, then goes back to looking at the other citizens. Almost everyone moves out-of-the-way for us, only a few kids standing in place, some looking at the deer in awe and some looking at it with frightened expressions. Right before we walk into Greasy Sae's a golden dot catches my eye. I know that golden hair from anywhere.

Sae's building is not as packed as outside, though it's more people for our liking. We walk through the tables and behind the counter, placing the deer on the kitchen counter. Sae walks out from behind the corner and smiles once she sees us, "Thom you brought Katniss; how are you doing, Katniss?"

"I'm better," I look down, trying to get all the attention off of me. As if Thom knows what I'm thinking, he coughs and tilts his head towards the deer.

"Well look at that, you got a deer! I didn't think you would be able to catch one, what with this weather." Sae smiles.

Thom and I put the deer down on the kitchen counter and Thom takes off his pouch on his back that holds his arrows; we put the rest of the game in there since I forgot my game bag at home.

"You two are wonderful, thank you. I was almost out on all my game, but this should hold up this old building for some time." Sae thanks.

"No problem, Sae. Anytime you need me, just yell for me and I'll be here," Thom tells Sae.

"Me too, it's the least I could do. You helped me when you didn't need to." I add, feeling guilty.

"Thank you, I will keep that in mind," Sae tells both of us. She then yells for Ryun to fetch up the deer and take it into the back to be skinned and chopped.

Thom and I say goodbye to Sae and walks back towards the crowds of people in the Hob.

After Thom and I went separate ways from the Hob, I went home. The beef stew that Peeta dropped off is gone, eaten in the matter of two hours. After taking a shower and putting my hair in a lazy braid, I tuck myself tightly in my bed, even though the heat is making it barely bearable. Sleep quickly starts to catch at the corners of my eyes and before I know it, I'm fast sleep.

The Cornucopia burns the soles of my feet. Looking down, I notice I am barefoot, wearing the clothes I wore in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Every tribute that was in the Games stand on the forest floor below me in a line, Peeta, Rue, Cato, and Thresh in the center of the line. I look at Peeta in confusion, about to ask him what's going on when my head suddenly snaps all the way to the left where Glimmer stands. She goes rigid, then her body falls dead to the ground. She's dead. A cannon goes off. Then next in line, Clove, mimics the same motions. Cannon. The same thing happens to Marvel, Foxface, District 3 tribute, District 4 tribute, all down the left of the line and all down the right. Cannon…Cannon…Cannon…Cannon.

All that stands left is Peeta who was dead center. I reach out for him, but my feet feel as if they are molded into the Cornucopia, not being able to move. I scream out for him but it's too late. His body goes rigid, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. His leg buckles while his prostatic leg breaks in half. He falls sideways, having a series of spasms on the floor before blood pours out of his mouth and he goes still. Cannon…

I'm then suddenly on the beach of the Quarter Quell, stands in the sand while everyone from these Games stand in a line in the ocean. Peeta, Finnick, and Mags in the center of the line. The first of the line, Brutus, stands frozen, then is taken down into the water. Cannon. I don't know if they are drowning or if something under the water is killing them, but I hope I don't find out. The same goes on for everyone else Cashmere, Seeder, Enobaria, Cecelia, everyone. Cannon…cannon…cannon…cannon.

Finnick and Mags are the next to go, which feels as if they ripped a piece of my heart with them. Two cannons. And once again Peeta is left standing, staring at me as if he is not about to die. And then he's down.
…Cannon.

I'm then alone on the beach, all their bodies coming to the top of the water and floating. My brain is telling me to go out there and try to save every one of them, to go out there and drown myself, but though my heart aches, it's telling me that it was the easiest way for them to go. My heart has the right idea, but my brain has the idea that makes me selfish by killing myself and gives me anxiety.

With a jolt, my eyes flash open and I am once again on my bed. I then realized what Haymitch's advice meant, and how useful it is.

I crane my head to the right, the clock says 5:42. Jumping out of the bed, I take two steps towards the dresser and pull out a blue button up dress and an undergarment. After I brush my hair and put it in its usual braid, I throw shoes on and practically run out of the house, across the lawn, to Peeta's front door. I knock on the door three times, not realizing until after the fact that he might be fast asleep. Though sometimes I am wrong, for he answers the door not a moment later, standing in the middle of the threshold. His eyes lighten up at first when he sees me, then as if memory ran back into his brain, his eyes sulk. I note that he has flour here and there across his rosy cheeks, hair, and clothes, and the house smells of numerous kinds of bread. He must have been up a while.

"Katniss…" Is all Peeta gets out before I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. He stumbles back, surprised, and wraps his arms around me, moving back into his house and kicking the door shut behind him.

When we stop kissing to catch our breaths, I apologize, "Peeta…I'm so sorry. I keep hurting you and hurting you, and I don't even realize that I do it."

"Katniss it's okay, you're here now and that's all that matters," A small smile spreads across Peeta's face and we kiss again, but it only lasts a minute when the door suddenly opens and Delly walks though, luggage in hand. She beams and looks as if she is about to greet Peeta until she sees both of us, then her jaw drops.

So, what did you think? Can you forgive me? Pretty please? I really hope you all enjoyed our chapter 10! Could you all help me out and tell me if this is all going to slow? To fast? Just the right pace? And what do you want to happen next, because I have a few things but then again I have no clue. Please follow Unfolding Scars and Review please, I would really appreciate it!
See you all soon Sugarcubes