Disclaimer: I love Suzanne Collins. She created these marvellous, Gorgeous Characters, and I feel privileged to be messing with them. I don't own them, never will and make no profit. Still love them though.

~ If you left an anonymous review - please check the authors note at the bottom of this chapter. I'm pretty sure there'll be a reply down there…

Hope you enjoy this one… : )

Of course, I only ask for three things - Read on, Enjoy, and REVIEW!!!

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It's short again, I know. It's a Katniss chapter though. They're usually short. I think I write Peeta better? What do youuu think?

Next update should be Thursday.

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Katniss

I managed to compose myself after about twenty minutes of just sitting there, crying, tears tracking down my face and my mother gently running her fingers down my spine, trying to calm me without encroaching too much on my pain.

"Are you alright, Katniss?" The voice stunned me, and I looked up to see my little sister looking at me, thoroughly confused. The look on her face pretty much summed up the confusion I felt in the pit of my stomach.

"Yes, Prim… well, I suppose so." I shrugged and sipped at the goat's milk she had set in front of me. It was warm, it must have been fresh.

"Are you sure?" She frowned slightly, reached out to touch my hand lightly and I jerked my fingers back from her skin, almost afraid to touch her. She made a noise, confused, and looked at me for a long minute. "What happened?" She had grown up a lot over the past month. I could see it in her eyes. She was small and slight still, her hair woven into a complicated braid that went all around her head and trailed down her back without even a moment's thought for the volume of ribbon it must have taken up.

"I kissed him." I managed to whimper, and she looked at me like I was a complete raving lunatic. "In public."

"Who, Peeta?" I nodded mutely and she burst out laughing.

"Wh-what's so funny? I don't see why you think this is-"

"Katniss. Katniss… you've been kissing him in public for the best part of a month." She managed to burst the words through giggles.

"B-but you don't understand… this was different-"

She looked at me like I was mad again, and I attempted to process the words, tried to put them in an order and work out what the hell was going on inside me before I opened my mouth. I swallowed awkwardly and shook my head.

"You don't understand. Don't worry." A pause, "Listen… it just…"

It just didn't make sense. I didn't know what I was doing… he was just standing there, and I couldn't stop myself. He was mine to play with, not hers to touch and prod and kiss when she wanted to. He had told the world he wanted me, and I couldn't help but… I needed him.

I wanted to spend time with him, to really get to know him, and I wanted to ignore everything else going on around us. I wanted it to be us.

I looked over at my sister, staring at her for a long minute as she held my gaze, then looked away. I breathed out and sighed, knowing my sudden disappearance had probably terrified Peeta and the others, but only caring that Peeta might be worried.

"I…" I looked at Prim and she was frowning lightly.

"Do you like him, Katniss?" She said, and I was struck by the innocence in her gaze. Didn't she understand I had been acting in the arena? Didn't she understand that everything was different now? That everything I had to feel then came naturally now?

Did I just-I couldn't… want him, could I?

"I… I think I do." I murmured, looking up into the doorway. No. No Peeta. Only the soft sheets of rain that would soak me on my way home.

… -x-x- …

The Last time You cried was…?

I'll update, if you review? How's that for a compromise? Can we have some words on my characterisation? I want some opinions… what do you want more of, less of… ?!

Xxx

A/N:2 - to my anonymous reviewers:

Ruerose: Gale would be the MOST ingenious villaiin ever… but hey, I've got ANOTHER day to wait for Catching Fire… this is ACTUALLY killing me, it's awful! I'm glad you loved the chapter, and I'll update ASAP! Love ya xxx

CiZzY!!!: Aww! Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it, and seriously, it's hard to think of your most-spontaneous move, isn't it? Haha I'll be updating soon, but I'm back at school from tomorrow, so …. Could take a while …. Hope you're enjoying! Xx

Jamika: Thank you for the critique! I'm so pleased you thought the boys' conversation was realistic, I did try and keep it sane… and of course it's a bonus for the ladies to want Peeta… it gave Katniss something to do, didn't it - ridiculous jealousy and ridiculous spontaneity… excellent combination : ) I think this chapter will have probably explained everything to you about Katniss, but yes, it was mainly embarrassment, fear and a lot of confusion - there was genuine feeling behind this kiss, whereas the others had been… for show, shall we say? I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'll update soon, hope to hear from you again… (with more fantastic con-crit?) Love ya xxx

Nairobi: Ingenious use of Motherf.. Traffic! Love it, thoroughly, and brilliant! I'm glad you love the chapter, and you know I live for cliffies, they are like the life and soul of the party : ), hope to hear from you again (I'll reply to your email in a few minutes) xxx