I'm extremely apologetic for not updating for the past twenty billion centuries (an obvious exaggeration, it's been about three months, which is also a lot). This chapter is in Peeta's POV and it is the second last chapter before the epilogue.

Peeta's POV

As I sat holding the slender hand of my true love, I felt happier than any other being, mortal or otherwise.

Hmm, that would have been a great line for a fiction novel.

But seriously, I felt happier than ever holding Katniss's hand during English class, even though the rest of the class stared at us incredulously and professor Heavensbee kept sneaking furtive glances in our direction and muttering to himself to visit his therapist about hallucinations.

The only dark hole in my ultra huge galaxy of joy was the fact that I had achieved my success by going against the sacred book. It was not a sin, but it made me doubt the power of the book. But the book could not lie! It was the eternal truth, and the author, Iman. , was the modern day equivalent of Buddha in terms of advice, wasn't he?

The thoughts continued to swirl in my brain as the bell rang and Katniss and I made our way to the cafeteria for lunch.

As I ate my father's special turkey-cranberry-ketchup sandwich which happened to be my favourite, I looked at the guys. The expression on their faces mirrored mine. I looked into Finnick's eyes and, by the telepathic communication that we all shared; I knew that he and all the others shared the same fears as I did.

"Umm Madge," said Gale, hesitantly. Madge looked up from the remains of her lunch of carrot sticks and diet soda and dropped the cupcake she had been unwrapping. ( Madge's theory, apparently, was that if she ate nothing but carrot sticks and diet coke for lunch she could reward herself with dessert. She had read about a girl in a chick lit who practiced that and found the idea rather appealing).

"What?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in an unnerving and almost feline way which clearly said 'I don't care if you are my boyfriend how dare you disturb me during my few minutes of bliss'.

"Uh, I forgot my atlas in the library and we have geography in another ten minutes so, um, could you do me a favour and get it for me? Please." asked Gale making a puppy dog face. "And how about all you other girls accompany her!"

It wasn't exactly the smoothest lie and the girls could definitely smell a rat but they got up and went away silently. They probably had something to discuss as well.

"Well, what should we do?" asked Marvel once the girls were far away.

"I just don't know!" Finnick exclaimed on the verge of tears. He had found the book in his brother's trash when he was eleven and had proudly retrieved it and brought it to school to show us the next day and we had placed all our faith in the book ever since. The idea of it being phony was horrifying enough to us, I couldn't imagine what he was going through.

"You know what," I said. "Let's meet up at my house tonight and discuss the situation." The others nodded in agreement.

I sat and wondered whether the book had hindered us rather than helped us over the years. My ex girlfriend Leevy had found my tactics funny, but some of the other girls hadn't. Maybe the book wasn't all that great after all.

The loud clattering of high heels against the cold marble floor signified the arrival of the girls.

"I'm sorry Gale, I searched everywhere but I couldn't find your atlas." said Madge apologetically.

"Uh that's alright Madge, because you know what, I just remembered I left it in my locker." Gale replied.

Annie held back Madge's hands to stop her from getting hold of any sharp objects as we all walked onward to class.

I pondered over the subject all through class and hoped that school would end fast so that my mind could finally have some peace.

Sorry for the short chapter! Belated happy new year to you all and I'm really sorry for ditching you guys for so long!