A/N: Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! I want to thank everyone who is reading and alerting and add this story to their favorites, it is really a fantastic feeling to feel like people are enjoying what I'm writing. A special thank you goes to those who took the time to review: Ananymous (If you were asking if I can update by Monday, then yes. I update on Saturdays and on Sundays and will post an extra chapter for every 100 reviews), InLoveWithPeeta (I had always imagined it as Me-su, but you can pronounce however you wish), teampeeta4ever (I am so very pleased that you liked it), DandelionOnFire (We are down to 24! Let's hope we get it before tonight!), iam97 (After all the stuff that Katniss put poor Peeta through during the books, I thought a little jealousy payback was deserved), ohmyeverdeen (The poor boy is definitely smitten with our little huntress, hopefully she won't break his heart), GirlOnFire2012 (This was also my favorite chapter when I wrote it and then I wrote this one and that changed), Court819 (I absolutely LOVE that you used the word "Brava!" And thank you for the compliments), TacoBelle (I take it that you are a Gale lover. I sincerely apologize for his death but his death was necessary for the plot), cutiepie7996 (Wouldn't it be horrible of me if it turned out his confession was only a strategic move?), 3radicateTheNois3 (This one is one of my longer chapters, so I hope it takes you at least a couple of minutes more to get through), PinkRhino (I totally fell in love with Peeta during his interview, so I'm glad I had that same effect), pirate-princess1 (Yes, Haymitch knew. Haymitch always knows), Milkshake308 (You are probably Misu's only fan, you know that? Poor Misu), Emilie12 (That was the reaction that I was going for), (I apologize for the cliffhangers but I'm trying to stay as true as possible to the writing of the book as possible), s (He is SO cute! I just want to unpretty him! *blush* Ignore that, please...), FullM3talX (It's Sunday! No more waiting!), lovetheboywiththebread1 (Update is now!), Searching for a Shooting Star (My story beats rest? That a hell of an accomplishment. Thank you), KatnissMellark (Please, no insanity. Here, have an update), CrimsonAngels (You don't have to wait long for it!), DammitimmaD (I'm glad you aww'd because that's what I did while reading Suzanne Collins' book and that makes me feel like I captured what I was going for), AngelsandTributes123 (Yes, I agree with the fact that Misu needs to die and Peeta needs to win.), James O'hare (There's never enough of a jealous Katniss and I want to rectify that), SWPeetaxKatnissAvatarTLA (Here is your update!), XxPeetaxKatniss-ForeverxX (I'm sorry I made you drop your apple. I warn you, there might be some more apple-dropping scenes ahead), my anonymous reviewer (It totally served her right. She needs to work on her temper), Perfectly-Imperfect-14 (Her reaction is below, don't worry), midnightfarie (Patience, schmatience. A Haymitch story? Ooh), .Xo (Thank you so much for the compliment, it makes me happy!), Mel (Good guess about the Snow thing. You'll know if you're right in Chapter 11), gargambette (I love your reviews, you know that? I love your two shots idea, but I'm actually going to work on a "First time" series. I'm also trying to figure out a way to add some Mags for you),ellavescent (You are totally on the money about Misu's reaction. Read on for full details), immahappybear (You just made it in! Anyway, just a warning, the Games don't start unti Chapter 12)

I know a lot of you enjoyed the previous chapter, but this one is my favorite one that I've written (so far). I really hope that you all enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it. It has pretty much everything I love in it: Finnick, Johanna, some Cinna and Portia, a little romance, a little violence, and some quality Katniss/Peeta interaction to make everything that much better. And it's also the longest chapter I have put up to date!

Also: 24 more reviews to go before this story hits 200! And that means bonus chapter! Yay!

Chapter 10

The Boy Who Says Goodbye

Everything seems to stop after his bombshell and then starts up again in unison. The crowd erupts in raucous cheers and the camera is trained on me. I don't know how I should be handling this news, so I stare at Peeta in shock, our faces both burning with embarrassment.

I can hear that Caesar is laughing joyfully. He claps Peeta on the back, hard enough that it makes a thump. "Don't worry about that! There are no rules against falling for such a beautiful woman like Katniss."

"That's good," Peeta says, keeping his gaze away from me.

"You know what else is good?" Caesar asks. "That maybe you have a better shot with her than you originally thought!"

Before Caesar can elaborate on that, no doubt disclosing what I said during my interview, the buzzer sounds. That's it; his three minutes are up and Peeta goes to walk away. But before he can, Caesar takes Peeta's hand and gives it a firm shake. "Good luck, Peeta Mellark, and don't doubt that all of Panem is rooting for you."

It sounds like an awfully presumptuous thing to say; but if the Capitol crowd are any indication, Peeta is surely the favorite in the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta thanks Caesar and the crowd quietly and goes and takes his place beside Misu.

The show has ended and we all rise as the anthem begins to play; every screen showing alternating shots of Peeta and me. On one shot of me, I notice that beside me, Haymitch is trying to hide his smile. I can't believe how accurate Haymitch's prediction had been; no one will remember anything about this night except for Peeta and his confession of love for me.

And for Haymitch to be so spot on, he must have known all about Peeta's feelings for me. Of course, that explains so much.

Once the anthem has finished, we all make our way to the elevators. I happen to lose Haymitch somewhere along the way, but somehow manage to get into a car with both Johanna and Finnick.

"That was fun," Finnick says, leaning back on the wall. "I wasn't expecting such excitement tonight. What about you, Jo?"

Johanna pretends not to hear him and moves closer to me, studying me curiously. "You didn't know this was going to happen."

It was a statement, not a question, but I decide to answer it anyways, "No, I was completely caught off-guard."

"You couldn't tell?" Finnick asks Johanna. "That reaction shot said it all, I thought. We all know that Katniss is a terrible actress."

"Am not!"

"You kinda are," Johanna says, smirking.

"I act during interviews all the time!" I argue. "If I was so bad at it, I think I would have heard about it by now."

"Fine, you're really good at acting ditzy and frivolous," Finnick concedes. "But the look you threw out tonight was way out of your acting range."

"The question now is whether the confession was real, or if Haymitch set it up," Johanna points out.

"I don't know the answer to that," I reply. "Haymitch had a hand in it, definitely, but I don't know to what extent."

The elevator stops on the fourth floor and Finnick pushes past us to get out of the car. Once out he says, "It was definitely real because no one can fake emotion that well. Not even me."

"I hope he's wrong," I say when the doors close behind him and the elevator starts its ascent again.

"Do you?" Johanna asks me. "Because I don't believe you. You may know that it would be easier on everyone if what he said was false, but you are secretly pleased that those feelings you won't even admit to yourself are reciprocated. Well, maybe you're not so secretly pleased as it's written all over your face."

"No, it's not!"

"It kind of is," pipes up Kriila, one of the mentors from District 6 that I have a passing acquaintance with. She looks embarrassed at her comment. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."

"It's fine," Johanna says in an unusually friendly tone. "You just made my point for me, so thank you."

Kriila nods but she still looks uncomfortable and when the elevator stops on her floor, she practically runs out. Johanna smirks at me but I'm not quite so amused.

"That doesn't prove anything," I say, stubbornly.

"Fine, ignore the obvious," Johanna says and then she grows serious. "But don't ignore this piece of advice; you need to tell that boy how you feel before he goes into the arena tomorrow."

I'm startled by this. "You just yelled at me the other day for having feelings for him and now you want me to confess to him the night before the Games start? I don't understand you."

"Maybe I was a little harsh on you," Johanna admits. "I just didn't want this situation for you. But there's nothing to be done about your feelings now. The only option you have is to make sure that he knows about it before it's too late."

"How will that make the situation any better?" I ask and curse the fact that the doors are opening on Johanna's floor.

"I don't know, but I can tell you that I regret not letting Arik know. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't have made a difference if he had known how deep my affections had run." She steps off and gives me a shrug. "But it's up to you."

The doors close and I spend the rest of the trip to the 12th floor in silence. But the tranquility doesn't last very long, because as soon as I step off the elevator I am confronted with a very angry Misu.

"You must be pleased with his little show out there," she says, spitting out the words. "How heartless can you be? Make the boy play a fool right before you get him killed? You disgust me."

"I didn't make him do anything," I say in my defense. "I had no idea he was going to do that tonight."

"Of course you didn't." She glares at me, her gray eyes dark with rage. "You just played your little game with him until he fell for you. At least Peeta's lucky that you care about him, unlike poor Gale."

"I cared about Gale!" I don't even know why I'm bothering to protest this, she has her mind made up on how the situation went down. "I am sorry that he died, Misu, and I'm sorry that he didn't return your feelings; but that is no reason for you to take your anger and hate out on Peeta!"

"Except that I hate him, too!" She is yelling now. "If that stunt he had pulled had only made him more desirable, I wouldn't have blamed him for that. But no, he had to pull you into it, making you the star of the show!"

I am at my limit with her. "Your constant envy of me is very exhausting, Misu, maybe you'd like to give it a rest for a bit?"

She lets out an inhuman noise and before I know it, she's on me, pushing me to the floor. I only realize that she swung her hand at me when the pain explodes on my cheek. I wait for other blows to land but they don't come. That's when I notice Misu being pulled away from me by Peeta. Cinna immediately jumps in and helps Peeta put more distance between the struggling Misu and me.

Portia kneels beside me, checking up on me. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," I say, gingerly touching my stinging cheek. "It was just a slap."

Haymitch is furious and grabs Misu by the arm the second Peeta and Cinna set her down. "What is wrong with you?"

"She provoked me!" Her screech sounds unbelievable to me, especially when she tries to come at me again. Luckily, Haymitch's grip on her arm is strong.

"Did you provoke her?" Haymitch asks me.

"No," I answer, which I know isn't entirely true.

"Where were you while all this was going on, boy?" Haymitch asks Peeta, who has come over to make sure I'm okay.

"I was going to the dining room, I was hungry," he says, looking sheepish. "But I ran back here the second I heard the yelling."

"What was the yelling about?" Cinna asks. Misu and I glare at each other but say nothing in response. "Did you manage to catch anything, Peeta?"

"Not really," he says, but he must be lying. There is no way that he managed to keep Misu from hitting me again if he hadn't been close enough to have heard the tail end of the conversation.

Portia stands and helps me off the floor. "Come on, let's go get some ice on your cheek, Katniss."

"I hope it turns into a bruise," Misu says spitefully at me as Portia leads me past her. "A big bruise as ugly as you are."

Haymitch gives her arm a sharp pull to get her attention and starts talking to her. I can't hear what he's saying because he's keeping his voice low, but I know that the conversation won't be pleasant.

I'm brought to the dining room where I'm directed to sit down as Portia and Cinna alternate between icing my cheek and examining it. Peeta sits near me and my hand finds his after a particularly painful poke from Cinna.

"It shouldn't bruise," Cinna announces finally. "And if it does, it shouldn't be too bad. We'll be able to cover it up, no problem."

"Oh good," Effie breathes out, the relief apparent in her voice. I hadn't even noticed when she had come in. "The last thing we need is for our beautiful Katniss to walk around with a large bruise on her face."

"Will Misu get in trouble for this?" Peeta asks. "I know that tributes aren't allowed to fight other tributes before the Games start, but are there any rules against fighting with your mentors?"

"I don't think there are," I say, holding the ice to my cheek. "But I definitely think there should be."

Peeta gives my hand a big squeeze before letting it go and I wish he hadn't. "I agree with you on that."

Haymitch comes into the dining room without Misu in tow. I questionably raise an eyebrow at him. "Misu and I thought that it was perhaps in her best interest to take her dinner alone in her room tonight."

Dinner is mostly a quiet affair, with a spattering of small talk here or there. I am glad to see that Peeta is devouring practically everything in sight. I know from experience how nervous one can get the morning of the Games and he probably won't be able to eat anything then, so a good meal the night before is essential.

There is a televised replay of the interviews after dinner and we leave the dining area for the sitting room in order to watch them. Effie inquires if someone should fetch Misu, but even she agrees with the general consensus that it would probably better for everyone if we just left her be.

Now that I don't have my anxiety about Peeta's performance, I can pay attention to the other districts. Even so, only a few of them stand out. The District 1 girl is all sexy and provocative, which comes as no surprise. All of Cashmere's girls resort to that; after all, it worked so well for Cashmere herself. The boy from 2 exudes confidence in everything he says. I wouldn't call it cocky because, from what I heard from Peeta and Misu, the boy can most definitely back it up.

During the interview with the boy from District 4, I can't help but think that Finnick hadn't really been all that harsh with his description of his tribute. I am surprised by the girl from District 5. There's something about her that reminds me of a fox, and her obvious cleverness does nothing to detract from similarities with the notoriously sly animal.

Rue, the girl from 11, is adorable and I think of my little Prim. But no, such thinking is not going to help anyone and I force myself off that mental topic. The huge boy from 11 doesn't give much in the way of interviews, but his mere size should be enough to get him a good number of sponsors.

The camera does Misu no favors when it pulls tight on her face when Caesar compares her to me. Her true colors came out and all of Panem saw it, and I know it will be difficult convincing sponsors to help her out.

The same cannot be said for Peeta; after his performance, I wouldn't be surprised if the sponsors don't come looking for me to give gifts to the charming, lovesick boy of District 12. Peeta averts his eyes from the television when it gets to the point in the interview where he announces that he's in love with his mentor.

I don't blame him as I have to fight the desire to mimic his action when the camera focuses on me. But I couldn't look away; after Finnick's comment earlier, I needed to know exactly what my expression was. I feel like I have been punched in the gut when I see my reaction shot to Peeta's expression of love for me.

There is no doubt that I wore the face of a girl in love.

The program ends and I'm wrestling with the sudden influx of emotions that I hadn't dared to name before now. I am trying to sort them out in a way that I could deal with them when I am distracted by a nearby noise that takes me a few seconds to recognize as Effie sniffling.

"You are the sweetest, handsomest boy I have ever had the pleasure of working with," she says, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she caresses his cheek. "Good luck, Peeta, dear."

And then, she flees the room, overcome with emotions I imagine. I can't help but wonder if Effie will even bother to seek Misu out and give the girl her goodbyes. Cinna shakes Peeta's hand and also wishes him luck. Portia gives Peeta a quick kiss on the cheek and tells him that she'll see him tomorrow before she and Cinna leave the room.

And now only three of us are left and I'm afraid that if I don't speak up first, Haymitch will leave and I will be forced into a conversation I am not even sure that I want to have with Peeta.

So, I give him a quick, fierce hug as I fight my own tears. "Don't forget that you said you would fight for me."

"I won't," he says, his voice hoarse with emotion. "But you have to remember what you promised me."

"If anything happens, which it won't, I won't feel guilty," I tell him, the lie feeling dirty on my tongue.

I doubt that he believes me, but he still doesn't fight me on it. Instead, he brushes his lips against my forehead and whispers, "Thank you."

That is the last straw and the floodgates open. I hurry out of the room without another word and practically run all the way up to the roof. I hate myself for my weakness and I hope that Haymitch picks up my slack and gives Peeta the last bits of much-needed advice. After all, I still remember the first piece of advice that Haymitch gave me about how to win in the arena.

Stay alive.

As long as Peeta can follow that one small tip, everything will be fine. But it hasn't been so long since I was in the arena; and I know how that particular bit of wisdom is harder than it sounds to follow.

I don't know how long I am up on the roof, letting myself cry. I am chilled to the bone, my sleeveless dress offering no protection from the cold, but I can't imagine going back inside, not yet, at least. A strong wind blows all the tears off my face and I shiver violently.

I nearly jump when I feel a jacket being placed on my shoulders. I don't have to turn to know who it is, I just lean back against his muscled chest and let him wrap his arms around me.

"I just knew that you'd be up here without a jacket, again," Peeta says, pulling me closer to him.

"Thank you for coming up here and saving me from the cold," I say, my voice surprisingly steady.

We are quiet for a moment as we listen to the raucous groups of people below on the street. I almost let myself forget that this might be the last time that I'm with Peeta and snuggle deeper into his embrace.

"I am sorry if I embarrassed you earlier," he begins, his breath warming the side of my face. "That wasn't my intention."

"Don't apologize, it was a good move on your part," I tell him. "We'll have sponsors lining up just itching for a chance to supply you with gifts."

"You really think so?"

"I have no doubt in my mind," I assure him. "So, after I left, did Haymitch give you any last bits of advice?"

"Yeah," he says, nodding. "He told me not to get involved in the initial bloodbath and as soon as the gong sounds that I should just run and find cover. He also said that my first priority after getting away from the other tributes should be finding a clean source of water."

"That's good advice about the water," I tell him. "I nearly died of dehydration when I was in the arena."

"I remember," Peeta says, his voice so soft that it's difficult to hear over the wind and the noise of the Capitol around us. "I tried to scrounge up all the money I could so I'd be able to send you some water. I didn't actually manage to do it, though, so I was glad when you found the stream."

"You're too nice, Peeta," I admonish. "You're going into the arena tomorrow and if you keep being like this, it's going to get you killed."

"I'm sorry, but I can't change myself just for the sake of surviving," Peeta tells me. "I'll be fine with dying as long as I die as myself."

I grip his arm tightly, and for a moment I'm afraid that I'm hurting him. "You listen to me, I will never be okay with you dying, so you have to do whatever you need to do to make sure that you come back to me."

"Okay, Katniss," he says and he gives me a small kiss on my temple and I can't help but think that he's just saying that to appease me.

"So, yeah, immediately get away from the bloodbath and find some water, those are good ideas. After that, you need to find some food; you did well at the edible plant station, right?"

"I had a little trouble with the berries part, but the trainer assured me that I should be all right."

"Good. After that you just need to avoid the Careers at all cost," I advise. "And the boy from District 11, okay? And don't trust anyone in there, especially that girl from District 5. But more important than that, you need to forget about any sort of alliance with Misu. She's dangerous and she's looking to kill you."

"I don't want to kill her."

"I understand that, but if it's between her and you, you would kill her then, right?"

"Yes," Peeta says.

"Good," I say. "Because it just might come down to that."

"I hope it doesn't."

"Me too," I say, because I truly hope that it doesn't. I am not sure if Peeta would survive the encounter unscathed emotionally, at least.

We're quiet again and I know that I should tell him to go to bed; he probably won't get much sleep, but he should have the chance to get as much as he can. But I can't do it; not until I ask him the question I probably shouldn't ask him.

"Peeta?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you mean it?" I ask him, and then realize that he probably has no idea what I'm talking about. "Did you mean what you told Caesar at the interview? About me, I mean."

He doesn't even hesitate before he answers, "Yes."

I turn in his arms so that I'm looking up at his face and I see that he's sporting a worried expression. I understand that this might be the last moment I ever have with him and I know that I can't waste it. I take his wind-chilled face in my hands and lower it so I can kiss him.

It's my first kiss, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I know that what Peeta and I are sharing is something special. A delicious warmth envelops my whole body and I lose track of everything around me except for Peeta.

When the kiss ends, we are both panting slightly and he lowers his forehead to touch mine. "Wow," he says and I know just what he means.

"Okay, and now you have to go to bed," I say, moving out of his arms. "I know that it's probably impossible, but you have to try to get some sleep. Even a few minutes tonight might end up saving your life tomorrow."

He looks surprised at the sudden professional tone. "O-okay. So, I guess I should go, then."

I nod at him and he stares at me for a few seconds before he nods himself and turns away. He's almost to the door when my will breaks down.

"Peeta?" I say and he doesn't turn. The wind is so loud that he probably doesn't hear me. "PEETA!"

This time he does hear me and he looks at me over his shoulder. This isn't how I should do it, I know, but I have no other choice.

"I LOVE YOU!"

His face goes through a number of emotions before it settles on a grin that looks like it might tear his face in two. "THANK YOU!"

And then he goes inside, leaving me alone on the roof with the hope that this wasn't the last time I get to be with him.