Author's Note; Sorry it's been so long, I've been super, super busy, i shouldn't really be writing now but I wanted to get another chapter to you before my exam week starts this week to keep you going. Please, please, please review! I love to hear from you!

Chapter 29

By the time we got back, she was gone. She left the majority of her things and it looks like she just took a bag full of clothes, which means that she was planning on coming back. The hospital didn't really do much for me, they said the newer cuts were too far along the healing process for anything like stiches so they just gave me some cream to help with the visibility of the scars, apparently I'd done really well not to catch an infection due to the size of the cuts. There wasn't any more talking between my brothers, my father and I and so I had silently retreated to my room, leaving them in the front room and simply went to bed.

"Peeta, it's time you normally get up but if you don't want to go to school today, you really don't have to." I struggle to break out of my sleep as I rub my eyes to see my dad sitting on the edge of the bed looking over at me.

"No, I want to go to school. I can't just sit around doing nothing. Nothing has changed." I mumble out as I start freeing my legs from the warm grasp of my blanket and raise myself out of bed.

"Well, do you need a lift or anything?" The guilt is evident in his voice as he tries to help compensate for my years of pain. The thought that giving me a lift to school could make any difference annoys me slightly until I look over to him and actually see the pained expression on his face. I remind myself that it wasn't him that did anything and the fact that he now knows my secret now, shouldn't change my relationship with him as I was never annoyed with him before.

"No dad, I'm fine, seriously." I say in a less harsh voice than before. He simply nods his head slowly and gets up from the bed as well. With a last glance he turns and leaves my room, quietly clicking the door closed behind him. I don't know why the revelation of what my mother did to me is having such a big effect on what I feel for my dad. I would say I should be happy that he knows and has taken care of my mum, but what kind of son does that make me? A son that is happy over his parents possibly splitting up isn't a good one.

It felt like I was back to reality when I got to school. Nothing here had changed and that's how I liked it, familiarity. I got here quite earlier than normal as I wanted to evade the tension back home, so I headed over to the canteen to get myself a coffee as if ever I needed one, it was after a day like yesterday. Sipping the piping hot beverage I made my way to the table my friends and I regularly it at. To my surprise, Finnick is already sitting there. He's not even doing anything, he's just sitting. As I approach his head turns at the sound of my steps getting closer.

"Dude, I heard what happened!" Is the first thing that leaves his mouth as I sit down opposite him. A bolt of panic shoots through me like electricity. How the hell could he know what's happened to me? Why would my brothers or dad even tell him? My mind races for something to say.

"Finnick listen..." I start to try and tell him to keep this to himself but he quickly interrupts me.

"I can't believe Cato tried that! Even if it wasn't Katniss, I can't believe it! Thank god you heard it man, and well, thank god you were sober enough to do anything!" He rambles on. Oh right, Johanna's party. I completely forgot about that after all the crap that happened yesterday.

"How many people know?" I ask.

"Quite a few. A load of people saw you taking her out of the house and then they found Cato in the bedroom who kept muttering 'sorry' and they kind of put two and two together." He explains. Fuck, I was hoping nobody would know for Katniss' sake. I rake my hand through my hair as I try to think of anyway of twisting the story so people wouldn't know Katniss was nearly raped but the evidence against me may be too great to oppose. I wonder if she would even come in to school today, I know I wouldn't if I was her. Actually, I wonder if Cato will dare show his face around.

"If that doesn't set you two up, I don't know what will!" Finnick suddenly chuckles. Really? Because I really am supposed to be expecting Katniss to leap at me now for stopping Cato from breaking the law and violating her.

"That's disgusting Fin." I groan and he simply laughs, oddly making me laugh too. This guy is such an idiot, but I think that's why we're friend to be honest.

I was on my way to the library for another film night meeting when I saw her, her braid bouncing on her back with the rhythm of her steps. I felt a need to talk to her, so for once in my life I actually hurried over to her to catch her attention.

"Hey, Katniss!" I call to her as I jog over to her before she reaches the library door, obviously heading for the meeting also.

"I'm fine ok! Can't you all just leave me alone for five minutes?!" She whips round and yells. I instinctively step back from her to create distance, I guess get that from being yelled at from mum. I don't really know what to say so I quickly look to the floor. I guess coming over to talk to her was a really bad idea.

"Oh shit, Peeta! I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" She says as she realises it's me but my gaze still doesn't leave the carpet. "Peeta, I'm sorry, please look at me again. I could use a genuine friend's face." She continues with a really soft tone. Friend. That word kind of stings. I hesitantly look back at her and see she is smiling at me.

"Been a long day huh?" I ask. I see her deflate slightly as she releases a big breath.

"I feel almost claustrophobic. Everyone is sorry, or wants to do things for me. I don't like the sympathy." That's exactly why I hope nobody found out, because everyone's personality changes. Even if it's someone you hate and they here that you've been through some shit, they turn into your best friend and it really is fucking irritating. And Katniss really isn't the kind of person to accept all the sympathy, like she just did with me, she will become more hostile to try block out the pain.

"Don't worry, you won't get any of that from me. To be honest I think you need to man the fuck up and get over yourself." I say sarcastically and wink at her. Her face cracks with a large smile as her laughter fills my ears and I instantly smile at her, happy to see the stress leave her face.

"Haha thanks!" She says, catching her breath.

"No problem, I'm always here to insult you at your request." I smile at her.

"No seriously, thank you for everything Peeta. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't come along that night." The smile has left her face and her gaze is now avoiding mine, so I move closer to her once more so she will look at me.

"Again, I'm always here for you Katniss. Always will, always have been." I tell her, my hands on her shoulders so I know she is facing me and listening to me. Her lips curve once more in a beautiful smile and then she does something I wasn't expecting. She moves into my arms and wraps hers around my waist and holds on in a tight hug. It doesn't take my body even a second to react as my arms wrap around her and my chin leans down on her shoulder as her head is rested on my chest.

"Always." I repeat myself in a whisper.