~Sketching Out Our Love~

~Chapter 8~

Hi everyone! I'm glad you guys all liked the idea with the previews. I appreciate it all- reviews, favorites, alerts, etc. I'm still in shock that I got 55 reviews for the last chapter! 55! OMG, you guys amaze me!

If I end up missing anyone's preview, let me know! I usually send the previews out within 24 hours (or less), so if your preview is late, let me know please! I double check that everyone got one, but if I miss you, let me know! :)

So, sorry about the long wait. Hope this chapter makes up for it somehow… Pretty sad though. I mean, Katniss manages to break Peeta's heart. And then he decides to try and help her. Peeta is just amazing!

Thank you to my simply wonderful beta: choclate lover. You guys have so much to thank her for!

Ok, now I'm going to stop torturing you. Enjoy the chapter.

Whispers followed me around that morning. Whispers they hastily murmured to their friends behind their hands when they thought I wasn't looking. I had no idea what they were mumbling about, and on a day like this, I didn't even really care.

Perhaps they whispered about the uncharacteristic dark circles under my eyes, or the pallor to my face. Even my hair wasn't a mass of blonde curls; instead it lay flat and dull. My whole body felt weary, as if I'd gotten run over by Cato and the rest of the football team

But whatever it was they talked about, I was too weary to even care. Katniss was sapping the life out of me, like some awful parasite. Her sporadic mood changes were driving me insane. One minute she's talking and laughing with me, and the next she dissolves into full-blown waterworks.

When did girls get so complicated?

I felt like I might explode soon from overthinking. I wanted to kill Katniss for making me feel like this. She is the only girl who could mess with my emotions like this.

But a small part of me still belabored under the idea that Katniss loved me. I couldn't shake the feeling of optimism that I felt when I saw her face. I still believed that things could magically work out for us somehow.

"Yeah, Snow was really-"

"No, I heard-"

"Glimmer went-"

"Yeah, but she and Peeta-"

Wait, what? What was going on?

My head whipped around in the direction of the sentence fragments I had overheard, straining to hear what the whole school was apparently talking about.

Principal Snow? Glimmer? What was everyone talking about? Me?

The freshman girls who had been talking suddenly saw me standing behind them, and a hush broke out over them. They stared anywhere but at me, readjusting their makeup or backpacks or brushing their hair. I glared at them until they finally cowered away and left me alone.

I guess being on the football team has its advantages. Scaring freshman girls is definitely one of them.

But now I was very interested in this whole Glimmer/Snow drama going on. I had gone from indifferent to passionate in a matter of moments. And it was all because of some freshmen's stupid, gossipy comments, and the fact that I most definitely heard my name in the conversation.

I weaved my way through the hallway, keeping my ears keenly opened for anything about this morning's gossip. I don't even know why I cared. Most likely, it would be forgotten by lunch time, as another subject came up and took center-stage in my shallow classmate's lives.

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder, and it took me a second to react. But when I did, I spun around quickly, half-hoping to see Katniss's grey eyes. Instead, I'm greeted by a pair of sea green ones that are glowing with delight at the moment. Her cheeks are slightly red with happiness, and her long reddish hair frames her heart-shaped face perfectly.

"Peeta, guess what?" Annie squealed joyfully as she jumped up and down in her glee. "Guess what? Guess what?"

"I don't know…" I replied with an easy grin. "Did you take too much drugs this morning? You are just too hyper for so early in the morning."

"Peeta, you are such a downer." Annie rolled her eyes, but couldn't stay angry for too long. "Finnick asked if he could go to homecoming with me!"

"Annie, you and Finnick have gone to homecoming every year since your freshman year!" I exclaimed. "How was that a surprise?"

"Well, he's in collage now, so I thought he might not want to come…" Annie trailed off sadly, her eyes downcast.

"Of course he wants to." I encouraged her. "Finnick is crazy about you."

Annie brightened again at my encouraging words. "I can't wait! Only a week and a half left!"

"Yeah…" I trailed off unenthusiastically. I don't really have a date this year.

As if reading my mind, Annie asks, "You're asking Katniss, right?"

"What?" I balked at the idea. A part of me was desperately wanting to ask Katniss, but the other part of me was too scared to be rejected. "Umm… Katniss… I don't know."

"Don't be nervous." Annie smiled comfortingly, and patted my shoulder. "I just know she'll say yes. You're all she talks about!"

"What?" I gaped stupidly at Annie as this new tidbit of information rushed through my head. "Me? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Annie shook her head at my apparent cluelessness. "She's just been through a lot."

"How do you know?" I asked in surprise. Annie was really surprising me. How did she know about all of this, while I didn't?

"I talked to her, Mellark." Annie sighed. "You are completely hopeless."

I toyed around with the idea of actually asking Katniss to homecoming. I imagined her in a pretty dress with her hair done up, and smiling shyly as I slipped a corsage on her slim wrist. I apparently got too caught up in my little fantasy, because Annie was staring amusedly at me.

I felt my ears heat up. "I wasn't… I'm not… I mean… You know… Me and Katniss."

"I've never heard you stutter." Annie giggled. "Just ask her out already."

"Fine." I allowed myself to smile as I thought of how I should do it. Do I just walk up to her, or do I something really romantic, or what?

I need Prim for this. I thought frantically. I was no good at this stuff; it was my sister who always came up with great ideas for girly stuff like homecoming.

"About time." Annie pushed her hair out of her pretty face, and grinned at me with pride.

"Now, tell me." I began, trying to shift the conversation away from me and Katniss. "What is all the gossip around school about today?"

"You don't know?" Annie gaped at me in surprise. "I thought you'd be one of the first to know. You know, because they called your name."

"What do you mean?" I questioned, my heart beating frantically. I just knew it couldn't be good news.

"Well, you were called to the office." Annie replied in a satisfied tone. "Over the intercom. I've never even heard that thing go on before today!"

"Why?" I gaped at Annie. This didn't sound very good. "What about Katniss?"

"What about her?" Annie shrugged indifferently. Her eyes gleamed happily at the obvious concern I had for Katniss.

"Was she called to the office too?" I elaborated, my hands clenching at my sides at the thought of Katniss in trouble. I would kill Snow. And Glimmer as well, come to think of it.

"No." Annie replied. "But she was looking for you."

"Why?" I asked again, as my brain struggled to keep up with this landslide of information.

"I don't know, Peeta." Annie explained truthfully. "I heard a lot of gossip, but I don't like to take part in gossip myself."

"Alright, Annie, thanks." I muttered in defeat.

"Peeta, why are you so freaked out?" Annie asked curiously, looking me so squarely in the eye that it was impossible to lie.

"He gave me three weeks of detention, Annie!" I exclaimed angrily, as my body stiffened. Just the thought of Snow and his blood-smelling roses made me want to gag. I knew Annie saw my involuntary reaction, because her face softened and her voice eased out.

"And what else…?" Annie probed gently. Her wide green eyes looked so honest and open that I couldn't help but continue on.

"He helped Glimmer try to break me and Katniss up. He's Glimmer's uncle, so I guess he wants to see her happy. And I did a lot to make Glimmer mad at me." I whispered quietly, in case anyone could hear us.

"You didn't do anything!" Annie huffed in annoyance. "The truth is no one can stand her! And you managed to go out with her for almost two years!"

"I know, but I should've let her off more gently." I admitted to something that had been gnawing at me for a while. Guilt coursed through me at the thought of Glimmer. "I rushed into it, because I assumed that the second I broke up with Glimmer, Katniss and I would start going out."

"You guys are dating?!" Annie squealed in excitement. "How did I not hear about this?!"

"We're not!" I responded a little too quickly. In answer to Annie's disbelieving look, I added, "I wish we were though!"

Annie gave me a sympathetic smile. "She'll come around, Peeta. Just be patient. This isn't easy for either of you."

"Well, I can wait for her." I mumbled as a blush crept up my face. "She's worth it."

"I know, Peeta." Annie hesitated outside her first hour classroom. "Ask her out to homecoming. I'm sure she'll say yes."

"I will." I promised, a grin breaking out on my face. "And I know just how to ask her too."

The grin was wiped off my face the moment I stepped into the front office.

Katniss was sitting anxiously in one of the chairs, obviously waiting for me. The receptionist stared at Katniss as she leaped off her seat so quickly that it might have been on fire. Katniss rushed to my side, and looked at me curiously.

"Why were you called here?" She whispered frantically.

"I don't know." I whispered back, trying to stay quiet so the lady wouldn't overhear us.

"Can I come with you?" Katniss enquired hesitantly.

"Thank you." I muttered in gratitude. I didn't want to face Snow alone. Having Katniss with me meant a lot to me.

"Can I lead you to Mr. Snow's office?" The receptionist called out to us. "My name is Portia, by the way."

"Yes, thank you." Katniss and I both replied at the same time. I gave Portia a mechanical smile as she walked in front of us, and knocked at the first door on the left.

"Enter." I recognized Snow's curt voice, and goose bumps rose out along my arms.

Portia held the door, and Katniss and I stepped into Snow's office. It looked just the same as I remembered from the first visit. Everything had a rich mahogany color scheme, and I immediately thought of blood again. The only thing that was different was that Snow now had a vase of pure white roses on his desk instead of red ones.

"Hello." Snow smiled cruelly at us. "Take a seat, please."

It sounded more like a command than a request, and I instinctively stiffened. Still, though, Katniss and I sat side by side and waited silently as Snow poured glasses of water for us, like at our last visit. He snipped two white roses, and let them float in the water glass.

"Here you are." Snow set the glasses on two coasters directly in front of Katniss and I. Neither Katniss nor I reached for them, and Snow's rather puffy lips pursued at our defiance. "Drink up, it isn't poisoned."

I didn't believe him. It could very well be poisoned for all I know.

"Alright, let's get to the matter at hand." Snow sighed dramatically. "Ms. Everdeen, lovely to see you with Mr. Mellark this morning."

Katniss stared Snow down with a dagger-like glare. "Thank you." She spit out stiffly.

"We agreed not to lie to each other, right?" Snow mused. "It will make things so much easier for both of us."

"Yes." Katniss responded shortly.

"Very well." Snow sighed to adjust one of the blindingly white roses in his vase. "Why was Mr. Mellark not present at detention yesterday afternoon?"

"I left early." I spoke confidently. "Katniss was not feeling well."

"Yes, I heard." Snow smiled. "I was sure you were lying. But then you dropped Ms. Everdeen off at her house right away, so I guess she was feeling unwell."

"How do you know?" I asked, my mouth going dry.

"I told you I have eyes everywhere." Snow snickered. "I know everything in this city."

I tried to compose myself, but it was no use. Snow had unhinged me, and judging from Katniss's expression, she was too.

"You seemed very strained yesterday." Snow continued. "There was some screaming, cussing, and tears. But if I'm not mistaken, there was a kiss too."

I refused to answer Snow. My blood was boiling in hatred of this man. He was spying on us.

"A lovely Homecoming night might do you some good." Snow continued. "I'd just love to see you two there together."

Katniss stared straight ahead steadily, making no indication that she had heard Snow. Her lips were pressed tautly together, and her face was expressionless.

"Lovely." Snow leered at me when Katniss didn't answer. "I look forward to seeing you two there. Now leave."

"Thank you, Mr. Snow." Katniss replied as she got to her feet immediately. I followed her lead, and we both hesitated rather awkwardly at the door.

"Peeta, don't forget your detentions." Snow snickered cruelly. "I might have to add on another week because you skipped yesterday's detention."

"Ready to leave?" I asked politely as Katniss closed her locker. Her dark hair was in its traditional braid, but I never tired of looking at her. She was stunning no matter what she wore or did with her hair.

"Yes." Katniss replied stiffly. I winced at her tone. We had assumed a cold, distant relationship since she had kissed me in the car. Even though she was fine at Snow's visit, I had supposed she was just putting on an act to make Snow think she liked me. I tried to ignore the painful throbbing somewhere in the region of my heart at the thought of Katniss pretending to love me.

I didn't want to push her, but I was secretly annoyed with her. How much time did someone need anyway?

"My mother made my favorite lamb stew for dinner today." I awkwardly tried to start a conversation with her. "You are staying for dinner, right?"

"I don't know." Katniss answered. The tension in the car was so unbearable that I felt trapped. I opened the window to try to alleviate the claustrophobic feeling I was feeling, but it was no use. I resorted back to conversation.

"Are you going to the football game?" I tried to inject some enthusiasm in my voice, but it still sounded forced.

"No, I don't want to." Katniss responded curtly. "I didn't enjoy the first one I went to very much."

I felt like I had taken a blow to the chest. "But it's the last high school football game I'll ever play. Don't you want to cheer me on?"

"There are cheerleaders for that." Katniss whispered without looking at me. "Last time I went, you ended up getting hurt."

Back to this again.

"Katniss, it wasn't a big deal." I soothed her. "I even got out of work for the weekend!"

"Don't make me feel better about this, Peeta." Katniss glared at me. "All I've ever done is hurt you, and you've been nothing but nice to me."

"You are nice to me." I whispered truthfully. "I love you the way you are."

"I think it would be better for all of us if I just not talk to you anymore." Katniss avoided my eyes. "I don't want to keep dragging this out."

"I think that is the worst thing you can do." I replied honestly. "You can't leave us hanging like this."

"There never was an us." Katniss spit out angrily. "Let's just finish this English project and then we can be done."

"And Snow?" I asked in a whisper. "What about that part?"

"We will just tell him we broke up." She replied shortly. "It's not such a surprise when kids in high school break up. Break-ups happen all the time in high school, so it shouldn't be a big deal."

I didn't answer her. I didn't trust myself to say something without screaming at her or breaking down. We sat in taut silence for several long minutes until Katniss surprisingly broke the silence. "Are your detentions done?"

"No, Snow said he wants to add another week." I replied perplexedly. She had been there with me when Snow made the proclamation, so why was she asking me?

"So why didn't you go today?" Katniss questioned curiously.

Because I had to pick up Katniss so we could work on our English project, I had completely forgotten about the detentions. Add on the fact that I wanted to ask her to Homecoming today, and it was no surprise that I had zoned out.

"Nice going." Katniss snickered at me. "He's going to be so mad at you."

"Crap! How did I forget?" I wondered out loud. That was two detentions in a row I had completely ditched. Snow would make me pay big. Just the thought of an angry Snow made me sick.

"You've been acting weird today." Katniss stated, "You're really jumpy and nervous, but usually you're really calm and collected."

"Really? Why do you say that?" I asked in as nonchalant a voice as I could.

"I just do." Katniss replied simply.

"Do you think anyone knows about, you know, Glimmer and Snow and… us?" I asked Katniss in a hesitant voice.

"Well, Cato and Clove do." Katniss answered. "I overheard them at lunch, and apparently, Glimmer is really mad."

"Yeah, makes sense that Cato and Clove would know." I agreed.

"Where were you at lunch today?" Katniss asked curiously. "I didn't see you there."

"I was… ah… at the… library." I hurriedly made up. "I had some… ah… history homework to finish."

I had actually been sitting with Prim, desperately trying to glean some knowledge on the art of asking a girl to Homecoming. Once Prim had gotten over her giggles, though, she had agreed to help me. It was embarrassing that my sister had to help me with this stuff, but it worked out in the end. We both agreed that the best thing to do was just ask her. Knowing Katniss, she wouldn't like something big and fancy anyways.

"Oh, really?" Katniss arched her eyebrow at me. "Since when did you become such a diligent student?"

"My mom wants my grades to go up." I responded quickly, as my ears heated up and turned red.

"Oh, that's nice." Katniss muttered disbelievingly. We settled back into our awkward silence, and the drive home seemed to take forty minutes instead of the normal fifteen.

Katniss paused in the car when I parked outside our garage. "What's wrong?" I asked quizzically. "Get down."

"I don't want to meet your parents." She muttered as an endearingly scarlet blush crept up her cheeks.

"Don't worry." I reassured her. "My dad isn't home yet, and my mom will simply love you."

Katniss still looked doubtful, but she followed me to our front door. I turned the key and held the door, letting her go in first. She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside and standing awkwardly as I closed the door and stepped in.

"Hi Peeta!" My mother bustled out to greet me, an apron wrapped around her waist, and her blonde hair tied in a bun. Her blue eyes that so resembled mine beamed at Katniss and I, and I instinctively took a step closer to Katniss. "Hi, dear! You must be Katniss!" Mom smiled at Katniss, and gathered her in for a quick hug.

Katniss, on her part, responded to Mom's overly cheerful welcome well, saying hello and introducing herself. Mother seemed to fall head over heels for Katniss, and a small part of me was happy. Mother had hated Glimmer from the first time she saw her, so I was glad she liked Katniss.

"Let me get you some cookies and lemonade!" Mother hurried back into the kitchen, and emerged with a giant plate of cookies from the bakery and two tall glasses of lemonade a second later. "Here you are!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Mellark." Katniss thanked my mother and took the plate from her. I took both glasses from Mom, and led the way up to my room.

"Wow!" Katniss stood on the threshold of my room, staring in front of her in awe. "This is… beautiful."

The walls in my room were painted a soft blue, but there were many a paintbrush stroke on the smooth blue paint job. I had done it myself two years ago. One of the walls had a simple sketch of a dandelion taped on it, and I saw how Katniss's eyes fell on it immediately.

"Dandelions are my favorite flowers." Katniss whispered softly. "When my dad died, they started popping up along our front yard, because no one pulled the weeds anymore. After he died, I left them, because I couldn't bear to pull them. Dandelions always remind me of him now."

"I'm sorry." I replied simply. "I like dandelions too. They pop up in the most unexpected of places."

"Yeah, that's what I like." Katniss replied quietly. "They are strong."

"Just like you." I couldn't help but whisper. I treasured these peaceful moments between us, when I could tell her what was really on my mind.

For several moments, she just stared at me in surprise. But her mouth surprisingly quirked up in a small smile, and she laughed melodiously. "Thank you."

"So, do you want to get started on this thing?" I asked, trying to move our conversation forward.

"Yeah, good idea." Katniss replied, her tone suddenly business-like. She unzipped her backpack, and threw one of her notebooks on my bed, and the other she opened to a page full of notes.

"I took some notes on the irony and symbolism in Romeo and Juliet." She explained. "Did you take some notes too?"

"Umm… I might've had football practice, and I was tired, so…" I blushed as I realized I had completely forgotten about my part of the project.

"Here, take this." Katniss dug in her backpack and threw her copy of Romeo and Juliet at me. "Start reading, and take notes on the foreshadowing."

"Yes, Ma'am." I even saluted her, which earned me a grin and a slight shake of her head.

"How do I open this?" Katniss asked a minute later, gesturing at my laptop. "I'll get started on the PowerPoint while you take notes."

I got up and pressed the power button, and waited a minute while it loaded. Once I had my password typed in, Katniss settled herself in my chair, and I headed back to my bed to start my notes.

We worked in relative silence for nearly thirty minutes. I felt very accomplished by the end, because I had managed to take a full page of notes myself. Katniss looked pleased with me as well, because she smiled, and let me type my information into our PowerPoint.

While I typed, Katniss wandered around my room, glancing at the many pictures and sketches I had taped to the walls. She paused at one of the sunset that I had just recently finished, and said, "How long have you been drawing?"

"Ever since I could hold a pencil." I grinned at her. "So, like 13 years?"

"You are amazing." Katniss stared at me in awe. "Are you going to get your college major in art?"

"No." I replied glumly. "My dad wants me to get a football scholarship. He thinks drawing is a waste of time."

"Well, he's wrong." Katniss answered confidently, taking one of the cookies off the plate. "Do you want to play football?"

"No, I hate it." I replied truthfully. "But my dad doesn't like me much. He likes my older brother Rye, and Prim, but not me. I'm just the middle kid."

"No, you aren't." Katniss stated. "You are so talented. I think you should stop trying to be someone you aren't."

I gaped at her. Katniss had managed to discover one of my deepest secrets an hour after being in my household. How did she read me so well when I couldn't begin to understand her emotions?

"I see how you act at school." Katniss continued on. "I know you don't belong with those jocks and cheerleaders."

"I don't." I replied simply. "But it's all I've ever known."

My statement hung in the air for several minutes while Katniss began packing up her books. "I think I'll be leaving now, Peeta." She announced.

"But you haven't had dinner yet!" I exclaimed quickly. "My mother would kill me if you left now!"

"Maybe next time." Katniss said. "My mom is probably worried about me now."

"Please, stay." I practically begged her. "It would be nice if you did."

"Alright, I'll stay." Katniss smiled. She threw her backpack back on the floor, and sat down on the edge of my bed. She looked at me with a certain degree of chagrin, and quickly asked, "Do you mind if I have another cookie?"

I laughed at her honest nature. "Have them all if you want. I don't mind."

"Well, if you're sure." Katniss took the remaining two cookies on the plate, and grinned. "Thank you so much, Peeta."

"You're welcome." I replied, my body oddly frozen. Ask her, ask her, ask her. I chanted in my head.

"Katniss, before we go have dinner, I was wondering, if you…" I took a deep breath to collect my thoughts. "I was wondering if you'd try one of my new cookies."

"Sure!" Katniss grinned at me, suspecting nothing. "What kind is it?"

"A fortune cookie." I croaked out. I reached over and handed her a wrapped fortune cookie. "Here you go."

"Thanks!" Katniss smiled, and ripped the cookie out of the plastic wrapping. She cracked it in half, and a small strip of folded-up paper fell out. "Oh, they have fortunes in them too!" She exclaimed in surprise.

I was beyond talking now, so I just nodded my head. My mouth felt as dry as sandpaper, and my heart was thumping against my ribcage painfully. I forced myself to breathe steadily, and not freak out.

She put half of the cookie in her mouth before unfolding and smoothing out the paper and reading it. The paper was a picture of her, done hastily in black and white pencil during lunch. She was smiling slightly, and her hair was down. Her mouth fell open as she realized who I had drawn, and when she read the message. Will you go to Homecoming with me?

I waited for her to say something with bated breath. She was staring at me in a mixture of shock and surprise. When she had been quiet for too long, I croaked out her name in a prompt. "Katniss?"

"I wasn't planning on going." Katniss began hesitantly. "I've never been to a dance before."

"I want to go with you." I whispered, trying not to sound like I was begging her. "It will be fun."

"I don't know, Peeta." Katniss replied unsurely, twirling the paper in her hand anxiously. "I don't really like dances."

"Just as friends." I blurted out, my hands clenching at my sides in worry. "It will be a nice change."

"I'm sorry, Peeta." Katniss sighed out after a long pause, her grey eyes filling with sadness. "I'm not going to go."

Disappointment coursed through my veins like liquid fire. I could feel the tears burning beneath my eyelids, but I forced myself to smile and nod at Katniss.

"Can I not stay for dinner?" Katniss asked hesitantly as she slipped her backpack on. "I need to get home, because my mom is probably really worried."

"That's fine." I replied mechanically.

"I'm sorry, Peeta." Katniss answered simply. "I hope you find someone else to go with."

I didn't want to go with anyone else. If I didn't go with Katniss, I wouldn't go with anyone. But I kept this to myself, because I knew she felt bad enough as it was.

"Do you need a ride?" I asked suddenly, remembering that she didn't drive. "I wouldn't mind."

"No, it's alright." Katniss smiled. "I can walk to my mom's work, and we can drive home together from there."

"Where does she work?" I asked, trying to keep the awkwardness at bay. It occurred to me that I'd done a lot of talking to fill the silence today.

"Mercy Hospital." Katniss replied. "She's a nurse in the trauma center."

"Oh, I know that hospital." I replied. "It's like five minutes from here."

"Yeah." Katniss agreed. "Thanks for having me over."

"You're welcome." I replied, trying to look like I took her denial well.

"Peeta?" Katniss hesitated at the door. I caught the shaky nervousness to her tone, and I couldn't help but feel bad for being angry.

"Yeah, Katniss?" I asked in a friendlier tone than I had been using. I gave her a slight smile to encourage her, which seemed to help.

"Can I keep the picture?" Her big grey eyes looked ashamed. "It's so beautiful, and I might… think about going, maybe."

"You can have it." I smiled. "I've drawn so many sketches that I don't mind."

"Bye, Peeta." I watched her walk away, her braid swaying down her back in rhythm with her steps. Once she was out of our driveway, I closed the door and leaned against it, trying to breathe deeply and not break down. Prim rushed to my side a moment later, and took one look at my crumbled face.

"Peeta, I'm so sorry." She whispered, throwing her arms around me. "I'm so, so, so sorry. I thought she would say yes for sure."

"It's ok, Prim." I replied hoarsely, wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape. "I kind of knew, deep down, that she would say no. But I made myself hope that she would say yes."

"Maybe she'll change her mind." Prim said cheerfully, trying to cheer me up. "I was looking forward to taking her dress shopping."

I smiled to myself. If Prim and Katniss went dress shopping together, Katniss would just die of boredom. I knew that dresses and shopping weren't really her thing. "I wouldn't have minded if she showed up in her pajamas." I smiled, imagining the scene. I think she would look beautiful with her hair in messy braid, and wearing sweats and an old tank top.

"It's alright, Peeta." Prim consoled. "I'm sure Glimmer would go with you. I mean, look at her. Poor thing, she just dumped Marvel today."

Prim smirked, her sympathy for Glimmer fading away. "I've always hated her." Her tone was gleeful.

"I'm going up to my room for a little." I announced suddenly, pushing past Prim and up the stairs. I locked the door, and collapsed on my bed, my energy completely drained.

My brain wandered off, and I envisioned Katniss and I in the car, driving to homecoming. She would be wearing a dress, and some make-up, and her hair would be down and flowing. And then, under the stars, we would share our first real kiss. A kiss that we would both be fully expecting and wanting.

Somewhere during my little fantasy, I had begun crying. My cheeks were stained with tear tracks, and I inwardly chided myself.

Man up, Peeta. What are you doing crying like a girl?

It was all Katniss's fault. She made me feel this way. I could never imagine myself crying over another girl, because that simply wasn't realistic. I had never wanted anything with as much fervor as I wanted Katniss.

"Peeta!" I heard Prim's soft voice call out as she knocked on my door. "Dinner's ready!"

"Ok, coming." I replied, heaving myself off the bed. My hand dug into some metal on the way up, and I winced. I turned, trying to see what the source of my pain was, and I saw a dark green spiral notebook lying carelessly on my bed.

I opened it to the back of the cover page curiously. I don't recall having a dark green notebook, so I was curious as to what this could be. Sure enough, it wasn't mine. On the top left hand corner, the name Katniss Everdeen was spelled out neatly in black marker.

Katniss had accidently forgotten her notebook here. I stood up, the notebook in one hand, as I reached for my phone. I would text her that she forgot the notebook, and give it to her on Monday.

As I was reaching for my phone, two sheets of paper slipped out of the front of the book. I felt torn for a moment. I've always accepted people's privacy, and I don't go meddling around. But eventually, my curiosity got the better of me, and I grabbed the two papers and sat back down on my bed.

The first seemed to be an informative leaflet for a cemetery. I stared at it in confusion, trying to figure out why Katniss would have this. I turned it over to the back cover, and saw that the address was in San Diego, California.

Now I was definitely curious, not to mention a little confused. I grabbed the other paper, and read through it carefully. It was an email confirmation for a plane ticket. It was booked for Katniss alone, without her mother. And the plane left tomorrow, Friday at noon.

I stared at the two papers I held in shock. The pieces started to come together. Katniss was taking a plane to California to visit this cemetery. I glanced at the paper again, and saw that the return flight was scheduled for nine in the morning the next day.

Obviously, she didn't plan on staying long. But why she was going was a mystery to me.

Maybe she was going to see her father? She mentioned that she missed him all the time. But then her mother would have gone with her, right?

Something wasn't adding up here. If I confronted her about this right now, she might think I was snooping and get mad. But, at the same time, I didn't want her flying halfway across the country alone.

I made up my mind in an instant. I rushed to my laptop, which was still open from Katniss's visit. In minutes, I was booking my own flight headed to San Diego. My plane didn't leave until 12:30 tomorrow, which was half an hour after Katniss's flight. It wasn't a big deal; thirty minutes wouldn't make a huge impact. Or at least that's I thought.

I had emptied my account for this flight, which had just been filled from working at the bakery last week. Even though my parents owned the bakery, they still paid me for working there.

This was the craziest thing I'd ever done in my life. But I needed to follow Katniss, because she might need me. Katniss hated the concept of being helped, but I wasn't going to let her leave me like this.

Love made people do the craziest things, but I didn't care. I think I'd do anything for Katniss, including flying across the country to make sure she stays safe and sound.

So, what do you think? Do you think that Peeta should fly there, or is he making a mistake? He is just too kind, right? :)

So, the chapters start getting really good from here! I'm excited to share the rest with you. There are about 10 chapters left (maybe?)

Remember, review equals a preview! It will be in Katniss's POV, and in the airport. She really is crazy. :(

See you all next Friday! Much love, and a HUGE thank you to everyone! You are all an inspiration to me!