Chapter 11: Lines Blur

Disclaimer: I don't own THG.

Katniss:

"Don't mess with your tie, Peeta." Effie is here making sure Peeta looks perfect for my movie premiere in New York. The time is here and we've been making a big deal out of displaying our relationship. Not making out in public, but we kiss and hold hands when cameras are around. I've even talked about him on Late Night with Caesar Flickerman. Its the most popular late night show, so everyone heard about how much I love Peeta. We're on track.

"I don't like the tie, Effie." I hate the yellow. "Try the blue one."

"Yeah, I like that one better." He agrees. Effie doesn't appreciate her fashion choices being dismissed so she lets Peeta try and tie it himself.

I watch him struggle for a minute before I take pity on him. "Here, I'll get it." Its a good thing I'm wearing heels, I have no trouble reaching him.

"You look nice." He says.

"Thank you. I like your suit. It looks like every other suit out there." I reply.

He laughs. "Would you rather I wear a dress?"

"Only if you want to. You can't wear the same one as me, though."

"Yeah. You know I'll wear it better." I can't help but smile. He has an amazing sense of humor. Everything is easy with him.

I finish fixing the tie and step back to see the finish product. "You're red carpet ready, Peeta."

"What's this movie about again?" He asks.

"Its about-"

"Kat, are you ready?" Haymitch bursts into the room. "Car will be here in ten."

"I think we're good to go." I stand next to Peeta, looping my arm through his. "How do we look?" We both pose, pretending there's a camera near by. We look ridiculous.

Haymitch stares at us for a second. "Let me talk to you for a minute, Katniss." He motions for Effie and Haymitch to leave.

"I'll have to stay and hear this." Effie says.

"I don't think so. This is private." Effie huffs but leaves the room with Peeta.

"What do you want to tell me?" I don't understand why we have to be alone.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Kat. Are you over Gale?"

Haymitch hasn't asked me about him. He's been letting me handle the pain, he understands that I like my space. So if he thinks he has to intervene, it must be because he senses something is troubling me. And he might be right.

"Yes. Completely." I think for the most part, I am. I have forgiven him for his betrayal, that's an important milestone.

"I'm not asking if you think you are, I'm asking if you're sure." I can't say anything to that. "Its Peeta. You're really close to him. I understand its because of all that's going on in front of the cameras, but away from the public eye..."

"Away from them, nothing happens. I'm an actress, Haymitch. I lie for a living. I've pretended to love a lot of men, Peeta is one of them. And its not like I'm using him, he knows." I say.

"You're right, he agreed to this. But that doesn't mean he's like you. Its only natural that over time, the two of you might feel attached." Haymicth continues. "I can see he does. The way he acts around you, its not forced at all. And for him to put himself through all of this, it has to be because he's willing to do it. For you."

I have to put up my defenses. I can't bear to hear this. I see the signs. I am disappointed in myself, because never once have I tried to pull away from Peeta. I like what he offers, I don't care if its real or not. He's there and Gale isn't.

"Haymitch, he's doing this because he has something to gain! Do you see how well his paintings are selling? The mayor wants to buy some. Collectors are flying over from France, Italy, Poland, just to buy them and meet the artist. Don't tell me he has nothing to gain."

"You know him better than I do but I can tell he's not the kind to do something for money. You say he lives in a studio. He has the money to move out, he doesn't. He can live off his paintings but he works at the bar with his friend." Haymitch says. "It was never about the art. If it was, its not anymore. From the moment he met you, he wanted to help. You had that effect on him. He's only just realized its because he's in l-"

"Stop it!" I yell. "I'm not going to talk about it! I want to go to this premiere and get it over with. Tomorrow, we come up with a plan to stage a break up."

Haymitch's phone rings. Our car is here.

Peeta:

The movie went by in a flash It wasn't an Oscar kind of movie, but I think it'll do the job. The action and fights will draw guys into the theater. That's supposed to be the goal, right?

"How'd you like it?" Katniss asks. I've volunteered to walk her back to her room. We're on the same floor, but still. I'm a gentleman.

"It was good. Fight scenes were cool." I say.

She smiles tiredly. "I did all my own stunts."

I nod and tell her she did great.

"You wanna come in? We haven't had any dinner, we could order something."

I am kind of hungry so I don't see anything wrong with staying. "Sure."

Her suite is almost identical to mine, the only difference is the gift baskets. She's got fruits, cakes, pie. The works. Hotels always try sucking up to celebrities.

"Ugh. I'm not even gonna eat that stuff. "She says pointing to the fruits. "I'm all about the cake."

I laugh. "I make a mean red velvet, you should try it sometime." I'm not lying, Its good.

"I will. Okay, we can pick some stuff out."

We order some cake, shrimp, and she gets a bottle of champagne. A celebration is in order, she says.

"You know, we don't leave until tomorrow. You can visit you brothers." She remembers.

"I don't really think that's a good idea." I say. I haven't explained my situation.

Katniss tilts her head, I can see her confusion. "Can I ask why?"

I'm surprised she's asking. I thought she'd just wave it off as nothing. "You want to know?"

She half smiles. "Yeah. You put up with my crap, I'll listen to yours. What, you don't think we're close enough?" She teases.

I smile back at her. "No, we're definitely close. I'll tell you, then. I left New York after my parents died in an accident. My brothers, they wanted me to stay. I couldn't, I couldn't face my grief. So I packed up and left them. I didn't tell them where I was going and we just...lost touch."

I have to say, Bran and Ryan are doing a great job at ignoring me. Neither has tried to find me. And I've seen nothing in the papers. Guess it wouldn't be ideal for business.

"I get that." Katniss sighs. "I did the same thing when I was young. My dad died in West Virginia and I left for LA with Haymitch and my sister, Prim. Then, Prim got sick. She passed away almost three years ago. But I met Gale and I stayed in LA." It bothers me that she credits Gale with saving her. I can only see the mess he left behind.

"I'm sorry about Prim and your dad."

"I'm sorry about your parents."

Our voices are flat, but we both mean it. People always say that sort of stuff, to show they care. But we're different, we've both experienced it. We know these words won't really do anything. Still, I appreciate her listening to me. And not prying.

I don't know if its pity or sadness, but Katniss draws closer. And she kisses me. There are no cameras, no reporters. She kisses me. I pull her close, mostly because I'm selfish and I love the feeling of her lips on mine. I'll regret taking advantage of her emotional state later, but for now this is enough.

When she pulls away, she doesn't meet my eyes.

"I have to get going." I say.

I want her to ask me to stay. She has to remind me about our dinner, then I'll stay. But she doesn't. She nods, almost like she's in a trance. I leave without even a goodnight.

Haymtch knows the truth, Katniss wants to deny it. She feels bad for pretending to like him back, but is she really pretending? I don't know. Thank you for reading and leave me some reviews!