Peeta POV

I don't know what to do. If I go home my parents may already know about Cato and me, but if I don't go they may think I'm just avoiding them because of it. I can't believe I'm even in this predicament again! If Cato would have only kept his mouth shut I would be in the clear right now but no, he had to make sure that I was his property. Why did he even have to claim me like that. We could have made it subtle and just held hands and maybe given a quick peck on the cheek like other couples. Why can't my life just be simple? Why is it that I, Peeta Mellark, had to be gay? I just feel like a total outcast and now my whole relationship is going to be all anyone is talking about. *sigh* Well, there is nothing I can do about it now. I guess I'll just have to keep moving forward and whatever happens… happens. I decide to postpone going home, just in case, and go to Cato's house. I would rather spend my lasting happy moments with my boyfriend than getting beat and yelled at. Unfortunately, Cato's dad was home and looked as if he was going to kill me. He was sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee and reading the school newspaper when we walked in. He looked up and even though he had a smile on his face, the look in his eyes said something different.

"Oh there you two are… why don't you come over here and relax as you tell me what the hell this is?!"

He slams the newspaper down and on the front page is Cato and me holding hands with the caption "Peeto, the new IT couple". I mean seriously?! Do these people not know the idea of personal? Now what the hell am I supposed to do?! Rye and Nick will have seen this and shown my parents by now! I am so screwed and not to mention that now Cato's dad, Principal Snow, knows about us and looks like he is about to chop off my head.

"Sir, p-please… l-let me explain."

"No Peeta, I will explain this." Cato says as he steps in front of me.

"I told you earlier, I won't let anyone come between us. Especially not my father."

"Cato, I told you this once already, you can't be doing this kind of thing with boys. It makes not only me but this whole family look ridiculous. I absolutely forbid you from seeing this boy… if you know what's good for you."

"No dad, you can't forbid me from seeing him! I love him and no matter what I won't let you come between us just like you did once before! You know I am not afraid of you like I used to be! I am fucking sick and tired of you trying to control my life! Why can't you accept me like mother did?!"

Cato POV

I knew as soon as I mentioned mother, father was going to go off the deep end. At this point, the only thing I was thinking about was protecting Peeta. I saw my father clenching his fist and I knew I only had a mere amount of seconds before he would throw the first punch. I shoved Peeta out of the way and onto the couch.

Peeta POV

I was startled when Cato pushed me into the couch. I was absolutely terrified when Cato's father punched Cato right square in the jaw. That's when all hell broke loose.

"Don't you DARE bring your mother into this! Your mother was just as ignorant as you! I held this family afloat and I ALONE have gotten us to where we are today! I'm not going to let your little love fest with a stupid baker boy drag me down!"

This time, Cato clenched his fist and gave Principal Snow a nasty right hook.

"Don't you ever say such a thing about Peeta ever again! He is the best thing that has happened to me! He understands and listens to what I have to say, whereas you just tell me to ask myself, 'Is it something I would do?' The thing is I'm not like you nor do I ever want to be like you! You are going to understand this right here, right now that I never wanted to be like you! You only care about your stupid image to the public!"

Now Cato had absolutely lost it. He jumped on Snow and used his face as a literal punching bag. I knew I couldn't let this continue any longer, however no matter how hard I tried to move I just… couldn't. Snow finally came back to his senses and pushed Cato off of him. Cato was taken aback and Snow had the upperhand. He took Cato by the shoulders and kneed him in the abdomen. Uppercuts were then being delivered into Cato's abdomen till he was spitting out blood. Snow let him go, Cato fell to the ground, and I ran over to his side.

"Peeta?"

"Yeah Cato, I'm right here." I try to give him a reassuring smile.

"You have to know…"

"What? That you love me? I know that already. You didn't have to do that to prove it you know. I love you too and sometimes you can be real dense about these things, so let me put this plain and simple. On occasions you have to let me protect you. It looks like now is one of those times."

"No Peeta…"

"Cato, it's not up for discussion. I'm not going to let your stuck up, old, dumbass dad hit you around like you're nothing. This time it's my turn to show you how much you mean to me, by doing this."

I round house kicked Snow in the side and he fell over the couch like a beat up rag doll. All I felt was rage now.I couldn't stand the fact that people like Snow judge people based on their preferred partner being a male or female! I mean seriously? What ever happened to "It's what on the inside that counts?!" It doesn't matter if one is gay or straight, they are still people! We have feelings and can feel pain just like straights! The only difference is one prefers the same gender over the opposite. I don't see why my family or Cato's dad can't see that we love each other through thick and thin. Shouldn't that matter and not what image we make in society? Now, I was so blinded by my rage that I just blacked out. When I finally came back to reality, Cato was holding me in his arms, brushing my hair with his hand, whispering

"It's okay, it's all over now."

All the while I had been crying and saw Snow covered in blood and bruises, barley moving. We decided to just leave him there till morning because we knew he couldn't go anywhere in his condition. Cato put me in his car and we drove off to The Cliffs Resort. When we got ther we got out of the car and laid on the hold of the car holding hands. The stars were out and it couldn't be any better. There was silence for at least five minutes before I decided to ask him,

"Cato, what happened in there?"

"Peeta, you don't have to worry about that now. The only thing you need to know is that you saved me and my father will no longer bother us."

He kissed me softly and passionately. In this moment I knew we were meant for each other. We continued talking after our little make out session. First, he told me about how his mother was his only supporter and how wonderful she was. She was there for everything, but his father on the other hand, hated his mother for letting him believe that being gay was okay. He always brought up how it was a sin and that it was wrong in they eyes of God. Eventually, they divorced where Snow got full custody of Cato and held full control of what he was to do. He told me about his first relationship and how his dad got in the way of his happiness and that was the last time. How then and there he swore to himself that he would no longer he afraid of his father and wouldn't fall head over heels in love again. Then, he told me of the first day we met and how he knew I was the one. His eyes sparkled from the starlight when he was explaining all my greatest ASSests and what made me so perfect. We stayed there all night talking about each other and reminiscing on our year together. We thought of our future together and how amazing everything would be. I knew this night would eventually end, but I honestly wish we could have stayed in that moment forever.