First of all, I apologize for the cheesy names. I don't like to make names but I had to lol. Second of all, thank you all of reading, especially if you even remembers this story after that huge period where I didn't update at all. Also thanks for the support. I didn't have much time to reread so my grammar will probably be pathetic so I apologize for that and finally reviews are appreciated. I will try to update as often as my schedule allows me to. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Oh also I know the last few chapters were a bit short. Sorry, I'm having a bit of trouble pacing the story, hopefully its not to much of a problem.

Chapter 12: Reaping

Katniss POV:

It's almost been a month since Peeta and I had our dispute. Things have changed so much since then. Gale took the job offer, and I'm honestly not surprised, it was an eventful day for more than just Peeta and me. We've communicated a bit, but words on paper aren't the same thing as talking and I'm not sure we can talk yet.

My relationship with Peeta has been equally as distant. Sometimes I wake up and feel an extreme cold, and no matter many blankets I use my body shivers and seeks warmth. I know the only thing that can provide that warmth is Peeta, but I don't have the right to look for it.

He's avoided talking to me. He even stopped having dinner at my house. My mother noticed the first day, but she never asked me upright. I saw him a few times, he still brings bread sometimes but every time he sees me he leaves. It makes me hate myself; I know it's my fault.

Last night I sat at my window and looked over to his house. His lights were on and it took all my willpower to not run over to his house. I just want to force him to forgive me; I want him to just understand that I didn't mean to hurt him. Every day has been a challenge, I feel alone.

Today is no exception.

"Katniss…" says Prim as I enter the kitchen, "Can I ask a question?" I nod groggily. She takes a deep breath. "Why doesn't Peeta come over anymore?"

Her words jar me awake. "When do you start school?" I ask desperately trying to escape the topic. She rolls her eyes. Prim is an intelligent girl and my aversion probably answered her question…it's because of me. She analyses my shifting expressions for a few moments, then decides to drop the topic.

"Schools are going to open after the games. They said on the reports that it's symbolic of new beginnings." Her sarcastic tone would be funnier if she weren't so young. It's sad.

"Oh." I say and start to exit the room, but before I have the chance to escape Prim stops me.

"You can talk to me you know… I'm not going to force you but if you ever need someone to talk to I'm here." Her words stop me in my tracks, and it takes all of me to not cry and collapse on the floor.

I feel her hands wrap on mine. "Just don't forget you have family too." She pats my back and leaves the room.

"I know…thank you Prim." She smiles softly. "You should talk to him."

I should. I feel like I need to. But I can't. Besides he probably doesn't want to see my face.

"It's not so easy…"

"Why not?"

I don't want her to know why… "It's just complicated." I pause to think about how much I'm willing to reveal. "I just don't think he wants to see me right now." She frowns slightly.

"I don't know what happened between you two but I don't think he can stay mad at you." The slight smirk on her face lifts my mood….but I know she doesn't know what happened. If she did she wouldn't be so confident.

Peeta POV:

My breakfast tastes bland, everything does. Ever since our falling out I haven't been able to see Katniss. It hurts too much, at the same time it hurts just as bad to not see her. I feel like I'm breaking apart. I don't paint, I don't bake, I don't' do anything. I just watch myself slip slowly into apathy. I've been going to the bakery more often, business has really picked up but even with the bigger work load they still didn't need me. It made me feel even more out of place.

I'm in the middle of preparing my breakfast when I hear the knock on the door.

Katniss! My mind goes straight to her. How could it not. I rush to the door but stop at the doorknob. My hands shake, and I feel my heartbeat quicken. It hurts just to think about her. I collect my courage and turn the door knob. The blue eyes not grey.

Prim stands shyly in front of me. "Can I come in?" she says in a meek voice.

I nod and lead her in. "Is everything ok?"

She looks at me for a moment and says "Why don't you come to dinner." She stares at me intently but I'm absolutely speechless.

"I've been busy" I say while ruffling her hair playfully.

"That's not true is it?" She says with a raised eyebrow.

"No…it isn't." I say defeated, she's much too smart to believe it. "I'm just not sure if I should go over anymore."

"Why?" she adds instantly.

"It's complicated." A small smirk laces her face. "Something funny?" I say slightly peeved.

"Katniss said the same thing." Katniss…her name resounds in my head. I miss her so much.

"How is she?" I ask…giving in to temptation.

"She's ok…especially for today." She says seriously.

"What's happening today?" I ask absentmindedly. She looks at me for a moment before speaking.

"Peeta…today is the reaping of the capitol children." I feel my stomach sink and my body gets heavy. I hadn't thought about the new games at all.

"Does Katniss know?" the concern in my voice is palpable.

"I don't know, I assumed she did but she has been preoccupied lately." She says softly.

For such a young girl she has a great deal of subtlety.

"Prim I just can't talk to her right now. Besides I don't think she wants to talk to me either. I guess the one person she could talk to…." I stop myself before revealing too much, Gale has nothing to do with this moment. Prim cringes with expectation.

"It's just complicated…I told you."

"Ok well I just wanted to know how you were doing. I'm glad you're doing well." With that she makes her way out of my house, leaving me with one resounding thought…Katniss.

Katniss POV:

The sound of the door finally breaks my daze. "Prim?" I yell from the couch. "Is that you?"

Seconds later prim enters the room. "Yeah it's me."

"Where did you go?" I ask curiously.

"Oh, I just went out for some air." She smiles. "I just wanted to get a little bit of Sun." She sits next to me.

It's early but I feel tired, and as I fall asleep, with Prim by my side, with the gentle sunlight and pleasant atmosphere, I feel an ominous sensation.

I wake up hours later, I feel disoriented and lost. Its dark out and the only source of light seems to be the television. Was I watching television?

I rub my eyes, trying to adjust to the sharp contrast of light and dark. I'm still in my haze when I hear the familiar words.

"And the girl third girl tribute is Almina Koinstark"

The word tribute explodes in my brain. What's going on? I bolt straight up and focus my eyes on the television.

THE REAPING!

It's today. I look at the girl crying as she is separated from the crowd. She must be at least sixteen. Slender build, pale skin, she almost doesn't seem like she belongs in the capitol except for her bright pink eyes. They pierce through the television, even when blurred with tears. I catch a glimpse of the other girls; none of them seem to be any younger or any more composed for that matter.

My heart is racing and my stomach is turned upside down. I try to look away but I can't, the horror is taking over me, controlling me.

I look around the room Prim is missing, so is my mother. The room starts spinning and before I know it my instincts take hold. I run out of the room, out my house and straight for Peeta's, the only other person who can understand how I feel at this moment. The only clear thought in my head is will he even talk to me.

I don't have the opportunity to analyze my options. I pound my fists against his door. No answer.

I feel my body get shakier and my will falter. "P—" I can't sound his name. I pound the door harder. Still no answer. My desperation grows.

"Peeta!" I shout piercing the night air. "Peeta please open the door. It's me…please."

I hear his loud footsteps just beyond the door, but I don't see it opening. "I'm sorry…I know I shouldn't come here…but I saw them…it was a girl…Almina!" as I say this the door bursts open and he takes me into his arms.

The warmth of his body instantly calms me, but his hold is different, shaky. It isn't until I take a good look at his face that I see the desperation in his eyes.

"The televisions just turned on Katniss, just like they use to before. I couldn't tell what it was at first, I just heard sounds from the study and I saw her, a girl from the capitol, she was crying…" he shivers.

"I should have thrown away every television set in this house….they're forcing us to watch Katniss!"

I hug him as tight as I can. "I don't want to watch it. I don't want to be a part of it anymore." I bury my face into his shoulders, and I feel his head shake as he passes his hands through my hair.

"We don't have to watch it Katniss. I don't to be a part of it either." He pauses awkwardly. "Is your family watching?" as he says this I can see him bracing himself. But when I shake my head his expression softens. I understand why, I can't imagine what I would feel if my mom or sister watched the games after everything that's happened.

In the distance I hear it faintly, "Trent Oresake" and I feel my heart plunge into desperation once more. Peeta's grip tightens around me.

"I'm sorry Katniss, I just couldn't stay in that room long enough to do anything." I nod. His grip loosens, and before I can tighten my grip on him he escapes my grasp. As he exits the room I feel anxiety creeping up on me. I can't really understand it but I still hear the voice in the background. It's another girl I think. Then silence.

"I had to unplug it…it wouldn't even turn off." I nod silently.

We stand awkwardly in the darkness, the door wide open, inviting a bone chilling breeze.

He walks past me and stands at the door, giving me a questioning look before slowly closing the door. We return to silence.

"I'm sorry I came so late. I just didn't know where else to go."

He nods his head. "I understand." The distance between us chills my body. I want to be in his arms, I just don't know if I should.

"I can leave if you want…" I suggest halfheartedly. Afraid that he would accept my offer, but he doesn't, at the very least he was as rattled by the events as much as I was. Though I know, even at this moment that it isn't the only thing keeping me here.

"Come on, I'll make some tea."

I follow him into the kitchen and sit on a stool by the island counter. He works silently, only speaking when necessary. "Chamomile ok?" I nod, even though he's facing away.

When he hands me the tea I see the smile on his face. Is he happy that I'm here?

"Something wrong?" I say letting curiosity get the best of me. His smile fades and he stares into his cup of hot tea.

"No…" he says after a few seconds of silence. "I just always found it funny that I know you're nodding. You always nod, even if I'm not in the room." As he says this I feel a smile creep on my face.

"I guess you just know me."

He stares into the steaming cup again before taking a careful sip. "Yeah…maybe."

We spend over an hour drinking tea, neither of willing to consider what actions to take once we were done with our beverage.

"Prim came to see me today." Says Peeta while absentmindedly staring into his empty cup.

"Oh? What about?" I ask.

He looks up in surprise. "Oh…um nothing she was just wondering about some bread, she wanted to learn to make."

With that we go back into an awkward silence, until neither of us can deny how tired we are. I look at Peeta intently, wishing I could ask him to go to bed with me, but once again I know I can't really do that.

"Y…you can stay…if you want…if you need to stay. I mean it's really late." I welcome his reasoning, no matter how weak it is.

"Thanks, I wouldn't want to wake Prim or my mother up." He nods understandingly, though he is fully aware that sneaking in and out of my house has never been a problem. We walk cautiously to his room, trying desperately to make no sounds, almost as if we were scared that we would wake up the sleeping spirits in the house, as if any noise would reveal what we're doing.

We get to his room and he signals me to the bed. "I'll be in the room across the hall if you need anything ok?" he smiles….sadly.

The thought of him leaving me alone for the night awakens all my anxiety, and just as he is about to turn away I take hold of his hand. "Stay with me?"

The smile fades, leaving only a mask of sadness. "Always." And with that one word we climb into bed together. A heartbroken boy and the girl who broke his heart.