Chapter 21

Peeta

Peeta bobbed his leg up and down nervously as he waited for Cato and Katniss to emerge from the computer lab. His book lay open useless on his lap as Rue flitted between aisles of books seemingly at random. He knew he should try and focus more on his own project but he couldn't seem to pull his eyes or his brain away from what might or might not be happening in that computer lab.

"Peeta?" Rue asked making Peeta jump not realizing she had returned to the table.

"Sorry. What?" He asked as he shook his head trying to regain his focus.

"I asked you how far you got in that book It.Are you okay? You seemed kind of flushed." Rue looked him over with her large brown eyes and then nervously flicked them to the door. "I'm sure she's fine Peeta they aren't alone up there but we really do need to do our best on this assignment and being it's for Coin we are going to have to work hard to even pass I'm sure." She bit her lip and flipped angrily through the pages of a book that lay open on the desktop in front of her.

Peeta brought his attention back to Rue and silently admonished himself. "I'm sorry you got paired with me Rue. I know she doesn't like me but I didn't want you to get dragged through the mud too. Hopefully she'll grade fairly, we'll do an extra good job and just hope for the best." Rue nodded and a small smile spread on her young face. "I'm about half way through this book. I suppose it helps that I've been too nervous to sleep well with Cato in the next bed. It's pretty gruesome and graphic and if I did like clowns I sure don't now."

Rue giggled a little. "Any ideas on what artistic endeavor we want to take a hand at?"

"I don't know. Did you have something in mind? I could always paint something I suppose showing a scene from the book?"

Rue's eyes got large, "That's perfect. Tell you what. How about I focus on the research paper and you can do the art work? That's dividing the work in half so to speak. I'm rubbish with anything art wise or creative. I don't mind writing the research paper though. Though I will have to pick a theme."

Peeta smiled at her bouncy attitude. "How about we do a little more digging and finish up a few stories and then we can try to figure out that together?"

"Sure, how about tomorrow night we'll pick it so I'll have plenty of time to research it." Rue asked as she stood and bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Sounds good. I'm sure I can read the last half of this tonight, I have a feeling I won't be sleeping again." Peeta laughed at his predicament but the moment it had slipped past his mouth he regretted it when he saw Rue's eyebrows knit in worry. He was just about to tell her that she shouldn't worry about it when the door to the computer lab clanged open.

"Thanks for everything Katniss, I'll see you tomorrow." Cato said as he shot a beaming smile towards Katniss as he descended the stairs. He shot a glare at Peeta as he passed to join his group of friends at another table. Peeta turned back to look at Katniss and rush to her aid if necessary but she seemed perfectly fine as she descended the stairs.

She laid her bag down on the table and pulled out a chair next to Rue. "How'd it go?" He asked her softly and started nervously bouncing his leg again.

"Oddly okay." Katniss said, "I don't know, I didn't know he was capable of working or actually being decent."

They left it at that and made their way to their respective dorms to drop off their book laden bags and then met back up in front of the front room for the movie night. Peeta was actually looking forward to tonight, he hadn't watched a movie other than the one Coin had showed the class and he couldn't really remember that one having gone into a sleep deprived panic attack. Tonight they were showing some movie of Nicholas Sparks, all Peeta knew was that it was a movie all the girls were squealing in delight about, so no doubt it was a chick flick.

Peeta didn't mind, at least he figured that the movie wouldn't induce any more panic attacks that he might get if he watched car accidents or explosions and gun shots. They all still seemed to make his heart quicken at just the thought, he hoped one day to overcome it, he rather enjoyed movies like Die Hard and he couldn't imagine avoiding them for the rest of his life. Tonight though he would scoot up to Katniss and just enjoy a few hours where he knew nothing bad was going to happen.

They found a spot near the back wall and gathered the floor mats that they dispersed to make sitting on the floor more comfortable. They grabbed the brown bags of popcorn that were just starting to show the grease through the bottom along with some napkins and a few cans of soda. Peeta slid so he was nearly touching Katniss from shoulder to ankle and happily waited for the movie to start. Rue sat and chatted with Annie while she waited for Finnick. Slowly everyone seemed to trickle in and find a spot near them. The lights dimmed and only a few small lamps were left on so they weren't left in total darkness and the movie began.

He paid attention briefly in the beginning and then lost all track of the movie as he carefully took in Katniss's profile. Her beauty still overwhelmed him at times and he was thankful for the dim lights because he was sure that his face was burning red. Katniss spared him a glance and small smile and then slowly her hand crept over to his thigh where she casually rested it on him. He covered her small hand with his and began tracing circles on it with the back of his thumb. Taking a quick look around the room Peeta realized that no one was watching, they were all either engrossed in the movie or sneaking a feel or a kiss where they could before Haymitch took notice. Haymitch though seemed to be partaking in a little celebratory drink from his flask and didn't seem to notice much or care what the students were up to.

As the movie wore on Peeta and Katniss slid closer together, her leg wrapped over the top of his, his arm around her shoulder and small body tucked into his side. He rested his chin on top of her head and ran his hand on the outside of her hip. When she looked up at him with her silver eyes alight with mischief he couldn't hold it any longer he bent down and captured her lips with his. He immediately felt the spark all the way down to his toes and it nearly set him on fire. They kissed heatedly waging war with their tongues not caring who was watching until Rue cleared her mouth. People were starting to stand and gather their things as the credits for the movie rolled.

"I had fun tonight." Katniss told him as she nervously tugged on her braid.

"Me too." Peeta answered his face red and warm. He stood and stretched out his limbs before folding up their mat to return to the pile. Katniss picked up their garbage and tossed it as they walked out the door. "Meeting with Cato tomorrow then?" He asked her conversationally.

"Yea, after lunch in the court yard. Can you make it?" She asked him softly. He nodded and smiled. He dipped quickly before he could talk himself out of it and gave her a quick peck goodnight before watching her depart for her dorm.

The next day was bright and sunny and a majority of the student body was spending the afternoon out on the grounds. Peeta and Rue sat beneath a large oak tree while they hashed out the details of their essay and Peeta began sketching ideas for the canvas he was going to paint. He kept a wary on Katniss and Cato but they seemed to be working without issue in a sunny patch next to the building. Peeta couldn't help but wait for the other shoe to drop. One thing he had certainly learned from reading Stephen King is that just when you think you are safe is when all hell tends to break loose. Either Peeta was becoming paranoid or this really was just the calm before the storm.

After Cato and Katniss separated ways Rue and Peeta joined her to meet up for dinner. The boisterous group once again conglomerated at their usual table and they had a boisterous and fun time at dinner. Peeta smiled more than he had in a while, it was nice having friends and feeling genuinely wanted for who he was. As they stood to leave Peeta felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He whipped his head around to see if there was someone there but he saw no one.

"Are you okay?" Katniss asked as they dumped their garbage and set their treys in the bin to be washed.

"Ever get the feeling something bad is going to happen?" Peeta asked her as they headed out of the cafeteria.

"Yea I do." Katniss answered repressing a shudder and running her hands along her arms as though she were suddenly chilled.

They again exchanged a soft good night kiss and returned to their separate dorms to do homework before lights out. Peeta had finished his book the previous night and had made good progress on the sketch he was going to use for a painting. He just needed to read Haymitch's chapters and answer the chapter questions and he would be caught up until Monday.

He sat down and began to read the boring chapter on genetics when his eyes began to droop in exhaustion. Apparently his sleeping habits were catching up with him. He was awoken sometime later by the door shutting and Cato strutting in.

"What's up bread boy?" He asked as he sat down in his chair. Peeta couldn't help but think the boy was nearly leering at him. He had a cocky grin plastered on his face that made Peeta's stomach roll. He couldn't help but think that he was up to something or had done something.

"I had such a wonderful evening." Cato began and Peeta held his breath. This was when it all went bad, he knew it. Cato didn't say anything just smirked and turned to change into his bed clothes. When he raised his shirt over his head Peeta caught sight of scratch marks along his back. Cato had caught him looking and grinned even larger, "Some girls like it rough what can I say." He laughed at that, actually laughed.

Peeta focused his energy on the book to keep from saying anything. Cato sauntered back out of the room to use the bathroom and Peeta let out the breath he had been holding. There was a sudden knock on the door that made Peeta drop the book and then swear in frustration. "Seriously Cato you didn't lock the damn door just open it!" He bellowed out.

"Peeta?" Rue's muffled voice came through the door.

He immediately jumped to his feet his heart in his throat. It was nearly curfew and Rue appearing at his door was undoubtedly nothing good. He opened the door to find Rue standing nervously on the other side, her brown eyes wet with tears.

"What is it Rue?" He asked stepping forward and putting is arms on her shoulders and leaning down to look her in the eyes. "Are you okay? "

"It's Katniss Peeta, I can't find her anywhere, I think something may have happened to her." Rue sniffled as the words sank in.

"We need to go to Cinna or Haymitch. Let's go." He didn't even bother to put on his shoes as he led the fragile girl back down to Cinna's quarters. They knocked and waited but no one answered. Perhaps Cinna was out on another errand or was off campus. They walked back to Rue and Katniss's dorm to make sure she hadn't come back before heading off to find Haymitch. They heard the curfew bell tone through the speaker system and Peeta nearly jumped at the harsh intrusion of his thoughts.

Haymitch's office was empty and their knock on his door too went unanswered. "Now what do we do?" Rue asked Peeta trying desperately to remain calm even though she seemed to shake more with each passing moment Katniss was missing.

"We need to go to someone else we can trust. I don't want Coin catching us wandering around after curfew or she'll nail us to the wall." Rue shook her head immediately agreeing with him. "Listen, you go down to the nurse's office and tell her Katniss is missing and to see if she might know where Haymitch or Cinna might be."

"What are you going to do?" Rue asked looking up at him and in that moment he was struck by how much she resembled a small girl rather than a young woman.

"I'm going to start looking for Katniss. I don't know where yet but I have a feeling Cato might know her whereabouts." He answered her in what he hoped was a strong sounding voice. On the inside he was fighting desperately to keep the panic away. It wouldn't do Katniss any good if he folded in on himself with a panic attack now. She needed him and he was damned if he was going to get in his own way.

"Good luck Peeta." Rue said as she jogged down the stairs, her feet made almost no noise on the carpeted staircase. Peeta waved to her and turned to head back to his dorm room to confront Cato. He just prayed to whatever deity there might be that he wasn't too late. If anything happened to Katniss he didn't think he could survive it.

A/N: So I know I promised an update last week (hangs head in shame) but I actually was bitten by a story for a script that I want to film and was diligently working on that. I've seemed to have stalled on that story but was bitten by the bug for this one. The next chapter we will get to see what happened to Katniss and what Coin and Cato are up to. I hope you have enjoyed the story thus far and will stick with me to the conclusion. As always join me on Tumblr for bits of my randomness and eclectic fandoms!