Hey guys! I'm am sooooooo happy with the amount of follows, favs and reviews I have! It makes me smile when I get a new one. But a review that I got yesterday, made me smile the most. All the reviews you guys send me r absolutely amazing; whether it's a encouraging one, or it's some criticism. I don't mind, because it just makes me a better writer. When I started writing this fanfic, I never thought I'd get over 100 reviews or even over 40. But I have because of you lovely readers that r reading my fanfic; and I appreciate it so much. I thank you guys for that and I hope to continue to get more. I love you guys! Xx

~Bri

Anyway thx...

Follows:

gabellhalo

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raspberry cake

Favs:

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Reviews:

Suze18

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Glory of Lorien

Emily (Good to hear that it was u reviewing twice and that u love this fanfic. Very appreciated.)

Note: Just to get this clear, I'm making Gale the same age as Katniss and Peeta. Hope that's okay :)

Katniss' POV

The next morning, I feel exhausted. Prim and I stayed up till 1 in the morning. I didn't really fall asleep when I went to bed. I kept waking up every half hour and then by the time I actually fell asleep, mum and Prim were up in the kitchen.

I sigh and get out of bed. I head downstairs and into the kitchen, but it feels like forever before I get there.

"You don't look too good", Prim says.

I rub my eyes and yawn. "No, I didn't exactly sleep too good", I say.

"Do you want to stay home today?" Mum asks me while cooking some eggs.

"No, it's okay. I just probably need to have some coffee", I say. "That will wake me up."

Mum and Prim frown at me. "What do you mean?" Prim asks.

"You don't even like coffee", mum adds.

I frown this time and say, "Oh, yeah."

All of a sudden, Prim goes over to the sink and fills up a glass of water. I think she's just getting a drink so I don't worry about what she's doing. But I should have worried about what she was doing, because as soon as she sits down, "SPOOSH!" All of the water from the glass is now dripping down my face.

My jaw drops but no words come out.

"Did that wake you up?" Prim asks all innocent.

It sure did; but I don't tell her that. I just glare at her as mum hands me some paper towel. She can't help but smirk.

"I don't think it's a really good idea going to school", mum says. She hasn't really talked to me much until now. I don't know whether that is good or that's bad.

"But I've missed out on so much work", I say frustrated as I wipe myself down.

"Well, how about you get some sleep and then when you wake, I'll drive you to school", mum suggests.

I look at her, but not with rudeness. "Okay."

My mum smiles a little before finishing cooking the eggs. She serves up the eggs and we sit down at the table.

"Thanks", I say to her.

Prim looks at me in shock. To be honest, I'm shocked myself. I haven't said thank you to her in a while. This is probably the most I have ever talked to her since dad died. Well, except all the fighting that happened yesterday.

After breakfast, I go upstairs, change and head to bed; without wet clothes. Surprisingly, I nod off straight away...

I wake up at about 12:00. I brush my teeth and hair, change again and then go downstairs and feel more energetic than the last time I was awake.

"Hello, dear", mum says. Dear?

"Hi", I say.

"Are you hungry or would you just like to go to school?" Mum asks me, looking up from her laptop that sits on the table.

"School's fine, I'll buy something at the canteen", I answer.

"Okay, we can go now if you'd like", mum says.

"Yep", I say.

In a matter of seconds, we're out the door and in the car; ready to go.

"So are you glad you're going back to school, or the only reason you want to go is because of missing out of work?" Mum asks me and giving me a quick glance before turning back to focus on the road.

"What do you mean?" I ask casually.

Mum rolls her eyes and says, "I know we haven't really talked much in a while, but I know what I see."

See? Okay, now I'm totally confused. I frown and say, "Still got no idea what you're talking about."

Mum sighs and says, "What's the matter? Besides your father's death, that is."

I look away knowing that my mum ain't stupid. "It doesn't matter."

Mum doesn't push me, she just says, "Okay, but know that if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm always available."

She's finally available to talk now. Wow.

"Fine", I say. But then I start to think that I really do need to talk to someone. The closest people I can talk to about the Peeta situation is Madge or Prim. Madge will just give me another lecture about how I'm gonna break his heart; and Prim would totally agree with Madge, but put it in a nicer way.

Then there's Gale. I already know the answer to that. No way.

But eventually, I know that he's gonna bring it up sooner or later when no one can interrupt us. Gale wouldn't want me to tell Peeta. He probably want me to keep it a secret and will do anything to make me not tell Peeta. But there's guilt I feel whenever I'm around him. Then he does all of these sweet things that make me melt. I don't think I'll ever find someone like him ever again. I don't want to lose him. He's such a nice and caring guy, that he should deserve to know the truth. But until I tell him, there's gonna be lies. I just hope that I won't tell stupid ones.

Finnick is an option. But I don't think he's really a guy to talk about such things; plus, you don't know when he's going to be serious about something or not. The only time I've seen him serious, is when he saw Annie. That was sweet, but would he tell Peeta before I do? I don't know. I don't want to take a chance though.

So who's left; mum. But after everything that has happened, do I really want to talk to her? It's not like she's going to go and tell Peeta. But how would mum react to the news? She can't bring me down after what happened, so it can't be that bad. Right?

"Actually...there is something", I start.

Mum smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah", I answer slowly.

There's silence before mum says, "Speak away."

I have to decide now whether or not I should tell her. Should I? What's the worst that could happen?

Before I can stop myself, I've already started explaining everything. Every little detail I can tell her, I do. I don't know why I am. If yesterday didn't happen, I probably wouldn't be telling her this now. But I am, and I can't believe it. I think that I'm actually starting to forgive my mother. I thought I never would.

I get to the end and my mum stays silent.

"Mum?" I ask quietly.

"How long have you kept it from him?" Mum asks thinking.

"Umm...this is the third day now", I answer.

Mum frowns and says, "Well, it's not like you've been keeping it from him for a month. If you tell him soon, I think he'll understand."

"But I kissed Gale", I say surprised that she isn't lecturing like Madge or Prim would be.

"I know, but Gale kissed you", mum states.

This time I frown. "Seriously Katniss, Peeta will be more angry at Gale than you. He might be upset but still..."

"But I didn't pull away at first", I say as she pulls in at the school.

"But you did when you realized what you were doing", mum says.

I'm still frowning when she parks the car. "Katniss, it's like you want me to be telling you off. I really don't see what you did wrong." Wow, my mum is really good. I should go to her more often. Maybe she is right, maybe I didn't do anything wrong. I keep blaming myself without realizing that it isn't my fault. All I've been thinking about is what I did wrong. Not the other way around.

"Thank you", I say quietly to her.

Mum smiles for real, in what seems like forever. "Glad I made you feel better."

I can't help but smile back. Mum reaches over a gives me a quick hug. "Have a good day at school."

I nod and get out of the car. Even when I walk to class, I'm still smiling for some reason. I don't know exactly why, but I do know that it's some sort of reason that mum made me feel better. For the first time in the past 3 days, I don't feel one bit guilty. It feels great.

I walk down the corridor and to the office. But on the way, I bump into Troy.

"Oh, good afternoon Katniss. Shouldn't you be in class?" Troy eyes me out.

"Just got here", I state. "Just on my way to the office."

"Hmm", Troy answers in response. "Are you going to me after school still?"

Wait, what? "I-

"Madge didn't tell you?" Troy asks suspicious.

To save Madge from getting in trouble by the look of it I say, "Oh, no she did tell me. Just went a bit blank then." I try to act natural and I think I succeed.

"Oh, good", Troy says.

I fake a smile and he says, "Well, I better get going. I'll see you after school then."

I smile again and he leaves. I sigh in relief when he's out of ear shot and head towards the office again.

"Hi I-

I stop myself in response when I recognize who I'm speaking to. I have to try to stop myself from laughing. It's the lady that wears a wig and looks like a clown. She wears way too much makeup, but then again, how would I know if it's a different colour? She wears an orange wig with orange blush. Her eyelashes have sequins it looks like; they must be fake too. But her outfit is even weirder. I can only see her upper part, but it's horrendous. It is orange again, but has this sort of pattern that makes my head dizzy.

The woman starts frowning at me and says, "Yes?"

I snap out of my thoughts and focus again. "Sorry, err..." I trail off. Why was I here again? Oh, yeah right. "I need to sign in."

She smiles and says, "Okay." She reaches over the desk and grabs the sign-in clipboard and a pen. It's only then that I notice a large ring that goes over her pointer finger and the next two. On the ring it says, "Effie." I guess it might be her name. But it could be anyone's name.

She hands me the clipboard and pen. I fill out my name and form, the time and date. I give the board and pen back and Effie (I gather) hands me a late pass card. I say a thank you and head to class.

Why would the school even let her in the office, looking like that? I don't exactly think it's really professional, to be honest.

I go to my locker and check what class is on at the moment. Art. I smile to myself; knowing that Peeta will be there. I have to tell him that I need to talk at lunch. I will, and I'm not backing out.

I head to my art room and pause at the doorway. I'm about to knock, but my teacher sees me.

"Oh, nice for you to join us Miss Everdeen", Mr Gus says. I smile slightly as everyone looks up to look at me. I swallow before going in class.

"Everyone was just finishing off their project", Mr Gus tells me. I nod my head and spot a seat next to Peeta. But he doesn't look to happy. I frown but go and sit next to him anyway. Gale sits next to him but he looks away when I glance at him. What is going on? I sit down and all the chatter returns.

I pull my artwork of the Sydney Harbor bridge out and start to work.

On the table also sits Madge, Clove, Thresh and Fin. But no one talks. Not one single word since I've sat down.

"So, what has been happening?" I ask everyone to brighten the mood.

Gale's about to say something, but Peeta beats him to it. "A lot, actually." Gale looks away as Peeta stares at him with hatred. Oh no, this can't be good.

"Like what?" I ask.

"Katniss", Madge says quietly.

"What?" I ask really confused.

"Just stop", Madge answers.

I look at Clove who's pretending to not listen, but I know she is. Thresh is doing the same as Peeta, staring at Gale, and Finnick is looking at me with sorry. It's like that he feels sorry for me about something. But then I get it, it's about dad's funeral.

"If this is about the funeral-

"Katniss! It's not about the funeral", Madge says calmly. She gives me this look as if she's trying to tell me something.

Out of nowhere, Gale gets up with anger and dashes out of the room. Everyone in the classroom stops talking and drawing. We all look at Mr Gus who says, "Just let him go."

Everyone just sits there for a while, before they continue on what they were doing.

I frown still totally puzzled, but then it hits me. I'm such an idiot and I know Madge will be thinking right now how much of a blonde I am being.

My eyes go wide when I realize it. I look at Peeta and see him drawing his bridge. But he's turned it into a mess, and it's always perfect; but now it's not.

The kiss, this is what it's about. Someone bet me to it. I didn't get to tell him before someone else did. I was going to tell him, I was. Today. But someone wrecked it, who?

"Peeta I-

"No, Katniss. Just stop", Peeta says before getting up and moving to a different table; leaving me feeling miserable for not telling him sooner.

I should have, but I didn't.

I didn't.

Dun, dun dun! Hahaha hope you guys liked it!

So as you probably know, term 3 started today. :( I mean :). (Maybe) Anyway, I will try to update as soon as I can. But if I get homework and stuff, I'm sorry but that has to come first. But I PROMISE as soon as I can I will update. Hopefully, that will be soon. ;)

Thx for reading!

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