A/N: This is the second last chapter! I was debating on this to be the last, but I figured that would be silly to end so abruptly. So one more chapter. Would you guys like an Epilogue?

Thanks for all the alerts, as usual… I love you all!

Congratulations to Jen on winning an Oscar! Even if she fell, she still looked flawless and amazing.

Chapter 26:

Katniss POV:

The first few weeks back to school were terrible. Walking through the halls is much harder than I thought it would be; their loud whispers and laughter. I was sure they pitied me, and I despised it. So I walked alone, insisting Prim hangout with her friends instead. The others? They attempted, but it wasn't possible to hangout with them and not Peeta. Even the thought of him made my stomach twist and turn in guilt.

He stopped following me, after he couldn't chase me anymore. I ran as fast as possible, heading for home. But only then, the realization came to me. I had yet again, pushed him away for no reason. I felt alone and helpless from my own doing. I made my bed so I had to lay in it.

The weather was getting warmer as January faded. The snow disappearing until you could only see the faint snow that blanketed the ground. It was always like this in February. Of course, sometimes we would get the rare snowfall, but it all vanished within a week after.

"Attention, all students. Don't forget to come and pick up your last minute Valentine flowers, as they will be delivered during first period today!" The shrill voice of the secretary rings through my ears almost painfully but vanishes quickly with the loud conversations through the hall.

I finally get to my locker, and attempt to remember my locker combination. Shit. Was it 34? Turning the dial to 16, 5, on the lock, willing it to open but it doesn't budge. Great, now I look awkward. Almost a senior and I can't even get my lock open. I spin the dial back furiously a couple times. Sometimes they needed to be reset in order to open, because they were notoriously cheap. This school is a shithole after all.

I force my brain to remember it. I don't think I could face the embarrassment of going to the janitor. After a few tries, it finally clicks open and I let out the breath I seemed to be holding in.

"Baby, how are you?" I cringe at the endearment, as goose bumps cover my arms. I remember that voice. For the longest time he actually left me alone, probably because he knew that Peeta wouldn't be afraid to kick his ass if he even put a finger on me. Everyone saw what Peeta did to Josh.

I can feel my stomach twist at his scent, and I can feel my meager breakfast attempt to make a return. I force myself to compose myself, and I look at him. Just like the first day of school, he sets his hand on the locker beside mine. I can feel his gaze grow stronger but I turn back to my locker, avoiding him, shoving my book bag in the small space. They really needed to make these lockers bigger; it would really prevent the awkwardness of shoving your stuff in them.

"What? Ignoring me again, Everdeen?" His stare doesn't deteriorate, but I decide not to acknowledge him at all. Digging through my book bag, to make sure I found the right notebook for first class. I don't even remember the order this week, damn Mondays. I glance at the schedule in my locker. Hospitality first. That means class with Peeta and Cato… that's exactly something I need right now.

"Really? Fine, suit yourself. But, do you remember what happened last time?" His smirk is nauseating. Of course I remember what happened last time; he forced his tongue down my throat quite powerfully.

"Kat, don't lie. You loved it." He states, pursing his lips. He moves closer until he has pushed me against the locker in one swift motion.

"Just leave me alone." I mutter, trying to move away from him without success.

"Oh, so she finally speaks." There it is again, that smug smile. He moves his hand to play with a loose tendril that escaped my braid.

"Don't fucking touch her asshole!" I am alarmed at the voice, I know that voice. The voice I am both relieved and frightened to hear. Cato steps away, glancing behind him and forcing his gaze away from me. There he stands, in more formal clothing than normal, his blond hair tousled perfectly. His enchanting blue eyes switch from me to Cato.

"Dude… honestly? Can't you see I'm busy?" He is trying to joke, but this only makes Peeta more furious. His face coloured crimson with anger and his fists turn white.

As much as I would love to stay to see Cato's ass getting whipped… I can't be late for class. I sneak away without glancing back. I already know Peeta's gaze is on me and I can't help but feel a pang of hurt as I walk further away.

Peeta had finally arrived to class, only a couple minutes late. He doesn't seem fazed at all, and the teacher doesn't seem to care for his tardiness. Cato hasn't made an appearance though, which amuses me. He was either to scared, or was physically unable to come.

"Since today is Valentine's Day, you can grab a couple cookies and icing bags to decorate. It's a free period, because I'm feeling exceptionally generous today. Have fun!" Our teacher leaves out the door, to the kitchen. It wasn't protocol to leave your students unattended for long periods of time, but he didn't seem to care. We both got free time, so in the end we were happy. I look to over Rue and she gives me a small smile.

I walk over and get two icing bags and a couple cookies for Rue and I. From what Peeta taught me, I knew I couldn't do this, whatsoever. It always turned out very badly.

"Thank you." Rue says, as I hand her the supplies.

Valentine's Day. To be honest, I never really got the point of it; it just seemed like a dumb excuse to buy candy and chocolate for people. For the people you love. So, it just made me think of Peeta, and how we weren't together anymore. At this point I don't even remember why I ran from him in the first place.

"You aren't together with him anymore?" Rue's sweet voice breaks me from my thoughts and I stare at her. It takes me a couple seconds to realize that she was talking to me.

"What?" She stares at me and begins to giggle, a small smile spread across her face.

"Peeta, he has been staring at you since he came in. I don't even think he is paying any attention to his decorating, which seems odd coming from him. I wasn't sure if you guys had gotten back together or not…" Her voice trails off, and she looks back to her cookie.

I meet his blue gaze; his hand drops the icing bag on the counter. All of his attention, trained solely on me. I don't know how long I have been staring, seconds, minutes… but I begin to feel my legs turn weak like jelly and the butterflies fill my stomach all at once. Before he has a chance to do anything, I turn my head away, avoiding him all together.

"It's a long story…" Rue alternates look between Peeta and I, eventually getting the hint not to push. Silently thanking her for not dragging this terrible subject on.

I have almost given up on the decorating. My cookie, to say the least, looks like a three year old did it. Icing has gotten everywhere except the cookies. A mixture between the colour pink and red, clash to make an off salmon. The colour turns my stomach, and I decide that putting the icing and sprinkles away would be a good idea. Cleaning up after myself, I sit on the stool and wait for everyone else. They seemed to be enthralled in destroying their cookies, instead of making them pretty.

Rue concentrates, as she elaborately moves the icing around the cookie. If I hadn't been mistaken, I would have thought she had worked with Peeta.

"I'm not a baker, but my parents always took pride in teaching me and my siblings the art of cookie beautifying," Her effortless laugh brings a smile to my face. "Yeah so I'm not a professional, but I love to decorate these things. It, in a way, makes me think about my childhood."

My smile falters, all my happy memories died with my father. I honestly didn't have a childhood… considering I was too busy looking after Prim and my mother. I had grown up too fast, and now I yearned for memories like any growing teenager would have. Just to think about something, and all the pleasure comes back in one swift moment, nostalgia.

I look over to Peeta again, his eyes focused on his cookie. I did have happy memories though, with him. Had I neglected to remember my whole relationship with Peeta as being a happy memory?

"Here ye, Here ye… Ladies and Gentleman," Finnick is standing in the doorway with bunches of several different coloured flowers arranged on a cart. He catches sight of me, and winks. Although I haven't been hanging out with any of them lately, they all had still treated me the same as always. When they see me in the hall or in classes, we interact in small mumbles of greetings.

"My handsome figure has fetched these exquisite arrangements." Roses, carnations, daisies, were tied with pink ribbons and red cards that displayed the lucky names.

A few girl's flounce their way up to Finnick, grab their gifts and sit back down. No doubt trying to flirt with him, every girl did. After all he was the Finnick Odair.

"Katniss Everdeen." I escape my day dream, grasping the fact that he has said my name.

"Kitty…." He waves me over to the cart, and I stand up skeptically. Everyone's eyes are on me, as my thoughts run around aimlessly. I knew the giver of this beautiful gift, but I couldn't manage to meet his eyes.

"Here you go gorgeous," Finn says, as he gives me the single red rose and a small one armed hug. I feel nervous from the unwanted attention but Finnick already knows this.

"Walk to your locker and wait for him there." He whispers in my ear, and I simply nod and leave the room. I don't bother to tell my teacher but I don't exactly care if he notices I left without permission. I just need to get away from their prying eyes.

A bright pink banner takes up nearly the whole wall near the office and I don't realize how I never noticed it before. Covered in hearts and sparkles, with big bold printing that says; Happy Valentine's Day! I know the student council decorates the school for practically every possible holiday, but I know five year old's who could make a better banner. I was sad really, but then again so were they. I tuck a loose strand from my braid behind my ears as I walk towards my locker. The nervous habit, I have only recently picked up.

"Katniss, at least let me explain?" His voice is laced with worry and defeat. He must think I'm angry at him, which I'm not. I'm just terrible at showing my feelings. It was like, the progress I had shown these past couple months had evaporated into thin air. We were back to the way we were before, playing Cat and Mouse.

I stop in the middle of the hallway but before I have a chance to say anything, a loud thump echoes in the large space. I turn my heels quickly and find that Peeta is lying on the ground. I'm not sure what happened, either there was a slippery spot, or he lost his footing but there he was. I don't waste any time running over to him.

"Peeta! Oh my god, are you alright?" A moan escapes his lips, making his pain evident. Kneeling beside him, I bring my hand to his scorching cheeks and push the bangs back behind his eyes. Placing my head on his chest lightly, I softly hear his heartbeat through the thick shirt. His chest rises and falls in a rhythm.

"I'm so sorry." I whisper at his chest as tears begin to form in my eyes, tears that have been held in too long. I know I'm not the reason he slipped, but that wasn't why I was saying it.

"I am just so sorry for everything that happened. For all the pain I caused you. I just didn't want to get hurt, I was so afraid of turning into my mother. Truth is, I turned into her despite my intentions. I miss you. I miss the way you smell, I miss the way you look at me, I miss everything about you. I was just so stupid, I needed you. We needed each other. I guess it was just hard for me to recognize what was real, and what wasn't. I love you."

"You know, most people who run into lockers usually have head concussions. Miss, what is your name?" I could practically hear the smile in his voice. I wasn't sure how much of that he heard, but I didn't care. For the first time in months, a real smile spread across my face.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, school life has been quite hectic lately.

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