Author's Note; It's a shorter chapter today. I think it's time for the this story to come to an end so prepare for the final chapters. I never planned this story out and the ideas came to me as I sat down to write the chapters the days I updated. I'm going to start working on another story and I am going to finish it before I upload anything so I can ensure it all makes sense and links together better than this one does. So keep an eye out if that interests you. I will also be adding more to my other story, Futility now that I have two weeks off of school. Thank you to those who have always read this story and supported and inspired me, this story is here because of you guys.

I left with Prim before mum was able to stop me. There was no way I was going to be able to stay there without Peeta, even when Prim was there instead. It had taken a while to get back home seeing as though Peeta had driven us up to my mum's in a car and now we didn't have one, so Prim and I had hitch hiked to get back to District 12 with a family who were travelling to go see some relatives but I didn't really take notice of them at all as my head was consumed by thoughts of Peeta. Why hadn't he tried to make contact with me yet? There was a thought biting at the back of my mind that I had ruined it for us, that I had destroyed our relationship by running off, by getting injured in the first place which had in fact, been caused by me rejecting Peeta in the first place and stubbornly staying at school on my own. As these thoughts cycle in my head, I realise that maybe it would be better for Peeta if we did finish. I haven't been the girlfriend he deserves and needs, I've taken and taken from him without giving even half of what he has given me. I love Peeta more than I could have possibly imagined that I'd love anyone but the question is, is that enough? Peeta deserves the best things possible in life and I'm afraid that, that's not me and the thought breaks my heart.

We were dropped off by the family about five minutes from our house and we thanked them gratefully for their help before they drove off, leaving us alone. My first instinct was to immediately rush over to Peeta's house to find him but Prim's presence besides me stopped me. Prim comes before my own needs. So I walked with her down the empty road to our house, both in walking in silence. I can feel her eyes upon me, obviously knowing what is going on in my head. Prim is the most perceptive person I know, she can simply look at someone and know what they are feeling, and then knows exactly what to say to them. Just like our father. I turn to meet her gaze and as our eyes meet, I see just how much she has grown. She is no longer the dependant little girl that I had to provide for when our mum blocked us out, she is now independent and able to take care of herself, and the strange thing is, I don't think I like it. I'm so proud of her for turning into a beautiful, caring person but I don't want to lose her. She will go off into the world and no doubt take care of others, maybe like I have her and I will be alone but I push this to the back of my mind and focus on the more immanent problems.

I unlock the door and let us both in. The house is cold and silent from the absence of residence in a while but I have little time before Prim turns to me.
"You can go Katniss, I'll be ok. I'll have dinner ready for when you get back." She says with finality in her voice, daring me to argue against her but with a re-assuring smile on her face. I simply nod in response and pull her into a hug, gently resting my cheek on the top of her head. I savour the moment and whisper a thank you into her hair. My little sister isn't so little anymore. Releasing her and with one last smile, I turn around and leave the house once more. Peeta's house isn't very far from mine so it doesn't take me very long to get there but my heart drops in my stomach when I see his car isn't parked outside. He isn't here. There is no way that he wouldn't have made it back by now and I can't think where else he would be. I try and think of every place in the district where he could be and the only place I can come up with is the town so I head off in that direction instead. There isn't much in town, just a few restaurants and shops but it's possible he may have decided to go there before he went home.

It didn't take me long to get into town because the district is so small. I search for any signs of Peeta's car but find nothing. Not until I hear shouting. It isn't just one person, it sounds like a group of people. My instincts are telling me to turn and run as fast as I can, and the new forming scar on my head throbs as I try to fight it. Willing myself forward, I jog down the pathway to a side alley and round the corner. What I see makes me stop and become hesitant with any other actions. There are group of about five guys standing in a tight circle, shouting. I first think that they are just having some kind of argument but that's until one of them starts kicking something on the ground. As I stand there trying to decipher the activities before me, I recognise one of the guys shouting. With the broad shoulders and short gelled blonde hair, my breath catches in my throat. It's Cato. His face is bruised and he is shouting at something in the middle of the circle. An indescribable fear crawls through my body and freezes me on the spot, unable to move, to run away. Not even a month ago, he was chasing me down the street trying to catch me and hurt me. Whatever commotion is going on as prevented him from noticing me though for now so if I left now, he would never even know I was there, if only my legs would move. It's not until then that I notice something moving on the floor. Not something, someone. It takes a minute for my numb brain to process the fact that this group is beating someone to the ground. Within a second the fear that was residing in my blood vanishes now replaced by anger and adrenaline. My limbs escape the stone weight they had a moment ago and I cautiously make my way towards the group. As I get closer, the figure on the ground becomes clearer and I see a man, huddled in a small ball, his arms covering his head and his knees tucked into his stomach to protect his vitals. As I'm about to take action to help him, I notice something else, behind the group, on the other side of the alley. It's Peeta's car.