A/N: I am so so SO SOSSOSOSOSOSOSOSO sorry my lovelies! I had to turn in my computer, so I lost my entire piece, including Chapter 37. THEN, I re-typed it yesterday. I tried to publish it, but it wouldn't upload. Then, my computer died. Like, flat out DIED. It won't turn on. THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN TYPED UP FOUR TIMES for you! BECAUSE I love you all so much! And a SUPER SPECIAL thank you to dogalena for your lovely review, it made me so happy! SO! Here is Chapter 37, for your enjoyment. c:

Chapter 37

Katniss POV

I was tempted to rip the letter up. Rip it up, throw it into the fire, and watch it burn. But something inside me kept saying no. It told me over and over that no matter what, even through all that had happened, he was still my best friend. So, with shaky hands, I sat on the couch, and opened the letter.

Hey, Catnip.

Even when he was writing he addressed me by my nickname.

I bet you've probably noticed I haven't been around a lot. I decided to move back to 2, back to the rest of my family. But I made a mistake.

I rolled my eyes. Shocker! I thought with sarcasm.

I left someone behind. Someone I really, truly care about, and someone that I really hurt. I am coming back to 12, and I was hoping I could meet with you. I need your help with this. I know I left thing on a sour note, but I am really, really sorry. So, please.

And that was the end. It wasn't signed, no "thank you" or "goodbye". Just... "Please."

I sigh, fold up the letter, and put it pack in the envelope. I walk upstairs, to the small desk we have, and pull out a piece of paper to write.

Gale,

That's as far as I get. I sit, staring at the blank paper for at least half an hour.

Thank you for writing.

I scoff, and scribble that out.

I was surprised-

But I scribble over that too. I crumple up the paper, and toss it across the room.

It shouldn't be this hard.

I pull out another paper, and concentrate.

Gale,

I would like to meet with you when you come to 12, and I'll try to help with whatever you you need somewhere to stay, we have a spare bedroom.

-Katniss

I quickly fold up the letter, jam it into an envelope, and seal it.

"Good enough." I breathe, and stand up.

I go to take another shower, feeling gross and sweaty after my jog. When I'm done, I put on warm pajamas, despite the heat outside. I go to the kitchen, and boil water.

I'm going to cook dinner tonight.

I boil the potatoes, and find a large portion of meat in the refrigerator.

I realize that I want to make stew, and the potatoes can't be boiled for that. Not thinking, I reach into the pots, wanting to quickly get the potatoes out. I scream when I touch one, forgetting about the boiling water. I drop the potato, and run my hand under cool water, trying to hold back tears. After a while, I turn off the water, and run to the bathroom, where I wrap my hand with gauze.

When I calm down, I go back to cooking, and, with potholders, dump the contents of the potato pot into a strainer, and set the potatoes in a line on a bit of cloth to cool down. I cube up the meat, tossing it into a pan, and I cook it until it's brown. Then, I put it in a pot, with carrots, water, and a few other ingredients, and cook it as a stew.

I slice up what's left of the loaf Peeta brought home the other day, and set it on the table. I pour water into glasses, and set those in front of steaming bowls of stew.

By the time Peeta gets home, the stew will be cool enough to eat.

I sit on the couch, exhausted. I look at the clock.

5:30

I yawn, stretching my arms over my head.

"Peeta will be home in... Half an hour."

I lay down, snuggled under a blanket.

"Quick nap." I say quietly, yawning again. "Quick nap..."

The next time I open my eyes, Peeta's right next to me.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

I blink, looking around.

"What time is it?" I mumble sleepily.

"It's 8. I got home really late today, I'm sorry." He chuckles.

"No, don't be." I say, sitting up. "Dinner's on the table." I point weakly with my hand, and notice the bandage. So does Peeta.

"Oh my God, Katniss! What happened?"

"Oh." I start at my hand. "I burnt it. On water."

He smiles, and hugs me. "I already ate, thank you."

"Was it good?" I ask.

"Very."

I close my eyes again, and smile, exhausted. I feel Peeta pick me up, and he carries me upstairs. He lays me down on the bed, and I pull him down next to me. He laughs, and lays on his side, facing me. I stretch over, and kiss him once, softly.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

I close my eyes, and smile. I fall asleep, and wake up just as Peeta is leaving for work. I run down the stairs, and run straight into him, wrapping my arms around him. He stumbles backwards for a moment, laughing.

"Are you okay, Katniss?" He asks, wrapping an arm around me. I nod.

"Just wanted to say bye…" I say quietly. He pulls back, and studies my face.

"You sure you're okay? I can stay home."

"No, that's fine." I say. "Go to work. I just wanted to say bye." I smile, and kiss him on the cheek.

He leaves, a bewildered look on his face, and I go back up to bed.

Peeta POV

I walk to the bakery, and open up, flipping the sign around. I go inside, and take yesterday's pre-made cookie dough out of the fridge. I roll it out, cut it up, and set the small cookies on sheets to bake. Then, I take bread dough off the cupboards that rose overnight, and put those in the oven to bake first. After everything's cooking, I start to mix new cookie dough. I get a few costumers, children coming in to buy cookies for snack at school, a woman buying a birthday cake for her daughter.

I'm in the back room when I hear the door bell jingle. I wipe my hands on my pants, and walk out.

"Hello?" I ask, but don't see anyone. I hear a scuffling sound, and I peer over the top of the cupboard. There, I see a little girl. She looks up at me, and smiles, her bright blue eyes pinching shut in the corners. Her hair is long, in blonde ringlets, and she can't be more than 4 years old.

I duck behind the counter, and look at her through the glass of the display case. She stares at where I was, with a concerned look on her face. I tap the glass, and she turns to look at me, her smile returning with a giggle.

She looks at all the baked things in the case with wonder, her eyes resting on a cookie I frosted yesterday. It's got a soft pink icing, with brightly colored flowers here and there. Each flower is sparkling, coated in sugar crystals. She smiles, looking at it. I carefully pick it up out of the case, walk around the counter, and hand it to her. She gasps, and hugs me, throwing her short arms around my neck. She lets go, and takes a large bite out of the cookie. She swallows it and looks up at me. She puts a hand to her throat lightly, and says, "Firsty."

"You're thirsty?" I ask, and she nods. I go into the kitchen, get a small cup, fill it with milk, and bring it back out to her. She takes it carefully, wrapping both hands around it, and takes a sip.

"Fank you." She breathes. She takes another bite, then another sip, repeating the process until both the cookie and the milk are gone. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, and smiles at me again. I set the milk cup on the counter, just as a woman walks in.

"Oh, Lilly! I've been looking for you everywhere!" The woman runs over, and scoops the little girl up, cradling her in her arms. The woman turns, and looks at me. "Thank you so much for keeping an eye on her! I hope she didn't get into anything…"

"No, I gave her a cookie she wanted, and some milk."

"Well…" She says, reaching for her purse, "How much was it?"

"You don't have to pay for it." I say. She looks at me, a relieved look on her face.

"Thank you." She breathes, then looks at her watch. "Shoot, I have to be somewhere." She turns to leave. "Thank you again, Peeta!"

She walks outside, and over her shoulder the little girl waves goodbye to the bakery, smiling. I wave back, knowing she can't see me.

Katniss POV

I'm upstairs in bed when I hear the phone ring. I go downstairs slowly, and answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Is Peeta Mellark there?"

"No I'm sorry, he isn't. May I ask who is calling?"

"My name is Amanda Tarbox, I am calling from the office of President Paylor."

I swallow hard, and struggle to keep my voice level.

"And what does Paylor want with Peeta?"

"She would prefer to speak with him about that. I'll call again later, thank you very much." And with that, she hangs up the phone.

I stand there in the kitchen until Peeta gets home, phone still to my ear, dial tone ringing, scared out of my mind.