The thought of Peeta returning my feelings was just that. A thought. After our almost kiss, I haven't seen Peeta at all, and I can't help but feel like he is avoiding me. In a way, I guess I've been avoiding him too. The roads were cleared, and the snow had finally stopped falling by the next morning. Peeta's school had a delay while the university resumed classes as normal. My job at the library resumes, and I spend my time out of the apartment or in my bedroom.

By Friday, Madge, Joanna, and Annie have drug Rye and I to our favorite bar to celebrate making it through our last first week of classes. Rye is endlessly hitting on Madge while Joanna complains about a love sick Annie and her actions the past couple of months. The latter can only grin like a fool. I can only tell them how much I've missed them and this.

We're a couple of tequila shots in when I see him.

From across the bar, I see a familiar head of blond hair and an unforgettable pair of blue eyes. He's dressed in a while polo that makes him look tanner than usual and hotter, if that's possible. The second he sees me, we lock eyes. With the help of tequila, I give him a small wave and thank myself for dressing up tonight. I want him to see me as more than the girl that lounges around his apartment in sweatpants and bagging shirts.

For tonight I've chosen a tight, black bodysuit and ripped blue jeans. My hair has been curled by Annie, my make up was applied by Madge, and my lips are painted red. I give him the best smile I can manage as he makes his way to our table.

There's a man in front of him with dirty blond hair, tanned skin, and a million dollar smile. Honestly, he looks like a model and is too attractive for his own good. When he pulls Annie into a heated kiss, I can only assume that he is Mr. Odair. Annie confirms this when she introduces him to me with a lovesick grin. "Katniss, this is Finnick. Finnick, this is Katniss."

He gives me a warm smile that makes me blush. "Hello, Katniss. I've heard a lot about you from Annie, Rye, and Peeta." The latter shoots him a death glare.

I giggle and shrug. "It's probably all true." There's not a lot to know about me, and there's not a lot that I let people know. My secrets are so secret that no one knows them besides myself.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "'She'll drink any type of alcohol you put in front of her?'"

I blush harder but grin at him like a champion. "One of my best features and biggest downfalls."

Finnick laughs at this. "I hear you're a Florida girl."

My breath hitches when I remember Peeta telling me that Finnick is from Tampa. My eyes flash towards the man, and he gives me an encouraging smile, undoubtably remembering my family confession. "Naples," I tell him with a dry mouth.

"Ah, an islander?" He asks.

"Marco," I say in agreement. Clearly he knows his geography.

Finnick narrows his eyes at me a fraction. "One of my favorites. We'll have to discuss our home state more later. I need to dance with my girl now." He places his beer on the table before us and leads Annie over to the corner reserved for dancing couples.

Peeta slides up best to me, and I ask, "You talk about me?"

I can see a hint of a blush on his cheekbones. "I had to vet my newest roommate, and Finnick is a good judge of character. If I makes you feel any better, I think he likes you." He adds a wink with that last part.

"You were vetting me?" I ask in a surprised voice. "All those questions..." I trail off. For some stupid reason, I feel hurt. I thought we connected.

He shakes his head and puts a hand on my lower back. He leans in to whisper in my ear. "No, those were for me."

A shiver runs through me, and I glance around at our company. Joanna has wondered off, and Rye and Madge look dangerously close to kissing. I take the time to meet Peeta's intense gaze and whisper back, "Good."

The night is filled with laugher, and it begins to end all too soon. Finnick and Annie are the first to leave, snickering like school kids as they go. Joanna finds a man around our age with a buzz cut, strong arms, and a smile that makes me feel uneasy. We tell her to be careful, but she waves us off.

Peeta has stuck beside me most of the night despite numerous attempts by other females to get his attention. I stopped counting after the fifth girl hit on him. Ever a gentleman, Peeta politely lets them know that he's not interested. A small part of me hopes it's because of me.

Rye drove me here, but I don't leave with him. For my sanity, I decide to not ride back to the apartment with him and Madge. Since he drove Finnick, Peeta offers to take me home. I accept.

When we reach the car, Peeta says, "I think we should give them some time."

I give him a confused look. "Time?"

Peeta chuckles and slides into the drivers seat. I take my seat beside him. "Do you want to walk in on them? Our walls are terribly thin."

I gawk at him in horror. "We should give them some time," I hastily agree.

Peeta smiles at me, and I can't help but look into his eyes. I could get lost in them. The spell is broken when he says, "Remember that we share a wall when you bring home men."

A gasp escapes my lips at his boldness. "What?" I exclaim.

Peeta only laughs harder. "We share a wall. It's thin. That's why Rye and I have rooms on opposite ends of the house."

I try my best to ignore the last part. I may have nightmares, but "I don't bring home men."

Peeta cocks his head to one side and studies me. "Why not?"

"I'm not the dating type."

He shakes his head in disbelief. "I don't believe that for a second."

It's my turn to study his expression, but he gives nothing away. "Why not?" I mimic his question.

"Your smart, funny, nice, pretty... I bet you have all the boys falling at your feet."

No, I think to myself. He couldn't be more wrong. No boy wanted to date the freaky girl with attitude problems and dead family baggage.

I sigh and tell him. "None that we're worth my time. I was valedictorian in high school and will graduate summa cum laude in May. I don't have time to date."

"Ah," Peeta says as he shifts the car into reverse. Once its in drive, he says, "So you're a smart one. Geek? Nerd?"

I scoff at his assumption. "No, I just worked hard. Knew what I wanted."

"A change of scenery?" He asks, remembering my words from earlier in the week.

I'm glad his eyes are focused on the road ahead of us, or else he might have caught me turn pale. I can physically feel the blood draining from my face at his words. My pulse quickens, and I am desperately in need of fresh air. "Right" is all I can manage to say.

The car goes silent as we drive in the dark. It allows me time to recover from his question. Too much time, and I start to overthink my response. Unable to take it any longer, I ask, "So, Finnick and Annie?"

A smile spreads across Peeta's face. "They're something, aren't they?"

I nod in agreement even though he can't see it. Finnick and Annie danced for hours. When they weren't dancing, they were making out. It's like they were in their own bubble, their own little world where no one else existed.

"Sickeningly adorable," I say.

Peeta steals a glance at me. "Not a romantic?"

"Never been romanticized," I shrug.

"What?" He asks, teasing me. "Not enough time?"

"Not enough chivalry."

This gets his attention. "That sounds romantic."

I shake my head at his words. "No, it's not. I just want a man to ask me out to dinner or something that resembles a date. It's usually to get drinks or to hook up." I stick my tongue out at the last part. Why would you hook up with random strangers? I add, "There was this one guy that I've known since freshman year. We were friends, but he couldn't take a hint. Always asking if I wanted to hang out with him, to study with him longer... it was just weird."

"You're not talking about my brother, are you?" Peeta jokes. I like this Peeta. Carefree and teasing.

I can't help but laugh at his joke. Early in our friendship, Rye was exactly what I explained. "No, but he could rival that guy."

"What happened to him?" Peeta asks.

My eyes narrow at the question. Why does he care? I decide to let it go and answer, "Transferred to Indianapolis."

As we pull into the driveway, I swear I hear him mumble "Good" under his breath, but I let it go. It was probably my over-active imagination anyways.

"They're totally not done yet," I roll my eyes as Peeta unbuckles his seatbelt. The drive from the bar to our apartment is not a long one.

"What makes you think that?" He asks with a smirk on his perfect face. "Mellark men are excellent lovers."

My face scrunches in response. "Ew, I don't want to think of Rye like that." Rye is innocent in my mind, like a brother that I never wanted.

"But you'd think of me like that?"

My face heats up, and I have to look away from him. My eyes lock on the front door. "I don't know you well enough."

His head tilts to one side, and I meet his gaze again. "But I know your deepest, darkest secret," he says sweetly.

"Maybe I have more..."

Screaming. That's the first thing I remember when I wake up. The noise dies in my throat when I realize I'm the one screaming. I haven't had a nightmare this bad in a long time. My heart is racing, and there's a fresh layer of sweat on my forehead.

Blood. That's the next thing I remember. Scarlet red and staining a white t shirt.

Knocking on my door pulls me from my haze. I scramble to my feet and pull open the door with an embarrassed look on my face. The embarrassment only grows when I'm met with Peeta's concerned eyes.

He looks me over and glances inside my bedroom for the threat. When he doesn't see one, he looks at me for answers. "Thin walls," he shrugs, but I can tell that he wants to say more.

I might still be drunk since the whole room shifts a little, and the weight of what's happening hits me. Peeta has heard me screaming in the middle of the night. "It was a nightmare," I whisper breathlessly.

"That bad?"

I can only sigh. "You don't even know the start. I'm sorry that I woke you up."

He gives me a reassuring smile. "It's fine. You can wake me up anytime. Do you want to talk about it?"

I don't think I could talk about it even if I wanted to. I've tried therapy and counseling, but neither helped put an end to the horrors I see when I close my eyes. I don't always scream. Sometimes, I cry in my sleep. Other times, I am paralyzed with fear and wake up sweating. "Not right now..."

"Okay. Come get me if you need anything," he says while looking me in eyes. I can tell that it's a genuine offer, but I would never inconvenience him like that.

When he's reached his door, I hear myself call out to him. "Peeta," I say before I can stop myself. "Will you stay with me."

He gives me a confused look. "Can you be more specific?" He asks in that teasing way.

"I'm not ready to talk about it, but I don't want to be alone."

He flashes me a smile, like one shared between two old friends. "Always," he says. Then he adds, "Couch?"