the next day, katniss goes back to the apartment to get some of her things so she can stya with madge. she runs into rye and theyre going away for the rest of the week and weekend. she could stay there alone, but she'd rather help madge. she doesn't want to say goodbye to peeta

The night bus is quiet and empty. Since IU is IUPUI's parent school, they have shuttles to take students back and forth. It also helps that Indy has the airport, and IU has a lot of international students. The quietness of the bus gives off an eerie effect, but it is easier to cry in the dark.

I decide to stay with Madge, deciding that neither of us should be alone tonight. It's only when Annie tells us that they've begun the hour and half drive back the next morning that I pull myself out of my depression and make my way back to my apartment.

I shower and pack my essentials. My plan is to head back to Madge's since I don't think I can stay in this apartment with the two of them. Not until they make up, and maybe not even then. Nothing will be the same, and I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I'm startled out of a day dream when the door to the apartment opens. "Katniss!?" I hear Peeta yell. Luckily for me, I'm hidden deep within the closet of my bedroom.

"Just because her car's here, doesn't mean she is," I hear Rye complaining. There's knocking on my door, a pause, and then more knocking. "See?"

I hear Peeta's voice reply, but I can't make out the words. A few seconds later, I hear the door shut to Peeta's room. I decide that it is now or never. I need to make my escape. Grabbing my bag of clothing and chargers, I sneak out of my room and creep through the living room.

I'm almost to the door when I hear, "Going somewhere?"

I turn around and am greeted with Rye, who is sporting a black eye. He leans against the doorframe to the kitchen. "Madge's."

His good eyebrow lifts at my words and he pushes off the wall. He takes a couple of steps toward me, but I take a couple steps back. He softly tells me, "You can stay here, you know. Peeta and I are going to go on a trip for the rest of the weekend. We have somethings we need to talk about."

"That's great, Rye," I tell him, and I mean it. I hate that I caused a physical fight between the two of them. I really don't want to be the reason they end up hating each other. I couldn't live with myself if that was the case.

"Will you tell Madge that I'm sorry? She's not answering any of my calls or texts."

I almost want to feel bad for Rye. He finally lands the girl, only to lose her over a stupid fight. Was I really worth that? Perhaps Rye and Peeta should have a talk about priorities on this trip.

"I will," I tell him. I will tell her, but I make no promises that she will reply.

"I'm sorry that I caused a scene," Rye confesses while looking down at his feet. "I was so caught off guard by what you said. I thought that he took advantage of you. You're one of my best friends. You're like a sister to me, and I thought that I lured you into the tiger's den. I thought it was my fault."

My mood towards the younger Mellark softens. Maybe Madge and I had it wrong. Maybe his actions weren't filed by hidden lust for me, maybe it was sibling affection. "It wasn't your fault, Rye. It's my mistake."

"I knew something was wrong between the two of you. I should have pressed you harder about it," he says while shaking his head. He's clearly beaten up about the whole ordeal. "I'm really sorry, Katniss."

"I accept your apology," I say with a small smile. Then I add, "You should tell that to Madge. She really needs to hear it."

"If she ever talks to me again," he mumbles in a grumpy voice.

"She will," I tell him in a confident voice. "Or I'll make her."

"Do you want to say goodbye to Peeta?" The question throws me off guard. I've been standing in the living room of the tiny apartment talking in a normal voice. Peeta should have heard us by now. He could be out here on his knees begging me for forgiveness. Telling me he's sorry for the fight. Telling me he's sorry for everything because he hasn't come out here yet.

That makes my decision easier. "No. See you later, Rye."

Two weeks pass before I am able to drag myself back to the apartment. I need to get my stuff and put it in storage for when I find a new place to live. I have checked in with my internship, and they're seeing if the can make room for me earlier than expected. I was hoping to head there as soon as this semester ends rather than at the end of summer. I needed away from here.

In the meantime, I've added my name to a list of temporary housing at the university and applied for summer housing. I want to cover all of my bases this time.

It's a Friday in late March. The rain seems endless. It is not ideal weather for moving out of an apartment, but I'll do whatever I have to. Annie may have mentioned that Madge and Rye had a date. Annie heard from Finnick that Peeta would be a school function tonight.

I use my key to let me in the apartment. I was in such a hurry to get out of the rain that I did not notice the living room light on. It isn't until I turn around that I discover I am not alone. Peeta sits on the couch in a sky blue button up shirt and dark dress pants. Beside him sits a woman. Blonde and beautiful. In a dress.

It doesn't feel like I've interrupted a meeting before a school function. It feels like I've walked in on a date.

My eyes go wide. My face heats up, and I sputter out an apologize that I will cringe about for the rest of my life. My belongings are forgotten, and I rush out of the apartment and back into the rain.

I'm in my car in seconds, but I'm still too slow. A hand stops me from closing the door. I look up and stare into the bluest eyes I've ever known. Heartbroken and confused. "What are you doing here, Katniss?"

I stare at him for a second longer. "You weren't supposed to be here." It's a whisper, but he hears it. His face falls. What did he want me to say? I came back for you?

He shakes his head and gives me a cold glare. "Why won't you answer my calls? My emails? No one will tell me where you are?" There's a sense of urgency in his voice, and my heart flutters when I realize he's been trying to contact me.

Then, guilt rushes over me. I blocked his number all those days ago. I asked my friends to not tell him where I was. I wanted to be dead and buried to Peeta Mellark. A decision I am currently regretting. "I wasn't ready to talk."

"What about me?" He asks in an angry voice, almost shouting. "What about what I want?"

I clear my throat and force the tears to stay in my eyes. "I'm sorry I interrupted your date. Don't let me spoil your night." I try to close the car door, but he holds his grip.

"Date?" He asks with wide eyes. "That's Glimmer. We're chaperoning a school dance tonight. She's new. Just started after Spring Break."

Glimmer? What a stupid name, I think to myself. I drop his gaze and stare at the rain spots on his shirt. He'll have to change. "I'm sorry" is all I can think to say.

"You should be. You ran away. You won't talk to me. You won't let me fix things."

His words make my eyes snap up to meet his. Now I'm angry. "What is there to fix?"

He narrows his eyes at me and leans in closer. I can feel his breath on my face when he says, "Us. Everything."

"I wasn't aware that there was even an us," I spit out. "Your moods are always sour, and you treat me like dirt under your shoe."

"Katniss-" he starts with an apologetic look on his face, but I interrupt.

"No, Peeta. There never was an us. You made that clear." I rip the car door from his hand and slam it hard.

Peeta watches as I drive away and gets soaked by the rain.

I skip a class that I don't care about anyways to collect my belongings a few days later. I can't risk running into Peeta again. I know if he gets the chance, he'll talk me out of my stubbornness. He was always good with words. I also know that I won't be able to resist those ocean blue eyes and lopsided smile.

I miss the way he lightly snores when he sleeps, always with the window open. The smell of his cologne. His cooking. The way he double knots his shoe laces.

I don't unblock Peeta. I delete his emails without reading them. I need to stay strong.

I will not come between Rye and Peeta even if they tell me things are okay. I would have never let someone come between me and Prim. I have to do this for them. For her.