Chapter 6

(Katniss POV)

The sounds of crickets come in through an open window along with a summer breeze. "You smell so good," soft fluttery kisses make their way up my neck. "I don't what to leave this moment," a strong hand holds me against an even stronger body, while the other hand tangles itself in my hair. "I want to live in this moment forever,"

"I'll allow it," I breath.

The warmth of someone next to me...on top of me, felt so real and in each other in our own little bubble far away from the constant ache in my head and twinges of pain in my body and uncontrollable muscle spasms. I'm exhausted mentally and physically so when consciousness threatens to pull me from my warm dream I fight to fall back into it.

But it's inevitable. When I do wake up I feel the cold creep over me along with disappointment. "Damn" I open my eyes and sit up as best I can with one restraint around my wrist. Ever since they started messing with my brain to see what I remember I come out of their experiments confused and they seem shocked, then I have these intense dreams that feel like I've lived them. My dreams fluctuate between blissful like the dream I just had or nightmares. Some of them I think have to do with when I was imprisoned in the capital and the others are a complete mistery. Any night I have a nightmare though I wake up screaming because it feels so real. When I wake up from dreams like this one though I feel just as frustrated cause I can't remember ever actually experiencing that kind of happiness. I have to fight back the tears that threaten to spill out of me.

I press the hand that isn't handcuffed against my eye 'forget it and moves on' I breathe out trying to calm myself before the tears come, but when I exhale I hear an inhale that wasn't mine. I lower my hand and look over to the chair by the door. My eyes take a second to adjust to the darkness. But I can make out the shape of a body slouched in the chair obviously sleeping.

I squint my eyes harder trying to make out who it is. My stomach clenches with fear 'whos in here?' 'how long have they been here?' I try to control my breathing as my eyes adjust but when I spot the mess of blond hair I know who is occupying the chair.

Peeta lets out a soft snore. I feel the fear fade away and the anger beginning to build, but I talk myself down from it 'they told you he didn't hurt you or have anything to do with you being in the Capital relax,' but I still feel and irritation towards this guy. So when I hear my pillow make contact with his face and hear an audible"Ugh," I feel satisfaction wash over me. Even in the darkness, I can make out the intensity of his blue eyes as they look at me in bewilderment and I glare back through the darkness. "Um here," he sets the pillow on the edge of my bed.

"Why are you here?" I grumble looking down and tug on my blanket to avoid his piercing blue eyes. Even though the rooms dark I still feel him x-raying me with his stare.

"Sorry…I walked by and saw through the window you were alone-" we both look at the window that is fully obscured by the shades. "Ok, the door was open so I came in…I just didn't think you should be alone," neither of us says anything "So you don't remember anything?" I glare up at him 'is this a joke?' "I'm sorry… that was-"

"Stupid," I say matter-of-factly. I watch him squirm under my glare. Who does this guy think he is. I don't care if he had nothing to do with me being in the capital. I don't want him near me.

"Yeah," he runs his hands through his hair "I'm sorry I just want you to be ok with me. I'm not used to people not liking me," I snort at this statement. Now I can see it. This was the boy in school who had all the friends, who everyone liked due to the fact that he was so genuinely kind it was gag-worthy.

"I would never have pegged you for cocky," I roll my eyes.

"No… I'm not…I wasn't trying to be..," He gets up and paces in front of the foot of my bed "I just am usually better at understanding people, and talking to them,"

"That's why they made you the jabberjay?" I ask recalling what Haymitch told me when I asked about Peeta. After I attacked him all I wanted to know was about the man I thought was responsible for my torture. I found out he is a victor of the Hunger Games and he was one of the main people that help to initiate the rebellion of the districts.

"Yeah, I guess," The irritation is evident in his tone, which I wasn't expecting. Peeta Malark is a hard person to peg. I would've thought the conceited smooth talking jabberjay would've loved his title. But as he backs against the wall across from me I can sense his annoyance at being associated with the term.

"It doesn't sound like this jabberjay likes to sing?" I grab my pillow and put it behind my head leaning back on it. Peeta doesn't answer he folds his arms over his chest and looks down at the floor. "Now you stop talking? Aww damn, I thought we were going have a heart to heart" I spit out the word. I feel malicious and knowing that my words are unsettling him is bringing me satisfaction.

"You know you're really sweet," he says sarcastically. Pushing himself away from the wall he walks around my bed closer to me on the side I'm handcuffed. "A real charmer," the annoyance is evident in his tone and it just makes me want to continue my verbal asault.

"Isn't that how you greet strange men that come into your room and watch sleeping?" I fire back "I wouldn't know," I knock on my head animatedly "All empty up there," Peeta's eyes widen "Is this how you get off Malark harassing the patients in the hospital? Going from room to room trying to gain their sympathy? Trying to convince them and yourself that you started this war for a good cause" My voice sounds strangled and scratchy but it continues to rise as I gain momentum "and not just because your dead girlfriend forced you into it?" I can tell I've hit a nerve by the way he steps towards me furry burning in his eyes ready to interrupt me but I don't give him the chance. He looks murderous. Now my voice is low but its laced with loathing "Are you happy with yourself? Are you happy with what you have accomplished? How do you sleep at night know all the terrible things you put the people of Panam through?" Peeta's eye twitches. He knows everything I say is right "Yeah, I got a full recap of the past 2 years and all of Panam's blood is on your hands "I'm breathing is coming in harsh gasps.

"I can't imagine what you have endured," he says dangerously soft "But don't pretend that just because you got a 'recap' means you know anything about the decisions I've had to live with or the losses I've endured. Don't you think I know all this is my fault? Don't you think I know how many people were slaughtered or tortured because of the things I did? I'm trying to help as best as I can and I just came here to help with-"

"No one asked for your goddamn help! Especially me!" I'm screaming now. How nieve can this man be. I am literally proof of what he has caused to happen and he will never be able to fix that.

"What the hell are you doing?" The door flies open, and the lights go one. There is a commotion with a bunch of people running into the room but they aren't important. I blink rapidly to adjust to the light but keep my eyes locked on Peeta's not breaking the stare off. Something changes in his expression though. One minute he's staring daggers at me looking like he'd like nothing else than to strangle me. But the next second his mouth drops open and his eyes bulge out of his head. They sweep over me taking in my face and then he whips around to see Haymitch standing in the doorway looking warry. Peeta returns his gaze to me, and staggers backward and trips over his own feet falling to the floor. Haymitch runs in front of him "Not here" Whats this guys issue. Haymitch is wrapping his hands around Peeta's arm trying to yank him to his feet. "You can't do this here Boy, get up. Get up!" Haymitch demands. Peeta looks to Haymitch as if some gruesome truth has been confirmed, then they dart back to be filled with tears.

"No…no," Haymitch begins to drag him out of the room Peeta is fighting hard to get out of Haymitches grasp but it's useless. He's completely belligerent and is screaming like a nutcase "No you can't…" is the last thing I hear before he's dragged into the hall and the door shuts.

"Goodnight you wacko," I yell and put my head back on the pillow. I don't even bother worrying about his breakdown. I close my eyes and surprisingly I find sleep in no time.