A/N.

Sooooo I'm sorry for the wait, but life has been hectic, and I re-wrote this chapter maaany times. I have a new boyfriend, schoolwork, I recently started giving a friend piano lessons and I have a part time job so I have had zero free time. Peeta's finally said the big L-word (sort of) soooo naturally Katniss is gonna be scared shitless. This is an emotional one, Enjoy!

P.S. I watched Perks of Being a Wallflower last night and it was basically the cutest movie ever, highly recommended!

Chapter 17 - November II

"It was you."

Katniss almost coughed up all of the alcohol that was currently turning in her stomach.

"W-What?" She stammered, not looking him in the eye.

"Come on Katniss," he said softly, suddenly sober. "You know we had something. You have to had felt it."

Katniss had felt it. And it was strong. More so, in the past few weeks, but it had always been there. She just wasn't ready to admit it. The night of the wedding had spooked her, and the next day Katniss had sat down on her own and thought long and hard about it. If she was ready for all of this with Peeta. With anyone.

"I-I don't.. Peeta, I'm sorry." Katniss looked up and Peeta's face crumbled. His eyes were swimming with hurt and anger, and Katniss could feel tears stinging the back of her eyes. "I think you should go."

"Go? Go where Katniss? To the bakery that I've been trying to open for months behind your back so that I could pay back all of the rent I owe you and get my own place? The bakery that I'm opening for you?"

"A-A bakery?"

Peeta was red faced, with anger flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, I thought maybe that if I finally got my shit together and did something that you'd like that. That you'd finally see that I'm here for the long run, and that I'm here for you. But apparently that's not good enough." Katniss was taken aback. She marched towards him and pointed a finger at his chest.

"Well excuse me for not falling in love instantly with the next random guy that performs some big gesture." Peeta looked devastated, and Katniss instantly wished that she could take back the harsh words. Peeta wasn't a random guy. He was in love with her.

"So that's all I am? Some random guy? I love you, Katniss. Love you. I'm not just some guy that wants to get into your pants and leave, but judging by your past that's all you seem to be attracted to."

Katniss' hand left a red, stinging print on Peeta's face. "How dare you. I get raped, and fucked over by guys and you think that you can go and say that kind of shit to me, the person who took you in with no questions asked and accepted you in to her life?"

"Look, Katniss, I'm sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry." Unshed tears were swimming in Peeta's eyes, and Katniss almost lost all of her resolve.

Almost.

"Get out. Now. Go and stay with Finnick or something, I don't care. Just don't come back here."

"Please, don't do this. I didn't mean it, I-I.. Katniss, please." Peeta was practically begging, but Katniss couldn't handle this. She had been perfectly happy in her own little family with Prim and Finnick before he got here. She hadn't asked for him to love her, and she didn't need his love, either.

"Just go, Peeta. I'm sorry."

Katniss slowly left the room and crawled into her bed, before her body started shaking with sobs and the unshed tears began to fall.

Finnick walked in to the apartment about an hour later, and called for Katniss. When he got no answer, he made his way to her bedroom to check for her. What he saw shocked him. Katniss was sitting on top of her bed, the sheets still in place, fully clothed and red-faced. This was bad. Finnick had only ever seen her look like this once. When that son of a bitch had raped her. This wasn't Katniss. Katniss was strong, and independent.

"K-Katniss? What's wrong?"

"He's gone. I've fucked this up so much. What's wrong with me, Finnick?" Katniss looked at Finnick, shocking him when he realised that she was expecting an answer.

"Katniss, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You know that, and I know that. Peeta knows it too." Finnick approached her, wrapping her in a hug.

"This is my fault. I was too scared. I pushed him away. Said shit that I didn't mean." Finnick was confused.

"What happened, Katniss?"

"He told me he loved me and I lost it. He got mad, I slapped him, and now he's gone. Probably not coming back." Katniss shrugged, silent tears streaming down her face.

Finnick hugged her tighter, and then left to get her some water and aspirin. She appeared sober, but he could smell the alcohol coming off of her. He pulled out his phone, too, and dialed Peeta's number. No answer.

Finnick was worried about Peeta, as they had grown incredibly close over the last few months, like brothers. But right now Katniss was his priority. He would choose her over Peeta in a heartbeat, after all that she had done for him.

Like the night that Annie had hit with with that trophy. Finnick knew that when he called Katniss, he had been interrupting something big between her and Peeta. But it was bad. Annie had come to his apartment after the wedding, and invited herself in. Finnick was still a little tipsy from the wedding, and Annie hadn't helped that when she opened a bottle of wine. The wine had clouded his judgement, and before he knew what was happening, he was over her, listening to her ecstatic moans while he moved above her.

After, when they were both sober, Finnick realised the enormity of what he had done. He told Annie that it had been a mistake, and asked her to leave. She hadn't taken this well, clearly wanting him back. They both got out of bed, and had a horrible argument. It ended with anger flashing in Annie's usually soft green eyes, and her throwing an old swimming trophy at him.

She hadn't shown her face since that night, which was fine with Finnick. He had been seeing someone, anyway. She was called Amanda, and Finnick smiled at the thought of her. Amanda was the complete opposite of the trashy girls that he usually went for; she didn't wear make-up, and didn't need it anyway. She liked books, and playing the piano. She was one of the best swimmers that Finnick had ever seen. She had beautiful blonde hair, and the best thing about her was that she loved him, and he loved her.

He returned to Katniss with the water and aspirin, and climbed into her bed. They lay together all night, with Katniss still silently crying; sobbing occasionally. She needed him right now, so his friendship with Peeta would have to wait.

A/N.

Sooooooo I'm sorry. You guys probably hate me (with good reason) but I promise it will all work out! And I gave you some cute Finnick time, awww! Please keep reviewing! They make me smile :)