Willows POV

The gentle caress of Peetas hand keeps my emotions at bay and I can feel my body relaxing into its regular state. My heartbeat is no longer in my ears, my breathing is even, and I can feel my face isn't as hot as before so I guess the redness and puffiness is also decreasing from my crying.

His touch is sending tiny electric shots down my arm into my chest, I welcome the feeling.

Katniss… Her name echoes in my head as an unwanted, yet I suppose needed, reminder that this boy is not available. Peeta is in front of me holding my hand and pulling me through these unfamiliar halls. I stare at his broad shoulders and mass of blonde hair ruefully and then stare at our entwined hands, they fit together perfectly. His large coarse hands holding my petite ones protectively…

Katniss… Her name sounds in my head again.

I sigh deeply and Peeta turns slightly to look at me. I can see the concern in his eyes so I give him a small smile to let him know I'm fine and gaze around the hallway we are travelling through. I don't know why I feel like this or what this feeling is exactly. But I'm sure I'll get over it soon. I've never really had many friends where I was working with the animals so often and didn't attend school so maybe this is how you feel when a friend cares? Maybe.

I look down at our hands again when I see we are approaching the pale blue door of the Art room and I pull my hand from his grip. He stops and turns to me with I confused look adorning his face. Cute…

"You go ahead. I just need a few minutes alone before I go back in." I tell Peeta quietly.

I can see Peetas conflict about leaving me on my own. He looks at me with gentle eyes and a furrowed brow during his internal debate. I smile and touch his arm gently and his face softens. I reach my hand up to his face and smooth out his crinkled brow and he gives me a tiny chuckle. He looks me over once more and nods to himself.

"If you don't come in in ten minutes I'm coming out after you, capiche?" Peeta asks. I nod and smile as he enters the classroom, never breaking eye contact. Once he closed away behind the Art room door I let out a small giggle. I decide to walk for a little bit to clear my head and set off down a corridor when I hear voices, whispering heatedly. I don't know whether I should intervine or not so I lean against the wall and try to make myself as small as possible to listen in on the conversation.

Its Katniss.

"I'm doing what you said! You promised to leave him alone." Katniss says. Is she talking about Peeta? What is she doing?...

"Well I don't know what to say to you Katniss…He still plays too well according to the big guy. Sure not as well as before but it's not really good enough. If we can't break him emotionally, which you claimed would be easy by the way, he'll just have to be broken physically…" A surly voice replies. I can hear it's a guy shes talking to but he is much quieter than her, I can hardly hear the words.

Why would they want to hurt the baker boy? Surely they are talking about someone else. Who could ever want to hurt Peeta?

I strain my ears further to try and distinguish this boys voice. I don't know many people in this school yet but if I listen hard enough I may be able to match it later. Katniss speaks again.

"And what of his decision on Gale and Prim..." she asks softly yet full of disdain and hatred I am shocked. What could they be forcing her to do…?

"Actually he has taken quite a liking to Primrose. She is an asset in his eyes and he sees she could possibly bring more funding than first thought. She's in the clear; she also respects him as an authority figure so there's no need to bribe her, unlike you…"

There's a third voice?! This third person is female. She sounds younger than Katniss but her innocent voice is tainted with venom. I don't think I'll forget this voice. I hear Katniss let out a breath shed been holding. In relief perhaps?

"And Gale…?"Katniss begins in a small voice. Pity churns in my stomach for this girl. She sounds so broken. Nothing like this morning.

"Ah, Gale is not in the greenzone yet I'm afraid. Primrose is of use to the school body. Gale is not. He said its possible loverboy may meet an, um, unfortunate accident in the beginning of next years archery tournament if you're not careful." The spiteful girls voice pipes up. My blood begins to boil.

How could she treat Peeta this way?! She doesn't even love him and she's stringing him along like he's a fucking toy! That pathetic…

I stop myself mid rant and try to calm myself. I don't need to see her face to tell that she does not want to do whatever she's doing. I'm not even sure what they three are talking about. Peeta may be completely irrelevant to the conversation. Deep breaths…Why am I getting so worked up over this guy…

I hear a small clank, like someone has just been pushed against a locker.

"You know Katniss, there's no need to pretend. You may as well get something out of your little act. I could easily slide…" the boys snake like voice begins and I can feel my skin crawl.

Now is the time to intervene I think.

I stroll around the corner and feign a shocked expression for this party of three. I was right about someone being pushed against the locker. It was Katniss. The boy who had her pinned there is the guy from earlier, Cato is it? And the girl is definitely younger than us, by 2 years perhaps. But her bitter voice matches her hard features perfectly.

I clear my throat and speak gently. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I didn't know anyone who be out of class." I say walking up to the small group. Katniss gazes at me suspiciously with underlying gratitude. The small girl sneers and walks away from the scene and Cato just smirks. Now his features don't his voice at all. He is very handsome. He has a slightly darker shade of blonde hair to Peeta and more muscular. You can see he works hard for his body. He's dressed in designer gear from head to toe without a crease or piece of dirt on him, completely pristine. His face, despite the cold voice I heard before, is soft and deceitfully welcoming.

"I'm Willow"