Chapter 3: I don't hate you…

I woke up to the feel of the sun gleaming at my face. I must have dozed off from getting tired of crying. I do remember that I seem to almost cry my heart out last night. I can still see Peeta's face full of hatred whenever I close my eyes. But what really bothered me is the fact that he gets to me so easily. I know it's my fault. I know what I did to him seems to be unforgivable. But it is not considered as enough reason for him to be toying with my emotions. If his intentions were to make me feel ashamed for all the guilt I'm feeling right now, I cannot give him that satisfaction. I don't play games, but if he would decide to play some mind games then I have no choice but to fight him off.

My thoughts were interrupted by the knock on the door. "It's open".

Cato opened the door greet me. "Good morning milady, would you fancy a cup of coffee for this morning?" I giggled to the sight of him acting like a butler, complete with his English accent. God, he looks and sound sexy as always.

"Thank you fine sir, but I think I'll have to decline. I don't drink coffee." He smirk and made his way inside the room dropping his butler act.

"How about some breakfast? Delly's fiancée made some bacon and eggs. Plus hotdogs. And of course his pastries."

He sat at the edge of my bed as I sit up. "I don't eat breakfast either, I'm not really a morning person." My smile was instantly gone when I realized Cato is staring at me, intensely.

"Is something up? Your eyes are all red. Did you cry?" Cato reached and touch my cheeks.

"Oh no. I'm fine really, I wasn't able to sleep last night so I guess my tiredness is showing." I backed up a little and Cato didn't stop reaching for me and hold both of my hands to keep me from covering my face.

"Katniss, whatever it is you can always talk to me", I'm feeling overwhelmed again and I can feel tears are already forming in my eyes. Seriously, I cannot take a break from all this emotional mishaps. I'm a mess. I felt Cato move closer to me and is about to hug me when we heard someone clearing his throat and managed to get our attention.

"I didn't realize I'm interrupting something." Peeta stands beside the door arms crossed, his face looks so confusing that I wonder what it could be.

Cato shifted his position from facing me to facing the door, "What do you want Mellark?"

Peeta smirked and scoffed. "Well, Delly sent me up to check on her but it seems she's well taken care of". I looked at Peeta and he's looking directly at me, I can't help but rolled my eyes at him. I want to tell him something but I can't seem to find the words to tell him. It angers me to see him so confident that he gets to me emotionally.

"I am, thanks for the effort though", my tone came out to be confident as well as cocky and a little sarcastic. Peeta smirked again and left.

I looked at Cato and see that his jaw are still clenched. "Why are you mad at him?" I looked at him questioningly. My curiosity grows every second as wait for Cato's answer.

"What?"

"Peeta, why are you mad at Peeta?" Cato must have been thinking deep to not catch my question.

"I don't know. Maybe because he's an arrogant bastard." It doesn't make sense at all. Because of his answer I can't help but think that Cato is insecure at Peeta. He shouldn't be, he has some good points in him that Peeta doesn't have. At least that's what I think.

"Let's go down and eat". I don't want to ask any more questions involving Peeta. I decided that today, I'll make myself have some fun. It's vacation anyway.

Cato go down first. I changed to my swimsuit which is a yellow two piece. A bandeau top and a hipkini bottom. I covered myself with a white see thru poncho. I let my hair down and grabbed my sunglasses. I made my way down to the dining hall to ask Delly if she wants to come with me.

"Del, would you want to go to the beach with me?" They all looked at me as I approached. I swear I saw Peeta and Cato jaw dropped.

"God Katniss! You're so sexy!" Delly squealed and hugged me.

I gave her a knowing look, "Del, I just asked you if you want to go with me".

Delly backed up sheepishly, "Sorry Kat! It's been so long since I got to see you naked".

"Hey, I'm not naked! You just lost your chance to go sunbathing with me pal!" Delly and I laughed. I've known Delly to be an admirer of my body, and to see how see reacts it just means that I haven't lost it.

"Can I come?" I turned to Cato raising his hand and can almost see that his eyes are like twinkling and I laughed at the thought.

"Yes! You should go with her Cato. You two look good together!" Delly seems to be very enthusiastic setting me up with his brother.

"Whoa! Are you playing matchmaker now?" Cato excused himself to go to his room to change.

"Well admit it Kat, my brother's hot", she winked at me and left the dining area to get some water. I can't help but smile at her.

I was about to grab a bacon at the table when I saw Peeta. Crap, I almost forgot he's here. I was about to look away when I see that his eyes is carefully studying my body.

"See something you like?" He was slightly taken aback by the sound of my voice, when he raised his eyes he met my gaze. He cleared his throat as I raised an eyebrow at him and smirked at him. I can't help but feel proud of myself. It seems that I managed to get into him.

"I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready! Come 'on let's go!" Cato immediately hooked his strong arms at my waist and led me to the door.

"We'll see you there later!" I heard Delly called out before Cato closed the door. I hop on the passenger seat of Cato's car and he started to pull out on the driveway.

"You seem bubbly, care to share?" I grinned at Cato and see that his smile is more enthusiastic that I thought.

"Nah! Just lucky I guess. It's not every day you get to see Katniss Everdeen on her swimsuit." He smirked.

"A liking for my body? That's nice", I tried to sound as flirty as I can but it's just awkward. Flirting is not really my thing. But it seems Cato didn't notice how awkward I am. "Wait! Have you seen me in my swimsuit before?" I turned to him as his remarks are slowly sinking in.

"Just in Delly's pictures. She sends me almost every photo you have together when I'm still in UK"

"Really, Del can be such a bitch". I felt my cheeks burn from shyness. In my entire life, I've only wore a two piece two times. This moment is the second. We arrived at the beach and see that we have it all to ourselves.

"Well, I made her send me those actually. I guess I kind of want to know you. But you know, Europe's in the way", I turned to face Cato and saw his expression. He looks like a teenager confessing on his first crush. It's kind of cute.

I just smiled, "Delly never mentioned that"

"I asked for that either. It's kind of embarrassing. I mean, I don't want you to have another idea or something." We stopped and Cato spread a blanket. We both sat down and I put sunscreen on me. Cato seems to be silent beside me.

"Hey! Something wrong?" he simply shakes his head and looked at me. He look is so mesmerizing. I feel like he's pulling my in. He moved and close our distance. I can't believe this is happening. We're an inch apart. I closed my eyes as his face slowly lean more closely, I felt his lips slightly brushed my lips when we heard Delly's voice.

"Kat! Cato!" we instantly pull apart when we saw Delly jog towards us, Peeta following behind her.

"Come 'on. Let's swim!" Delly took of her cardigan, pulled Cato to come with her and jog towards the beach. She's wearing a pink one piece with a low cut on the back and string straps. I stand up and took off my poncho and was about to follow them when Peeta grabbed my arm.

"Sorry, but can we talk for a minute?" I gave him a knowing look and slightly nod. I looked at Delly and Cato and see Delly pulling Cato further away. Cato looks at me and smiled before eyeing Peeta suspiciously.

We sat down at the blanket. I hugged my knees and looked at the distant.

"So, what do you want?" I asked Peeta without looking at him.

"Well, I, um, first I want to say sorry if I've been acting like a"

"Snobbish bitch?" my tone seems like a whisper to my ear but it was loud enough for Peeta to hear. He raised an eyebrow to me and smirked

"Snobbish bitch huh? Where'd you pick that up?"

"Cato, it seems like he hates you very much and I can't imagine why." I said sarcastically.

He laughed, "Please, he's just insecure". I looked at Peeta, he seems to be amused by the way Cato addresses him.

"Yeah, well, at least he's not being a little girl" I can feel a build of confidence in me. Peeta gave me a knowing look, it seems like he was offended by my remark at him. I don't feel any guilt about it. It's true that he's been treating me like crap and I doubt that I deserve it.

"Say whatever you want about me. I'm just talking to you because Delly made me. She said that I was being a jerk to you." She scratches his hair, "If only she knows why." he sighed. I know that his reason for being snide is because of what I did 4 years ago. But I can't help but feel shocked that after all this time, Peeta still holds a huge grudge on me.

"Peeta, what I did to you is unforgivable and I understand that. I understand if you're mad at me, if you hate me"

"I don't hate you. I just didn't expect that after all this years I would get to see you again. And what's funny about it is this moment now. Where I am about to get married, and what's even more funny is that the woman I'm supposed to marry is my first love's best friend." I am stunned by this confession. For him to regard me as his first love. I don't know how to respond.

"Anyway, I should head back. I have to be at work. Can you please tell Delly I left?" I'm still looking at him and trying to figure out his emotions. He stand up and turn his back to make his way for his car.

He was long gone but I'm still staring at the direction of his exit. My mind is blurred and I can't think straight. Why is it that Peeta seems to point out to me that I'm making it hard for him? He doesn't hear me complain about him marrying my best friend. Doesn't he realize how hard it is for me to? To be in a same house with him. To see him. To hear him.

I was about to continue making my way to the beach when I heard my phone ring signaling an incoming message. I looked for my phone. It's an unregistered number. I opened the message and felt my eyes widen.

We'll continue our talk tonight. I'll stop by at your room.

- Peeta