Chapter 18 – KPOV:

A/N: Okay, there is some reference to Zoey 101, but that's it.

Peeta and I wander around the district, looking for some form of entertainment. When we make our way past the train station, I see a face I was hoping I would never see again.

"P-Peeta…" I stammer, clutching onto his arm.

"What? What is it?" he asks, worried.

"He's back…" I whisper, barely audible.

"Who?" he asks.

"Who else would it be, Peeta?" I snap.

"Just clarifying!" he says.

"Come on. Now. He saw us," I say, pulling on his hand.

We both sprint back to the Victor's Village. When we get inside, I slam the door behind us and lock it, and we give ourselves a moment to catch our breaths.

"He's back…" I say, sliding down the wall. Peeta grabs my hand.

"Katniss. Do not believe a word he says. Do you understand me? Don't buy anything. Nothing. Slap him if you have to," he says, then kisses me.

I smile at him, but it vanishes as quickly as it came because out the window, I see him coming up our driveway.

"Why can't you do it, Peeta?" I ask weakly.

"As much as I want to, I'm not in a position to do it," he says sadly.

"Just stay with me. Never leave my side. Not even if you have to pee. Understood?" I say. He sighs.

"Understood…" he says.

"Not even if I have to pee?" he asks.

"Peeta!" I yell.

"Well…" he says. I put my hand in front of his face. "Okay, as much as I love to listen to you, this is something I don't want to hear," I say.

The pounding on the door jolts us from our thoughts and I carefully inch down the hall to retrieve my bow and arrows. Once I do, I knock an arrow to my bow and aim at the door, and then Peeta opens it.

GPOV:

Mellark opens the door and I almost pee myself at the sight in front of me. Katniss is standing there with her bow and arrows, aimed at me.

"Katniss… Katniss, don't…" I say.

"And I shouldn't defend myself because?" she says, shaking her head.

"Because I'm your best friend!" I say.

She rolls her eyes. "More like was my best friend. I can't believe I had the decency to even talk to you!" she sneers.

I notice something glistening on her left hand.

"What's that?" I ask, pointing to the thing, hoping it's not what I know it is.

"My engagement ring," she replies, not moving her bow even a little bit.

"He proposed?" I ask.

"No, Gale, I jumped over a pool of pudding then turned into an elephant, flew into outer space, and ate all the stars like they were little peanuts. Yes, I proposed!" Mellark yells at me.

"Well, I wouldn't have known!" I yell.

Face palm.

They both slap their palms to their faces.

KPOV:

He wouldn't have known. Was he this stupid when I last saw him? I sigh.

"You know what? Apparently, you're not here for any good reason, so I don't need this," I say, then turn and slam the door in his face. I know Gale doesn't plan on leaving me alone any time soon, but right now, I don't care.

I see out of the corner of my eye that he's peeking through the window. The tears that I have been holding in for so long finally spilled over my eyelids. I start to sob, loudly and uncontrollably.

PPOV:

As Katniss starts to sob, I see Gale looking through the window. I don't know if Katniss's tears are real or not, but I do whatever I can to comfort her.

I gently wrap my arm around her, and she leans in toward me, resting her head on my shoulder, and continues to sob. I pull her into both of my arms and she buries her head in my chest, soaking my shirt with her tears, but I don't care.

I gently stroke her hair. I catch Gale's eye and glare at him.

I pick Katniss up to take her upstairs, but her heaving and sobbing causes me to be unsteady with her, and when I fall, she falls on top of me. We burst out laughing.

I attempt to sit up, by propping myself up with both elbows, but Katniss just pushes me down again. She leans down and kisses me, and we don't stop for a while, only breaking apart for breath.

I don't know why Katniss loves me.

But every time I ask, "You love me, real or not real?"

She responds, "Real."

A/N: Awww! Isn't that a sweet little chapter?

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-Zenia (zalamode00)