Hellooo! x

I am sorry that this chapter is a little short but I was feeling a little stuck! I decided the next chapter will kinda be like part two of this chapter to make up for it. Enjoy!

The final bell rings and I hop up out of my seat so that I can talk to Peeta one more time before we both go home to tell our parents the truth. Unfortunately someone steps in front of me to stop me. I look up and find myself looking at Madge as she smiles back at me. I look across the room at Peeta who gives me a quick smile before walking out with one of his friends. I sigh and look back at Madge.

"I was wondering," she says as we start to walk out of the classroom. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Of course, I should have expected this. She was sitting at the lunch table when Peeta and I walked back in together. She was sitting there when he hugged me before returning to his usual table. She was there when I was blushing and smiling so much that I could barely look up from my food.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She snorts as we walk through the school doors and head for the parking lot. "Need a ride?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then you better stay on my good side!"

She rolls her eyes and groans.

"Come on, Katniss! It's so obvious what's going on." She grins at me as I avoid looking at her. "I just want to hear you say it!"

I sigh in relief when we reach my car. I open the door and plop down on my seat as Madge does the same in the passenger seat. With a turn of the key, my car starts up- making more disturbing noises than last time.

"Are you sure this car is still safe to drive?"

"The doors haven't fallen off yet," I mutter as I put it into drive. "The windows aren't shattered. It's not leaking fuel. I'd say it's pretty damn good."

"Of course you would." She sighs and starts playing with the radio. "Okay. Now tell me everything!"

"There's not much to tell," I say slowly to buy myself some time. "Our families hate each other so we've been dating behind their backs." I jump as Madge starts squealing. "Madge! I'm driving here!"

"Oh my god!" she yells, ignoring me. "How long has this been going on?"

"Not important."

"It's completely inportant!"

"A few years, all right?"

"Years?" She gapes at me from the passenger seat for a good thirty seconds before speaking again. "And you never told me?"

"I never told anyone! Trust me, it's nothing personal."

"God." She lets out a humorless laugh and falls back against her seat. "So you haven't even told Prim yet? Gale?"

"No and no. I'm telling them today so don't you dare say anything," I tell her as I pull up next to her driveway.

"I won't!" She grins as she pushes the door open and climbs out of my car. "Mum's the word!"

She giggles and waves as she saunters up to her front door. I continue to drive back to my own house, hoping that Prim and my mother be as happy as Madge. Unfortunately I know that the reaction I get from my mother won't be quite as good as hers. I take a deep breath as I pull into our small driveway. My nerves start to get the best of me and I wish I could just stay here and sleep in my car all night instead of facing my mother. I pull my phone out of my bag and open it only to see that I have already received a text. It was sent one minute after school ended.

*Don't be nervous, love. You can do this. I believe in you.*

I smile at my phone and take another deep breath. I almost text him back but I decide against it. It will be better to text him with good news after I tell my mother. It is that thought that gets me out of my car and up to the front door. As soon as the door opens, I am greeted by that ugly orange creature hissing at me like I don't go out of my way to feed it everyday. I hiss right back at him as I walk into the kitchen to find my mother and sister. Unfortunately, Prim went to her friend's house again to work on a project. I consider waiting for her to get back but I know that it will only get worse the longer I wait.

"Mom?"

She looks over her shoulder at me then back at the food she is preparing for herself on the counter.

"Hey," she says calmly. "How was school?"

"Good." I put my bag on the table and pull at the end of my braid nervously. "I wanted to tell you something."

"Okay." She glances at me again. "What is it?"

"Could you look at me?"

She stops for a moment before she finally turns to face me with a concerned look on her face. I look down as she takes a couple of steps toward me.

"Katniss, what's the matter?"

"Do you know the baker's son?" I say as my nerves start to take control again. "Peeta?"

"Yes." A good amount of the concern disappears from her face. "What about him?"

"Mom." My hands start shaking so I clasp them together. "The truth is, we've been seeing each other a lot." The room is completely quiet but I do not dare to look up. "I like him."

"Katniss." She turns away from me and holds her hands to her head like she has a headache.

"I love him, Mom."

"Stop," she snaps, turning around to face me again with fresh anger on her face. "How many times have I told you? Stay away from the Mellark's- They are nothing but trouble! So what do you do? You go and let them take advantage of you-"

"He's not taking advantage of me!" Tears of anger start to collect in my eyes. "He loves me!"

"That's what he says now!" she yells. "And then someone prettier and richer is gonna come along, and he'll be gone!" I stare at her in shock as she shakes her head at me. "Gone!"

"Mom-"

"How long has this been going on?" Her eyes are starting to look just as glassy as mine. "Well?"

"Long enough," I mutter.

She closes her eyes for a moment and opens them only to glare at me again.

"Long enough is right. It's over now." She storms past me and starts talking again before I can get a word in. "If I ever catch you with that boy-"

"Then what?" I yell, surprising her. She stops in the middle of the stairs and looks at me. "Is it really so hard for you to see me happy?"

"I don't want to see you get hurt," she answers firmly. "Take it from someone who knows. That family is nothing but trouble and their son is no different. Stay away from them."

I watch after her- finally letting my tears fall- as she walks into her bedroom and closes the door behind her.

*POV Switch*

With each step towards the bakery I get more and more nervous, but I know that I cannot back out. I promised Katniss that I would tell them today and there's no way I can take it back and upset her even more. Of course, I'm afraid that my mother might hurt me, but that doesn't mean I should be allowed to hurt Katniss by breaking my promise. I walk into the back room of the bakery where I find my parents preparing for the dinner rush when people decide to stop by and get bread and desserts on their way home from work. Luckily, there are no customers at the moment and I decide that this is probably the best chance I'll get for a while.

"Mom?" I say as they bring some trays together. "Dad? I need to tell you something."

"Peeta, can't you see we're busy?" She sighs. "Maybe you could come and help us instead of standing there like the worthless-"

"Mom, please. It's really important."

"Etta, we have some time," Mr. Mellark mumbles. "We can let him talk."

"How long will this take?" She finally turns around to look at me with those angry eyes that I know well.

"Not long at all."

"Fine." My father stops what he is doing and stands next to her, and I force myself to take a deep breath. "Out with it. Quickly."

"Okay. It's about Katniss Everdeen-"

"What did she do?" my mother snaps.

"No, Mom. She didn't do anything." The confused look on her face is a very nice change from the sour face that she usually wears. "I really like her, and-"

"Oh, I know what's going on here." She scoffs and points at my father. "Like father like son, eh?" He shakes his head and looks away. "Peeta, what have I always told you? Those Everdeen's. They're just like all the other poor girls in that Seam area. They trap you between their damn legs and only let you go after you give them all the money they want!"

"Mom-"

"Just ask your father!" she yells. "I've told you so many times, Peeta! Those girls are trash and that is all they will ever be."

"Katniss isn't-"

"How could you settle with a Seam slut when you have beautiful girls like Delly waiting for you?"

"I don't love Delly, Mom."

"And you don't love that Seam slut either." I clench my jaw to keep from yelling back at her. "You can't even figure out the difference between lust and love. Can you?"

"Etta, maybe-"

"No!" she snaps as she turns on my dad. "How dare you defend this after what you did?"

I shake my head in anger as my mother turns to yell at my father next. I walk into the main room and over to the front door before my mother finally notices that I have left.

"Peeta!" she yells. "Get back here! I am not done talking to you yet!"

I swallow dryly and slowly consider my options. I could leave and come back when my mother is even angrier or I could get this over with now. I decide on the latter as I reluctantly return to the back room. I can tell from the look on her face that this talk is not going to end well.

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