Sorry for the massive delay in an update for this story. I've just been busy with writing an original novel, but I promise that "The Companion" will be finished soon. Also, thank you so much to those of you who take the time out to review, it means a lot to me.

I also want to thank my best friend Liz for Beta-ing for me.

Chapter Six

The tension in the house was unrelenting, being infectious enough to effect anyone misfortunate to be caught within their vicinity. Katniss felt on edge every second he was near, her sanity was close to unraveling. Peeta refused to acknowledge her presence and on the off chance he paid her any mind he was cold or worse indifferent.

Any of the progress that had been made in their relationship had vanished during the Capitol Ball. The train ride back to the district was made in an uncomfortable silence, Peeta intentionally kept his distance from her. Katniss felt rejected and cast aside by someone she had begun to trust, Peeta already had a piece of her and she felt the rage and shame of allowing him to be close.

After the agonizingly slow walk back to the manor, Peeta waited at the top of the steps until Katniss had made it to the door. She turned to watch him staring at her, the neck line of the dress had fell due to her poor posture, and she felt self conscious under his gaze.

She was tempted to readjust the fabric but she was afraid to move when he watched her so closely. The light from the moon shined onto his blond hair, as it cast the shadows from half of his face, his blue eyes serious and aloof. Peeta opened his mouth to speak but closed it shortly after.

Katniss felt her frustration rise to an all time high, which was significant due to the events of the night.

"Say something! Scream at me, tell me how immature and careless I was! Do something!"

Peeta took a deep breath, as he watched her pleading with him," Goodnight, Katniss."

Katniss' followed his body as he walked towards her reaching the door. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing emerged as Peeta laid his hand on the door frame the other tightening around the knob.

"I can't give you what you want right now, Katniss," Peeta turned his head slightly, his profile prominent in the moon lit night," I can't even look at you without feeling frustrated, and when it comes to you I-"

Katniss stepped into his space, the dress catching underneath her heels," You what?"

"I don't know what to do with you."

Katniss began to seethe as she balled the silk fabric in her already clammy hands," I'm not something that you can just push away, Peeta! I'm more than that."

Peeta slowly released both of his hands from the door to turn to her fully. Even on the dimly lit porch, she could see the unshed tears building in his blue eyes.

The light from the moon reflected off of the salty water, and Katniss didn't know if her gasp came from how broken he appeared or by how incredibly beautiful he could be.

"That's the problem, Katniss."

Katniss' jaw locked as she gritted her teeth, straining to keep her emotions back," I'm sorry that I'm not up to your standards!"

Peeta watched her closely before he shook his head," You didn't hear anything I just said. You just made it into what you wanted to hear."

Katniss could feel her body shake from the frustration," Well then please, enlighten me."

"You think I'm disappointed in you. That you let me down somehow."

Katniss could feel her face heat up, angry by how cool and reserved he seemed. She felt the fury coursing through her body, and he didn't have enough respect for her to even yell, or to show any kind of emotion.

She was nothing more than something to entertain his days with; as he confused her into thinking they shared some sort of connection.

"Well didn't I? Don't I?"

Peeta shook his head, allowing a stray tear to make its way down his face," You don't understand anything," he reached in between their bodies to grip the door knob, "especially me".

His statement struck her head on, the panic she felt caught her by surprise, she could feel the grip on the fabric of her gown lessening. Suddenly her right hand reached out, her fingers curling around the wrist of his hand which held onto the knob.

The heat from his skin spread throughout the expanse of her palm and Katniss could feel her stomach tightening from the mere feel of his skin against hers. Even something as insignificant as the touch of his wrist began to make her dizzy.

"Then make me understand."

Peeta looked down to where she held onto him; he closed his eyes reveling in the feel of her calloused fingers before speaking.

"You were wrong about disappointing me," Peeta slowly moved his eyes up her bare arm to travel to her face, where tear tracks had already become visible," Because it would be you, who would be disappointed."

Peeta reached over to her hand which rested on his wrist with his free hand, he allowed his fingers to linger on top of hers for a few seconds before uncurling her fingers from his body.

Katniss watched him with wide eyes, as her hand fell . The heat from his skin became fleeting with each second, causing her body to ache from the absence of contact.

Peeta watched her face studying it closely, blond bangs fell into his eyes, and Katniss had to fight the overwhelming urge to reach out and brush the strands away.

The bare skin at her back tingled from a sudden gust of wind causing her to shiver slightly, although she wasn't sure if the action was entirely because of the wind.

She could see his fingers curling into his palm, perhaps he was fighting the same urges she had to force down, even though it was slowly tearing her a part.

The cool wind filled the empty space between their bodies, small stands from Peeta's bangs lifted above the hair line as the rest kept their place. The deep wheat colored hair reflected the light from the moon, and Katniss had to hold a sigh back from both the sight of him and the frustration she was feeling.

She opened her mouth to speak but the initiation only caused Peeta to pull back a few steps to open the door. He peeked through his thick hair to glance at her one last time before disappearing into the house.

Katniss stood there on the dim lit porch for an hour before the bare skin on her back began to sting from the cold contact of the wind.

She only made it half way up the stairs before the exhaustion of the night set in, the emotional stress was enough to drain her of any energy, but the effect of being up for nearly a day was enough to send her into a deep sleep.

Her hand gripped the top of the banister for leverage and support, her heavy legs made it to the top of the landing as she kicked the fabric of her dress from under her heels. Katniss hunched over slightly before looking over to her left to where the doors to Peeta's room lied.

His face had become the image to enter her mind when she needed to seek comfort, so it was both foreign and confusing to her that it was the same face which was causing her distress.

She had spent so many years relying on only her own faculties to survive, and somehow Peeta had weaseled his way into her heart. She wanted nothing more than to go to him and seek solace but she knew only solitude was available to her now.

The defeat his eyes had held as they stood on the porch had nearly broken her, he was always so solid, which only made his behavior even more troubling. She could feel her body pulling her to the side; his door was only feet from where she stood now, but better judgment won out, as her tired legs took her to where her bedroom lied.

Katniss bunched the fabric at her sides with both hands, causing the hem to rise halfway up her calves. With her right side, Katniss pushed the door open enough to give her body room to slip through. As soon as she was clear of the door, Katniss kicked the fabric free and with a deft move pushed the door closed with her bare foot, not concerned with the loud thud it would make.

Any energy she had left had been used on the door, as her body fell to the floor in a rumpled mess of long curls and silk fabric. Katniss had felt lost before, it was a feeling she had been accustomed to, but this instance was different. She felt almost hollow, as if a piece of her had been dug out and the hole in its midst was far too vast to ever fill again.

He could feel an internal pull towards the door down the end of the hall. Every part of him yearned for her, but he knew she needed distance, and pulling her into his arms wouldn't be fair to her.

Peeta was well aware of the inevitable pain that would follow, because no matter how much he wanted to love her, she wasn't his to love. He had made his choice long ago, and it didn't involve Katniss, she deserved to have someone who could give her themselves completely.

He was only half a man, lost and confused, still a small child searching through the darkness for the smallest inkling of light. Peeta turned towards the banister, his feet moved slower than his fear which resulted in a few missteps down the staircase.

The wooden planks were unrelenting underneath his bare feet and he couldn't help the hisses of pain as the tips of his toes jammed into the stairs. He almost felt thankful for the sharp seconds of pain, he had been worried his entire body had numbed, along with his bruised heart.

It had been a few days since the Capitol Ball, the passing time had faded the memory slightly but the rush of emotions he had felt were constantly bubbling underneath the surface. Peeta had tried to avoid her at every cost, and when he couldn't at meal times and the rare moments they would bump into each other around the manor, Peeta would feign indifference.

The looks of betrayal and pain in her eyes chipped away at his resolve, but rationally he knew that keeping her at a distance was best. However, if he was honest with himself he would have to recognize how his anger with her was directly connected with his inability to defend her.

So in retrospect, he was more disgusted with his failings than with anything she could have done, because Peeta knew anything it was that he had a knack for falling short of her worth.

Peeta shook his head attempting to clear it, before he ran his hand through his hair, pushing the thick strands of bangs back.

He winced again as one of his big toes jammed against the wooden stair again, the pain bringing him out of his head but for only a few seconds. Katniss seemed to consume every waking thought he had, although she also seemed to invade his dreams also, the anxiety of having her close was beginning to effect everything else in his life.

Which only increased the dread he was feeling towards receiving a scheduled call from Effie Trinket later on in the day, her receptionist had called shortly to inform Peeta to be expecting to hear from the relations coordinator.

He couldn't help the dread that was threatening to choke him, it was already clear how she disapproved of him taking on a district born for a handmaiden but even more the fact that he chose someone who was viewed as street trash, only increased the dislike and danger that Katniss had looming over her.

Peeta could only assume that Katniss' behavior at the Capitol Ball would be the topic of conversation, he prayed that imprisonment or worse wouldn't be dispatched towards her.

As he made it to the last step he could smell the sweet and tart aroma of Hazelle's berry pastries lofting in the foyer. A small smile came to his lips as he padded towards the opening of the kitchen, his stomach whined in effect. Peeta began to imagine the fluffy piece of pastry melting on his tongue, a feeling of calm coming over him, until he could hear her voice traveling through the kitchen and out to him.

A sense of panic came over him as he turned towards the stairs, bounding up towards the second story, taking two stairs at once. He reached out to the top of the banister, using it to pull himself up the rest of the way.

He hadn't noticed how heavy he was breathing until he hunched over the finished wood railing, his chest heaved and he could feel waves of bile threatening to rise up into his throat. Peeta needed to clear his head, as his feet took him down the hallway to where the odors of paint thinner and stretched canvases awaited him.

Everything he was now somehow revolved around her, a circumstance he needed to break, because soon she would be gone, and he couldn't break down once again because of her absence.

The permanent pain at the base of her neck was beginning to annoy her, which undoubtedly was from sleeping against the door a few days ago after the disaster of the Capitol Ball. Katniss had woken up from a fitful sleep as the sun showed through the light gauzy curtains, landing against her eye lids.

The soft heat from the sun was enough to warm her chilled skin, the floor boards had become cool through the night. Katniss hadn't changed out of her ball gown, fabric was made to strategically fall on her body, but regretfully warmth wasn't what Cinna had in mind when he designed the dress.

Katniss pushed the mess of her curls from her face, the edge of one of her nails snagged in the knots of dark hair. She winced as she struggled to free her hand, when she pulled free a few strands came free. Slowly she wove the thin pieces of hair around her pointer finger, studying the colors of her dark hair shining in the sun.

This was something she would do when trying to keep sane in the tunnels. The thought came upon her like a force, causing her to tear the strands from her hand.

Katniss buried her hands in her face, as she tried to push the pain and fear down. There was a possibility she would soon be sent to a facility in the Capitol for her assault against the Lord from the previous night.

All of the progress she had made since arriving at the manor would now be gone, now only a shell of who she was would be present. She knew she had disappointed Peeta, no matter how many times he refused to acknowledge it.

Katniss had pushed herself from the floor, quickly changing out of the ball gown into one of a cotton dress Cinna had left.

She had assumed with the time apart through the night, Peeta had calmed down. However when she had seen him in the hallway he looked right through her.

His normally warm eyes were now cold and indifferent, causing a shiver to travel down her back. It worried her to see him as such, even from before when they had only tolerated each other, Peeta was never cold towards her.

The tensioned hadn't lessened through the day nor the day after, the worst being that everyone was on edge by now. Haymitch had as usual kept to himself, but refused to come up to the main house to pick up his meals. He drunkenly explained to Hazelle how he wouldn't in any shape or form be involved in disagreement between the two younger inhabitants.

Hazelle had tried to reason with him how it would pass soon when Peeta came to his senses, but Haymitch was set in his ways. So, Hazelle was forced to take the extra mile down the hill to where Haymitch's cabin sat.

Katniss had felt horrible that Hazelle, someone who had gone out of her way to make her feel welcomed, had to stretch herself even further than she was already expected to. Katniss could feel how thick the tension was, it was almost unbearable, but on the rare occasion that she and Peeta were in the same room for more than a few minutes, Katniss felt as though she was suffocating.

She had even tried to use the woods as her escape but every time she closed her eyes, she could feel his hands on her body guiding her, like he had when he had taught her to dance.

So now even the forest was now tainted, and even more so the dread she felt about Lord Cato's retaliation towards her was enough to make her down right ill.

Katniss had decided that it was safe to assume that her stay at the manor was now definitely temporary, that any moment a Capitol official would deem it necessary for her imprisonment. So, if it was impossible for her to mend fences with Peeta than she would have to do the next best thing and reach out to Hazelle.

It had been awkward for her at first to approach the older woman after what had happened between herself and Peeta. She had known him longer, and she was correct in thinking that they were more like family than employer and staff.

Katniss felt sick as she descended the stairs, assuming to be met with an icy disposition similar to her encounter with Peeta.

However, instead when she entered the kitchen, Hazelle looked up, her eyes unreadable until it registered who she was seeing. Her lips curled into a warm smile, and she sighed deeply.

"I was almost afraid you would be too scared to even come down."

"I almost didn't. Hiding away in my room was a viable option."

"Well see you even surprised yourself, and when you can do that than you're ahead of the rest of us," Hazelle leaned over the counter top, causing flour to stick to the cotton of her blouse," but you always were weren't you?"

Hazelle winked at Katniss knowingly, as she waved her over. Katniss couldn't help the small smile forming at her lips, as she rounded the island top to stand by the older woman. She watched as Hazelle's hands began moving ingredients around, her fingers used to the busy work.

Her face was down casted with a soft smile permanently present, pieces of her brunette hair had escaped the tight braid running around the crown of her scalp.

Katniss watched her closely examining the soft structure of her face, thin lines had already begun to form on her fair skin, Katniss assumed they were from the stress and worry she had been dealt at a young age, but she could imagine the beauty the older woman could have had when she was younger.

Hazelle kneaded the flour into the dough as she lightly hummed to herself, while stealing glances over at Katniss. The room was silent other than the soft tones until Hazelle cleared her throat.

"I was thinking since you may be staying here longer than you expected, you may want to learn some of the duties around here."

Katniss looked at the woman perplexed," Actually I assumed my stay would be cut short, because of my behavior."

Hazelle waved a flour covered hand in the air dismissively," Oh, sweetie those puffed up wienies in the Capitol they try to pass off as gentlemen need a strong willed woman to knock them down a peg once in awhile. It's good for them."

Katniss scraped her fingers through a patch of forgotten dough," I don't think everyone would agree with you," Hazelle stopped her hands to look over at the young girl," To be honest, I've been waiting for an armed escort from the Capitol to drag me to a holding cell."

Hazelle reached out patting Katniss' hand gently," Let them try to come in here, they'll have more than they can deal with."

"Thank you. I just wish Peeta felt the same. It would be nice to know if he was as inclined to come to my rescue."

Hazelle had opened her mouth to speak but she had closed her lips quickly, her hands going back to work. The day had passed quickly as Katniss tagged along behind the older woman.

She would tell Katniss stories of how she had met her husband and how she had been when she was younger, the dream she had about traveling, but she had become pregnant and her family was already forming.

The companionship had lessened Katniss' worries, but on the rare occasion she would catch a glimpse of Peeta emerging from his painting room, or when he would walk the back path leading down into the forest, all of her regret would come flooding back.

Days since the Capitol Ball had passed, and Katniss had allowed her anxieties to lessen when it came to her assumptions regarding any repercussions of her actions towards a particular Lord. However, the tension between she and Peeta was still ongoing.

Katniss had kept her distance from him, which wasn't difficult when he intentionally avoided her at all costs.

This morning she had woken early, before the sun had rose, to enter the kitchen to begin baking a breakfast pastry Hazelle had taught her to make. The recipe was easy enough to do, but it still had taken her half the day before to learn how not to confuse baking powder and baking salt.

And even after she had mastered the difference, she still had burned the first batch. However, today she was determined to complete the recipe with accuracy, she needed something to be proud of.

Hazelle entered the kitchen a few minutes before, Katniss pulled the baking sheet from the oven. She had been nervous at first, as the older woman examined the bake good, before tearing a piece free, allowing it to melt onto her tongue. Katniss held her breath in anticipation, studying Hazelle's reaction.

Katniss leaned forward on the balls of her feet," So?"

Hazelle cocked her head to the side for a few minutes before responding," Not bad. It's actually pretty good."

"Really?"

"Really."

Katniss reached up to wipe the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, causing a streak of flour and sugar to form.

"At least something I touched wasn't a complete failure."

Hazelle turned her body to the side," Where's this coming from?"

"Hazelle, you don't have to play ignorant for my benefit. I know you feel the tension in the house, hell it's the reason Haymitch won't even come around anymore. And it's because of me."

Hazelle sighed as she reached up to wipe the ingredients from Katniss' olive skin," First off, don't swear. Second, Haymitch is a grown man," Katniss cocked her head to the side, earning a smile from Hazelle," Alright, relatively speaking he is, and he has his own reasons for not coming around."

"But what's going on between Peeta and I has something to do with it."

Hazelle lowered her hand to the island to reach for a cleaning cloth, before she began wiping flour from Katniss' face," I wasn't aware there was something going on between the two of you."

Katniss' eyes became wide, as she stammered," What? No! Peeta is not someone I would think of… I mean I think of him but only because he's constantly scolding me," Katniss took in a deep breath,
What I meant was how angry Peeta is with me, and how I behaved at the Capitol Ball."

Hazelle nodded as she shook out the cloth," Oh, I know. But it seems to me when someone becomes that angry it usually has a lot to do with something going on underneath the surface."

"Hazelle I doubt it's that complicated. Peeta gave me exact instructions on how to act, and I didn't follow them. That's why he's angry… nothing else."

Hazelle nodded as she wiped at the counter top," Alright. So why are you angry?"

Katniss opened her mouth to speak, her lips parted for a few seconds before she spoke," I'm not angry."

"Oh of course you are."

"Alright, but only because he keeps treating me like a small child."

"You're sure nothing else?"

"Like what exactly?"

"You told me that you were upset that he left you on your own."

"Yes, but-"

"You're angry because he didn't defend you."

"No-"

"Katniss, you're an incredible strong young woman, but he hurt you when he didn't protect you."

Katniss rubbed her face harshly before turning back to Hazelle," Maybe. But do you know what the worse thing is? For the first time in a really long time I felt like I had a place where I belonged. With people who made me feel like I was more than just a burden. For a while, I didn't feel so lost."

Hazelle shook her head as she begun to laugh softly. Katniss narrowed her eyes at the other woman, her face began to fill with a deep blush.

"I'm glad my pain is so amusing, at least one of us is enjoying it."

Hazelle waved Katniss' statement off," No, it's not that. It's just this house has a way of bringing the lost together. Haymitch with all of his pain and regret when it comes to Maysilee, my own with losing my husband," Hazelle turns to Katniss fully, before reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind Katniss' ear," and you my dear with everything you've had to endure at such a young age-"

"That just leaves Peeta as the only normal one."

Hazelle raises a brow," Dear, Peeta's the most lost one of us all."

This took Katniss by surprise as she looked to the side at nothing in particular," I guess I've never seen him as lost."

Hazelle shrugged," He's just better at hiding it than the rest of us. Which isn't encouraging."

The streams of the afternoon sun shown down on his bare back, and he could feel the muscles in his back tensing up as he rose the axe up into the air before sending it down to collide with a log of wood, splitting the wood in half. Both sides fell to the wayside, as Peeta bent over reaching for another log, the sweat from his brow threatened to fall into his eyes, before he wiped the side of his face, clearing it momentarily.

The pain in his biceps was beginning to cause his grip on the axe to waiver, which wasn't something rare since he had been under sun for most of the morning, his body already exerting most of his energy. He seemed to be going forward on pure frustration, every time he contemplated on relaxing her face would come to the forefront of his mind and the confusion and anger would set in again.

After he had retreated up stairs after hearing Katniss' voice in the kitchen earlier on, he had tried in vain to paint. It usually was his solution when he was bothered with a matter, but the smearing of paint and the musky smell of the room only reminded him of their time together, as he hovered over her exhausted after they had covered each other in paint.

However what was worse was when he began to have a handle on the situation a vivid memory of scrapping fairies and clouds into a paint chipped wall of a cold room in an orphanage would haunt him. She was everywhere, in his mind, he could almost even remember how it felt to have her lie next to him in bed, how the warm touch of her calloused hands had made his breath catch.

Peeta could feel his chest tighten as tears began to whell up, he used his free hand to push them away as tears mixed with the salt of sweat.

"Are you crying?"

Peeta whirled around, terrified it would be her behind him. Thankfully the sight of an unkempt man with greasy hair came into view.

"No, just sweat. You know the filth you're usually covered in?"

Haymitch nodded," Oh yes, I thought I recognized it."

Peeta sighed, rolling his eyes," What are you doing here, Haymitch?"

Haymitch shrugged," Hazelle refuses to bring me anymore meals. You know how moody she can get sometimes."

"Maybe she doesn't want to have to take care of you?"

Haymitch waved his hand in the air dismissing Peeta's statement," Naw, she likes taking care of everyone. The real reason is you and your girl have disrupted the routine I had going."

Peeta gritted his teeth," She's not my girl-"

"But she is a spitfire, I guess I can see how she can get under your skin."

"She doesn't bother me."

"Of course she does, why the hell else would be under this blistering sun chopping wood, we don't need."

"Haymitch-"

"It's what I used to do when Maysilee drove me nuts. Wasn't I the one who got you to chop wood in the first place?"

"Yes, I believe you told me that any man who used artsy crap for relieving stress was most likely a pansy."

Haymitch lifted a brow," I don't really remember that."

Peeta's lips curved in a smug smile," Which really isn't a shock, but to be fair to your memory I did edit and delete most of the words used."

"Why in hell would you do that?"

"If you really need me to explain it to you than the point is more mute than I realized."

Haymitch pointed his finger at Peeta as he rounded the younger man to pick up one of the spare axes," See that's your problem right there," Haymitch swung the axe into the air testing the weight as he leaned forward causing him to stumble," you've always been concerned with what's proper or assumed of you."

Peeta carefully sat down his axe to reach over to Haymitch's hand, he leaned back to escape the sharp end of the blade, before snatching the handle from the older man's grasp.

"No what I'm concerned with is an old drunk hurting himself with an axe."

Haymitch rubbed his hand, the skin flush by the wood scrapping his palm," So far you're the only one showing force, but give me a few more bottles and I may be there with you. Especially if Hazelle doesn't start feeding me again."

Peeta placed another log onto the stump, wasting no time until he sent the axe on top of it. The splitting sound of the wood echoed between the two men.

"I take it she stopped walking out of her way to force feed the over grown child that you are?"

Haymitch snorted," No, she just said she already had her hands full with one man child and she didn't need another," Haymitch scratched his head, causing the blonde strands to tangle even more," I think she was talking about you."

"It's good to know the alcohol hasn't destroyed every brain cell you have."

Haymitch held his hands up," Ouch, that one hurt. Normally I would be partially proud of you being able to come up with an insult. But that one was a little too real."

Peeta sighed throwing the axe to the ground, turning on Haymitch in a fury," What? You're a drunk Haymitch! It's not some secret no one knows about! You lost yourself in a bottle because of a woman, it's not something to be proud of."

Haymitch rubbed his face slowly, before stepping forward," First off, I'm not going to kick the shit out of you for talking about Maysilee that way, because I know you're hurting. And second do you really think chopping wood out here for hours is any better," Haymitch swallowed thickly," Okay, maybe it's better to punish some pieces of damn wood than drink yourself to death, but pain is pain kid."

Peeta whipped his forehead roughly, strands from his bangs stuck to his skin," I'm not in pain-"

"Fine you're pissed."

Peeta turned his palms up," So I'm angry? So what? I have a right to be, what she did was immature and dangerous, and I was so-"

"Scared?"

"I was going to say disappointed."

"But at who?"

Peeta shook his head, his brow furrowed," What are you talking about?"

"You're not angry with the girl because she let some privileged letch have it. You're angry because she didn't need your help to do it."

"You're wrong."

Haymitch shook his head," No, I don't think so. You left her on her own, and when she needed you the most you weren't there, and what scares you the most is that she was able to handle her own."

"You think you know me so well?"

"Kid, I was you, granted with more of a temper, and less uppity, but you and I aren't as different as you would like to think."

"Well, enlighten me."

"I was sixteen and I just started dating the general store owner's daughter. She was blonde and fair skin with bright blue eyes, the opposite from me a kid from the Seam, so it wasn't hard for people to see that we were different from each other, and most weren't too thrilled we were together.

So one day I'm coming into town to pick up some stuff for my mother, and there's this crowd at the center of the square. There's a lot of cheering and yelling so it wasn't hard to assume it was fight, I've always been up for a good fight so when I pushed my way through, you can imagine my surprise when I see a petite blonde pummeling the shit out of the butcher's boy.

She was straddling him as she punched away at his face, blood was spilling from his nose. The dress she had on was already muddy, when I ran up and pulled her off of him. She kicked and thrashed around, it took me a few minutes to calm her down as he groaned on the ground cursing at her.

Apparently he had teased her about being with me, and when he made an advance towards her, she punched him, and threw him to the ground."

Peeta lifted a brow," You're kidding?"

"No, and the worst part was I was angry with her for not waiting for me to protect her. But finally I realized that having a woman in my life that wasn't around to defend herself was a rarity and a gift, because it's the strong willed ones who teach us something."

"She actually punched him?"

Haymitch chuckled as the memory came to him, "I had actually just taught her how a few days before."

Peeta threw himself down on the ground, landing on a piece of split wood, he winced as he pulled it from underneath him to throw it over to the side.

"So you're telling me I'm really pissed at myself for not protecting her?"

Haymitch nodded as he sat down beside Peeta," For starters yes, but I have a feeling there's more to it all than your bruised ego."

Peeta could feel his stomach fall, he was determined to keep his past with Katniss a secret and having Haymitch being aware of it made him feel sick.

"More to it?"

Haymitch slapped Peeta's leg," Kid even a damn drunk like me can see you fancy her. Women will get under your skin every time."

Peeta adjusted his back against the stump, pieces of bark scrapped his bare back. A part of him was thankful for the slight pain, he needed the distraction from the dilemma that was Katniss.

Strangely enough his conversation with Haymitch had given him some things to think about, but even if he did experience a sense of clarity it still didn't remedy the confusion he had when it came to his feelings for her.

The air in the room was stifling as he sat down in the chair located behind his desk. There was a reason he avoid his office as all costs, it was a constant reminder of the man he had to be outside of district twelve. However he had made his choices and he had to live with the consequences, but the sting of such choices hadn't been as sharp until Katniss had come back into his life.

After he had talked with Haymitch, he sat on the ground for another hour before retreating to his room for a much needed shower. The water had lost its warmth after the first five minutes, as the cool water enveloped his body.

Peeta hung his head as the water traveled through his hair, to drop from the ends of the strands. He needed for the throbbing pain in his chest to fade to a dull ache, his muscles tense and unrelenting as he released an uncontrollable sob.

Peeta curled his fingers into his palm, as the water ran down his cheeks to his lips. A strangled breath escaped his mouth, as his chest heaved, before steadying its pace.

After he had vacated the shower and dressed, Peeta walked down the stairs hoping not to run into the dark haired girl who invaded his dreams.

He had assumed if he was distance and cold to her that the need to have her close would cease to exist, but instead of yearning ebbing it only intensified. Thankfully he was able to enter the room without running into her, but the scent of her loomed in the foyer, which only made his throat tight, as he willed his feet forward.

Peeta had been seated at his desk for a few minutes until the silver phone at his left began to ring. The shrill tone made him jump, he paused taking in a deep breath before reaching for the handle.

The usual pleasantries he exchanged with Effie Trinket filled the conversation with the same daunting routine as always. He could sense the inevitable, as he waited for the relations director to mention Katniss' name.

"There is the matter of your hand maiden and her blatant defiance against propriety-"

"To be fair Miss Trinket, Miss Everdeen is a young woman who has enough sense to notice perverse behavior when she sees it , she shouldn't be reprimanded for it. Now, I don't agree with how Miss Everdeen handled the situation, but Lord Cato's improprieties are well known, and I personally know of more than one maiden who has suffered bruises and worse from his… attention."

"Yes, and his pass indiscretions are why Miss Everdeen is being scolded upon and not executed for assaulting someone of nobility," Peeta could hear her take in a deep breath," Off the record her actions were highly entertaining I'm told, it seems more than one high ranking official was pleased to finally see the young Lord Cato suffer a bit of his own medicine."

Peeta felt a smile forming before Effie continued on," But make no mistake Companion Mellark, if she continues with such actions than she will be treated as a threat to civilized society."

"Well, if that is the case than I take full responsibility for her actions, she is under my tutelage."

There was a long pause on the other end of the receiver," Fine Companion Mellark if that is how you would prefer to go about than I can't attest it, but I would be completely clear to Miss Everdeen as to how she is expected to act. Because if she forgets her manners again, it will be you suffering the consequences beside her."

Peeta swallowed hard before answering," I understand."

"Very good."

"If you don't mind me inquiring was that the sole reason for our conversation?" Peeta asked in a clipped voice, the annoyance apparent in his voice.

An irritated huff of air sent static through the receiver," Companion Mellark I have to say I'm not very pleased with your tone."

"I'm sorry Miss Trinket, it must have to do with my upbringing, being an uncivilized district born and all."

Peeta could feel the tension through the phone, he had never been so overtly defiant before, although he had to admit it gave him a fleeting sense of relief. With more force than required, Peeta rubbed the heel of his free hand over his forehead.

"Please excuse my disrespect."

Silence filtered through to Peeta, until Effie spoke with her usual sugary sweet tone," Of course. I understand the amount of pressure your under now," Peeta felt sick to his stomach for having to stoop for her acceptance," Moving on to the other matter, there has been a development in Miss Everdeen's social agenda."

Peeta sat up straight, as he gripped the telephone handle tightly," A development."

"Yes it seems even though I regard her actions as unacceptable it appears that she had made an impression. Lord Darius has requested the ability to court Miss Everdeen, personally I tried to advise against it, but he seems to already be quite taken by her."

"Lord Darius is highly sought after."

"Yes, he is. He's also quite respected as is his family, as you know they own most of the wealth of the Capitol. So it would be quite foolish for her to treat him in the same respect as she did Lord Cato."

"Thank you, I'll be sure to tell her."

"No, thank you Companion Mellark. I'm also assuming that you will be sure that Miss Everdeen will be at her best behavior, when accompanying you to the Capitol in a day's time. I'll be in touch before then with the specifics."

"As always it's been a pleasure, Miss Trinket."

"For me as well, Companion Mellark."

Peeta waited for silence to meet his ear before he sighed hanging up the receiver. He leaned back into his chair, his fingers finding themselves in the strands of his bangs, tangling there. He needed to scream, to shout or the very least break something. Everything was slipping through his fingers, and for a second he regretted taking her from that abandoned street. The thought made him cringed and he hated himself for being so weak, for not being the person she deserved to have by her side.

The silence in the dining room was suffocating as they both picked at their full plates absentmindedly, neither looking up to acknowledge the others presence. The scraping of the teeth on Peeta's fork against his metal plate sent a wave of shivers through Katniss' body. Her nerves were already on edge with having him so close, but having the added sound only irritated her more.

Hazelle had walked Haymitch back home, politely excusing herself, while Haymitch was glad to admit that the tension between the two younger inhabitants was making him thirsty for a drink. And while he always welcomed a good brawl, the passive aggressive behavior of the two was giving him a headache.

Peeta was determined to keep his head down as he forced the bit of food in his mouth, his tongue was rough like sand paper, and he could feel bile rising up his throat. His nerves were bunched and the anxiety made his stomach turn. It had been difficult to be in the same room with her at first but after smelling the lavender wafting from her dark hair, and the way the dark curls would bend around her face due to the open window behind her, made the entire time unbearable. So, Peeta did the only thing he could, he avoided eye contact with her, and tried to pretend she wasn't sitting a few feet across from him.

The tension wasn't any easier for Katniss as she snuck half lidded glances towards Peeta. He was wearing a plain dark blue button up which clung to his broad shoulder enhancing the structure. She cursed herself for noticing such things when he had gone out of his way to make her feel unwelcomed. Katniss could feel herself becoming the insecure girl from under the Capitol who scrounged for food like a wild animal.

She was locked back in the prison she had escaped, but only now it was her defiant soul she had lost. Katniss shook her head as she gritted her teeth and reached for a slice of apple. It had only taken a second as she pinched the peel of the fruit, a stream of juice running down her finger. It hadn't registered in her mind what she had done until the piece of fruit collided with Peeta's forehead. Her hand was still in the air, when he picked the apple slice from his lap to look up at her with disbelief. They both sat there frozen, in complete silence, until Peeta threw it back at her, making it land at her bare shoulder.

"Really Katniss, throwing food?"

"It got you to talk to me didn't it?"

"I would think you of all people wouldn't waste food on something so childish."

"Like I said, it worked," Katniss picked the slice up to place it in her mouth, as she chewed it loudly, her mouth half open," And the apple's still good, so technically I didn't waste it. It served its purpose."

"I'm not going to encourage you. You think you can do these rash things, and to hell with the consequences."

Katniss slammed her hands down, causing the plates to rattle," I'm not to become that person again, just because I broke some unspoken trust you invented between us. And you know what? I would do the same thing again! I wouldn't changes anything!"

Peeta pointed at her angrily," And that's the problem. You're noticed now Katniss, you have to be careful of how you react," Peeta broke eye contact with her, his hands running through his hair," I wouldn't let you be lost again, believe me you don't deserve it."

"Peeta-"

"I'm angry with myself because I should have been the one to beat his ass to the floor, hell with propriety. I promised you, we were in this together, and I deserted you. I failed you not the other way around."

Katniss shook her head," No, you were right to be angry I acted impulsive and rash. I'm just too defiant-"

Peeta turned to her briskly," I don't want you to lose that. It's what makes you… you."

"I never wanted to disappoint you," Katniss could feel the tears stinging at her eyes," I need you."

Peeta's eyes became wide and he could feel his heart race," You need me?"

Katniss nodded, her hands began to tremble as she pushed them into her lap," Like someone would a friend."

She felt sick for lying to him, she could see his eyes drain of something she couldn't quite recognize and his face became pale before regaining its color.

Peeta forced a smile, even though his heart was breaking," Of course. I feel the same way."

Katniss looked up at his through a curtain of her dark hair," Do you think we can go back to before?"

Peeta nodded as he swallowed, his throat was dry," Yes."

Katniss smiled as she playfully threw another piece of apple at him. Peeta caught it with one hand, before popping the fruit into his mouth. The sliver of the apple felt heavy on his tongue and he had force it down his throat, while smiling at Katniss.

He had meant to mention the news about Lord Darius, but a part of him wanted to keep her for himself and just for now Peeta pushed the rest of the world away. Because at least for now she was just his again, and he wanted to have the moment last for as long as possible.

A/N: I hope the chapter was worth the long wait. I promise the next chapter will be posted soon and as always... Please REVIEW REVIEW!