Katniss' POV

To be honest, I was dreading school on Monday morning. It wasn't that I didn't want to see Peeta again, it was just that I didn't know where we stood with each other after our date. Was he my boyfriend? I had no idea. Did he want me to sit with his friends at lunch, or hold his hand in the hallways like I saw other couples do? Or would he act like nothing had happened between us? I was sure that we couldn't act like we were just friends, because surely we were more than that now, but the whole situation was confusing and I didn't know what to do.

The other problem of course, was that I had no idea whether I even wanted Peeta to be my boyfriend in the first place. When I told that to Prim, she looked at me like I was an idiot.

"Of course you do, Katniss!" she exclaimed.

"And how would you know?" I argued.

"Because you haven't been this happy in ages- and I saw the way you two were looking at each other." Prim grinned.

I groaned. She was right, Peeta did make me happy, but he also made me confused. "This wasn't supposed to happen." I moaned. "I wasn't supposed to like someone from the Upper East Side. I was supposed to go to school, get into college and forget all about that place."

"But it did happen Katniss! You just have to accept it." Prim continued, crossing her arms, "You like Peeta. Yes, he's from the Upper East Side, but you know that he's different from everyone there."

"I know, I know." I sighed, "It's just complicated, alright?"

"Ughhh, you are so stubborn!" Prim exclaimed.

"Whatever." I said, "I've got to go to school."

"Say hi to Peeta for me!" Prim mocked, making a kissing face as I left the apartment.

In the end, I didn't see Peeta all through the morning, or at lunch. As I waited for Johanna at our usual lunch spot, I scanned the courtyard looking for him, but I couldn't see Peeta anywhere.

"Looking for lover boy?" Johanna smirked as she sat down.

"Have you seen him today?" I asked, "I think he's avoiding me."

"Relax." Johanna said lightly, "Was the date bad or something?"

"No, well I mean…it was okay?" I didn't know how to describe it to her.

"Okay?" Johanna raised her eye brows, "More information please."

I told her exactly what happened during our date, and she couldn't help but laugh throughout.

"Wow, at least it's one you'll never forget!" she joked.

"That's what I said." I replied.

"So why do you think he's avoiding you?"

"Maybe he doesn't want to see me again."

"I highly doubt that." Johanna said.

"Ughhh." I groaned, my head in my hands. "I hate that I care so much."

"Look, I know this is going against everything I said to you when we first met, and everything I believe in entirely, now that I think about it..." she looked at me, "But I think you can hate everything about this world but still like Peeta."

"You think so, do you?" I asked sarcastically.

"As much as it pains me to say so, yes." she groaned. "I still don't like him though."

"You should get to know him first." I suggested, even though I already knew her answer.

"Maybe I'll just take your word for it."

At the end of the school day, I decided to get over myself and look for Peeta, seeing as he clearly wasn't trying to find me. I still couldn't find him though, but I did find Finnick standing by his own locker, packing his bag. Rolling my eyes, I prepared myself to speak to him.

"Finnick." I said, appearing next to him.

"Katniss! What a surprise." he said. He was eating a slice of brownie which I was sure was made by Peeta.

"Where's Peeta?"

"I have no idea, probably hiding out in the bathroom." Finnick replied casually.

"Why?"

"He's been worried about what to say to you all day." Finnick rolled his eyes, "Freaking out that you don't want to see him again."

"Are you serious?" I asked, feeling relieved.

"I wasn't supposed to tell you that." Finnick said quickly.

"Not so good at keeping secrets anymore then?" I joked. He looked alarmed, and I suddenly realised he must have thought I was also referring to our conversation at the party the other week. "Well lucky for you, I'm pretty good at secrets." I tried to reassure him, "I won't tell Peeta."

He seemed to understand what I was saying, and nodded his head. However, as I turned to walk away, he called me back. He pointed behind me, and that is when I saw Peeta standing at the end of the hall.

"The star crossed lovers are reunited at last." Finnick commentated. He leant against his locker and took another bite of his brownie as if preparing for some quality entertainment. I rolled my eyes as I walked towards Peeta.

"Hey." I said, hardly meeting his eye.

"Hey yourself." Peeta replied sweetly.

We stood in an awkward silence for a moment, and I had no idea what to say.

"I didn't mean to avoid you." Peeta began, "I just didn't really know what to say to you."

"Well have you thought of something yet?" I joked.

He smiled. "I have actually!"

"Okay, let's hear it."

Peeta pretended to clear this throat, breaking out into another smile. "I had a really great time with you, Katniss, and I definitely want to see you again." He looked at me, "I guess things could be a little complicated, so why don't we just take it from here and see what happens?"

"I'd like that." I told him honestly. The pressure of putting a label on whatever it was Peeta and I were was almost too much for me, and it was relief for him to suggest just taking things slowly. "So, about seeing me again?"

Peeta laughed. "Well, there's this Halloween party on this weekend, I thought you might like to go with me. I know it's not really your thing, but we had a good time last time, right?"

"Right." I smiled, "That sounds great."

We looked at each other for a moment, and I was feeling a little awkward again. Quickly, Peeta leant in and kissed me once. I blushed a little, until I heard the sound of a slow clap coming from further up the hall. I turned to see Finnick still standing by his locker, an amused look on his face. I rolled my eyes as I walked away, but inside I was beaming.

Gale was sitting on the curb outside our apartment when I arrived home from school.

"Hey, Catnip." he said. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

That was true. In between travelling to and from school, spending time with Peeta, going to work and all the studying I had been doing, Gale and I had hardly spent any time together. I missed him terribly, but at the same time I was scared to tell him that I was actually enjoying The Capitol School. Gale was more bitter about the divide between our neighbourhood and the Upper East Side than I was, and I wasn't sure how he would feel if I was to tell him it wasn't actually as bad as I thought. I also had the feeling he wouldn't be too impressed about the date I had with Peeta, but it wasn't as if Gale had ever given any indication that he liked me more than a friend. I still sensed it was going to be a difficult subject to bring up.

"I know, right?" I said, sitting down next to him. "How have you been?"

"Yeah not to bad, working hard I suppose." he smiled, "What about you?"

"Been pretty busy with school and work." I replied.

We were quiet for a moment, which felt strange. I used to feel like I could say anything I liked to Gale, but now I wasn't so sure.

"Oh, just a heads up." Gale began, breaking the silence. "I think we should keep an eye on Rory and Prim. I think Rory might have a little crush."

"Seriously?" I said. As cute as it was, there was no way I could imagine my little year old sister dating. I suddenly thought ahead to the future. "Imagine if they got married- then we really would be family." I laughed.

"How weird would it be if we got married too!" Gale joked.

I laughed, even though his comment made me uncomfortable. Did Gale really think about marrying me?

"So, Halloween's coming up." Gale continued as if he hadn't said anything of great importance. "Ready to trick or treat?"

My stomach dropped. I had completely forgotten about trick or treating this year. It had become kind of a tradition of Gale and I to take our siblings trick or treating in the neighbourhood, and then get dinner at a small diner a few blocks down. It was something we all looked forward to, but there was no way that I could do that and go to the party with Peeta. I needed to make a choice, and even though I knew I should continue the tradition, what I really wanted was to spend more time with Peeta.

"Oh." I said slowly, "I actually got invited to go to a party." I tried not to meet his eye.

"A party?" Gale asked, "Why would you want to go to party with all those people, I thought you hated them."

"I do!" I said, "Well, most of them."

"Who are you going with?"

"Just a guy."

"Just a guy?" Gale repeated incredulously. "Is he your boyfriend?"

I hesitated before saying, "No." I realised that the flaw in the idea of not labelling my relationship with Peeta was that it was impossible to explain to people. Especially to Gale, who I could tell was upset.

"Whatever, Katniss." Gale said coldly, standing to leave, "I hope you have a good time."

I sighed, I knew that Gale would react badly. Maybe I should just cancel my plans with Peeta, but I knew that really, I didn't want to do that.

I was still feeling bad about the way the conversation with Gale ended as I got ready for the Halloween party. It had taken me forever to figure out what to wear, especially since Peeta had told me people tended to go all out for costumes. In the end I settled for Sandy from Grease, and Peeta had agreed to go as Danny.

"Are you going to be okay without me?" I asked Prim as we got ready together.

"For the last time- yes!" Prim exclaimed.

"Alright ok!" I laughed, "Just checking."

I watched her for a moment, as she did her hair. She was dressed as a cat, but even in the cute outfit she looked more mature than she ever had before.

"Soooo." I said, "How's Rory these days?"

Prim shot me an unimpressed look. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason…" I said smiling, "It's just that Gale said-"

"Gale said nothing!" Prim interrupted, "You better go or you're going to be late."

"Nice try little sister, but you teased me so now it's my turn."

She was about to reply, when there was a knock at the door. "That will be Gale and Rory!" she said quickly, "I'll see you later, Katniss."

"Have a good time!" I called, smiling.

Prim opened the door and greeted Rory immediately with a hug, before looking back to me with wide eyes in case I'd seen her. I shook my head, smiling at her. She really was growing up. I glanced across at Gale, who was dressed as a cowboy, but he didn't return the smile I gave him.

Sighing again, I got ready to meet Peeta at his apartment. I rode the subway feeling pretty self conscious of myself in my costume, but, as Peeta had told me, everyone on the Upper East Side really did spare no expense at their costumes. Most took the night as an excuse to wear as little as possible, except surprisingly, Finnick Odair.

I had only just arrived at Peeta's apartment, and was about to compliment his perfect Danny hairstyle, when the elevator doors opened and Finnick and a girl I hadn't met before stepped out.

"Finnick kind of invited himself over." Peeta whispered with a smile. "I think he takes pleasure in making things awkward for us."

After speaking to Finnick a few times now, I knew there was more to him that what he showed at school, but even I was surprised by how differently he was acting. Finnick was dressed as Mickey Mouse, and despite looking pretty ridiculous with ears and a drawn on black nose, he couldn't stop smiling. He was holding tightly onto the hand of the girl, who was dressed as Minnie Mouse. If I had never seen Finnick before, I wouldn't think twice about how cute the two of them looked together, but it was so strange to see the charming, uncommitted Finnick so happily holding hands with a girl.

"So this is your mystery girl!" Peeta exclaimed.

"Not so secret anymore!" Finnick said, meeting my eye, "This is Annie. Annie, this is Katniss and Peeta- they're together but not really."

"Well that's one way of explaining it." Peeta laughed, "Nice to meet you, Annie."

"You too! Nice costumes, by the way." Annie said sweetly.

"Thanks, Annie." Peeta looked around, "Should we get going?"

"Oh, we aren't going to the party tonight." Finnick said.

"Then why are you here?" Peeta asked.

"Couldn't pass up the opportunity to make you two feel uncomfortable." Finnick winked at me, "Besides, I wanted you to meet Annie."

"Wow, I never thought I'd see Finnick Odair pass up the opportunity to go to a party." I joked.

"It will cause quite the scandal, let me tell you." Finnick replied in mock seriousness. "My reputation is seriously slipping, I'm definitely behind on my make out quota for the night."

"I better help you out then." Annie joked.

As if Peeta and I were no longer standing in front of them, they leapt at each other, kissing as if it was the last chance they had to do so. I looked at Peeta awkwardly for a moment, and he returned an uncomfortable look. Annie broke away, laughing, her cheeks turning red.

"Sorry about that folks." Finnick said, not embarrassed at all.

"So why aren't you guys going tonight?" I asked.

"I think you two getting together will cause enough gossip to spread around the school, and I think I'd like to keep out of the spotlight anyway." Finnick explained.

"The spotlight?" I said sarcastically.

"Yes, I am officially retiring from The Capitol School's number one heart throb." He looked at Peeta, "Jobs all yours my friend, I'm a changed man." He grinned at Annie.

So I was right about Finnick. His charming demeanour was all an act, and the way in which he held Annie's hand tightly showed that he was so much more than what everyone thought of him at school. However, as I looked at the way their fingers were intertwined, I noticed the red cuts extending up Annie's forearm. I was beginning to think that Finnick wasn't actually a bad guy, but I still silently wished that he would treat Annie well.

Finnick looked at his phone, "Well look at the time. We better get going if we're going to get enough candy before they give it all away."

Annie rolled her eyes. "You are such a child."

"Hey, this is the one night of the year where I don't have to buy candy myself." He looked at her with mock seductiveness, "And you know how much I love sweet things." Finnick kissed her again and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Well anyway, guess I'll see you two later." Finnick said, "Don't get up to too much trouble."

It was Peeta's turn to roll his eyes, "Bye Finnick." he said, "Nice to meet you, Annie."

"You too Peeta, bye Katniss." Annie said gently.

As soon was the elevator doors closed, Peeta and I turned to each other in a stunned silence.

"That was…" Peeta began.

"Unexpected?" I replied, still pretty surprised.

"You're telling me." Peeta said, equally as shocked. "Should we go?"

I nodded, still processing what had happened.

Finnick was right about the all the rumours our date had started. I could hear people whispering to each other as Peeta and I walked hand in hand through the mass of people at the party, and I was beginning to feel worse and worse as we went. I knew that it was only going to be worse once we went back to school for the week.

"Listen, don't worry about them." Peeta said softly, pulling me closer as we started to dance.

I wished I could take his advice, but as we danced I caught Cashmere's eye over his shoulder. Although it was only for a second, I could tell she was glaring at me, her arms crossed angrily.

I thought back to the threat she had made to me during my first week of school, and suddenly it made sense. She didn't want me to be with Peeta, yet there I was, dancing with him for the whole year level to see. I wasn't sure whether she was serious with what she suggested, but I decided not to let it ruin the great time I was having with Peeta. I would worry about it tomorrow.