Author's Note: I can not express in words how sorry I am. I've just been so busy and I don't mean the 'I had so much work to do' busy. I mean the 'everything' busy. My sister just had a baby boy and I'm going to become a godmother next month to my other little niece which I'm excited about. Not to mention I just switched schools and I'm sure some of you can relate to the stress that can cause,but any who I'm back and I won't ditch you guys that long ever again. By the way please check out 'Partially Sane' I think you guys will like it if you read it. Just give it a chance and tell me what ya' think. Thankyou so much for sticking by me and I hope you like this chapter!


Ch.7


Ppov:

"Get up." I roll over and whine in protest. Making sure to tug the blanket over my head.

"Nope. Non of that,your mothers in one of her moods." 'Surprise,Surprise' I think internally.

Suppressing a moan I sit up. I definently do it way too fast aswell because I see black dots in my vision and have to regain balance before I look up. I'm expecting my brother when I look up and am shocked when I find my dad.

"Is this what your brother has to deal with every morning? Remind me to raise his allowance."

"I-um sorry." I stand up and go to my dresser,pulling out a clean white shirt in the process. "So where's Rye?" My father frowns obviously assuming I prefer my brother more than him.

"He's downstairs cleaning the bakery. I thought I'd take you to school." He gives me a small smile.

I squirm in place under his stare and he seems to notice. "You know I drive now." I murmur awkwardly.

"Oh," he states. "How about I give you a ride anyways? It'll save you the gas."

"Sure." I mumble. I look from the shirt in my hands back to him.

He jumps at the realisation and heads for the door.

"I'll be downstairs."

I managed to avoid mom the whole morning and can't help but think today wasn't starting out that bad. Of course until I remembered the dad thing.

"Ya ready?" I give him a slight nod and hop in the truck. I haven't been in here for a while. Not since I got my driver's license at least.

"So," He begins lamely. "hows school been? Have any girlfriends?" It was a casual question,but it still made me jump.

"You know you can tell me anything,right?" He states slowly. Dammit,he seen me jump.

"Yeah,I know." He lets out a defeated sigh and looks over at me.

I can't help but think how pathetic I must look. I'm pressed against the truck door and looking out the window longingly. To say the least I look like I'd rather be anywhere else than in this car. Which is more than true,but still.

"Look Peeta I know we aren't close and that I haven't really been there for you,but I'm still your father and you need to acknowledge that."

"I do." I mumble bluntly.

"Then stop answering me like that!" He snaps loudly. I wince in response. He never yelled at me,that was Mom's job.

His face softens. "I'm sorry. I forget how skittish you are."

"I'm not skittish." I answer in defense.

"Yes you are." He says plainly.

"Well sorry," An attitude makes itself known. "you know getting abused by your mother your whole life does that."

"Peeta."

"And ya' know the fact that you never did anything about it and are now trying to be apart of my life only makes it worst."

"Peeta." He warns again.

"Maybe if you would have done something Dill would have stayed,but no he's across the country trying to get away from this fucked up family!"

'Pop!'

I sit there stunned for about a 10 seconds before comprehending what had just happened. He hit me. My father had hit me. He was just as bad as mom.

This would bruise. I could tell by the horrible stinging sensation on my cheek. It was already starting to throb.

I don't say anything when I open the truck door or when I grab my bag. Instead I just walk into the school. I don't even bother to glance behind me. I wasn't sure how I was getting home,but I sure as hell wasn't getting a ride from him.

I wish Rye had come to school today maybe he could have saved me from all this drama. Why couldn't my evil mother 'super clean' the bakery herself. She always had those days. The ones where she suddenly decides the bakery isn't good enough and keeps one of us home to help her.

"Watch it." Cato Sader says hotly to me all while pushing past me roughly.

Oh hell no. I was in no mood.

"You watch it, Jackass." Immediately he spins around and gets in my face.

"What did you say Mellark?"

"I said you watch it, Jackass. Are you deaf?"

He shoves me so hard I almost lose my balance. I tackle him without a second thought. I'm about to punch him in the face too until a voice stops me. "You get off Cato right this instant!" The vice principle, Ms. Trinket's, sharp high pitched voice stops me in my tracks.

"But-"

"Detention!" I growl in absolute aggravation and snatch the slip from her frail middle-aged hand.

When I walk into the depressing looking room something makes me smile. More like someone.

She was staring at her detention slip so hard I swear her head would explode.

"You know if you glare at that paper any harder you might hurt yourself."

She looks up at me and groans. Though her attitude isn't the best at this particular moment I ignore her groan and look at her stomach. Her attire is casual and more or less lazy. Her big sweatshirt covers the small baby bump she does have and-

"Stop it!" She hisses. I meer her eyes and raise one eyebrow. "Looking at my stomach." She explains softly.

I don't apologize. Instead I just take a seat next to her.

"What'd ya' do?" I look at her.

She shrugged. "Talked back."

"Mmm."

"You?"

"Oh you know got caught selling drugs." Her eyes widen. "It was a joke." My lip curls.

She rolls her eyes in order to cover up her blushing. Which didn't work might I add.

That's pretty much how the day went. I made a joke and she made a face.

When I had finally gotten home,much to my dismay,it wasn't too bad. Rye had told me mom didn't feel well and was upstairs resting. When I asked where Dad was he just shrugged and said and I quote "Probably to buy sugar or some shit."

"Well I'm gonna do my homework. I'll be upstairs if you need me." He nodded and gave me a lazy glance. He then did a double take and I knew he had seen it. It had only just started to show a mark. Before I knew it he was grabbing my chin and inspecting my cheek.

"Who hit you?" He demanded.

I grimaced. "It's not a big deal." Tearing my face away I started to walk upstairs.

He followed me up to my room and pushed me lightly on my bed. "It wasn't mom." He was in deep thought as he sat down next to me. "She was with me all day."

"It was dad." I snap. He shook his head in denial.

"No. Dad wouldn't do that. He wouldn't hit us. He never has." His head was slightly tilted to the side. He didn't want to believe it.

"Well he did." I say roughly. He only looked down. Suddenly I felt like I was eight again. We were both sitting on my bed as he pressured me to tell him who did it. Usually my answer was mom,but nope not this time.

"I'm-I'm going to finish cleaning up the bakery." He slowly got up. When I heard the click of the door I answered.

"Yeah," I let out. "you do that."