~Sketching Out Our Love~

~Chapter 5~

Hello everyone! I have some important news today! I am changing my update day from Sunday to Friday from now on! It's easier for me, because then I have Saturday and Sunday to write. I hope this works with everyone!

I know some of you got an alert earlier this week saying "Chapter 6" was up. I apologize for the mistake, there was no chapter 6. I know I confused a lot of you guys! :(

Also, a huge thank you to my two wonderful betas, Milanpia and Choclate Lover! They did an amazing job with this chapter!

Without any further ado, chapter 5! You guys have been anxious for this to happen! Now, before I give it away…

Enjoy!

*Peeta POV*

Her mood shifted by the minutes. She let me in with one breath and pushed me out again in the next. But no matter how badly she hurt me, I just couldn't stay away from her. I always ended up back at her side, trying to break through her emotional walls.

But when she smiled, everything was ok for a moment. That's why I'm trying so hard to make this work. I desperately wanted to make her smile. But she was so cold and distant that it seemed like an impossible fantasy at times.

But that didn't mean I wasn't going to try. She had told me that her favorite color was green, so the artistic part of my brain had gotten an idea. Actually, it's like my brain can never stop thinking about her. I remembered everything about her; every word she's ever said to me. I could just pray that she would like the painting.

For hours, I had stared at different hues of green. I had experimented with mixing several of my colors together, until I found what I thought was the perfect shade of green. I wanted to create something that Katniss could relate to. Maybe, if I showed her something she was familiar with, she would finally open up to me.

Midway through my painting, my phone buzzed annoyingly. I didn't bother to get it, because it was on my desk. Even though it was only a mere three feet away, I was too preoccupied with my painting-in-progress to leave it for even a single moment.

I had drawn a backdrop of dark green trees and a clear blue sky. In the center of the painting was a meadow of light green grass and dandelions. A stream bubbled merrily off to the side. So far, I considered it one of the best things I have ever painted.

Soon enough, I entered the world where nothing could interrupt me as I painted. When I zoned out like this, the only thing that mattered was the picture. The whole world was contained in me and my my work.

When my phone buzzed again, I cussed loudly. I had been so preoccupied that the noise had startled me out of my reverie. My brush had veered off, and now there was a very obvious streak of yellow in my grass. I was so angry at whoever had ruined my nearly perfect painting. I ignored the phone yet again, and painted the yellow streak into a dandelion.

When the doorbell rang about ten minutes later, I didn't think much of it. I continued on painting, very pleased with how this was turning out. I would definitely be able to give this to Katniss tomorrow. I wondered what she would say when she saw this.

The door to my room opened, and Mom poked her head in. "Peeta, dear, you've got a guest." She said, smiling widely at me.

"Oh…" I replied unenthusiastically, not even bothering to look up from my painting. "Who is it?"

"Your girlfriend." She smiled at me again.

"Katniss?" I asked without thinking. When Mom had said girlfriend, the first person that popped into my mind was Katniss. I chided myself for blurting that out, and I felt my ears heat up and go red.

"Umm…no." She replied uneasily. She shot me a look that clearly says We are having a talk later.

I sighed, and headed out of my room. My hands were stained with the green colors I had been using. When I made it down the stairs, I saw Glimmer sitting on our couch, her blonde hair fanned over the edge of the couch and her feet tucked under her.

Prim gave Glimmer a look of pure evil as she passed her. Prim hated Glimmer, and she made it very obvious. The last time Glimmer was here, she had gotten sprayed on by lemonade. I wondered what Prim would use to torture Glimmer today.

"Hey, Glim," I greeted her awkwardly, and sat down on the couch, making sure to leave a wide berth of space between us. Her only response was to glare at me haughtily.

"Is something wrong?" I asked in the same awkward tone. In an effort to placate her, I put an arm around her, and pulled her in closer to me, so that she was practically sitting in my lap. Never mind the fact that holding her gave me no satisfaction, and I kept wishing it was Katniss I was holding. "What's wrong, Glim?"

"We haven't done anything together for such a long time!" She wailed. "I feel like you don't even like me anymore!"

Maybe Glimmer was more observant than she let on.

"No Glimmer, that's ridiculous." I responded, giving her a quick peck on her smooth cheek. "Let's spend some time together today then."

Glimmer's eyes lit up eagerly. I was reminded of an earlier time and place, where my world revolved around Glimmer. But now, the sight of her didn't stir any type of emotion inside of me. I leaned in for another kiss, but the feeling just wasn't there.

I led her up to my room, and made sure she didn't step on the painting I'd worked so hard on. Her perfectly arched eyebrows shot up at the sight of the picture. "Peeta, did you do this?" She asked in amazement.

Glimmer had never shown any type of interest in my drawing skills, so I was surprised that she liked this. "Yeah." I replied, keeping the response short.

She flopped down on my bed, and stared at the picture for several moments. "Who's it for?" She asked in the same light tone. It might just be my imagination, but I sensed a hidden meaning to the question.

"It's just for me." I replied. I had a feeling that if I told her it was for Katniss, she might blow up on me. But I still wasn't sure what Glimmer didn't like about Katniss.

"Oh, good." She replied, wrapping her arms around me. She nuzzled her head in the crook of my shoulder, and sighed in content. "I thought it might be for that Katniss girl."

"Why would you think that?" I asked, ruffling her hair softly. This used to be one of my favorite things to do with Glimmer, but now I was just trying to distract her.

"Well, you guys always talk." She replied grumpily. She sat up straight, giving me her full, undivided attention. I had a feeling that the real reason she had come was to talk about Katniss.

"Don't worry about it, Glimmer." I soothed her. I've always been good with words, and it was working to my advantage in this situation.

"Oh, yeah?" She asked coldly. In this moment, she no longer looked remotely beautiful. She looked absolutely furious.

"Yes." I replied shortly. "Katniss and I are just friends!"

Glimmer appraised me for several long seconds before replying. "I don't believe you."

"Well, it's true." I glared at her with all the hatred I could muster up, and I was pleased when Glimmer looked away first.

She got off my bed, and grabbed her purse from where she'd flung it against the wall. "This is so not over, Peeta." And with that, she stormed out of my room, and down the stairs.

I followed her down the stairs as fast as I could with a messed-up ankle, and grabbed her hand from behind. "Glimmer, wait. Look, Katniss and I are just desk partners." I said in as earnest a voice as I could.

"Really, Peeta?" Glimmer asked hesitantly. I could see a flicker of hope in her emerald eyes, and my heart broke for Glimmer. No matter what her faults, Glimmer really did like me. I'll admit she liked me for all the wrong reasons- popularity and football, but she didn't deserve my cruelty. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, because that isn't the type of person I am.

"Do you want to go see a movie or something?" I asked her as we climbed down the stairs together. For a moment, I actually forgot that I didn't like her.

"No, Peeta, not today. Maybe this weekend sometime, ok?" She replied.

I was about to lean in for our goodbye kiss when Glimmer let out a loud screech and let go of me. Prim stood behind her with a very satisfied expression on her face. She held an empty cup in her right hand. The contents had been spilled all over Glimmer, who was looking at Prim with fury.

"You bitch!" Glimmer screeched, mere inches away from Prim's face. "How dare you?!"

"It was an accident!" Prim sniffled in a pathetic tone. Prim was a superb actor, she could even fool me at times. "You were in the way, and I accidently bumped into you!"

Glimmer turned in my direction suppliantly, and I actually saw tears running down her wet cheeks. "Peeta…"

I gave Prim a wink before giving her a stern glance. "Not nice, Prim." I scolded her in a serious tone.

"Sorry, Peeta!" She looked up at me with her puppy dog eyes, and I felt myself smile.

"Glim, get home." I gave her a hug, being careful to avoid getting wet.

"See you tomorrow, babe." She sniffled, and walked out of our house. A moment later, I heard her car start up, and she was gone.

"Prim." I began. "What did you spill on her?"

"It was only water!" She screamed. "You know I hate her! And I saved you from kissing her!" Prim's blue eyes looked at me with fury. This wasn't the Prim I was used to. Her normally soft blue eyes were now icy and a little deranged. Her blonde hair was frizzy, and her pretty face was scrunched up in anger.

"Prim, that was childish." I rebuked her. "You can get your point across without doing that."

"I know, Peeta." Prim's demeanor deflated, and she looked up at me sadly. "Are you mad at me?"

"No, Prim, never." I replied with a sigh. She gave me a huge smile, and jumped into my arms. I stroked her blonde hair, and I felt her smile against my chest.

I chanced a quick glance at her, and found her staring straight ahead, her eyes focused on the blonde head of the one and only Glimmer Hayes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Glimmer was envious of Katniss. It wasn't the most comforting of thoughts, because I knew that Glimmer always gets what she wants.

So why was Glimmer jealous of Katniss?

I thought of Glimmer's visit yesterday, and how worried she had been that Katniss was replacing her. Perhaps Glimmer was jealous of Katniss because she thought I was going to break up with her over Katniss.

Like I'd thought before, perhaps Glimmer was much more observant than she let on.

I nudged Katniss gently, and she started out of her musing with a glare in my direction. I held my hands up in mock surrender, and put on the most innocent look I could on my face. I actually managed to make her stop glaring in my direction, and now she was looking at me with a small degree of amusement.

"Mr. Mellark, please repeat what I just said." McCrane suddenly drawled in a dry voice from the front of the room, effectively ruining the moment Katniss and I were having- or about to have, I guess.

I looked up, and panicked for a moment before I saw Katniss push a notebook in my direction. The movement was so quick that I wondered if she had done it on accident. From McCrane's vantage point, Katniss's action would be completely imperceptible. I read the last sentence of Katniss's notes back to McCrane in a monotone voice. "The writing of Shakespeare has endured the test of time, and will continue to be read for many years to come."

McCrane's beady eyes narrowed behind her thick spectacles, and she looked disappointed that she had been denied giving me a detention. She finally nodded, and turned back to her desk and grabbed a stack of papers.

I used the hiatus of McCrane's lecture to thank Katniss. "Thanks." I whispered so quietly that I wasn't even sure she heard me.

"No problem." She whispered back just as soundlessly, all the while staring straight ahead and not meeting my eyes.

"Seriously, thanks." I insisted. "I wasn't even paying attention to her, why did you help me?"

"Because…" She trailed off uncertainly, as if afraid to say the wrong thing. "I didn't want you to get in trouble."

I knew that she had originally been meaning to say something else, so I was disappointed that she had changed her answer. "Why don't you trust me?" I whispered. I tried to keep the self-pity out of my voice, and was pleased when the words came out evenly. It occurred to me that McCrane's room wasn't the best place to have this conversation, but I didn't really care.

"I don't trust anyone." She countered in an icy whisper. Katniss turned away from me, pushing her notebook back to her desk, obviously indicating that this conversation was over.

I sighed. Would she ever open up to me?

Katniss stiffly handed me a note, all folded up into a small square. I opened it with shaky fingers, very aware of her eyes on me, and became conscious of the fact that I was holding my breath anxiously. Breath, Peeta, it's just a note!

In a neat, small handwriting, she had written: Why do you trust me?

I took my time with my response. It's not like I could tell her I was secretly in love with her. Even though I knew she'd hate this response, I wrote: Because you're different, and handed it back to her.

I watched her anxiously as she read the note. Her eyes narrowed, and I was afraid I'd offended her. Stupid Peeta, why did you say that! I thought agitatedly.

She handed the note to me from beneath our desks. For a moment, my hand brushed hers, and I felt a bolt of electricity shoot through me. I tried to pretend that I wasn't affected by her touch, and opened the note quickly. How so?

I can be myself around you. I scrawled out quickly, and passed the note to her. It was true; I could only be myself around her. Around Glimmer, I have to act like I like her, and around Cato, I have to act like I enjoy being part of his crowd.

She smiled in agreement at my words, and I felt a small flicker of happiness. I would do a lot of things to see that smile.

Katniss didn't bother writing a response on the paper, because it was clearly written on her face. I gazed at her in dumbfounded silence for a couple moments before I realized that I was staring. I turned away from her, and feigned attention in the mind-numbing speech McCrane was halfway through.

During times like these, I felt like maybe she felt something for me as well. But she shut me out and crushed my hopes every single time, without fail. Prim told me to give Katniss some time, but I wasn't asking for much. I just wanted her to trust me.

I ripped a small piece of paper off, and quickly scrawled out: Meet me at my locker right after school?

After Katniss had read the note, she nodded at me, and I felt my heart soar. I can't wait to see what she thought of the painting.

When the bell finally rang to signal the end of seventh period and the school day, I leaped up from my chair and was among the first people to leave the classroom. Since I gave the note to Katniss, the day has been going by so slowly that I could've sworn that there was something wrong with our clocks. But it turns out time was going slowly because of my excitement over giving Katniss the painting.

I hurried through the hallways, not stopping to talk to anyone. I gave Cato a quick nod as I passed him and Clove by, though, because I really didn't want any trouble with Cato now. Unfortunately, Cato grabbed my shoulder as I passed him, and I unwillingly turned to face him.

"Mellark." He snarled in his raspy voice. Sometimes, I suspected he smoked. "What the hell happened during last week's game?"

"I didn't see him." I replied shortly. I was so not in the mood to talk to Cato. I just wanted to meet Katniss.

"Yeah, well you fucked up my perfect game." He glared at me with his icy blue eyes. "Be careful next time."

"Cato trained hard for the game, and you came and messed it up for him." Clove glared at me. I instinctively froze, not wanting to challenge Clove. She was lethal, in all senses of the word. "Jerk." She muttered under her breath.

Oh well, she's could've said much worse to me.

"Don't worry, Clove, Cato." I tried to pass it off, but Cato's eyes narrowed.

"I haven't forgotten about Glimmer." He threatened. "Watch out, Mellark."

I sighed. Was everyone out to get me? Cato has hated me ever since I started dating Glimmer. I asked her out to homecoming sophomore year, and Cato hasn't forgiven me. To be honest, Cato wasn't the forgiving type, so I was wary. I added him to the list of people who hated me.

I idly wondered if Katniss was on that list.

When I finally arrived at my locker, I saw Katniss leaning on the metal and waiting for me expectantly. When she saw me, she snickered a little bit, and said, "Time isn't your strong suit, is it?"

"Sorry, I got held up by Cato." I replied. My tone was still a little annoyed from my encounter, and I took a deep, steadying my breath before putting my combination in.

"What did he want?" She asked curiously. "I thought you guys don't talk very much."

"We don't." I sighed. "It was about last week's game. He's furious that I messed up his perfect game."

"That's ridiculous!" Katniss replied indignantly. "He didn't get his ankle hurt!"

"Doesn't matter." I smiled, deeply touched by her concern.

"Close your eyes." I told Katniss gently. She rolled her eyes at me, but closed them nevertheless. She looked so calm and peaceful that I couldn't resist tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

Her steely eyes immediately flew open. "What was that for?" She snapped.

"That piece was bothering me." I replied with a shy smile. I was surprised when she smiled back hesitantly.

"You wanted me to come to your locker?" Katniss asked, bringing me back to the present. I realized that I had been staring at her for several seconds, and I forced myself to look away.

"Yes, sorry." I replied, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Close your eyes." I repeated.

"Don't touch me." She warned before closing her eyes again.

I smiled and shook my head as I grabbed the painting out of my locker. I placed it in her outstretched arms gently, and said "Now open your eyes."

I waited for her reaction with baited breath. At first, Katniss just stared at the picture, but then she looked up at me in shock. Before I could say anything, Katniss started flat-out crying.

This was not how I imagined this little meeting to go at all. I had hoped she would love it, and perhaps, in her happiness, show some affection.

"Don't cry, please." I murmured awkwardly. "If you don't like it, I can take it back."

Katniss continued to cry, and I felt so helpless just looking on as she cried. I quickly closed the gap between us, and pulled her in for a comforting hug. My heart pounded with the proximity of her, and I could feel small bursts of shock from where her head rested on my chest.

I was surprised when she didn't pull away. She just cried into my shirt for what seemed like ages. I caught words here and there. "Meadow… Woods… How?… Perfect…"

I stared down at her, gently rubbing her back and letting her soak my shirt with her tears. She finally lifted her head from after several minutes of hard crying, and I immediately missed the weight of her head.

"How did you know?" She sniffled. Katniss looked up at me with red eyes, and I wiped away a stray tear from her cheek.

"Know what?" I inquired, surprised at how soft my voice sounded.

"That looks just like my woods, in California." She explained. "The trees, the meadow, and even the stream, everything is just like I remembered it."

"Then why are you crying?" I honestly had no idea why she was crying.

"Gale…" She whimpered. Her eyes suddenly widened in horror, and she looked aghast at what she had said.

"Who's Gale?" I hoped I wasn't pushing her too far. I certainly didn't want another emotional breakdown.

"He was…" She trailed off, her eyes taking on a glassy quality. "We were friends."

By the way she said friends, I knew she meant much more than "just friends," but I didn't push her. Katniss had opened up to me more she ever had today.

"I'm sorry." I began uneasily. "I can take it back."

"What?" She looked up at me in surprise. "No, I love it! It's just perfect, please let me keep it!"

I chuckled, and said "Of course you can keep it. I was worried you didn't like it!"

Her grey eyes widened with shock. "How could I not like anything you draw?"

I blushed at her comment. This was definitely the first compliment I have ever received from her. "Thank you." I replied humbly. "That means a lot."

I was surprised when she closed the distance between us, and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, which was as far up as she could reach. "Thank you." She murmured into my shoulder. "You reminded me of some really happy times."

"I'm glad." I replied, hugging her back. There was no way I was passing up a hug from Katniss. I leaned my head down on her hair, and inhaled deeply in the scent of her hair. It smelled like vanilla and cinnamon, and I immediately thought of the cinnamon buns we made at the bakery.

"Is that your way of telling me I need a bath?" Katniss teased lightly, not moving from my arms.

"No, just the opposite." I smiled into her hair. "It smells like the cinnamon buns we make at the bakery. You've got to try them someday!"

"If they're as good as your cookies, then I can't say no." She replied, breathing into my shirt.

I looked up from her temporarily, and saw something that made my blood run cold. Glimmer was standing about ten feet away, flanked by Cato and Clove. Her eyes were wide with horror as she stared at Katniss wrapped in my arms.

I immediately let go of Katniss, and slammed my locker shut. "Peeta Mellark!" I heard Glimmer's scream of fury.

"Why the hell are you cheating on me?" She shouted in anger. She looked beside herself. Her normally smooth tanned skin was red with rage, and her green eyes blazed dangerously.

"I'm not!" I retorted, glaring back at her. "Katniss and I are just friends!"

"Yeah, sure." She snickered, and looked at Katniss. "What do you see in her anyways? She is so ugly!"

I finally snapped. I wouldn't let anyone insult Katniss. "She is not ugly! Why are you jealous of her?"

"I am not jealous!" Glimmer looked beyond enraged now. "She is trying to ruin our relationship!"

"Did we even have a relationship to start with, Glimmer?" I couldn't remember the last time I had been this mean to anyone ever. "I've wanted to break up with you for months!"

"Oh, really?" She screeched. "Well, we are so over, Peeta!"

"That's fine with me." I shrugged. Glimmer's furious features crumbled, and I saw the pain etched into her face. I was satisfied, but a little guilty to see how disappointed Glimmer looked. She had thought I would put up a fight, or beg her to stay.

"Fine." She breathed out softly, and turned to Katniss. Her eyes suddenly focused on the painting Katniss held in one hand, and I knew she recognized it from yesterday.

"Peeta, you said it wasn't for her." Glimmer turned back to me, her voice surprisingly steady. "So, you draw her pictures now too?"

"Yeah, I do." I shrugged. I saw no point in backing down to her now. We were obviously over, so it didn't matter.

I couldn't stand letting Glimmer leave like this, it just wasn't right. "This has nothing to do with Katniss, Glimmer. I just wasn't feeling anything anymore."

"You will pay." She hissed angrily at both Katniss and I. "Come on, Clove, Cato." Glimmer walked away, her blonde hair swaying down her back as she left. Clove and Cato followed behind her a couple paces.

"I'm so sorry!" Katniss moaned the second they had left. "This was all my fault!"

"No, it isn't." I smiled at her. "We've been rocky for ages now. It was about time we break up."

"Okay, if you're sure." She gave me a piercing look, as if she was trying to draw the truth right out of me.

"Come on, I promised you a cinnamon bun, right?" I grinned at her, trying to lighten her up again.

"Right." She smiled at me, and we walked out the school together.

I walked over to my car, and opened the passenger seat for her. "What about your sister?" She asked in concern.

"Prim has dance after school today." I explained. "Get in."

She got into the car gracefully, and I closed the door and went around to my side. She played around with the radio while I drove, and I let her. If it was Prim, I would've been furious. But this was Katniss, and it was impossible to resist her and not give her what she wants.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the bakery. I opened the door of the bakery for her, and waved to Thresh. "Hey Thresh, this is Katniss." I introduced him when we got to the front counter. "Katniss, this is Thresh, he works here."

"Hi, Thresh." She greeted him, and he nodded at her in response.

Katniss looked somewhat hurt, but I just said. "Thresh, can we get two cinnamon buns, please?"

Thresh nodded again, and pulled two cinnamon buns out of the display case. "Just baked them." He said gruffly. "Still hot."

"Thanks, Thresh." I replied, taking the two pastries from him. Katniss had already taken a seat at one of our tables, and I sat opposite her, and pushed one of the cinnamon buns towards her.

"Not much of a talker, is he?" Katniss inquired once I sat down.

"Reminds me of someone I know." I teased her playfully. She scowled at me, but didn't look too particularly angry.

"I'll pay you back." She mumbled guilty a couple seconds later, confirming my suspicions.

"No, please. It's on me." I bit into the hot, gooey pastry, and sighed in pleasure. "Try it. They're still hot!" I insisted.

She tentatively took a bite, and moaned in pleasure. "This is so amazing! Everything in your bakery is so good!"

"Thanks." I blushed. I couldn't believe this. A break-up with Glimmer and dessert with Katniss all in one day? Could this day get any better?

I wonder what Katniss would say when I asked her if she considered this a date?

"Peeta?" Katniss asked hesitantly.

"Yeah?" I replied, swallowing a particularly large bite of my cinnamon bun. I looked up at her expectantly, and I saw that she was also blushing.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked hesitantly, her steely grey eyes fixed on mine.

"Yeah, of course. Ask away." I replied, fixing my eyes on her, and trying to set her at ease.

"What do you think of me?"

So, the next chapter will start up right here, but in Katniss's POV. Finally, the girl is starting to open up! She took long enough!

And what did you think of that break-up? Glimmer will continue to cause trouble; she isn't gone quite yet.

Also, don't worry, there will be a lot more Cato and Clove in later chapters. Especially Clove.

Please review, and let me know what you're all thinking! I love it when my readers review, it makes me so happy. I get this big huge idiotic smile with every single review! :)

See you all on Friday (that's the new update day!) 3