~Sketching Out Our Love~

~Chapter 12~

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I didn't update until today, but it wasn't ready yesterday. To make up for it, I tried to make the chapter a little longer.

I have a story rec for you all today. It's called Breakfast on Vinton Street, by OMJH1012. I promise you guys will love it, and it is very well written! If you would like to read it, you can find it on my Favorites list. Thanks!

A huge thank you to my lovely beta, Choclate lover. Thank you! :)

That's all I have for today! Enjoy the chapter! 3

*Katniss POV*

I hold onto Peeta's hand as tightly as I can. I know I must be cutting off his circulation, but Peeta doesn't tell me to loosen my death grip. Instead, he rubs my fingers in his comforting way, but I can't seem to relax.

There are too many people here, overwhelming me. We are still trying to find a parking spot, but I'm already having a minor panic attack. The parking lot is over flooded with cars and people, and I even saw a couple limousines. I don't do well in crowds, and this is one of the biggest I've been in my whole life.

"Katniss, calm down." Peeta soothed as we waited for a parking spot. I marveled at the fact that he always seemed to know what I was feeling.

"I'm not nervous." I lied uselessly. "I'm just… shocked."

"You're a terrible liar, you know that, right?" Peeta asks with an impish grin.

My face flushes crimson at his words. "I'm not nervous." I snapped, giving Peeta a glare. I hate how Peeta always seems to know what I'm feeling.

Peeta laughs, seeing through my white lie easily, but he plays along for a moment. "Of course you're not. You're just excited to dance with me, right?"

I blush even more, which Peeta unfortunately notices. "I can make you take me home right now." I threaten him stonily.

Peeta sighs dramatically as he pulls into an empty parking spot. "Do you mean I wasted ten dollars on a corsage?"

He reaches into the backseat, and pulls out a corsage with light orange roses. "I matched it with your dress." He explains. "And I made sure not to get white roses, because they remind me of Snow."

"Me too." I agree, remembering how I'd been careful not to buy roses when going to Gale's grave.

Peeta gently grabs my hand, and ties the ribbon of the corsage around my wrist. It's actually very pretty, and the light orange roses don't remind me of Snow. They actually remind me of Peeta, full of light and love. I find myself fingering the flowers and the light green leaves. "Thanks." I said. "It's perfect."

Peeta smiles, making his whole face light up. I love his smile; it reaches his whole face and makes me feel all jumpy inside. It's scary that this boy has managed to have such a profound effect on me. I hate him for making me a lovesick teen, but I can't stop liking him. He's just too likable.

Peeta sees me staring, so he grabs my hand and says, "Are you ready?"

I feel like I am condemning myself to a night of torture, but I squeeze Peeta's hand and take a deep breath. "Yes, I'm ready." I reply in a surprisingly confident voice.

"Ok." Peeta gives me another heart-stopping grin before he leaps out of the car to open my door.

"You don't have to do that." I blush. "I can get out on my own."

"Just get out, Katniss." Peeta rolls his eyes. "Stop wasting time."

"I'm not wasting time." I protest weakly. I get out carefully, making sure not to ruin my dress or hair. I don't know how some girls stand to curl their hair and wear a dress every day.

"Yes, you are." Peeta says confidently. He links his arm through mine, and we begin the walk to the hotel entrance. A small part of me is hoping we will never reach the hotel, but walk all night instead.

Unfortunately, when I dread something, time just seems to speed up and taunt me. In what feels like a second, Peeta and I are in line waiting to get our tickets.

"I can pay for my own." I tell Peeta as I reach for the small white purse Mother had lent me.

"No, I'm taking you to Homecoming, not the other way around." Peeta snaps. "Do you ever let anyone do anything for you?"

My hand freezes over my wallet as I realize Peeta is right. I never let people do anything for me. In fact, Mother had to argue with me for nearly ten minutes before I backed down and let her do my hair and makeup for tonight. I'm glad I did let her do it, because she did an amazing job. I couldn't have replicated her work if I tried for a thousand years.

"Alright." I agree reluctantly as I close my purse. "You can pay."

"Thanks for not causing a scene." Peeta mutters. "I thought we would have to argue like old women."

I laugh as I picture the scene, and Peeta manages to crack a grin. "There's the smile." He says softly. "Smile more often."

"Stop telling me what to do." I tease, giving his arm a light punch. In retaliation, Peeta kisses me full on the mouth, ignoring my protests.

Not a bad punishment at all, I can't help but think. I'd take this anytime.

"Next!" An annoyed voice calls out.

Peeta and I jump apart, and I blush when I realize that Peeta and I are holding up the line. Peeta hurries forward to pay, while I stand off to the side waiting for him.

Peeta hurries to my side a minute later, tucking his wallet into his pocket. I haven't told him, but he looks great in his dark grey suit. His blonde hair has been gelled back, and his blue eyes seem to be brighter than usual. His sapphire blue eyes match the tie he wears perfectly.

"What are you staring at?" Peeta teases.

"You… look nice." I manage to choke out, feeling more embarrassed than I have in my whole life. Why did I even say these things? I chide myself. I end up all tongue twisted and embarrassed. I should just keep my mouth shut sometimes.

"Not too bad yourself." Peeta murmurs into my ear, making a shiver run down my spine. His arm falls lower, wrapping against my lower back. I try to not show how much his touch is affecting me, but I have a feeling I am failing miserably. Sure enough, Peeta snickers as he senses how my whole body is shaking.

The hotel room Central High has booked for Homecoming is huge, and dark. The lights are very dim, leaving the room in semi-darkness. A huge dance floor is in the middle of the room, with white tables and chairs placed around it. Near the entrance is a refreshments area, where several people are already crowded about. The DJ sits are the front of the room, and the teacher table is close by him. With a shiver, I see the white beard and hair of Principal Snow at the teacher's table.

Peeta, thankfully, isn't taken off guard by the sheer size and number of people here. He calmly walks through the hotel room, looking for a place to sit. I admire how unfazed he is, and wish that I could be calm around a huge group of people as well.

Peeta leads me to a table where we see Annie sitting all alone. She looks beautiful in a strapless aqua blue dress and silvery high heels. "Hi Peeta! Hi Katniss!" She hugs us excitedly, and I can't help but smile at her infectious good mood. Her long auburn hair is curled into gorgeous curls. Half of it is pulled up, and the rest cascades down her back.

"Katniss, your dress is so pretty!" She gushes. "I love the color!"

"Thanks." I smile at Annie, my previous worries forgotten. "Do you have a date, or are you here alone?"

"Finnick said he's getting something for us to drink…" She trails off as she turns around and tries to find him. "But I think he's trying to meet some girls."

"What?" I practically choke out. I don't know how Annie could say something like that with such a straight face. "You're his date though!"

"Finn is a flirt." Annie giggles, completely unfazed by my shock. "But he's only ever loved me."

"How do you know?" I can't even begin to fathom how Annie trusts Finnick so wholeheartedly. I would never be able to trust like that.

"Because the real Finnick isn't a flirt." She says honestly. "He is kind and funny and loving."

"Umm… I don't know how you trust him." I tell her truthfully.

"I do." Annie replies simply. "You can't love someone and not trust them."

"I guess." I reply cautiously. Annie is one of my only friends, and I don't want to argue with her.

"Speaking of which…" She mutters. "I should go try to find him."

Annie walks off in the direction of the refreshments, leaving me alone. I do my best to remain inconspicuous, but it doesn't work.

"Hello." Someone whispers in my ear, making me jump a mile. I turn around shakily, and find myself an inch away from a pair of blue-green eyes. For a moment, I just stare, fully entranced by the strange flecks of green in this boy's blue eyes.

"Finnick Odair." He says, holding out his hand.

Finnick Odair isn't what I'd expected at all. He is tall and muscular, probably around twenty years old. His bronze hair is gelled back carelessly, and even though the hotel is semi-dimmed, I can tell that Finnick is very handsome. He has bronze hair, tanned skin, and a heart-stopping cocky smile.

"Katniss." I reply shortly, ignoring Finnick Odair's outstretched hand.

Finnick takes a seat next to me, and digs in his pant pocket for a moment. He pulls out something, which he offers to me.

"Do you want a sugar cube?"

I speak carefully to the sugar cube instead of Finnick. "No thanks."

I will Peeta to come to my rescue, and it seems to magically work. Peeta plops down on the other chair beside me, holding two cups of punch. He doesn't notice Finnick sitting on my other side "I promise it isn't spiked." He tells me sincerely when I hesitate.

"Alright." I grin at him. "Just checking."

Peeta takes a gulp of his own drink, and says, "I'd never purposely hurt you."

"I know." I reply honestly. Peeta is just Peeta. He can't hurt anyone.

"There you are, Finn!" Annie takes a seat on Finnick's other side, and takes the cup of punch he hands her. Finnick's eyes light up when Annie sits down beside him.

"Hey, baby." He purrs. "I missed you."

"Peeta!" Finnick says in surprise as he just notices Peeta. "I've been looking for your girlfriend Glimmer for the past ten minutes. Where is she?" Finnick asks curiously.

"She's not my girlfriend anymore." Peeta winces slightly, obviously remembering him and Glimmer together. I feel my stomach twist up in knots at the thought of Glimmer.

"Ouch." Finnick closes his eyes and a look of deep pain comes over his perfectly sculpted face. "I'm sorry Peeta."

"She isn't a big loss." Peeta replies with an easy grin. "I have someone much better now."

"I always liked Glimmer." Finnick muses. "So pretty and brainless. And so easy to charm."

Peeta coughs lightly, and takes my hand. "This is my girlfriend Katniss."

"We've met." I reply shortly. Finnick looks at me with amusement, and I feel my cheeks heat up.

"Spare us the romantic details." Finnick moans. His sea-green eyes focus on me again, making me feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Do you want a sugar cube?" Finnick asks me eagerly again.

"No!" I reply vehemently. This Finnick person is crazy, I decide.

"It's just a sugar cube." He holds out a handful of sugar cubes to me, and I stare at him in horror.

"No, thanks." I say to the sugar, refusing to look at Finnick. I hold Peeta's hand more tightly, as if that will help me somehow.

Finnick's head suddenly whips around. His eyes land on a gorgeous curvy blonde girl in a full-length red cutout dress. Peeta immediately stiffens, and I watch his eyes narrow suspiciously.

"Glimmer!" Finnick exclaims, effectively breaking the tense moment. "I've been looking for you all this time."

"Well, you found me!" Glimmer giggles. The sound of it makes my stomach churn, and I can't believe Peeta put up with this girl for two whole years.

"And you will have a sugar cube someday." Finnick says to me before leaving with Glimmer.

"Well, he's something." I mutter once Finnick has disappeared. "Quite the charmer."

"It's his traditional way of meeting new people." Annie explains. "You get used to him."

Peeta and I sit in silence for nearly ten minutes. He rubs my hand comfortingly, and I allow my head to rest on his shoulder. I'm just starting to fall asleep on Peeta's shoulder when I hear a loud chuckle behind me.

I turn quickly and find myself face to face with Finnick Odair yet again. His green eyes are inches away from my own, and I flinch back violently. "Do you want a sugar cube?" He asks me for the millionth time in a seductive voice.

"No!" I snap loudly. "I don't want a sugar cube."

Peeta laughs loudly, and says, "Katniss, chill." I turn and glare at Peeta too, because he is supposed to be helping me, not laughing at me.

"Took me ages to get away from Glimmer." Finnick says exasperatedly, rolling his eyes obnoxiously. He stands beside Annie, and grabs her hand.

"Annie, let's dance." He suddenly says. "You're a much better dancer than Glimmer."

Finnick and Annie head off to the dance floor, leaving Peeta and I all alone at last. Peeta looks at me expectantly, and says, "Do you want to dance too?"

"Sure." I reply, trying to be considerate. "I'm a terrible dancer though."

"Yeah right." Peeta mutters as we make our way to the dance floor. "I don't believe you."

It turns out Peeta is a great dancer. I feel like there isn't anything Peeta can't do amazingly well. He seems to be perfect at everything. I feel slightly jealous.

I sway in Peeta's arms, and surprisingly, I don't feel like a fool. Peeta twirls me carefully, and I find that I never want to stop our dance. For the first time since we've arrived at Homecoming, I start to relax and the tenseness leaves my body.

"You're a great dancer." Peeta tells me.

"No, you make me look good." I tell him honestly. When I used to dance with Gale, it was nothing short of a catastrophe. We were both ungraceful, and we ended up looking like fools. That is part of the reason why Gale and I never went to our Homecomings. The other reason is because we both like to be alone.

"I want to dance with you forever." Peeta tells me sweetly, noticing my attention lapse. I can't help but smile at how easily he can enunciate his feelings. I, on the other hand, end up a stuttering, red-faced mess when I try to tell him how I feel.

Peeta and I settle into a rhythm, our bodies swaying to the slow music in perfect harmony. I rest my head on his shoulder, and he sighs in contentment. "I love you." He whispers into my hair, and I smile against his shirt.

He takes a deep breath, and I swear I can feel him sniffing my hair. "Have I told y that you look beautiful?" He asks quietly.

I blush, and whisper, "Maybe once. Or twice."

"I'll tell you every day." He swears. "Because you are."

We fall silent for several minutes. It isn't the awkward type of silence, but the one where you are so completely at peace that you have nothing to say. For the moment, I was content with staying and dancing in Peeta's arms forever.

"Does Finnick go to Central High?" I ask Peeta curiously. I haven't seen Finnick around school, and he isn't the type of person you can easily miss.

"No, he's at San Diego State." Peeta answers. "He was a senior during my sophomore year."

"Then how does he know Annie?" I wonder out loud.

Peeta laughs. "They literally started dating the first week of Annie's freshman year. Girls really started to hate Annie, because Finnick was like a living legend at school. They feel like she stole Finnick from them."

"How can anyone hate Annie?" I ask in amazement. "She's so nice!"

"I don't know." Peeta replies with a shrug. "But girls can be really jealous. Glimmer is living proof."

"That's why Finnick flirts with so many girls." Peeta says after a couple moments. "To stop them from hating Annie."

Now, I see Finnick in a completely new light. He flirts with girls to keep them from getting jealous and somehow hurting Annie. I can't seem to hate Finnick Odair anymore.

The song finishes, and I quickly extricate myself from Peeta's arms, and instead, hold his hand. "I'm tired." I say sheepishly. "We can dance more later."

We head back to our table, and I snuggle up against Peeta securely. His arm automatically wraps around me, and I smile. I take slow sips of my punch, and Peeta plays with my hair absentmindedly.

Annie suddenly comes over, and giggles. "Look at the lovebirds." She teases.

"Finnick is a bad influence on you." I laugh. Now that I know Finnick a little better, it feels good to blame something on him.

Annie turns to me and replies, "He always comes back to me. That's how I know he loves me."

"He probably wandered off." She replies vaguely a couple minutes later, not looking too concerned. Her hands play with the white corsage that matches her dress absentmindedly.

Peeta laughs and says, "You know how Finnick is." He winks at Annie. "He'll come back to you no matter what."

"And here he comes." Peeta mutters under his breath moments later.

"They're crowning the Homecoming King and Queen." Finnick announces. "Do you know who it is?"

"No." Peeta replies. "I don't remember them announcing it at the football game yesterday."

"Well, let's watch." Finnick takes his jacket off, and hangs it on the back of his chair. I watch him roll up the sleeves of his shirt, and lean back in his chair casually.

The dance floor clears out, and Snow takes to the middle of the stage. He smiles with his ugly puffy lips, automatically making my stomach curl.

"Hello everyone." Snow begins. "I hope you are all having a great time."

A few cheers erupt, and Snow smiles more widely. I'm sure he is trying to look kind and happy, but he has the opposite effect on me. I spot a white rose in the lapel of his suit, and I instinctively shudder when I remember their poignant smell. Peeta feels the shudder run through my body, and his arms automatically tighten protectively around me.

"It is time to crown the Homecoming Royalty." Snow opens an envelope, and takes a small card out. He starts by reading the names of some freshman and sophomore couples, and I clap politely along with the rest of the school. "Now for our King and Queen."

Snow takes a long pause, building up the anticipation. I just stare at my sparkly shoes, knowing that there was no way that Peeta and I would be picked.

"Our Homecoming King and Queen are… Cato Jensen and Clove Evans." Snow reads off his card.

The hall erupts in wild applause, and Cato and Clove come to the center of the stage. Snow places a crown on each of their heads. I look around the room, and see that one person doesn't look happy at the arrangement.

It's none other than Glimmer. She looks at Clove threateningly, and I remember Peeta's words from several weeks before. Glimmer had liked Cato, and it seems like she still likes him. "Glimmer looks angry." I whisper in Peeta's ear.

Peeta looks across the room, and his eyes land on Glimmer. "I think she still wants to go out with Cato." Peeta mutters.

"It looks like it." I reply. I see Glimmer glare at Clove with hate, and my suspicions are confirmed.

Annie leans forward over the table, and whispers, "I voted for you and Peeta."

"Thanks." I smile at her. "I don't care about that kind of stuff though."

"Glimmer and I were Princess and Prince last year." Peeta whispers. "It was terrible. She was so proud about the whole thing too."

Snow takes a seat at the edge of the hotel room, talking to some teachers, and Haymitch and Effie. I nudge Peeta quickly, and he looks at me worriedly. "What is it?" He asks, looking around for the source of my discomfort.

"Do you see those people talking to Snow?" I whisper to Peeta. "One of them, Haymitch was on the plane with me when I went to see Gale. He picked up the girl, whose name is Effie, and brought her back here."

Peeta looks at me thoughtfully. "So, Haymitch brought Effie over to our school?" He ponders. "Do you know why?"

"No, he said it was top-secret business." I reply. Effie's hair is no longer pink, but a pretty shade of strawberry blonde. Without the ridiculous makeup and hair, she is actually very pretty. "Effie was wearing a pink wig." I whisper to Peeta.

He laughs, and jokes, "That looked great on her, right?"

"No. It looked awful on her." I giggle as I remember the fight Haymitch and Effie had at the airport.

I look back at Snow, and for a moment, our eyes meet. He gives me a wide, evil-looking smile, and I suddenly feel trapped in this huge dark room. Pure panic rises up inside me, and I feel the sudden urge to run.

I jump up from my seat, and Peeta stares at me worriedly. "Are you ok?" He asks in concern. "You look pale."

"I'm fine." I say as steadily as I can. "I just need to use the bathroom."

With that, I run away from Peeta before he realizes something is up. I head out of the room reserved for our Homecoming, and into the bathroom on the other side of the hotel hallway.

It's a very fancy bathroom, with four floor-length mirrors, and sparkling sinks. I feel somewhat out of place in this immaculately clean bathroom.

I shakily walk to one of the mirrors, and look at my reflection. I'm almost unrecognizable in my orange gown and sparkly three inch heels. My top part of my hair is braided, and the bottom fans out over my right shoulder in long curls. My makeup makes me look so different, and I suddenly have a strong urge to wipe it all off.

I freeze as I see the reflection of a girl in a long red gown enter the bathroom. She pauses at one of the mirrors to fix her impeccable appearance, and she notices she isn't alone in the room. Her face splits into a wide smile when she recognizes me.

"Hi, Katniss." Glimmer stands before me, her hands on her hips. "So nice to see you here."

Now that Glimmer is closer to me, I realize she looks different from the girl I met two months ago. Her green eyes are unfocused and bloodshot, and her skin has a yellow hue to it underneath all the makeup. She also looks less curvy, because her dress seems to hang loosely.

"Is everything… alright?" I ask awkwardly, staring at Glimmer's less-than-beautiful appearance. It feels strange to ask her this question when all I want to do is rip her hair out.

I pretend to fix my hair in the mirror. "You and Peeta look so cozy together." Glimmer says sweetly, ignoring my question. "Too bad your relationship will be short-lived."

"What are you talking about?" I suddenly snap. "Can't you just leave us alone?"

"Katniss, I'm only just now starting." She laughs. "You and Peeta haven't seen anything yet."

I gulp, and feel my stomach sink. "Excuse me." I say abruptly. "My date is waiting for me. Too bad you don't have one too."

I instantly know that is the wrong thing to say. I wish I could take my words back, but it's already been done. Glimmer's hand tangles itself in my hair, and I feel her jerk my head back sharply. "Snow has something in mind for Peeta." She whispers in my ear. "He is watching you guys all the time, even right now."

I yank my hair away from her grasp, and walk out the bathroom, slamming the door in her face. My legs feel like jelly and my body is shaking with terror as I walk to the table where Peeta sits waiting patiently for me. I barely make it into my chair before my knees give out.

"Katniss, what's wrong?" Peeta wraps his arm around me, but it doesn't help. "Baby, are you alright?"

"He wants to hurt you." I say shakily, willing myself not to cry. I could never lie convincingly, so it was no good to try and hide what Glimmer has told me.

"Katniss, it's alright, calm down." Peeta whispers, rubbing my shoulders gently. "No one is going to hurt us."

"Snow." I whisper. "Glimmer said Snow has something in mind for you."

"Katniss, listen to me." Peeta tilts my chin upwards, so I'm forced to stare into his eyes. "No one is going to hurt us. Alright?"

"Ok." I whisper in a small voice. "I'm just so scared."

"Do you trust me?" Peeta asks me seriously, not breaking our gaze.

"Yes." I whisper confidently, and I find that I really do mean it. "I trust you."

"Then don't worry." Peeta smiles, and his hands reach up to my hair. "Your hair is messed up."

I stay still, letting Peeta rearrange the wayward strands of hair; until he is satisfied it looks fine again. "So pretty." He murmurs, almost to himself.

I lean into his arms, and Peeta holds me protectively. It feels so natural that Peeta holds me like this. It's almost as if Gale never existed. It might have taken me way too long, but now I know it was always Peeta and I.

Someone taps my shoulder, and I jump out of Peeta's arms. I turn to see Annie, and the relief is obvious on my face.

"We're leaving." Annie says. "Finn wants to go."

I stand up to hug Annie. "It was great to see you." I tell her earnestly.

"You too." She giggles. "It's the first time I've seen you and Peeta act so couple-y."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I say to her, and Annie laughs. I surprise everyone when I turn to Finnick and take the sugar cube he holds in one hand.

Finnick stares at me in shock for a moment, and then bursts out laughing. "I told you that you would have a sugar cube." He says smugly.

"Get over yourself, Finn." Annie says, and she practically drags Finnick away.

I feel a strong pair of arms wrap around my middle, and I jump in surprise. "Scared?" Peeta's soft voice whispers in my ear.

"You surprised me." I reply honestly, as I twist myself so I can look him in the eye. Peeta smiles and I smile back hesitantly.

"Now what?" Peeta asks me. "Do you want to leave too?"

"I guess." I reply. "We've been here for almost two hours now."

"Ok, I'll take you somewhere special." Peeta says with a sly grin. "I think you'll like it."

We start walking towards the exit, and have made it about halfway when we hear two voices screaming behind us. Peeta and I immediately turn in the direction of the screams, and my heart sinks to my stomach.

It's Glimmer and Clove.

Even from this distance, I can see that Glimmer and Clove have gone from screaming to an all-out catfight. Glimmer appears to be trying to wrestle Clove to the ground, and Clove is screaming and punching Glimmer.

For a moment, Peeta and I stand and stare in shock. As we watch, Cato runs and tries to break the two girls apart, but he can't seem to get them apart. They just keep screaming and punching each other, seemingly oblivious to Cato's presence.

"Should we do something?" Peeta asks awkwardly. I can see his inherent good nature trying to help in any way possible.

"No." I reply cautiously. "We'll just get in trouble."

It takes a couple minutes, but the teachers seem to realize that there is an argument going on and they need to step in. Several teachers, along with Cato's help, manage to rip Glimmer and Clove apart. Glimmer, who seems to be in a rage, is led to an empty table.

Cato and Clove leave a couple minutes later, and I notice that they threw their crowns on the middle of the dance floor. Clove looks furious, and Cato looks like he wants to kill something. They walk out the door without a second glance, and Peeta looks at me worriedly.

"What's wrong?" I ask in a whisper.

"Glimmer." He replies shortly. He doesn't need to say anything else, because when I look over, Glimmer is surrounded by several hotel securities. They lead both her and Snow out of the hotel room, and the whole group disappears out the door.

"Let's go." Peeta tersely says to me. "I don't think we'll miss anything."

I nod, agreeing wholeheartedly. As we walk out, we overhear several hotel workers. "-Drunk- Principal wanted for questioning-"

"She was drunk." Peeta whispers in dumbfounded horror. "How long has this been going on?"

"She looked skinny and out of focus up close." I say to Peeta once we are in the car. "I think it's been a while."

"This is all my fault." Peeta moans. "I hurt Glimmer and never even formally told her we were finished."

"Don't say that." I tell Peeta firmly. "It's not your fault. It's Snow's fault."

Peeta just stares straight ahead, not answering me in any way. "What do you think they want with Snow?" I ask Peeta a moment later. "Why are they questioning him?"

Peeta shrugs listlessly. "No idea."

The rest of the ride is silent. It's not even the good type of silence, but the kind of silence that is too loud bear. I could practically feel the tension crackling in the air between Peeta and me.

Peeta surprises me when he parks in front of my house. "I thought we were going somewhere?" I ask curiously.

"I'm tired." Peeta says to me in a flat voice. "I'm sorry." But he doesn't sound very sorry to me.

I lean in to kiss Peeta in an effort to alleviate some of the tension that seems to have sprung up between us. To my horror, his arms stay locked on the wheel and he doesn't hug me back. His lips are unmoving and emotionless on mine, in contrast to the fluttering feeling his kisses used to give me. His blue eyes have lost their shine from earlier in the evening, and look dull and lifeless now. I lean back, suddenly feeling afraid. This isn't the Peeta I know.

"What's wrong?" I ask him shakily, my hands caressing his stoic face gently. "Peeta, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Peeta replies, pulling out of my grasp. "I'll see you Monday at school, alright?"

"Alright." I whisper in defeat. I grab my bag, and open the door slowly in an effort to waste time. It doesn't work, and I climb out shakily and close the door behind me.

The second I close the door, I realize I left something unsaid. I knock quickly on the window, and Peeta rolls it down. "What?" He questions, looking at me emotionlessly.

"I love you." I say breathlessly, forcing the words out of my mouth before I can chicken out. "I love you, Peeta."

It took me too long to say these words, and I'm hoping I'm not too late. I'm hoping Peeta senses the significance of these three words, and somehow draw him out of his trance.

Peeta's face shows shock. "I love you too." He murmurs. "I'm sorry for everything."

"Don't be." I whisper. "You didn't do anything."

But he doesn't hear me, because he has already rolled the window back up. I watch him drive away, and my stomach begins twisting itself in knots.

Peeta and I are finally together, and Glimmer and Snow are being questioned by police at this moment. I should be overjoyed at this moment, because all my dreams are coming true.

But for some reason, a strong gut feeling of dread comes over me. I have the terrible feeling that something horrible is going to happen. I've never been so scared in my whole life, and I can feel myself panicking. Once Peeta's car turns the corner, I head up the stairs to my apartment, and try to shake of the feeling of premonition.

But I can't seem to stop the ominous feelings from taking over my thoughts. As I turn the house key, I can only hope that I am overreacting and that everything will be fine.

But I can't seem to believe myself.

As always, thank you so much for the awe inspiring response to this story! You all inspire me so much every day.

There are two chapters left in the story. I don't have an epilogue planned out, because I can't seem to fit one into the story very well. I feel like it ends in a good spot, so I don't want to write anything over it.

Thank you for being the best readers ever! Review for your preview of the next chapter, in Peeta's POV.

Lots of love,

Glitter