BELOW IS ANOTHER PARAGRAPH OF MY BABBLE THAT YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO SKIP (I'D PREFER IF YOU READ IT THOUGH). SUZANNE COLLINS DOESN'T DO THESE. BUT WE'RE NOT THE AMAZING CREATOR OF THE HUNGER GAMES. WHICH MEANS WE DON'T OWN IT. CONSIDER THIS OUR DISCLAIMER. A POINTLESSLY LONG ONE, BUT A DISCLAIMER NONETHELESS!

Why hello there,

This is our quickest update so far. Excited! Ah, just as I predicted last chapter. Yeah know some people update like twice a day (I worship the ground they walk on), but I'm proud of my 4 day update, so I won't have you raining on my parade, thank you very much!

I'm also excited because romance and meaningful stuff isn't my strong point (don't know about Donna) so I had to use the book to set it up, and it turned out way better than we expected. But if the characters still seem a bit blunt and emotionless, I'm sorry.

Anyway, PLEASE review and tell us what you though of this chapter. Also, any ideas on what could have been in Foxface's bag at the Cornucopia? I'm really stuck on that, and I don't know if I'm going to mention it in the story, but I really want to know what was in there, so someone please give me an answer that will satisfy me? Oh, and if you're reading this, randomly add the word 'awesomee' (remember the extra e) to the end of your review. I kind of wanna know how many people read this bit and how many people just skip ahead to the story. I don't mind if you skip to the story though, so don't worry. Actually, the people who skip to the story won't actually be reading this bit, so ignore the last sentence.

Ok, enjoy the chapter :)

Love,

The MockingJayzz

Chapter Five: Loved

Before I can turn around, he speaks. And I recognise the voice. "Oh Katniss, look what she's done to you!"

"Peeta!"

I turn around. I can't believe it. Peeta was dead! Foxface killed him… but here he is, standing right in front of me. He looks horribly tired, there's a huge cut on his forehead, and it's still bleeding, but he's alive.

"Peeta? How did you -" I'm stopped by the horrible taste of blood on my tongue, so I shut my mouth and jump straight at Peeta. He pulls me up against his chest and tears of happiness and shock roll down my cheeks, soaking his shirt. We stay like this for a while, and eventually I calm down and stop crying.

I look up at Peeta, and the blood running down the left side of his face reminds me that we both need medical attention.

He lets go of me and looks at my face. "Katniss, she's ruined your lip – it's bleeding. How do I stop the blood?"

Remembering the taste of blood in my mouth, I decide not to talk. I just shake my head and get up, walking towards the first aid supplies. I bring the box back to Peeta. He may disagree, but his head is the top priority right now.

As I start cleaning up the blood, Peeta resists. "Katniss, your lip. We need to fix you up first." He tries pulling away, but I shake me head.

"No way. You first." I convey my message while opening my mouth for the smallest amount of time possible. He relaxes, understanding that I won't budge.

When I've successfully stopped the blood and wrapped a bandage around his head, I tend to my own injury. The cut on my lip isn't as deep as I thought, and I easily stop the bleeding and then apply something called Vaseline, which looks similar to what mother uses on cuts at home.

Once I'm done, I sit next to Peeta, who's fallen asleep after losing all that blood. There's still some on his hand, and while I'm cleaning it off, I realise there's too much for it all to have come out of his head. I realise this blood belongs to Foxface.

Oh that's right, Peeta killed Foxface, saving my life again. I don't even bother counting how many times he's saved me. The bread, the careers, and now this. I'll never stop owing him.

Just then, Peeta starts talking in his sleep. "Katniss … no, don't … Foxface … get off her … stop … Katniss!" He's getting louder and louder, and I don't know whether I should wake him up. "No … I'll have to do it … Katniss, Foxface, Katniss … STOP!" He sits up suddenly, wide awake.

"I killed her, Katniss. She's dead. Tatiyana died because of me!" He starts looks like he's trying not to cry. For a moment, I just stare at him, confused. Tatiyana? Then I realise that's Foxface's name. Foxface, Peeta's first kill. I pull him into a hug.

At first it's a bit awkward. Peeta isn't saying anything because he's still suppressing the tears. I'm not saying anything because I have no idea what to say. So we hug in silence.

As I'm cursing my lack of talent with words, Peeta speaks. "She was hurting you. I had to do it, or you'd be dead, Katniss."

Of course. Peeta's first kill was only to save me. We're both quiet, until I pull out of the hug and break the silence.

"Why did you do it, anyway?" I ask.

He looks at me as if I'm crazy. "To save you, Katniss. She's was going to kill you!"

He thinks I'm talking about Foxface. "No, I mean the bread. From when we were kids. You didn't even know me. Why did you save my life?"

"Why? You know why," Peeta says. I look at him blankly, and shake my head. "Oh. Haymitch said you'd take a lot of convincing."

"Haymitch?" I ask, confused. "What's he got to do with it?"

"Nothing," says Peeta. "And I meant to talk to you about that stunt you and he pulled. With the sleeping syrup. Don't try anything like that again."

"Or what?" I ask, entwining my fingers in his.

"Or… or…" He can't think of anything.

"What's the problem?" I ask with a grin.

"The problem is you saved me, and kept yourself alive. Which only gives you the idea that you did the right thing."

"But I did do the right thing," I say. "Even Haymitch agreed."

"No! Just don't, Katniss!" He tightens his grip on my hand, and there's real anger in his voice. "Don't die for me, Katniss. You won't be doing me any favours, okay?"

I'm startled by his intensity, but see an excellent opportunity for food. So I try keeping it up. "Maybe I did it for myself, Peeta. Did you ever think of that? Maybe you aren't the only one who… who worries about… what it would be like if…"

I fumble. I'm not as smooth with words as Peeta. But it's not just that. As I was talking, the prospect of losing Peeta hit me again and I realised how much I care. It's not just about sponsors, or what would happen back home, or that I don't want to be alone. It's him. I don't want to lose the boy with the bread.

"If what, Katniss?" He whispers softly.

I wish I could pull the shutters closed, turn off the cameras – block out this moment from the prying eyes of Panem. Even if I don't get any food. Whatever I'm feeling right now, it's nobody's business but mine.

"Uh… Haymitch told me to… to steer clear of that topic," I say, looking down. Haymitch never said anything of the kind. In fact, he's probably cursing me right now for dropping the ball during such an emotionally charged moment.

"Then I'll just have to fill in the blanks myself," says Peeta, and moves in on me.

This is the first kiss we're both fully aware of. Neither of us sick, or in pain, or unconscious. Our lips neither burning with fever nor icy cold. Yes, there's a cut on mine, but at this moment, it's as if it's not there. This is the first kiss where I actually feel a stirring inside my chest. Warm and curious. This kiss – it makes me want another.

But I don't get it, because I notice a red spot, slowly becoming larger on Peeta's bandage. "I think your wound is bleeding again. Come on, lie down, it's bedtime anyway," I say.

He gives me a light kiss on the tip of my nose. "So is your lip," he informs me. Oh. I hadn't noticed.

I make Peeta put his jacket back on, and insist on taking first watch; although we both doubt that anyone will be coming in this weather. He won't agree unless I'm in the bag too, and I'm shivering so hard, there's no point in objecting.

I think back to three days ago, when Peeta seemed to be a million miles away. He's so close now, with his left arm under my head as a pillow, and his right resting protectively over me, even when he falls asleep. No one has held me like this in a long time. I've never felt this safe since my father.

As I lie watching drops of water splatter on the cave floor, my mind wanders off to the kiss. It definitely wasn't the same as all the ones I'd given him. The kiss that Peeta just gave me felt so real.

I think back to how he killed Foxface to protect me. I remember how he joined the careers, and took a spear in the leg to help me get away from Cato. Finally, I think back to the bread, back in district twelve, five years ago. Of the red weal on his cheekbone that was there because he wanted to help me.

And I finally realise why he did it. He hasn't been acting through any of this. Peeta has never wanted to play pretend.

It dawns on me. Peeta Mellark is in love with me.

But how do I feel?

So guys - how does she feel? Well, how do you want her to feel?

While we're at it, do you want a berry ending or not? Do you want Snow to be pissed at Katniss for a rebellion? Or do you want them both to die in the Arena, and Cato or Thresh to win? Or Peeta to die and Katniss to win? Or Katniss to die and Peeta to win?

We think we know what we want to happen, but we also want reader input. Hooray for reader input (oh, how I wish I had some reader input for the actual series. Cinna, Finnick.. Not that I'm complaining).

Yeah. Tell is in your REVIEW!