Hunger Games Fanfiction

Thank you to everyone who has read this story. Please review!

I do not own The Hunger Games or characters.

Chapter 7

(Peeta POV)

I am so stupid. Why did I say that? She is now freaked out; she knows that I love her. We're in my car on the way to The Seam, to collect all their things. No one has talked from the hospital, not even Finn making an inappropriate joke or comment.

Katniss is in the passenger seat and Finnick is in the back. She's not even looking at me, not even a glance. She stares out onto the road ahead, no emotion on her face. I can't tell if she is angry, sad, annoyed or anything. I can normally read her emotions so well but after everything she has been through today, I do not judge her for being out of it. But I know that she is tough and wouldn't let what happened to her show but I'm getting the feeling that it was what I said. I'm so stupid; she probably thinks I'm crazy for loving her. She see's herself as nothing and not worth loving. Especially her best friend loving her, she'll think I'm sick.

We're outside their small, rundown place. She slams her door and gets out, Finn and I tailing her. Finn grabs me by the wrist and makes me stop. She keeps walking. "What were you thinking?" he sneers.

"What do you mean?"

"She now probably thinks that you're in love with someone else."

That's unexpected.

"What? That makes no sense.

He looks at the door and see's that she's not there. "I am pretty sure that she is falling for you."

"What?!" I interrupt.

"Shh, she can probably hear." he whispers "Just over the last couple of months when 'it' was horrible to her, she would go to you more. You make her happy and she talks about you to me a lot. Once I even heard her mumble your name when she was sleeping. She has feelings for you and when you said that you love someone, she's thinking that it's not her."

"That's ridiculous."

"Really? I think its pretty much true. Now tell her before you hurt her more and if you dare do anything to hurt her I will do some serious damage to your manhood."

He walks off to the house, before I can reply. I stand stunned. She likes me? It can't be true. I've loved her from the day I've met her, it would be to good to be true if she liked me.

A whimper from the house, snaps me out of my daydream. "Katniss." I whisper.

I'm in the house before I can even think. Finn sits next to Katniss against a wall in the kitchen. Katniss has a tear-stained face and holds a piece of paper in her hand and a bunch of money in the other. I'm instantly worried. "What's happened?" I ask gently, stepping forward.

She looks down. "Um Uncle Haymitch sent this."

She hands me the letter and I stare at her asking permission to read it. She nods and I begin to read.

Dear Finnick, Katniss. (And probably lover boy.)

I'm sorry I had to leave so suddenly and I hope you have recovered Katniss. I'm going to kill that scum bag when I get back. Katniss, don't push anyone away especially Finnick, you need each other even if you will both deny it.

The reason to why I left you two, so suddenly is not pleasant and please don't hate me. I love both of you like my own children (even Katniss) and I would never willingly leave you but seeing Katniss in hospital just gave me the courage to do something that I have been arguing with myself to do for the past year. You've given me strength.

I have gone into rehab and won't come back till I'm drug-free. I should've talked to you before leaving, I know but I couldn't bring myself to look at your disappointment. You can stay at the house if you want, I'll still be paying the rent but to be honest I don't think it is the best decision, I don't want that rapist knowing where you guys live. I'm sure you will find somewhere to stay, if not go to Auntie Effie, she will welcome you with open and crazy arms.

This is one of the hardest things ever to do, I'm not good at talking as you both know but I hope you have got the main message. I will be back. I promise. I'll be a few months but I will come, don't stress about that worry (I know how much you want your drunken Uncle back).

Don't hate me. Take care of each other. I'll be back and use the money I've given you. It should last. Write back to me, I need to know what you are doing.

Love from your awesome Uncle Haymitch.

P.S. I'm pretty sure that that Peeta kid is going to read this, so listen Mr. Don't hurt either of them especially Katniss. Love them and you must be pretty special for Katniss to let you in. Thank you for saving Katniss, you're good for her. Thank you.

P.S.S. Finnick, don't get anyone pregnant!

Tears are welling up in my eyes. I've met their Uncle Haymitch a couple of times but he didn't make too much of an impression on me but I know that Katniss adores him. After this letter though, I will always think of him as an inspiration. He is getting himself sorted so he can look after his niece and nephew properly, even if it means leaving them for months and going into rehab. He may say he is not good at talking but he is most certainly good at writing. This man has even almost made Finnick Everdeen cry, even if his Uncle was joking about him for most of the letter.

I sit down next to Katniss, slowly. We sit in silence, just thinking. Katniss' head ends up on my shoulder. I kiss her head without thinking and she seemingly relaxes. "Thank you." She whispers to no one.

I end up falling asleep. So does my best friend and the love of my life.

(Katniss POV)

It's dark, when I open my eyes. I don't know how long I've been out. I'm on the floor. I look around to see Finn at my feet, snoring softly. Peeta surprises me. I'm cuddled up next to him, my head on his chest, his arm around my shoulders and his chin over my head, our legs are tangled together. This is the most intimate we've ever been and I get tingles all around my body. His eyes are still closed and his breathing is steady, signalling that he is still fast asleep. I snuggle closer to his chest.

This is the most comfortable I've ever been. Then the memories from yesterday come flooding back. I'm never Peeta's, Uncle Haymitch is in rehab, we're moving in with the guy I love and working at his bakery. We're supposed to be getting all our things now but I can't find the strength in me to move away from Peeta's sleeping form. I close my eyes.

A few minutes later, Peeta tenses and I know that he has woken up but I just stay and pretend to sleep. He confuses me by stroking my hair and holding me closer. I stay limp. "I'm so sorry Katniss." He mumbles into my hair.

I can't tell if he knows that I'm still awake. "I know you can't hear me" So he doesn't, "but I still so sorry. You've been through so much. I could've stopped these things from happening to you, I could've helped. You mean everything to me and it hurts me so much to see all these things happening to you."

I try not to move at his false words. "I'm sorry." He pauses. "I love you Katniss." He whispers.

What? I tense and open my eyes. "Oh shit." He says.

He lets go of me instantly and gets up to his feet. "What's happening? I didn't do it, promise." Finn gets up, mumbling in his half sleeping mind.

"What did you just say?" I ask, in a high pitched voice.

I get up and look at Peeta, he is beet red and looking down. "So I'm guessing since we're all awake, we should go and collect all your stuff." And Peeta leaves the room.

The hell? He's angry now. What have I done? It should be me angry but yet all I feel is confusion and loneliness.

Finn walks upstairs to our room, looking angry as well. Have I done something to him as well? Silent tears stream down my face, slowly. I may love these two people with all my heart but sometimes they can hurt me, without realising it. What has Gale done to me? I'm now a constantly weeping girl. I used to be a strong, independent woman, who wouldn't rely on anyone, just loved being around the two people I love but now I am dependant on them and its not doing any of us any good.

I need a new mind set. Peeta was lying, obviously and is now angry at me for no reason. I'll continue to move in with him and not speak to him properly for now. Finn will get over what he is angry with in like five minutes.

I hear shouting coming from upstairs. I don't want to know what they're arguing about, so I shout up, "Will you two shut it, someone is going to hear us!"

It's silent. Thank god!

I collect all our personal items from the front room and kitchen. There is so little of them, that I just put them in my pockets. Leaving here for a few months will be god. We don't really have much to leave here; it's just where we stay and has a lot of bad memories. I'm very anxious to get going; I don't want to stay at the place where Gale knows. Gale should be in police custody but no police officers have asked us any questions and when we move, won't no how to get in contact with us. We will be invisible, which means that Gale will be let out and might try and find me, in his mental state. I don't think he is completely sane and it scares me.

The only way that he might find me, is the fact that I still want to complete High School and so does Finn. We'll have to enlist in another school. It's another week till school starts, so we're going to have to be quick but it'll be hard to get in without Uncle Haymitch to be our guardian but I'm sure Finn's seductive charm will get us in.

The two of them come down the creaking stairs, with a couple of boxes each in their arms. They both have serious scowls on their faces. "What's the matter now?" I ask.

They both just shake their heads and Finn says, "Go check the room in case we left something you want to take." And they are out the front door.

Rooms checked. Door locked. Money and letter in hand and we're in the car to Peeta's house. I'm in the back seat, with Peeta driving and Finn in the passenger seat. It's not that long to Peeta's house by car, so there is no chance in getting any sleep. The radio is on and no of us are talking.

We've been travelling for five minutes, when something on the radio catches my ear. "Hey, turn up the radio." I say, leaning forward.

Peeta complies. "Gale Hawthorne, age 18 has been arrested on seven accounts of rape and of two accounts of attempted murder." The presenter speaks.

Peeta stops suddenly at a lay by. "What?" We all shout at the radio.

"Many young girls have gone to the police today, of their encounters with Mr Hawthorne after he was taken into police custody this morning at the city hospital, for suspicion of sexual assault."

We all have our mouths hanging open and are staring at the radio in the dashboard.

It looses signal. "Well that's messed up." Finn whispers.

I don't know if he is talking about the radio broken or Gale.

It's all too much to take. "I'll be back." I whisper and slam the door after me.

I run in to the little woods at the side of the road. The sun is just coming up but its all dark in my world. I run faster and deeper into the wooded area. I've always had a good sense of direction and have been good in forests but in the state I'm in, I don't trust myself. I find a boulder and go to sit on it and let my thoughts run.

Gale has been arrested. Most probably come out guilty. He has succeeded many times with other girls and has almost killed them. People were talking about him on national news.

How could I associate myself with such a monster?

Please Review!