Chapter )

Mystery Voice

by BreadBoy

This story is not connected to Fire Daisies or Panem High.

The songs in this story are not really sung or written by Katniss, but just let it go. She writes them in this story.

Peeta's POV:

Everything was crumbling into sand.

My face, my stomach, my head, my heart. I thought I could handle Cato Hadley, but I was so wrong. I only got like, two hits in. And here I am, battered up. He glared into my eyes, just because I hit him and for no other reason. He obviously had anger issues. I didn't say anything else, because I didn't want a broken leg too.

I looked at him, dazed. The sharp gleam in his eyes didn't go away. Then I saw something move behind him.

Olive skin, dark chocolate hair...

Cato took notice of this and turned around.

Katniss's eyes were wide open, like her mouth. Thank God Cato looked like the bad guy in this.

"What...Why..." Katniss's eyes drifted from me to Cato again and again, and Cato lowered me down. The second his hand wasn't holding me up, my legs gave out and I fell into a heap on the floor.

He turned to face me, so Katniss couldn't say his face that said I don't want your blood on my floor all over it. Then Katniss rushed over to me, squeezing my hand, touching my face.

"What did you do?!" Katniss wailed to Cato.

"Katniss, it's not what it looks like. He threw the first punch-"

"It doesn't matter who gave the freaking first punch!" Katniss screamed. She wiped the blood oozing out of my nose away ghosted her fingers over the huge bruise on the side of my face.

"Katniss-"

"Go away," she whispered.

"You don't still care about that son of a-"

Katniss got up and pulled Cato's face down to meet her's so fast, I couldn't blink.

"You don't call him that," Katniss said quietly. Then, right there, Cato kissed her.

Cato kissed her.

Katniss Everdeen.

Kissed by Cato Hadley.

I thought she was enjoying it. I thought I lost her. But after a second, she started thrashing. But Cato backed her up against a wall and pinned her arms.

That's when I got mad.

I staggered up behind Cato, and punched him in his side. He eased off of her, and Katniss started to gasp and sputter. Cato wrinkled his nose at me. He got behind me, shoved me into the hall, making my head hit the hard floor with a clunk, got inside his door and locked both of us out.

I couldn't get up now.

"We need help. I can't fix you up-"

"Yes, you can,"

"Peeta, you know this stuff isn't for me,"

"Fine, then. Just leave me in the hall, bleeding onto the floor," I smirked. My nose wouldn't quit oozing red.

Katniss couldn't argue to that, so half-carried half-dragged me to her room. She got me onto the couch.

She sat next to me, looking at me, but I could tell her mind was somewhere else.

"This is so hard," Katniss mumbled.

"What?"

"Love. It's harder than any exam I've ever taken," Katniss explained. "Think this, it's that. Do that, it's this."

"Sometimes you just have to wait." I advised.

"What?" It was Katniss's turn to be confused.

"Sometimes you just have to wait. When you know she's dating the biggest jerk in the world, you know something will happen." I say, a detail too many.

Katniss stared at me sadly.

"Cato was pissed."

"Cato's always pissed." I rolled my eyes. I didn't know what she was trying to do, but whatever it was, I wasn't letting her. I had a blanket spread on top of me, a pillow under my head, and a beautiful girl sitting right next to me. I wanted this to last.

"Peeta, he's gonna kill you the next time he sees you," Katniss tried.

"Then why did you help me? Why didn't you just let me be 'killed' right there? It would be a lot easier, you know," I suggested, squinting.

Katniss sighed. I hated when she did that.

Katniss's POV:

I don't know myself anymore.

Peeta was making this so hard. I think I still had feelings for Peeta. But I was Cato's now.

Was I?

Yes, I am. I thought. Then why did you help him?

Because we're friends.

But no, it's more than that.

"Peeta, if you don't want to be here, then leave," I told him straight. Let him get a taste of his own medicine. He looked stunned.

"No, I'm good." Peeta shrugged. He took a deep breath and sat up, cringing from the pain.

"You should sit. That's not good-"

His finger was on my lip.

So I shut up.

"Katniss, listen to me for a second. I still love you. And I don't think that will ever change. My heart will always belong to you. I will never meet someone other than you. I understand if you love Cato, and that's fine. I want you to be happy, whoever it is. But don't forget that there was a guy named Peeta that always loves you. Don't forget that I'll always be here to comfort you. Don't forget about me, Katniss," Peeta threw the blanket aside and hobbled over to the door. I don't know why, but tears started to form in the corner of my eyes.

"Peeta, wait," I whispered. He stopped.

But I had nothing to say.

So he hobbled on.

I know, this is kind of repetitive. Clove will come back, and I'm not a big fan of Prim but a big Rue person, so expect more Rue than Prim, more Clove and Peeta, more Cato and Katniss.