I am running. I don't stop. My heart is beating. My breathing is ragged. Tears are falling from my eyes. I am screaming. I don't know why. All I feel is fear. I don't notice my surroundings. Or the set of eyes watching me. All I want to do is run. To get as far away as possible.

But I am trapped. There are four pristine, white walls surrounding me. I cannot escape.

"Katniss." A voice hisses "Katniss." I stop screaming. The set of eyes that were watching me gets closer. They get bigger.

Then I see it. Just above the pupil there is a fleck of red. These eyes belong Cray.

The next thing I know I am on a bed. I struggle, but he is on top of me. His hands move to undo my zipper. My heart is beating. My breathing is ragged. Tears are falling from my eyes. I am screaming.

I now know why.

All I feel is fear.

My eyes snap open. My vision is very blurry for some reason. I think it's all the tears. I hear screaming. I wonder who is screaming, I think.

Then I realise it's me who is screaming. I immediately stop. My screams fade to sobs.

"Katniss. Please do not fall asleep during German." Frau Leib says calmly. "You don't want to miss anything, because you've got your end of year exams coming up. And I have noticed you have managed to fail every single one of them." The girl next to me snorts. I ignore her.

"Yes Frau Leib." I mutter, trying to stop the blush from creeping up my cheeks.

"Good. Now, let's move onto you verb revision plan..."

I immediately zone out. I remain like that for the rest of the period, as I always do in every single subject (except music).

The bell rings, signalling the end of fifth period. I shuffle out of the classroom, ignoring the sets of eyes on me, which remind me of my nightmare.

I walk down the corridor and put my stuff in my locker. I check my timetable. Music. Despite myself I smile. At least something good came out of today.

I walk across the freshly mown oval, ignoring the teacher yelling at me for "damaging the grass". Huh. I'm sure the grass will bring fine, I think. I keep on walking, my head down, making a mental note to attend the detention she gave me. 8:00, Saturday. Should be easy enough to remember.

I walk up the stairs to the music department. I sit down at the front of the classroom next to the only five people who take this class.

Mr Pearson, the only person who I like in this entire school, walks into the room wearing his signature goofy smile. He looks excited. Peeta walks into the room. His eyes look at mine, but I look down at the ground, ignoring his curious stare.

"Today we have a new student joining our class today. Introducing Peeta Mellaaaaaaaaark!" Mr Pearson shouts as if he was a guy a circus announcing the acts. I notice everyone rolling their eyes, but I am grinning for some stupid reason. "Now Peeta, we have being learning the Valley Song. It's simple, but we decided to take a break from learning the hard pieces because your exams are coming up. Anyway, I believe you learnt this song on the guitar and that's what you would prefer to do in this class. But would you like to have a go singing it along with Katniss first? You never know you might be an amazing singer!"

"Umm, yeah ok, I'll have a go." Peeta says as if suddenly flustered by the mention of my name.

"Excellent!" Beamed Mr Pearson." I will play the piano part." Mr Pearson walked over to his piano, sat down and began playing.

I listened to the introduction, softly tapping my foot to the beat and I begin to sing.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow," my voice is loud and clear, unlike Peeta's who's is shaking, quite and nervous.

I almost laugh. Peeta Mellark is nervous? As in debating team captain, award winning artist, popular, famous, Peeta Mellark? It's too good to be true. I continue to sing, getting louder and louder, making Peeta get flustered again. I struggle not to laugh again. I don't why it is so funny.

"Here is the place where I love you." We finish.

"That was good," Mr Pearson hesitates, "You were both in perfect tune. But Katniss, try to sing a little softer. And Peeta, you're the opposite, sing a little louder. Work on that for homework, but for now play guitar instead."

Unfortunately, Peeta's humiliation is over when he turns out to be an "exceptional" guitar player, according to Mr Pearson.

The bell rings. We pack up our stuff and leave the room. I hear a loud thud and my head whips around.

I stifle my laugh as I notice a bright red Peeta sprawled across the ground, after he apparently tripped over his guitar case.

"Would you like some help?" I ask innocently. To my surprise he nods. He turns red when he realises I was being sarcastic. For some reason I feel bad for him so I kneel down and pick up all his books. I hand them to him and he whispers thanks. He packs up his guitar and stands up.

"Thanks" he says again "You're really good at singing." I am both surprised and slightly creeped out by his compliment.

"Thanks." I say suspiciously. "I'm not that good. I think I should stick with guitar." He pulls a face. To my suprise I laugh.

"Nah. You just need to sing a little louder. Then you will sound much better." I say. "Anyway I've got to go, my bus leaves soon."

"Ok bye. Happy birthday by the way." He calls to me as I run to the bus stop.

XOXO

As I get off the bus I begin to wonder how Peeta knew it was my birthday. I brush that thought away as I think: Why did I speak to him? I thought I hated him. That stupid stuck up pretty boy from the rich end of town. Now I think of him is a creep. How did he even know my birthday?

I begin to walk towards my house when I remember my step-fathers words this morning. With a sideways glance at the woods that are across the road I drop my bag in the front yard of our house and run towards the woods.

Normally I don't run away like that when Cray is awake, because he will call his police friends to help them find me. Then they will ask questions. And that's the one thing I must avoid. Stupid policemen asking me questions about my private life.

But today is different. For some reason I want the police to ask questions and find out the truth about my step-father. Then he will be taken away and I will be free. Forever. As soon as I reach the giant oak tree, I reach inside the hollow and pull out my bow and sheath of arrows.

A/N Okkk the end was really weird. Idk why.

Anyway i don't really know what school is like when you are in America or when you are 16 but I hope it is accurate enough.

there was a lot more interaction between Peeta and Katniss then I had planned but I like it better that way anyway. I hope you guys liked the chapter :P pls review