Author's Note: Here's another chapter..

Disclaimer: I don't own the hunger games or it's characters. All credit goes to Suzanne Collins.

Katniss's POV

These past five days have been tough for me. Gale won't leave me alone. He comes back frequently.

I've had several attacks that have made me lock myself up for hours. In those hours, I plead gale to leave me alone. He does; about three hours later.

I glance at the razor that sits on the sink. One cut shouldn't hurt. It's just- No! You promised, Peeta!

I sigh and turn away from the razor.

I walk into the bedroom and change into some clothes.

As I put on my make up, there's a knock on the bathroom door.

"Jessica, I was wondering if you'd like to get some coffee with me?" Peeta asks.

"Uh.." I say, processing this through my head . I've never had coffee with anyone before.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, I'm sorry it was-" He starts to ramble.

"Ok. I'll have coffee with you." I say and look at myself in the mirror. Why would he want to get coffee with me?

"Great. I'll wait for you in the living room." He says with a voice filled with.. joy?

I hear the bedroom door close and I grow more confused. Why would he be happy? Shouldn't he be angry? I'll never understand this man.

I quickly apply my make up, which covers my scars and fading bruises, and put my hair up in a ponytail. When I'm done, I get out the bathroom and put on a hoodie. I put shoes on and grab a ten dollar bill from my jeans.

I exit the bedroom and see Peeta is reading something from his phone. He looks up and gives me a small smile.

"Ready?" He asks.

"Uh, yeah." I shift uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Great, let's go." He stands up with the biggest smile on his face.

..

We walk in a comfortable silence to the coffee shop. When we get there, my hand reaches for the door but Peeta's hand gets there before mine. He pulls the door and motions for me to go inside. Why is he doing this?

I fight a scowl and enter. This is getting annoying. He should stop playing nice and just show his true colors. That's exactly what gale did.

I get to the counter and order a regular coffee. When I'm about to hand the woman my ten dollar bill, Peeta pops in front of me and shakes his head.

"I invited you for coffee, you don't pay." He says and I feel myself starting to snap. He seems to notice the scowl threatening to form on my face because he turns around and orders other extra things. I tune him out and sit down at an empty table.

I glance out the window and see young couple every where. My eyes dart away, and glance a the woods instead.

"Hey." Peeta sits down across from me.

"You can stop pretending." I try not to snap at him.

"What?" He asks confused.

"You know what I'm talking about." I glare at him." Stop pretending to be the good guy."

He looks shocked for a second but says," I'm not faking anything."

"That's what he said too." I mumble really low and look out the window.

Why can't I keep my mouth shut!

"I'm not him." Peeta says. He heard.

I open my mouth to talk but he beats me," I'm not him."

Our coffee arrives and I grab mine. I take a small sip of it.

"Look at me." He says after the waitress leaves. I keep my eyes trained on the clouds." Please."

My eyes decide to betray me and lock eyes with his blue ones.

"I'm not like him." He says with eyes full of sincerity. Seconds later, I glance away and debate whether I should get up and leave or not." I sort of know what you went through."

"No you don't." I look back at him.

"I don't usually open up to people right when I meet them, but I feel like I can trust you." He says. He- He trusts me?" My mom was an alcoholic. She'd beat me throughout my childhood. When my dad found out, he threw out all the alcohol bottles. I thought she would finally top beating me but she didn' grew even more furious and her anger was targeted at me. When I would mess up in order, she'd smack me. Sometimes, I wouldn't do nothing wrong but she hit me."

He looks into my eyes as if searching for something.

"Please don't be afraid of me." He says and his hand touches mine.

"I-" I begin to pull away but he stops me.

"Please." He pleads. I try to focus on answering but I can't. The tingling in my hand is what my mind is set on.

"Ok." I say but he doesn't pull his hand away. It's comforting.

"Can I ask you something?" He asks.

"I believe you just did." I say and he bursts out laughing. I thought he did ask me something..

He see's the confused look and gives me a small smile.

"It's what we say around here when we're joking around." He says and I nod my head." Can I?"

"Ok." I say, unsure of what he's going to ask.

"This worked on me before and I hope this can help you get rid of his voice." He says. I don't think there's nothing that can help with that." It's called talking about it."

"Is that your way of being nosy-"I begin.

"That's not the point of this." He explains." Look, I just thought it would help."

He did tell me something about his life that was private. I guess it's only fair if I share something that happened to me.

"About two years ago, I was cleaning around the house. It was his day off of work so I knew he'd be coming home from the bar." I say and tell myself to stay strong for the next part." He got home with a bottle of vodka on the other hand. He was muttering something about not getting a promotion. I tried to cheer him up, but-but-"

"It's ok." Peeta gives me a sad smile. I'm going finish.

I take in a deep breathe and say," but it didn't work because it got him angry. He beat me with his bottle until I passed out."

I get up and leave. Tears slide down my cheeks as I race to wherever my feet take me.

Flashback:

"Hey, it's ok. Their just jealous they couldn't-" I try to cheer him up but he slaps me with his bottle of vodka.

"Shut up you dumb bitch!" He yells in anger." Look what you made me do!"

I try to get up off the floor, but he rolls me onto my back.

"You're the one holding me back!" He yells and strikes me again. " I could've gotten the promotion but I didn't because of you!"

"Gale stop!" I yell and shield myself with my hands. He grabs my hands by the wrist and pins them above my head. He strikes me again and I lose consciousness.

End of Flashback..

"Jessica!" I hear Peeta yell.

"Leave me alone Peeta!" I yell and run. Minutes later, I get to a grassy field and collapse onto my knees. I burst into tears and let out loud sobs.

"You deserved it." Gale says.

"No." I shake my head.

I feel someone place their hand on my arm. Gale.

"Get away!" I yell and try to get away.

"Stop, its just me." Peeta says. He lifts me up, causing my face t be inches away from his. Gale's voice starts to disappear.

His blue eyes study mine.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing." I say. I'm about to walk away but he grabs onto my arm.

"I can help you." He says.

"I just needed to clear my head." I say.

...

Ever since we got home, I locked myself in the room. How is it that gale's voice just disappeared once Peeta got there?

There's a knock on the door.

"I made dinner." He says.

"I'll be out in a minute." I say.

I hear him walk away.

Ok, it felt good telling someone, I have to admit. It made me feel better. But that has to stop. If I tell him more, he'll figure me out.

I get up and leave the bedroom. When I get to the kitchen, I see that he's setting some napkins down.

"You know you don't have to make me dinner, I'm capable of making something for myself." I say and sit down on a chair.

"I want to." He says and sits across from me.

"When do you want me out of here?" I ask him and he raises his brows." I don't think your girlfriend would appreciate me staying here with you."

"I don't have a girlfriend." He smirks.

"Oh." I feel blush starting to form." Well you know about me."

Peeta asks me questions about myself. I guess he wants to know me more. Right now, Peeta tells me about his niece coming over for the summer. He seems really excited.

"She sounds like such a sweetheart." I smile. I look at the time and see its eleven o'clock. Have we really been talking for over three hours" I'll wash the dishes."

"It's ok, I'll-" He begins.

"Peeta, you've done enough." I tell him.

"Ok, well I guess I should be going to bed, have to wake up early." He gets up.

I get up and grab the dishes. I take them to the sink and turn to get the cups but bump into a strong chest.

"Got them for you." He sets them down on the sink.

"Peeta go to bed." I roll my eyes trying to fight a smile.

"Ok, Ok." He puts his hands up in defense.

Before he can turn the corner I say," Peeta?"

"Yeah." He turns towards me.

"Thanks for dinner and today." I tell him.

"No problem." He smiles.

"Goodnight." I tell him and turn around, facing the sink.

"Jessica." He says. I turn around and he says," You don't have to wear make up night and day. I'm sure you look even more beautiful without it."

My eyes widen and I feel myself blush.

"Goodnight." He says with an encouraging smile.

Author's Note: Hey you guys! Please review and tell us what you thought. Half of the credit goes to Awesomegirl2656, the other half goes to me.

We hope you enjoy your holidays!

P.S. I just created a new story called,'the crash.' Make sure to check that out when you can.