A New Game To Play

by Peetabreaddd

The Capitol was bored. The Hunger Games were getting boring. The Capitol needed something more to watch when the Hunger Games weren't on. So, Snow thought of a new game to play. The Marriage Initiative! A new show to watch throughout the year and would give Snow even more power. How will 16-year Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark handle now being forced to get married?

2. Chapter 2

"I cannot believe I'm actually doing this," Katniss complained as she stood outside the gym. Madge stood next to her.

"My dad told me to just smile and keep my head up. It's the best he could offer me," Madge said sadly. They were watching more and more of their classmate's head inside. "Effie felt terrible that no one was coordinating the dates tonight. So, everyone just has to mingle," Madge said as she looped her arm through Katniss' arm. She rolled her eyes and started walking in.

"Let's get this stupid night over with," Katniss snarked and started walking in. They signed in and then walked further into the gym. Katniss' eyes widened slightly, as there were tables filled with food and drinks.

"That's just sad that this is what they think makes all this marriage garbage alright. Dangle food in front of everyone," Madge said sadly and looked down. Katniss stomped over to where the desserts were and instead of cutting a piece of cake, just grabbed some with her hand and started eating it right from her hand. There was some laughter, and a couple of gasps.

"Oh my God. How can they expect us to dance in the same room as some of these animals?" one of the merchant girls demanded. Katniss and Madge giggled as they walked off towards the tables to sit.

"Oh, I wish I could have been brave enough to do that," Madge laughed.

"Wowza Katniss. Will you lick cake off of anyone's body party like that?" one of the Seam boys asked, wiggling his tongue. Katniss pretended to gag and flicked cake at him. The two girls sat and watched everyone.

"My dad asked me if there was anyone that I was interested in," Madge said. Katniss looked over at her. "Because he'd go and talk with their parents. See if there was something that he could arrange," she said and looked down at her hands. Katniss held out her hand, offering cake, making Madge chuckle and shake her head. She leaned over and grabbed some napkins and handed them to Katniss, but she wasn't going to waste cake, and started eating it off her hand.

"He gave me a list of boys that he knew of that were nice," Madge told her. Katniss sadly rolled her eyes.

"Any on there that you like?" Katniss asked. Madge shook her head.

"There's one boy that I like…have liked for while…but my dad doesn't know about him," she said sadly and looked at the table. This was news to Katniss that Madge was interested in someone. Madge had never even hinted that she liked a boy. But then again, Katniss and Madge were not the type of girls to discuss boys. The only reason why they were having this discussion now was because they had to have these conversations now.

"You should tell your dad about him. I guess the time for being shy is over. You're the Mayor's daughter. Who's going to say no to you?" Katniss asked, licking more cake off her hand.

"He has a girlfriend," Madge said. Katniss stopped and looked at her.

"Oh," it was all she could say. They watched as Effie wandered around and would grab random people and make them start dancing together.

"Uh oh," Madge said. It was like they were watching it in slow motion. Effie had grabbed a Merchant girl, and a Seam boy and put them together. The Merchant girl freaked out and caused a scene. Something about him getting her dress dirty. Katniss wasn't sure who the boy was, but he was humiliated. It's not like he wanted to dance with her either. Katniss realized who the girl was. It was Pendalyn Lott.

Katniss shoved herself to her feet and stomped over towards the boy. "Can we dance?" Katniss asked, and casually flicked her hand so cake splattered on the girl.

"OH MY GOD! SHE GOT CAKE ALL OVER ME!" Pendalyn screamed. Kids were laughing all over the gym.

"So?" Katniss asked. She realized then who it was. He was a freshman. Bracker or Racker or something like that. But she wrapped her arm around him he laughed and instead of holding her hand, held her wrist.

"You know she licked her hand to, right? So, you have cake that was already in someone's mouth, on your dress," one of the Seam boys said, and Pendalyn screamed. Katniss laughed and looked over the boy she was dancing withs shoulder and caught sight of Peeta dancing with someone. Peeta was chuckling at Pendalyn, but then stopped when he made eye contact with Katniss. Her heart just stopped as they stared at each other.

There was a bunch more commotion, and the boy thanked Katniss for dancing with him. "You're welcome," she said and went into the bathroom to wash her hands and splash some cold water on her face. She came out a few minutes later, only to be caught by Effie.

"You dear, can dance with this handsome young man right here," Effie said, and shoved her face first into someone's arms. But these arms didn't belong to an ordinary person. She was in Peeta Mellark's arms.

"Hi," Peeta said. He bit his lip and looked around. "I'm sorry. I went to walk away but she grabbed me," Peeta said nervously. Katniss chuckled.

"I know the feeling," she joked, making Peeta smile.

"That was really nice when you did for that kid, so he wasn't embarrassed," Peeta said. Katniss moaned.

"I hate Pendalyn so much. She's the worst. I should have rubbed my hand all over her face," she grumbled. Peeta smiled.

"Yeah she's…she's not nice to…anyone," Peeta said. Katniss shook her head. "She has a crush on me and my brothers," Peeta said, making her eyes widen.

"Oh no. I'm so sorry," Katniss said, truly disgusted, but it still just made Katniss laugh.

"I um…I think it's me more than them, but I can't exactly tell," Peeta said, fidgeting around.

"Oh God, now I'm even more sorry," Katniss said, making Peeta smile. Peeta looked around and then leaned in towards her.

"She kinda scares me," Peeta told her, making her laugh.

"I'm so sorry. For you and your brothers," she laughed. They fell into an awkward silence then, either of them not knowing what to say. The song ended and their hands dropped, and they took a step back. They fidgeted around uncomfortably.

"I guess I'll um…see you around," Katniss said. Peeta smiled and nodded his head.

"Thanks for dancing with me," he said. She smiled back at him.

"Any time,"

At the end of the night, Katniss and Madge were one of the first two out the door. "I can't believe I ended up having to dance with one of the Franksten twins. He had a hidden bottle of white liquor in his jacket, and I barely jumped away before he threw up," Madge said.

"I hate the Franksten twins," Katniss grumbled. They turned and looked behind them. Everyone was walking out of the gym. Katniss hated more than anything that she was forced to marry one of them.

Katniss and Madge parted ways, and Katniss walked home. Her mother was cleaning up the last of the dishes. "Hey. How was the first dance?" her mom asked. Katniss figured she had been waiting up for her.

"I ruined a very beautiful cake," Katniss said. She scooped her hand, mimicking what she did earlier. Her mom blinked and then tucked in her lips.

"That sounds very lady like," she said softly. Katniss nodded and took her shoes off.

"You taught me everything I know," Katniss said. Her mom let out a breathy chuckle.

"Gee, thanks," she smiled. Katniss went over and hugged her. "It'll be ok Katniss,"

Later that week, Katniss went in to see Johanna. "Hey grumpy face. Have a seat," Johanna said. Katniss rolled her eyes and sat on the couch. She couldn't stand Johanna. She went to go bring Haymitch dinner the night before and walked right out of the house. Johanna was playing poker with Finnick and Haymitch, and she was naked. She didn't think that Johanna knew she had been there, because Katniss had just turned back around and left the food on his porch, ringing the bell before she took off.

"Why is your office such a mess?" Katniss grumbled.

"Because I have too many girls to keep up with. Finnick just gave me a list of girl names that he wanted his boys to have dates with, while I have this other Capitol moron who gave me a list for each girl, on an individual piece of paper for each of them," Johanna said and threw them everywhere. "I don't know what the hell he wants from me. And fucking Effie Trinket wants the list in three hours of who's getting paired off with who tonight. Stupid bitch," Johanna said and plopped down in her chair.

"Who do I have to go with?" Katniss asked, crossing her arms. Johanna waved her hand.

"I don't know. I told Finnick to pick one of his guys and I'll sign off on it. But listen. Haymitch is having my balls right now when it comes to you. He told me to not let you leave this room without writing down some guy's names," Johanna said. Her eyes widened.

"I'm not writing down some stupid guy's names in hopes that one of them picks me to marry them," Katniss argued. Johanna groaned.

"Listen. I don't know how many guys are gonna put you on their list. You're attitude pretty much blows. You're not nice and make a terrible impression. If you keep on having a bad attitude, then you're gonna-"Katniss stood up.

"I don't like you," Katniss snapped. Johanna stood up and crossed her arms.

"I don't give a shit if you don't like me. This isn't about liking me,"

"I don't have to listen to you," Katniss said, and before Johanna could protest, Katniss stomped out of the room. Picking a guy to marry. She just turned 16 years old!

The night of the second dance, Katniss signed in and was given a piece of paper. Cormac Smeald. Oh God! She was being paired up with someone from the Merchant side? She walked into the gym and could see that the atmosphere was a little bit more awkward than it was from last week. People were forced to sit with the person they were paired up with.

Katniss went over and saw Cormac sitting by himself, and when she pulled the chair out next to him, he looked up and glared at her. "Great. First date I get is Seam trash," Cormac huffs and sits back in his chair. Katniss just glared at him and crossed her arms. Effie ran up to them then.

"Finally, you're here. You're late, which is highly unacceptable…" she looked at her name tag. "Katniss Everdeen. I'll be letting your counselor know of your tardiness," she said and then pulled out paper and pens.

"Now, you'll ask each other these questions and then hand then hand them in to your counselor in order to get the five dollars," Effie said and ran off. Katniss rolled her eyes and looked at the paper. It was a questionnaire about your partner, and then they were to write a paragraph and let their counselor know their thoughts. Hopefully leading to a second date.

Katniss and Cormac worked on their questionnaire, and Katniss had to sit and endure the nasty comments he made towards her. She kept telling herself to sit there and take it, because if was worth five dollars. If she went to two more this month, then she'd be getting an additional five dollars. That was food in Prim's belly.

"God I can't wait till my father finds out they paired me with someone from the Seam. I hope you're not getting it in your head that you'll ever marry into my family," Cormac said. Katniss looked up at him and her mouth fell.

"Trust me. You are the furthest person in my head. I would never marry a person like you," Katniss said, trying to keep her temper in control. She knew that if she started arguing, she wouldn't stop. Cormac snorted.

"Please. You need to marry someone from the Merchant side in order to survive. I bet every guy on your list is from the Merchant class. No one would be crazy enough to marry you," Cormac said. Katniss slammed her hand on the table, causing a few people to jump. She stood up and stomped her way into the bathroom and hid in a stall. How humiliating was this? She was hiding in a bathroom.

She stayed in there for twenty minutes, hoping that when she came out, Cormac would have left. Her wishes were left unfulfilled because he was still there.

"Took you long enough. We have to dance at least four times and then I can just leave you here," Cormac said. Katniss snatched her piece of paper up and folded it and put it in the belt of her dress and marched out into the dance floor again, with Cormac following her. They glared at each other and danced as far away from each other as they could.

He cringed when he took her hand and placed the other on her waist. Their bodies didn't touch. Cormac looked around and had the most disgusted face on, like he was going to throw up. "This is so embarrassing," Cormac said.

"Will you just shut up. We can get through this without you running your mouth," she gritted through her teeth.

But it was humiliating. His only issue with her, was that she was from the Seam. It's not like she had a disease, and he would catch being poor by touching her. It killed her soul to feel like this. Making her feel like dirt. She put her head down and refused to look up at him.

Usually she could ignore the stares, and the faces, and the ugly comments thrown her way. But having to have Cormac's hands on her, being forced to stand there and listen to his cruel comments and not being able to stop it…it was breaking her heart.

She worked so hard to feed her family. To keep a roof over their head. To keep Prim fed, and clothed, and safe and loved. She tried to be strong. She did things that Cormac would never be capable of doing. So how could she be the person who was made to feel like scum?

"So did you like the girl you were paired up with?" Finnick asked Peeta that next week. Peeta shrugged.

"Cecilia's nice," Peeta said. Finnick gave him a half smile and nodded his head.

"But she doesn't give you that overwhelming feeling of throwing her on the bed and screwing her brains out," Finnick said, making Peeta blush. Finnick just laughed. "Sorry. But that's ok. You got two years. No need to rush it. We'll put Cecilia in the, there are worse girl's categories," he told him. Peeta sighed and nodded in agreement.

"I have a feeling you're holding back on me," Finnick said. Peeta's eyes widened a little. "Level with me. You like a girl, but…somethings holding you back,"

"Am I that obvious?" Peeta asked sadly. Finnick smiled and nodded.

"Entirely. So, out with it," Peeta leaned back on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

"I've been in love with this girl since I was five years old," Peeta admitted. Finnick clapped his hands.

"Alright then. I can work with that. What's her name?" Finnick bounced in his seat, excited.

"She has a boyfriend already. So, it doesn't matter," Peeta said. He could feel Finnick staring at him.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Finnick said sadly. Peeta chuckled.

"It's all right," he sat up and looked at Finnick who was staring at him with pity. "Everyone's in the same boat. Everyone has to get married and most of us won't get to marry who we want. It's fine," Peeta said sadly.

All he wanted was Katniss. He could marry her and no matter how dreadful life got, as long as he was married to her, he'd be happy. He'd make it through everything because he had her. His brother had told him it was just a crush, but it wasn't. The day he saw her he knew; she was it for him.

And she was marrying Gale, who cheated on her!

"You look like you need someone to talk to," Finnick said. Peeta let out a deep breath. "Vent to me. Tell me all about this girl. You're my last kid to see today, so when schools out we can still talk. Let me hear everything. No judgment. No telling you to get over it, which I assume you've heard?" He asked Peeta chuckled and nodded his head.

"Let me hear all about her," Finnick said. It was the first time in his life that he shared everything about Katniss. He told Finnick about the day he first saw her, and the birds stopped to listen as she sang. How she would come with her father to make trades at the Bakery.

Finnick would ask a few questions here and there, and Peeta could tell he was listening to everything he said. Then he got to the part about throwing her bread. He had never spoken the words out loud to anyone. Not even his father.

"I was just so in love with her. And her father passed, and she was dying. She looked like she had given up. And I knew she was starving. So, I threw her some bread. And I was about to go to her but then my mother started screaming again. She gave me this terrible beating for burning bread. But I had to do it. I didn't care. I needed to help her,"

Finnick looked at him in awe.

He went on to tell him about her and Gale, and how they were inseparable. But as time went on, he would see Gale at the slag heap, cheating on her. How it broke his heart.

He talked about all the conversations he and his family had about her. How his dad was talking with him about moving on, whereas he never had before. His brothers were as well, but in a not so nice way.

He talked about how recently he and Katniss had started talking. He caught her before she fell on the last day of school. He made her her birthday cake. And he told Finnick about how he always made her cakes. How she found him in the woods recently, and then the best night, when Effie made them dance together. And they talked and it was easy. How it felt to hold her body.

He looked at the clock and realized that class had been over for an hour. "I'm sorry. I've been talking nonstop for two hours. You should have stopped me," he said and scratched the back of his head.

"I told you, you could talk to me. Peeta…I know your only 16 years old. But you're way more mature than many adults I know," Peeta chuckled.

"Peeta, you love her. The way you talk about her…I mean this is why I couldn't stop listening to you talk if I tried. You love her. I believe you. I don't think you have a crush on her. I believe that when you saw her, you fell deeply in love with her. She's in for you,"

Peeta looked down at his feet. "I know but she's- "

"Screw this guy!" Finnick said. Peeta's mouth fell open. "Yeah, she might love him. But that's because she doesn't know he cheats on her. A few months ago, people had no choice here. She was just probably gonna settle for him. But now she doesn't have to. She could have a good man. And the way that you tell me your interactions have gone…Peeta, she might have feelings for you to,"

What?

Peeta shook his head. "Finnick- "

"Go and tell her the truth, that this guy's been cheating on her. And go and ask her out," Finnick said. Ask her out? How the hell could he do that? "Why let her get stuck with a man who cheats on her. He's not worthy of her. You'll love her and never betray her. Give her a chance at a good life. You have to at least try Peeta. Do you want to get married and go your whole life wondering what if?" Finnick asked. Peeta gulped.

"Do you wanna live your whole life with that regret?" Finnick asked. He felt his whole body break out in a cold sweat. "Who is she? What's her name? I'll reach out to her counselor and get you a date night with her. God what's the guy's name?" Finnick asked. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears. The blood pumping through his veins.

"Peeta?"

Peeta jumped up. "I have to go," he said and ran out of the room. How could he be the one to tell her that Gale cheated on her? How could he be the one to break her heart? And how could he humiliate himself like that. Ask her out only to get his heart broken?

He didn't know if he could do this. He didn't know if he could just put himself out there. He'd start so much trouble, for so many people.

What about his mother? If he pursued Katniss on his own, his mother would beat him to an inch of his life. Pursuing someone from the Seam was an abomination. Especially Katniss. His mother hated Emily Everdeen because his father had been in love with her. He had even been engaged to her at one point. But Katniss' mother had called off the engagement because she fell in love with Katniss' father.

She was from the Seam. He was a Merchant. Those two aren't supposed to mix. Sure, they would start having to because of the Marriage Initiative, but to seek it out willingly? He'd be an outcast. Not that he'd even care. But his mother might kick him out of the Bakery. He'd have no job to provide for Katniss, and their family. He didn't know how to do anything else except bake. And he wouldn't put Katniss through that.

What about Gale? He might go after Peeta. Sure, Peeta was on the wrestling team and was strong, but when someone was angry, and they fight dirty, there was no way of telling what would happen. Gale could attack the Bakery somehow. And he may make it worse for Katniss. What if he attacked her? And then, what if she really was pregnant? She hadn't shown any signs since the Summer. But that didn't mean she still couldn't be.

He just didn't understand Finnick's advice. No one had ever given him advice to pursue Katniss. His family, and even his best friend Delly, who was the only other person that ever knew that he was in love with Katniss, didn't advise him to do this. Sure, Delly wished he would. Wished that he could. But didn't advise it, because of Gale. But she sure didn't help him in getting over Katniss. She was a typical girl with fairy tale dreams. She wished Katniss would dump Gale and proclaim her love for Peeta.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't tell her about Gale. He couldn't ask her out. There was just no way!

He hadn't realized he made it all the way home and to the Bakery until he was flat on his butt, and his eye was closed shut.

"Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to be here over an hour ago! Right after school!" His mother yelled at him. He covered his eye and doubled over. She had punched him before like this. He knew it was swollen shut. And the pain was unbearable.

"Stand up you little shit and get to work! Fucking little pansy!" his mother yelled at him and walked out front.

It had been a couple of weeks since then. Peeta was too afraid to go back to see Finnick. He avoided him at all costs. He couldn't face him. He knew he never should have told Finnick about Katniss. He was just glad he never told Finnick hers, or Gale's name. Never gave out too much personal information. He didn't want Finnick to get involved. And Finnick was so kinda and understanding. It took him less than 30 seconds to decide to tell Finnick about Katniss, he knew Finnick could convince Peeta to give up her name.

Katniss on the other hand had avoided Johanna because she hated her. She hated the Marriage Initiative. She hated everything. She had been on two more dates with two Seam boys. They were more focused on eating, then her. Which was completely fine with her. They were nice enough. And she could understand their desire for food.

But she refused to go back to Johanna. It didn't even matter that her mom, Gale and Haymitch were all getting on her case.

"You just need to work with this Katniss," her mom said.

"Do you want to get into trouble and be sent to the Capitol for reeducating?" Gale demanded.

"You get back in there with her or so help me I'll drag you by your braid," Haymitch told her.

But she needed to rebel. She needed to feel some type of control over her life. She wanted to fight back!

She went and sat down at the back table in her financing class. They were learning how to write a check today. Like anyone in the Seam had checks. No one even in District 12 had checks. But here they were, wasting time and learning about a checkbook. The bell had rung, and Peeta had made it in just in time. He looked around, and the only seat was with Katniss. He awkwardly went over and sat down.

"Hi," Peeta said. Katniss smiled at him and got butterflies in her stomach. She always did when she saw Peeta.

"Hi," Katniss said, looking down at her book. Her kneejerk reaction to those butterflies that Peeta always gave her was to shove it down because she's not having feelings for a boy, because feelings lead to marriage. Marriage leads to children. And children leads to them being reaped into the Hunger Games. And marriage leads to loving someone. If you lose them…Katniss still was heartbroken about losing her father. But the love of your life? Forget about it.

But then it just hit her. She had to get married. She was being forced to get married. And if she didn't, she'd be sent to the Capitol for punishment. She sneaked a glance over at Peeta and averted her eyes before he could catch her staring. Why not Peeta?

Because he was from the Merchant side. His mother HATED Katniss. His mother would never allow it. And Peeta wouldn't want to marry a girl from the Seam. No Merchant boy wanted to marry a Seam girl. No. Peeta Mellark was out of the question. She let out a sad sigh. But he was the only one that had ever given her those feelings of…well she couldn't say love. That was silly. But being interested. He was the only one. If she had to marry someone…she could see it being Peeta.

"Are you ok?" Peeta whispered to her. She shook out of her thoughts.

"Um yeah. I was just thinking," she whispered back.

"Care to share?" he asked. The smile he gave her sent the butterflies flying around her stomach again. He had such perfectly straight teeth. And his lips were-

She shook herself again. "How stupid it is that our math class has changed to a finance class. And how I hate every single one of my glasses," she said sarcastically. Peeta chuckled.

"They are pretty stupid, I will definitely give you that,"

"At least you don't have to take a cleaning class," she said. Peeta rolled his eyes.

"That makes zero sense," she snorted.

"Wanna know what we learned this morning?" she asked, pretending to be cheery. He nodded his head. "How to vacuum," she said. His eyebrows furrowed.

"No one owns a vacuum in District 12," he said.

"Ya think. Just like no one in District 12 owns a check book," she said and shook her head and crossed her arms. "This whole thing is a complete joke," she said. Peeta nodded. She liked talking to Peeta. He was so easy to talk to. He wasn't like the everyone else in the Merchant class. He was kind. And generous. He's the type of boy that throws bread out to you when you're starving-

Great. Now she was letting herself think about these feelings that she has for Peeta. It's not going to happen. So, get those thoughts out of your head Katniss Everdeen!

But she was opening this door in her head, and it was getting really hard to stuff her feelings behind that door lately. She couldn't feel like this about Peeta. She couldn't start giving in to those feelings for Peeta, because she knew it wasn't meant to be. She'd never marry a merchant boy. It wasn't in the cards for them.

She looked up when she saw him scratch his eye. "That's taken a really long time to heal," Katniss said. He walked in one day with a black swollen eye. It still looked puffy, but at least he could open it now.

"Does it hurt?" Katniss asked. He smiled again.

"Not so much anymore. Not everyone's mom is a Healer ya know," he chuckled, making her smile.

"So, Delly told me that she saw you got to sit by Miss. Everdeen in class today," Rye said later that day in the Bakery. Peeta shrugged.

"Yeah, I did. So? It's not like it matters. She's still going to marry Gale," Peeta said sadly.

"And she still might be knocked up," Rye said. Wheet reached over and punched him in the arm.

"What the hell?" Rye snapped at Wheet.

"Don't say that to him," Wheet told him. He looked back over at Peeta sympathetically. "It's been months. She would have been showing by now. I wouldn't think too much more on that. Besides, don't you have a date with the blacksmith's daughter?" Wheet asked. His parents had walked in at that moment.

"Sarah's her name, right? She's a lovely girl," his father said as he grabbed some bread out of the oven.

"She has a good sizeable dowry. It'll do the Bakery very well with that," his mother said.

"Doreen," his father hissed. Peeta's stomach dropped.

"Don't you Doreen me. I'm telling all three of you. You're to find three Merchant class girls. I don't want any of you stuck with Seam trash. Because if you do, you're out of the Bakery. I won't allow any of that trash to poison the Mellark name. You'll be disowned before you can even get your stuff out of this house," she said and spun around.

Katniss was walking out of class one day when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hey Haymitch," Katniss said.

"How about sharing my lunch with me," Haymitch said. Katniss narrowed her eyes.

"I don't want to have another fight with you. I'm tired. And I just want to go to lunch," Katniss groaned.

"Neither do I sweetheart. So, come on," he said. Katniss followed him down the hall. "Your mom and Gale said you're not doing to well," Haymitch said. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"I get it Katniss. I understand. But you have to accept this. You just have to. You can't run away from this. I know you want to, but you just can't. You have to move on with this," Haymitch said as he opened his office and led her in. He sat down at his desk, and her hunter's intuition told her that they weren't alone. She spun around, and saw Johanna behind the door, leaning against the wall.

"Well, hey there brainless," she said as she pushed herself off the wall and brushed passed her and sat on the couch.

"What's she doing here?" Katniss demanded.

"We need to have a talk. Now sit down," Haymitch ordered her. Katniss stomped over to the couch and plopped herself down on the couch. She could feel the steam coming out of her ears. "What exactly is your problem with Johanna?"

"She's a bitch," Katniss said before she could stop herself. Haymitch and Johanna looked at each other, and then Johanna chuckled.

"Is that all?" she asked. Katniss glared at her. "Well yeah, I am a bitch. Most people don't like me. But that doesn't mean you can't let me help you," Johanna said.

"You're still a teenager yourself," Katniss pointed out.

"I'm 18 years old. And the Hunger Games age you," Johanna said. Katniss gulped. She forgot. She had been in the Hunger Games. "It doesn't matter if you don't like me. I'm not too fond of you either," she said, making Katniss narrow her eyes at her.

"But it doesn't matter if we like each other or not. If you want to rebel, then the Capitol is going to take you,"

"And this reeducating program Katniss…" Haymitch trailed off. Katniss gulped.

"I'm not going to the Capitol. And I'm not letting you find me a fucking husband!" she said and stormed out of the office.

"DAMNIT!" Haymitch yelled and scrubbed his face.

"I don't like her Haymitch. I've had it up to here with here bullshit. And I'm gonna show her that I can be her friend, or I can fuck her over," Johanna said as she stood up.

"What are you gonna do?" Haymitch asked.

"Don't worry you're pretty little head. I got this," Johanna said. And that was what Haymitch was worried about.

Peeta saw Katniss storming down the hallway. "Katniss are you ok?" Peeta asked. She stopped and her eyes were blaring. Her face was read.

"I fucking hate Johanna!" was all she said and stormed out of the hallway. He didn't see her in their History class that day, so he assumed that she cut out for the rest of the day. Johanna was intimidating. He wondered what Johanna could have done to have set her off so badly.

He had wondered about it for his last three classes, and then went back to the Bakery after school. His father was working on an order for a birthday cake.

"Hey son, how was school?" his father asked as he was putting the lid on the box.

"Same as ever," Peeta said and started grabbing his apron.

"You wanna make a delivery for me?" he asked. Peeta smiled and nodded.

"Sure," he said excitedly. He actually loved the deliveries. He liked getting out of the Bakery and breathing the fresh air. He looked at the address. "Oh yeah, I know where this is. I'll be back in an hour," his said to his dad and grabbed the box.

He made his delivery and started on his way back. He round the corner, and he was near the slag heap. He stopped dead in his tracks. There in front of him was Gale Hawthorne, making out with another girl from the Seam, and they were headed behind the wall. Peeta balled up his fists. How could he do this to her?

Katniss was a wonderful girl, and any guy would be so lucky to have her. How could he humiliate her like this? How could he betray her like this? He was seeing red. He couldn't stop it if he tried, but his feet went in the opposite direction. He stormed through the Seam, and before he could stop himself, he knocked on the Everdeen door.

He was shaking. What was he going to say? Was he really about to-

"Peeta? What are you doing here?" Katniss asked as she answered the door. He stopped breathing. What was he doing here? Why did he come here? His whole mind was a blank. He came here for a reason, but now he had no idea what that reason was. "Peeta?" she asked.

"Um…hi," Peeta said. Katniss furrowed her eyebrows.

"Peeta, are you ok?" she asked warily.

"Me? Yeah. I'm fine. Can I um…can I come in?" Peeta asked. Katniss stared at him for a moment, and then opened her door, allowing him in.

"Sure," she said. He walked in and walked right into the kitchen. He suddenly remembered why he was here. He saw Gale, kissing another girl, that wasn't Katniss. His girlfriend. He betrayed her. For the millionth time. He was here to tell her. No, he couldn't do that. He couldn't be the one to tell her that her boyfriend was cheating on her.

"Peeta?" she asked. He looked over at her. "You're kinda freaking me out. Are you ok?" she asked.

"Gale's cheating on you," he blurted out. Katniss' eyes widened. They stood there in silence for a minute. Awkward silence. Very. Awkward. Silence.

Katniss closed her eyes and scratched her head. "I'm sorry. Can you say that again?" Katniss asked as she looked at him. Peeta took a deep breath.

"Gale cheats on you. He takes girls to the slag heap all the time. I always see him making out with other girls. He's there right now with one of the girls from our class," Peeta said. Katniss stared at him, like she was trying to figure out what he was saying. She was in shock. He shouldn't have been the one to tell her. And Finnick thinks he stands a chance after telling her?

"Gale…cheats on me," she said. Peeta nodded his head. "Gale was kissing another girl," she said again. And again, he nodded his head.

"I've seen him loads of times," Peeta said. Katniss was too stunned to even react. "Katniss I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you. But I just couldn't stand it anymore. You're really an amazing person. And Gale doesn't know how lucky he has it to be with you. And it's wrong what he does- "

"Knock knock," Peeta turned around and Gale opened the front door and walked in. "You ready to go?" Gale asked and saw them.

"Oh. Hey Peeta," Gale said. Peeta couldn't speak. Neither could Katniss. He looked between the two of them. "Did I interrupt something?" he asked warily. Peeta looked at Katniss. Was she going to confront him? Or was she just going to ignore it.

"Gale…were you just at the slag heap?" confront him it is. Peeta looked over at Gale and his eyes widened in shock.

"What? Why would ask me that? That's none of your business," he told her. Peeta balled up his fists again. It was none of her business? Of course, it was her business!

Katniss held up her hand. "Just humor me. Trust me, I don't want to know. But I kinda need to know. Did you just come from the slag heap?" she asked. Peeta looked back over to Gale, who rolled his eyes.

"Yes. Alright? Are you satisfied?" Gale demanded.

"So…were you at the slag heap…cheating on me with another girl?" she asked slowly. Gale's eyes widened.

"Was I cheating on you? What the hell are you talking about?" Gale demanded, his voice getting louder. Peeta took a step closer to him.

"Well, Peeta here just came from walking by, and said that he saw you kissing a girl from my class, and that you were cheating on me," Katniss said. Gale whipped his head over to look at Peeta. Peeta was ready for the punch that would fly his way. He could take it. He was strong. He could easily flip Gale over his shoulder before he knew what happened.

"And he also said that he's seen you loads of times, making out with other girls…and cheating on me," Katniss said. Gale looked back at her.

"Me cheating on you?" he asked her. She nodded her head. They all stood there for a moment, and then Katniss and Gale burst out laughing. What? Peeta looked back and forth between the two.

"I did what?" Gale laughed.

"You cheated on me," Katniss laughed back. Peeta couldn't understand this. Why the hell would Katniss laugh about being cheated on? Did she really love him that much that she could find his adultery funny? How was this funny?

"Me and Gale aren't together," Katniss laughed. Peeta stopped breathing.

"Why the hell would you think we were dating?" Gale asked through his laughter.

"What even gave you that impression?" Katniss asked. They weren't dating? They weren't boyfriend and girlfriend?

"You're…you're always together," Peeta said. Katniss and Gale looked at each other and broke out into another fit of laughter. They weren't dating?

"We're best friends. He's like my brother. I love him, but like a brother. We grew up together,"

"But you're pregnant," Peeta said. Her eyes widened and she stopped laughing.

"WHAT?" Katniss demanded. Gale laughed even louder now, and Katniss went over and punched him. "Will you shut up!" she told him. She spun around to Peeta.

"I am not pregnant. Certainly not by him. Why the hell would you think that?" she demanded. He grabbed at his hair. He was going to be sick. He was so confused. And so embarrassed.

"My brother…" he trailed off.

"Your brother? Why would your brother say I was pregnant?" Gale just kept laughing.

"Oh man. Please tell me that was Rye. That HAS to be Rye," he laughed. Katniss snatched a bowl from the table and threw it at Gale, but it just made him laugh harder.

"Well go and tell your brother that no, I am not pregnant. And THEN tell him that me and Gale AREN'T boyfriend and girlfriend," she ordered him. She shivered. "He's practically my brother,"

"God that's disgusting. She's my sister," Gale laughed. Katniss went over there and started punching him.

"I have to go," Peeta said and ran out of the house. He heard Katniss calling his name, but he was running as fast as he could. He had to get away from her house. Katniss and Gale weren't dating. All those girls that he made out with never mattered because he was never betraying her. And he just made the biggest idiot out of himself.

He was so embarrassed and humiliated. He was worse than humiliated. He was mortified. Horrified. Appalled. Horror-struck. What did he just do? He just made the biggest fool out of himself. He was the biggest moron in District 12. In all of Panem. How could he have done that?

This was all Finnick's fault. Finnick gave him the worst advice, EVER! He hated Finnick O'dair!

"Are you done laughing?" Katniss asked Gale. Gale wiped his eyes.

"I think so. God, that was the best thing I've ever heard," Gale said as he poured himself some water and drank. "He actually came over to tell you I was cheating on you," Gale said out loud.

"I was there," Katniss said sarcastically. She was folding laundry and realized that Gale had been quiet for a few minutes. She looked back at him. "What?"

"He actually told you the truth. While who knows how many people think that we're together, no one's ever told you that I've been making out with girls all the time. But he's the only one to come to you and tell you," Gale said. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Katniss," Gale said a moment later. She looked up at him. "Remember when I said I promised I'd find you a good guy?" he asked her. She nodded her head.

"Well, I believe I just did,"

Peeta was panting by the time he got back to the Bakery. His dad was alarmed when he came into the back like that, doubled over, trying to catch his breath. He brought him a glass of water, and he started gulping it down. He knew his father and brothers were talking to him, but he couldn't hear him. Not over the blood pounding in his ears. Not over the humiliation of Katniss and Gale laughing at him.

"She's not…pregnant," he panted. They all looked at each other.

"Katniss isn't pregnant? Damn. I lost that bet," Rye said. Wheet punched him in the arm.

"Why do you always have to say shit like that?" Wheet asked.

"Now is not the time for that boys," his father told them.

"She's not…they're not…they never…" he panted, but just couldn't get any of the words out.

"Son, what are you trying to say? What happened?" his dad asked. Peeta cringed as he felt the sharp pain in his side.

"They're not…together," Peeta panted out. They all just looked at each other.

"Wait. Katniss and Gale. They're not…?" Wheet trailed off.

"No. They're not," he took another gulp of water. "They're not boyfriend and girlfriend. They never were," he said and hissed as the pain in his stung.

"So how did you find this out?" Rye asked.

"I went over there and told Katniss he was cheating on her, only for him to walk in the door and both of them laugh at me because he wasn't cheating on her, because they were never together," Peeta yelled at Rye as he stepped closer to him. His father stepped in the middle.

"Ok just calm down Peeta," his father said.

"Ok let me get this straight. You went over and told Katniss that Gale was cheating on her? But he wasn't cheating on her because they're not together? Like you actually told her!" Rye said, and then started laughing. "Oh my God you must feel like such a loser," Rye laughed.

Peeta lunged at Rye, and they fell on the floor with Peeta on top of Rye, punching him. His father and Wheet fought with them to pull them apart. Wheet held Peeta tightly to his chest, while Rye just kept laughing. "SHUT THE HELL UP! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Peeta screamed. But Rye kept on laughing.

"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING BACK HERE?" His mother screamed at all of them. Rye instantly stopped laughing. "Why are you both bleeding?" his mother demanded. Both Peeta and Rye had a bloody nose.

"You two wash your faces and then get back to work before I break both of your noses!" she told them and grabbed the two closest objects, which was a muffin tin and a large metal bowl and threw them at the same time, hitting the boys in the face and then stormed back up front.

"Why do you look so miserable?" Finnick asked Johanna as her and Haymitch sat down to play another round of poker.

"Katniss is just a little bitch and she's pissing me off. And I ate something at the Hob that made me throw up twice already," Johanna said as she started dealing out the cards.

"Please just be patient with her. She's had it tough. Ever since her dad died a few years ago, she had to step up and take the place of him to support her mom and sister. She had to start hunting illegally. And going around to all the Merchants selling and making trades, and going into the Hob, like her dad had taught her," Haymitch said. Finnick narrowed his eyes. Going around to Merchants, selling and making trades.

"She got it into her head back then that she'd never get married because she doesn't want to love someone so much, just to lose them. Her mom took it so hard when her husband died. And Katniss doesn't want kids because she doesn't want to lose them to the Hunger Games," Haymitch told her.

"Wait Haymitch go back. She goes to the Merchant's houses and sells them what she catches?" Finnick asked. Haymitch and Johanna turned and looked at him oddly.

"Yeah. That's what I just said," Haymitch said and shook his head and looked back down at his cards.

"And her father had died when she was 11 right?" why does this all sound so familiar.

"I just said that to. What's wrong with you?" Haymitch asked.

"And she has a boyfriend that goes with her right?"

"Gale? Yeah, they go hunting and make their trades together. But they're not boyfriend and girlfriend. They're like brother and sister. Why are you asking all these questions?" Haymitch asked. Finnick's eyes widened.

"Oh my God. It's Katniss. He's in love with Katniss," Finnick said.

"No, he's not, I just told you. He doesn't like her like that. He's going to be her safety net if she can't find- "

"No Haymitch not Gale. Peeta Mellark," Finnick told him.

"Who's Peeta Mellark?" Johanna asked.

"One of the Baker's kids," Haymitch told her, and then turned back to Finnick. "How do you know- "

"I'm gonna puke again," Johanna said and ran down the hall to the bathroom.

"Oh my God Katniss isn't with him. Peeta thought that she was with Gale, but she's not. He's been in love with her ever since he was five years old," Finnick said and then abruptly stood up. "I gotta go!" Finnick said and rushed out of the house.

He ran down through the Seam and all the way up to town to head into the Bakery. When he got in there, Mrs. Mellark was manning the counter. She looked angry, but when she saw him and realized who he was, her face changed.

"Mr. O'dair. How wonderful it is to have you at our Bakery," she said. Finnick walked up to the counter.

"You must be Peeta's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Mellark," she waved her hand at him.

"Please. Call me Doreen," Finnick smiled charmingly.

"Doreen it is,"

"I was so happy to hear that you'd been selected to be Peeta's counselor. And I'm delighted to know that all the girls that Peeta's been set up with so far, have been from the Merchant class," Doreen said. Finnick narrowed his eyes slightly. "It would truly be an embarrassment to this family to have Peeta be set up with someone from the Seam," she said. He watched as she was reaching for something under the counter.

"I take pride in our family status in District 12," she said as she reached her hand up and grabbed onto his. "And I know that we can come to an agreement, to make sure that Peeta stays in the right class with the young girls that he's courting on these dates," Doreen said, and pulled her hand back. Finnick looked down at his hand and saw that she had placed money into his palm. Not a lot of money by any means. Didn't she know that he was a Victor? He was rich. Why did she think he could be bribed by such a small amount of money?

He was disgusted. How could a mother do that? All to save her status. To make sure she stays on top and reminds anyone in the Seam that she's better than them. Well, the joke was on her. Her son was head over heels, in love with a girl from the Seam. And he was going to make sure, that her son got the girl.

He smiled at her and dropped the money on the counter. "With all do respect, Mrs. Mellark. I don't take bribes," Finnick told her. Her eyes glared wildly, and her face turned red. How had someone so awful, raised such an amazing human being?

"Mr. O'dair," someone said. He looked up to see, who he assumed was Peeta's father, standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "It's such an honor to have you here," his father came over and started wiping off his hands and shook Finnick's. Finnick looked down at his own hand, covered in flour.

"I'm so sorry," he said. But Finnick laughed and wiped it on his jeans.

"No worries at all. The honor is truly mine. I've wanted to meet you. Peeta speaks so highly of you," Finnick said sincerely. Peeta had never mentioned his mother, but after meeting her he could see why, and he wondered if she was the one who caused him to have a black eye for nearly a month.

"Well, he's spoken very highly of you as well. We'd love to have you over for dinner sometime," his father said. Well, that answered his question. His mother didn't raise an amazing human being. This man did! "I'm sorry, I never introduced myself. My name is Bannock,"

"Call me Finnick. I'd love to come over for dinner. Thank you. I've been spending my dinners with Haymitch and Johanna. So, a change of dinner company would be very welcomed," Finnick joked.

"Any time!"

"I was wondering if Peeta was here. I'd really love to talk to him about something," Finnick said.

"He's working," Peeta's mother snapped. Oh. He forgot about her. Gone was the attempt to be charming to him.

"He can take a break. Follow me," Bannock said, ignoring his wife and turning around. Finnick gave her a dazzling smile and followed Peeta's father back into the kitchen. Peeta had his back turned and was kneading bread. Harshly it looked like.

"Peeta. You have a guest," his father called. He noticed that Peeta visibly tensed and turned around, cringing. But then straightened up and stared at Finnick in confusion.

"Finnick?" he was confused.

"Hey Peeta. I was wondering if I could talk to you. I won't take up too much of your time. I know you guys have work to do," Finnick said.

"Well I- "

"It's alright Peeta. Take a break," his father said kindly. Two boys walked out of the cooler and stopped when they saw him. Finnick figured it was his brothers.

"No way! Finnick O'dair," one of his brothers said. Finnick laughed.

"These are Peeta's brothers. Rye and Wheet. And before you get excited Rye, he needs to talk with Peeta," Bannock warned him. He turned back to Finnick. "Rye's a huge fan," making Finnick chuckle.

"Awe man," Rye whined.

"I have a dinner invite. So, you'll be seeing more of me," Finnick said. Peeta wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen, and out back door without saying a word. Finnick looked at his father.

"He made an ass out of himself today. So, he's in a real pissy mood. So, have fun with that," Rye said. Wheet hit him and rolled his eyes. Finnick excused himself and followed Peeta out. He walked down past a pig pen, and under a tree. Finnick remembered this story. This is the tree where Katniss sat, and he threw her bread.

"So, how come you're here?" Peeta asked, fidgeting around. He looked all out of sorts, from whatever he embarrassed himself from.

"Katniss Everdeen," Finnick said. Peeta's eyes widened. "Katniss is the girl that you're in love with. She's the girl that you were trying to hide from me, thinking I wouldn't figure it out. But I don't know if you realized, that Haymitch is best friends with her family," Finnick said. His face grew pale.

"And he's best friends with the Hawthorne's," he told him. Letting it sink in. "Gale. That's who you thought Katniss was with. But Haymitch told me. They're not together. They're not boyfriend and girlfriend Peeta. They're best friends. I never made the connections between the stories, but Haymitch had already told me that their parents practically raised all the kids together. And Katniss and Gale look at each other like brother and sister," Finnick said.

Peeta said nothing. He just stared at him. Why wasn't he saying anything? "Don't you know what this means? Peeta she's not with him. She's single," Finnick said. He had to be in shock.

"I know," he gritted through his teeth. Finnick's shoulders fell.

"You know?"

"Yes," he gritted through his teeth again.

"How?" Finnick asked. How the heck did he know?

"Because I stupidly took your advice, and I went to Katniss and told her that Gale was cheating on her," Peeta said. Finnick let this sink in for a moment. He went to Katniss. "And then Gale came in. And they laughed their butts off, and then let me know that they're not boyfriend and girlfriend," he said. This is what Rye was talking about, how he made an ass out of himself.

"And they had a great laugh at me for assuming that they were together. To rat him out that he was cheating on her,"

"Oh God Peeta. I'm sorry," Finnick said. The poor kid. He tried to do the right thing, but then he got egg all over his face. He did do the right thing. It just wasn't the truth. In a way.

"Listen Peeta, I know you're embarrassed. So, just take a few days to shake it off. But don't you get what this means?" he asked him. Peeta just stared at him. "Peeta, she's not with him. You've wanted to ask Katniss Everdeen out for years. This is your chance," Finnick told him. Peeta just stared at him. He walked forwards and grabbed his shoulders.

"Peeta. Go and get your girl. You already made the first step. You did the honorable thing and told her the truth- "

"And made a complete fool out of myself,"

"Well…yes. But it shows your character. Peeta come on. This is the girl of your dreams. Gale was standing in your way. Now you know, he's never been in your way. The only person standing in your way now, is you!" Finnick told him. He wanted Peeta to hear his words. He tried to let him think about it, but he realized it was too soon. He was still humiliated.

"Ok. Take a few days. And next Monday, come into my office, and we'll sit down and discuss your next step. But Peeta, think about what I said. This is your chance," Finnick said and patted his shoulder. "I'll see you at school tomorrow," he said. Peeta turned around and stopped.

"Damnit!" Peeta said as he watched Gale walking up to them.

"Oh. That's Gale," Finnick said. Peeta turned and glared at him. Gale walked up to him, and he was trying not to laugh.

"Um…hey Peeta," he stuttered. Peeta scoffed and crossed his arms. The poor kid. Finnick felt bad for him.

"Ok, he gets it alright? You don't have to drag it out anymore," Finnick told Gale. He could just feel the steam of embarrassment radiating off of Peeta. Gale snorted.

"I'm sorry. I really am," he tried clearing his throat. Gale couldn't get rid of his smile. "Listen. I just wanted to come here and say that I'm sorry for laughing at you,"

"No, you're not," Peeta barked out. Gale covered his face.

"I am, it's just too funny," Gale laughed. Peeta huffed and started walking past him.

"Ok Peeta wait please," Gale said. Peeta spun around.

"Why, so you can keep laughing at me? I made an idiot of myself. I get it. You're not dating,"

"Yeah, but I think it's kinda cool that you ratted me out to her," Gale said. Peeta just stared at him. God, this kid was too good for this place. He prayed that Peeta Mellark's name would never be pulled at the Reaping. "Listen. When this whole Marriage Initiative stuff came out, I promised Katniss that I would find a good guy for her. I didn't want her ending up with some low life," Gale told him.

Peeta wouldn't say a word. But Finnick found this conversation fascinating. He should walk away and let them talk by themselves, but he couldn't. He had to hear what Gale wanted to say.

"Look, what you did…I don't know if I can stop laughing about it any time soon," Gale admitted, causing Peeta to clench his jaw. "But you should ask Katniss out," Gale said. Finnick's eyes widened. He was standing right behind Gale, facing Peeta. Finnick raised his arms. See, Peeta should ask Katniss out.

"You're a good guy for telling her the truth. Even if it wasn't the truth," Gale laughed. Finnick smacked him in the back to make him stop. He coughed and cleared his throat. "Look just…you should ask her out. You're a good guy," Gale said. Peeta looked at Finnick, and then back at him, and then turned and went back into the Bakery.

"You gotta stop laughing at him," Finnick told him.

"I can't. You should have been there," Gale laughed.

Katniss looked around for Peeta the next day, but she hadn't seen him. She wondered if he had been avoiding her. She made it through her first three periods, and now lunch without so much as a glance of him walking by.

"You ok?" Madge asked. Katniss looked over at her.

"Yeah. Sorry. What were you saying?" she asked, putting her head down. Peeta was either here, and was doing an amazing job at avoiding her, or he was completely avoiding her, and didn't come to school at all today.

"I was asking who your date is tonight?" she asked. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"I didn't even look at it," she grumbled and reached for her backpack. Friday mornings they always had homeroom, and that was when they were given their envelopes with their 'date' written on it. "Who do you have?" she asked as she pulled one of her books out and grabbed the envelope and started tearing it open.

"Peeta Mellark," Madge told her. Katniss stopped and just stared at her. She was going out on a date with Peeta. She was paired with him. She had this overwhelming sadness fill her. Madge was her closest friend. Her only friend. (Gale was her best friend, but he was in a different category. He was family) And her friend was going on the date-the only date that Katniss wanted to go on.

"What's wrong Katniss?" Madge asked her, so concerned. Katniss looked down and shook her head.

"Nothing," she said sadly. "Peeta's really kind. He's gonna be one of the boys that the girls fight over," she said and started trying to open her envelope again. Madge stopped her, by putting her hands on top of Katniss', making her look up.

"Katniss…what just happened. I've never seen you react to anything like that," Madge said. Katniss shook her head and put the envelope down in her lap.

"It's nothing really,"

"Katniss please," Madge asked. Katniss looked at her and could see the concern all over her face. "Please tell me what's wrong," Madge asked. It was hard to share something like this with Madge. With anyone. Sure, Madge was her closest friend, but Katniss didn't share a lot with her.

And they didn't talk about boys. This was new territory for her. They didn't act like gossipy, lovesick teenage girls. They just weren't like that. So now she was gonna have to share things about a boy? She didn't even know how to do that.

"Please Katniss?" Madge asked again. Katniss put the envelope on the table and then nodded her head. She took a moment, and then took a deep breath.

"Peeta came to my house yesterday," Katniss started. She looked at Madge and waited for her to say something. But she should know Madge by now. She's not going to interrupt. She's going to let Katniss say everything she needed to, and only ask a question when she needed to. "He came to tell me that he saw Gale, making out with a girl from our class…and that he was cheating on me with loads of other girls," Katniss said. She looked back up at Madge, who looked so sad. She gasped softly and covered her mouth. It was a strange reaction to Katniss.

"Oh Katniss, he does?" she whispered. Katniss tilted her head, and Madge reached over again and grabbed her hands. "Katniss I'm so sorry. I never knew that he did that. That's so awful," Madge told her.

Katniss picked her hands up and covered her face for a minute. Why was Madge apologizing for Gale cheating on her? She took her hands down to look at her friend. "Wait a second. Do you think that Gale and I are boyfriend and girlfriend?" she asked. Madge sat up straight.

"Well…yes. You are," she said. Katniss' eyes widened and she put her hands on top of her head.

"What?" Katniss asked, completely dumb founded. She was in shock. "Does everyone from town believe this or something?" Katniss asked. It was Madge's turn to look dumb founded.

"What…do you mean?"

"I mean why does everyone think this? Where did anyone get this idea that me and Gale are together?" Madge's eyes widened.

"Gale's not your boyfriend?"

"No," Katniss cried. She shivered dramatically. "Oh my God. That's so gross to even think about. He's practically my brother Madge," she looked around at everyone in the cafeteria.

"Does everyone in town think this? Because people in the Seam don't," Katniss said. Madge nodded her head, and she laughed sarcastically. "That's just great. No wonder Peeta thought that. God, and now he's avoiding me," she said and covered her face.

"I thought it was weird that he brought his lunch tray into the bathroom," Katniss picked her head up.

"He's hiding in the bathroom?" she asked sadly. Madge nodded her head. She just let out a sad sigh. "You should have seen him yesterday. He looked so humiliated. And Gale just kept laughing. I mean, I started laughing at first too. But then I was so mad because his stupid brother Rye got it into Peeta's head that I was pregnant-" Madge gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

"No. He didn't say that" Madge said. The two of them officially were having a girl moment. A stupid girl conversation, that Katniss never wanted to have. But she couldn't just end the conversation right then.

"I don't even know why Rye thought that. I wanna shoot him through the eye," she grumbled. But then she moaned again. "You should have seen his face. He was so embarrassed. I feel terrible for laughing. And I feel embarrassed that Gale just wouldn't stop laughing at him. He's such an idiot," Katniss said and just sat back. She felt Madge squeeze her hand and she looked at her friend.

"Well, it's a good thing that I'm paired up with Peeta tonight. I can check on him without…saying anything about yesterday," Madge said. Katniss sat straight up. "I can make sure he's ok for you," Katniss face softened, and she did something she rarely did, unless it was Prim. She leaned forward and hugged Madge.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," she said. She pulled back and scrubbed her face.

"So, who did you get paired up with?" Madge said. Katniss had forgotten about that. She rolled her eyes and opened the envelope and stared at the name. She could feel her blood boiling. The anger was seeping through every inch of her body.

"That stupid, fucking bitch!" Katniss said. She didn't realize she yelled this, but the cafeteria became silent. She looked around, and every person was staring at her.

"Miss Everdeen. Is there a problem?" Mr. Vallen asked. He had a smirk on his face that he was trying to hide. Mr. Vallen made it pretty clear that Katniss was his favorite, and she could do no wrong. So, to him, Katniss swearing loudly in the cafeteria had him super interested. Katniss glared at him.

"Where's Haymitch?" she demanded.

"I think he's passed out in his office," one of the boys said.

"Katniss what's wrong?" Mr. Vallen asked as he bent over a little. Katniss grabbed the paper and shoved it at him, and then went back to shoving things back in her backpack. Mr. Vallen read the paper. "Oh," he said.

"Yeah. Oh. I fucking hate Johanna," Katniss said and snatched the paper back and stormed out of the cafeteria. She went up the stairs, and down the long hall and slammed open Haymitch's office door, startling him awake.

"What the hell?" Haymitch demanded. She slammed the paper on the deck. "What the fuck is your problem Sweetheart?" he asked, wiping his eyes.

"You're stupid, slutty Victor friend put me with him!" Katniss yelled. Haymitch picked up the paper, and his mouth dropped a little. "How could you let her do that to me?" she demanded.

"Katniss. I didn't know. I asked her not to put him with you ever. But you have to work with Johanna. You pissed her off and- "

"And that makes it ok to put me with him?" Katniss demanded. She could feel the tears spring to her eyes. "There's rumors that he's raped a few girls Haymitch. Bones scares the hell out of me. I don't want him anywhere near me," Katniss whispered. Haymitch stood up and stumbled around the desk and put his hands on her forearms.

"Listen, I can't change this. These lists go through the Capitol. And you have to go, otherwise you get punished. Just go tonight. Don't say anything snarky to him. Just yes him to death. And then leave as soon as you can. Don't get into anything with him, and he'll be too bored to have anything to do with you," Haymitch said. She could tell this wasn't what he wanted.

There had been too many rumors about Bones, but never any proof. And if something came out, then the girls took back what they said, out of fear. He had been rumored to stalk girls, and even climb into their windows at night.

Someone in District 12 couldn't get punished for raping a girl, when there were no witnesses. No Proof.

She hated Johanna!

Later that night she walked into the gym and signed in. She didn't see Bones anywhere and hoped that he wouldn't show up. That would make her happy. She'd go and fall on her sword and ask Johanna to not put her with Bones again. That she learned her lesson and would listen to her from now on.

She started walking towards a table when she bumped into someone on the dance floor. "Sorry," she grumbled. She looked over and realized it was Peeta that she had bumped into. "Peeta," she breathed. He fidgeted around, and she could see him blush.

"Oh. Hi Katniss…I'm uh…I'm sorry I bumped into you," he stuttered. She shook her head.

"No, I wasn't looking at where I was going," Katniss said. They stared at each other for a minute. She had been wanting to see him all day, but now that she finally was face to face with him, she had no idea what she wanted to say to him.

The staring contest was broken by Madge. "Hi Katniss. We were just going to sit down," Madge said and handed her a plate of food, and a drink. Katniss looked down at her now full hands.

"Oh. Um, thank you," Katniss said. Madge smiled and handed Peeta his plate and drink, and then grabbed something for herself. They all walked over to the table, and Madge sat in the middle of them. They sat in awkward silence for a moment but thank goodness for Madge for breaking the silence, who was usually always so quiet.

"So, Katniss, Peeta was just telling me about his aunt," Madge said. Katniss looked up at Peeta who looked momentarily stunned that Madge was speaking to him. He shook his head and cleared his throat.

"Um, yeah. It's my mom's sister-in-law. She's pregnant. This is her fourth baby, but she's been having some complications. And my parents every couple of weeks go and stay with her for two or three days, so my uncle can work, and she won't be by herself. So, they went over there this afternoon and won't be back till Monday night," Peeta said. Madge turned back to Katniss.

"Rye had a party last month and someone punched a hole in the wall in his closet, and he's had to shove a bunch of things in there to hide it from his mother," Madge said, giggling softly. Katniss looked back at Peeta, who was still blushing. He was trying to make eye contact with Katniss but was having a hard time.

"Two kids were fighting, and it got out of hand. Wheet made sure Rye isn't throwing a party this time," Peeta said.

"What were they fighting about?" Katniss asked him, hoping he would look at her for more than two seconds.

"I'm actually not sure. They had some white liquor, so they were pretty drunk," Peeta said. Four seconds. That was progress. Peeta started eating, and Katniss smiled at Madge. She'd make sure he was ok tonight. She was so thankful for her friend.

They were enjoying their dinner until someone plopped down next to Katniss abruptly. Katniss choked and her eyes widened. "Well hello Miss. Everdeen," Bones said. Katniss cleared her throat.

"Hi Bones," Katniss said and glanced over at Madge and Peeta. Madge looked scared and Peeta looked…mad? She wasn't sure.

"Fancy us getting paired up together tonight," Bones said. Katniss could smell the white liquor on him.

"You're her date tonight?" Peeta asked. Bones smiled.

"Bet your bakers ass I am. I was hoping I'd get paired with you," Bones said and sat back, slinging his arm over his chair. "I put you on my list for my counselor. I told him if I have to marry someone from the Seam, might as well be a girl who actually knows how to bring home the bacon," Bones said. The three of them dropped their mouths and widened their eyes.

"Or squirrel, or rabbit," Bones said, laughing. She felt Madge put her hand on her knee. No girl wanted to be paired with Bones. "How about we go dance and…" he trailed off and pushed her braid off her shoulder.

"Get to know each other a little bit," he said, licking his lips. Katniss cringed and wanted to tell him to fuck off and storm out. But she needed the five dollars, and she needed the extra five dollars at the end of the month. And if she left too early, it would go on her record to be punished.

Besides, Haymitch warned her to not react to him. Appear boring, and he'll leave her alone. Katniss looked down at her food, and realized she wasn't hungry anymore. In fact, she felt like she was going to be sick.

"Um yeah. Let's dance," Katniss said and stood up. She gave a fleeting look to Madge and Peeta. She still looked scared, but Peeta had fire in his eyes. She turned back, and Bones was right in her face. She tried to stand back as far as he could, but he grabbed onto her and yanked her to him, so she was right against his body.

"Alone at last Miss. Everdeen," Bones said. She could smell the liquor on his breath, and it was nauseating. "So, tell me, what guys did you put on your list?" Bones asked. She didn't know how to answer that. She could shoot herself in the foot with how she answered his questions. She had to be so careful how she answered everything he asked tonight. She decided to go with the truth.

"I actually didn't make a list," Katniss said. Bones tilted his head. "I don't like Johanna. And her and I had a fight. So, I haven't been going to my sessions with her," Katniss answered truthfully. Bones chuckled.

"A rebel. I like it. That's hot," he said, pulling her closer to him.

"Well, I'm not trying to be rebellious," she said before she could stop herself. She wanted to tell him that she just didn't want to marry anyone in District 12, but that wouldn't be good. "I just hate her. And they won't give me another counselor," she lied. Nothing incriminating there.

"Why do you hate her so much?" he asked her. Katniss bit her lip. What lie could she say?

"My family is close to Haymitch," she started. She didn't know where she was going with this. "And she's staying in the Victor's Village with him," ok Katniss, where do you go from here? She was sinking. What lie could she go with?

"And she's drunk all the time…and she started talking about my mother," Katniss lied. What? She started talking about her mother? That was the best she could do? Bones laughed.

"Oh really? Tell me what she said," Bones said, squeezing her tighter. She wanted to vomit on him. He smelled like dirt, sweat, cigarettes and white liquor.

"It's embarrassing. And hurtful," she breathed, acting like a little girl. She averted her eyes.

"It's ok. You don't have to tell me…tonight," Bones said. She gulped. He talked through the rest of the dance, but she didn't hear him.

"Are you ok?" Madge asked. Peeta nodded his head.

"Yeah. I'm having a great time," he said and gulped his drink. He was in a rage right now. That scumbag had his hands all over Katniss. He always made sure to stay clear of Bones. He was trouble. And he wanted to make sure he never got into any type of trouble with Bones. So, there were quite a few times growing up, that Bones would look over his shoulder to see the answers on Peeta's paper. Peeta always pretended not to notice and would make it easy for him. He didn't want to get punched for not showing Bones his answers.

"That's not really true, is it?" Madge asked. Peeta looked up at her. "Katniss kinda told me what happened," Madge said. Peeta closed his eyes. He was so humiliated.

"That's not embarrassing at all," Peeta said sadly. Madge picked his hand up.

"Let's dance," she said, pulling him up and onto the dance floor. They swayed for a minute before she started talking again. "It's not embarrassing. Because I thought they were to," his eyes widened.

"Really? But you're her friend," she smiled and shrugged.

"We don't talk about boys. Or other girly things. We like to hang out together in silence a lot, and it's nice. And we don't talk about Gale like that. So, she had no idea that I assumed they were dating as well," Madge said. It would make him feel better at the fact that she thought they were dating to. But she's not that went over there and tattled on Gale, only to find out that he's a moron.

"And I thought a lot about what happened. And I think it's really amazing that you went and told her about Gale cheating on her," Madge said. Peeta's mouth fell.

"How could you think that? I humiliated myself yesterday,"

"I know it was embarrassing. But think about it Peeta. If she was really with him, don't you think she had a right to know if he was cheating on her?" Madge asked. That was true. That's why he did it. "You put yourself out there, knowing you were getting into the middle of someone's relationship, but you told them the truth. Even if it was going to hurt her. You told her that someone she loved was betraying her," Madge said. It felt nice to hear that. Because that's what he had been trying to do.

"Katniss was worried that you were avoiding her today. She wanted to talk to you," she told him. He cringed.

"I can't even look at her. It was hard enough sitting at the table with her," he said and covered his face.

"She's really mad at Gale. She feels awful because he can really be an idiot sometimes. And she wanted to make sure that you were ok," she told him. He looked at her then. That made his heart stop beating for a minute. She wanted to make sure he ok? That was a good thing, right? But then his anxiety took over. Was it because she felt pity for him. He just didn't know.

Katniss danced three dances with him and then excused herself to the bathroom. She stayed in there as long as she could to avoid Bones. She felt like her skin was crawling off her body. She felt so dirty and disgusting, like she had grime all over her body.

They had changed the rules last week, that it wasn't just four dances, fill out a piece of paper and then you could go. You had to stay until the end of the night. And you had to make it into the gym by a certain hour, in order to be eligible to not get into any trouble. They had lots of stupid people marking down how many dances you made it through as well.

She went back out there, and didn't see Bones anywhere at first, but then she saw him behind the bleachers, and he pawing at some girl who was trying to get away from him. She felt guilty, but she walked away and went back to the table. He must have seen her because a moment later he was sitting next to her again.

"We should probably do our papers now," Katniss said as she grabbed two sheets of paper from the table and two pens. They went down the line with the questions.

"I fucking hate doing this every week," Bones complained. For once, Katniss could agree with Bones.

"So do I," she said. She watched him as he started drawing on his paper. He started drawing a hand, and it looked like it was giving the middle finger. But then as she looked closer, that middle finger was actually a penis. She cringed in disgust. Bones didn't notice her reaction, and just kept drawing on it.

She let out a breath of relief when Madge and Peeta sat back down, and she mouthed 'thank you' to them. Peeta smiled at her, and she couldn't help the butterflies. And the relief that spread through her. He was looking at her again. And smiling at her.

"So, what are you gonna write on your thoughts about me?" Bones asked. Katniss looked over at him. Katniss got nervous again. She had been really careful tonight. Not say anything bad to get him riled up.

"Well, isn't that supposed to be confidential?" she asked slowly, and then grabbed her cup of punch.

"Well, I already wrote that you are hot piece of ass on mine," Bones said. Katniss jumped when she heard a snap and looked over at Peeta. He had a plastic fork in his hand and just snapped it in half. She bit her lip and then looked over at Madge for help.

"Did you hear the rumor that Mr. Vallen is engaged?" Madge asked. Madge wasn't a big talker, but she went right on in, trying to distract everyone with the fake conversation. She slyly grabbed Katniss' paper, and then started writing something in the comments for her, about her impressions of Bones, while talking about what woman in town she thought he was secretly engaged to.

"I think it's the grocer's daughter. She's around his age. 24 or 25, and she hasn't been seeing anyone," Madge said.

"Alright you're boring me," Bones said. Katniss whipped her head to look at him and wanted to snap at him and defend her friend, but she could hear Haymitch's voice in her head, stopping her. "Get up and dance with me," Bones said and snatched her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor and pulled her against him again.

"She talks too much," Bones said. Katniss had to bite her tongue. Just don't respond. "I've never seen you with any guys. Except Gale, but he's like your cousin or something. Why don't you date?" Bones asked. She cleared her throat.

"My mom didn't want me to. Still doesn't want me to. The rule was that I couldn't have a boyfriend until I was 18," she lied. Her mother and her had never discussed such a thing. Her mother knew her well enough, that she knew she didn't have to. Katniss was mature when it came to boys. She trusted Katniss.

"Can we go and dance near them? I wanna keep an eye on her," Peeta said. Madge smiled and nodded her head.

"Yes, please," Madge said, and they went and started dancing close enough to watch them, but far enough that Bones wouldn't pay any attention to them.

"I think I'm gonna go to my counselor and request another date with you. All these girls are fucking annoying as hell. And if they're hot they're just too fucking stupid. But you," he looked her up and down and licked her lips. He pulled her closer to him and her eyes widened. She could feel something hard against her stomach.

"You're not stupid, and you're so fucking hot, you get my dick hard every time I see you," he told her. She tried to pull away but was stunned when she realized how strong he was. She couldn't get away. "I wanna take you to the slag heap tonight and show you what a real man can do. Make you a woman tonight," he told her. Her body broke into a cold sweat. She struggled to get away. She couldn't listen to Haymitch anymore.

"Let me go. I'm not going to the slag heap," she snapped. He just laughed and yanked her harder.

"Oh yes you are. We're gonna sneak out the back door in just a little bit, and I'm gonna fuck you so hard. Take that little cherry and make you bleed all over my dick," he told her and leaned down. "You're the one I've had my eye on for years, but fucking Hawthorne was always around. But now, since I have to find myself a wife, I realized I'm finally gonna get inside Katniss Everdeen's pants," he told her.

She felt herself shaking. She did not see this coming at all. Him acting like this right in the gym, surrounded by people. She was afraid of him going after her though. She had never though of herself having sex once in her life, but she sure as hell did not want to lose her virginity to him.

"Let me go before- "

"Before what? Before you make a scene and get kicked out for the night and have them put it on your record?" he asked. She gulped, making him laugh. "I've been waiting for this night that I got paired up with you, because I'm going to tell you how this goes. We don't need to go on stupid dates with anyone else. You're mine. And when I fuck your brains out, I'm gonna put a fucking baby in your belly, and then you're mine. You'll have to marry me," he told her. She tried to pull back again, but he grabbed her ass and ground his crotch into her stomach again. She went to yell, but then Bones was yanked off of her. Before she knew what had happened, Peeta had stood in front of her, and pushed her behind him.

"What's your fucking problem Mellark?" Bones demanded.

"You're my problem. Don't grab her like that. And don't ever, touch her like that again," Peeta told him dangerously, getting right in his face.

"Since when is a Townie going to tell me who I can and can't fuck?" Bones asked, inches from Peeta's face.

"That was the last dance," a voice boomed over. Multiple people stepped away from their partners in relief. "Everyone have a good night," Before anyone could say anything. Madge grabbed her hand and ducked behind some people and yanked her out of the gym.

"Oh my God that was terrible," Madge asked. "I was so scared. What did he say to you?" Madge asked. Katniss crossed her arms and shook her head. Peeta had saved her from having to get groped by him more. But now, she was more terrified of Bones than ever. She was on his hit list. And she didn't like being there.

"KATNISS!" she looked over and saw Gale waiting for her. Oh, thank God. Her and Madge went walking over to him. "Hey Haymitch told me to walk you home tonight. You ready?" he asked her. She nodded vigorously. He looked over at Madge.

"Hey Madge," Gale said. Madge smiled at him.

"Hi…how has working in construction been going?" she asked awkwardly. Katniss was too shaken up to think about why.

"I guess it's better than the Mines," Gale said sadly. Gale chose to work on the construction site for the new houses that would be going to all the teenagers that were being forced to get married, in order to by himself some time before he had to get married, and he could stay with his mother.

He looked over at Katniss and narrowed his eyes. She was looking all around for Bones, making sure that he wasn't around.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can we just go?" she asked. He nodded his head.

"Yeah sure. See ya later Madge,"

"Bye Gale," she said and smiled at him. Madge turned to Katniss and hugged her, and then pulled back. "I'll see you Monday," she said and turned to walk towards her house. Katniss had her arms hugging herself as she started walking fast towards her house.

"You ok?" Gale asked.

"Yeah, I just want to get home before Bones sees me," she said and looked all around. She didn't see him anywhere.

"Did he try anything?" Gale asked. Katniss nodded her head and wiped a tear before it fell. "Don't worry. I'll let Haymitch know. You know we won't let anything bad happen to you," Gale said. Katniss nodded her head, and then Gale growled.

"If I didn't know how much trouble it would cause, I'd go and kick his ass right now. But I know him. It'll only add fuel to the fire. It'll make it worse if we do anything," Gale said, kicking at a rock.

"I know," Katniss whispered. Gale wrapped his arm around her as they walked.

"I'm sorry. I want to do something so bad. But Haymitch warned me not to. He made me promise not to. But I'll walk you home every Friday night," he said and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you,"

"I have to be in work super early tomorrow. But Rory's actually sleeping at your house. Haymitch told your mom, and Rory's gonna sleep in the room with the window while you and Prim sleep in the other bed in the alcove, so you'll be fine. Haymitch is gonna get some things installed on your doors and windows next weekend. Some fancy Capitol crap. He was really worried about Bones and doesn't want to take any chances," Gale said. Katniss nodded her head again.

They walked in silence until they got to her house. "Just breathe. He doesn't' know where you live, and he's no where around," Gale said, looking around. That did make her feel better. She moved her arms and shook them around.

"Yeah, I know. Everything will be fine. Thank you for walking me home," she said. He smiled.

"Every Friday night. I'll see you later," Gale said. She nodded and walked into her house and closed the door. She stood there for a moment with her back against the door. Why was she so afraid? She was Katniss Everdeen. She wasn't afraid of people.

She shook her body again. Rory may only be 12, but he was super strong. He could cause some nasty damage to people. He'd been in a few nasty fights. And Bones didn't even know where she lived. She shook her head and started taking her mother's shoes off when she heard Lady's bell. Lady had chewed through her rope again and was taking a midnight run.

"Damnit Lady, "she said, opening the door and running after her. Not even bothering to grab her mother's shoes and ran barefoot. "Lady get back here!" she called out to her. Lady ran in between all the houses in the Seam, and around all the roads. If Katniss went back now, they'd never find her the next day. She's hopped the fence before, and the only reason why they got her back was because Katniss had been running after her and never lost sight of her. If Katniss went home now, and she hopped the fence, she would be gone.

She chased her into town and Lady stopped to drink some water from a pig pen. "Lady, you get your ass back here right now," Katniss hissed. Lady took off again, right down the middle of town. "I'm gonna cook you for dinner!" she called out as she chased her down an alley. She had to stop to catch her breath. She could feel a pin in her side from running.

She was bent over and before she knew what was happening, she was slammed up against the Cartwright's building, and her mouth was covered. "Look who I found," Bones said. Katniss' eyes widened, and she tried to scream, but Bones reached up and back handed her.

"Be quiet, you stupid bitch," he told her. Katniss tried pushing him away, but he was just too strong. "I have had so many fucking fantasies about you," he said and looked down at her body, licking his lips. She started sobbing. No, this couldn't be happening. She had been safe. She was at home, and because she had to chase Lady, Bones found her. And he was going to…rape her. Right here in the alley.

"God I can't wait to get inside your tight little virgin pussy," Bones said. He reached up and ripped her dress, exposing her bra and then ripped one strap apart. Katniss sobbed louder and tried hitting him, but he grabbed both of her hands and held them above her head tightly. He was too strong for her to yank free.

"You're not getting away from me. I've wanted you for years," he said as he pulled his hand back and put it on her neck, choking her and let go of her hands. He pushed her legs apart and pulled her dress up, ripping it more and then yanked on her panties, ripping them roughly and tearing them from her body. She was trying to scream for help, but his hand was cutting on her air supply.

"You make one fucking sound, and I will kill you. Do you understand me?" he demanded. She cried and nodded her head. He let go of her neck and she gasped for air, coughing, and choking. He grabbed her hands again, and what she realized that while he was choking her, he used his other hand to unzip his pants, and pull himself out.

She sobbed and shook her head. "No, no, no. Don't do this to me," she sobbed. She felt the skin of his penis on her stomach.

"Oh Katniss Everdeen. You're about to become a woman now," he said. She braced herself for the pain as he grabbed her thigh and hoisted it roughly over his hip, when she heard something.

"HEY! WHO'S DOWN THERE!" she looked up and saw Mr. Cartwright in the window directly above her, and a chair was thrown down. It hit Bones in the face, and Katniss took that chance to run away from him. She had to hold her dress together at the top, but she ran as fast as she could through town. And she had no idea where she was going. She just had to hide. She thought about going to the woods. But she would be too exposed running through an open field if she did that.

She didn't mean to, but she ended up in the back of the Bakery. "Peeta," she cried. She covered her mouth, hoping that Bones wasn't close enough to hear her. She ran to the back door and rang the bell. She was terrified that his mother would answer the door and send her away, but then remembered Madge telling her that his parents were with his uncle.

She rang the bell again and frantically looked around. Could Bones hear the bell? It wasn't exactly loud, but it was so quiet outside. She rang the bell again. "Oh, please Peeta be home," she whispered. What if Bones was close?

The door suddenly opened and Peeta's eyes widened and stood still. "Katniss?" she stood there crying, and he jumped and yanked her into the house and shut the door. "Katniss what happened to you?" he asked. She couldn't talk. She just sobbed and he grabbed her. She was trying to be quiet. What if he was outside and could hear her sobbing.

"He could be outside," she cried. Peeta looked out the window. She heard footsteps and saw his brothers come down the stairs. One of them had turned the light on and she gasped. "No turn it off," she cried. Peeta jumped and turned the light back off.

"What's going on?" Wheet asked frantically.

"I don't know where he is. He was chasing me," she cried.

"Who's chasing you?" Rye asked.

"Bones," Peeta gritted through his teeth. He knew this had to be Bones. How did he get to her? She had been walking home with Gale. Did he abandon her? He highly doubted that Gale would ever do that.

"What if he's outside?" Katniss sobbed. Peeta pulled Katniss back to her chest.

"It's ok Katniss. He can't do anything here. There's three of us, and only one of him," Peeta told her, trying to calm her.

"And we're on the wrestling team. He wouldn't stand a chance against us," Rye said as he grabbed a chair and stuck it under the doorknob and testing the door to make sure it couldn't open.

"Don't worry Katniss. He won't be stupid enough to try anything here," Wheet said, and grabbed some muffin tins and bowls and placed them on the long table below the back window. Peeta knew what they were doing. The three of them always did this to get the two of them in trouble. Rye and Wheet liked to sneak out of the Bakery at night and meet girls. So, with Peeta's help, they'd booby trap the windows and doors so the other would get caught. It worked like charm. Until they started getting too good and worked on avoiding making noise.

Peeta pulled back and cupped her cheek. "Katniss you're safe here with me. He can't get into the Bakery," Peeta told her. She shook in his arms, holding tight to her dress that he just now realized was ripped. Bones had yanked it apart, pulling the buttons off. But it had also ripped at the neck, and her right shoulder was exposed and the material was behind her shoulder.

"Come on. I'll take you upstairs and I'll clean you up," he said. He didn't know where she was bleeding on her face from. He hugged her to him and helped her up the stairs. Down the hall and into the bathroom. "Here sit down," he told her softly and helped her sit down on the toilet.

He grabbed the First Aid kid and some wash clothes and ran them under the water, and knelt down in front of her. He started by washing away some of the blood and dirt from her face. She had bruises forming on her cheeks where he must have hit her. One of her eyes was slightly swollen. The blood was coming from her lip and her forehead.

"This is gonna sting," he told her. But she didn't even react to it. She just shook uncontrollably. "It's ok Katniss. I have you. You're safe here with me, ok?" he said. She cried and nodded her head.

He moved down to her neck and gulped. He didn't want Katniss to realize that his own hand had started to shake. He saw bruise marks on her neck. He tried to choke her. He shook his head and wiped off her neck. He could see another scrape on her chest, and he cleared his throat. "I have to move your dress a little. I don't know how far this cut goes," he told her softly. She nodded and let him hold the material. It was a long scrape. It went from her collarbone to the middle of her breasts.

He gulped and then started washing it, and then disinfecting it like he did to her face. When he was done, he handed it back to her to hold.

"We're good downstairs. And he's not out there. He has no idea that you're here," Rye said. Katniss' shoulders just shook.

"What can we do?" Wheet asked Peeta.

"Can you get me some clothes of mine from our room for her to wear. She can't wear any of this," Peeta said. They nodded and left the bathroom.

He grabbed a wet washcloth again to wash her hands and arms and realized that she was favoring her right wrist. "Does your hand hurt?" he asked shakily. She nodded her head. He held his hand out.

"Let me look at it," he whispered. She shook as she handed her wrist to him, and he oh so gently washed her hand and up to her arm. Bruises all over both hands, and up both arms.

He moved down and could see that there was another big rip in her dress and saw some bruises on her leg from where he grabbed her, and then looked at her feet. They were filthy.

So, he went to work on washing her feet. "Here, just turn this way," he said. He turned her so she was still sitting on the toilet, but her legs were in the bathtub. He got the water to the right temperature and got into the bathtub and squatted down and started washing the dirt off her feet. She leaned forward slightly and covered her face, while trying to hold her dress together and just cried.

"It's ok Katniss," he said and cupped her head. After a few minutes her feet were clean, and he hopped out and turned her again and started drying her off.

"We didn't know what she wanted to wear," Wheet said as him and Rye came in with a lot of different items of Peeta's clothes. Pajama pants, boxer shorts, socks, a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a sweater and a hoodie.

"This is good. Thank you…" he looked back over at Katniss. She just kept shaking, and his heart was just breaking. He looked back at his brothers. "Can you just close the door?" he asked. They nodded and shut the door behind them. "I have a lot of different things for you to wear," he said.

"I'm so cold," she cried.

"Ok. That's ok. You can put on lighter layers under the heavy stuff," Peeta told her. He looked at her, and realized she wasn't moving. "Um…Katniss. I can help you change. If you want me to," he said. She started crying and leaned forward, falling on his shoulder. All he could do was hold her.

"I know. It's ok. You're safe with me here," he just had to keep reminding her. "Let's just get you changed ok," he said.

He nudged her to sit back up and pursed his lips, thinking of how to maneuver her. "Ok. Just hold your dress. I'm gonna um…unsnap your bra," he said uncomfortably. She held the front of her dress, and he stood up and went beside her to pull down the back of her dress and expose her bra, unsnapping it. He went back and knelt down maneuvered her right hand to hold onto the dress, while he slipped her left strap down her arm.

"Ok. I can put this shirt on and then you can let your dress fall down," he told her. She nodded her head, and he helped pull her head through, and carefully maneuvered both arms through. He reached under and pulled her bra out from under the shirt. He grabbed his shorts and put her feet through and started pulling them up her legs. Her dress was torn around her legs and moved the dress to far to the right and exposed her slightly. He could see some of her dark hair and realized, she had no panties on.

He felt the bile creeping up his throat and had to breath through his nose and out his mouth to calm down. Her took her panties off.

He helped her sit up slightly to pull the boxers up the rest of the way. He put socks on her feet, and his pajama pants on and then pulled his hoodie over her head. "There. You'll feel better now that you're all clean and you've changed clothes,"

He knew that wasn't true, but he had to try. He helped stand her up, and just held her. He gulped back a sob that wanted to come up. "Katniss," he whispered. She didn't say anything. "You don't have…" how could he word this. How could he ask her this.

"Your panties…they're gone," he told her. He felt her tense. And he felt tears spring to his eyes. He pulled her back to look at him. "Katniss…did he rape you?" he whispered. She let out a sob.

"He tried. He touched my stomach with it. I felt it on my stomach," she sobbed. Oh, thank God. He didn't hurt her. He pulled her to him.

"Shh it's ok sweetheart," he told her. He kissed the top of her head. "Come on. You can sleep in my bed," she sobbed and shook her head. "No Katniss. You need to lay down and you need to calm yourself down. Try and sleep," he told her gently, and led her out of the bathroom.

His brothers were in the hallways, and they could see it on their faces. They heard everything. "I'll sleep in his room," Rye said, pointing to Wheet. Peeta nodded and hugged her to him.

"Come on. I'll take you to bed," he told her and guided Katniss to her room. He shut the door behind him and brought him over to his bed. Rye's was next to his, barely two feet away. "Alright Katniss. Let's just lay down ok. We'll get you settled in, and I'm gonna be right over here in my brother bed- "

She grabbed onto him tightly suddenly and started sobbing. "No please no Peeta. Please don't leave me. Stay with me," she cried, gripping on tightly to his shirt.

"Shhh Katniss it's ok. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere," he said and rocked her.

"Please Peeta. Stay with me," she cried. He kissed her temple.

"Always," he whispered. He helped her lay in bed and laid down with her. He had no idea how they were going to lay together, but it just came naturally. Like they had shraed a bed a million times before. No awkwardness. She laid her head down on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin.

"It's ok sweetheart. Just let it out. It's just you and me, and you can just cry and get it all out," he told her as she started crying. He ran his hand up and down her back. "He didn't do it Katniss. You got away from him before he could take anything from you," he whispered to her.

She got away, before he could take her innocence away from her. She got away before he could take her virginity away from her. His body had been pumping on adrenaline since he saw her on his back porch. Just doing what needed to be done. Focusing on the task at hand. But now, he was laying down. Only his hands were moving. Now, he realized what happened.

Bones had hit Katniss. Pinned her to a wall. Ripped her dress. Ripped her bra. Took her panties off. She said she could feel his skin on her stomach. So, he was close enough to be inside her. He was moments away of stealing her virginity. It would have broken her. It would have killed everything inside of Katniss, if Bones had penetrated her body. If he had violated her body.

"How did you get away Katniss?" he asked her.

"Mr. Cartwright heard us. He threw a chair down," Katniss cried. Peeta knew what the alley looked like. Delly's dad must have heard something and saw what was happening and threw the chair to give Katniss a chance to get away.

"Did he see you?" Peeta asked. Katniss shook her head.

"It was too dark," he just kept rubbing his arms up and down.

"It's ok. You got away from him. That's all that matters," he said and kissed the top of her head.

"He said at school…" she whispered and fisted Peeta's shirt into her left hand. Peeta caressed her cheek.

"It's ok. It's just me Katniss. You can tell me anything. Tell me exactly what he said," Peeta told her.

"That he's always wanted me, but Gale was always around. But since he had to have a wife he was gonna get inside me pants. And that every time he saw me, I got his dick hard," she whispered and started crying. That damn bastard. She started shaking again. "He told me he was going to take me to the slag heap tonight. That we were gonna sneak out the back door and he was gonna show me what a real man could do. That he'd make me woman tonight," she cried.

That made him sick. "No Katniss. You are a real woman. He's not a real man at all," he told her.

"He told me he was gonna fuck me so hard and take my little cherry and make me bleed all over his dick," she sobbed. He felt bile in his throat. He wanted to puke. He wanted to make Katniss bleed?

"He told me that I was his, and to prove it, he was gonna fuck me and put a baby inside me and basically claim me so no one else could have me," she sobbed. He shot up, pulling Katniss with him.

"No Katniss. He won't be able to get you pregnant. I won't let him have you. He can't have you, do you understand me?" he told her. She just cried and he pulled her to his shoulder. "No Katniss. None of that will happen. I won't let you get stuck with him. Ever. I'll protect you from him," Katniss wrapped her arms around his chest and grabbed onto his shoulder from behind.

"How? He said I'm the one he wants," she cried.

"It doesn't matter what he wants. He can't have you. I'll protect you. And Gale won't let anything happen to you. Neither will Haymitch. I promise baby, I'll protect you from him. I swear it Katniss," he told her as he rocked her back and forth like a baby.

"He was so close to me. It was touching my stomach. He pulled it out and I could feel it. He was going to put it inside me," she whispered into his ear. He squeezed her tighter.

"He can't have you like that Katniss. I won't let him. Ever," he whispered and kissed her cheek and buried his own face in her neck. She smelled like his vanilla soap. He let tears escape his eyes. Just one second, and he could have hurt her permanently. Only one second. This poor girl. He couldn't stand that Bones had gotten this close to her. He couldn't stand knowing that that scum of the earth laid a hand on her. Threatened her with disgusting words.

"I'm so sorry Katniss," he whispered into his neck. He eventually got her to lay down again, and she buried her face in his neck as she cried. "Shhh. You're ok now sweetheart. I got you. You're safe with me," he reminded her. Her crying started to slow down, and so did her breathing. She mumbled something into his neck as she was about to fall asleep.

"What?" he whispered. She pulled back slightly.

"You smell like cinnamon," she drowsily said, and fell asleep. Katniss Everdeen was sound asleep, in his bed, and in his arms.

He didn't sleep much that night. He stole moments here and there. But Katniss would whimper in her sleep, and he would sooth her back into a dreamless sleep. She woke up at one time sweating. "I can't breathe," she whispered.

"You're just too hot. Let me just help you take some of this off," he told her. He carefully helped her out of his hoodie, and then pulled the blankets off of her and pulled his socks off. "Want to take my pajama pants off? You have some shorts on underneath," he asked her. She nodded her head, and he moved and slid his pajama pants down her legs and laid back down.

"There. Is that cooler?" he asked her. She nodded her head and fell back to sleep shortly after that.

It was 4:00 am when he heard his brothers moving around. They didn't bother him though, but he could hear them in the hallway. They were there for a bit longer than normal, so he knew they were trying to decide if they should come in or not. He couldn't exactly talk to him, not with Katniss sleeping on his chest.

But it was Katniss that started to stir. When she opened her eyes, she looked around and startled awake. "Hey, hey, hey. It's ok. It's just me," he whispered to her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "There you go. You're alright. You're safe with me," he told her. He helped her sit up and she held his shirt tightly with her good hand. He reached over to his bedside lamp and turned it on low.

"Can I see your hand?" he asked her gently. She nodded her head and handed it to him. He examined it. He was no expert, but it was obvious that her hand was swollen. "Your moms gonna have to take a look at this," he told her. She tucked her lips into her mouth and turned her head. Tears welled up and he brushed the tears away.

"I'm so sorry that this happened to you Katniss," she nodded her head, and he cupped her cheek and turned her head to look at him. "I promise you Katniss. I won't let him hurt you again. And I know that Gale or Haymitch won't either. We'll protect you," he told her. She took a deep breath and nodded her head. He pulled her to his chest again.

"Thank you," she whispered. He let out a shaky breath.

"Thank you for coming to me," he told her and kissed the top of her head. He heard the bathroom flush and knew that his brothers still hadn't gone downstairs to start on anything. "Why don't I make you some breakfast. And then I can walk you home," Peeta said. Katniss pulled back and stared at him in fear.

"What am I supposed to tell my mom? Prim can't see me like this. I was trying to catch Lady. That's why I was out. I have to find her," he put his hands on her shoulders. He wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about. He knew who Lady was because he had seen Katniss and Prim walking with her, talking to her.

"Hey, hey, hey. Just take a minute and catch your breath," he told her. She covered her face with her good hand. "Katniss, you can't lie to your mom. She has to know the truth about what happened to you,"

"But Prim," she whispered.

"It's ok. Prim's a strong girl. And she loves and adores you. She's going to be ok. Your mom will know exactly what to tell her," Peeta told her. She picked her head up, and more tears fell. "I can help you. I can stay with you when you tell your mom. I can help you tell her, "She just stared at him then. His breath caught in his mouth. Her face was swollen and bruised. It made his heart sad.

"Why would you wanna do that?" she whispered. He chuckled softly.

"Well…I've kinda been in love with you…since the first day of Kindergarten," he chuckled, and could feel his face heat up from blushing. Hey eyes widened a little.

"You have?" she asked. He nodded his head.

"Yeah. I have," he said and ran a hand through his hair and the back of his neck, squeezing it. He chanced a look at her. She was staring at him in awe. "That's why I burnt that bread when you were 11…so I could give it to you to eat," he admitted. Her mouth opened slightly.

"You did that on purpose?" she barely whispered. A tear fell down her face, and he nodded. "I thought I was gonna die that day," she cried and wiped her face.

"I gave up that day…but you saved my life that day," she cried, and before he could say anything, she leaned forward and wrapped her good arm around him and cried into his neck. He wrapped both of his arms around her waist, being careful of her hurt arm that was between them.

"You became my hero that that," she cried. He gulped. He was someone's hero? He was her hero? He was speechless. He didn't even know how to respond to her. She pulled back and stared at him. "Thank you for saving my life that day," he wouldn't have heard her had she not been inches from his face.

He didn't get a chance to respond, because one of his brothers knocked on his door. They moved slightly apart as Wheet opened the door. "Hey. I heard some whispering in here," Wheet said as he stepped in. Peeta could see Rye peaking his head over his shoulder.

"Is she ok?" Rye asked Wheet.

"She's going to be fine. I'm gonna make her some breakfast and then take her home," Peeta said.

"Ok. We'll just go downstairs," Wheet said and made his way out of the room, bumping into Rye. Peeta moved around and off the bed and held his hand out to her for her to take. He guided her to the bathroom, each taking a turn. When he came out, he finally realized, she was wearing his clothes. He warned himself not to go and get all hot and bothered by this. Now was NOT the time for that.

He guided her downstairs and into the kitchen. "Would you like some cheese buns?" Peeta asked. Katniss tilted her head.

"I um…I've never had them before," she said. Peeta smiled at her.

"Let me make you some. Just sit right here," Peeta said and had her sit at the table. He went and grabbed a bag and put some ice in it and then wrapped a cloth around it and came back over and situated her wrist on the table. "We probably should have done this last night to help with the swelling. But just hold it on there for me," Peeta said. Katniss smiled and nodded her head.

She just sat there and watched him as Peeta made cheese buns. It made Peeta blush, knowing she was watching him the whole time. He walked into the cooler at one point and was in there for a minute, and when he came out, she was nervously shaking her leg, but when he came back out, she let out a sigh of relief. He realized what had happened. He walked out of her sight, and she was scared. He needed something out of the cooler again, but this time just asked Wheet to get it for him, so he wouldn't leave Katniss' sight.

Once the cheese buns were done, and out of the oven, he walked over and sat down next to her, and placed a steaming hot cheese bun on her plate. "Now be careful. They're really hot," Peeta said. She nodded and leaned over her plate for about a minute, blowing on her plate. She then picked it up and took a bite. She sat back and closed her eyes and moaned. He thought the big smile would crack his face. Just watching her enjoy the cheese bun made his whole day better.

"You like it?" he asked. She opened her eyes and blushed and put the cheese bun down. She swallowed and chuckled.

"Um yes. It's the best thing I've ever eaten," she told him. He smiled brightly.

"Well, I made plenty. I can send you home with the whole batch," Peeta said. She sat up and shook her head.

"No Peeta, I couldn't let you do that," she protested, but he put his finger to her lips, silencing her.

"You're not letting me do anything. I'm just doing it because I want to," he told her. She smiled and he pulled his finger back. She nodded her head.

"Thank you," she whispered. She ended up eating four cheese buns before she said she was full, and he wrapped up the rest.

"I should take Katniss back home now," Peeta said to his brothers. They stopped what they were doing and walked over to the counter where was packing up her cheese buns.

"I have to go find Lady," Katniss said. They all looked at her.

"Who's Lady?" Rye asked.

"Her sister's goat," Peeta told them.

"Lady got out last night. That's why I was out. I was chasing her. I can't go home without her. Prim will be crushed if she's missing," Katniss said sadly. The boys just looked at each other.

"We can go look for her," Wheet said. All three of them looked at Wheet. "If she's really that important, we can go ask around cause maybe someone's seen her," Wheet suggested. Rye nodded his head.

"Yeah. It shouldn't be too hard to find a goat, right?" Rye asked.

"But you have to open the Bakery," Katniss said. Wheet and Rye waved their hands at her.

"We can open up once we find her. Besides, we can just tell my mom that we ate some bad food that Peeta brought home from the dance last night and we were puking and shitting our brains out all night. She can't do much with food poisoning," Rye said, and smiled brightly. Wheet snorted and shook his head.

"Are you sure?" Peeta asked. They nodded their heads.

"Yeah, it's totally fine. Can we bribe her with anything?" Wheet asked. Katniss nodded her head.

"She loves apples. They're her favorite," Katniss said. Their eyes lit up.

"We have those. This'll be easy," Rye said and smiled.

"Thank you," she told them. "She has a bell on and a pink ribbon. And she probably still has the damn rope tied to her," she said and rolled her eyes, making them chuckle.

The boys started switching their shoes to put on some rain boots. It was a rainy day. "I don't have any shoes," Katniss said to Peeta when he walked over to her and put the Tupperware container down in front of her.

"I'm sure I have some old rainboots upstairs somewhere. Come on," Peeta said and guided her upstairs.