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?

3. Chapter 3

Peeta did find some rain boots that he outgrew, that fit Katniss like a glove. He had her put his pajama pants and hoodie back on. It was a chilly and rainy morning. It wasn't raining hard, just drizzling by the time they made it outside. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder, and he carried the cheese buns in the other and walked home with her.

It was only a little bit before 5:00 am on a Saturday. Barely anyone was outside, which he was sure suited Katniss just fine. He knew she didn't want anyone to look at her. Walking around at 5:00 in the morning, wearing a boy's clothes. It didn't look well at all.

When they got to her house, Katniss stopped on the front doorstep and started shaking. "Hey, it's ok," Peeta said soothingly and pulled her to his chest. "It's gonna be ok. I'm here. I can tell your mom," Peeta told her. She started crying on his shoulder.

"You're ok Katniss. You're safe here with me. At your house," he told her and pulled back. He wiped the tears from her face and nodded his head. She turned and put her hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.

He followed her inside the house and wondered if Katniss would have to go and wake her mother up or would they just wait somewhere in the house for her? And what exactly was he going to even tell her mother? Would she automatically assume that they've done something, seeing as how she's wearing his clothes? At 5:00 in the morning?

"Katniss?" He heard her mother say. Katniss and Peeta were taking off their rain boots when the hall light went on. "Did you just get in? I saw my shoes by the door, I thought you were sleeping," her mother said.

They all adjusted to the light, and her mother stepped closer and then gasped. "Katniss what happened to you," she said, covering her mouth.

"I…I…" Katniss couldn't say anything.

"Can you look at her wrist?" Peeta asked softly. Katniss mother startled, as she must have just realized he was there. Katniss and her mother just looked at one another, not moving. Neither knowing what to say. "We can go sit on the couch," he suggest softly.

Her mother nodded and they followed her to sit on the ratty, small couch. All three squeezed together with Katniss in the middle. Her mother took Katniss' wrist, and she hissed as her mother examined it. Peeta knew her mother saw the bruises, because she covered her mouth, and tears sprang to her eyes.

"What happened?" Her mother shakily asked. Katniss covered her face with her good hand and started crying.

"After Gale walked her home, Lady got out," Peeta told her. Her mom turned her head to the backyard but then looked back at Peeta. "Katniss went chasing after her and made it all the way to town," he trailed off and Katniss let out a sob. Katniss' mother covered her face, afraid of Peeta's next words.

"He attacked her in the alley at the Cartwright's," Peeta whispered. Katniss' mom let out her own sob and pulled Katniss to her shoulder and Katniss started crying.

"Did anyone see him?" her mother asked. Peeta knew why she asked. They needed proof. The Peacekeepers don't do anything unless there's solid evidence.

"Katniss doesn't think so," he said sadly. "But I can go and talk to Mr. Cartwright and ask him," he promised.

Katniss' mom opened her mouth to say something, but then shut it. She had a hard time clearing her throat. "Did he..." she choked up, not being able to finish the sentence.

"No," he quickly said. "Mr. Cartwright threw a chair down, and Katniss was able to get away," he told her.

"Oh, thank God," she sobbed and hugged Katniss tighter to her. It broke his heart watching the two of them.

"He almost did. He was about to. He…it was out," she sobbed.

"The important thing is that he didn't Katniss. Shh, you're ok now. Your home," her mother said, rocking her. Peeta looked up suddenly, and saw Gale's little brother standing there, startling Peeta.

"Is she ok?" he asked. Katniss' mother looked towards him.

"Go get your mom, and then go get Gale," she told him. He nodded his head and ran over to the door and start putting on his shoes. He had to of slept here. But why? "Then go get Haymitch," she said.

"I'll be back soon," he said, and ran out of the house.

"I can go get- "Peeta tried to say, but Katniss jumped from her mother's arms and spun around.

"No. Please don't leave," Katniss sobbed. She fell into his arms, startling both him and her mother. She eyed them carefully. He wrapped his arms around her.

"It's ok. I'll stay here. I won't leave," he promised her. They stayed like that for a few moments before her mother cleared her throat.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" she asked Katniss. She sat up and turned to her mom.

"My face, and I have bruises," she said and looked down at her arms.

"Where else?" she asked. Katniss was silent and couldn't answer.

"He um…he grabbed her around her neck," Peeta said, and gently moved the hood of his sweatshirt to show her mom one of the bruises, making her mom gasp. He let it go and gulped. He had his hands on her throat, choking her.

"She has bruises…there and on her arms. I think I saw part of a bruise on her back…and on her legs. And she has a long cut…" he said uncomfortably and made a mark on his own chest to show her where Katniss' cut was. He avoided the gaze of Mrs. Everdeen. He shouldn't have seen that much of her. But what was he supposed to do last night? He had to help her.

"What hurts?" she asked Katniss.

"Everything. I hurt all over mom," she whispered and started crying again. She pulled her back to her and rocked Katniss.

"I know Katniss. It's ok. You're safe at home now," she said, letting Katniss cry on her shoulder. The three of them just sat in silence for a while. He went over everything in detail in his head, from the moment he heard the bell ringing. His heart stopped when he realized it was Katniss and felt his heart freeze when he saw her bloody and bruised face. He didn't even think before he grabbed her and yanked her into the Bakery.

He wiped at his eyes before his they fully teared up. He hadn't let Katniss see him cry, and he didn't intend on letting anyone see him cry. He wanted to be strong for her. She wanted him to stay, and it warmed his whole body.

They turned to look at the door as it opened. It was Gale's mom carrying his other brother. And then the one who went and got her, was carrying the littlest sister. "You can put them in Katniss' bed," her mother told them. They carried the kids across the room silently and were back a moment later. Gale's mom came right over and bent down, putting her cheek on Katniss' face.

"You can have my seat," Peeta said, going to stand up, but his mom shook her head.

"No, it's ok," she looked back at her son. "Go get Gale and Haymitch," she told him. He nodded his head and ran out of the house.

"Are you ok?" she asked Katniss. But she just shook her head. Gale's mom looked teared up, and then she looked to Katniss' mom. "Did he?..." she trailed off.

"No. Mr. Cartwright ran him off before he could," her mom whispered, making Katniss choke out a small cry. Mrs. Hawthorne put her hand on Katniss' arm.

"I'm gonna make some tea," she said and stood up and went into the kitchen.

"Did you sleep?" Katniss' mother asked.

"Not soundly. She wouldn't sleep long, and kept on waking back up," Peeta said. Both women eyed him again, and he blushed and cleared his throat. He didn't want to go into detail of how he undressed her, and Katniss slept in his bed with him.

"Put some sleeping syrup in it," her mother said. Katniss pulled back.

"No please mom. I don't want to get stuck in a dream. I can't pull myself out of that whenever I've taken it. Please don't make me take that," Katniss cried.

"Katniss you need to sleep. It's the best thing for you-"but Katniss just sank back, falling right back into Peeta. She trembled and shook her head.

"No. I'm not taking that. I'm not taking that mom," she cried. Peeta put his hands on her arms.

"Hey it's ok. Just calm down," he told her softly. She covered her face. "Your moms right. Sleep will help you," Peeta told her. She hissed as she moved her wrist when trying to cover more of her face.

"I'm gonna get something to wrap your hand up," her mom said and got up. Katniss turned back to him and cried on his shoulder.

"Please don't go Peeta," she whispered in his ear. He sighed and leaned into her.

"I have nowhere else to be today," he told her, kissing her temple. Katniss' mother came back and sat down next to her.

"Let me see your hand," she said. Katniss turned her body, still leaning into Peeta, but she stretched out her arm to her mother. Her mom worked on wrapping her wrist up, and as soon as she was done Gale burst through the front door and went running over to kneel down in front of her.

"God Katniss are you ok? What happened?" he asked her frantically. "I walked you home. I waited till you were inside," he asked.

"Lady got out," she cried. Gale pulled his shoulders back, surprised by her answer.

"That's why you were outside? You shouldn't have left the house. You should have just let her run away-"

"I can't do that. You know that. She means everything to Prim," Katniss cried, getting herself all worked up about a goat. He squeezed her shoulder.

"Hey it's ok. They know how you feel about Prim. It's ok," Peeta told her. Gale must have just realized he was there too, because when Peeta spoke, he almost seemed startled.

"Wait, what are you doing here?" Gale asked.

"She came to the bakery last night," Peeta said. Gale looked down at her, and his face softened. He went to take Katniss' hand but pulled back when he saw there was a bandage around it. He gulped as he stared at her hand, and then looked back up at Peeta.

"What did he do?" he whispered. He knew Gale was trying to stay calm, but his face was turning red with anger.

"I don't want to keep hearing the story," Katniss yelled.

"Hey, hey, hey it's ok. We don't have to tell it again. It's ok Katniss," Peeta soothed her, rubbing her arm up and down. Gale looked at him and then sat back, just staring at Katniss. Peeta felt bad for him. He looked helpless.

"I should have just stayed here last night," Gale said.

"It's not your fault," Peeta said instantly.

"He's right. He's an evil person," Katniss' mother choked up. Gale stood up and walked over to her and hugged her. He felt terrible for the both of them. They were both helpless and feeling guilty. Peeta could understand. He wanted to follow Katniss and Gale last night and stay in the shadows, watching Katniss' house. But he thought it was stupid and made him seem like a stalker. He didn't want to scare anyone. He should have just done it. He should have gone with his gut instinct. He was way too close to Katniss last night.

Gale's brother came back in then. "Rory, where's Haymitch?" Gale's mother asked as he shut the door. Rory. That's his name. He realized he didn't know anyone else's names.

"He's coming," Rory said and went into the kitchen and sat at the table. Mrs. Hawthorne came in with a cup for Katniss.

"Here darling, drink this," she said. Katniss shook her head.

"I'm not drinking that and being stuck in a nightmare," Katniss cried.

"I only put a tiny amount. It will just help calm you and relax you. I didn't put enough in to make you fall asleep. I promise honey," she said. Katniss good hand was still wrapped in Peeta's shirt, so he leaned forward and took the cup, and put it in front of his chest.

"Just try it. It's gonna help you relax. You just need to be able to calm your nerves Katniss," he wanted kiss her like he did last night. He wanted to hold her like he did last night. But he knew it was inappropriate with her family there. It was probably inappropriate last night to. Undressing her and having her sleep in his bed. But she came to him for comfort. For safety. He couldn't abandon her.

Katniss took the teacup and sipped it. "See. You can't even taste it can you?" He asked her. She shook her head and leaned back into him.

He could feel everyone's eyes on him as he held her. He was basically this stranger to them, and now here he was, intruding on a personal family member, and she only wanted to be held by him. She said he was her hero that morning. And he wanted to live up to that title. He told her he'd protect her. And he would take care of her… as long as she wants him to.

Haymitch came in then. He never really had too much interaction with Haymitch Abernathy. Just when he'd come into the bakery. He liked his dad, and he was always nice (as nice as Haymitch could be) to him and his brothers. But he was rude to his mother. But in Haymitch's defense, Haymitch was born and raised in the Seam, and she never let him forget it. She was always mean and cruel to anyone who lived in the Seam. But he was above her. He didn't care what she thought.

Haymitch had walked in with Johanna. "What is she doing here?" Gale demanded. Haymitch waved him off. Johanna looked terrible.

Haymitch came over and sat on Katniss' other side and put his hand on her shoulder. "What did the little fucker do?" Haymitch demanded. Katniss shook her head, and she buried her face in Peeta's neck. He grabbed the teacup before she dropped it, and Gale took it from him.

"She doesn't want to keep repeating the story," Gale said. He looked over at Johanna. "You know this is your fault, right? Haymitch warned you not to set him up with Katniss- "

"Gale shut up. You don't know what you're talking about. So, keep your mouth shut and let her talk," Haymitch told him. Gale gulped. Johanna walked forward with a piece of paper in her hand.

"I've been at my house sick the past few days. I ate some wild dog stew from the Hob, and I've been sick ever since. So, I told the counselors to just pair up my girls and sign off on them themselves," Johanna said. Katniss picked her head up and looked at her, and Johanna's face softened once she saw the bruises, cuts, and Katniss' swollen face. Johanna looked at her hands.

"I've been trying to avoid setting up any of my girls with him. But Haymitch specifically asked me not to put him with you. And I wouldn't have done that," Johanna said. She unfolded her piece of paper and held it out for Katniss to see. "It's a referral paper. I was just gonna scare you into thinking I was reporting you," Johanna said. Everyone was quiet.

"I wasn't even going to send it in. It was just to set a fire under your ass for not going to our meetings and fighting with me," Johanna said. Haymitch nodded his head, and she folded the paper back up.

"I never would have crossed a line like that with you, or Haymitch or any of my girls. I wouldn't punish a girl by setting him up with one of my girls. Especially you. You mean so much to Haymitch. And I'd do anything for any Victor when it comes to protecting their family. Some of us don't have any," she said and looked down and ripped up the paper.

"Ok," Katniss whispered. Johanna nodded her head.

"Now if you don't mind, I'm going to back home and puke my guts up," she grumbled and stomped out the door. Gale handed the tea back to Peeta who took it and gave it back to Katniss to drink. Haymitch turned to Mrs. Everdeen.

"I can't get anything too fancy. But we'll have someone come in and install these little alarms on the door and the windows. They'll be hard to break open," Haymitch said. He looked back at Katniss. "And you're gonna have to stay out of the woods for a while Sweetheart," he told her. She closed her eyes and let the tears fall.

"Hey it's ok. When I have days off, you and me, we'll go out there together. Like always. You just…can't go by yourself anymore," Gale said sadly.

"And how long will I have to have a babysitter?" she asked sadly. No one answered her. Until Bones gave up. No one tried to give him a reaction to things. Because he'd get bored and lose interest. But if you put up any type of fight, it does something to Bones' brain. Trouble makes it an obsession for him. And Katniss just made herself the most exciting game ever to him.

"Katniss. Why don't you come into my room, and I'll check you out," her mother said.

"And I can start a bath for you," Mrs. Hawthorne said. Katniss just looked at her mom but didn't move. Peeta didn't want to let her go. He wanted to hold her in his arms all day, but he knew it was better that way.

"I'm sure you'll feel better," Peeta told her. She nodded her head and sat up slowly. Gale reached out and took the teacup again. Peeta helped her stand up and guided her over to her mother.

"Come on sweetheart," Mrs. Everdeen reached out for her and started guiding her to her bedroom. Peeta looked over at Gale.

"I'm gonna go talk to Mr. Cartwright- "

"You're leaving?" Katniss asked frantically as she spun around. Everyone looked at Peeta. He cleared his throat.

"I'll come back if you want. But I wanna talk with Delly's dad. And then check in with my brothers. Help them find Lady," Peeta said. Katniss looked down and then nodded her head.

"Please find her," Katniss whispered. Peeta nodded his head, and Katniss' mom guided her back into her room. As soon as the door was shut, Haymitch and Gale turned to him.

"Ok kid. Tell us what happened," Haymitch said to him. Peeta let out a deep sigh and sat back down on the couch.

"I don't know every single detail. But after you dropped her off," Peeta said, looking at Gale. "Lady got out, so she chased her into town. Bones attacked her in the alleyway next to the Cartwright's store," Peeta told them.

"How bad did he attack her?" Haymitch asked. Peeta looked down at his hands.

"She has a lot of other bruises that you can't see…like on her back. And her arms and wrists…and on her neck," he whispered. He scrubbed his face. "She has a deep, long scratch on her chest. And she has bruises on her thighs," he whispered. It was sickening remembering how badly hurt she is.

"Her dress was ripped. It was barely staying on her. And he ripped her strap," pointing to his shoulder, meaning her bra. He opened his mouth to speak again, but then closed it. He felt a lump in his throat, and he worked at clearing his throat. "She didn't have any underwear on," Peeta whispered. He dug his fingers into his eyes.

"He had ripped them off," he told them.

"Did he…Peeta did he rape her?" Haymitch asked, having his own hard time talking. But Peeta shook his head. He took a deep breath and sat back up. Peeta let out a sarcastic snarl.

"He was about to. Pulled himself out and everything and," he waved his hand in front of his stomach. "Put it on her," he said, feeling himself get sick.

"That fucking piece of shit," Gale gritted through his teeth.

"But Mr. Cartwright heard something and yelled down from his window. He threw something down and it hit Bones in the face. So, that was when Katniss ran away. And the bakery's around the corner, so she rang the doorbell…and I took care of her," Peeta said and looked down at his hands again.

"He said he's always wanted her," Peeta said roughly.

"When did he say that?" Gale asked.

"At the dance. She told me. He said all these sick things to her," Peeta said, shivering.

"I wanna know what he said to her. So, tell me, so I don't have to ask her," Haymitch said. Peeta nodded his head and repeated what he could remember.

"That she was a hot piece of ass, and his dick gets hard every time he sees her. He told her he was gonna take her to the slag heap last night and show her what a real man feels like, and he was gonna make her a woman and fuck her hard," Peeta said and shook his head. Putting his head in his hands.

"What else?" Haymitch demanded. Peeta cringed.

"He's gonna get inside her pants and take her cherry and make her bleed all over his dick," he choked then. Those words were going to haunt him. "He said she was his and that he was claiming her, and he couldn't wait to get inside her virgin pussy. He was gonna fuck her so hard and put a baby in her belly. God," he choked.

He jerked his head up at the commotion of Gale jumping up, with Haymitch right behind him, grabbing him. "Don't you fucking dare go after him," Haymitch told him.

"So, what are we supposed to do? Just let him go after her and actually get his way and rape her?" Gale demanded.

"You know what fucking with him, and his family will do. It'll cause all type of problems. One that some of the Peacekeepers don't care about,"

"Are we just supposed to stand here and let him torture her? We're just supposed to do nothing?" Gale demanded. Peeta could see how much he loved her. He understood how much Gale wanted to go find Bones and kill him, because it was how he felt.

"We protect her. That's what we do. But if we go over there, it's going to start a war, that we can't afford…do you think it's easy for me to stand here and say that?" Haymitch asked him as he let Gale go. "I wanna go right over there and kill him. But we can't. All we can do is protect her, and wait till he gets bored," Haymitch said, scrubbing his face. They stared at each other for a moment before Gale relented.

"Damnit!" Gale said, crossing his arms. Peeta stood up slowly and cleared his throat. He really felt like he was intruding on this family.

"I'm gonna go and talk to Mr. Cartwright and look around for Lady," Peeta said and started making his way to the door. Gale put his hand out to him.

"Thank you…for taking care of her," Gale whispered. Peeta smiled and shook his hand.

"You did good kid," Haymitch said from behind him. Peeta nodded. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want anyone thanking him for what he did last night. He didn't really do anything.

He walked over to the Cartwright's store and saw Delly and her dad behind the counter. He spoke with them about the night before. And of course, he didn't see anything. Only assumed it was Bones. But they were shocked to find out that it was Katniss. Delly started crying.

He went out after that and looked around for his brothers. He was all the way on the other side of District 12 when he saw her. She was just laying in a small field of grass. He knew it was her because of the pink ribbon. He didn't have any apples though.

He decided to walk normally and pretended he didn't see her. She wasn't even paying attention to him. She was just eating grass. He got up closer to her and walked even slower up to her. "Alright Lady. You've had your fun. But we need to take you back home now," Peeta said softly.

Lady looked up at him and stared. "You've started a lot of trouble with running away. And you need to come back with me so Katniss can stop worrying about you," he said as he took a few more steps, holding out his hands.

"You wanna see Prim, don't you?" he asked. It was like he said a magic word because she got all excited and jumped up and ran to him, licking him. He wasted no time and grabbed her rope. "Gotcha," he said. He patted her head.

"DAMNIT!" he heard Rye yell. He looked around and saw his brothers running up to him with apples in their hands.

"We've been chasing her all over," Wheet panted.

"How the hell did you catch her. You don't even have an apple," Rye said.

"I asked her if she wanted to see Prim," Peeta said. Their mouths fell open. Lady stepped towards them and moved her head towards the apples. Rye grabbed Wheet's and pulled his arms away.

"No fucking way goat. You get nothing. I'm eating these," Rye said and took a big bite out of one of his apples. Wheet grabbed the original one he was holding and took a bit out of it as well.

"Oh, that's real nice. Tease a goat," Peeta said as she tried to step towards them to get the apples.

"We've been running around all morning trying to get her. She did this to herself," Rye said and took another bite, trying to rub it in her face.

"How's Katniss?" Wheet asked. Peeta let out a deep breath.

"I don't know how she's gonna be," he said sadly.

"Did Bones actually?..." Rye tried to ask. Peeta shook his head.

"No. He didn't get the chance," Peeta said. His brothers nodded their heads in relief.

"Fucking scum bag," Rye said.

"Come on. Let's try and open this morning. See how much we can get done," Wheet told Rye.

"Katniss wants me to come back. I'll just drop Lady off- "

"Just stay with her," Wheet said. Peeta shook his head.

"I have to help you open,"

"It doesn't matter now," Rye laughed. "We're already a couple of hours behind. We'll just be open for a few hours today. Who cares. If mom finds out, then we'll stick with my food poisoning story. Just take this damn goat back," he said, waving the apple.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, just go back," Wheet said.

He was thankful for his brothers. He dreaded the thought of what would have happened if his mother had been home last night. She never would have allowed Katniss inside the bakery to hide from Bones.

Bones. He wanted to kill him for laying a hand on Katniss. All the nasty and degrading things he said to her. He was a vile, sickening monster. He wished he could go with Gale and kill him. He deserved nothing less than being buried ten feet underground.

Gale's the one that answered the door when Peeta came back and his eyes widened. "Prim," he called out. Prim was awake now. She was still in her pajamas, and her eyes were red. She was either crying about Lady, or they had told her what happened to Katniss, and she was crying over both.

Gale moved aside so she could see out the door. Her eyes widened. "LADY!" She cried and went running out the front door and hugged her goat.

"Oh, please don't run away again, please. Please don't make Katniss chase you again," she cried. That answered that question. She was told about what happened to Katniss. She looked up at Peeta.

"Oh, thank you for finding her," she cried and threw herself into his arms. He hugged her with one arm, has his other hand was still holding Lady.

"You're welcome, Prim," he said. He felt Gale take the rope.

"Looks like Peeta here is a two-time hero today," Gale said as he cupped Prim's head. Prim wiped at her eyes.

"Thank you Peeta. For everything," she whispered. Peeta smiled down at her.

"Come on Prim. Let's go tie her up. Make sure she can't get away again. Rory went and bought some new rope," Gale said as he led her around to the side of the house. Peeta felt awkward just standing on the front porch. Should he go back in? Katniss had wanted him there earlier, but did she feel like that?

"Well come in already," he heard Haymitch say. He cleared his throat and walked in. Katniss was laying on the couch. Her hair was wet from a bath, but it looked like she just put the same clothes back on. His clothes to be exact.

"Did she get any sleep?" Peeta asked softly. Haymitch shook his head. Peeta walked around and looked at her. She was staring at the wall, but her eyes moved up to see him.

"You found her?" She breathed. Peeta nodded his head. She went to sit up but hissed from her wrist.

"Let me help you," Peeta told her has he reached forward and helped her sit up. He barely had time to sit down on the couch before Katniss was hugging him.

"Thank you for finding her. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't catch her. Prim would be heartbroken," Katniss told him. He rubbed her back up and down.

"I told you I'd find her…and I told you I'd come back," he said. She pulled back and looked at him. Searching his face for something. She must have found whatever it was she was looking for, because she gave a light smile and leaned her body into his again.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," Peeta whispered back to her. She felt so good in his arms. She fit perfectly. Like she was made to be there. Like she was supposed to be there all along.

Everyone came back in the house then, and Prim walked over to the couch. "I'll let you sit down," Peeta made to stand up, but Katniss grabbed his shirt to keep him there.

"I'll just sit on this side," Prim said. So Peeta moved down to the other side, and Katniss followed while Prim sat down on the opposite side. Once Peeta was settled, Katniss pulled her feet up and curled into Peeta. He looked around, as her family watched the two of them. He could feel his face growing red again. He was terrified to know what they were thinking.

"I didn't know she was friends with the Mellark boys," Emily Everdeen whispered into the kitchen. Gale chuckled.

"Well, they might start being more than that. He came here the other day as her knight and shining armor to let her know that her boyfriend was cheating on her and making out with other girls," Gale snickered. Emily, Hazelle and Haymitch all looked at him.

"Katniss doesn't have a boyfriend," Emily said. Gale smiled brightly and nodded his head.

"That's why it's funny. Apparently, the gossip around town is that me and Katniss are boyfriend and girlfriend," he snorted.

"People in town think that? Just because you're always together?" Emily asked. Gale nodded his head. All of a sudden Hazelle hit his arm.

"What girls are you making out with?" She asked him. He glared at her.

"Wait. So that's what Finnick was rambling on about the other day?" Haymitch said and looked at the back of the couch, watching how Katniss curled into the boy. He turned back to the others. "Apparently that boy has been in love with her since he was five years old and wouldn't ask her out because that's what he thought, that you were together," Haymitch said. Gale laughed again.

"I told him to ask her out," Gale said and turned to Emily. "He's a really good guy. I mean, he valiantly came over here and tattled on me about betraying her. Even if I wasn't," he laughed. Hazelle hit his arm again. Emily turned to Haymitch.

"He is a good one Emily. And he's been in love with her for what, 11 years now?" Haymitch said.

"His mother though," Emily whispered.

"Yeah, the witch will be an issue. She doesn't like anyone from the Seam," Gale said. He looked up and realized all three adults were looking at him. "What?" He asked. They all looked at each other.

"When Emily was still a Merchant, she had been engaged to Peeta's father," Hazelle said. Gale's eyes widened and looked at Katniss' mother. The woman who was like a second mother to him.

"Katniss never told me that,"

"She doesn't know," Emily whispered.

"She broke it off to marry Charlie. And Bannock married the witch," Haymitch said, wrapping his arm around Emily's shoulder.

"She hates me because she blames me for Bannock never loving her," Emily said sadly and looked at the couch. "And she hates my girls. She hates the three of us, more than anyone else in the Seam," she said sadly.

"Well, I don't think you can convince him to keep hiding his feelings away anymore. He's kinda too attached already," Gale said as the four of them spoke softly, so the two on the couch wouldn't overhear them.

"Finnick told me last night that he was gonna give the boy a chance to ask her out, but then he was just gonna talk to Johanna about assigning them together," Haymitch told them.

"I don't want them just to be forced together. I want her to want him too," Emily whispered.

"Emily, she may be one of the lucky ones that does get what she wants," Haymitch told her. They looked back at her. "She has to feel something for him. She ran to him,"

"Maybe he can coax her into drinking more tea. She refused to touch it again since he left. He seemed to be the only one that could convince her to do anything," Hazelle said.

"I want her to eat something," Emily said. She grabbed the container that Peeta had in his hands earlier and walked over to the couch. "Katniss you need to eat darling," her mom whispered. Peeta smiled.

"She's asleep," Peeta told her. The others walked around and stopped and just stared at Katniss fast asleep.

"Her mom's been trying to get her to sleep since she took a bath," Gale said, astonished that she was finally sleeping. So, she did take a bath. And chose to put his clothes back on. He bit his lip to keep from smiling. He didn't know if he should read too much into that. But he couldn't help that he was. She wanted him close. And his stomach was in knots. She was wearing his clothes!

"Guess she doesn't need any sleeping syrup," Haymitch said dryly. Prim got up and went into Katniss' room and came back out with her blanket and put it over Katniss and then sat back down.

"Did you talk with Mr. Cartwright?" Haymitch asked. Peeta looked up at him sadly

"He never saw him. He couldn't tell who either of them were," Peeta said, looking back down at the top of Katniss' head.

"Come on you two," Peeta looked up at Haymitch. He was talking to Gale and Rory. "They're gonna help me with something. We'll be back later," Haymitch told them. Gale and Rory followed Haymitch out without a word.

Gale's little brother and sister woke up and came out of Katniss' bedroom. He figured out that their names were Vick and Posy. They were sweet and well mannered. Katniss' family made him feel welcomed. Prim engaged him in lots of conversation, for which he was thankful for. Vick and Posy seemed a little nervous about him at first. He figured it was because they knew he was from town. But once Prim started having him talk all about cookies, cupcakes and cakes, Vick and Posy joined in.

Mrs. Hawthorne engaged him in conversation, and he could read it very easily what she was doing. To get to know him, for Katniss' mom, who was unsure of him. He understood why. This boy who had never hung out with her daughter, was in her house, and her daughter was clinging to him. So, he tried everything he could to set their minds at ease.

Haymitch, Gale and Rory came back close to dinner time with bags from town. Peeta figured Haymitch bought whatever was in the bags. "She's still sleeping?" Gale asked, peaking over the couch.

"She hasn't even moved," Peeta said.

"Don't you have to pee?" Rory asked. Hazelle huffed while Gale and Haymitch laughed and brought the bags into the kitchen

"I'll be fine Rory," Peeta said, chuckling in his hand.

"Got stuff for dinner," Haymitch said gruffly. He watched over his shoulder as Hazelle and Emily pulled items out of the bags. They went to say something, but he waved them off and walked away from them. Peeta realized, he took care of these two families. Peeta kinda already knew that, but he didn't realize how much. Getting alarms on the windows, buying them food. Peeta never thought anything of it when he would come into the bakery and get a few loaves of bread at a time. Peeta just assumed it was all he ate. But now it dawned on him. He was buying food for the Everdeen's and the Hawthorne's. He watched as Hazelle kissed his cheek.

Mrs. Everdeen and Mrs. Hawthorne went about making dinner. Peeta tried to decline a plate, wanting them to have it. He could find something at home, but Katniss' mother insisted. So, he carefully ate off the plate without trying to disturb Katniss that still hadn't budged.

Prim laughed and took his plate and cut up his chicken. "Need someone to cut up all your food for ya?" Gale joked, making Peeta snort.

"I should have started hanging out at the Everdeen house a lot sooner. I could get used to this kind of treatment," Peeta said as Prim handed him back his plate. "Thank you," he said kindly. She giggled and went back to the table. Gale was sitting on the floor by the couch, watching Katniss.

"Prim's already smitten with you. You're her hero. You brought Lady back," Gale said. Peeta looked down at his plate, hoping Gale wouldn't see his face then red. He heard Gale snort. "I think you became the hero to everyone in the Everdeen family," Gale said. Peeta glanced down at Katniss.

"I don't feel like a hero. I just wanted to be there for her," Peeta said. He cleared his throat and then shoved some potatoes into his mouth.

"Just so you know, everyone in this family has big mouths," Gale said. Peeta looked up, not understanding where he was going with that. "Don't know what you told Finnick, but Finnick told Haymitch. And Haymitch told us," Gale said. Peeta felt his heart pick up, and his eyes widened, and Gale chuckled.

"Oh, this is gonna be fun," Gale laughed. He enjoyed torturing Peeta. "So. In love with her since you were five years old huh," Gale said, making Peeta cringe and groan from embarrassment.

"Katniss knows to?" Peeta asked. Gale snorted.

"Katniss? Please. That girl doesn't notice any type of human emotion. She oblivious. And no, no one's said anything to her," Peeta raised an eyebrow, and Gale smiled and laughed. "Yet,"

Peeta nodded. That was awesome. But then Peeta realized something. He had already told Katniss early that morning that he had been in love with her since they were five years old. So she did know…but did she even remember the conversation?

He let his thoughts take over then. What was he going to be to Katniss? What did it mean that she ran to him? What did it mean that she wanted him to stay? Was she just in shock, and just needed him close by, and then once it wore off, she wouldn't want him around anymore? Did she just see him as a friend? How was he even supposed to handle their…what? Did he call it a friendship? Did he call it a relationship instead, because they weren't friends? Was he supposed to stay here tonight? Or go home? Was he supposed to come back tomorrow? Did she want him to come back tomorrow? Did she want to see him on Monday?

He had too many questions, and zero answers. And it wasn't like he could just ask Katniss everything right now. She had been attacked. She needed to focus on herself, and not the anxiety of does she or doesn't she like me?

She woke up later that evening, and Peeta got her to eat a couple bites of potatoes and half a cup of tea, but that was it. Gale, his mom and Rory had gone home, only to come back a little while later with some of their things. The Hawthorne's were going to be staying there until Haymitch could get the new windows and alarms installed. It completely set his mind at ease, knowing she would be safe with Gale and his family around.

What a turn of events. Peeta was happy that Gale was sticking around Katniss!

"It's getting later. I should be getting home," Peeta told her softly. She sat up next to him and nodded. He couldn't help it, but he reached up and tucked some hair behind her ear, so it wasn't covering her face.

"Thank you for staying with me," she whispered. He reached around her back and squeezed her arm.

"Thank you for trusting me," he told her. He laid her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head before he could stop himself. He hoped none of her family was paying attention.

"Will you come back?" she asked and sat back up. Staring her hands in her lap.

"If you want me to. I don't want to crowd you," Peeta told her. She looked back up at him.

"I want you to," she said. He smiled at her. She wanted him to come back!

"Then I'll come back," he whispered. They stared at each other for a minute before he reached over and hugged her. "I'll try my best tomorrow. But if I can't, I'll see you on Monday at school," he felt her nod her head and he pulled back and stood up. He wanted to stay here forever.

"Thank you for being here today Peeta," Katniss' mother said at the door while he was putting his shoes on.

"You don't need to thank me Mrs. Everdeen," Peeta told her.

"My name is Emily. You don't have to call me Mrs. Everdeen," she said. He looked up and smiled at her. At least she didn't hate him for helping Katniss change her clothes and sleeping with her in the same bed. Of course, Emily didn't know they slept in the same bed. And hopefully, Katniss wouldn't tell her.

By the time he got home he went right upstairs and crashed and woke up the next morning with the sun already up. He sat straight up and realized his alarm clock had been turned off. His brothers had to of done that. He got up and took a quick shower and came downstairs to his brothers already have opened the Bakery.

"Hey, you're awake," Rye said. Wheet peaked his head in from the front and leaned his shoulder into the doorway.

"Why'd you guys turn off my alarm clock? I would have helped open?" Peeta said as he started washing his hands.

"You came in here like a zombie last night. I was talking to you, and you didn't even hear me," Rye laughed.

"You were?" Peeta asked. He never heard Rye. Had he really been that distracted?

"You were going on a tiny bit of sleep. Figured you needed it," Wheet said, shrugging his shoulder.

"Thank you…what else needs to be done?" Peeta asked.

"Don't you want to go over and check on Katniss?" Wheet asked. Peeta cleared his throat.

"I do. It's just…I don't want to overstay my welcome. I don't want to hover over her," Peeta said, and fidgeted around. She said last night that she wanted him to come back. But he wasn't sure if she meant that. She was so emotional yesterday. What if today after a full night's sleep, she had more clarity and didn't want him around. He scratched the back of his head and started pulling out ingredients to make cookies.

"Besides. The house was really full yesterday. The Hawthorne's are gonna stay at the house. It's really small for three people, and now there are five more people staying in it. I don't want to crowd anyone," Peeta said. He wanted to go over to Katniss' house so badly and check in on her. He wanted to stay with her and protect her from that disgusting bastard.

He jumped when he realized he squeezed two eggs so hard that they both were smashed in his fist. He looked over his shoulder to see if his brothers saw. Of course they did. They were both watching them. But thankfully, they didn't say anything.

He had worked quietly for a few hours and pulled out a tray of four loaves of bread out of the oven. "Damnit," he hissed. He missed an ingredient, as the bread didn't rise all the way. He put the tray down, and then Rye came over and yanked off his oven mitts.

"Ok, you're done," Wheet said from behind him.

"You're just making a mess of things today," Rye said as he tossed the bread on the counter and moved the tray. "We can't sell that," Rye said to Wheet.

"I'm sorry," Peeta said.

"You're way to distracted. We've already had to throw away the cookies because you mixed up the salt with the sugar," Wheet told him. Peeta turned around and stared at him with wide eyes.

"I did?" Peeta asked. Wheet nodded his head and Peeta rubbed his forehead. He felt like such an idiot. His mother would kill him if she knew.

"You're more of a liability then a help to us. Just go wash up and get out of here. Go see Katniss," Wheet told him, pulling everything out to replace the four loaves of bread that Peeta had messed up. Wheet was right, he was way too distracted.

"I don't want to just leave you guys hanging again. I'll pay more attention to what I'm doing," Peeta promised.

"Dude, will you just leave. All your nervous energy is doing is just irritating us. Just go see your girlfriend," Rye told him. Peeta huffed.

"She's not my girlfriend,"

"Yeah, not today. Not until you ask her out already," Rye said.

"I can't do that right now. Being asked out is the last thing on her mind. I'm not gonna put her on the spot like that, and make things uncomfortable," Peeta snapped at him. Wheet squeezed his shoulders.

"He's just screwing with you. Peeta, just get out of here. Your mind is completely on Katniss, so go on and check on her. We can take care of the Bakery again," Wheet told him.

He stood on her porch, afraid to knock. He was afraid he was intruding. Yesterday was one thing, but today was a whole other matter. Today was a brand-new day, and what if Katniss' mother only wanted family around? What if Katniss didn't want him around? He shouldn't be here. This was a private family matter. What if just seeing him made her upset, and reminded Katniss of that night?

He went to turn around when the door swung open. Peeta gulped. Gale was standing in the doorway. "Hey," Peeta said, clearing his throat. His voice sounded a little high. Gale leaned forward.

"How long were you planning on standing outside?" Gale whispered. Peeta cringed and Gale smiled. "Come on in," Gale said, moving aside for Peeta to walk in. He nodded his head and passed him.

"Peeta. It's so nice to see you again," Emily said from the kitchen.

"Thank you. You as well. I um…I brought you guys some bread," Peeta said. Emily and Hazelle looked at each other. He knew no one in the Seam liked accepting charity. "I messed them up. They're not good enough to sell. They just didn't rise, so they're kind flat. I figured, it's better than wasting them," Peeta babbled. He hoped that didn't sound insulting.

"Well, thank you. We'll accept," Hazelle smiled, causing him to let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I messed up a whole batch of cookies as well apparently. I guess I switched out the sugar and salt. My brothers kicked me out of the Bakery," Peeta chuckled, making the others chuckle as well.

"Me and Gale have to get a few things. We'll be back in a little while," Hazelle said. Gale clapped him on the back, and they walked out.

"Katniss is in her room. Madge is in there with her," Emily said. Peeta nodded his head. He was allowed to be in her bedroom with her now? He gulped and turned around and walked over to her room. The door was cracked open, and he could see Katniss and Madge. Madge was putting something on Katniss' neck.

"Knock knock," Peeta said softly, pushing the door open. Madge turned around, and Katniss moved her neck straight, and then smiled at him. His heart melted.

"Hi," Katniss said.

"Hi," he breathed back. He stared at her sitting on her bed. She looked better than she did yesterday.

"Hi Peeta," Madge said. Peeta shook his head and smiled.

"Hey Madge," Peeta said, embarrassed that he just blatantly ignored her. "What are you guys doing?" he asked.

"My mom gave me her makeup to use on Katniss. I'm just showing her how to use it so she can wear it tomorrow. To cover up the bruises," Madge said ad went back to dabbing it on her neck. Covering up the bruises that Bones left there when he tried to choke her.

"You can come in," Katniss said softly. He smiled and stepped in. "And you can sit down," Katniss said.

"Right," Peeta said and looked around. He sat against the wall, a foot away from her bed. He looked around. This was Katniss' bedroom. There wasn't much. A bed with a green blanket on top. And then a dresser with some pictures on top. And then her backpack was in the corner.

"Just make sure to blend it in so you don't have splotches. It's really not as hard as you think," Madge said and closed the compact. "They'll still show up on your face. You can't hide those completely. But if you're still gonna wear that hoodie, then the foundation will be easy to hide your neck. Just go check the mirrors in the bathroom in between classes. And don't touch your face and neck," she instructed. Katniss nodded her head. Madge leaned forward and hugged her.

"I have to go back home. But I'll see you tomorrow," Madge said her goodbye's and then it was just the two of them. By themselves. Sitting in silence.

"Are you sure it's ok to be in your room by ourselves?" Peeta asked. Katniss smiled softly and waved her good hand.

"My mom is fine with it. She doesn't get crazy about this stuff. She trusts me," she told him. He nodded his head and smiled.

"How are you feeling?" Peeta asked. She looked down and shrugged.

"Better than yesterday. I was in shock…I just want all the bruises gone," she said and reached over and grabbed his hoodie. She went to pull it over her head, but then stopped. "Oh. You probably want this back. And your clothes,"

But he shook his head. "No, it's ok. Keep them. The sweatshirt looks better on you than it ever did on me," he joked. But then he fidgeted around as he watched Katniss blush, and then he could feel his own blush.

"Besides. You can wear it in school. To help cover up," he said. She looked back up and smiled.

"Thank you," she said and pulled it over her head. They sat in silence for a long time.

"Are you ok with Gale's whole family being here?" Peeta asked, not being able to think of anything else. Katniss brought one leg up to her chest and rested on her knee.

"Yeah. I always liked it growing up. In the winter their house doesn't do well. So, they stay here practically every winter," Katniss said.

"Where does everyone sleep?" he asked her. Katniss fidgeted around.

"Prim sleeps with my mom, and then Posy and Vick sleep with Hazelle in Prim's bed…but then Gale and Rory and I usually share this bed," Katniss said. So, her and Gale share a bed. Jealousy flowed through his body, but he had to remember that they didn't see each other like that at all. But it still didn't matter. Gale's shared a bed with Katniss.

"Gale's too tall, so his feet dangle off. And Rory's gone through a growth spurt since last winter. So, I don't know how we're all sharing this bed anymore," Katniss said, looking at her bed. He wished he could offer Katniss his own bed. But that was just one of his stupid fantasies.

"Prim loves having Posy around. She likes getting to feel like the big sister, instead of always just the little sister," Katniss chuckled.

"And three brothers along with the little sister," Peeta reminded her. Katniss groaned.

"I hate sharing a bathroom with those three. They're so messy," Peeta smiled. They sat there and talked about silly things for such a long time that day. They talked about school, complained about some of their classmates. She asked questions about the Bakery. He asked her questions about the woods, and hunting. She talked about Prim, and he talked about his brothers. It was normal. He had always wanted to talk to Katniss like this, and it felt good.

They had stayed clear of any conversation about Bones, and what she was going to do. They never even mentioned the Marriage Initiative.

"Hey, your mom said dinners ready," Gale said as he poked his head in. Peeta and Katniss looked out the window. It was already dark. They had been talking for hours and never even noticed.

Peeta stood up, and they followed Gale out into the living room. "Peeta, you're welcomed to stay for dinner," Mrs. Everdeen said. He saw the little amount that they had, and he couldn't take up the little food that they had.

"Thank you, Mrs. Everdeen. But it's actually my night to cook for my brothers," he lied. "They're probably pretty mad that I'm not back yet," he choked. He turned back to Katniss.

"I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow," Peeta said. Katniss nodded her head and smiled.

"I'll see you tomorrow,"

The next day was nerve wracking for Katniss. She didn't want to see Bones. She was terrified of him. Her mom helped her with the makeup on her neck and face.

"It's chilly out today. So, you can get away with wearing this sweatshirt, but it'll get warmer as the day goes on," her mom said. Katniss nodded her head. "Madge will help you with this," her mom said. Katniss nodded again.

"Are you gonna be ok?" She asked. Katniss shrugged her shoulders. "I wish I could make your fear just…disappear," her mom said. Katniss chuckled softly.

"Yeah. I know," she said. She looked up and noticed that her mother was on the verge of tears. "Don't cry," she whispered. But her mom let out a sob and Katniss leaned forward and hugged her.

"I hate living in this world where I can't protect you," she cried. And this was why Katniss never wanted to have children. She couldn't protect them. Her mother could love her more than anyone in the world, and it still wasn't enough to protect her from starving, freezing, the Hunger Games, the marriage Initiative, or being raped.

"I know mom," she whispered in her mom's ear. She never blamed her mom. There was honestly nothing she could do. But how was she supposed to be a mother, just to feel this way? Helpless? She refused to ever feel like that.

Katniss, Prim and Rory walked out of the house to go to school when Katniss heard her name. One of the boys from the Seam, who lived a couple houses down ran up to her. Hezar was in her class, and he was the youngest in his family, so he was the only one in school left.

"Hey Everdeen," Hezar said.

"Hi," Katniss said.

"Can I walk with you guys?" Hezar asked. Katniss and Prim made eye contact and then she looked back at Hezar.

"Um, yeah. Sure," Katniss said. Hezar had never asked to walk to school with Katniss before. Sometimes they'd walk at the same time, but not purposely together. They started walking in awkward silence.

"So, did you have a good weekend?" He asked. Katniss saw him glance down at her hand, and he tried to avoid looking at the bruises on her face and neck.

"Yeah. We just stayed inside," Katniss said. Rory ended up making conversation with him about some older senior girl who everyone was making fun of at the moment for some embarrassing thing that happened at the dance, that she just never cared to listen to.

She saw him eye her a few times. He was trying to look at the bruises without commenting on them. They got to Prim and Rory's school first and Prim gave her a big hug. Rory nudged her as he walked by. So, it was just her and Hezar.

They walked in silence until they got to the entrance of the school, and then she stopped. There was Peeta. He smiled when he saw her. He was waiting for her. Her heart picked up speed, and she could feel the butterflies.

Hezar basically followed Katniss as she walked over to Peeta. "Hey. Good morning," Peeta said.

"Hi," she said quietly. Peeta looked over at Hezar.

"Hey," Peeta said.

"Hi," Hezar said. It was totally awkward. "Well, thanks for walking with me to school. I'll see you later," Hezar said and then walked around them. Katniss watched him as he walked away, but then turned around to watch, but he wasn't watching them. He was looking for someone.

"He walked you to school?" Peeta asked, fidgeting around. Katniss nodded her head.

"Yeah, it was super weird. He's never walked me to school," Katniss said. Peeta nodded his head.

"Maybe he's gonna ask you out to the dance," Peeta said and looked the other way. Katniss turned back and suddenly remembered what Peeta had told her the night she slept over. That he had been in love with her since they were five years old. She gulped.

"I doubt it. I don't know what he was doing, but it wasn't asking me out,"

Peeta chuckled and then got serious. She went to go look over her shoulder, but he took her elbow. "Hey, let's go in," she said and started rushing inside. He had let go of her elbow as soon as she started walking. They walked over to her first class, which Katniss smiled at the fact that he knew where it was.

Her and Peeta stood there awkwardly in silence. "So um…are you gonna be ok?" He asked. She let out a deep breath and nodded her head.

"Yes," she said, determined. Making him smile. He touched his sweatshirt and pulled the string a little.

"Told you it looks better on you," making her blush. "I'll see you later," he said. She gave him one last wave and walked into her class and sat down.

She looked over at a couple of Merchant kids when she heard them snickering. They were looking at her.

"It's a nice look on you. Much better than before," Lanalynn Maylor said. Katniss picked her hand up and stuck up her middle finger.

"It means fuck off if you didn't already know," she said, and then turned back to her backpack. It didn't bother her what Merchant kids said. That didn't hurt her feelings…but she couldn't help but admit, she didn't want the unnecessary attention to her bruises.

When her class was over, Janston came running over from down the hall. "Hey Katniss. Can I walk you to your next class?" He asked. She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Really?" She asked him. He nodded and smiled. He was staring right into her eyes. She could tell her was trying not to look at her bruises. She just sighed. "Yeah, that's fine," she said tiredly and followed Janston.

"You don't even have the next class with me," she realized and pointed out to him. He bit his lip for a moment and then shrugged.

She didn't understand why two of the Seam boys wanted to walk around with her all of a sudden. It was stupid. But she was too tired and distracted to care.

He dropped her off, and then he came back after her class again. She'd just let it happen. She wasn't going to argue.

Peeta, Madge and Delly were waiting outside the classroom when they walked up. "Hey," Madge said, smiling at Katniss. They all just stood in a circle for a moment, not saying anything.

"I'm gonna head in," Janston said and rushed into the classroom.

"Did he walk you to class to?" Peeta asked. Katniss nodded her head.

"Twice," she said. She wanted to say more, but she felt uncomfortable around Delly. She walked into class, and they followed her, all finding seats. She looked over and saw Bones sitting there, glaring at her. Peeta put his hand on her back and then walked around to stand in front of her and sit diagonally so she wouldn't have to look back at him. Peeta would be blocking her view.

Mr. Vallen came in then. "All right guys. I'm gonna start a new thing. We're going to have assigned seats," the class groaned.

"Why? You said you thought assigned seats were stupid," one of the Seam boys said.

"Well, I changed my mind. So, everyone stand up and stand against the walls," Mr. Vallen told them. Katniss made sure to stay away from Bones. He called the first row closest to the door, and Bones was stuck in the third seat.

Katniss ended up in the second to last row in the fourth seat. Peeta was directly to her right, and two Seam boys were in front and behind him in the whole row. Madge was in front of her, and another Seam boy was behind her. Delly was directly on her left, and Hezar was in front of her, and Janston was behind her. She was literally surrounded by her friends and Seam kids, while Bones was out of her line of vision.

"All right then. There's no need to go down a row you don't belong it. You go directly to your seats when you come in and you stay there," Katniss wondered what happened to make Mr. Vallen be so serious. He was extremely serious today. Not like his usual carefree self.

Katniss was distracted during class. She could feel eyes on her sometimes, and when she'd look up, they'd look away. She hated the attention she was getting. She wished she could just put up the good of Peeta's sweatshirt and block her face from view, but that was even worse.

She felt something being pushed under arm. She looked over and realized Peeta was putting a folded up note on her desk. She never was the receiver of notes in class. Well, she wasn't the giver either. She unfolded and saw his careful handwriting.

I'm sorry you keep catching them staring.

She looked up and smiled at him. He saw it to. And he knew she hated it. She looked down at the paper. She had never written a note before. How was she supposed to reply back?

I don't like the attention.

She handed it back to him and watched him out of the corner of her eye nod his head and write something else, and then passed it back to her.

Yeah, I've noticed you've never liked bringing attention to yourself. Mr. Vallen knows to and loves to harass you.

She smiled. He noticed Mr. Vallen's absolute joy for messing with her.

He's a miserable man.

He just might find your scowling charming.

At that she scowled at him, and he smiled brightly.

I highly doubt that.

Peeta was just about to write something when Lanalynn interrupted. "Mr. Vallen. I'm trying to listen to you, but I'm getting so distracted by Peeta and Katniss writing notes back and forth," she said. Katniss' eyes widened and Peeta nonchalantly moved his folder over the note.

Mr. Vallen pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know what guys. I've really had it with the tattling. If you're not the one writing the note, then mind your own business. When I see them writing notes back and forth, I'll say something because I'm the teacher," Mr. Vallen said and turned around. Lanalynn's mouth fell open.

"All the boys in town recognize that face," Janston said. Lanalynn turned and glared at him, and he opened his mouth, mocking her, making the group around him laugh. Mr. Vallen turned back around, and everyone stopped laughing.

"Mr. Vallen didn't you just hear what Janston said?" Lanalynn demanded.

"I'm serious. I'm done with the tattling. This is history class. I suggest you concentrate on that," Mr. Vallen said. She huffed and crossed her arms and glared at them. Katniss smiled and waved. Her mouth fell open and she dramatically held up her middle finger like Katniss did earlier. Except the only problem, she didn't do it discreetly as Katniss had.

"That's it. Get out of my classroom Lanalynn," he told her. Her face turned red.

"Why am I the only one getting in trouble?" She demanded.

"Because you're the one disrupting class. And you're the one making inappropriate gestures. So, you can go up to the principal's office. Now!" He told her. She grabbed her stuff and stood up.

"Fuck all of you," she said to the group, making the group laugh.

"OOOHHH," a few of the boys said. She stomped out of the classroom.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to get back to teaching,"

When the bell rang, he held up his hands. "From now on I don't want you getting up at once. The first row will leave first and then the second row, and then so on" Mr. Vallen said. No one could understand what he was doing.

"Mr. Mellark, wait a second," he said when Peeta got up to the front. He asked Katniss to wait as well. He waited till everyone had left before he said anything. "Please just be a little more discreet when writing notes. Just like when you're flicking Lanalynn off," he said.

Katniss and Peeta chuckled. Mr. Vallen stared at her for a minute, and then looked at Peeta. "Are you able to walk her to her next class?" He asked. Katniss stared at Peeta, who straightened up.

"Yeah. We have lunch now actually," he said. MR. Vallen nodded and looked back at Katniss.

"That's right…If anyone gives you any trouble, you let me know. Alright?" He said. Katniss gulped and looked down at her feet and then nodded. Now it made sense. Mr. Vallen knew what had happened. Hezar and Janston knew what happened. Gale and Haymitch must have talked to them, and that's why they were walking her to school and classes.

Peeta and Katniss started walking towards the cafeteria. "Are you ok?" Peeta asked. Katniss had her arms crossed as they were walking, trying to curl into herself and make herself as small as possible.

"I hate that they know what happened," Katniss said. Peeta nodded.

"I get that…but it's really good of Haymitch and Gale to take care of you like that. I'm glad to know that you have people that are willing to do that for you," Peeta said. He cleared his throat. "I kinda wanted to go to your house this morning and walk with you. But I didn't want to crowd you," he said, looking at the lockers as they got to the cafeteria. She stopped in the doorway.

"You don't crowd me," she said. He looked back over at her and smiled. They both looked at the cafeteria, and they could see Madge sitting at the table waiting for Katniss, then they looked back at each other.

"Would it be ok if I sat with you?" He asked.

"Won't your friends be mad?"

"I don't care," he said. She smiled and nodded her head. They both walked over to the table and Madge looked at Peeta and then smirked at Katniss, who just rolled her eyes. "Hey Madge,"

"Hey guys," Madge said as she put her book down. She leaned forward a tad and looked at Katniss' neck, and then sat back. "If you come into the bathroom with me after lunch I can…" she trailed off. She'd put more makeup on her neck. Katniss nodded her head.

Peeta watched as she took something out of her bag wrapped in a cloth. It was the cheesebuns that he made for her Saturday morning. They shared a smile over the cheesebun.

"Do you wanna hear the latest news?" Madge asked. Katniss raised an eyebrow. Her and Madge weren't ones for gossiping. "They might choose me to be one of the girls to follow around to be on tv," Madge said and bit into a carrot unceremoniously.

"Oh," Katniss said.

"That might be kinda fun," Peeta said. Both girls looked at him and he liked between the two. "I was trying to be positive," he said. The girls looked at each other and laughed.

"From what my dad said, they're picking out the kids who look aesthetically pleasing," she said and chomped into her carrots aggressively.

"Then I'll have nothing to worry about. They'll pick a bunch of town kids who have more meat on their bones. Blonde hair and blue eyes. You guys will be the prettiest movie stars," she said and bit into her cheesebun.

She looked up and saw that Peeta was staring at her oddly, and then blushed and pulled out his sandwich. The look he was giving her made her blush as well.

"They won't be too involved with me because I'm only a junior. But if everything goes well, I'll be one of the leading girls next year. And I'm the mayor's daughter," she said sadly. Katniss thought that was so stupid. Madge hated the attention just as much as Katniss did.

Just like she hated the attention from everyone knowing that Bones attacked her. It was embarrassing. She shouldn't even be embarrassed. She didn't do anything wrong. She knew that. But she was the one that had to look in the mirror and be reminded by what he almost did to her

Katniss was all too happy to go home that day. She was tired of being babysat. And she knew this was going to go on for a while. Until Bones got bored with her and moved on to another girl.

Peeta had wrestling practice after school, so he didn't come home till later that night. When he walked in a large metal bowl hit him on the side of the face. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" his mother demanded.

"I was…I was at wrestling practice," Peeta said, holding the side of his face.

"Why did you open late on Saturday? And why are Sunday's sales so low if you opened on time? What did you all do?" his mother demanded, getting right in his face. He looked over her shoulder at his brother's, but then his mom slapped his other cheek. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!" she screamed in his face.

"Doreen stop it. Leave him alone," his father said, pulling her back.

"I'm sorry…I brought home some sandwiches from the dance. We got really sick from them. And I was still sick on Sunday, so I couldn't get out of bed- "

"I don't care if you have food poisoning. We lost money because of you this weekend," she screamed at him. Peeta didn't even care. He was where he was supposed to be. He was with Katniss.

His mother screamed at all three of them while they cleaned up the Bakery, and then went upstairs because she had a headache. They all went to their own rooms, but their dad came in later and waved them out and down to the kitchen and they sat down.

"Alright. I know the food poisoning story isn't real. I'd like to know what really went on this weekend," his father said softly, and looked at Rye. Wheet snorted when Rye's mouth fell open.

"Why are you looking at me? How do you know this is my fault?" Rye asked.

"Because I know you had a party a few weeks ago. So, did you have another one?" he asked. Rye crossed his arms.

"It wasn't Rye. They're both covering for me. I'm the one who wasn't at the Bakery this weekend. And I'm the reason why we opened late on Saturday," Peeta said. His father looked at him, and Peeta couldn't meet his eyes. He looked down at the table.

"Peeta?" his father said. After a moment he looked up at his dad, whose face was filled with concern. "What happened?" he asked. Peeta looked down at his hands.

"When we were going to bed on Friday…Katniss came to the backdoor. That, Bones guy…he attacked her," Peeta said. He hated having to tell this story over and over again.

"Is she ok?" he asked. Peeta nodded his head and looked back up.

"Yeah, she is. She wasn't at the time. But she's ok now. He wasn't able to really hurt her because Mr. Cartwright scared him off," he was telling this story for the millionth time, and he hated it.

"What happened?" his father asked, waiting for him to continue the story.

"After the dance, Gale had walked her home, but after she went inside, her sister Prim's goat got out. So, Katniss chased her. That's why she was back in town. So, she came here. And then the next morning I brought her home, and they went around 12, looking for Prim's goat," he said, looking at his brothers and then looking anywhere but at his dad.

"And then I wasn't any help to them this weekend. They sent me out because I messed some cookies and some bread. So, don't get upset at them for covering for me. It's my fault," they sat there for a moment, everyone quiet.

"So, did she stay here all night?" his father asked. Peeta nodded his head. "So where did she sleep?" His dad asked.

"In my bed," he answered. He knew the next question before his father even spoke.

"And where did you sleep?" He could feel the blush beating his face so badly.

"My bed," Peeta answered. Rye patted his shoulder.

"Yeah ya did buddy," he cheered him on.

"Now is not the time to be making a sex joke," his father told him.

"Hey. Y'all need to get your minds outta the gutter. I never mentioned anything about sex. I'm proud of my little my brother for getting the girl of his dreams in his bed, even under the unfortunate circumstances. We'll cross that bridge about sex at a later time," Rye joked. Peeta groaned.

"Ok you two, up to bed," his father told him. After they left, Peeta put his elbows on the table. "Are you ok?" He asked him. Peeta nodded his head.

"I was just scared…for her. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to protect her and take care of her," he admitted. And then he covered his face with his hands. "She told me what happened. He ripped her panties off and he…pulled himself out. He said all these disgusting things to her. They were terrible," he said and shoved his fists into his eyes.

He felt his dad squeeze his shoulder and he looked up at him. "No one can truly protect a girl from Bones. Everyone knows that. And what if she can't get away next time?" Choking on his words.

"Hey. You can't start thinking like that. You'll make yourself sick. You have to remember that she did get away before he could take anything from her," Peeta nodded his head. "As for the future…" his father sighed.

"I know," Peeta said sadly. There was no way to protect Katniss 24 hours a day.

"And there are a lot of people who care about her that I know would want to take care of her too. A lot of people looking out for her," his father reminded him. Peeta nodded his head.

"She's got some of the Seam kids walking with her to school, and in the hallways. Gale and Haymitch had to of set it up. And Mr. Vallen knows. Gale and his family are staying there for a while. And Haymitch is installing these new windows and doors that have alarms on them," Peeta said. His dad leaned on his elbow.

"How do you know all that?" his dad ask, smiling at him. Peeta blushed.

"Well…I may have spent the day there on Saturday…minus when I looked for Lady…and spent yesterday at her house when Wheet and Rye kicked me out of the kitchen," he said. His father started chuckling. "What?

"Oh, it's just funny. It was just last week that you came back here, panicking because you humiliated yourself because you accused Gale of cheating on Katniss, only to find out that they were never even together. It's crazy how just one week can change everything," he joked. It made Peeta laugh though. It was true. He had actually forgotten about what had happened.

"Thank you for reminding me of that humiliation," Peeta groaned, but his father just gave a good-natured laugh, and squeezed his son's shoulders.

"Well, it seems like no one remembers that part anymore. So, I wouldn't think about it anymore," he nodded his head, and his father sent him off to bed.

The rest of the week was much the same. Someone walking Katniss to and from school. Someone walking her to her classes. Peeta was happy that he got to sit with her at lunch every day.

When Friday came around, they got their envelopes. Peeta opened his and saw Galenda Knot. His mother wouldn't be happy about that. She was from the Seam. And she was a grade lower.

He looked over at Katniss and saw her open it and pull out the corner of a five-dollar bill. She instantly shoved it back in and sealed the envelop back up. She wasn't getting a date that night. She wasn't going to the dance. She was staying home.

He didn't get a chance to talk to her until lunch time, and he sat next to her. He usually sat on the other side of the table, but she looked so sad. "So, you're not going to the dance tonight?" He asked. She shook her head.

"I saw you got the five dollars anyway," he whispered. She nodded her head and looked down at hands. It didn't look like she had anything to eat for lunch, because she hadn't taken anything out of her back pack.

"It's from Haymitch. He told me in the hallway that he wants me to stay home for the time being, but he'll make it look like I attended," she said as she just stared at her hands.

"Well, maybe taking a week or two off would be best," he told her softly. She just pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Gale doesn't work nights, so he'll be at my house with me. He'd rather me stay with Gale so nothing will happen," she said sadly. He reached over and patted her hand. He heard her suck in a breath and he pulled his hand away really quick.

"At least you don't have to dance with some town kid that's a total jerk. Or anyone for that matter. A break is nice," he said, pulling out a sandwich.

Without saying anything, he put half of his sandwich in front of her, and before she could say anything he got up and moved to the opposite side of the table. Madge sat down next to her before she could say no. Her and Madge talked for a minute, and then Katniss reached down and picked the sandwich up and took a bite. She eyed him over her sandwich and softly smiled.

The dance was boring. Galenda was very quiet, and more interested in the food. Everyone was. They barely said two words to each other all night. Filled out the questionnaire and were on their way.

His mother was waiting for him when he got home and reprimanded him for dancing with a Seam girl. "Why didn't you go and tell Mr. O'dair that you're not wasting your time on anyone from the Seam?" She yelled.

"Because I don't get a choice. Finnick doesn't even really get a choice. He's gotta mix it up all the time. And there's fewer merchants than there are girls from the Seam," Peeta pleaded his case. She slapped him across the face.

"I don't care. Then get a date with the same girl. You're not going if you get paired with another girl from the Seam," she ordered him. But he couldn't bail if he was signed up. He wasn't allowed to just not show up.

"He'll be punished if he signs up and then doesn't go," his father interjected, thankfully.

"I DONT'T CARE! She screamed, making Wheet jump. Peeta turned his head slightly and he saw a burn mark on the side of his face. She must have thrown boiling water at him again.

"Well you take that up with the Peacekeepers and see if they allow any of the kids to not go to the dance because their parents don't want them to," his dad said. He was getting angry with her for being so incredibly unreasonable.

He ended up being able to slip away during their arguing. He went to bed shortly after that and just stared at the ceiling. He missed seeing Katniss at the dance that night. He didn't get a chance to talk to her. She smiled at him so shyly today at lunch, it made his heart jump. He knew she didn't take handouts. She would be stern with his father about not giving her too much when she brought him squirrels. The only reason why she accepted cakes on her, Prim and her mother's birthdays, was because their father always managed to get them something from the bakery on their birthdays, and his father was keeping up the tradition. And of course, they used to just leave it at the door for them to find. How can you say no to a cake that's left on your doorstep?

Katniss was lonely that night. It wasn't that she wanted to go to the dance. But it was the fact that it was being taken away from her because Bones attacked her. And she didn't like that Haymitch gave her five dollars. The only reason she ever accepted things from Haymitch, was because of something Haymitch said after her dad and Mr. Hawthorne died.

Haymitch was drunk in the Hob, and her and Gale were taking him home. When they got him to his bed he started crying. Gale and her were shocked. "They were my best friends," he sobbed. They just looked at each other.

"I promised them I would take care of their families if something ever happened to them. I can't do anything for you guys. I can't replace them. They were too good…but I have too much money, and I can't watch you all grieve and starve,"

After their fathers died, Haymitch had gone on his biggest bender for about six months. They had to carry him to the Games and watching the Games that year had been so terrible, as they would torture Haymitch on camera. He was shown dressed up, covered in his own vomit and passed out wherever all the Mentors were. He didn't even remember the Tributes that year.

After that, Haymitch calmed down on the alcohol, and started helping them. It was hard, she nor Gale wanted to accept his charity. But they saw the raw pain in Haymitch. He needed to do something for his best friends. And helping their families survive was how he honored them.

She was laying in her bed, all the way to the wall. Rory was in the middle and Gale was on the edge. It was a small bed three of them were sharing. And Rory always spread himself out. Her and Gale constantly woke up with arms and legs throw over him.

"You ok Catnip?" Gale asked. Katniss had been laying in bed just staring at the ceiling.

"I don't know…I haven't gone hunting all week," it made her sad. She loved hunting. Yes, Haymitch helped out with things, but one of the good things about hunting, was that people in the Seam, and some in town, were able to trade things with her. Her hunting not only helped her and Gale's family, but it helped others as well. And she felt like she had let them all down.

"Well Sunday I have off. We'll go out all day if you want," he promised her. She smiled sadly.

"I'd like that…I miss going out there by myself sometimes though," she said. How could one person ruin everything for her? She felt Gale's hand on hers and looked over Rory's head to see Gale smiling back sadly at her.

"I know. We just gonna let him get bored and not make any waves and he'll forget all about you and you can get back to doing whatever you want," he told her and squeezed her hand.

Peeta didn't see her at all that weekend. He wanted to go and check on her, but he had to control himself. They had nice days at school, eating lunch together. Chit chatting in class or in the halls. But he wanted to be careful and not crowd her. Overwhelm her.

She hadn't shown any signs that she had reciprocated his feelings after he admitted that he had been in love with her since they were five. Granted, she had been attacked last week. He didn't expect her to show any feelings. That's why he didn't want to crowd her. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable around him.

But Monday morning came around and against his better judgement he went to her house early to walk her to school. He waited until she came out and she was startled to see him. "Good morning," he said.

"Hey…what are you doing here?" She didn't seem mad or anything. She didn't seem like she didn't want him around. She looked…relaxed.

"I got all my stuff done at the bakery, so I figured I'd walk you to school, if that's ok," he rushed out. She smiled.

"Yeah. That would be nice," he caught eyes with Hezar who had been walking to school with her, and he just smiled and waved and kept walking. Prim and Rory came out and walked a little ahead of them.

"You look like you're having a good morning," he mentioned. She smiled and nodded her head.

"Me and Gale got to go hunting yesterday. And then we went to the Hob. I haven't been there all week," she said. That made sense now. Her shoulders weren't so tense. She had a little bit of spark back in her eyes.

"That awesome. Yeah, you look happier," he told her. She smiled shyly at him.

"Thank you," she said softly as they walked for a few minutes in silence. They went through this a lot. He wanted to talk to her about anything and everything…but he always felt so tongue tied whenever he was around her.

"So did anything exciting happen at the dance?" She asked. He chuckled.

"Effie slipped and broke a heel," making Katniss laugh.

"That's something I wish I hadn't missed," he smiled brightly at her.

"Yeah, it was pretty funny. Haymitch literally stood there laughing. Mr. Vallen helped her up, but he was trying so hard not to laugh, but he really couldn't. No one could hold it in. It was really her reaction to the whole thing. If she hadn't been so dramatic and yelling at everyone, then it wouldn't have been so funny," he told her. Her shoulders shook with laughter.

"Oh, and it tilted her wig. It almost fell off," she laughed louder now. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard

"I hope someone got a picture of it. Haymitch lives to torture her. If anyone got a picture, I know he'll have it," Katniss laughed.

"Why do you say that?" Peeta asked. Katniss shook her head.

"I think he secretly loves her. Whenever he gets back from seeing her, he always has some crazy story about her. And all the ragging he does about her. Who knows. If Panem were different, maybe they'd be together. Stranger things have happened," she laughed.

"I don't know if I could see that. Where would they live?" he joked along.

"Well, there's no way Haymitch could get her to live there. He'd have to move. Alcohol would be more easily accessible. But I don't think Effie knows that he needs to be fed three times a day and bathed at least twice a day. She only gets him for short amounts of times. Haymitch is a big commitment. You can't just take on Haymitch lightly," she said in mock seriousness.

"You make him sound like a dog," he laughed.

"Oh God no. That's so insulting," she said. Peeta's smile faded. "Dogs are so much easier to raise. It's just not fair to make the comparison," she said, making Peeta laugh. He was worried he offended her there for a moment.

"So, is Haymitch letting you go back to the dance this week?" He asked. Katniss bit her lip and shook her head.

"This is the last week, so I only missed two for this month, and he doesn't want me to go to the first two of next month. But then I'll have to after that because I won't be able to miss anymore for next month," she said. He nodded his head.

"How are you doing?" He asked. She looked up at him. "I mean, really doing," she looked straight ahead and bit her lip. They walked in silence for a minute. Maybe he shouldn't have asked. Maybe they weren't friends or anything, and it was too personal for her to talk about.

"I'm mad," she said. He looked over at her. "I'm mad because I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm the one who gets all my freedom taken away," she said. And then she stopped. Peeta stopped and turned towards her.

"And I'm terrified all the time," she whispered. Her eyes welled up with tears, and before he could think about it, he pulled her forward and hugged her in the middle of the dirt road, where anyone could see them. A Seam girl and a townie.

"I'm so sorry Katniss," he told her. He's only said it about a million times. He wanted something better. But it was the only thing he had. "It's not fair," he told her. She was right. She did nothing wrong. He was the one who attacked her. He should have his freedom taken away.

"I wish there was something I could do," he told her. She nodded and pulled back from, wiping her eyes quickly and looking up to see where Prim was.

"I don't want her to know I was crying," she said and cleared her throat.

"Yeah, I can understand that" he told her.

"Peeta," she said. He looked back at her. "Thank you…I don't know what I would have done without you. And thank you…for being my friend through all this," she said, her face flushing a little as she looked all around. So, they were friends. It made him smile.

"You're welcome. But it's me that should thank you," she looked back at him and tilted her head. "For letting me be your friend. I've, kinda always wanted to," he said nervously. He wanted to be more than friends of course. But friends was better than acquaintances.

He watched her blush more and thought she must have remembered what he had said to her when she woke up in his bed. That he had been in love with her.

"Well…you could have just asked…I wouldn't have minded," she told him. He chuckled.

"Yeah. That was my fault…but I'm happy we're friends now," he told her. She smiled and they stood there for a moment. God. She was beautiful. So, so beautiful.

They turned back to the road, but this time they were walking close to each other. So, close they kept bumping into each other. And he loved every second of it. His body tingled everywhere her body touched his. He wanted to reach over and grab her hand…but they were friends. Just friends.

They got to Prims school, and they said goodbyes to her and Rory, and then he walked her all the way to her class. He had just said goodbye and turned around when she called him back.

"Peeta," she called out. He turned and looked at her. "You don't have to always sit on the other side of the table at lunch," she said, blushing again and looking down the hall. By the time she turned back, he couldn't scrape the smile of his face if he tried.

"Noted," he told her and turned around. Katniss Everdeen wanted him to sit next to her at lunch!

His heart was skipping beats. Katniss was asking Peeta to sit next to her at lunch. She liked that they were friends. Gosh, he should have put himself out of his misery a really long time ago. They could have been friends since they were five years old. Then maybe he would have worked up the courage when they were 11 to ask her to be his girlfriend.

He shook his head and chuckled. He had to just calm down a little. He didn't want to scare her off with his insane amount of happiness. But he couldn't get rid of the smile on his face. He couldn't stop fidgeting around with excitement. He couldn't wait for lunch.

"Are you even paying attention?" He looked over and saw Delly leaning over to whisper to him.

"No not really," he chuckled.

"What has gotten into you?" She asked. He blushed slightly. "Does this have something to do with Katniss?" She asked. He could feel his cheeks heat up and Delly bounced in her seat.

"You have to tell me everything. I've seen the way she looks at you. Have you asked her out yet," she whispered.

"Come on Delly. We're just friends. I don't want to scare her off already," Peeta told her. Delly sighed dramatically.

"You better ask her out to the Harvest Festival then," Delly ordered him. Peeta rolled his eyes and sat back in his seat. He hadn't thought of that. Someone was bound to ask her. But he didn't want her to go with anyone else. He'd be more than happy to take her. Now it just made him nervous. But it was a little over a month away. He still had time.

When he got to lunch, he saw Katniss was by herself. Madge wasn't there yet. He walked over and sat down next to her. "Hey," he said. She looked up and smiled.

"Hi,"

"How's your day so far?" He asked. She sat back and rolled her eyes.

"We started learning how to use a washing machine today," Katniss said sarcastically. Peeta's mouth fell open.

"Are you serious?" He asked. She nodded her head and hummed an agreement at him. "Does anyone in 12 even own one?" She snorted.

"Madge, but that's it. I hate this. I'm not some stupid dense girl that I need classes on how to be a dutiful little housewife. I know how to wash clothes. I do it every week. Without a washing machine!" She complained.

"Yeah, same here," he said. She looked over at him. "Well, not every week. Some stuff we give to Mrs. Hawthorne. But we do some on our own. Me and my brothers take turns," Peeta said. Katniss nodded.

"You send stuff to Hazelle?" She asked. So, that was Gale's mom's name. He nodded his head. "Thank you. She appreciates that," Katniss said. Having Hazelle wash some of their clothes helps her feed her children. Peeta felt good about that.

He pulled out his sandwich again as she pulled out an apple. Just an apple. He wish she'd let him offer her his other half, but he tried to a few times, but she would glare at him. Only one time did she let him.

"So…are you excited about the Harvest Festival next month?" He asked. Delly had gotten it into his head, and now he couldn't stop thinking about asking her to be his date.

"Yeah. I actually love the Harvest Festival," she said. Peeta smiled. "Haymitch…he's always spoiled us. He gives us money to get some treats, and something to take home. I'll always buy something for Prim to save for Christmas," Katniss said.

"He's really good to you guys," Peeta said. She looked up and nodded.

"After his Games…my dad and Gale's dad really took him under their wing. Haymitch usually says all types of mushy stuff when he's drunk, and he told me once that our dads gave him a family after the Capitol killed his," she whispered. His eyes widened and she nodded her head.

Snow killed his family? "His mom, brother and girlfriend," Katniss whispered, looking around to see if anyone had overheard them.

"That's…" he trailed off, not knowing what to say. He had a new understanding about the only District 12 Victor. What a lonely life he must live. No wonder he clung to Katniss and Gale's family. No wonder he protected Katniss the way that he did. She was his family.

"What's wrong?" Katniss asked. At first, he thought she was talking to him, but then he heard a chair being pulled out and looked at Madge. She looked miserable.

"They chose me to be on camera. So, all my dates are gonna be carefully selected each week and broadcasted," she said sadly. No one wanted to be on tv for the Capitols entertainment.

"I'm sorry," Katniss said.

"I'm the Mayors daughter. There was no way I could get out of it," Madge said, opening her lunchbox and just staring at whatever was in there. "I'm not even hungry," she said and pushed it away.

"It could be worse," Peeta said. Both girls looked at him. "You could have been Reaped," he said. Katniss looked over at Madge. Her face changed a little and she looked down at her hands. She waited a moment before she nodded.

"That's true," she said and picked her head back up. "Thanks, Peeta," she said. He smiles at her and bit into his sandwich.

Katniss was stuck inside all week again, and she hated it. She lived for Sunday when her and Gale could go hunting. But as much as she loved Gale's company, she missed the solitude she'd spend in the woods alone. Gale noticed and told her to go off by herself. No one would come into the woods, and if they did, this was her territory. There was no way that she could get hurt in the woods. She was the hunter. Sometimes, your best friend just gets you.

By Sunday night though, Katniss was starting to get really antsy. She was trying to sleep, but Rory kept either throwing his arm across her chest or threw his leg across her stomach. She huffed and threw his arm off for the umpteenth time. "You're more agitated than usual. I thought you would have been more relaxed since you got to go hunting," Gale said as he yawned.

"I was. But I'm just so tired of this," she said. She felt Gale reach over Rory and squeeze her arm. Katniss was about to reply, but she heard something outside her window. She picked her chin up and looked at her window. Someone was outside, and they were pushing the window open. "Gale," she whispered.

But he was a hunter to. He had heard it at the same time she did. The window pushed open, and a head poked in, and Gale let out a roar and went flying for the window. He knocked the person back and the intruder got up and ran away. The window was too small for Gale to try and sneak through. "RORY GET UP!" Gale screamed and went running for the door. Rory was disoriented but got up and stumbled after Gale.

Katniss followed them into the living room. Gale and Rory were throwing on their shoes. "You stay with me. Don't run away from me. If you lose me, come back here," Gale told Rory as Gale reached into the closet and grabbed two large knives.

"What's going on?" her mom asked as her and Prim ran out of the room. Hazelle came out with Vick and Posy following her.

"He tried to get in the window. Come on!" Gale said and ran out the front door, with Rory behind him.

"Is your window still open?" Hazelle asked Katniss. But Katniss just stood there in shock. Hazelle ran into the room and shut the window. Katniss' mother went to the closet and grabbed a shovel and handed it to Hazelle when she came out, and then went to the kitchen and grabbed a large knife.

"Mommy what's happening?" Posy cried. Hazelle went and picked her up.

"Nothing darling. We're going to grab our pillows and blankets and were gonna lay down in the living room for a little while. Doesn't that sound fun?" Hazelle asked. The kids got excited and followed her.

"Mom what happened?" Prim asked.

"It's ok Prim. We're going to be fine," her mom said. She walked up to her and squeezed her trembling arms.

"He opened my window," she whispered. Her body was shaking uncontrollably, and her mother grabbed her as she started sobbing. "He was coming into my room. If Gale wasn't there," she sobbed into her mother's shoulders.

"It's ok Katniss. Gale and Rory were here. Nothing happened. You're safe. You're safe," she soothed her. Her mother directed her to the couch to sit down, and just let her cry.

"Prim, go help Hazelle with getting the kids coats and boots on," her mom said.

"Why?" Prim asked.

"Because we're not staying here tonight," her mom said. Katniss didn't know what was happening. Bones had come to her house. The rumors were true. He broke into girls' houses…and raped them. For the second time now, Katniss had almost been raped. They were trying desperately not to get him riled up. Because giving a reaction was exactly what Bones wanted. It was logical. But she wanted someone to put him in his place.

Katniss didn't know how long it took, but Gale and Rory came back. "Did you find him?" Prim cried as soon as they came in. Gale shook his head.

"We went to his house, but he wasn't home," Gale panted and sat on the couch, putting his head in his hands.

"We were worried that he tried to come back here," Rory said, putting his hand over his heart and trying to catch his breath.

"No, he didn't," Hazelle said. Gale looked around Emily and at Katniss, who was still crying. He reached over her mom's lap and took her hand.

"You're ok Katniss. Nothing happened," he told her.

"Thanks to you," Emily said, and wiped her eyes as tears fell.

"Is he gonna come back?" Prim asked as she started crying. Gale pulled her to him and sat her on his lap. She instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and started crying.

"I don't know Prim. But it doesn't matter. I won't let anything happen to you. To any of you," Gale said. He pulled her away after a moment. "And that's why we're not staying here tonight. Is everyone ready?" Gale asked.

"Yes, I packed up everyone's overnight bags. We can go right now," Hazelle said.

"Where…are we…going?" Katniss asked through her sobs.

"We're going to Haymitch's house.

They got their coats and shoes on and grabbed their things and headed towards the Victors Village. "I'll carry Vick," Rory told Gale when he picked her up. Rory nodded his head towards Katniss who was trembling.

Gale wrapped his arms around Katniss, and she clung tightly to him. "Everything's gonna be ok. I will never let him get close enough again to ever hurt you. I promise," he said and kissed the top of her head. Hazelle picked up Posy, and Emily wrapped her arms around Prim, and they were off.

It was eerily quiet in the Seam. Katniss was terrified that Bones was lurking somewhere, waiting to pounce on all of them. It terrified her. But Gale was here. And Bones was afraid of him. He said to Katniss that he never made a move before because Gale was around. Gale had been saving her for years, and they never even knew it.

Gale banged loudly on the door, and a moment later a drunk Haymitch answered. He took one look at them all and he became a lot more sober.

"What happened?" He asked in a low voice.

"Popped open her bedroom window," Gale told him gravely. Haymitch nodded and stepped onto the porch. He rubbed Katniss' arm up and down.

"You ok sweetheart?" He asked softly. But she shook her head. He let out a deep breath and looked at everyone else. "What about you guys?"

"Everyone's a bit shaken up," Hazelle admitted. Haymitch nodded and stepped off the porch.

"Follow me," he said. He crossed the Victors Village and brought them up to a house that hadn't been used, only for Capitol officials if they needed to stay in 12. But with the Marriage Initiative, they had been in more use.

He knocked loudly on the front door. He waited a minute before he did it again. A minute later the door opened. There was a tired Finnick, rubbing his eyes, in only his underwear. Haymitch and Gale chuckled.

"What's going on?" Finnick asked as he yawned. He leaned forward and saw everyone.

"They need a place to stay for a bit. Till the damn Capitol sends me the new windows and doors for their houses," Haymitch said.

"Yeah of course. Come in," Finnick said as he stepped aside, letting everyone walk in.

"Maybe you wanna put some pants on first?" Haymitch asked as they all got inside the house. Finnick waved him off.

"Yeah yeah. Follow me guys," Finnick said as they all followed him up the stairs. They divided up the rooms, just like they did at Katniss' house. One room for Emily and Prim, another for Hazelle, Vick and Posy, and then the third for Katniss, Gale and Rory.

Vick and Posy laid right down and went to sleep, but everyone else went downstairs. Finnick came back downstairs, with pants and a shirt on.

"Make yourselves at home, please. And you're welcome to stay here as long as you'd like. These houses get super lonely with no one in them," Finnick said and twisted Prim's braid to tickle her cheek. She smiled softly at him. But then her mouth fell.

"Oh no. What about Buttercup?" Prim asked frantically.

"Prim he'll be-"Emily tried to say but Prim burst out crying. Gale stood up, with Rory following him. They silently left without looking back. They'd go find that stupid cat.

"Prim, you know he stays out all night sometimes," Emily said.

"But I don't want him to get hurt," Prim cried. Her mom wrapped her arms around her and pulled her to her chest.

Finnick put a mug of tea in Katniss's hands and then sat next to her. "So. What happened?" He asked.

"He opened her bedroom window," Emily choked on her words. Haymitch grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

"Gale and Rory chased him out. But they couldn't find him," Hazelle said as she put tea in front of Emily and sat down on the other side of Katniss, who was still shaking.

"Just take it easy sweetheart. You're safe here," Haymitch told Katniss. She just buried her head in her arms and let the tears fall.

What if Gale and Rory hadn't of been there? What if she had been asleep and she didn't hear the window? What if he had been able to get in and get into her bed? Would she have had time to scream? What about Prim and her mom? Would he have hurt them to? Would she have been able to get him off of her?…would he have gotten her pregnant?

All these thoughts were too much, and she started to hyperventilate. "Hey, hey, hey, hey. It's ok Katniss," Finnick said and pulled her to his chest and held onto her as she sobbed. "It's ok. Everything's ok. You're safe now. Gale scared him off. He'll never let that guy hurt you. None of us will," he rocked her back and forth as she just sobbed.

Haymitch came over and bent down in front of her. "We're gonna keep you safe sweetheart. We'll go over and get your stuff tomorrow, and you can stay here until I get the new windows and doors for your houses. They're custom made, and they're having a hard time because of the frame around the windows,"

She knew what that meant. Their houses were so broken down, there would have to be work done on their houses. "I know a few guys who will be able to get the work done. And I promise, everything will be safe. There will be an alarm, that you can set every night- "

"But we don't always have electricity," she sobbed. How was she supposed to have an alarm if the electricity was out?

"Don't you think I already thought of that sweetheart? They're on rechargeable batteries. I ordered a few of them. You bring them over here to be charged and you'll have spares on hand. They're not the greatest ones, but they'll get the job done. And it'll be loud enough for the neighbors to hear. They'll come out and scare him off," Haymitch told her.

Nothing made her feel better though. Bones would find a way in. He wasn't letting up. And what would happen if he got to Prim or her mother? What if he gets angry and goes after Gale's family? He was a sick bastard. What if he went after Hazelle or Posy?

"I won't let him hurt you," Haymitch promised her. Gale and Rory came back in then, with a purring Buttercup.

"Buttercup!" Prim cried and ran over and took him. Gale walked over, and before he sat down Emily grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Gale smiled at her. He would always protect not only his own family, but hers as well.

Monday morning Peeta finished early at the Bakery and headed over to Katniss' house to walk her to school. But when he knocked on the door, he got no answer. He knocked a couple of times, but he got nothing. It was ok, she had to of left early.

As he turned around, he saw Hezar walking up. "Hey are they ready?" He asked Peeta.

"They're not home," he said, gulping. His heart started racing a little. He didn't want Hezar to see that he was acting like a baby and getting worried. He tried to play it off that he wasn't worried.

"Oh ok. Gale probably walked with them," Hezar said. Of course, that was the case. He was an idiot. He got to school and every few weeks on a Monday morning they had homeroom. It was a waste and it made him miserable because it was by a Capitol official that would come in and go over new rules. Upcoming events. Most of which didn't even apply to them. The heavier dates and activities were for the seniors. That's who they were concentrating heavily on.

But what he loved about homeroom, he and Katniss shared this class.

He sat over in the back corner and saved her seat. But he got more nervous as she didn't come into class. The bell rang and the Capitol official closed the door. Where could she be? What happened? Katniss never missed school. It was hard to miss school, because a Peacekeeper would start making the rounds on all the kids that were absent. You have to be really gravely sick to be able to stay home. Usually when the flu goes around then they let you stay home. Otherwise, you're stuck coming into school, sick as a dog.

But Katniss would always come to school. She had ever only missed a week when her father died. That was it. He should know, he watched her every day. His leg shook nervously through the whole hour. Where was she?

He was up as soon as the bell rang and ran down the hall to Haymitch's office. He knocked on it, but no one answered it. Then he went to Finnick's and knocked on his door. Finnick wasn't there either. He even went to Johanna's office.

"Young man why are you pounding on all the doors?" A Capitol official asked as she came out of her office. It was better to not be rude to these people. So, he cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. I was looking for Hay-…Mr. Abernathy. He didn't answer, so I was trying Mr. O'dair and Mrs. Mason. I know they're really close," he said as charming as possible through his anxiety.

"Well, they never showed up today. Mr. Abernathy is probably drunk, and the other two are probably stuck cleaning up his puke," she said, disgusted.

"Ok, thank you. And I'm sorry for disturbing you," he said, and smiled at her. He waited till she shut the door and went running back down the hall. He needed to see Haymitch. Or even Finnick or Johanna. They had to know where Katniss was.

He snuck out of school and went running down to the Victors Village. When he got there, he stopped in the middle of the courtyard. He had no idea where Haymitch lived, and where the other two were staying. He looked around and saw one of the houses completely run down. He figured that was Haymitch's. He ran up and knocked for a few minutes and got nothing. He ran his hand through his hair nervously.

"God where is everyone?" He asked out loud. He looked around. So, he guessed he had to be a crazy person and have to start knocking on all the doors. When he got down off the steps he looked over and saw someone's shadow in the window. Well, that house was good place to start. At least there was someone home.

He ran over to the door and could hear more than one voice inside. He knocked on the door and waited. Finally, a familiar face. Finnick.

"Peeta? What are you doing here kid?" He asked.

"Katniss wasn't in school. I went to walk with her, but no one was home. But Haymitch wasn't there either," Peeta said. Finnick bit his cheek to keep from smiling. Now was not the time to make fun of him being in love with Katniss.

He moved aside to let him in. Once he was in he could see the living room, and through to the kitchen. Katniss was sitting on the couch. Her family, the Hawthorne's, Haymitch and Johanna were all here.

"Katniss. You have a visitor," Finnick called out. Katniss was curled up on the couch, with her head laying against the back. She moved her eyes and then sat straight up.

"Peeta?" She asked. Her voice sounded terrible. It sounded so hoarse, from what he assumed crying. His nerves were right. Something had happened.

"I wanted to see if everything was ok. You guys weren't at school," he covered it up that it wasn't just Katniss. That he was looking for Prim and Rory as well. Of course he had no idea whether or not Prim and Rory had made it to school. And he hoped that no one would make that connection. He felt like an idiot standing there. He must have seemed like a stalker.

"Fresh air will do you good sweetheart," Haymitch said from the kitchen. Finnick threw her coat across the living room and it landed on the back of the couch. She got up slowly and he could finally see what she was wearing. His sweatshirt. It made him happy to know that she loved wearing that. She put her coat on and pulled her boots up. She looked exhausted.

Finnick held the door open and smiled while they walked out. "Have fun kids," Finnick said and shut the door behind them.

Katniss was just standing there with her arms hugging herself. Her face was so puffy, and her eyes were red from crying. "I'm sorry if I bothered you or make you feel uncomfortable by coming to check on you. I just got worried when no one was around," Peeta said. She looked up at him and shook her head.

"It's ok…thank you for checking on me," she said. He let out a sigh of relief. She tilted her head at his reaction.

"I just don't want to crowd you or anything. Or hover over you. If it's ever too much, you can just tell me," Peeta babbled. Katniss shook her head again.

"You have to stop saying that. You don't crowd me. I like that you've been around," she said. He nodded his head and let out a big sigh of relief again.

"Let's sit down," he said. They walked along the porch to a swing and sat down on it. "Katniss, what happened?" he asked softly. Katniss looked anywhere but at him. He lips started trembling. She covered her face. He was terrified of what happened.

"Oh Katniss," he said and pulled her to his chest as she started crying. He held her tightly to him. "Please don't cry," he whispered. But she couldn't stop. He had to ask her. "Katniss…did he?" He couldn't even say it. He couldn't voice his fears out loud

"Gale and I heard the window opening, and Gale jumped at him, and he ran off. And then Gale and Rory went after him, but they couldn't find him," she cried into his shoulder. She was holding onto him for dear life. He let out a deep shaky breath that he had been holding.

"God Katniss, I'm so sorry," he was terrified for her. Bones actually went to her house? What was wrong with him? He was so thankful for Gale being there. If he hadn't been there, Katniss could have been…he dreaded it. He couldn't get the mental image out of his head.

"He won't leave me alone. What if he hurts Prim or my mom? I don't understand why he's doing this," she cried. He buried his own face in her neck.

"I wish I had an answer for you. I wish I could make all this go away. I'm so sorry," he choked out. He didn't want her to know he was getting emotional. He couldn't. They just started becoming friends. He didn't want to scare her off.

They stayed like that for a while, and then Katniss pulled back a bit. But she didn't move away. She stayed tucked into him, with his arm wrapped around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head.

"Oh my God, he is smitten with her," Finnick laughed as he came into the kitchen. Gale leaned against the counter and chuckled.

"They sit together at lunch now every day now," Johanna said as she hopped up on the counter next to Gale.

"Oh, you should have heard him go on and on about her in my office. Emily, you got a good boy on your hands. Katniss would be crazy not to fall for him," Finnick said.

"Someone's about to have their first boyfriend," Gale sang, holding his hand to his heart.

Emily looked down at her hands. "I don't want her to date till she's 18," she whispered. Hazelle reached over and grabbed her hand and squeezed.

"You don't really have a choice with that now," Haymitch told her. She wiped a tear that ran down her cheek.

"Peeta's a good one though Emily. All the girls have him on their list to go on dates with. And he only has eyes for her. He's an amazing kid. He'd cherish her," Finnick said.

"She has a bit of a crush on him to. I just don't think she realizes it yet," Gale laughed. Hazelle smacked his arm.

"Yeah, that's obvious. That girl is just too blind to realize she even likes the guy," Haymitch laughed.

Peeta and Katniss sat in silence for a while. He felt her slightly shaking under his arm and would pull her tighter against him. But really, she couldn't be any closer unless he pulled her onto his lap.

Peeta wasn't going to let Bones get to Katniss. He wouldn't let him hurt her. He was going to protect her. He'd walk her to and from school, wherever she needed to go. If he had to, he'd sleep outside her window every night just to give her peace of mind. He couldn't let Bones take her innocence from her.

He felt her shiver. "Is it too cold out here for you?" He asked. It would surprise him since she had on his hoodie and her jacket. It was getting colder now. It was in the forties.

"Kinda. But you're really warm. You're like a furnace," she said. He smiled.

"We'll any time you need some warming up you know where to go," he joked. They both realized what he said, and Katniss looked up at him, making them both blush. She sucked in her bottom lip and put her head back on his shoulder.

"Ok," she whispered so softly, he almost thought she didn't say it.