Song of the chapter; " Like a Cowboy." By Randy Houser.

Weeks went by, and still no word of Peeta and Melody's split. I waited and waited, hoping that today was the day. But it never was, it was naive of me to think we could be together again. He'd forgive her easily, that's how he is. Haymitch told me once, that back back five or six years ago that boy would have done anything for me. He told me that Peeta could care less if I was rude to him, or if I fell in love with him. He told me that either way Peete wouldn't care because he would still be helplessly and truly in love with me. I remember listening to Peeta talk during a small interview that was never aired, it was during the quarter quell. It was the day after I had gotten pregnant, and Caesar had asked Peeta about our relationship. I get butterflies thinking about Peeta telling him we were like Romeo and Juliet, two forbidden lovers who had the world against them. I remember him going so in depth about it that Caesar, the man who loves romance more than anymore had asked Peeta to stop. And then upon president snow seeing them he deemed them unfit for citizens. He said that would have just encouraged rebellion and made everyone want to stop the games. So he took it down, and made us refilm it.

I haven't seen him in two weeks, and is beginning to drive me insane. I see him in passing, or through the windows of his house and mine. But I want to touch him, I want to know he's physically there. I want to kiss and hold him. But I can't, because him and Melody are still together. They'll always be together, he won't ever leave her. He may know I love him, and he may have feelings deep for for me. But we'll never be together.

Things with Gale since Peeta's last visit has been good. We talked things through and decided that we wanted to be together. I agreed that I could only be friends with Peeta nothing else. But I don't know what I'll do if the situation appears that we could be together. Because I've said it before, there's a huge part of my life Gale will never know, never understand. The games where a traumatic event, and the evens after that broke me into a million pieces. I'll never be whole again.

I feel hands around my waist and I jump turning around. "Hey." He breaths pressing his face against the side of mine.

"Hi." I say.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

"I was trying to cook for you, but I realized i'm a terrible cook, and we have no good food." I explain causing us both to chuckle. "I think I'm gonna run to the hob quickly." I say.

"Okay, then I want to talk to you when you get back." He says.

"Everything okay?" I wonder turning around and looking at him. I wrap my arms around his torso and he places his on my waist and back.

"Everything's more than okay, it's perfect." I smile and nod connecting our lips.

"Okay, well I'll get back quick then."

"I hope so." He smiles. He hands me my jacket and a couple bills before I rush out of the door. My eyes avoid Peeta's house, thankfully. I continue walking admiring the nature, it's fall; the leaves are all a beautiful color. Ripper passed away, I found out on my last trip to the hob. I went to the small memorial service, along with Gale and his family.

I walk through the hob, it's crowded; people crossing in every which way. A rock hits my leg, and I jump looking around at the source of it. Another one comes, and another until I find the source being someone behind a curtain.

I move closer. "Hello?" I ask. "Sae? Is that you?" A hand appears motions me back into the curtained room. Carefully, I step through and am greeted to a pitch black room. A pair of firm hands grab my shoulders and pull me towards them. "Who are you?" I say, my voice sounding slow and terrified.

"Stay with me." The person replies.

"Peeta?" I ask feeling for his face. "Is that you?" I ask him.

"Yes, it's me. Now stop touching my face like that it hurts." He chuckles.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

"Trying to work on things with melody." He admits. "But you've been in the back of my head since the day you told me and I knew I needed to see you and do this."

I close my eyes waiting for it. That's when he presses his lips to mine, kissing hard yet soft at the same time. He sighs into my lips. "I have been craving that all week." He breaths hot air into my lips.

"Well don't stop." I gush kissing him again.

I'll admit, I'm speechless. This boy, who claimed to not love me anymore; is basically saying he needs my love. He's risking his future with his wife to see my once more. We are both cheating our on significant others. But I don't care, because i'd cheat on Gale a hundred times if it meant to be with Peeta just once. We kiss for ten minuets, just taking each other in. Finally I break away from him. "Why can't we be together?" I ask.

"Because of my attacks. Their bad after every time I see you, and I don't want to hurt you or Cameron. I need to get this fixed before I can even think about it." He says. "I just don't trust myself around you for long periods of time. But my doctor is working and says he has a surgery that could fix everything."

"Is it dangerous?" I ask as he hugs me close.

"Don't worry about me." He slips a thin piece of paper into my palm. "Just worry about meeting me at this address at midnight, every three or four days at six. Okay?"

"How will I know when?" I ask.

"I'll leave the lamp on, if it's on I've left already; if it's off I haven't left yet or I'm going to." He explains. "Okay?"

"Okay." I agree. He kisses me again, and sends me on my way.

**

I find the food I needed to buy, and then jog to Gale's family's house. I drop off food for them and create a clever excuse as to why I was late. I stayed and talked for a bit, then walked back home with my backpack filled with food. "Hey, I didn't think you were ever coming back." He chuckles kissing the side of my head.

"Yeah, I stopped at your house to visit and give them some some food." I lie.

He nods and smiles. "I was meaning to stop and see them soon." He tells me. "I guess you best me to it."

I shrug. "Yeah."

"Did you tell my mom about us?" He asks with the biggest smile I've ever seen anyone wear. We'll maybe besides Peeta when I agree to marry him.

"I didn't, I figured you'd want to tell her." I admit, that's true. I figured if he finally accomplished his dream he'd want to be the first to tell his mother.

"We could invite them over for dinner." He suggests, you just bought food right?" I nod to him. "Is it enough for all of them?"

"Should be, I can make lamb and a beef roast if not." I suggest.

"Okay, you start that I'll clean, and call her and invite her over."

"Alright." He presses his lips to mine, placing a hand on the small of my back. I steal one more kiss before breaking away and turning my attention to the oven. I turn it on, like Peeta had once showed me to do. I roll up my sleeves on my flannel, Gale told me it would look nice. I guess he was kind of right, it looks presentable, well enough to go or have a dinner. I had to redo the buttons after my brief visit with Peeta.

I start to cook, watching the sun fade down the horizon.  Melody leaving her house with Willow catches my eye, but I don't dare go outside. I continue to cook, and then hear Gale talking. "Hey mom, yeah it's me." He waits a few seconds. "Yeah, we were just wondering if you wanted to come over to Katniss's house for dinner."  I turn and look at him.  "Okay, so I'll see you in an hour?" He asks. "Alright, Love you too."

He hangs up the phone and looks at me. "An hour and they'll be here." He tells me.

"Okay." I nod. I then back around to cook and his hands on my waist stop me. "I should hurry and finish if they'll be here in an hour, I want to shower too." I say quickly wiping my hands on a damp towel hoping he'll let me alone.

But instead, he spins me around with my hand above my head a few times.  Then pulls me close so our chests are pressed together.

He inclines our foreheads, and gradually lets our lips touch. He places a hand on my cheek, and both of our moths open more to deepen the kiss. As it works, we stand there in the middle of the kitchen. His hands on my cheek and back, mine on his sides, my fingers spread out feeling the fabric of his woolen shirt.

This is the first kiss that gives me a feeling in my stomach. The same one, that I felt on the beach; it may not be as strong but it's still the same tingling feeling. 

He breaks away. "I love you, Catnip."

"I know." I blurt.

****

Hey guys, I know this is short. And I know it's late, but I was at the farm show all day and couldn't update. So, I hope this scandalous chapter makes up for it.

OH AND GUYS. I AM GOING TO CUT BACK TO POSTING EVERY OTHER DAY. SORRY BUT THANKS.

Thanks for reading, and voting and already one hundred reads.

Love you all!

~Kylee
Xxx