Peeta's POV.

I look at myself in the mirror, nervously trying to fix my hair, that is combed backwards, making me feel concious about the scar in my forehead.

"Damn, Peet. You don't need to be so nervous." Ted says from behind me. He has been staying with me and Haymitch for almost a week now. Here in two says he'll be going back to the Capitol and his wife, Lizzie. Still it's been a nice week. It feels nice to have a brother again. He is like a friend, but better at the same time. We constantly trade each other and it feels right. We have dinner in the table with Katniss' family, and for moments everything seems perfect. Those are the moments I treasure.

"I know, but I feel stupid." I say, fixing up the green tie I'm wearing. "Were you so nervous about prom, when it was you?" I ask.

Ted chuckles "I didn't go to mine, remember? Mom didn't let me." he says.

"Oh, right." I say remembering that day. It was one of those days when no one wanted to be around mother. She had had a terrible night and the day at the bakery was certainly not profiteble. Ted was getting ready for Prom while me and Eddie were mocking him about his light blue suit. "I think your date will be very upset that you look more beautiful than her." I had said. When he was about to leave mother stopped him claiming that it was his turn to clean the ovens, and of course, everyone knew better than to contradict her.

"Don't worry, it's gonna be fine, Peet." Ted says resting his hand on my shoulder.

"I know." I say quietly, while adjusting my green tye. I run my hand through my hair one last time and I turn around "Let's go."

I run downstairs with Ted trailing behind me, into the living room, where Haymitch is lounged in the couch examining, watching Tv.

"It's time for you to go, kiddo. Katniss must be bored of waiting for you to arrive so that she can start preparing herself for being elegantly late." he says, eyeing the clock, and then glancing at me.

"Right." I mumble, heading to the front door, Ted still following me. Before opening the door I turn around. "Do I look okay?" I ask Ted.

He grins before answering "I think your date will be very upset that you look more beautiful than her.".

I chuckle "I'll be going then." I say leaving the house.

I walk to Katniss' house and knock on the door. There's shuffling of feet before Prim opens the door. She looks me up and down and grins. "Hi Peeta!" she greet moving away from the door, inviting me in. "Katniss is almost ready, mom is doing her hair." I nod following her. "I think you're the only guy that she actually dresses up for. Should be proud of that"

I chuckle at Prim's remark "I am." I state.

"Peeta." Someone calls me from behind. I smile and turn around, staring at a grinning Katniss at the top of the stairs.

"Hei." I say lightly, making Katniss' smile widden, just like my own. I open up my arms for her and she comes trotting down the stairs and crashes in my arms. "You look beautiful." I whisper to her, kissing her cheek afterwards.

Katniss pulls away, giving me the chance to have a better look at her. She does look beautiful. Her blue flowey dress compliments her legs, making them look taller, and matches her skin tone just the right way. Her hair his pulled sidedways in a long fishtail type of braid. Her already plump lips look fuller because of the ligh pink gloss, and although I don't think she is wearing mascara her eyelashes look thick.

"You look very handsome yourself." She pipes up, adjusting my tie. "I like the way your gray suit matches my eyes."

I look at her. I don't think it does. Katniss' eyes are to unique to be described as simple gray, like my suit. They are too bright, but stormy at the same time, with specks of blue in them that you wouldn't be able to noticce unless you examine them closely. That's the thing about her eyes, I always discover something knew about them, every time I stare at them.

"Good night, Peeta." Katniss' mom says appearing behind her.

"Good night, Ms. Everdeen." I say as politely as I manage.

"We should get going, don't wanna be late." Katniss interrupts us, clasping our hands together.

"Don't I just have the right to take a picture?" Ms. Everdeen questions, raising her eyebrows.

"Mom!" Katniss grumbles, as her mother excitedly trotts back upstairs to get the camera, and Katniss exhales heavily.

"No PDA for you too." Prim says coming out of the kitchen, eating a chocolate.

Katniss was about to launch some sort of comment back to her sister's mocking but Ms, Everdeen arrives with the camera. "Okay, Pretty faces, you two." Katniss sighs and comes closer to me, putting on a fake smile.

One thing is for sure, Katniss is an awfull actress. Still, I put my arm around her and smile for the camera. "Oh, come on Katniss, you can do better than that. Brighten up a little, Choo Choo!"

Even after we're out the door Katniss's cheeks are still red. I pull her closer to me, putting my arm around her waist, and kiss her cheek.

"Why are you so upset, Choo Choo?" I tease her, my lips still resting on her cheek. I swear I can feel it getting hotter.

"Stop it." she says. "It's not funny."

I chuckle, placing a kiss in her neck while we walk. "You don't realize how lucky you are." I state. Katniss flashes me a confused expression "For having a mother that cares so much." I clear it.

Katniss takes a few time to think of an answer. "You're right. Deep down I think I'd miss her embaressing me always that I bring someone home." she says rolling her eyes. "We never realize how importante someone is, until you loose ."

I contemplate Katniss's words and I know they're true. After an whole lifetime of loosing almost everyone I cared about. My father, my brothers. my mother somehow. I look at Katniss, walking beside me, so close I can feel her warmth invading my body. The small smile that plagues her lips at moments like this makes the dark street light up, and her shinny eyes reflect the moonlight just right. And in that moment I promise myself that I'll never loose Katniss Everdeen, even if it costs my whole existance.

The silence has been goig on for quite a bit, so I decide to lighten up the mood "I'm really sorry I couldn't get you a limo."

Katniss smiles "Eventhough school is just around the block I'll never forgive you." she jokes.

I laugh, walking inside school with her. We walk down the dak hallways to the gym. When we arrive everyone is already dancing. I look around at the space. I'll never really get why people think prom is something so special, the gym looks tacky with the red baloons spread around, the pink decoration, and the cheesy music playing. I guess this is just what people make of it.

"Oh, look there are the guys!" Katniss says pointing to the dancefloor where Finnick and Gale are dancing with some weird moves and the girls are laughing. Well, except Johanna, who claimed would much rather stay home watching her chubby father cooking shirtless. I've never seen Johanna's father but from what I've heard he sound kind off... hairy. I could say I'd much rather stay home watching Haymitch get drunk but the truth is that I want to spend time with Katniss.

"Looking fancy, PeetaBread." Gale greets.

"How your girls got you to wear those I'll never understand." Finnick says referring to mine and Gale's lame smokings.

"Well, I bet Annie got super excited knowing that you decided to come wearing jeans." Gale jokes.

"Unless we know how to please the ladies." I tease. Finnick just rolls his eyes and says he knows exactly how to please Annie later, wiggling his eyebrows afterwards.

After awhile Finnick and Annie do disappear, proving Finnick's statement right leaving me, Katniss, Gale and Madge sipping from our plastic pounch cups.

"That douchebag came!" Gale grumbles, his eyes almost setting fire. I follow his gaze that falls on Cato who is arriving the prom with a random girl and the rest of his crew.

"What's up with that? Prom is for everyone." I state, making Gale snort.

"It's gonna be just like last year! And the year before! Hell, even in that Prom we had in the end of middle school !He comes with some girl, hits on Madge to upset me and ruins everything. Not to talk about Glimmer that chooses some guy in a relationship and starts making out with him just to annoy his girlfriend." Gale says, almost burning up with anger.

"It's almost like a tradition for them." Katniss says rolling her eyes.

"And last year I totally beat uo Cato's ass and told him to never ever come to a dance again. I guess that ass needs a reminder." Gale says streching his hands. "Will you join me, Peeta?" he asks.

"Why do you have such a need to go after him? I mean he hasn't done anything." I argue.

"Hasn't done anything yet!" Gale corrects.

"Gale, he's right. Don't ruin the night just yet." Madge states, grabbing his hand. "Just because he's your nemesis since first grade doesn't mean you have to go put uo a fight with him everytime you see him or Marvel."

"I just really hate his guts!"

"Believe me, we know that." I joke, although I really mean it.

"I need to go pee." Katniss excuses herself "Come with me, Madge?" Madge nods and both leave.

In the moment they are out the door Cato walks towards us, wearing a smirk, making Gale tense, and I swear I can hear him growl.

"So, Ladies?" Cato asks approacing us.

"What do you want dickhead?" Gale immediatly pipes up.

Cato raises his hands in defense, his smirk only growing by the second.

"Madge is looking good tonight, I might finally take her with me tonight." Cato says.

This statements makes Gale snort. "As if she would ever want anything to do with you." he spits.

"Everdeen is also looking nice. Never seen her better." Cato says looking at me. I press my lips together, not allowing myself to loose my temper because of this ass. He takes this action as a sign to keep talking "Of course that I wouldn't take her away from Thresh. He's been hooked on her since Joey's party a few weeks back. Shame breadboy spoiled the fun before it started."

I inhale deeply and clench my teeth together. I know what he's trying to do. Since I arrived this school he's been trying to get to me, to make me snap. I've successfully avoided any sort of interaction with him for the past weeks, which isn't even all that hard because I doubt he attends classes all that often.

Cato smirks when he realizes how to get to me. He opens his mouth to say something, but I don't want to know what he is going to say, instead, I turn around and start to walk away. I take a few steps when I start to feel frustrated with myself. Why can't I ever confront anyone? Why do I always turn and leave? Am I too weak to fight? Because Ithink that's what everyone thinks. No, I'm not going to let people see me as weak. I am not weak.

That's all I need to turn around and strike Cato with a ounch in the nose. At first he's taken a back, since he was already bickering again with a red faced Gale, and wasn't expecting me to lash out on him so easily. But it doesn't take him long to bounce on me, and Gale to react and take the chance to strike a few punches on Cato.

.

By now a crowd of people is already around us, some rooting for Cato, some rooting for me and Gale. Punches are launched every directions, sometimes me even hitting Gale by accident. I'm already starting to grow weary when finally I get Cato on a headlock. My knee is aiming for his groin, when I feel someone pulling me away from Cato. At first I don't let go of him until I'm finished, but when I stop seeing red I reluctantly drop him to the ground.

There's nothing more to say after that. Me, Cato and Gale got expelled from Prom. Cato wondered off somewhere, and me and Gale are now sat in the stairs of the school entrance, wondering for how long is it gonna take for our dates to realise that we ruined Prom night.

"You know, Peet, I missjudged you." Gale says suddenley.

I look up at him with a confused expression. "What?"

"It's just that I always thought you were kind of a, how to put this, sissy?" he pipes up. I chuckle. "Don't get me wrong, I just never thought much if you. I barely know you anyway. But you always seemed distant to me. The only reason I ever tolerated you was because Katniss liked you. And Katniss is like a sister to me. I never thought you'd really do something that crazy. I mean, Cato didn't even say much." Gale pauses and laughs for a while, probably imagining Cato's surprised expression when I pounced on him. "Anyway, you proved me wrong. And any sort of reservations I had about you dating Katniss dissipated after what you did in there. I know you will take good care of her." he finishes.

"Thanks, dude." I say. Gale looks up at me with squinted eyes. "What?" I ask.

"Seriously, Peet, I just made the most brilliant speech in my whole life and all you have to say is Thanks?" he jokes.

"Well, you both seem very happy for someone who just ruined the whole night!" a voice behind us says.

"Madge, babe!" Gale says, standing up and walking towards a upset Madge wearing a glare. He goes to hug her, but she pulls away.

"Don't think that that is going to work tonight." Madge scolds to Gale, who is trying to get a kiss from her.

Suddenley I feel a hand on my shoulder. "You are in some trouble yourself." Katniss says from beside me.

I turn to look at her. She is smiling, but trying to be serious at the same time, so I'm guessing she is not really mad.

"So, are you going to walk me home?" Katniss asks.

I chuckle and out my arm around her, walking with her through the dark streets.

"No limo and got expelled from prom. You sure know how to please a lady, Peeta." Katnis pipes up sarcastically.

"I do what I can to please."

Katniss smiles and I smile back. We walk in a comfortable silence for a moment until Katniss speaks again. "Have you decided if you're going to you brother's wedding? Because I want to be your plus one."

I chuckle "I thought about it and, why not? It should be nice. Plus, Ted has been trying so hard to make things right again. I guess I should be trying a litler harder to." I say.

"You know it's not your fault, though, don't you?" Katniss states, looking at me with worried eyes.

I nod "I guess not, but still. I don't know. I think things will never be the same between us, but I guess it's worth the shot, though. He asked me to be the bestman."

Katniss smiles, resting her head on my shoulder. "Congratulations."

"I hope you'll be there with me."

"Of course I will. We'll go through this together. I won't leave you, I promise." Katniss says. Hearing those words bring me a sense of safety I never felt before.

"Thank you." I say.

The rest of the walk is silent. I leave Katniss at her house's porch, giving her one good night kiss, and go home.

When I arrive Ted is nowhere to be seen but Haymitch is still sat in the couch watching some late night show.

"Hey, you're home early." he greets.

"Yeah, got expelled from Prom by putting uo a fight." I state.

"Well, that's kind of obvious." Haymitch jokes, standing up to get me some ice for my eye, that is getting swollen from a blow Cato gave me. He comes up to me and gives me the ice. "And besides that?"

I chuckle "I guess Prom really is the most magical time of the year." I joke.