Katniss's POV

I arrive home to see Prim waiting on the doorstep.

"KATNISS!" she cries. I reach out as she springs into my arms. "You were late, I was worried- Why is your sleeve all bloody?" She pulls away and grabs my arm, holding it up to her face.

"Its nothing, really." Prim looks at me and stares at my swollen lip and misshapen nose. Without another word, she grabs my hand and pulls me inside our house. My mother turns around the corner and opens her mouth to say something, then notices me and nods at Prim. I'm never quite sure what they're doing when these things happen. It's like they have some secret language that nobody but them can understand, and when I finally came to my senses, I'm on a chair in the living room.

"I'll be right back." Mom says.

"Katniss, what happened to you?" Prim asks.

"It was nothing. I swear. Just mean kids." I say.

Mom comes back into the living room. She has a wet rag and the first aid kit. She sits down next to me. She wipes my face.

"Who did this to you?" Mom asks.

"No one, Mom." I say.

"Katniss." She says seriously. She gives me a look.

I sigh. "These bullies from my school." I say quietly. "But someone helped. They stopped them before it got worse."

"Was it an adult?" Mom asks.

"No. It was a guy from my school. I see him sometimes. But he stood up for me. Made them stop." I explain.

"Oooh! Was he cute?" Prim ask.

"Primrose!" My mom says.

"Sorry." She says quietly.

"He's really nice. He's my friend." I say.

Mom puts a bandaid on my nose. "I'll get you some ice for your face." She says.

"Thanks." I say.

"If this happens again, Katniss, I'm going to intervene. This is unacceptable." She says.

"It won't, Mom. I'll be more careful." I say.

She nods. She hugs me. "I love you Katniss." She says.

"I love you too, Mom." I say.

She lets me go. She does the secret communication with Prim. Then she leaves.

"What was that about?" I ask.

"Nothing. Only Mom and I need to know." She says.

I roll my eyes. Mom comes back with a bag of ice.

"Just keep that there for a bit. It'll help with the swelling." Mom says.

I nod.

"We're going out for dinner tonight. So think of a place we should go to." Mom says.

"Ooh! Yay!" Prim says.

I lay back on the couch. I keep the ice on my face. I can't stop thinking of Peeta.

'He's so nice to me. I hope we can still be friends. He's such a great guy.' I think.

Peeta's P.O.V

I walk home from the park. My stomach hurts more now, and my whole body. Cato and his group are so mean. They have always been bullies. He's in the sixth grade like me. But he is older than me. They are mean to everyone. At school and outside of school. We were friends in the second grade. But I don't know what changed. I go into the side door of the bakery. My family lives above it. My dad opened the bakery after my older brother was born. I'm the youngest. I'm only eleven. My oldest brother, James, is 14, my middle brother, Alex, is 13.

"Mom! I'm home!" I call.

"She's not here, boy!" My grandpa calls.

I go into the living room. Grandpa Haymitch is sitting on the couch. He takes a drink from his "special juice".

"What happened to you?" He asks.

"Nothing. I'm fine." I say.

"Was it those kids again?" He asks.

"Yeah." I say.

"You need to learn how to stand up for yourself, Peeta." Grandpa says.

"I know." I say quietly.

"You'll get hurt all the time if you don't. Do you want that?" He asks.

I shake my head no. "I don't either. So I'll teach you." He says.

"You can't teach me! You're old!" I say.

"Old? I, in fact, lived through war and fought in one, young man." He says. "It may have been a while ago, but I still know my stuff."

I smile.

"And no one will ever pick on you again." Grandpa says.

"Thanks, Grandpa." I say.

"You're welcome, boy." He says. He hugs me and rustles my hair.

"Hey!" I exclaim.

"Try to get free, Peeta." He says.

I struggle to get out of his grasp. I finally wiggle my way out of arms. "Ha Ha!" I exclaim. I jump on him and fight him. We hear the door open and slam closed.

"Haymitch! Have you seen that boy!?" My mom yells. She comes stomping up the stairs.

"I'm here mom." I say.

"Where on earth have you been?! And what happened to you?!" Mom asks angrily.

"I was in the park. I told you that." I say.

"No, you didn't! Why are you lying to your mother?!" Mom says.

"I'm not lying, Mom. I came in when Dad got up and told you I was going to the park." I say.

"I didn't know I raised a liar. You snuck out of the house on purpose!!" Mom says.

"Ava, the boy is telling the truth." Grandpa says.

"Stay out of this, Haymitch!" She says angrily to him. "And you got yourself into trouble, didn't you? Someone had to smack some sense into you. You were probably trespassing."

I stay quiet. "I didn't do anything wrong, Mom. I swear. Ask my friend. She was-"

"She? You were with a girl?! No son of mine is going to be hanging out with girls and getting into trouble! Now go to your room, Peeta! You're grounded!" Mom yells.

I try not to cry. "Why are you so mean, MOM! Why don't you believe anything I say!?" I ask frustrated.

Mom hits me on the side of my head. "Don't talk back to me. Go to your room and think about what you've done." Mom says.

I go to my room. I slam the door. I lock the door. I sit at my desk. I wipe the tears from my face.

'Don't cry Peeta. Crying is stupid! It'll get you bullied.' I think.

I force myself not to. I sigh. I remember what Katniss gave me. I reach in my pocket. I pull out the pearl. I look at it. It's white but has a tint of a shiny effect.

'I see why Cato wanted it.' I think.

I set in on my desk. I open the drawer and look for my sketch pad. I open up a page. I turn on the lamp. I start to sketch the pearl. When I get the outline and the shading right, I pull out my paints. Painting has always been a talent of mine. I can get lost in it. I just wish my family would get me. Especially my mom.

HEY ALL!! THX FOR RERADING!! We liked to write this chapter! Plz Vote and Comment! (If you feel sad, for Peeta, DO NOT FRET!!! HIS LIFE WILL BE BETTER AS HE GROWS UP!! PROMISE!! 

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