Mockingjay High

Football Game

Katniss POV:

   After Johanna and Gale's blowup we ended up comforting Jo for awhile before she asked to be alone. We all left and went home then.

   Riding with Peeta I found myself not being able to think about the whole thing. What happened? Everything was going so well. Now I feel like we've lost two friends.

   Throwing Madge under the bus wasn't the right thing to do. But neither was being so mean to Johanna. There was no reason for that. At least that I know of.

   "What are you thinking about so hard?" Peeta murmured reaching his hand out to grab mine as he drives with his other hand.

   "Gale and Johanna." I mumble softly. My brain would not stop whirring about the subject.

   "Oh. Well. There's nothing we can really do about it." Peeta murmurs glancing at me.

   "I know. But I feel like we are losing two friends now." I sigh sadly thinking about Madge.

   "I don't know about that. They know Jo has some anger problems. I bet they will come around."

   "But it will be so awkward for them." I frown looking at Peeta.

   "You don't know. Maybe it won't be. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think everything will turn out." Peeta explains softly to me. Most likely trying to calm me down.

   Yet. All I can imagine is if this happened to us. I don't want to lose him. He's my best friend. Jo and Gale seemed fine what if one day my temper gets the best of me? I could lose him forever.

   "Kat!?!?" Peeta shouts causing me to jump.

   "What?" My big eyes stare Peeta down looking for injury or something that would cause his reaction.

   "I've been saying your name for the past five minutes. What's wrong? It's really not that bad. I'm sure they will be fine. Everything works out in the end. This must have happened for a reason." Peeta murmurs kissing the back of my hand that he holds.

   "I, well I was." I stutter before I burst into tears. I'm not really sure why. My period must be coming soon or maybe it's just the stress of everything happening.

   The thought of losing my new best friends broke me. I always struggled to make friends but when I do they become a sort of family to me.

   "Katniss? Okay. One second." Peeta pulls over seeming determined. He hops out of the car and comes over to my side opening the door.

   Peeta unbuckled my seatbelts pulling me out the getting in with me on his lap.

   "Hey, what's wrong? This can't be just about them breaking up." Peeta strokes my hair away from my face gently.

   I choke back my tears a bit and look at him sadly. Shaking my head I take a few deep breaths and try to speak again.

   "I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose anyone. You all mean so much to me now. I can't lose you guys. I can't lose anyone else in my life. I can't handle it." I start to sob again as I realize the truth as I speak it.

   Something about Peeta allows me to just speak out and say things I don't even know about myself sometimes.

   "Katniss," Peeta takes my chin in between his fingers making me look at him. "You won't lose me. You won't. I can say that firmly. I care for you too much to lose you. Our friends? I can't promise anything. But trust me. You have snuck into their hearts and once you've done that? They have a hard time letting go too." Peeta kisses my nose softly before releasing my chin.