A/N: As always, thanks for reading! A very awesome reader kindly pointed out that Cinna appears earlier in this story as Effie's boyfriend. Whoops! So Castor is now the music producer. Thanks for catching that error! The lyrics in this chapter are from "Castle" by Halsey.

Katniss woke the next morning to a hand on her shoulder and Peeta softly calling her name. She stretched and yawned, surprised to see him standing over her.

"Aren't you supposed to be on set?" she asked, sitting up. Peeta set a tray of pancakes down in front of her and sat on her other side.

"Haymitch called. I don't need to be there until ten now. But I was already up, so…"

"Breakfast in bed? Yum." She picked up her fork and glanced over at him. "Why are you wearing so much clothing? We're in LA. It's probably eighty degrees outside."

Peeta glanced down at his white v-neck and dark gray sweatpants. "The central air is on."

She waved her fork in his general direction. "Shirt," she commanded.

He laughed and took it off.

"Now if you could just move right over…" She dragged the last syllable out as Peeta crawled in front of her. "There. Perfect."

"Like the view?"

"It's okay." She shrugged. "Breakfast in bed, shirtless boyfriend, another day with no responsibilities. I could think of worse things."

Peeta squeezed her foot. "Food good?"

Katniss mumbled something that sounded like approval through a mouthful of pancake.

"Look, I don't know how to say what I need to say without sounding like an asshole. But here goes," Peeta began.

Katniss swallowed with difficulty, the food suddenly cold and lumpy in her mouth. What could he possibly have to tell her now? Another sex scene with Madge? Perhaps Cashmere Philips would be stopping by, and the director would expand it into a threesome?

"I need you to buy yourself a dress," Peeta said.

Katniss snorted and took another bite. It wasn't quite what she was expecting.

"I want to take you out dancing tonight, and you might not be comfortable in the dress you brought. And I know I'm not allowed to buy you a dress. So…will you buy yourself one? I mean, only if you want. You can wear your green one. I just thought—"

"Peeta, stop." Katniss pressed her hand against his mouth. He licked her palm, and she tore her arm away. "Real mature," she said, wiping her hand on the bedspread. "I get what you're saying. But I don't really dance."

"Come on. Me, the guys, Johanna, and Delly…we're all going out to a club."

"The guys?" she asked. "Does that include Gale?"

"That hopefully includes Gale. I'm going to talk to him today at the studio. Try and clear the air."

"Good. I'm glad. But a club? I'm not really the club-going type. I didn't realize you enjoyed dancing either."

"Enjoy dancing?" Peeta hopped to his feet. He performed a complicated dance move that involved a quick step-ball-change, a spin, and a thrust of his hips. Katniss nearly knocked the tray of food over as she laughed. "I'm an amazing dancer."

"You're okay," she said. "But I'm not sure boy band moves will fit in at the club."

He held out his hand. "I have other moves."

She slipped out from beneath the comforter. He pulled her close, held her hand against his chest, and they began to sway.

"I'm not sure this is appropriate for a club either," she said quietly.

"I can't reveal all my moves just yet." He abruptly spun her out, pulled her back in, and dipped her low.

"I'll give you a six out of ten," she said. "And my pancakes are getting cold."

Peeta pulled her back upright. "You're hard to impress."

"Your cooking impresses me way more," she said, sitting back down on the bed. She shoved another forkful into her mouth. "You already eat?"

"Yeah. While yours were in the pan."

"So…what? Now you just watch me?"

"I don't see how that's any worse than you ogling me shirtless."

She pursed her lips. "You got me there."

"So…" Peeta sat back down at the edge of the bed. "Dress?"

Katniss considered the money she had brought with her. She had used very little of it, and it had been ages since she bought herself a new dress. "I suppose I could purchase one."

"You probably don't want to go shopping with Delly. You want me to see if Jo is busy?"

Katniss shook her head. "Let me shop in peace, please. Your friends are crazy."

"I'm really sorry about Delly."

"It's fine. I talked to Johanna. She explained some things."

"What'd she explain?"

"That you're all assholes."

Peeta scrunched up his face as if considering the statement. "Yeah, I guess that sounds right."

Katniss laughed and took a sip of her orange juice. "So today is really and truly the last day of filming?"

"Yes."

"And your clothes are staying on?"

"Absolutely."

Katniss sat back against the pillows with a soft sigh. "Then today should be a good day."

Every dress Katniss found was either too tight, too short, too expensive, or a combination of all three. She finally settled on a sleeveless black dress whose conservative neckline made up for its plunging back. Oh well. It was on sale for $40, and with the right cardigan, she could wear it again to a nice restaurant.

After she made her purchase, she enjoyed a quiet lunch before driving over to the studio. Peeta and the guys were supposed to tackle a new song, and Katniss was looking forward to watching them work. The argument yesterday had been brutal, but Gale had managed to keep his temper in check for the rest of the afternoon. The vocals were done for their new single. They just had to wait for Castor to mix it.

As Katniss walked into the building, her cell phone rang. She mouthed an apology at the woman behind the desk in the lobby and scurried a few steps ahead before answering.

"Hi, Annie!" Katniss greeted quietly.

"Uh, something really weird just happened," Annie said.

"Is Prim okay?"

"Yeah, Prim's fine. It's just…I went to drop off our rent check, but the landlord wouldn't take it."

Katniss stopped outside the door to the studio. "What the hell? My check bounced once and that was back in February. He's been fine with my checks since then."

"It's not your check. He said our rent's been paid for the next six months."

"What?" Katniss's mind immediately flickered to Peeta, to those ridiculous Tiffany sunglasses, to his credit card shoved in her back pocket. "I have to go."

"Did Peeta do this?"

"I'll take care of it," Katniss said.

She opened the door and was immediately met with the sound of District*4's new single "Drag Me Down." There was something different about it though. She looked from Castor to Haymitch before her gaze finally landed on Peeta.

Then, she realized why the song sounded so strange. Her vocals were mixed in with the group's.

"What the hell?" she asked.

"You're just in time!" Haymitch said. "Castor, put on the other track. The one with just her and Peeta."

The song cut off abruptly before being replaced by the sound of her and Peeta singing the chorus together.

"I barely touched up your vocals," Castor said to Katniss. "You have an amazing voice."

"Castor's right. Play the one with just her," Haymitch said. "I think we've really got something here. Your personality leaves a little to be desired, but you've got talent. I can work with this."

As her voice flooded through the room, Katniss found herself so angry, she was on the verge of tears. Hands balled at her sides, she turned to Peeta.

"I don't want to be worked on," Katniss snapped. "Is this you? Again?" she demanded.

Peeta held his hands out in front of him. "I had nothing to do with this."

"Really? You didn't make me record the song yesterday so you could show Haymitch? So you could all work on me some more?"

"Katniss, I—"

"I don't need to be fixed. I'm fine just the way I am."

"Where is this coming from? Is this about the dress because—"

"This isn't about buying a dress, Peeta. This is about you forcing your money on me over and over like I'm some kind of charity case."

"Don't say that. That's not how I see you. You know how I see you."

"You paid my rent?" she demanded. "Are you kidding me?"

Peeta flinched and looked away.

"I'm tired of this," she said. "I'm tired of having the same fight over and over again."

She turned to leave. Haymitch reached the door first and slammed it shut as soon as she opened it.

"Look, I don't know what this blowup is about, but Peeta didn't have anything to do with the song. I had Castor work his magic. I knew you had talent the second I heard you sing the first time we met."

"Great, but I'm not interested in being a pop star."

Haymitch laughed. And laughed. He actually bent over and stifled a snort. "Oh that's a good one. You a pop star? You've got a nice voice. But you're more of a Melanie Martinez than a Katy Perry."

"I appreciate the compliment, but I have no interest in this kind of life."

"And why not? You and Peeta would be on equal footing. You'd have enough money to take care of your sister. You wouldn't be stuck at some shitty job you hate."

"Oh thank you. I'm so glad you have such a solid grasp on the state of my life." Katniss ripped the door open, causing Haymitch to stumble backward. "You read one background check, and you think you know me. Are you trying to rescue me from my own life too?"

"No, I'm trying to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime, but you're too busy being an ungrateful brat to notice."

"Fuck off, Haymitch."

She blew past him. She was halfway down the hall when she heard the door slam shut followed by Peeta shouting her name.

"I really just need some space right now," she said.

"No, you're always walking away from me. We're going to talk about this."

"That's the problem though. We've talked about this. Over and over again. But you just ignore me and do whatever you want anyway."

Peeta glanced at the woman behind the desk who - to her credit - was trying very hard to look like she wasn't listening. He grabbed Katniss's hand and led her into an empty studio.

"You told me you're living paycheck to paycheck," Peeta said. "You have barely any money to put aside for Prim's college savings account let alone a new apartment. Aren't you tired of sleeping on the couch?"

"Of course I'm sick of sleeping on a couch! Of course I'm sick of choosing between Prim's college account and basic necessities! I confided in you because you're my boyfriend not because I was looking for a handout."

"I'm not trying to give you a handout. I'm trying to help you. There's a difference."

"But there's not. You think throwing money at me will solve all my problems, but guess what? You're just making things worse." She tried to walk around him but he moved with her, blocking her exit.

"But why? Why can't you accept my help? What is the point of having all this goddamn money if I can't use it to help the people I love?"

She didn't have an answer to that. While she understood the point he was trying to make, it didn't help alleviate her humiliation. "I can't take your money. And the more you offer it, the worse I feel. I'm not like your friends."

Peeta's jaw clenched. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Seriously? Do you always pay for them when we go out? Are you going to pay their cover tonight at the club? Buy them all drinks?"

"I can spend my money however I want."

"Do they ever pay for themselves?" she demanded. "Do they ever even thank you?"

"You just don't get it."

"Get what? That your friends are a bunch of freeloaders?"

Peeta ran a hand through his hair, flattening it. "You're here for a week, and you think you're an expert on my friends when you barely understand the concept of friendship."

Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"You think everyone has a hidden agenda. That no one would possibly do anything for another human being out of kindness. You think everyone is looking out for themselves."

"I do not think that."

"I can afford to take my friends out. Why should I make them pay when I make more money in a month than they will in a couple of years? It's called being nice, Katniss. It's called being a friend. You can do something for other people without expecting something in return. Relationships are not a series of debts repaid."

"No, apparently, they're about using whichever friend has the most money."

"I can't talk to you about this right now. I have a job to do."

"Oh yeah, another stellar example of friendship," Katniss snapped. "Where you do singles and music videos behind your friends' backs."

"You just don't understand."

"Of course I don't," she said. "I'm just a simple girl from Connecticut, blinded by the starry lights of LA. Well, I can assure you, I'm starting to see things very clearly."

She tried to sweep past him, but he grabbed her arm, said her name. They studied each other for a moment. Already he appeared softer, apologetic, but she wasn't in the mood for pretty words. A smile and a soft kiss wouldn't cure her of her anger. He had insulted her, humiliated her, made her once again feel as if she didn't belong.

"Will I see you at home?" he asked.

She yanked her arm away and stormed out without an answer.

As soon as Katniss reached Peeta's house, she dug out her suitcase and began to pack the few belongings she had brought with her. She had her return ticket stashed away in her nightstand table. Maybe it wouldn't cost too much money to change her flight. She'd take any time as long as it was soon.

Her phone rang. Ignoring it was tempting. She pulled it out of her pocket for a quick glance, surprised to see Prim's picture lighting up the screen. She swallowed her anger and frustration and took a deep breath.

"Prim!" Katniss greeted. "I'm so glad you called!"

"Yeah, well, you haven't called me."

Katniss flinched. She hadn't reached out since arriving in LA, but she honestly didn't think Prim wanted to hear from her. She had hoped a little distance would do them some good.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure you wanted to talk. We didn't leave on the best note."

"I always want to talk to you," Prim said in a small voice.

"I'm so sorry. I've been thinking about you. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Things at school? Glimmer and Clove finally leave you alone?"

There was a long pause on the other end. Finally, Prim said, "Mostly. Just a few dirty looks and sarcastic comments now and then."

Katniss bit her lip. Figuring out if Prim was lying was much more difficult over the phone. "Good. But if they do anything more, anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you tell me. I don't want school being a miserable place for you."

"I know."

Another silence stretched between them, and it pained Katniss that neither one had something to immediately say. Especially after a few days apart, each should have been teeming with stories to share. But Katniss didn't want to clue Prim into the problems she was currently having with Peeta. And it suddenly became difficult to remember the good moments from the past few days. Too much anger and anxiety hung over her trip.

"Are you being good for Annie?" Katniss immediately regretted the childish question. Prim was fifteen, not five.

"Yes, I'm being good. I actually called to ask you something."

Katniss's stomach twisted, but she refused to let her mind jump to the worst possible conclusion.

"Sure," Katniss said.

"Grandma called. She wanted to see if I'd like to spend a few days with her. She said she'd drive me to school and everything."

"Wow, is it Christmas already?"

Katniss's joke was met with silence, which was a surprise. Their grandparents had been set on becoming Prim's legal guardians after Mrs. Everdeen died. When Prim expressed a preference for Katniss, they pulled back and let Katniss take on the role. Katniss had expected they'd be more active in their lives, or at least Prim's life, but for the most part, they saved their phone calls and invitations for the major holidays.

"Of course you can. If that's what you want. I thought you were enjoying spending time with Annie."

"Annie has her own life. She doesn't want to be stuck watching me."

"Prim," Katniss began, struck by the vehemence in her sister's voice. "You know she doesn't mind."

"Sure she doesn't."

"Did something happen?" Katniss asked, unable to imagine Annie doing or saying something to upset Prim.

"No, nothing happened. I'm just not stupid."

"Prim, Annie loves you. You're like her little sister. But if you want to go with our grandparents for a few days, that's fine."

"Thanks. I gotta go call Gram back."

"Okay. Have fun. Please call me if you need anything. Or just to say hi."

"I will." But Prim's voice was rushed and far away. She was already pulling away to end the call.

"I love you," Katniss told the dial tone.

She fell back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. She considered calling Annie. Then it occurred to her that Annie was the only one she could turn to. Prim was pulling away. She and Peeta were in a fight. Annie was her best friend, but in many ways, she was also her only friend.

Maybe Peeta was right. Maybe she didn't understand friendship or relationships at all. Look at her track record. Katniss still felt as if she owed Annie a great debt for breaking her lease to move in with her and Prim. Her relationship with Cato had been a giant disaster.

What the hell did she know? She certainly didn't have a clue as to how to behave in LA.

But leaving wasn't going to help.

Now that her initial anger had cooled off, she recognized how foolish packing up her things was. Slowly, she returned her clothes to the dresser she shared with Peeta. She put her toiletries back in his bathroom. As she moved around the room, she once again took in all the pictures he had of him and his friends. There wasn't a single photo of his family though. No mother or father. Neither one of his brothers.

These people were his family. And slowly, things started to make sense.

In the middle of zipping her luggage closed, footsteps sounded on the stairs.

She had just gotten her suitcase on the ground when Peeta burst in.

"Don't leave," he said.

"Peeta."

"You're always leaving. Please don't go this time."

"Here," she said, rolling it over to him. "It's empty. See?" She handed him the suitcase, and he picked it up, jiggling it from side to side.

"You're not going?"

"Not for another couple of days," she said.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Shouldn't you be at the studio?" she asked.

"I left early. I couldn't focus. They can record me later."

"I don't want to be that person," she said. "The kind you have to choose over your work. I understand why you couldn't leave, even if we were furious at each other."

"Well, I don't want to be the kind of person who lets work get in the way of the most important thing in his life."

"Peeta…" She couldn't help it. She kissed him, softly, eagerly, an arm wrapped around his neck. "I'm sorry about what I said."

"I'm sorry about what I said and what I did. I'm trying, I really am, to understand where you're coming from."

She nodded before slipping away and sitting on the bed. He sat beside her. "If I can't give you money, if I can't help you out of a shitty situation, then what can I offer?" he asked quietly. "What can I give you?"

At first she thought he was still referring to her current living situation, but it slowly dawned on her that he meant in general.

"What are you talking about? Peeta, you've given me everything. You—" She stopped then. All the pieces she had been gathering about Peeta's personal life suddenly clicked into place. And she understood. "You know I'm not with you because of your money."

"I know." His answer was quick, his voice assured. It left no room for doubt.

"You know you have a lot more to offer than your money. Right?"

"I know." This time, he sounded less sure. He sounded smaller. Younger.

"Peeta, I'm serious." She hiked a leg up on the bed and turned so she could face him. "You're more than your money and your fame."

He looked down at his lap but didn't say a word.

"Wow," she said. "She did a real number on you."

"Who?"

"Your mother."

She thought of Peeta as a kid, trying but always failing to win his mother's love and approval. Then, he grew up and she threatened to sell out his childhood unless he paid her a monthly allowance. Finally, he was worth something to her.

A paycheck.

"She's not – this isn't about her," he insisted weakly.

"Is that why you always pay for your friends? You know they love you, right? Delly was ready to jump down my throat for one rude comment."

Peeta remained quiet. She grabbed his hands and pulled them into her lap.

"I love you," she said. "Because you're kind and funny and thoughtful. And you're pretty easy on the eyes."

He shook his head with a small smile, but she put a hand on his cheek, so he couldn't look away.

"You're more than just your money and your career."

He stared at her for a long moment. Several emotions flashed across his face before he schooled his features.

"Please accept the money," he said. "Take whatever you pay for rent and put it toward Prim's college. Or a new apartment. Please."

"I don't need you to take care of me," she said.

"But I want to. You take such good care of me."

She wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her onto his lap.

"I won't do it again. I promise," he mumbled into her hair.

"I'm not used to people trying to do so much for me," she said. "I've been taking care of my family since my dad died."

"Please just think about it. Okay? I hate the idea of you struggling to hold onto your apartment while I live in this huge house."

"Your stupid house has five bedrooms and four bathrooms." Katniss shook her head. "It's disgusting the way you live."

He pressed his forehead against hers, a smile playing at his lips. "So we're okay?"

"As long as we never again have to have a conversation about why it's inappropriate for you to spend thousands of dollars on me, we should be good." She paused and took a deep breath. "And I'll think about it."

"You will?" His whole face changed. She was tempted to tell him yes, she would take the money, only to ensure he remained this happy. But she had to think about it first. It was one thing to let him pay her airfare and buy her dinner every night. This was something else entirely. Even if he insisted she didn't owe him anything, she would feel indebted to him, and that wasn't a healthy feeling to have in a relationship.

"Yeah. Just give me some time."

"Take all the time you need." He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into him. "I'm so sorry about what I said. About you not understanding relationships."

"You were right though," she answered. "I don't have a lot of experience with friends or boyfriends. It's hard to let people in."

"Thanks for letting me in," he said softly. "Please don't judge my friends too harshly. The thing is, I do always pay for dinner. They used to thank me all the time, offer me extra money for tips, offer to return the favor. I told them they didn't need to. Eventually they just got comfortable with me paying. And I like it that way."

"But you know they love you anyway, right? They're not going to abandon you if you suddenly cut the cash flow."

"I know. And that's what makes it okay," he said. "They're there for me in other ways."

"But you need to remember that your value doesn't lay in your credit card. I know you're there for them too. You're always there for me."

He pushed her back on the bed and pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth.

"Besides," she mumbled. "We both know your most valuable attribute is your pancake-making skills."

He laughed against her neck, and the last of her anger disappeared.

Katniss kept a death grip on Peeta's arm as she teetered toward the back door of the club in the heels Delly insisted she borrow. While they matched her dress better than her flats did, she couldn't imagine being able to move very well on the dance floor. At least they would give her an excuse to sit and nurse a drink rather than dance.

"Hey, Peeta," Gale greeted them from where he leaned back against the building. "Hi, Katniss. The guys are already inside. I wanted to apologize before you went in."

With a bit of a wobble, Katniss managed to come to a stop beside Peeta.

"I'm sorry for everything I said about the music video," Gale continued. "I made it all up. Peeta's a...he's a really good guy. And I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you."

"Thanks," Katniss said.

"Yeah, man. Next time just punch me," Peeta said.

Gale smiled. "I'm going to remember that." He turned to go in, but Peeta tapped his back.

"Wait. It's my turn. I'm sorry too," Peeta said. "I should have told you about the single I recorded with Madge. I should have ran it by you guys before I even did it."

"But Haymitch said not to?"

"Yeah, but we almost never listen to what Haymitch says. I should have been upfront about it. No excuses."

"Thanks, man."

Katniss watched them perform one of those strange one-handed, back-thumping hugs.

Peeta helped Katniss up the two steps leading into the back door. They were immediately assaulted by a thumping bass, although it was slightly muffled by distance. As an employee led them down the hall, past the restrooms, and into the club, the music grew louder and louder.

As soon as they reached the dance floor, Katniss knew talking would be impossible. Also, it was very likely that her hearing would be irrevocably damaged after ten minutes inside. She pointed at the crowded bar, but Peeta shook his head. He led her over to the VIP section where Delly, Finnick, and Darius were waiting. A waitress appeared at their side seconds later, and Peeta ordered a round of shots.

As they settled in on the leather couch, Katniss noticed many of the clubgoers openly staring at Peeta and the rest of the group. Some people were even posing for selfies in front of the VIP section in order to catch the guys in the background. Katniss had to roll her eyes at their lack of subtlety. However, the guys either didn't notice or didn't care.

Johanna showed up a few minutes later and draped herself across the couch facing them. The waitress returned and set down a tray of shots.

"I'm stealing yours," Jo said to Darius when she realized they hadn't ordered her one. He shrugged as the rest of them downed their shots. Katniss had no idea what she had just swallowed, but it burned a trail down her throat. It was a strange sensation, but not entirely unpleasant.

"You want another?" Peeta shouted over the din of the music. Katniss nodded.

Three shots later - four counting the first - Peeta had Katniss out on the dance floor. She felt hot and flushed, but stupidly happy. Peeta's hands were on her, his mouth was close to her ear. Every time she tripped on her heels, Peeta stopped her from falling by pulling her close.

She spun around, pressed her back against his chest, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She wiggled her ass against him, and he groaned in her ear. Everything seemed like a good idea right now, from making him as hard as possible on the dance floor to dragging him into the bathroom and locking the door.

They had already had sex once that night, shortly after Katniss had put on her new dress. Peeta had marveled at her back, at the amount of exposed skin. He had taken her hand, twirled her around, and told her how beautiful she looked right before he had picked her up and sat her on his dresser.

She thought about it now: the expression on his face as he unbuckled his belt, his hands against her thighs as he pushed up her dress...

"How long could we disappear for before they missed us?" she yelled into his ear.

"At least ten minutes."

"Then let's go to your car."

He grinned and grabbed her hand, leading her back through the hallways they had come through earlier. As soon as they burst into the cool night air, Peeta had her pressed against the door, his hand cupping her ass.

"We should probably get to your car first," Katniss said in between kisses, although she didn't put up much of a fight.

"Right. Car. On it," he mumbled.

Their kiss lasted another heated minute before Peeta finally took her hand and led her around the corner.

Right into an explosion of lights.

They came to such an abrupt stop that Katniss tripped on her heels and fell sideways. Peeta quickly yanked her back. He grabbed her hip and spun her around, so she was facing him.

"Thanks," she said.

Lights continue to flash behind her as the paparazzi yelled question after question. She heard Madge's name, Cashmere's name, her own name. But it all quieted as she looked up at Peeta, his hands still at her sides.

She leaned forward and kissed him. He immediately pulled away.

"You sure you want that on camera?" he asked.

"Let them see who you're really dating," she said. "I don't want there to be any doubt."

So he kissed her in the middle of the sidewalk in LA, the paparazzi furiously taking pictures, whistling, making catcalls.

She noticed nothing but the feel of Peeta's lips on hers, and his hand lost in her hair.

"Do you two need a fucking sitter?" Haymitch demanded.

"Did this really warrant a house call?" Peeta asked. "At eight AM?"

Katniss sat at the top of the stairs, stifling a yawn, as she watched Peeta and Haymitch argue.

"Making out in front of the paps? First, she's a secret, now she's front and center on every gossip website," Haymitch said. "Do you know what they're saying?"

Katniss raised her hand. "I don't care what they're saying. Please don't tell us."

"It's probably for the best," Haymitch said. "Because they're using awfully colorful language to insinuate your girlfriend is a drunk party girl."

"What?" Peeta and Katniss asked at the same time. Katniss trudged down the stairs, already regretting getting out of bed when Haymitch knocked on the door.

"That shot they caught of you falling down? It's not a pretty picture. Literally," Haymitch answered.

"But I didn't fall. Peeta caught me."

"They caught you mid-fall, which is about a thousand times worse."

Katniss dropped onto the couch with a scowl.

"And then there's the fact that she's poor and struggling. They're coming up with all kinds of theories about you two," Haymitch said. "Oh congratulations, by the way! You're pregnant."

Katniss covered her face and let out a muffled scream.

"But at least they're doing this here in LA," Peeta reminded her. "They've left Prim and Annie out of this. Hopefully, once you go home, they won't care anymore."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," Haymitch said. "You're feeding the monster, but this monster rarely gets full. Just...be smarter, okay? It's one thing to be photographed together. It's a whole 'nother thing to give them a god damn show."

"To be fair...we were sort of drunk last night," Peeta said.

Haymitch hit him lightly up the backside of his head. "To be fair, you used to have more common sense."

"Right." Peeta sank down beside Katniss.

"Look, I'm here to bring you to the studio to finish the vocals from yesterday. Katniss, if you're interested, I'd like you to come and sing something else."

Katniss opened her mouth, prepared to laugh in Haymitch's face. But she didn't. Instead, she considered what it would be like to live out here permanently with Peeta. To be a performer in her own right, with her own songs, her own fans, her own money. While fame didn't appeal to her, especially the ugly side that came with it, she did enjoy singing, and she knew she didn't want to be a personal assistant the rest of her life.

So instead of laughing or saying no, she said, "Okay."

Haymitch stared at her. Even Peeta turned to her and said, "Okay?"

"I mean, I'm not ready to sign my life away or anything. But it was fun singing last time. I could do something else. For fun. Just to...to see."

A slow smile took over Peeta's face. "Give us ten minutes, Haymitch. Then we'll be ready."

Haymitch and Castor had Peeta sing the new song over and over and over again. They took a brief break for a late breakfast before making him perform it one more time.

Then, it was Katniss's turn.

She had read through the lyrics several times while Peeta performed. It was a powerful, visceral song. She imagined she was leading a revolution, ready to bring down a powerful king.

She couldn't wait to hear the music.

She couldn't wait to sing it.

Then, she entered the studio, and doubt stole her breath away. What the hell was she thinking? She couldn't just go and record a song. How much money did recording and mixing a song cost? How much to reserve a studio? Of course this wasn't for fun. It couldn't be.

"I changed my mind," she said once she was standing by Peeta.

"You're going to be fine."

"No, I can't do this. This song isn't meant for me."

"It's not for anyone yet. Just...sing it. See what happens."

"But I can't do this," she whispered. "This isn't me. This can't be me."

"I thought the same thing before I recorded my first song. And my second. And my third." He smiled. "You just need to ask yourself: why not you?"

He handed her the headphones, and she took them. She wouldn't overthink this. Not yet. For now, she would listen to the music and sing.

She'd consider the consequences later.

The first few notes flooded the headphones, and she felt that power return to her. She wasn't just Katniss Everdeen, personal assistant, legal guardian, disaster of an adult. She was Katniss Everdeen. And she had a voice.

"Sick of all these people talking, sick of all this noise

Tired of all these cameras flashing, sick of being poised

Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it

Already choking on my pride, so there's no use crying about it

I'm headed straight for the castle

They wanna make me their queen

And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean

I'm headed straight for the castle

They've got the kingdom locked up

And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut"

Eyes closed, her nerves on fire, she sang the rest of the song. When she finished, when she slipped off her headphones and opened her eyes to take a tentative look through the glass, she saw three individuals staring back, dumbstruck.

"Good?" she asked.

"We can work with this," Haymitch said.

A few recordings later, she and Peeta sat at a nearby restaurant eating lunch. Haymitch had stayed behind to watch Castor work.

"You're amazing," Peeta said for the third time. "Your voice, it's…" He shook his head. "You could do it, you know. You could put out an album."

She blushed, again, and looked down at her lunch. Singing an unrecorded song in a multimillion-dollar studio was surreal enough. She couldn't imagine taking the next step. She couldn't imagine being a name people knew.

"And that song…it was so edgy, so cool, so...powerful. That's the kind of music I want to be singing. That's what I want to write."

"Then sing it," she said. "Write it."

"I can't. Not as part of District*4. That's not our sound or our image."

She laid her hand over his. "Then, maybe it's time to move forward on your own."

Before Peeta could respond, Katniss's phone rang. She picked up when she saw it was Annie.

"Hey!" she said.

"Katniss."

She heard it in the way Annie said her name. It took only one word, two syllables, but Katniss knew something terrible had happened.

"Annie, what's wrong?"

Peeta cast a worried glance in her direction, but she immediately plugged her free ear, so she wouldn't miss a thing Annie said.

"Your grandmother was just here. To pick up Prim. They said they wouldn't be returning her until after you got back."

"Well, that's no big deal. More freedom for you, right?"

"Kat, they hired a lawyer. They suggested you do the same."

Katniss inhaled sharply. "What? Why?"

"They've seen the tabloids. They've been keeping track of you in LA. Someone sent them an article about last night. They think you're partying too much. They think you're neglecting Prim."

Katniss hunched over, suddenly unable to breathe. "Just tell me. Tell me exactly what they said."

"They're petitioning the court to remove you as Prim's legal guardian."