**Song they dance to is on the right**

11. Too Close

"You aren't thinking about backing out now, are you?" Peeta asked me later that night.

We hadn't even gotten the chance to eat lunch after the paint war, because it took us forever into the evening hours just to wash ourselves to near cleanliness, clean up the basement (which took the longest), and clean up whatever spots of paint we happened to find in the house. Just for the record, I left a few drops, Peeta left the most.

Thankfully, we managed to eat dinner. Just like any other meal, we ate in silence, but we ate much more than we should have. But we didn't have lunch, so there was room for extra portions. My stomach was already used to the good feedings I had gotten for the past four days. It never growled like it always had to for most of its life. It was pretty satisfied for a few days, but sadly it couldn't stay that way much longer.

Peeta and I were in the living room, there was plenty of space for us to dance. He had managed to find a radio that we could listen to. Peeta managed to find a station that surprisingly had a lot of songs that we knew very well, some so slow that were nice to slow dance to.

That's what we would mainly be doing, slow dancing. I was fine with that, because I wanted dinner to stay inside me at all times.

"Nope, I'm full of dinner and energy," I piped. Peeta chuckled. I think he was becoming more amused with my peppiness. I still didn't know how he didn't take my normal behavior as strange for Katniss. I guess he believed the theory that Katniss had changed very deeply. How else would I still be here, protecting him from himself if he ever found out the truth about where Katniss really was?

"We'll take it nice and slow, okay?"

"Were we supposed to take it fast?"

"No."

"Well, this was your idea, so you take lead." I fidgeted. I couldn't help it, I felt like I was on a sugar high.

"Easy there, jitters," Peeta teased. One arm coiled around my waist. With a little nudge from his arm, there was a very tiny gap between our bodies. Our hands clasped each other's while my free arm took nest onto one of his shoulders. Thankfully for me I didn't have to stand on my tiptoes, Peeta wasn't that much taller than me. Thank God for short men. "Take this nice and easy."

"Right. Nice and easy," I murmured.

The song that came on was naturally slow, and coincidentally a duet. I didn't really know the song that well, but I could tell it was a romantic song. I listened to the lyrics intently, that's how I figured out what it was. The first part of the song was sung by a man.

Peeta was in control, slowly moving us in a circle. One step at a time, I thought. How could I possibly screw this up? It was a slow song, so slow dancing was a given.

"I can't believe this moment's come

It's so incredible that we're alone

There's so much to be said and done

It's impossible not to be overcome

Will you forgive me if I feel this way

'Cause we just met-tell me that's okay

So take this feeling, make it grow

Never let it-never let it..."

The song definitely sent a romantic message. The part that came next was where the man was joined by a woman. Their voices were melodic. The woman would sing first, and then the man would chime in not long after. A few times they were matched.

"(Don't let go of the things you believe in)

You give me something that I can believe in

(Don't let go of this moment in time)

Go of this moment of this time

(Don't let go of things that you're feeling)

I can't explain the things that I'm feeling

(Don't let go)

No, I won't let go..."

Peeta twirled me slowly. I went bright red. I had a lot of firsts while pretending to be Katniss: It was a first for me to dye my hair, cook, draw, and paint, have a water war, have a paint war, and be shown affection. Of course, all those firsts weren't really meant for me.

"Now would you mind if I bared my soul

If I came right out and said you're beautiful

'Cause there's something here I can't explain

I feel I'm diving into driving rain

You get my senses running wild

I can't resist your sweet, sweet smile..."

"I think the last two lines are my favorite," Peeta whispered in my ear. I knew he was talking about the "new" Katniss compared to the old one he used to know.

The chorus repeated itself. I smacked myself mentally. How could I have not remembered this song? The part coming up was one I knew well. It had always been my favorite part of the song because it was easy to remember.

"I know the last part before the chorus," I realized.

"Does this mean you can sing it?"

"Yes." I grinned. Peeta pulled me to him, so that we were swaying, his arms locked around my waist, my arms atop his, my back pressed against him.

I took over for the singing. I let my voice echo throughout the house.

"I've been waiting all my life

To make this moment feel so right

The feel of you just fills the night

So c'mon-just hold on tight."

Then the chorus took over once again. I closed my eyes and continued swaying with Peeta. This wasn't so bad after all. I felt really good right now.

"Beautiful," he crooned, kissing the top of my head. I assumed he was commending me on my voice again.

Even after the song finished and rolled into the next one, we continued dancing. I felt at peace. I didn't feel any pressure at all, I didn't feel stress. I felt like I was myself again, and it felt great.

I started to feel tired, a yawn escaped me. Peeta chuckled, his laugh vibrated in his chest.

"I think that's enough for tonight," he mused. We stood, he still held me. I rested my head against him.

"What time is it?" I asked sleepily. The thought of being in bed sounded really nice right now.

"It's apparently time for you to go to bed. And here I thought you had enough energy to stay up all night."

"Ha, that's not possible."

"Get ready, I'll be in soon." He kissed my ear.

I lugged myself into the bedroom, shut the door, and dressed for bed. I sat on the bed, the song still ringing in my head. Peeta came in two minutes later and only stripped himself of his shirt. I leaned against the head board while he climbed in after he flicked the light on.

"You seem really different lately," Peeta noticed.

"I think we've been over that a lot."

"No, I mean, you seem like there's something on your mind. Are you sure there isn't something bothering you?"

"If there was, I would have told you," I replied.

"No, you wouldn't. I'd have to force the truth out of you."

"Is being different a bad thing?" I fiddled with my hands.

"No, it's just...a change from what I'm used to seeing. It's kind of nice, actually." He went a little red in the face. "You're a little more for us being together. You're more...relaxed and open now." He hugged me. Peeta seemed to do nothing but hug me ever since I became this new Katniss, so I didn't stiffen up at his touch.

I tried not to get too comfortable, because I had to remember Peeta was Katniss's, and Gale...I would have said Gale was mine, but since he called me Katniss, I said screw that. I loved Gale, but he still loved Katniss. Just because I was still playing the part he thought he could just use that as an excuse for letting her name slip out. Ha, I'd believe that when the Capitol became a nice government.

"Is something bothering you?" Peeta persisted.

Yes, I'm worried that Katniss is by now an Avox or dead, and you're sitting here holding me thinking that I am her. I wasn't going to tell him that, though. That'd defeat the whole purpose of pretending to be Katniss just so that he didn't do anything stupid if he found out she was taken by the Capitol. That'd be four days worth of acting down the drain if I spilled now.

Somehow Peeta could read me, because I had been thinking about yesterday from time to time all day. It just bothered me so much still. That was a day I'd hardly forget.

"Yes," I choked.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'd rather not."

"Can I try and guess what it is?"

"If you're really that curious, then by all means start guessing," I sighed.

"Does it involve Gale?"

"Yes."

"Does it involve love in any way?"

"Yes."

"Is what happened to you yesterday still bothering you?"

I looked at him. Poor Peeta, I felt bad for him. He knew Gale loved Katniss. If only Gale loved me. Peeta wouldn't have to worry about competition, and I wouldn't have to worry about Gale calling me Katniss ever again.

"Yes." I touched the mark on my neck that was from both Gale and Peeta.

"Now, are you sure there isn't more to that that you're hiding from me?"

I sighed. "He told me he loves me." Well, he loves Katniss, not me.

"And that's all he said?" Peeta's voice held skepticism.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Are you sure?"

"Would I lie to you?"

That was the stupidest question I could have ever asked him. Of course I would lie to him, because I was lying to him right now! I really needed to think things through before I did anything.

"I don't think so," he mused.

"Then you have nothing to worry about." I gave a tiny grin. He kissed my shoulder. Oh if only he realized he was kissing me and not his actual girlfriend.

A grave thought popped into my head suddenly. What if Peeta was in love with me now, this supposed "new" Katniss? I would be so screwed, because I didn't love him. I mean, yeah, he was cute, and he had a good personality, and I felt good around him, but he wasn't mine to take. When my mother was alive, she taught me that if I ever met a nice boy who was taken, it was better to not try and steal him from his girlfriend. That wasn't how to make friends, that was how to make enemies.

I was so glad Mom taught me that lesson, because if it weren't for her, I would have had Peeta for myself by now.

"Do you end up disappearing into the bathroom every night for twenty minutes now?" Peeta randomly changed topics.

I looked at him. "What?"

"The past few days you got up during the middle of the night. Is it that time of the month again?"

Crap. Peeta noticed me getting up during the night to talk to Gale. Damn it. Well, it could be worse. He could see me talking to Gale, which would raise further suspicion.

"Yeah," I confessed smoothly. Oh, I hate lying to his face! "You're lucky you're a guy."

"The whole incident between you and Gale doesn't date further back than yesterday, does it?"

"No," I lied. "Why? Do you think that's where I am late at night?"

"I'm sorry if I sound overprotective, but I just want to make sure. Since it's clearly not out of your head, I just want to make sure that there isn't more to the incident that you're hiding from me."

"I can totally understand." Now can we please not mention his name anymore and drop it? Peeta rested his chin on my shoulder, looking up at me. "What?"

"Well, just because it's that time doesn't mean we can't kiss, does it?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

I dreaded this moment. Since I had been Katniss, Peeta never kissed me on the lips. It was always the forehead, nose, shoulder, neck, and on occasion, my hand. We even exchanged Eskimo kisses once. I had honestly never kissed many guys, so I was screwed. Peeta would know I was an imposter.

Yet at the same time, I had been a little curious what it'd be like if he did kiss me. I mean, he kissed me practically everywhere he thought he was allowed to, all except my lips.

He took my chin in his hand, resting his forehead on mine. My heart raced with anxiety. Don't screw this up, just pretend it's Gale you're kissing, I panicked.

Yeah, because replacing Peeta for Gale in my mind was so much better.

Shock swept through me. This wasn't like when Gale had kissed me, he had surprised me, not giving me time to react. This was actually announced, and it felt different. It was soft and sweet.

I hated to admit it, but I got into it.

Peeta's hands slithered to my hips. One part of my brain kept reminding me of how wrong this really was, yet the other part told it that if this would keep Peeta from finding out the truth, so be it. He pushed me down onto the bed, straddling me. I was safe because of the lie about my period from more intense activities.

Something changed, suddenly. Peeta froze and slowly detached from me. I couldn't tell what was going on inside him; I couldn't pick out emotions in his eyes. He grasped both my wrists, squeezing a little too hard...

Oh no. Peeta was probably having another mini dose of hijacking again. He had had his spurts a few times ever since I found out about the condition yesterday.

"Peeta?" I whispered in a panic. "Snap out of it."

"It's not a case of hijacking," he growled. His voice was edgy and cold. Was he sure he wasn't being hijacked just a little bit? The sudden change to him frightened me, just like it had before. "You played me."

I didn't like where he was going with this. "W-what are you talking about?" I squeaked.

"You're not her."

Was the gig up for me? Had Peeta finally figured it out? I remembered the girls from the mirror and their words: He'll see right through your attempt. Your time is coming. It'll all fall apart. Just you wait.

"Peeta-" I could only get his name out.

"You're not Katniss."

**Well...all I can say is, keep on reading!**