And here's part 2. Thank you for the lovely response :)

When she wakes the next morning, she's lying in her bed with the duvet pulled up to her shoulders. Aside from a hangover, she's not feeling too bad.

That is, until she remembers the events of the previous night. The way she opened up to Peeta. The way he opened up to her. It felt nice to just sit there and talk with him – to release a little of what was hurting her. She hasn't felt that safe for a long time. The feeling of panic is stronger than the feeling of safety. What if he never talks to her again? What if he tells people about what she said?

She can just imagine him laughing.

Reaching one arm out from under the safety of her duvet, she reaches out for her mobile, which is sat on her bedside table. When she sees the time, her sluggish mind is immediately cleared as she hauls her ass out of the bed. Its 9:30. Johanna's picking her up to take her to wherever Annie and Finnick have decided for breakfast at 10.

Taped to the handle of the bathroom door is a note that stops Katniss in her tracks. It's from Peeta. With shaking hands, Katniss picks it up.

Katniss,

I had fun last night. The next sentence is crossed out, but she can still read it. I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable.

I took the liberty of putting my number into your phone – I hope that doesn't cross any lines. I'd love to take you out some time.

-Peeta

Below his cramped handwriting is a tiny picture of a dandelion. It's so apt to his personality that she feels her heart leap as she traces her thumb over the ink. Carefully peeling off the tape, she pins the note to her noticeboard, before shaking her head and darting into the bathroom.

The hot water soothes her aching head and muscles, and she has to physically drag herself out of the shower and back into her bedroom to get dressed. She throws on a pair of light brown jeans, her trusty boots, and a dark green sweater Madge bought her a month or two back. She ties her hair back into a neater braid and puts her purse and lip balm into her satchel. She's just putting her and Peeta's coffee cups into the dishwasher when her cell phone buzzes with a text from Johanna.

Johanna:

Hurry up brainless! I'm starving out here!

-Received at 9:59am-

Katniss rolls her eyes and doesn't answer, knowing it'll just piss her spiky-haired friend off even more. Sure enough, another message arrives two minutes later.

Johanna:

We're gonna be late! Get your ass down here before I come up there and do it myself!

-Received 10:01am-

Taking one last look around, she exits her apartment and makes her way outside. Johanna's car, which looks like it's not second hand, but tenth, stands out in the street of relatively new cars, the rusted metal glinting in to sunlight.

"Hey Jo," she greets her friend as she buckles herself in.

"God, you took your time!" Johanna sighs, pulling out into the road and flashing her middle finger to the person who honks their horn behind her. "I want something to eat, for crying out loud! And, of course, we haven't seen Finn for ages."

"Its three minutes past ten." Katniss deadpans. Johanna makes a noncommittal grunting sound.

"Whatever, brainless."

"When did Finnick get back then?" Katniss asks, laughing at Johanna's peeved expression.

"Uh, around midday yesterday. Took him most of the afternoon to drive back from the airport."

"I thought he wasn't meant to be back for another week."

"So did Annie," Johanna adds. "He drove from the airport, bought her flowers at some fancy-pancy place just outside of the city, and then just randomly showed up at her apartment."

"That's so romantic." Katniss sighs.

"Romantic?" Johanna asks, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Katniss. "Since when have you cared about romantic?"

"Well, it is. It was sweet of Finn."

"Speaking of sweet, how come you and baker-boy were gone when Madge and I came to find you last night?"

"Nothing happened, Jo-"

"I wasn't saying that anything did."

"I said that I had to go and he followed me out."

"Did you throw a tantrum?" Johanna asks.

"What do you mean?"

"You just said that you told him that you 'had to go'. Come on, brainless. That's the escape phrase. Everyone knows that," Johanna gives her a pointed look as she comes to a stop at a red light. Katniss squirms in her seat. "Tell me what happened?"

"Nothing!"

"Did you chicken out?"

"No!"

"Did he chicken out?"

"No, Johanna, I freaked out on him because I mentioned Prim by accident and he asked about it because he doesn't know and then it got all uncomfortable and he was just being nice… and I panicked anyway…" she pauses from breath, wringing the strap of her satchel in her hands in a nervous gesture. "And then I ran off and he followed me and I thought it was some guy trying to grab me so I punched him and then-"

"Wait, you punched him?" Johanna asks, her lips twitching with amusement. Katniss nods, holding her head in her hands. "Jesus, brainless. You know the phrase 'hitting on someone' isn't literal, right?"

"Yes, Johanna!" Katniss snaps.

"But what did-"

"I don't want to talk about it." Katniss interrupts, leaning her elbow against the window and sighing Johanna doesn't speak for a while.

"Where have Annie and Finn picked for breakfast?" Katniss eventually asks as they get closer to town. It's ten past ten now, and a long queue has built up on the only road into the town centre.

"Uh," Johanna presses her lips into a line. "Funnily enough, it's Mellarks."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I thought you knew already. I was surprised you didn't say you had a bad hangover or something so you didn't have to come."

"Obviously I didn't know then, did I?"

"Obviously."

"I can't go there. Peeta's going to be there and it's just going to be awkward because of what he said and what I said and – Jo, turn this car around right now!"

"I'm not turning this car around, brainless."

"Please, Jo. You don't understand how humiliating this is going to be! He's going to see me and then just laugh in my face!"

"Listen, Katniss," Jo says. Katniss blinks. Johanna never calls her by her real name unless it's something important. "Madge told me about how you were worrying in the bathroom last night. About how you didn't believe her when she told you that the way Peeta was looking at you last night wasn't the 'I want to fuck her' kind of look. It was the 'Damn, she's beautiful' kind."

"Shut up."

"I'm telling the truth. Madge was as well!"

"Oh, and I suppose you believe that he went to the florists as well."

"You're the only Katniss in this town."

"Whatever."

"And at any point did you see him as much glance at another girl. When I went over to find them, Darius and Gale were happily ogling the waitress' tits. Peeta just looked at her face."

"How do you know that he isn't a douche?"

"I don't."

"Exactly."

"And nor does Madge or you. Give him a chance."

"There's a parking space there." Katniss mumbles, pointing to a space between a red Vauxhall Corsa and a beaten up truck with 'Birling and Son' written on the side. Johanna sighs and parks.

"Peeta might not even be at the bakery today. How do you know it isn't his day off?"

"Surely he would've stayed the night if it was his day off?"

"Does that mean you wanted him to stay?"

"No, I…. I – uh." Katniss trails off.

She didn't want him to stay. She didn't want to have to wake up in the morning faced with what would probably be an adorable sleepy Peeta. She didn't want to have to offer him breakfast but not eat anything herself. Simply the idea of having to look him in the eye after the little heart-to-heart they had is mortifying (even though the human contact had comforted her).

But then again, somehow Katniss ended up in bed. He must have picked her up after she fell asleep in his arms. How long did he wait before putting her in bed and writing her the note? A tiny fragile part of her soul pokes and prods at the idea of him sitting there for a long while, stroking her hair and watching her sleep and letting her take comfort in his presence. The malicious part of her mind reminds her of how she had the best night's sleep last night. Normally – even with a hangover – it takes her hours to fall asleep, and even then she wakes up sporadically throughout the night to wander around her empty, silent apartment.

"No one's laughing at your expense, Katniss. Nobody's trying to hurt you." Johanna says sincerely, scrunching her nose up against the cold fall wind. Katniss frowns, staring down at the sidewalk. "I tell you what. You're gonna come in and eat whatever you want. If Peeta isn't there, I get to laugh at you and explain what happened to everyone."

Katniss rolls her eyes again at her friend's words. "And if he is there?"

"You'll ignore him – if you can – and have a good time regardless."

"Fine."

"Good." Johanna nods her head and pushes the front door of Mellarks open.

Warmth hits Katniss the second she steps into the bakery. It's quiet. Cosy scents waft in from the kitchen, and fresh bread, pastries, and coffee fill the air. Despite promising herself that she wouldn't, Katniss' eyes flit up to the counter. A blonde head stands behind it. Her heart jumps. The person turns.

It isn't Peeta.

"What can I get for you two lovely ladies?" he says. Katniss' shoulders slump in relief. This person – Fenton, she assumes – has the same blonde hair and blue and eyes and broad-shouldered build like Peeta, but his smile isn't lopsided like his brothers. Katniss' eyes widen. What would Rye have looked like?

"We're meeting some friends here." Johanna explains. Fenton nods and allows them to walk out into the café area.

Madge waves excitedly at the two girls as they make their way over to a window side table. Annie appears next, a huge smile on her freckled face. And then Finnick stands up, his bronze hair perfectly styled like usual, his cheeky grin and bold green eyes exactly the same as the last time Katniss saw him, seven months ago.

"Johanna!" he exclaims, standing up from his seat and enveloping Jo in a hug. Johanna slaps his ass teasingly. Annie blushes. "You haven't changed a bit."

"You have," Johanna laughs. "Annie's a lucky girl."

"Nice to see you too, Jo." Annie says, biting her lip. Johanna moves aside to sit down beside Madge. Finnick fixes Katniss with a narrow-eyed stare.

"Hi, Finn." Katniss grins.

"Hey Kat." Finnick chuckles, hugging her tightly.

"How are you?"

"I've never been better." Finnick says, holding her at arm's length away and tugging her braid.

"Jo told me about how you surprised Annie," Katniss says. Finnick grins. "You're a big ol' softy at heart, aren't you?"

"Like a roast potato."

"Uh, yeah. Like a roast potato, Finn. That was exactly what I was going to compare you with." Katniss says. Finnick punches her arm affectionately and they sit down.

Conversation between the group flows easily. Everyone has a question for Finn, and he's happy to answer. Katniss sits back in her seat, focusing on her friends and not on the fact that Peeta could be metres away. Annie leans against Finn, never letting go of his hand, and he never lets go of hers. She watches him as he speaks, and whenever he looks down at her, she mouths something to him that makes me smile and kiss her temple. Their love is obvious. Katniss sighs. Her apartment really is empty.

"Katniss invited a boy to her apartment last night!" Johanna blurts out. Katniss whips her head round and glares at her.

"What boy? Who? Why?" Finnick asks. "Do I need to go beat him up?"

"Johanna!" Katniss hisses. Annie opens her mouth to speak but a deeper voice interrupts.

"Finn, you've been back for a day and you're already trying to beat people up?"

"Peeta!" Finnick chuckles, leaping up from his seat and almost wrestling Peeta to the ground as he wraps him into a bear hug. Katniss' mouth drops open. What the fuck is happening?

"Well, this is an interesting development!" Johanna laughs.

"What's going on?" Annie asks, glancing from Finnick and Peeta, to Katniss, and then at Johanna.

"That's the guy Katniss was hooking up with!" Johanna whispers.

"You invited him back to your place?" Madge asks.

"Guys!" Katniss hisses, hyperaware that this subject of her embarrassment and anxiety is three feet away and apparently a very good friend of Finnick.

"That's Peeta!" Annie squeals. "I've told you about him loads of times. Katniss, did you really hook up with him?"

"No," Katniss rushes to get her words out before Johanna confronts Peeta. "I met him here a month ago or something and we kept bumping into each other and then last night I invited him back to my place for coffee. Nothing happened."

"Its good to see you, buddy," Finn says, slapping Peeta on the back. "You know Annie…" Peeta turns to face the table, his eyes immediately locking on Katniss' face. His smile falters. The small smile Katniss was trying to present him with disappears and she nods her head once before looking away, her cheeks burning up.

"Guys, this is Peeta. Baking extraordinaire and long-time friend." Finn continues. Peeta raises his hand in an awkward wave.

"Johanna, Madge," he greets. "Uh, Katniss."

"Hey Peeta. Fancy seeing you around here," Madge grins, bumping her knee against Katniss' under the table.

"Well, I – uh – I do work here." Peeta chuckles.

"How'd you know the girls?" Finn asks, watching his friend curiously.

"They were at the same club as Gale and Darius and I last night." Peeta explains. Katniss can feel his eyes on her.

"Small world, huh?" Finn muses.

"Very small, apparently," Johanna simpers. Katniss resists the urge to strangle her friend with the strap of her handbag. "You and brainless over here were gone when we came back to find you last night."

"Uh, yeah." Peeta mumbles. Katniss wonders if she could burrow into the upholstered seat and disappear from view.

"Wait, slow it down just a tad," Finnick says, slumping back down in his seat. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing, Finn. Don't worry about it." Katniss stammers.

"Peeta, what happened?" Annie asks. Katniss buries her face in the menu.

"Uh… n-nothing," Peeta says. Katniss cringes. She guess this is the moment when he tells everyone about what she said. Maybe he'll make a joke about her being drunk or about having to carry her to bed when she fell asleep on him. Taking a deep breath, she pretends that it doesn't matter, even though her heart is hammering violently. Even though she feels sick.

"I offered Katniss a ride, and she invited me in for coffee. I had a nice time."

Peeta's words shock her. Katniss bites her lip. I had a nice time. Does he genuinely mean that? He seems to sense her discomfort and changes the subject.

"Are you guys ready to order?"

"Yes!" Johanna squeals, the mention of food distracting her. "I'll have the pancakes and whatever coffee goes with that." Peeta nods, writing Jo's order down on the notepad he holds. Katniss watches him smiling at everyone, jotting down what they say, his tongue sticking out slightly from his mouth in concentration. The sunlight that streams through the huge glass window to her left highlights his face, turning his eyelashes invisible. She jumps when he turns to face her, his blue eyes gentle.

"Katniss? What would you like?"

"I think she'd like Peeta." Johanna mutters. Madge hushes her. Annie giggles. Finn smiles. Katniss blushes as she looks up at Peeta, who doesn't seem to be bothered by what Johanna has said. That or he hasn't heard her. Katniss glances down at the menu. When she looks back up, she notices how a slight flush has indeed made its way up Peeta's neck. He licks his lips as she stares at him.

"I'll have the omelette, please… and the… err," she trails off.

"The Cinnamon Cappuccino? From the specials board?" he suggests with a small smile. Katniss nods.

"Your food shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes," Peeta says, smiling at everyone and turning away.

As soon as Peeta is out of earshot, Finnick slaps his hands down on the tabletop.

"Katniss Everdeen," he hisses, fixing her with a stare. "When did you realise you fancied Peeta?" he leans forward, resting his chin in his hands. Annie smacks him on the side of the head and pulls him back.

"Stop teasing her, Finn. You too, Jo."

"I'm just telling her what she's afraid to admit."

"Kat – and only Katniss -" Annie continues, her words soft, her hair falling in waves around her face. "Tell me how this all happened. I've never seen you react that way to guy before."

"React like what?" Katniss asks.

"You're bright red, Kat." Madge says with a smile.

"You like him, don't you?" Annie asks.

"No! No, I don't," Katniss says, shaking her head. Johanna raises an eyebrow. Katniss decides to ignore her. "He's nice. Nicer than other guys…"

"Hey!" Finn exclaims. Katniss fixes him with a pointed look.

"You don't count, Finnick," she says. "I met him here… a month ago, like I said, and we kept bumping into each other and last night Johanna decided to be an complete traitor and invite him and his friends over to sit with us. And then I decided to get a taxi home and he offered me a lift. I offered him a drink."

"Kat, that's good! Why are you embarrassed?"

"Because Johanna likes to taunt me about it!"

"Madge is equally to blame here."

"Am not!" Madge snaps.

"Katniss, Peeta's a good guy." Annie speaks up.

"Annie's right," Finn nods. "He's had his troubles… like everyone else… but he's got a heart of gold. Trust me."

"You don't need to be worried about him. He isn't like the others." Annie says.

Katniss looks down at her lap. This breakfast was meant to celebrate Finnick coming home safe. And now it's turned into a counselling session.

"I don't know – I just…"

"He won't hurt you." Finnick says.

"And if he does, he'll lose not just one customer, but five!" Johanna says. Katniss frowns. Madge laughs under her breath.

"Don't worry about it, guys. We're here to celebrate Finn, not talk about me."

"I should hope that I've been celebrated every day!" Finnick says indignantly. Everyone's attention turns to him and Katniss sighs in relief.

"Finn, I have a framed picture of you on my desk at work," Madge says jokingly. Annie rolls her eyes and leans into Finnick's side. He wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer. Katniss bites her lip.

Five minutes later, Peeta reappears with a tray of drinks balanced on one arm, and another tray of omelettes and pancakes and waffles and pastries on the other.

"Waffles and chocolate syrup Finn? Really?" Johanna asks. Finnick glares at her.

"There's nothing wrong with a grown man wanting waffles, okay?" he says, stabbing the waffle with his fork. Peeta laughs.

"I forgot that a toy comes with waffles," he says, sliding the rest of the orders across the table to their respective owners. "Do you want me to go get it?"

"Don't encourage him, Peeta," Annie warns. "You know what he's like." Finnick's response is smearing chocolate syrup on the tip of Annie's nose.

"And an omelette for Katniss," Peeta says, placing the plate down in front of her.

"Thank you," Katniss murmurs. A call from the kitchens summons Peeta away, and Katniss relaxes considerably, finding it in her to actually let herself laugh along as Finnick talks about his marine friends instead of sitting there in silence.

"God damn, those were the best pancakes I've ever eaten." Johanna groans, rubbing her stomach as she waits for Katniss to buckle up.

"You should've tried the omelette I had. I was… ugh. It was beautiful."

"Wait, who are we talking about here? The omelette or the guy who served it?"

"Drop it, will you?"

"Kat, I'm speaking from the heart here-"

"You have a heart?"

"When I say that we wouldn't let someone hurt you. Finnick and Annie are obviously firm friends with Peeta – and you know that the two of them are trustworthy."

"What are you trying to say?" Katniss asks, narrow her eyes in suspicion.

"I'm trying to say stop beating yourself up because of the past," Johanna says, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.

Johanna has never been one to let her emotions out. Like Katniss, she struggles to show others how she's truly feeling. Unlike Katniss, Jo tends to hide behind a mask of confidence and a brash attitude. Katniss just stays silent.

"Prim wouldn't want this, brainless."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know what she said. I know that you're afraid to move on… but you have to. Pain doesn't always lessen, but you need to know how to manage it."

"Quit with the psychoanalysis, please," Katniss pleads, feeling uncomfortable.

"Go on a date with Peeta. Because a hot mess like him probably won't be available for much longer. If you don't get some of that – I will."

"Maybe," Katniss says, unable to hide her downcast expression.

"What are you afraid of?" Johanna inquires. Katniss shrugs, grateful that they've finally reached her house. Breakfast was stressful enough – she doesn't want to have to deal with admitting her feelings.

"Everything," she finally says. "Thanks for the ride, Jo."

"Anytime, brainless." Johanna calls, saluting her before driving away.

Retreating back into her apartment, Katniss changes back into her pyjamas. Today is going to be an 'I-can't-be-bothered' day. She flops back onto her couch, burying her face in the pillows. Her nose is invaded with the smell of cinnamon, coffee, and paints. Peeta. She lifts her head and bites her lip, bringing the pillow back to cover her face, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, letting his scent overwhelm her.

How long was he sitting on that sofa? It must have been a fairly long time for him to leave the pillow smelling like that. Katniss smiles a little. Johanna's words echo around her mind, distracting her.

'What are you afraid of?'

She's afraid of not honouring Prim. Of not living. Of missing out on all the little moments that she could experience if only she started to believe in herself. She's afraid of Peeta really getting to know her and then realising what a train wreck he really is and then abandoning her. All in all, she's afraid of getting hurt.

Katniss wakes with a rumbling stomach. She doesn't know how long she's been passed out on the couch, so she grabs her cell to check the time. She's been out for hours. She's just about to turn her phone back off and drag herself into the kitchen to make something to eat for lunch when she catches sight of the tiny little envelope symbol in the corner of her screen.

It's a message from Peeta.

She wasn't even aware that his number was on her phone… she frowns. How did he get it? Steeling herself, she opens the text.

Peeta-

Hey Katniss. It's Peeta. Finnick gave me your number… told me I should text you to let you know :)

-Received at 3:32pm-

Katniss blinks, her heart racing. Anger briefly courses through her. Finn knowsthat she doesn't like her number being handed out to random strangers. A creeping suspicion that Johanna was responsible for it fills her. She squirms in her seat.

That text was received an hour ago. What if Peeta thinks that she doesn't want to reply? What if he thinks she's just being rude?

Placing her phone on the countertop in her kitchen, Katniss distracts herself by making a grilled cheese sandwich. She has to reply. She can't just leave the message unanswered. The idea of the text remaining one-sided makes her anxious in itself since it would weigh heavily on her mind.

It's just a text, Katniss. No big deal.

A half-manic giggle escapes her lips. She's acting like a schoolgirl. A dippy, girly schoolgirl. She is neither of those. She's meant to be a sophisticated adult who can manage herself and others with a high level or maturity.

Her phone sits in the centre of the kitchen table. It glares at her. Katniss buries her face in the grilled cheese, savouring the sandwich and trying to think about how she could reply. She spends another ten minutes cleaning everything she used to make her meal in order to procrastinate.

By four o'clock, she makes up her mind. The abrupt manner of her decision making shocks and thrills her a little. For just a second she feels in control of her emotions and actions instead feeling like a fish out of water. She picks up the device and taps the 'compose message' box.

Katniss-

Hi Peeta… I don't mind you having my number.

She blinks and shakes her head, pacing back forth across her living room. The tenants below her will undoubtedly file a complaint if she continues, but right now she doesn't care, even if it means having to shout through the floorboards that she's sorry when downstairs bangs their ceiling with a broom and tells her to keep it down.

That message seems to cold. And informal. She tries again.

Katniss-

Hey! Thanks for the breakfast :) Sorry if I acted weird.

That doesn't seem right either. Too chipper. Too enthusiastic. He'll see right through it.

Katniss-

Hey :)

Before she can back out she presses send, flinging the phone down onto the couch before she can drop it onto the floor instead. Katniss grabs her laptop and opens up emails. After deleting some spam and answer one or two messages from colleagues and the forestry reservation she's reporting about, Katniss' phone buzzes. The vibrations from the device send shockwaves up her spine. She snatches up the phone.

Peeta-

Hi. You don't mind me having your number do you? Finn said it would be okay.

-Received at 4:15pm-

Katniss-

No, its fine. I'll just kill him later.

The response is almost immediate.

Peeta-

I hope you're kidding. He's a good guy, really.

-Received at 4:17pm-

Katniss-

Of course I'm kidding.

Peeta-

Phew. I was getting worried. How'd you like your breakfast?

-Received at 4:20pm-

Katniss-

It was really nice :) Did you put chocolate in the coffee?

Peeta

Damn, you caught me out. Chocolate and cinnamon making amazing coffee though.

-Received at 4:22pm-

Katniss-

That's true. It might be the second-best coffee I've ever had…

Peeta-

Second best? You must be mistaken!

-Received at 4.25pm-

Katniss-

I don't think so!

Peeta-

You seem so sure… I think I would be able to challenge that…

-Received at 4:26pm-

Katniss-

Oh yeah? Is that a bet?

The next message that comes through has Katniss' mouth dropping open in shock.

Peeta-

No, it's a not-so-subtle attempt at asking you out on a date :)

-Received at 4:30pm-

She places the phone down and pushes the laptop away, covering her face in her hands and letting out a deep breath. Whoa. Where did that come from? They went from normal conversation to him asking her out just like that. She's never actually been asked out on a date. Guys she's slept with have either disappeared the next morning (or even in the early hours of the morning) or ignored and then texted her weeks later, asking if she'd like to 'hook up'.

Katniss checks the time. It's starting to get dark. It's after midday. Surely now it's acceptable to have a drink? Making up her mind, Katniss runs into the kitchen and pours herself a shot of the disgustingly strong vodka that Johanna bought her as a joke, downing it quickly and slamming the glass back down, blinking away the tears that form at the corners of her eyes.

Nothing better than liquid courage, she thinks.

Katniss ignores her shaking hands as she picks up the phone. Instead, she focuses on the feeling that is coursing through her- elation, excitement, and a small amount of hesitance. Finnick and Annie wouldn't lie to her about Peeta being a nice guy. She wonders if he told them about the deep and emotional talk they had on her couch. Her phones buzzes again.

Peeta-

Was that too forward? Sorry. Don't reply if you don't want to. I don't want to corner you or anything, but I'd really like to get to know you, Katniss.

-Received at 4:36pm-

Katniss-

No, I want to go on a date with you :)

Peeta-

Really? Well, great! Are you free on Friday? 7 o'clock?

-Received at 4:40pm-

Katniss-

I'm free. See you then :)

Her knee bounces anxiously as she waits. Johanna will be proud.

Peeta-

Okay. Have a good evening Katniss :)

-Received at 4:42pm-

Katniss-

You too Peeta.

After that, her phone is silent. No more messages come in, but she stares at the little yellow bubbles that contain his texts with a smile on her face for a long time afterwards.

Monday swings round in a blast of icy air that whips the fallen autumn leaves up and around into the air. Katniss wipes at the condensation on her bathroom window, her bare skin prickling in the cold, and goes into her bedroom to haul her wintery clothes out. She pulls on her thermal leggings to put under her jeans, with fluffy socks, boots, and the warmest sweater she can find.

Honestly, she'd be happier to just go to work in UGGS, sweatpants, and her oversized hoodie. Haymitch is a man of many things, and is insistent that his employees are dressed 'more smart than casual'. This means that sweatpants aren't allowed, unfortunately.

Johanna, ever a morning person, is growling and snapping at everyone and everything when Katniss arrives, and Katniss has to restrain her from doing something drastic when a single post-it note refuses to stay stuck to the top of her computer screen.

"I fucking hate Mondays," she mutters, typing fiercely on the keyboard.

"Oh, well it doesn't show." Katniss laughs, only to be cut off when Johanna wheels over and punches her on the arm.

On Tuesday Katniss and Johanna head out to the forestry reserve to interview some of the people working there and experience their conservation efforts first hand. The drive up to the reserve is filled with inane chatter and Johanna's poor attempts at trying to sing in tune.

"I sound bad because you're so good at singing," she insists as the road winds higher up and further into the densely-packed trees.

"Yes, I'm the problem." Katniss snorts. Johanna ignores her comment and sings the next part of the song so incredibly out of tune that Katniss has to cover her ears.

Katniss shivers in her jacket as she and Johanna walk up a short gravel pathway to one of numerous log cabins. The receptionist – her name tag says she's called Effie – looks completely out of place surrounded by the 'save our forests' and 'hike don't drive' pamphlets pinned around her since she's wearing a pale pink blouse with a sparkly detail, a shimmering pair of jeans, and her hair twisted up into some gravity-defying hairdo that Katniss can't comprehend.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome," she greets them, shaking each of their hands and smiling brightly. "I'm Effie. I'll be your guide around the park today. If you'll wait here for just a minute, I'll be right back."

Johanna and Katniss wander around the visitors centre, taking photos of the notice boards and recording down as much information as they can. Effie reappears minutes later, her blouse and sparkles gone, replaced with hot pink hiking boots, black pants, and a pink coat with a matching scarf. Katniss has to admit – she looks professional yet very…. Effie-ish.

Effie guides them around some of the cabins with surprising efficiency, relaying her knowledge to them quicker than Katniss take notes, even in shorthand. She then whisks them off on a waterfall tour by foot, barely giving Johanna enough time to take good quality photos of the thundering waterfalls and wildlife. A short ride in a truck takes them to what Effie describes as a hotspot for deer.

"I'm going to leave you with Gale now. You're in good hands, ladies. He knows what he's doing." Effie then says, winking at them as another truck appears on the worn dirt track that winds through the trees. Effie leaves with a wiggle of her fingers at the person in the other truck.

"Shit," Johanna says with a laugh as Gale climbs out of the truck. Katniss' eyes widen. Does everyone know everyone in this place?

"Small world!" Gale chuckles as he walks towards them, his grey eyes smouldering.

"Gale, I should've known." Johanna says, putting one hand on her hip and fixing him with a steely gaze. Katniss narrows her eyes.

"How've you been?"

"Never better," Johanna says.

"Katniss, right?" Gale asks. Katniss blinks.

"Yeah."

"Peeta won't shut up about you," the older guy says, shaking his head and chuckling. "You must have made a real big impression on him."

"I must have," Katniss murmurs. Johanna raises an eyebrow. Gale claps his hands together and both girls jump, much to their guide's amusement

"Let's get going," he says, striding off. Johanna follows enthusiastically. Katniss runs after her and nudges her with her elbow.

"What's the deal between you two?" she asks. "And spare me the gory details."

"All I'm gonna say is that I still walk funny." Johanna says, staring off at Gale's ass as he walks ahead.

"Oh, my God, Jo," Katniss sighs.

"What? I could've told you about what he said when I-"

"I don't want to know!"

"Or about the way he-"

"Jo! Stop!" Katniss cries out, cutting her friend off. Johanna cackles.

"Look at you! You're blushing like a virgin!"

"Johanna!"

"You ladies okay?" Gale asks.

"We're just peachy," Johanna says, leaving Katniss' side and hooking her arm through Gale's, leaning into him.

Katniss dawdles behind them, taking notes about the floral and fauna she sees and the information Gale easily provides, and, since Johanna is too occupied with flirting with Gale to take many photos, she does that as well. A large bird with golden feathers sits high up in a pine tree, and she whistles absentmindedly as she snaps a photo. She looks down at the camera to check the photo and it isn't until she stop whistling that she hears the bird echo the melody back at her. She stares, transfixed.

"It's a Mockingjay," Gale whispers from behind her, careful not to disturb the creature. It sits with its beak pointed upwards, throat wobbling slightly as it sings. She whirls around. He smiles up at the bird. "Indigenous to the mountains of these parts. Rare, clever, and owner of the uncanny ability to repeat tunes."

"That's amazing. I've never heard a bird do that before."

"Much better than a parrot, huh?"

"Definitely." Katniss grins.

"Mockingjays used to be an important symbol to the natives who lived here. They said that they were the product of both good and evil – spirits, that is – and that those who had their songs repeated back to them were rebels of some sort."

"Rebels?" Katniss asks, enraptured by Gale's story.

"Yeah… rebels against what, I have no idea. It was left to be interpreted how one wished, I suppose."

"That's amazing." Katniss breathes, looking back up at the bird. It tilts its head and blinks once. Gale nods and turns away. Katniss takes one more photo of the bird before turning on her heel, jotting down facts about the bird as she walks.

Left to her own thoughts, Katniss begins to relax. Her father loved the woods, and despite the forest being quite literally half a mile from her house, she hasn't been able to just be alone for quite some time. When she was a little girl she used to go to the woods every weekend with her Dad. She looks up at the thick green canopy up above her head, and listens to the sounds of birds tweeting, trees rustling, pine needles and leaves crunching under Johanna's boots, and the smell of fresh air. She wonders why she didn't go for a job at the reservation. Journalism had never been an interest growing up. It was a chance meeting with Haymitch at the crappy bar she used to work at that got her the job.

Haymitch told her she looked 'bored out of her pretty little mind' to which she replied 'working in this place you would be'. He offered her a stint at Twelve Press right there and then, claiming to like her 'honest view on life'.

She smiles at the memory and looks ahead to makes sure Johanna and Gale haven't disappeared from sight.

From behind, Katniss notices, Gale looks a little like a younger and slightly taller version of her father with his dark hair, olive skin, a lithe build. Katniss bites her lip, emotions flooding through her. How surreal. She raises the viewfinder to her eye and snaps a picture of Johanna and Gale walking, Jo's head tilted slightly as Gale points off to something.

"Brainless!" Johanna hisses. "Quick, come over here!"

"Quietly-" Gale begins to warn her as Katniss jogs over. "Oh. Okay. He gives her a puzzled look as she approaches them, not making a single sound.

"I've had experience walking quietly," she shrugs in explanation. Gale raises his eyebrows, impressed at her agility. "What are we looking at?" she asks.

"If you look… just there. In between the break in the trees there. Can you see it?"

Katniss squints, her eyes moving slowly through the trees until she catches sight of it – a deer. A dappled brown body on spindly legs, with Disney-style large eyes. It sniffs the ground and brushes away fallen leaves with its nose, calm and at peace with the forest. Katniss snaps several photos of the animal.

"That's ace…" Johanna whispers.

"Did you know that deer are actually excellent jumpers and swimmers?" Gale asks.

"Their legs are designed on the habitat they live in," Katniss adds. "Longer legs for jumping, and stronger legs for swimming."

"You sure know a lot about the forest." Gale says. Katniss nods.

"I-"

"Her family is forest-friendly. Katniss spent her childhood skinning animals and chasing wolves barefoot." Johanna butts in. Katniss rolls her eyes. Gale grins.

"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration," she says.

"Oh really?" Johanna asks.

"Yeah," Katniss says. "I always wore shoes." At this, Gale laughs out loud, spooking the deer. Katniss watches as it scampers off in the opposite direction.

Johanna seems intent on making Gale laugh as loud as he did at Katniss' jokes for the entire trek back to Gale's truck. Whatever she is saying is obviously making him happy, though he doesn't laugh, just slides his hand in to the back pocket of Johanna's pants. Katniss rolls her eyes. She guesses that Johanna will leave this outing with another roll in the hay scheduled while Katniss will leave with a tonne of information to process.

Her thoughts distract her. She doesn't realise where she's walking until she loses her footing on the twisted roots of a tree, her shoes slipping on the smooth, almost shiny wood. She sticks her foot out to try and catch herself, but lands awkwardly and falls anyway. A shooting pain spreads out from her ankle and up her leg.

"Shit," she mutters, bracing herself on the bark of a tree to try and pull herself upright. When she puts pressure on her injured ankle she winces. "Okay, so I'm not walking," she sighs. "Johanna! Gale!"

"What have you done now?" Jo asks, walking towards her.

"I don't know. I slipped. I think I've just sprained it," she explains.

"Can you walk on it?" Gale asks.

"No."

"We're not too far from the truck. Err… Johanna, you take Katniss' stuff."

"What are you doing?" Johanna asks warily, taking Katniss' backpack and slinging it over her shoulder. Katniss grimaces at the sound of her camera and flask clunking together.

"I'm not letting you hop all the way back. It'll be quicker if I carry you, and then we can check out your ankle and assess the situation."

"I can hop," Katniss says. "You don't have to carry me. I'm too heavy anyway."

"It's alright, honestly," Gale says.

"But… I don't-"

"Don't complain, brainless," Johanna snaps.

"Yeah. You should feel lucky to have the opportunity to be carried by someone as good-looking as me." Johanna smirks and Katniss scrunches up her nose. Gale tucks his arm around her back and under her knees, scooping her up from the floor to hold her carefully.

"Sorry," Katniss says, trying to release the tension that flows through her limbs. Surely Gale can sense it?

"It's nothing," he says, offering her a smile.

They reach the truck in record time, and Gale helps Katniss into his truck. She grits her teeth when Johanna 'carefully' pulls her boot and sock off. Gale drives back down to the main centre, speaking into his walkie-talkie as he drives.

"Yeah, looks like a sprain. Can you get some ice ready?" he says, catching Katniss' eye in the rear-view mirror. She blushes slightly. Johanna thumps her on the arm.

"What was that for?"

"Why'd you have to slip? I sure would've liked to have been the one pressed up against his chest," her friend says.

"You were too busy hanging off his arm. If you had ever so much as tumbled he would've caught you before you hurt yourself." Katniss retorts. Johanna jabs her middle finger in Katniss' face.

"Sure thing, Gale. How long will you be?" Effie's voice rings out loud and clear through the walkie-talkie. Gale flinches away from the loud sound. Katniss wonders how many times he's been deafened by his colleague.

"Five minutes tops." Gale reports back.

Katniss looks down at her ankle in dismay. It's started to swell, and the skin is an angry red colour. The stinging pain has gone, but the throbbing is still present. When they reach the visitor centre, Johanna helps Katniss into the waiting area to sit down, and allows Katniss to rest her foot in her lap so she can place an icepack.

"Keep the ice pack on for fifteen to twenty minutes," Gale instructs. "Take painkillers, don't put pressure on it, and keep it iced, compressed, and elevated."

"It's only a light sprain, dear. You'll be up and walking around freely within the week, though I'd suggest that you rest up so it can heal faster."

Gale then wraps Katniss' ankle in a bandage and Johanna practically shoves her into her car. Katniss puts her foot up on the dashboard as Johanna weaves in and out of the almost-rush-hour traffic.

"So I suppose you'll be ringing Haymitch to say you won't be coming in for the rest of the week, huh?"

"I'll be able to g-chat you so we can talk about the article." Katniss shrugs.

"Don't chat with baker-boy though. You've got to help me write this thing."

"I'm the one who took photos and notes while you drooled over Gale."

"Shut up," Johanna quips, though her cheeks flush a little. "At least I was drooling on someone. Speaking of, how has it been going with Peeta?"

"Uh…" Katniss swallows. Does she tell Johanna? Jo is second to Madge when it comes to gossiping, and if she tells her now, everyone will know within half an hour. "He asked me out on a date."

Johanna is obviously more shocked at Katniss' answer than she expected, slamming the brakes on before realising that she can't exactly stop in the middle of the highway.

"What did you say?!"

"I said yes."

"Fuck, Kat. How drunk were you?"

"I wasn't-"

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask. All I know is that he's picking me up on Friday at 7."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I honestly thought that you'd leave him hanging for so long that he would just give up."

"So did I." Katniss admits.

"How'd he get your number?"

"Finn gave it to me," Katniss grumbles. She glares at the side of her friend's head, hoping that she can indeed feel the dangers she's currently shooting. "Did you have anything to do with it?"

"For once, no."

"Seriously?" Katniss asks, incredulous. It's highly unlikely (and un-Johanna) for the girl to no have something to do with whatever Katniss gets dragged into.

"Seriously!" Johanna laughs. "And don't give me that look."

"What look?"

"The same you look you give everyone; a withering kind of… scowl."

"I don't scowl at people."

"Yeah you do. You were scowling at Effie. You scowled at Gale at least three times," Johanna pats her arm in what appears to be an attempt at softening the blow. "It doesn't exactly make you look approachable."

"Oh, right, because all the dicks who've approached me in the past have been into this so-called 'scowl'?" Katniss asks, her brow knotting together.

"I don't know – I'm sure there are so many things that guys can be attracted to. But obviously you didn't scowl at Peeta. He doesn't seem the type to go for someone who glares and hates on everyone."

"I don't hate everyone."

"Almost everyone, then." Johanna grins. Katniss shrugs her shoulders, ending the conversation. She shifts her injured leg slightly.

"What do you mean you hurt your foot?" Haymitch grumbles roughly down the phone the following morning.

"I slipped at sprained my ankle. It's nothing serious, but I was told to rest up for a few days." Katniss explains, hopping across the kitchen with a fresh bandage in hand.

"Jesus," Haymitch sighs. Katniss can picture him now – sitting at his desk, reaching for his flask. "How are you and Mason going to finish your article?"

"Via g-chat."

"Right…"

"Boss, you know me," Katniss says, lowering herself down onto the sofa. "I'll be come back on Friday to make sure Johanna's written something coherent."

"Sweetheart, if you're going to hurt yourself, don't come until next week. It's fine."

"Haymitch, I'm trying to tell you that I'll be back on Friday. Don't worry."

"Okay, alright. See you Friday." Haymitch cuts the call before Katniss can say goodbye.

Haymitch is a good boss. Never sober, but a good boss nevertheless. He keeps everyone in check with a firm hand and wise words. A quick sniff of the air is enough to tell all the workers at Twelve Press what kind of day it's going to be, since more alcohol means a crabbier Haymitch. He's understand though. He's not the kind of guy who will fire you because you're three minutes late or if you have to take a day off. 'As long as you're here, working, and we manage to get a full publication printed ready for every Wednesday, I don't give a shit,' is his well-known motto.

Katniss gingerly unwinds the previous bandage from her foot. The swelling has gone down by a considerable amount, but it still hurts like a bitch. She wraps her ankle up again, slides on two pairs of socks, and pulls her UGGs over that. She then climbs onto her couch with a blanket and begins to type out her notes. Johanna texted she to say that she'd be online at 10 o'clock, so she's got a good half hour to wait.

Once all the spam in her inbox is deleted, she hovers over the 'change username button. Ever since she saw the golden Mockingjay in the forest, she hasn't been able to get the sound of its song out of her mind. Her father used to call her his 'little songbird' because she'd always sing. Of course, her penchant for singing had come directly from Mr Everdeen, who had always sang his daughters to bed. Who had always been the loudest singer in the house. Who had never ceased to amaze Katniss, with his ability to sing deep, rumbling notes, to lilting high melodies.

With a nod, she changes her username from 'kateverdeen' to 'mockingjay'

Sure enough, at ten o'clock, 'lumberlover7' pops up on screen. Katniss corresponds with Johanna for a good two hours in total, typing up individual pieces and tweaking and cutting bits they don't like. Katniss is yelled at in caps lock when she struggles to upload the pictures from her camera to her laptop, and Johanna ceases to respond around lunchtime, not thinking to tell Katniss that she wasn't going on her lunch break. Katniss eventually gives up and limps to the kitchen, putting an entire pizza into the oven and eating it with her bare hands when it's cooked.

The coffee machine sits on the countertop. She stares at it. Maybe it's time to get a new machine. When she gets paid, she'll put it at the top of the list. Although she'd like to, she can't exactly go down to Mellarks every time she wants a delicious, creamy coffee. Not only would it be expensive, it would be a bit creepy – hanging around the place every morning.

Although a coffee machine would never be able to even get close to recreating the coffee Peeta made, it sure would be nice to be able to just press one or two buttons in order to have a sustaining coffee to wake her up every morning. Her laptop makes a beeping sound. Johanna has returned.

mockingjay-

Thanks for leaving without telling me.

lumberlover7-

Yeah, lunch was fabulous

mockingjay-

I'm sure it was.

lumberlover7-

Blondie asked about you again btw.

mockingjay-

What?!

lumberlover7-

Yup. I went into Mellarks to pick up some pastries. He was standing on a stepstool when I came in, his ass sticking out.

It was beautiful.

He was changing the specials board.

Katniss sighs, staring at the screen. Johanna knows exactly how to push all her buttons, and it feels like she does so on a daily basis.

mockingjay-

What did he say, Jo?

lumberlover7-

Not much, actually. Gave me my coffee and a free pastry.

Asked if you were okay with being outside and probably quite cold.

mockingjay-

Is that it? What did he mean?

What did you say?

lumberlover7-

I just said that you loved being outside. And that you had enough thermals to be the size of a bus.

mockingjay-

Wow, thanks Johanna.

lumberlover7-

You're scowling right now.

I can see it.

At this, Katniss can't help but laugh a little. Johanna knows her so well.

Katniss met Johanna the day she started her new job as a journalist. Haymitch had been dragging her around the building, half-heartedly introducing people and pointing out where different places were. To put it frankly, Katniss was bewildered. She was used to working at a bar filled with middle-aged men who thought they could cop a feel whenever they felt like it. She couldn't exactly punch them (even though she wanted to) because her boss at the time would've most likely have kicked her out right there and then.

Haymitch had just announced that 'rookie was going on a coffee run' when Johanna had stepped too close to Katniss for her own liking and ordered the most complicated coffee in the world, before turning a flouncing away down the rows of desks. Katniss had noticed the other girl's smirk.

That smirk had slipped slightly when Katniss came back with forty drinks that were steaming hot and correct down the last measurement.

"So you're not so brainless after all," Johanna had said in amusement after taking an unladylike gulp of the drink. "I'm Johanna. You can hang with me."

mockingjay-

I'm not scowling or hating on anyone.

Is that all he said?

lumberlover7-

Yep. After I replied he just sort of nodded to himself and muttered 'that's good' under his breath.

Do you think he'd taking you skiing?

Or maybe you're going on a trek in the North Pole.

mockingjay-

Yes. That's definitely what he's planned to do for our first date.

Despite herself, Katniss can't help but grin at the words she types. Our first date. She bites her lips and continues typing.

I wish I knew.

lumberlover7-

Maybe it's something kinky.

mockingjay-

I doubt it.

lumberlover7-

Brainless, honestly. You're so pure.

When was the last time your muffin was buttered, so to speak?

mockingjay-

How did you change a conversation for an article about forest conservation to my sex life?

lumberlover7-

*Lack of sex life.

mockingjay-

Shut up. I'm logging off.

lumberlover7 is offline.

Katniss sighs again. Johanna has this thing about logging off before anyone else, even after the person she's talking to has already said goodbye themselves. Sometimes it looks like she just doesn't want to talk to the person, though Katniss has gotten used to her friend's erratic and wholly unpredictable behaviour.

The following day is exactly the same, but Johanna is unhelpful when it comes to writing the article. When Katniss shuffles into the offices on Friday morning she's fifteen minutes late having not remembered that she needed two feet to walk anywhere. The only available space on the bus was next to a sweating obese man, who took up three-quarters of the last seat anyway, so Katniss had to hang on for dear life when the bus barrelled down the street.

Haymitch was in a better mood since it was Friday, but remained in his office for the entire day. Katniss found herself grateful to have an office chair with wheels, so she could push herself to Johanna's desk to read what her colleague had written without having to put weight on her foot. Effie and Gale's advice had been headed, and her ankle had already stopped throbbing so badly. It was now just a gentle pain. It was distracting, but she wasn't about to focus on it.

Instead, she was panicking – no, not panicking – having an internal meltdown about the fact that she was going on a date for the first time ever. She didn't count the other attempts douches had made in the past. Her good leg bounces up and down nervously under her desk as she types and inserts pictures to the document.

Where are they going? What has Peeta got planned? She's tried to figure out what he could possibly mean when he asked Johanna if she liked being outside and didn't mind the cold but came up dry. She hasn't worked up the courage to text him and find out. Madge, however, has no issues with messaging Katniss for all the 'deets'.

Katniss-

I know as much as you do, Madge. He said he'd pick me up at 7 and then he asked Jo if I liked being outside and didn't mind the cold. I have no idea what he's got planned.

Madge-

Omg, Kat. This is so romantic! You're so lucky.

-Received at 1:40pm-

Katniss-

I hope it goes smoothly… I don't know what to wear or anything :/

Madge-

Well, text me when you get out of work and I can help you decide on what to wear :)

-Received at 1:51pm-

Katniss-

Thanks Madge. Sorry I left you guys on last week.

Madge-

Don't be silly. That was ages ago. Besides, Jo and I both got to take home a handsome guy ;)

-Received at 2:00pm-

Katniss frowns. That doesn't make sense. Jo was flirting with the red-headed Darius at the club, but claimed to have slept with Gale.

Katniss-

Wait, what? I thought you and Gale were getting along pretty well at the club. Johanna said she slept with him. I thought Johanna was interested in Darius.

Madge-

Didn't Jo tell you? Darius turned out to be gay, and he fucked off with one of the bartenders. That left Gale alone with Jo and I… if you catch my drift…

-Received at 2:03pm-

Katniss physically drops her phone onto her desk in shock. What?!

Katniss-

I think you need to explain a little more, Madge.

Madge-

Oh, Kat. I'm teasing you :D

Katniss breathes a sigh of relief. Thank God. She didn't want to have that mental image in her head.

I thought Gale liked me as well, but when he saw Johanna dancing, he was naturally drawn to her like most guys are. I went off with Gale's cousin, he appeared at the club about five minutes after you left. Mitch invited me back to his place and I swear it was like we were made for each other. We have common interests and he likes horse-riding like I do!

-Received at 2:07pm-

Katniss smiles. Though it didn't work out with Gale, she's glad that Madge has found someone she is obviously very fond of. Madge deserves companionship.

Katniss-

I'm so happy for your Madge! But if you get married to Mitch and Jo gets married to Gale, you'll be related ;)

Madge-

Oh dear. I don't think I can handle that :P

-Received at 2:15pm-

Madge then proceeds to apologise and end the conversation, saying that a 'bridezilla' had just entered the florists. Katniss continues to make adjustments to the foresty article, and then she and Johanna read it through together to ensure that it flows well.

"Ace! I think we're finished!" Johanna claps her hands together, reclining back in her seat with a satisfied grin.

"I'll send it to Atala for proofing." Katniss says, opening up the inner-company email network. Atala is the most reliable person on the editing and proofing team that is based downstairs. She's a stickler for good grammar and punctuation which means that she's Katniss' favourite person to send her pieces to. Atala replies a few minutes later, thanking her for the article.

Katniss and Johanna are allowed to go home since they've finished their work, Haymitch dismisses them with a wave of the hand as he stares down at a stack of paperwork.

"You text me as soon as you can when you find out what Peeta has in store, okay?" Johanna warns her as she drops Katniss off outside her apartment. "I want all the details."

"You mean Madge, Annie, and Finn want to know about what actually happened, while you just want a lie about how Peeta and I forgot about the date and had sex in his car." Katniss shoots back, blushing bright red and hating it. Johanna just wiggles her eyebrows.

"See you later, brainless!" Johanna hollers, waving her hand haphazardly as she drives off, the clunking sound her car makes disrupting the relative peace of the street. Katniss collapses face down on her bed when she gets home, burying her nose in the comforter. Exhaustion takes over, and she drifts off to sleep.

"Fuck!" Katniss exclaims, shooting upright in her bed. Her vision is still blearing from waking up so suddenly but she manages to check her alarm clock to see how late she is for her date. She groans in relief when she sees that she was only out for an hour and a half. She has plenty of time to make herself look presentable.

She starts with a shower, using up the last of the soap she was trying to prolong the usage of due to its scent, and washing her hair twice. She wraps her damp hair in a towel and her body in a dressing gown, and applies one of the facemasks Annie bought her over a year ago. She sits on the toilet seat to shave her legs, and it's only when she catches sight of herself in the shiny metal of the bathroom trashcan that she realises how stupid she's being.

You're making yourself up and for what? He won't care. He's just trying to get into your panties. Besides, you'll just make yourself look desperate if you dress up too much.

She presses her lips together in a thin line.

Out of all the Everdeen girls, Katniss was the least interested in the whole idea of beauty and makeup. Her mother tried to get her interested by buying her a tube of lip-gloss when she was eleven, though she soon realised that he eldest daughter was more interested in the forest than how she looked. It was Prim who embraced the femininity of which skin product was for which season, and which hairspray had excellent hold and didn't go crunchy in her hair.

At the time, Katniss thought it was ridiculous. Why should she spend time with makeup when at the end of the day it would be washed away? Now she wishes she had paid more attention to what her younger sister had said on the rare occasions when Prim could paint Katniss' nails. She inhales and exhales, trying to ignore the feeling in her gut.

It wasn't like she was going slather herself in fake tan and apply false eyelashes that were longer than her arm. The only beauty products she has are things she's bought in a moment of 'why not?' or from things her mother and friends have sent her. Her expansive collection includes two bottles of apparently very expensive and very high-end mascara from Madge, a perfume from Johanna, and several cuticle products that Annie brought back from some vacation she went on. The only polishes she's used are a cranberry red one that she wears for Christmas parties at the office, and a luscious pine-green one.

She snatches up the pine green bottle.

Katniss-

Madge, I want to paint my nails but you know how shitty I am. Can you come over like super-fast and help me?"

She scrubs off the face mask while she waits for a reply. She frowns when her cell doesn't report back any messages. And then there's a knock on the door. Her neck snaps around at a speed that sounds painful and stares at the door. She looks down at her phone. It isn't 7 o'clock yet. Peeta shouldn't be here.

She reluctantly pulls her apartment door open, ready to apologise to Peeta when he finds her standing there in a dressing gown. But it isn't Peeta. It's an excitable Madge.

"Kat! You're painting your nails! How special is this guy?" she squeals, running over the threshold and shutting the door before hauling a thankful Katniss over to the kitchen. "Sit, sit! Gimme your hand!"

"I thought you weren't going to reply!" Katniss breathes.

"I was driving. I read your text but couldn't reply, so I just came straight over." Madge says, inspecting Katniss' nails.

"Thank you, Madge. I'm having a meltdown here."

"You're welcome. Now, do you have a nail file?" Madge smiles at her, blue eyes wide.

"A what?" Katniss asks.

"Of course you don't," Madge says, rummaging through her handbag and pulling out the file. She shapes Katniss' nails with surprising speed and skill, and paints them a thousand times neater than Katniss ever would've been able to do, and in half the time.

Madge pours the two of them half a glass of wine while Katniss' nails dry, and ties her hair back in two neat braids before blow drying it.

"You know, I think I have an idea of where Peeta is taking you tonight," Madge says, shouting a little over the noise of the dryer. Katniss tilts her head back and narrows her eyes. "I'm not going to tell you what I think it is, obviously."

"I'm getting anxiety though, I wish I knew." Katniss admits, taking another small sip of the wine. She doesn't want to be plastered, but she needs the alcohol to calm her down just a little so that she doesn't open the door and puke all over Peeta.

"It'll be a lovely surprise." Madge insists.

"It better be." Katniss laughs.

"Stop worrying," the blonde haired girl snaps playfully. "Come on, we're going to go and trawl through your closet and choose something for you to wear.

The two girls head to Katniss' bed room, and Katniss flops down onto her bed, smoothing out the rumpled sheets from her nap, and Madge flings the closet doors open. At her sharp intake of breath, Katniss winces.

"It's boring, I know," she mopes, surveying the sea of greens, browns, greys and blacks.

"No, it's not boring. It's not as colourful as I was hoping it would be, but we can work with this," Madge nods her head determinedly and begins rifling through all the clothes. She passes by all the items Katniss was planning to wear (a pair of barely-worn jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and her favourite jacket) and instead pulls out a dress she's only even worn once.

It's a beautiful creation, she has to admit, but she's never found an occasion to wear it since Madge's apartment-warming party, and that was four years ago. It's a soft pink-orange in colour like a sunset with lace detailing on the collar. It reaches to just above her knees.

"This is perfect," Madge hisses, holding out the garment. "Why haven't I seen you in this for ages?"

"Because I don't have many chances to wear dresses like that. If I went to a club in it, I'd look to casual. And I don't like wearing dresses to just do the grocery shopping or whatever." Katniss reasons. Madge gives her a patronizing look.

"You're wearing this. And this. And this. And it would look amazing with this!"

Madge lays out the dress on the bed, and matches it with a dark blue square scarf with a bird pattern, along with a jacket, tights, knee-high socks, and her boots.

"Peeta said we'd be outside in the cold. How is a dress going to keep me warm?" Katniss asks.

"If you wear your thermals underneath, you'll be fine," Madge reassures her. "And if my hunch about where you're going is right, you won't need to worry about being cold.

Madge vacates the room to allow Katniss to change. She pulls her thermal vest on under her dress, and thanks her father's advice of always having thermal undergarments. Katniss has to admit, the outfit, once put together, actually looks quite nice. She fishes out her purse and puts her cell, purse, and gloves inside. Taking one look in the mirror, she unravels the braids and runs her fingers through the waves to loosen them. When she steps out of her room, Madge clasps her hands together and grins.

"You look beautiful, Kat," she says. "Peeta is going to be here in a minute."

"Oh, God. I don't think I can do this, Madge."

"You can do this. And you will. I know you like him, and he likes you." Katniss takes a deep breath, her hands shaking slightly as she runs her hands over her dress.

"Okay," she says in a way that is an attempt at making herself feel courageous.

"I'm going to go. Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Madge says with a wink, collecting her bag and coat from the couch.

"Right," Katniss says, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.

She knows she shouldn't be freaking out so much. There's nothing for her to be afraid of; not really. Peeta isn't like the others. She should've recognized that much the first time she met him in the coffee shop. He didn't hit on her by addressing her tits or her ass. He flirted – she flirted – and he even spoke of his weekly reading of her pieces in Twelve Press.

Usually in clubs and bars when she's dressed in tight clothing, she'll be lucky if a guy approaches her and looks her in the eye as he speaks. Peeta did that. And then – it's laughable looking back at it – he was embarrassed when his hand brushed against her. She didn't know who was more mortified that night.

She's snapped out of her thoughts by a heavy knock on the door. Madge must have gone while she was thinking. She steps forward, hobbling slightly, and pulls the door open. Peeta stands there with a huge smile on his face,

"Hey," he greets her.

"Hello," she returns, stepping back a little. "Come on in." she cringes at the way in which her voice cracks at the end of her sentence.

"You look lovely," Peeta says. "I bought you some flowers." He pulls a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Katniss blinks.

"Thank you," she says, taking the flowers and inhaling deeply. It's a mix of yellow, red, green and white. "They're beautiful."

With a genuine smile, she looks up and Peeta. He shifts his weight slightly and smiles back at her.

"I'll put… I'll put these in a vase. Just a minute," she turns, cuts away the plastic wrapping, and carefully places the flowers in a tall glass vase that often goes unused. The colourful flowers immediately brighten the place up.

"Are you ready to go?" Peeta asks. Katniss nods.

"Nearly… uh, I just need to put my shoes on," she pulls a support bandage over her ankle and follows it with a thick pair of knitted socks.

"What happened to your foot?" Peeta asks, motioning to the bandage.

"Nothing much," Katniss shrugs, easing her boots on. "Johanna and I… we went to the forestry reserve and I wasn't looking where I was going and slipped."

"Are you okay?"

"Just a sprain," Katniss can feel the intensity of his gaze burning into the top of her head. "I just need to be careful."

"Oh. Well, this is kind of… awkward. I thought we could go to the open ice rink in the town centre… but if you're injured, we can do something else if you'd prefer."

"Ice skating?" Katniss asks. Peeta nods, his eyes filled with concern.

"I don't mind if you'd…" Peeta's words to fade into the background as she slips into another memory.

It was the winter of her seventh year when he father took her out into the forest. Snow was piled up high above her head, pulling down the branches of even the biggest trees. Her father had refused to explain where they were going as they travelled deeper into the woods, and it was only when they reached the large expanse of the lake that she knew why he had brought her here. Together, they cleared a pathway through the untouched snow until they were at the ice.

Mr Everdeen pulled a pair of ice skates out from his backpack and laced his daughter up, before pulling out his own pair of skates. He taught her how to climb onto the ice, how to stand, how to move. How to feel like she was flying over the ice. She's hasn't skated since before he died. The ground was still covered by snow on the day of his death, but she had run out into the woods, all the way to the lake on her own regardless, only to find that the ice had begun to melt.

Melting away like her father had. Melting until it looked like it was never even there.

"No. It's okay. We can go. I love skating." Katniss interrupts Peeta's speech. He pauses, his mouth hanging open.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Let's go."

The journey to the ice rink is quiet, but not awkward. Katniss finds herself singing quietly along with the radio, and Peeta asks her the standard 'how have you been' questions. She feels at ease and doesn't feel like she has to be someone she isn't around Peeta. He's so calm and accepting and doesn't make any comments about her singing. The last guy she dated told her to shut up when she couldn't help but sing along to the chorus of a song.

"Where did you learn to sing like that?" he asks, his eyes flickering from a dark, midnight blue, to an icy baby blue in the streetlights. "Or does it come naturally?"

"Well, my Dad was an amazing singer. He sang all the time, so I suppose I was influenced by him." Katniss shrugs, gripping the edge of the seat.

"I sound like… like nails on a chalkboard when I try and sing," Peeta admits, reaching out to adjust the heat settings in the seats. "But that doesn't stop me from singing when I'm the shower."

To this, Katniss says nothing. She's too busy envisioning Peeta standing under a hot stream of water, his skin glistening with beads of water, his hair heavy with water, possibly singing into a shampoo bottle. Her face heats up with a blush and she bites her lip, looking back at him. He glances at her and smiles.

"Why did you choose ice skating?" she asks.

"Well, I thought you wouldn't be the kind to sit in darkness for two hours watching a film, and I thought that going to some upmarket café was a little too… sophisticated for a first date."

"Are you saying I'm not sophisticated?"

"No, not at all," Peeta chuckles, his smile higher on one side. "I just hope you can skate."

"What do you classify as 'being able to skate?"

"Well, I can stand without falling on my ass and go around in a circle… so yeah. I can skate."

"Okay, I can definitely skate then." Katniss nods her head. Peeta raises an eyebrow.

"I detect a little bit of gloating, Miss Everdeen."

"I'm not gloating," Katniss laughs. "My Dad taught me to skate as well."

"Sounds like he taught you a lot of things."

"He did. He was… he was amazing."

Her words hang in air as they continue down the freeway in silence. As they get nearer to the centre of town, the traffic increases slightly, meaning Peeta has to slow down. Katniss would normally get pissed off at the traffic, but she instead stares at the lights that line the street. She hasn't been on this side of town at night for a long time, with the clubs she normally frequents on the other side of the main, more expensive half of town.

Strings of golden light hang in the air, casting a soft glow over the sidewalk and the people walking upon it. Peeta parks his car in the parking lot of the ice rink, which serves as a roller-skating rink during the summer, and they climb out before making their way to the main entrance. Groups of people gather around, yanking skates over their feet and adjusting their coats and hats.

"Welcome to Panem Ice," a grumpy-looking employee says when they reach the front desk. "What size skates do you need?"

"Uh, a ten for me," Peeta says.

"I'll try a six," Katniss says. The skates are handed over and they walk over to a bench to try them. They put their belongings into one of the many lockers that line the walls, before making their way onto the ice.

"Are you sure you can skate with your ankle?" Peeta asks, his hand gripping her elbow when she wobbles slightly from having one foot on the ice and one on dry ground.

"I'm alright," she says, pushing forward onto the ice. The feeling she experiences as she glides forward, free as a bird, is one she hasn't been able to recreate for a long time.

"You're a natural," Peeta says, his voice louder than she expected. She spins around and smiles at him.

"And you haven't fallen on your ass."

"Don't jinx it!" he says, his eyes wide. She just slaps his arm, a movement she would normally never even think about doing. It just feels so natural to be around him. She couldn't help it.

Her cheeks flush as she skates. Peeta is undoubtedly less experienced than she is, but he manages to keep up a steady pace as they circle around and around. She forgives him; the way the tip of his nose reddens and the way he holds his arms out slightly for balance too cute for her to be annoyed at.

"You're just showing off now," he tells her when she skates backward so that she can continue speaking to him face to face. She sticks her tongue out and skates forward a little, moving away from him and circling the rink once, twice, three times and spinning around in a tight circle before returning to his side. He claps his hands slowly as she catches her breath.

Underfoot, the ice shines and sweats, intricate patterns cut into its surface from the previous skaters. The lights that form a roof above the ice rink glow pleasantly, and Katniss chats easily along with Peeta as they move. Her ankle has started to ache a little, though she perseveres, determined to make the date last. She isn't going to let her injury ruin what feels like the most fun she's had in years. She digs her toe in to balance as she waits for Peeta to reach her again, and then pushes on once he's by her side. Her confidence in her capability to stay upright makes her underestimate a turn, and the next thing she knows, she' lying flat on her back.

"Katniss!" Peeta exclaims, racing towards her. "Are you alright?"

"Just embarrassed," she grimaces, gazing up at him. His golden curls frame his face, creating a golden halo. His breath billows out in front of him as he smiles.

"And you were going on about how amazing you were at skating," Peeta chuckles, offering her his hand and helping her up.

Her hand tingles at the contact with his, though he doesn't seem to notice her involuntary shiver. They don't let go, however, as they skate on.

"You wanna get something to eat?" Peeta asks a little while later. "They sell hot drinks and snacks here."

"Sure," Katniss nods. They skate to the exit and pull off the skates, dodging the puddles of water littered everywhere as they go to retrieve their shoes.

The on-site café looks like Christmas itself has thrown up inside. A tree sits in the corner, adorned with sparkling decorations. Christmas music is playing quietly in the background, and there's a single candle wreathed by holly. They find a small table by a barrier that overlooks the rink. Katniss picks up a menu once she's seated. Her eyes immediately drift to the price column. Her throats closes up as the numbers glare back up at her.

It's unbelievably expensive for what is on offer.

She takes her purse from her bag and counts out the notes and coins, placing them out in her palm as she counts. She'll have enough if she buys a plain coffee.

"So, any ideas what you want?" Peeta asks, looking up from the menu he holds.

"I'll… I'll just have a coffee." Katniss shrugs, dropping the cash back into her purse.

"Are you sure?"

"Uh, yeah," she says, shifting uncomfortably.

"Have whatever you want, Katniss."

"I know," she mumbles, cheeks flaming slightly. How does he know how to budget? He most likely doesn't – especially since his family owns a successful bakery.

"I'm paying. Just… just pig out if you feel like it," he grins and she melts a little inside.

"No, Peeta. I can't let you pay for me."

"I want to."

"But it's… it's really expensive."

"I don't mind."

"But I do," Katniss frowns, wringing her hands together in her lap.

"Please let me pay for you," Peeta says, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"Okay," she nods, guilt running through her. Now she owes him. She has a debt.

"I, for one, am going to have the caramel cheesecake brownies," he says, closing the menu and placing flat down on the table, leaning forward in a manner that suggests that he's waiting for her to make her decision. She squirms in her seat.

"The fudge cookie bars sound pretty good," she says, smiling weakly up at him.

"And to drink?" he asks.

"Surprise me," she replies, fighting to keep the wobble out of her voice. Peeta nods and walks towards the counter, his steps containing a slight bounce.

Five minutes later, their food is served up on pristine white plates. Katniss stares – bug-eyed – at the huge bar of crumbly, gooey fudge cookie.

"They're Instagram-worthy, don't you think?" Peeta asks, gazing down at the brownie that sits in front of him. Katniss laughs and pulls her drink towards her.

"I chose a double-chocolate hot chocolate for you, and they looked so good that I had to have one myself," Peeta says, taking his own mug and taking a sip.

The hot chocolate is in a usual mug, but simply by the smell Katniss can tell it isn't hot chocolate from a packet. It's authentic and – she takes a sip, licking her lips when toasted marshmallow floating on top of the drink forms a moustache – goddamn delicious.

"When we first met… in the coffee shop," Katniss says, pushing her now-empty plate away. "How did you know I worked at Twelve Press?"

"Well, I read it every Wednesday, and I recognized the name Haymitch from the list of management names that are on the back."

"Okay… so how did you guess who I was?"

"I, uh," Peeta coughs, his face heating. "I could recognise your attitude and your way of speaking a mile off. I just took a lucky guess, I suppose."

"Oh."

"How long have you been working there?"

"A couple of years. I used to work in a bar. It was Haymitch who offered me the job at Twelve."

"You didn't like the bar?"

"Assholes staring at my tits and slapping my ass all night, every day?" Katniss asks dryly. "No thanks."

"Sounded like fun," Peeta says, and Katniss doesn't miss how his eyes flicker down to the hemline of her dress before shooting back up to look at her. She bites her lip and looks away.

"It was. Have your parents always had the bakery?"

"No. My father always wanted to open a shop, but he never had the omeny. When his parents died, he used the money left to him to open Mellarks," Peeta leans forward on his elbows. "There's a plaque dedicated to my grandparents on the wall."

"Who's getting the bakery when your Dad retires?"

"I doubt my Dad will ever completely retire. He loves the old place too much. But I'll probably get it since Fenton hates the hours."

"Do you want the bakery?"

"Yeah. I haven't found anything else I've wanted to do, and the bakery is just… waiting for me," Peeta shrugs, his mouth curving up in crooked smile. "How 'bout you?"

"How about me what?"

"What do you want to do with your life?"

"Oh," Katniss mumbles. "Well, when I was a kid, I told my parents I was going to live in the forest forever…" she pauses, slapping her forehead with her hand. "I can't believe I just told you that."

"No, go on." Peeta chuckles.

"Uh, well, since that obviously wasn't a practical option, I decided I'd enter the Olympics in archery."

"Wow… that's- that's pretty amazing."

"Yeah," Katniss shrugs. "I went to go to a sort of scholarship try-out and I was clearly the best kid there… I hit every target they threw my way! But they picked some idiot called 'Glimmer' because they said she had untapped potential."

"But the gold-medallist was right there." Peeta frowns. Katniss smiles, thrilled that he's taking interest and actually listening to what she has to say.

"They only picked her because she had the biggest boobs and perfect blonde hair and was wearing shorts that were practically a belt."

"You think blonde hair is perfect?" Peeta asks.

"Sure better than boring brown or black."

"So you think my hair is perfect?"

"Sure – wait, no! I didn't mean-"

"I'm joking, Katniss," Peeta laughs. Katniss laughs back carefully, trying not to feel too embarrassed. "Besides, your hair is beautiful. And it isn't 'boring brown'. It's… chestnut. And has golden bits in it."

"Nope. Just brown."

"Okay, whatever," Peeta rolls his eyes.

"And then after archery failed, I just wanted to travel the world. See the sights, you know? Experience everything and anything."

"I'd love to travel. My Dad said I should take a year or two away from the bakery and just be me. Just go and do what I want, and then come back and manage the bakery." Peeta says.

"Why don't you go do it?" Katniss asks, finding the idea of turning down such an offer like that absurd.

"I don't have anyone to come with me. I need a companion to take pictures of me by the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon." Peeta says with a smile. Katniss shakes her head.

Although she's acting nonchalant on the outside, on the inside she's screaming 'that could be you! YOU! You could be the one watching sunsets and sunrises all over the world. You could be the one experiencing that with Peeta!' Her hands twist together on the polished wood of the table and she sighs at the thought.

"I'm sure someone will come along," she offers, finally looking back up at him. His eyes soften as he stares at her. She can see the dancing light of the candle sitting in between them reflected in his eyes, the flame casting long shadows over his face.

"I hope so."

"Uh huh." Katniss nods, her eyes flickering rapidly from the table to his face to her hands again. She takes a sip of her drink just to have something to do.

"I really like you, Katniss." Peeta blurts out.

"Pardon?" she splutters, cringing when hot chocolate dribbles down her chin. She grabs a napkin to mop it up at the same time that he reaches it to pass one to her, and she jolts back when their fingers make contact.

"I… When I saw you in the bakery. I thought you were beautiful and I-"

"No you didn't, Peeta."

"I did!"

"Please," Katniss breathes, panic bubbling up through her. "Don't say that."

She knows she should be happy. Shocked, but happy. She should be ecstatic that Peeta has just said that he likes her. She shouldn't be denying his words. But it's the undeniable fear that overtakes her mind that causes her heart to race, and not for a good reason. She just doesn't know what to do.

Prim comes to her mind for some reason. She's standing in the meadow outside her childhood home, dressed in a flowing yellow dress, with the biggest smile on her face Katniss has ever seen. Her father is next, standing there, coal dust ingrained in his skin, but his eyes shining brightly. They smile and nod their heads at her, laughing together at something she doesn't understand. She blinks. The mirage is gone.

Peeta is sitting there watching her in silence, his eyes filled with worry and kindness.

"I can't," she whispers.

"Kat, please. I know this is out of the blue… but I can't stop thinking about you. Your laugh, the way you scowl at people," he pauses, smiling weakly at her. Katniss swallows, suddenly feeling queasy. The lights around her are too bright. Everything is too loud.

"Peeta, you shouldn't… don't… I don't think…" she stumbles over her words, not exactly sure what she wants to say to him. "I don't deserve you. And you shouldn't have someone like me."

"Katniss…" Peeta says, her name escaping his mouth in a sort of mournful sigh.

"I- I'm sorry," she chokes out, dropping her now-shredded napkin and darting away from the table, ignoring the stares that she gets as she barrels through the front of the café and bumping into people as she runs.

She's halfway across the parking lot when she hears him shout her name.

"Katniss!" he yells. She runs faster, ignoring the throbbing in her ankle. "Hey, Katniss!"

Icy wind blows her hair about her face as she runs, and water splashes up onto her jeans as she steps into puddles. This isn't how it was meant to go. She doesn't know how she expected it to go, but it definitely didn't involve her running away from Peeta. A strong hand grips her elbow and she fights against it.

"Let me go!" she exhales, wrenching her arm from his grasp.

"What do you have against me?" he asks.

"Nothing!" she screams at him. He falters. "Just- just leave me alone!"

She runs again and thinks she's finally stopped him.

"Why can't you just damn trust me?" he bellows. She skids to halt and turns on him, stalking forward and jabbing her finger into his face.

"Because I've been treated like shit for my entire life!"

"I'm not going to do that!"

"Go away!" she snaps. She wants him gone. She wishes that she had never met him, because then she wouldn't be feeling so distraught. At the same time she wants his hugs, his kisses, his love.

"Katniss, I don't understand. Tell me what I did to upset you," Peeta begs, his brow knitted together.

"You didn't do anything!" Katniss hisses, sniffing loudly.

"Tell me what I did wrong!"

"You don't get it, Peeta! You don't get that I'm afraid of moving on from Prim because she had so much waiting for her and then it was taken away! I should've been the one sitting in that faulty seat!" she takes a deep breath, well aware of the commotion she's causing. "I should've been the one who died that night! But no, I'm still here, wasting my life because I'm living when she deserved a life, not me! You deserve someone else. You shouldn't like me in anyway. You should go off an marry some girl who will be able to love you without being afraid,

"Because I'm a wreck, Peeta. I don't recognise affection and I push people away. Guys treat me like shit. Girls think I'm some sort of one-night-stand whore! And I don't want any of that! I don't want one-night-stands! I want to be with someone who will actually like me, and not just me when I'm drunk.

"Peeta, you should be travelling and laughing and dancing and painting and being free to be with who you want. You're that kind of person. I'm the complete opposite. So… just leave me alone, okay?"

She turns to leave, wiping furiously at her eyes. Peeta pulls her back again.

"Kat," he says, his face determined. She looks away. He tilts her face back up and smiles softly. "I know you're the opposite in some ways. I know you've had problems in the past. So have I. But I want to be with you. Don't you ever wish to be in Prim's position, okay? Never again. Prim didn't deserve that. No one deserves something like that. I want you to travel with me. I want to see the world but I want you by my side. I want you because you're you."

"You don't mean that." Katniss trembles. "And I know that because you-"

He cuts her off with a kiss. It's filled with passion and heat, but the emotional side of it is so strong that she feels her knees give out. His mouth – warm and soft and gentle against hers. She squeaks in surprise, and her heart dances a little hoppity-skip in her chest. He doesn't let her go, one hand pulling her close, the other angling her lips to his so he can kiss her harder. Her hands are clenched into fists, balling the material of his shirt up in her hands. She gasps out but he kisses her even more, and she can feel how he's trying to kiss away at least a little bit of her sorrow. She opens her mouth and allows him to touch his tongue to hers.

The groan he releases sends tremors through her.

"Peeta-"she half-sobs, half laughs. Peeta smiles softly down at her and she blushes.

"I'm not like the rest of them guys," he says. "I promise you that."

"Okay," she replies, burying her face in his chest and inhaling his scent. It still linger to her couch, but it's nothing compared to this.

"I never meant to hurt you, Katniss."

"I know. I never meant to yell."

"I don't care," she murmurs, kissing him again, her hands shaking as she cradles his face. He pulls away and presses his forehead to hers.

"Katniss," he says, closing his eyes and sighing.

"What?" she asks, delirium racing through her veins.

"I'm so glad my brother made you such a shitty coffee on that first day," he chuckles. Katniss shakes her head a little. "Remind me to thank him."

Thank you for reading.