I can feel the sweat settling in the hollows of my body like just below my throat and the small of my back. The heat has been stiflingly hot these past few weeks. District 12 needs a nice rain.
It's been a month since Peeta and I returned from the Games. We still have not spoken since that moment he offered me his hand on the train. We smiled and kissed for the cameras, but after, every time I run into him somewhere, he almost refuses to look at me. Haymitch says this can't go on-we don't want anyone in the district to let our cool behavior slip to interviewers when we leave for the Victory Tour. So it is up to me to bridge the gap between Peeta and me. Today.
Before I know it, I've made the quick walk from my new house to his and I've slipped in his door uninvited. He must be baking. The inside of his house is like an oven. The air is thick with the scent of cinnamon. His house is set up similarly to mine, so without a sound, I navigate my way down his hall and into his kitchen and take a seat at his counter facing the ovens. He's bending down, reaching in to pull out a loaf of freshly baked bread. While his back is turned to me, I form one incredulous thought: In the privacy of his own home, Peeta Mellark bakes in the nude.
Peeta slowly turns and sets the bread pan on the counter to the left of me. I swear, the temperature raised at least a couple of degrees. His blond curls are tousled carelessly over the side of his face. There's a thin layer of sweat on his forehead and upper lip. I try not looking at the muscles in his arms and chest, but end up looking there anyway. His blue eyes glance up and he starts.
"Katniss! What are you doing here?"
I'm caught. I know my face is burning bright red.
"I wanted to see you. Talk. I wanted to talk to you." I blurt out, unable to look at him.
"Okay," he half laughs. "Wait here, I'll be right back."
I hear him step away and cast my eyes around. "Where are you going?" I call out, slightly annoyed.
"Getting dressed," he replies from another room.
"I thought you didn't care if I see you?" I say in a mocking tone.
"Well, I know how uncomfortable you get about that stuff," he teases back. He's returned and still buttoning up the blue and white striped shirt he's thrown on. I wonder how he got dressed so fast. He looks at me with a knowing smile and immediately I'm irritated.
"You're still laughing about that!"
Peeta shrugs, sobering. "It is kinda funny," he says. "So what's up?"
I don't answer. The oven mitts he'd tossed astray on the counter have caught my eye. They're a pale pink. One has a pig's face embroidered on it, and the other a pig's tail and backside.
"House warming gift from my mother," he says as he grabs them and hangs them on the hooks in the wall next to the oven. And in that moment, I think I miss him the most. In nearly one fluid motion, I hop down from the tall chair, walk around the counter, and throw my arms around him. I can feel him hesitate for just a second before he hugs me back.
"Don't be mad at me anymore," I say, and then I'm kissing him, and he's kissing me back. I realize what I'm doing and pull away a little.
"Okay," he says gently, "I'm not mad." He's cupping my face in his hands and looking into my eyes.
I need to get out of this house. It's too hot in here and I feel almost dizzy. Before he can kiss me again, I say, "Because I really want us to be friends."
"Friends?" he asks, clearly angry again. He steps back. "Friends? What was that? Friends don't come into my house and kiss me."
"You were naked!" I yell.
"I was alone in my own house! And I'm what, supposed to believe you just couldn't help yourself? Yeah, right, Katniss."
I can hear the anger rising in my voice as well. "Well if you don't want to at least be nice, then fine!"
"Whatever," I hear him spit out as I stomp my way out his house.
***
After the disaster with Peeta, I decided to go hunting. I'm home now, and my mother is frying up a squirrel and greens I'd brought back with me. Prim sits beside me, reading her homework for the next day.
"Katniss," I hear her say.
I grin. "Yes, little duck?" It doesn't fool her. She asks me what's wrong. "Nothing," I respond, my smile still pasted in place.
Prim snuggles in close to me. "Katniss," she wheedles.
I sigh. She is relentless. "I went to see Peeta this afternoon," I start.
"It didn't go well?"
"No." I frown, mulling over what parts to leave out.
"Were you mean to him?" she asks in a somewhat scolding tone.
"No!" I nearly squawk. "I was very not-" and I pause, because she's also giving me that knowing look. Instead of anger, I feel a little shame. "Maybe a little," I concede.
"You could try again tomorrow," she proposes. Buttercup jumps into her lap, instantly purring. "Who's a pretty kitty?" she mollycoddles him.
"No," I say. I think about going hunting again. And visiting Madge after she's let out of school. "No, it's best to leave him alone." And then I flash to how I found him. I realize how hungry I am, so I decide to go set the table for dinner.