Peeta Mellark shook hands with Katniss everdeen. Her pretty face reminded him of the colors of Autumn, the colors he loved so much.
His favorite picture was the one he painted of her, her long braid with the many hairs coming out of it from running all the time, her fiercely determined eyes, her hands rough from the bow she so often held.
But today was different.
Katniss looked like she was about to cry, throwing glances at her younger sister, who has being held back into her mother's arms as she cried, trying to tear herself away from her mother, sobbing hysterically.
Peeta jumped a little at Katniss's mother, who looked expressionless. Then again, they all did. They didn't know what to think.
That was one of the bravest things they've ever seen. Something that would stand out in District 12 forever. That would be whispered through the rough, dirty streets, told to all of Panem, repeated to President Snow.
It would be held up in the greatest renown, right next to the Hunger Games…no. above it, and told to every man, woman, and child.
Because that day, that moment…was the bravest and kindest, selfless thing Peeta had ever seen.
Of course, it only added to his crush on Katniss. Now not only was she fierce, strong, daring, pretty, and smart, but she was selfless. Loving. Something about little Primrose Everdeen took the fierceness out of her eyes. Something about that little girl made Katniss come out of her shell that she let so few people into, and that made Peeta think about her quite a bit.
It wasn't that Katniss didn't like people, it was just that, as she'd said herself, she wasn't very good at making friends.
And what was the good of making friends, really, if everyone in Panem would now consider her famous?
They all already adored her.
Peeta would bet that bothered her, as she always liked to keep to herself.
But this was the Hunger Games.
She would take all of her anger out then.