A/N : So, this is a new kind of a story for me. I was inspired by a Billie Holiday song called (wouldn't you know it) "A Fine Romance". It's set in the 1950's and the characters are going to be OOC at times because their backgrounds are different than the one in THG. Peeta's mom is still abusive and Katniss and Gale still have lost their fathers. It might be continued if people request it to be, but if not it will stay a one-shot. Enjoy!

It was silly. He shouldn't be here. But he couldn't help himself, never could. Not around her.

"Hey there, Mr. Mellark. Back so soon?" He could see the confusion in her soft grey eyes, and his resolve melted.

"Uh, I uh, I've been coughing a lot lately, " he faked a cough for good measure. "And I was wondering if you might have something for it."

He came by her store at least once a day with a new illness. She either thought he was on death's door or just plain crazy. He was sure she was leaning towards the latter.

"I'm sure we do. Hold on for a moment." She turned away and went into the back store room. He released a sigh of frustration and then, self-deprecatingly, began to mutter "Idiot!" under his breath. Prim watched him with pity.

"Ask her out to the cinema." His head snapped up and he flushed at the realization he wasn't alone.

"She's been wanting to see the new Fred Astaire film for ages." The young girl bit into her apple and watched Peeta intently.

"She'd never say yes to me." Being told he was not better than the scum under his mother's shoes as a child did not do Peeta's self-esteem any favors. His shoulders slumped and his eyes were downcast in the perfect picture of defeat. Prim shook her head and took another bite of her apple.

"With all due respect, Mr. Mellark, try. Don't be so sure that my sister is the beast you seem to think her to be." His eyes widened indignantly. He did think that Katniss was a beast. Quite the opposite, really, he thought she was wonderful. He knew her tough exterior was a front to scare off suitors. In fact, he had become such a casual customer that Katniss regarded him warmly; unlike the thin smiles she gave her other customers, one in particular, Gale Hawthorne. He was another suitor who was not as subtle in his advances as Peeta and from what Peeta had seen, Katniss did not appreciate it one bit.

He realized that he had paused for too long and before he could tell Prim he certainly did not think that Katniss a beast, the woman in question strode out of the store room with a small bottle in her hand. Prim winked at him and mouthed "good luck" before going up up the steps she had been standing on.

"Sorry I took so long, Mr. Mellark. My mother, she disorganized everything back there and it's been a bit hard to find things." He mumbled that was quite all right and fumbled with loose piece of fabric on his shirt. This was it, he was going to throw caution into the wind and ask her out. He wished he had brought some flowers along to help sway her. He opened his mouth and prepared to ask her when-

"Why Misses Everdeen, you get lovelier and lovelier everyday!" Peeta's jaw dropped. Of course. Of course he would come along and ruin everything. He turned to see Gale Hawthorne, tall and handsome as ever, with a wide smirk on his face. To his dismay, it seemed Katniss was blushing and hiding a smile of her own.

"Oh hush, Gale Hawthorne, before I tell your mother about you hanging 'round the Hob on Friday nights." Her smile was wide and her eyes sparkled fondly.

"Ah Catnip, you wouldn't tell on little ole me." He caught sight of Peeta, and his expression tightened. "Oh, hello there, Mr. Mellark." Peeta nodded his head in greeting to Gale, his mind still reeling.

"Oh, Mr. Mellark, I put this one on your tab. Have a pleasant evening." She hands him a white bag that holds his medicine and when he takes it from her, his fingers brush against hers. He thinks he sees stars. He nods his goodbyes to the both of them. As he walks out the door, he knows that he'll be back tomorrow with a new made up illness and a love struck expression on his face. How pathetic.

A fine romance indeed.