"Gale is not my boyfriend." Katniss grumbled under her breath as Darius made another joke.
"Come on Katniss you have to admit it, you are always with him. It only makes sense." Darius called out as he watched the petite brunet run out of the Hob.
Angrily Katniss looked up at the blue sky as she blew her hair from her face. Her legs briskly stomped aimlessly as she made her way through the district. She wanted to shout from the rooftop of the hob that she, Katniss Everdeen did not need or want a boyfriend. Gale was her hunting partner. Granted he was her closest friend but he was not nor would he ever be her boyfriend.
Katniss stopped walking. She looked up at the leaves of the tree. Instantly the world felt right again.
"Hello Katniss" Mr. Mellark greeted Katniss was standing under their tree simply staring up.
Startled she looked to see the baker and his youngest son staring at her. "Hello sir."
"Are you here to trade?" Mr. Mellark asked.
Katniss blushed having been caught coming to the tree where her life changed. Shyly her eyes took in the Boy with the Bread. He was tall, handsome, full of charm, his ruddy face held all the traits she admired. Katniss kept an eye on her Boy with the Bread for years unbeknownst to everyone. It was more than a way to pay a debt it was a way to fulfill her curiosity. "Ah yes."
"Peeta why don't you handle this trade I have to go over to the Cartwright's to fill in their order." Mr. Mellark took a look at his youngest who looked like he was about to swallow his tongue.
Peeta slowly nodded. Every time he was faced with Katniss Everdeen his ability to speak was incapacitated. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and he had the biggest crush on her since the first day of school.
Katniss swallowed "I have some squirrels. Three."
"I…okay…" Peeta stammered.
"I have three squirrels" Katniss repeated as he spoke.
Suddenly they laughed as the reality of the situation overcame them both.
Katniss smiled shyly at him.
"I think my dad gives you a loaf per squirrel" Peeta stated but it was more of a question.
"Yeah he does" Katniss shook her head.
It was then Peeta turned his head and heard his brothers arguing. "I am sorry they are…"
"Jerks toward you" Katniss supplied both his brothers were like his mom. They held none of the friendliness their father had. The oldest was his mother's clone. The middle brother seemed alright but Katniss saw the way he treated her Boy with the Bread at school. She did not like it one bit. The middle Mellark was only interested in looking good and getting girls.
"Yeah, I will get you your bread now."
"Okay here are the squirrels." Katniss reached out to hand them to him and as he grasped them their fingers brushed. Electricity rushed through out her body as she turned pink, a similar color tinged his cheeks as well.
"I will be right back."
"Okay"
As she stood there she heard his brothers' voices drift through the back door of the bakery. Her Boy With the Bread sounded frustrated.
"Dam is that Katniss Everdeen standing outside little brother."
"Well I'll be…"
"Come on guys stop she's here to trade see."
"Yeah right"
"Stop please" Peeta demanded.
"Peeta you have been drooling over Everdeen ever since you were in shorts. You will never be in her league look at you" there was a pause as both his brothers laughed at him and it sounded as if they were roughing him up.
"Peeta you will always be a timid little virgin."
There was laughter directed at him and Katniss frowned. The fact that he liked her did not make her angry. It intrigued her, what upset was the teasing. She did not like that brothers treated him poorly simply because he liked her.
"Seriously Peeta she is with Gale Hawthorne."
"Does Gale Hawthorne know she is slumming, it with you?"
Katniss became angry at the mention of Gale and her being a couple. She wanted to march right in and demand they stop. It was then she heard his voice.
"She is not with Gale Hawthorne they are only hunting partners."
Her eyes became wide on her face. Her Boy with the Bread understood her relationship with Gale. Her lips twitched upwards into one of her rare smiles.
"You are so naïve do you really think Gale would take her into to the woods solely to hunt?"
"She supports her family that way."
Katniss heard when both of his brothers walked away. A few moments later her Boy appeared with the bread neatly packaged up.
Peeta rushed forward "Here sorry for taking so long."
"No problem" Katniss saw his brothers peeking through the screen door. Impulsively she stepped forward and pressed her lips against his. It was supposed to be a quick peck on the cheek much like the ones she placed on her sister's cheek but somehow it landed on his lips. Lips touching lips, a revolutionary idea that had her head spinning. Her heart spiked her hands became sweaty her body turned to mush.
Peeta stepped away from her, his breathing harsh. Her eyes were still closed there was a rosy tint to her cheeks and her lips were pouty and red. Peeta smiled and shyly kissed her again. He heard the small high pitched sound that escaped from her as he pressed his lips against hers. He gently swiped his tongue to her bottom lip. When she gasped he deepened the kiss.
The game bag slipped to the floor as her hands found purchase on his chest.
Peeta gripped Katniss closer even as he slowed down the kiss to put an end to it. He stepped away.
Katniss eyelashes slowly fluttered open. His brother's were forgotten but she could hear them snickering in the background. No doubt congratulating themselves on what they witnessed their brother doing.
They both stood there looking at each other wordlessly.
Katniss blushed then picked up her game bag and just before she ran she looked at him in the eyes then said "Gale is not my boyfriend."
Peeta stood there looking at her retreating form. Months later as he stood looking toward her house in the Victors Village this was the memory he held that reminded him that not all of what happened between them was unreal. After all Gale was not her boyfriend.