It was a warm, hot summer's day and Peeta was losing the ability to think clearly. His mind was fogged up with thoughts of school, work, and family but most importantly and most significantly thoughts of the one girl he adored most in this world: Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is the only girl that would make Peeta's heart beat faster than it should and was the only girl who could make him feel completely insignificant in an instant – and that happens most of the time. Katniss barely acknowledges Peeta's existence. Not due to rudeness or lack of awareness but simply because her mind often wondered elsewhere- and Peeta couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking about another boy. Probably Shane Anderson, Peeta thought. Or maybe Drew Carter. She's definitely thinking about Drew Carter… "Mr Mellark!" The teacher, Professor Greaves, shouted which made Peeta fall straight back to district 12. "Would you care to tell us about what or who you were daydreaming about?" The teacher enquired. Peeta shook his head and noticed that everyone in the class had turned around. Except one. Oh, how he loved Katniss Everdeen.
"Well?" The professor persisted, his eyes burning into Peeta's skull. "I'm sorry, Sir." Peeta said. Drew Carter smirked and sneered, "Sir, he's just daydreaming about cakes and bread rolls." The class burst into laughter including Professor Greaves, but Katniss continued to look down at her books, completely ignoring her surroundings. "Mr Mellark, you will stay behind after school and I will teach you to pay attention." The Professor told him. Peeta sighed. He was supposed to help his Mother in the bakery, and she would get angry if he was late. Very angry. Mrs Mellark was known for her temper, but Peeta knew her temper all too well. The bell went and the professor called Peeta to the front of the class. "You too Miss Everdeen." He called out. Katniss reluctantly stood next to Peeta at the front of the class, as Peeta tried to look upset when in reality he was thrilled. "You will both stay here and write out this line 500 times. When you have completed that task, you may leave." The professor wrote two lines on the blackboard: I will not daydream in class and I will not be late to class. "No talking!" The professor reminded as he left the classroom. Katniss sat down at a desk and Peeta couldn't decide whether to take the desk next to her. What if she doesn't want me to, Peeta thought. "Are you going to stand there all day?" Katniss asked. Peeta froze. Katniss had never spoken to him in his life. "Well?" She asked again. Peeta cleared his throat and replied, "No...Can I sit there?" He pointed to the seat next to Katniss. She nodded. "Nobody else is sitting there." She said dryly. Peeta slowly sat next to her, and they both proceeded to write their sentences in silence. Should he say something? Maybe start a conversation? Katniss seemed to have no problem with the silence but it was killing Peeta. He wanted her to say something. He needed her to say something. Katniss paused her writing and slowly turned to face Peeta. "What were you daydreaming about?" She asked quizzically. Peeta panicked. He couldn't tell her that he was thinking about her. "Why were you late to class?" He asked in response. Katniss narrowed her eyes and for the first time looked at Peeta directly. "I asked you first." She replied. "I know." Peeta said. Katniss laughed, and Peeta's heart almost skipped a beat. "My sister Prim was looking through the window of your bakery, and we got sidetracked." Katniss told him. Peeta smiled. He couldn't believe that Katniss and her sister were looking at the bakery."Well?" Katniss asked. "Well, what?" Peeta replied. Katniss rolled her eyes and said, " What were you daydreaming about?" Peeta momentarily forgot that she asked that question, and he didn't have a suitable answer to give her. He couldn't sidetrack her again with another question because that could make her think that he was thinking about something really dodgy. "I was thinking about ... errrr..." Peeta stammered. "The next Hunger Games. I'm terrified." He finished. Peeta thought that his answer was very reasonable, because most people were starting to get worried. "Oh." Katniss sighed. "Mr Mellark and Miss Everdeen," The professor shouted as he strode into the classroom. "I trust that you both have completed the task I assigned you." They both nodded in response. "Well, you can leave." The professor told both walked into the corridor in silence, neither of them knowing what to say next. "So..." Peeta began. The silence between them was starting to be unbearable. "Sorry Peeta, but I have to go." Katniss said, as she ran down the corridor, her brown schoolbag swinging as she went. Peeta stared after her, his mouth gaping. That was the first time she had ever called him Peeta. He knew right at that moment, that his life would never be the same. Not since, he spoke to Katniss Everdeen on that warm, hot summer's day.