Author's Note: This is my first piece of fan fiction. It takes place before the epilogue in Mockingjay. It's about Katniss and Peeta trying to figure out how to be around each other after everything they've been through. It might be a bit slow at the beginning. I hope you like it :)

Chapter 1

I wake up.

I lay in bed until Greasy Sae knocks on my door and barges into my room without waiting for me to answer.

And, just like every other day, I get out of bed. Knowing that if I leave it right away I can walk downstairs and maintain my silence. So I do.

I sit by the window. Looking but not seeing outside.

It's been four days since I last saw him. He's been home for almost a month.

I remember seeing him the day he came back. His blue eyes darted around taking everything in.

When he saw me his eyes widened. My mouth fell open in shock. Neither of us moved until suddenly he turned around and sped back to his house, slamming the door behind him.

I saw him a second time one week later. He was taking another walk. This time he was ready to see me. But I wasn't ready to see him. When our eyes met he stiffly raised one hand and waved at me. Or at least it looked like a wave. It was difficult for me to piece together his actions. It was like he was in slow motion and I was just staring at him trying to decipher his movements.

"Peeta" my lips formed the word. His name. My hand twitched up and I tried to wave back like a normal person would.

A few days later, Greasy Sae forced me to take a bath. She was unrelenting. Threatened to talk to me all day if I didn't. After I had taken the bath I assumed she would let me spend the rest of the day staring out the window. I was wrong.

"You're clean as a whistle! Let's show you off." Greasy Sae beamed. I found that I couldn't say no. I nodded, consenting to a small walk. We were almost back to the house, unscathed when I saw him.

Hew was just leaving his house, pulling on a coat to combat the chill in the air. I stared at my shoes and he was fascinated with the buttons on his coat. Neither of us was ready for this interaction. After what felt like forever, Greasy Sae cleared her throat.

"Peeta. It's good to see you." She squeezed my hand. I stared down at it curiously; wondering why I couldn't feel it even though I could see the muscles in her hand flex.

"It's- It's nice to see you too." I hear as if from very far away. I shake my head wondering why his voice is so faint. I glance upward and see him staring right at me. Everything slams back into place. I can hear again.

"Cold weather for March, huh?" Sae says. I can feel her hand squeezing mine now.

"Yeah" he and I mumble at the same time.

"It'll get warmer soon." I say. Taking in his appearance. His hair was longer, it needed to be cut. His nails were ragged, his skin pale. But his eyes were exactly how I remembered them.

Four days ago, I saw him again. I was sitting outside. A new way to avoid talking. I ran my fingers through the grass. I lay down and looked at the sky. I was just closing my eyes when I heard it. Footsteps. I sat up abruptly. And there he was. Only a few feet away.

"Hello" he said, formally.

"Hello" I replied equally polite.

"How are you today?" He asked.

"Fine. How are you?" I replied robotically.

"I'm fine as well."

I wanted to say something real. But the only thing I could muster was pleasantries.

"That's good." There was a pause. It continued, threatening to last forever. One of us needed to say something.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to dinner on Thursday?" Peeta asked, words stringing together.

"Yes" this word tumbled out of my mouth. I didn't think before I spoke and now I'm committed.

That was Sunday and now it's Thursday and I have to go have dinner with Peeta Mellark. Peeta Mellark who would have killed me if I hadn't kissed him. Peeta Mellark who was brainwashed into believing I was a mutt. Who has shiny memories of me killing almost everyone dear to him. Who risked everything for me. Peeta Mellark who used to love me.

So here I am. Sitting in this chair. Knowing that in a few hours I'll be seeing him. I'll be alone with him. Without Greasy Sae to fill our pauses.

And I couldn't be more terrified.