Forever Yours
January 8, 1915
My dearest Katniss,
I am sorry it's been so long. But I couldn't write, not yet. Not until now. I am writing mostly because I want you to know that I am doing fine. I haven't had as much as a scratch, and I pray that the war won't last long and I shall return home to you safely. I have been receiving a fair amount of rations, but I sure miss the special meals you would cook for me when I would come over. I miss going to your house and coming up behind you and kissing your cheek while you're at the stove.
I miss you terribly, darling. I love you so much. I ache to hold your hand and kiss you, but I only have memories. I miss the smell of your hair and your laugh. I think of you all the time. Do you often think of me? If not I would feel rather foolish.
How are my parents? Are they alright? My brothers are fine, as far as I know. Has the bakery been keeping busy? Gosh, I miss that place. I miss working there and having you visit me. How are your mother and Primrose? I hope they are all doing well. I hope that your mother will not have to come over here as a nurse, but you never know how high casualty rates can be.
Lastly, how are you, my love? I know I miss you and I hope you miss me just as much. But do not dwell too much on the thought of me out here… Just think of our happy memories. That is what I do, and it keeps me going. I hope you are doing alright.
I send my love and prayers for you, and everyone back home. I hope you get this. Again, I apologize for the wait. Don't think I've forgotten that I'm missing our two year anniversary. I know very well I am, and I'm sorry I can't be there to celebrate with you. Just know that I wish I was, and I am so blessed to have a wonderful girlfriend like you. Did I mention how much I love you? Well I love you very much. I hope you know that.
Forever yours,
Peeta.
Katniss read the letter over so many times she lost count. She drank in the words until they were embedded in her memory. This was the first letter that she had gotten from Peeta since he left. She nearly cried when she got it. She was so glad that he was alright. Receiving this letter made it a little easier for her to breathe. She didn't care that it was written a while ago. She was just glad to get it.
She set the letter down on her desk and took out a piece of paper and her fountain pen. She wrote a letter back to Peeta with a rapidly beating heart. When she was done, she took out the slip of paper that had all of the mailing information on it about how to get it to Peeta and copied it down onto an envelope. Then she put on all of the appropriate stamps and stood up. She put on her cap and coat and walked downstairs. She called out to her mother that she was going to the post office. When she heard a response she opened the door and stepped outside.
The air was cold but the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. It was hard to imagine that there was a war happening on the other side of the world. The post office was a few blocks away and Katniss began walking. She kept a careful grip on the letter, not wanting to drop it. The streets were quiet so she walked at a leisurely pace, admiring the way the sun glinted off the snowbanks. Then the post office came into view. She hadn't really been there by herself before. Usually her mother would send the mail, or sometimes Peeta would do it for her on his way home after visiting.
She opened the door and was greeted with a bell tinkling above the door. A man came out of the back room and smiled at her. "Hello dear! What can I help you with today?"
Katniss walked up to the counter and tentatively smiled back. "I have a letter to send."
"Where to?" he asked.
"Overseas." She put the envelope on the counter and slid it towards him.
His eyebrows shot up. "Overseas, eh? Do you have a loved one fighting over there? Your pappy?"
Katniss frowned. "My father died years ago in a mining accident."
"Oh darlin' I'm so sorry." He said sympathetically. "Is it for your brother?"
My, Katniss thought, this man sure is nosy. "No, sir. It's for my gentleman friend."
"Oh." The man waggled his eyebrows. "Aren't you a little young to be courting?"
"I'm eighteen, sir." Katniss said haughtily, raising her chin. "And so is he."
The man raised his hands slightly, as if in surrender. "My apologies. I'll get this send out as soon as I can." He took the envelope and Katniss relaxed a little.
"Thank you." She nodded. "Good day." She turned and left.
She hated how people assumed things about her relationship with Peeta. They may have gotten together when they were only sixteen, but now they were adults and were both responsible and mature. Katniss found nothing wrong with their relationship.
Before they started going steady around two years ago, they hadn't really been close friends. They had known each other from school but Peeta had been one of the more popular children, while Katniss had her only a few friends who weren't always nice to her. Most of the time she was alone while her friends went off together, excluding her and leaving her behind.
But Peeta had always caught her eye. He was tall and very handsome, with his golden hair and his bright blue eyes. Sometimes she'd find herself staring at him, and when he'd look at her she'd blush madly and look away. She found it awkward to be around him because of her attraction to him. But she knew he felt something too because she could feel his eyes on her sometimes. And if she got up the nerve to look at him, he'd hold her stare before her face would heat and she'd look away.
One day at lunch at the beginning of the school year when she was sitting by herself at lunch, Peeta came up beside her. "Excuse me, is it alright if I sit here?" he asked politely. Katniss stuttered for a bit, then gave up trying to talk and nodded. Peeta smiled at her and it made her heart flutter. He made polite small talk with her and made some jokes. Katniss laughed at all of them, and starting getting over her nerves. After that day, they always had lunch together.
Finally one day in December Peeta asked her out on a date, for a walk in the park. They were sitting together at lunch, as usual, but Katniss could sense something was different. Peeta kept fidgeting and running his fingers through his hair.
"Peeta, what's the matter? You haven't stopped squirming since you sat down! Is there something in your pants?" She teased.
He shot her a smirk and nudged her foot under the table. "No, silly."
"Then what?" Katniss asked.
"Uh, well… I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out sometime, for a walk in the park or something." He said shyly, his cheeks heating.
Katniss was silent, her heart fluttering in her chest. "Do you mean like a date?"
Peeta looked up at her and smiled bashfully. "Yeah, like a date."
The bell rang for the end of lunch and Peeta looked at her, anxiously waiting for her answer. She stood and gathered her things. He stood as well, twisting his hands. Katniss moved around the table to stand beside him. She put her hand on his shoulder and stood on her toes to place a soft kiss on his cheek. "I would love too."
Peeta let out a relieved sigh. "Perfect. Pick you up tomorrow night?"
"Sounds lovely." Katniss smiled.
So the next night Peeta came to her house to pick her up. He met Katniss's mother and sister, and were both instantly charmed. They loved him at once.
When they were at the park, Peeta offered her his arm and she took it tentatively, grinning shyly. After a few minutes of chatting and walking Katniss slipped her hand into his. He looked at her, a little surprised, but smiled widely and closed his fingers around hers. Just as they had circled around the park and were almost back at the entrance, it started to snow. They both looked up at the sky to watch the falling snowflakes. Then they looked at each other at the same time and moved closer together. Peeta leaned his face down and Katniss closed her eyes. She felt the soft pressure of his lips against hers. It was a polite kiss, and their lips were the only think in contact. Her first kiss, with the boy of her dreams.
He pulled away and Katniss opened her eyes. She was staring into Peeta's beautiful blue ones. They were twinkling. She reached up and held his face, bringing it closer to her own. She kissed him again, this time deeper. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body against his and passionately kissed her back. Warmth radiated from the kiss throughout Katniss's body and she twined her arms around his neck. After a few moments they pulled back and looked at each other, both somewhat in awe, before grinning madly at each other.
Katniss was shaken from the memory as an automobile honked at her. She was slowly walking across the intersection. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "Sorry!" She hurried off the road and waved her hand in apology. The driver didn't seem too angry. Katniss hurried back home before she could get lost in thought again, and prayed the Peeta would stay safe and he'd get her letter soon.
