CHAPTER I

MISSY

"Higher!"

"Yes, higher", he replies with a soft grunt as he pushes the blue-eyed girl with a bit more force this time. Wriggling her pudgy legs in delight, she squeals as she swings away from him, her dark hair flapping in the breeze. He smiles at her reaction, and I can't help but do the same with his. That smile, it just melts my heart.

It's been raining for the past couple of days. This morning, the clouds gave way and let the sun shine through. I've been stuck at home because of the rain and, this afternoon, the birds called out for me to go bask in the sunshine. It's almost 6 o'clock now and the sky is as warm and as gentle as this young guy's smile.

"Higher!"

I begin to study the rest of his face: how his wavy, ashy blonde hair falls over his forehead, how blue and beautiful his eyes are, the way his lips curve up into a smile every single time the little girl shrieks.

Before I even realize what's happening, I see that pair of blue eyes locking with my brown ones. He then gives me a small nod. I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment and I can't help but look away.

"Pretty day, huh?" I hear him say.

"Yes. Yes, it is." I stammer.

"Please! I want to go higher!"

"Cute kid." I find myself saying to him, reverting my eyes back to both of them. "Your… uhh… sister?" For some weird reason, I am aware I do not want to say "daughter".

He smiles again, wider this time.

Oh god, please stop doing that.

"Daddy, higher", she answers for me.

"Oh. Daddy. Right." I laugh to myself. This guy that I have been crushing over for the past few minutes is already a dad. Way to go, Missy.

"Sorry. I seem to forget my manners. My name's Missy, by the way."

"Peeta."

Peeta, the handsome guy with the heart-melting smile.

"And this is River."

River, the blue-eyed squealing, swinging daughter of Peeta… who's still the handsome guy with the heart-melting smile. Oh my god.

"Hi, River."

A shriek is all I get as a response and I can't help but laugh.

"Are you new here? I've never seen you around before." He tells me.

"Uhh, yeah, you can say that", I inform him. "What about you?"

He looks down at the ground, avoiding to look me in the eye. This sparks my interest more.

"Have you lived here long?"

"Mommy!"

My questions remain unanswered as he looks up from the ground and I follow his gaze. A woman is walking up to us with a big smile on her lips. She is hugging a bag full of groceries. Peeta hurriedly runs to her, gets the paper bag and gives her a quick smack on the lips.

"Mom, look how high I go!"

Peeta's wife, obviously, runs to her and pulls the swing to a gentle stop. Peeta, meanwhile, deposits the bag of groceries a few feet beside me on the park bench I was sitting on and stands there, just watching in adoration the two girls of his life.

"Yeah, you look like you were about to fly off, sweetie", she tells River as she collects her from the swing. "But we have to go home now. It's getting late."

"Can we come back tomorrow, Mom", she pleads as "Mom" turns to face Peeta and I.

"Let's see, okay?"

"Hi."

It takes me a good three seconds before I realize that she's talking to me. It's not difficult to see why Peeta adores her. With her long, black hair, gray eyes, olive skin, that cute nose and her slender figure, she is just beautiful.

"I - I'm sorry. Hi. I'm Missy." I extend my arm to shake her hand. She shifts River's weight onto her hips and politely takes my hand in hers.

"Katniss."

Katniss, mom of River and wife of Peeta… who's still the handsome guy with the heart-melting smile.

"Nice to meet you, Katniss." I pull my hand away, noticing that it's now beginning to sweat which happens whenever I'm nervous.

What is happening to me?

"Pleasure", she says with a smile. I steal a quick glance at Peeta who is again looking at the ground.

"Let's go?"

Peeta nods and takes the groceries in his strong arms.

"I'm really sorry, but we have to go."

All I can do is nod. "Yeah. It's okay. I'll see you around."

I watch them walk away from where I'm sitting, replaying in my head what I just said to her. I realize, when I said "you", I wasn't pertaining to her or River or them as a family.

I was only referring to Peeta.

- END OF CHAPTER 1 -

Thank you for taking the time to read. Comments are very much appreciated. Thanks very much in advance - orangesunsets