this one's not morbid! aren't you proud of me? just some kinda fluffy peeta x katniss stuff, i think it's gonna be at least a two-shot but if people like it i might continue... well, tell me what you think!

NOTE: this takes place between hg and cf. apparently i confused some people by not making that clear. sorry!

It was early morning when Effie's voice caught me sneaking through the window and dragged me to the door, shrill tones as effective as any electric fence could be. She allows herself a single toss of that curly pink wig for the drama, then gets down to business. Well, the Effie equivalent of it anyway.

"Good morning, Katniss!" she trills happily. "It's been a week since your victory, and now that you've finished catching up with friends and family, it's time to choose your talent." She pauses, beaming at me. "Do you have any idea of what you'd like to be yet, dear?"

Somewhere in a long history of watching the horror called the Hunger Games, I did remember that the victors had to choose a talent, but I hadn't given much thought to it myself. Since that was mostly what the winner did to occupy their time and money now that life was so easy, and since I'd been planning to use that time for something illegal, I figure I'll have to fess up. "I haven't given it much thought yet," I say, doing my best to look ashamed.

Well, I'm no Peeta when it comes to convincing the crowd, but Effie's never been the brightest wig in the Capitol. "Oh, don't worry, Katniss! Peeta isn't sure what he'll be doing either. Why don't you two... brainstorm for a while? Spend the day together and see what you can come up with!"

I'm about to open my mouth and say that we haven't spoken to each other in the seven days that we've been home and didn't plan to, but I shut it again. After all, I want to talk to Peeta. It's him that's been avoiding me. But maybe this is what we need. Maybe this is the perfect thing to help me win back the boy with the bread. "That's a great idea!" I tell her, which has the desired effect. Effie bustles out, tittering happily and leaving me to gather my thoughts while she goes to tell him the new plan.

We've been sitting on the rooftop for a while now, just taking shy glances back and forth. It's driving me crazy. I can't believe this girl. She thought she could just fake this for the crowd, never wondering how I would feel. Me, Peeta, the fool who thought it was all real. Just one among the many boys who's fallen for the girl on fire.

"Hi," she says finally, awkwardly, jarring me out of my self-pity and into a sort of empathy. She must feel the tension in the air, too. She probably feels guilty about all of this, and wants to start again. Wants to be my friend. Why can't I just let go?

"Hi," I reply, my voice a little colder than I'd meant it to be. I try again. "Hi, Katniss."

Katniss. The most beautiful girl in the world. Her dark hair is almost glowing in the soft light of the morning, tied back in a simple yet practical braid that reflects our lifestyle in District Twelve. Simple and practical. Her eyes, those silver eyes, still wide with an innocence that belies the cunning, intelligent, deadly girl behind them. Who could fail to love that face? Who wouldn't want to protect her from everything, even knowing her enviable independence, her unparalleled willpower?

"Hi," she says again, smiling slightly now, and I realize how stupid my second greeting must have sounded. My cheeks burn and I look away as I respond.

"So... any idea of what you want to do?"

"Well, I guess hunting is out, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Getting arrested... not good."

She's laughing in an oddly girlish way I've never heard before from her. Her expression seems amused and unusually soft for her. She's giggling. Giggling at me.

Again, I acknowledge how dumb that probably sounded to Katniss. Why am I such an idiot around her? Why can't I be like the boy who hunts with her in the woods, the one she really loves?

And then, just like that, it's out of my mouth. "Teach me how to hunt," I say, and it sounds like an order.

"What happened to 'getting arrested...not good'?" She questions, still smirking a little. But I can see an excited gleam in her eyes, and I know that this could be my big chance.

"Well, that's your real talent. Maybe if I try it too, I'll be able to get inside your head and see what else you could get from it." I'm surprised that the answer is almost logical. Maybe hope has cleared my head a little.

"This might actually work," she muses, and then grins. "Let's try it."

"Perfect," I say, trying to get a grip on the dizzy happiness that's starting to take over. "Let's go right now."

"Wait. I'll only teach you on one condition."

"What's that?" My heart is pounding and I'm sure she can hear it. Stupid cardiovascular system.

"You have to teach me to make your fancy cakes," she smiles. I know she's recalling all those times she stood outside our bakery window staring at them with her little sister.

"Deal," I reply, smiling with relief.

"You teach first," she says, smirking back. I agree instantly and we head down the stairs and to the biggest room in my victor's house, the kitchen. Katniss keeps glancing at me, a little uncertain, a little amused by my determined expression, but I know she can do it, she will do it.

When I'm through with her, she will be Katniss, the girl with the bread.

that's all for now! i promise i'll put up the second half soon. r&r please!