Disclaimer: This fic is rated 'M' for language and sexual content. I do not own any of the characters of The Hunger Games (although I wish I did).
Early July…
"Ahem?" The swift impact of Prim's elbow making contact with Peeta's side caused him to startle. He glanced over at her expectant face. "You done with that?"
"Oh, right." Gingerly, he set down the dinner plate he was drying and reached for the serving dish in Prim's hand, droplets of water dripping down his forearms. "Sorry, just thinking."
The long summer days had turned to long summer weeks and before Peeta knew it, his first full month at the Everdeen farm had come and gone.
One down, two to go, he thought as he stared out the kitchen window, his mind drifting off again as his hands went into autopilot with drying the dishes.
Peeta had finally settled into a routine, and although the days were long and the job back-breaking at times, it was nothing he couldn't handle. Most nights he'd fall face first into bed, utterly exhausted and barely able to keep his eyes open, but it was worth it. Knowing that he was needed and that he was a part of something bigger. The work was rewarding, unlike anything he'd experienced before and it left him with a sense of accomplishment and in a new way…whole. As much as he loved his life back in the city, it had always seemed fragmented, as if he was floating through life, standing idly by until he reached the next milestone. But out here, removed from the fast-paced life of the city, he felt a sense of connection.
The farmer's eldest daughter however, was another story.
He still hadn't made much headway with Katniss. It was evident through her critical looks and curt answers when forced into conversation that she had no intention of warming up to him any time soon. The polite and friendly approach hadn't worked. Neither did ignoring her in hopes that sheer curiosity would eventually get the best of her. There was no way he'd sink low enough to play the "douche bag" card either. That just wasn't him.
It didn't make matters any easier when the image of her perched up on that tree branch with no shirt on would pop into his head every damn time he saw her. And he felt only mildly ashamed that the same image was what got him through the rare nights when sleep was hard to come by and he needed extra…help, to fall asleep.
Whether it was her doing or luck of the draw, he found they didn't cross paths much during his waking hours. Most meals she was conveniently absent by the time he showed up, but supper was the one meal she couldn't avoid him. Although even then she'd avoid his gaze, speak only when spoken to, and chew quietly as she stared at her plate.
But something was up with her. Even he could tell without an exchange of words, but it wasn't his business to pry into, no matter how curious he was about her shift in demeanor. She was absent from supper that night, and as much as he tried to hide his concern, it had definitely set him on edge.
"Peeta," Prim said with another nudge of his arm.
With a sigh, he offered her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I don't know what's up with me. Long day I guess."
"That's OK, everyone has them. You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm a good listener."
"Thanks, but I think I'll be fine." There was no way in hell he was about to spill his guts about Katniss to of all people, her little sister. Although, standing right next to him was a brimming wealth of knowledge when it came to Katniss and he'd be stupid not to tap into it. "Actually Prim, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, shoot."
"Well, how do I ask this without sounding…um, well…I get the feeling that your sister doesn't really, uh, like me. And I was just wondering, is she like that with everyone? Or, uh, is it just…me…"
Not the most eloquent execution he'd hoped for, but whatever. It was kind of a lose-lose situation really, if it was him, then there wasn't much he could do about it. He had no intentions of changing for anyone, even a pair of the sexiest eyes he'd ever seen before. But if it wasn't him and that was just how she treated everyone, then it meant exactly that. He was just like everyone else. Nothing special.
Prim set down the pot she was scrubbing gently back down into the sudsy water. Her lips thinned as she wiped her hands down the front of the apron she was wearing and turned to look at him. The serious look on her face caused a fission of worry to ripple through him.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about the way my sister's been treating you. Katniss is not…the most likable of people. She's not like you and me. She has a hard time getting to know people and an even harder time letting anyone in. So please don't take it personally, OK? It's not you."
"OK," he answered with a reassuring smile.
"I like you, Peeta, and I hope you're not having second thoughts about being here."
"Oh, no. You don't have to worry about that." He smiled down at her gently. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good. Because even though you might not believe me, I think she actually—"
Prim was cut off by the sudden low rumble of an engine and the appearance of a bright set of headlights shining through the kitchen window. When the lights dimmed in the cloud of dust that billowed up and finally went dark, he could make out Katniss's face in the passenger seat and some guy he'd never seen before behind the wheel.
"Who's that?"
"That's Gale, our neighbor across the creek."
"Oh."
Peeta turned back to the window, trying hard not to stare as Katniss and whoever this Gale character was got out of the unfamiliar truck. They stopped in front of the hood and both leaned back, not looking at each other but apparently deep in conversation. Peeta watched Katniss's face as her mouth moved silently, suddenly wishing the pane of glass would disappear so he could hear what she was saying. It was rare for her to ever talk in his presence, but she apparently had a lot to say to the tall, dark figure next to her.
He couldn't help the twinge of jealousy that burned the tips of his ears. It was irrational. He knew it was. Katniss wasn't his. He had no right for any such emotion. Hell, for all he knew, the guy was her boyfriend.
The realization sunk like a stone down his throat, eventually settling uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach. It'd never crossed his mind that perhaps the reason for the cold shoulder was because she was already taken.
"So, is that her, uh…" He couldn't even bring himself to say the words.
Prim wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Who, Gale? Ew, no, he's like our brother!"
"I see." Her words placated him somewhat, but just because Prim saw the guy that way, didn't necessarily mean her sister did, too.
He looked to Katniss's face again, searching for a spark…a hint of something—anything really—that showed she held feelings towards the guy. As usual, her features were void of any emotion, which eased his mind somewhat, but it was by no means a definitive answer. He chanced another glace at Gale, frowning as he admitted to himself that the guy wasn't at all bad looking. His tall and lean frame was in his favor as well. Peeta's eyes narrowed as he continued to study his face, taking note of the subtle changes in the guy's features and the slight lift to the corner of his mouth.
Well, that's a dead giveaway.
The way Gale seemed to hang on her every word, nodding his head as though he understood her in a way Peeta could only ever hope to. But the way his gaze seemed to linger on her mouth and—God damn it—drop to her chest…well, it was fucking obvious. Peeta was certain the guy had a raging boner with Katniss's name written all over it tucked in those jeans of his.
It was then that Peeta realized he was gripping the towel in his hand so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
Fuck. What was she doing to him? Whatever it was, it wasn't healthy. Of that he was quite certain.
"Hey, can you keep a secret?" Peeta tore his eyes away from the scene out the window and looked over at Prim, interest suddenly piqued and hoping his jealousy wasn't written all over his face.
"Well, you're in luck, that's one of my specialties."
"Cross your heart and hope to die?"
Peeta went through the motions and crossed an invisible "X" over his chest. "And stick a needle in my eye."
"Ew, that's gross!" she said as she swatted gently at his arm. Prim leaned in covertly, glancing around as though they were being watched and whispered, "Dad doesn't approve of him." She cast her eyes outside the window and nodded towards Gale.
Peeta felt a sudden flutter in his chest and had to clear his throat as not to sound too eager for more details. "Oh, really, and what makes you think that?"
"I don't think so, I know so," she said matter-of-factly, placing her hands on her hips. "I overheard Mama and Dad talking one night about it. I came downstairs to get a glass of water and they were whispering in the living room. See, Mr. Hawthorne died a few years back. It was around the time Gale was supposed to head off to college, but after what happened, he ended up staying here to help his mama out with the farm. He's been taking care of it ever since."
Peeta looked back out at Gale, feeling a hint of sympathy for the guy. "OK, but wouldn't your dad see that as a respectable trait? You know, stepping up to the plate of responsibility and all?"
"Well, if it was anyone else then yeah, sure. But you see, the way Dad put it, he'd be just another reason for Katniss to stay here."
"Oh."
Visions of his first night at the farm came flooding back. Katniss's unforgettable face before her sudden outburst at the mention of college and leaving the farm. The way her eyes shot arrows at him from across the table just before she stomped out of the dining room. Then a thought crossed his mind.
"But you know, from what I've gathered, your sister can be pretty, uh, stubborn. So don't you think your dad's disapproval would be even more of an incentive for her to like him? Seeing that she's already not too impressed with your dad about the whole college thing and all," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Hmm…she may be stubborn, but if Katniss had really wanted something from him, trust me, it'd have happened by now."
Peeta scratched at his chin as he let her words mull over in his head. Movement from outside the window caught his attention and his heart leapt when he saw Katniss finally push off the hood of the truck to head towards the house. He also couldn't help but notice the way Gale stared her down as she climbed the front porch steps, and it took all the strength he possessed not to slam his fists on the counter when he caught the guy licking his lips as though he was sitting down to a steak dinner.
The sound of the front door closing brought him to his senses and he took a deep breath. Get a grip, he thought to himself before slinging the dish towel over his shoulder and looking over at the plate of food he'd left out on the counter. Mrs. Everdeen insisted it wasn't necessary, that Katniss would have eaten wherever it was she'd gone to. But Peeta couldn't help it; if there was a chance she hadn't, he didn't want her to come home hungry and to nothing.
Both he and Prim turned, leaning against the counter when Katniss finally appeared in the kitchen doorway, and to both his surprise and slight trepidation, she was smiling. It was the first time he'd ever seen her smile. A true smile, one that a person doesn't even know they're doing when no one else is around. She didn't notice them as she set her bag down on the kitchen table, but Prim's abrupt clearing of her throat changed all that.
"Shit!" Katniss hissed, her hand going straight to her chest. "You scared the hell out of me!"
Peeta looked away, pretending to be occupied with an invisible thread on his shirt.
"How was your night?" Prim asked as she casually crossed her arms over her chest, but the hint of sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.
"Fine," Katniss answered abruptly. She moved towards the counter and grabbed the plate of food before reaching awkwardly around Peeta to grab a fork from the pile of clean dishes next to him. He couldn't resist the urge to peer up and search her face, which was flush as she mumbled a quick "excuse me".
She turned and made a quick beeline for doorway, disappearing up the stairs as her footsteps faded.
"You're welcome!" Prim shouted up after her sister, shaking her head before looking over to Peeta with an apologetic smile. "Like I said, don't take it to heart. It's not you."
"Undersee's Berry Farm," Peeta read aloud to himself as he slowed the truck, releasing a quiet chuckle at the professionally printed sign with a bright red strawberry waving back at him.
That morning, bright and earlier than usual, he'd found Mr. Everdeen waiting for him down in the tool shed as he descended the steps on his way to breakfast. Mrs. Everdeen had asked Peeta to show her how to whip up something they made at the bakery, and so he'd set his alarm an hour earlier than normal. Without a doubt, he'd decided on cheese buns. They were quick and easy but by far one of his favorites. He couldn't resist the chance to share his skills in the kitchen with her, and with being away from home for so long, he never thought he'd miss baking.
After breakfast, Mr. Everdeen asked that Peeta call on Mr. Undersee, a fellow farmer who years back had taken a leap of faith and cleared his grain fields to try his luck in the berry industry. Strawberries to be exact. Acres and acres of them.
He wasn't exactly sure what sort of help Mr. Undersee required, but over the past month Peeta had proven himself a jack of all trades. According to Mr. Everdeen, Peeta was a fast learner and had already proven his worth by going above and beyond his expectations.
He slowed down when a gleaming red barn board sided storefront came into view and parked the truck under a row of trees. By the looks of the place, Mr. Undersee was doing exceptionally well in his new endeavor. There was no one else around so he entered the store, releasing a low whistle as he took in the ritzy setup and upscale ambiance.
A head of blonde hair popped up from behind the counter. "Why, thank you," she giggled as she propped her elbows up on the granite surface. Peeta flushed and took a step towards her, digging his hands into his back pockets.
"Hi, I'm looking for Mr. Undersee? I'm from the Everdeen farm."
"Oh! Well, I'm Madge. Mr. Undersee's one and only daughter."
Peeta offered her a hand. "I'm Peeta Mellark. I'm helping out over at the Everdeen's for the summer."
Madge took hold of his hand and squeezed gently, making no attempt to hide the way her eyes raked over him with the blatant dip of her head. "And with arms like that, you're a big help, I'm sure." Peeta took a step back when she winked at him, looking away and blushing at the girl's forward nature. "Anyway, my daddy got called out this morning, but he left instructions that one of the fences needs mending and there's a pile of brush that's been building up since the spring that needs mulching."
"Right. Well, if you just point me in the right direction, I'll get to it."
"Why don't I just show you?"
"You sure? Don't you have to, uh, look after the store?"
"Oh it'll be fine," she said with a wave of her hand.
He followed her lead and waited as she hung a "back in 15" sign over the one that read "open" and closed the door behind them. Peeta made a brief stop by the truck to collect his tool bag and gloves out of the truck bed, all the while feeling as though his every move was being watched. He'd learned during his second week that mending fences wasn't a job to take on without a good pair of leather gloves. He was used to calluses from working in the bakery, but after his first few blisters from working on the farm, he'd formed a new appreciation for his gloves.
The fence in question wasn't in too rough shape, it would take him a good hour or two but it was the brush pile that was larger than he'd expected. He was hoping to be back to the farm by lunch, but it'd be well into the afternoon by the time he'd be done. He tossed his tool bag in the grass and retrieved his gloves from his back pocket.
"So, this will take me a few hours but it's nothing I can't handle," he said with a natural confidence that radiated off of him. A month ago he wouldn't have know the difference between a pair of long nose pliers and cutting pliers, but thanks to Mr. Everdeen's patience and wealth of knowledge, he was certain he could almost pass as a bona fide country native.
"Well that's good to hear."
She smiled and from the corner of his eye he could tell she was staring him as he bent over to rummage through his tools. Was she going to linger here all day? The girl was kind enough, but he wasn't really up for an audience while trying to get a job done.
Maybe if he just got right to it, she'd get the point and leave him be. He responded with a tight lipped smile as he stood and turned his back to her, focusing his attention on reattaching a piece of barbed wire that had come loose from one of the posts.
He wasn't sure how long she stood there, but it felt like hours. Suddenly, a hand was on his forearm and he stiffened as her fingers trailed lightly up his skin.
"Well, come find me if you need anything."
"Will do," he answered without looking at her, trying not to let his irritation slip.
When he was certain that he was finally alone, he blew out a long sigh and settled into his zone as he continued with the fence.
It was going to be another hot day and the brim of his ball cap was drenched with sweat by the time the sun was high overhead. He paused to guzzle down some water but when his stomach grumbled loudly he cursed under his breath. He'd forgotten to pack a lunch. All he had was a cheese bun from the batch he'd baked that morning with Mrs. Everdeen.
He sat down in the long grass and leaned back against a fence post as he tore open the bun and stuffed half of it into his mouth. He didn't have the usual blend of cheeses they used at the bakery, but he made do with what Mrs. Everdeen had on hand and the fresh goat cheese (thanks to Prim and Lady) was a pleasant addition to the mix. He shut his eyes briefly as he enjoyed a short break, letting his breath finally catch up to him.
"Thought I'd bring you out some iced tea and a snack," a voice said unexpectedly and the cool presence of a shadow fell over top him. His eyes shot open to find Madge grinning down at him with a tall glass in one hand and a tart of some sort in the other.
"Thanks," he said as he took the proffered items. Out of curiosity, he glanced down at the tart.
"Strawberry tart, of course," she said.
When she took a seat next to him, he cringed internally at how close she was, but smiled politely back at her regardless. Despite the unwanted company, the iced tea did wonders in cooling him from the inside out.
Madge Undersee proved to be more of a chatterbox than he'd expected. Her rapid fire questions ranged from the typical "how's the summer going so far?" and "where are you from?" to "do you have a girlfriend?" and "are you looking for one?", the last one causing him to hammer a fist to his chest to keep from choking on her bluntness.
Even though he didn't ask, he learned more than he'd anticipated about her, too. She spent most of her time in the city with her mother who suffered from intense migraines. The country was just too far away from her doctors and the medication she desperately needed on a continual basis. The summers she spent at the farm, helping her father with the store. He felt a twinge of pity for the girl, having to split her time between her parents while growing up, but if it'd affected her negatively in any way, she hid it well.
When Peeta drained the last drop from his glass, he thanked her again for the refreshment and company but it was about time he got back to work. He wasn't sure if it was the combination of the exhausting heat or his built up frustrations with Katniss finally bubbling up to the surface, but he just wasn't in the mood for Madge's flirting, regardless of whether it was harmless or not.
The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly, spurred on by the fact that he just wanted to get back to the farm. When he returned to the truck, he tossed his hat into the back and tugged off his shirt, mopping up the remaining sweat from his brow before reaching for a fresh one that he'd thankfully thought best to bring along.
"Done so soon?" Madge asked with a pout when he returned to the store.
"Yeah, made better time than I expected."
"Well in that case, care to stick around a bit longer and keep me company until my daddy returns? Then you can tell him how it went yourself."
Peeta ran a hand through is hair and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Thanks, but no, I need to be getting back. I have a few things I still need to tend to back at the farm." None of it was true, but the thought of sticking around any longer than he needed and given the circumstance, he wasn't above lying.
"Well, if I can't persuade you then…here." She lifted a flat of strawberries from beneath the counter and pushed it towards him. "As a thank you for your help today." Before he could refuse the kind gesture, she turned and grabbed a bottle from the top shelf behind her. "This too, it's our famous strawberry wine."
"That's very kind of you, but I can't accept this," Peeta said, holding up his hands. Mr. Everdeen hadn't mentioned anything about payment for his services; he just assumed it's what the farmers around here did. Helped each other out when in need and returned the favor when they could. "Really, just a simple 'thanks' would suffice."
"Please, you earned it." She reached out to grasp his forearm and squeezed gently. "Besides, I'm sure once you've tried the wine, you'll be back for more." Peeta looked up just in time to catch her wet her lips.
Was she serious? The girl was damn persistent, he'd give her that much, but he'd had enough. He pulled his arm back slowly and decided it was better to just accept the gifts and not argue any longer. He balanced the flat on one arm and grabbed hold of the bottle of wine in the other.
"Well, thanks. I'm sure Mrs. Everdeen will enjoy these." He turned back once he was a safe enough distance away and added, "It was nice meeting you, Madge, hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
"I sure will!" she called out as he exited the store.
He let out a loud groan when he reached the truck, opening the passenger side door and shoving the strawberries and the bottle onto the seat. With one last hesitant glace back at the store, he shook his head as he climbed behind the wheel and started up the engine.
Peeta had never been a vain person by any means.
In fact, he never really considered himself much of a looker, but that didn't mean he was a stranger to attention from the opposite sex. His earlier encounter with Madge Undersee had left him unsettled and he couldn't stop his mind from reeling during the half hour drive back to the Everdeen farm.
He'd never understand why any girl, especially the type like Madge, would give him the time of day. He didn't fit the typical tall, dark, and handsome persona, and it wasn't until high school when he'd filled out and joined the wrestling team that people started to take notice. Before that, he was just another one of the baker's boys. Sure, at times the extra attention was amusing, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't stroke his ego to some degree, but the interest was always one-sided. He was never rude about it. His dad had raised him to be respectful and polite, but the girls that showed interest in him were just never his type.
Whatever that was, he thought but then shook his head. He was only lying to himself. He knew exactly what his type was and she was roaming about somewhere back at the farm spending her waking hours avoiding him like the plague.
Prim had said it wasn't him, but Peeta couldn't help but wonder, was there something wrong with him? Was he lacking in some way? What did other girls see in him that Katniss didn't? Maybe he just wasn't her type.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth as he started up the driveway to the house. With a heavy sigh, he gripped the steering wheel and frowned at his reflection in the rear view mirror. There was no use in pitying himself. If she hadn't shown any interest in him by now, let alone hinted at anything along the lines of forming a friendship, then it just wasn't going to happen.
After parking the truck, he stared for a moment down at the strawberries, thinking back to the way Madge had practically thrown herself at him. Had he set his standards too high? All these years, had he been missing out on something—or someone—based on what he thought he wanted, instead what was available?
"Ugh," he groaned, slumping back against the headrest. Clearly he wasn't getting anywhere, not when all thoughts unsurprisingly led right back to Katniss.
When he went in to drop off the berries, he found Mrs. Everdeen alone in the kitchen, and was surprised that her little sidekick Prim wasn't there with her preparing supper. The woman's eyes went wide at the sight of him. "Good heavens! What will we do with them all?"
Peeta set the flat down on the counter and stared down at the plump, ripe fruit. Back at home they had over a dozen recipes that called for strawberries. Then it hit him. When it came to Katniss, he in fact hadn't tried everything yet. Why on earth hadn't he thought of it before? Barely able to contain his excitement, he turned back to Mrs. Everdeen.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to make dessert tonight. My treat."
"Oh, that sounds lovely! What did you have in mind?"
"We make a mean strawberry shortcake at the bakery."
"Well, only on one condition." She reached over and popped a strawberry into her mouth and after swallowing, arched an eyebrow at him. "You have to write down the recipe after, and no leaving out any special ingredients," she emphasized with a shake of her finger.
Peeta laughed as he moved to the sink, running his hands back and forth through the cool stream of water to loosen the dirt and grime from his hands. "I wouldn't dare."
Two hours later, after cleaning up after himself and taking the time to set the dinner table, Peeta escaped back to his room for a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes. He set the bottle of strawberry wine down on the desk, feeling only slightly ashamed that he didn't offer it to Mrs. Everdeen. Not one for getting his hopes up too early, he needed a backup plan and what better way to end his night than getting tipsy off overly-sweet fruity wine while working on his sketches?
Thanks to his indecisiveness with regards his shirt choice, Peeta was last for supper, but he was secretly relieved to see that Katniss hadn't decided to skip out on dinner again. Content with how the cake had turned out, he took his usual spot across from her and settled in to his meal with an easy smile.
Peeta half listened as Mr. Everdeen went on about how he'd spent most of the day over at Abernathy's farm, helping the old drunkard build a pen for his geese. Every once in awhile, he'd absentmindedly nod and chimed in when everyone laughed at a certain part of the story, but whatever the punch line was, it'd gone completely over his head. When he looked up to see if anyone had noticed, he caught Katniss eyeing him back. She raised an skeptical eyebrow at him, no doubt silently asking "what the hell is up with you". He responded with a nonchalant shrug and turned his attention back to his mashed potatoes, hoping he'd sparked some sort of curiosity in her.
Dinner continued on in casual conversation and Peeta finally perked up an ear when Mr. Everdeen ran through the list of things they needed to get done the next day. However, when Mrs. Everdeen began to divulge in some local gossip she'd picked up on during her sewing circle the night before, his eyes glazed over as he tuned out once again.
"So, what's for dessert?" Prim asked as the dinner plates were being cleared away.
"Why don't you help me and see for yourself?" Mrs. Everdeen answered as she snuck a sideways glance at Peeta before disappearing into the kitchen.
His heel bounced rhythmically up and down against the wooden floor as she set the cake down in the center of the table and his eyes darted down to his fidgeting hands in his lap. Prim followed close behind, balancing a bowl of freshly whipped cream in one hand and another heaping full of glistening, ripe strawberries in the other.
"Well, what's this?" Mr. Everdeen grinned as he took a swipe of the whipped cream that was piped decoratively around the base of the cake.
"Patience," his wife scolded, batting his hand away with the serving knife. "Strawberry shortcake of course, what does it look like?"
Peeta watched warily from the corner of his eye as Katniss studied the piece that was placed in front of her. As her fork sunk into the spongy layers, he held his breath. His heart beat wildly in his chest as he watched it disappear into her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick at a smudge of whipped cream caught on the corner of her mouth.
The gesture was innocent, but it caused a not so innocent stirring within the confines of his shorts. Ignoring his body's ill-timed reaction, he hunched forward in anticipation and changed to himself, please like it, please like it, please like it. But all his worries faded when her apprehension melted and the look of shear bliss over took her face.
A smug smile tugged at his lips. He had her. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Mama," Katniss groaned as she scooped up another generous forkful. "This is amazing," she mumbled over her full mouth. Peeta bit his lip, trying not to laugh at just how damn cute she looked. Perhaps the way to this girl's heart was through her stomach. She quickly swallowed before turning to her mother, "How come you've never made this before?"
"I didn't make it." Katniss's fork froze just inches away from her mouth, her eyebrows knit in confusion. Mrs. Everdeen turned to look him straight in the eye and grinned. "Peeta did."
Katniss lowered her hand, her eyes dropping down to the cake before slowly drifting up to meet his. "Oh, well…it's good."
"Thanks," he all but whispered with a timid smile.
"You've been holding out on us, son!" Mr. Everdeen said as he used his thumb to gather up the crumbs scattered across his plate. "So are these Undersee's berries?" he asked before scooping a generous bite into his mouth.
"Yes, sir, they are. Mr. Undersee's daughter—Madge, is it?" Peeta looked to Katniss for confirmation but was met with a blank stare. "Well, she sent the strawberries home with me as thanks for the job today."
"Well, lucky you." He winked at Peeta. "I'd have walked outta there empty handed. Looks to me like you might have picked yourself up an admirer."
"Such a lovely girl, isn't she?" Mrs. Everdeen asked as she patted her mouth delicately with her napkin.
Peeta could feel the flush rising up the back of his neck. He didn't want to be rude, but at the same time, he felt as though he was being backed into a corner. It didn't help that all of a sudden he could feel daggers being stared at him from across the table.
"Um, yeah, she was nice." He chanced a quick glance at Katniss whose lips were now pursed as she gripped her fork.
"Katniss and Madge used to be such great friends when they were younger," Mrs. Everdeen continued before turning to Katniss. "Whatever happened between you two?"
"Beats me," Katniss answered between clenched teeth. She set down her fork and without another word, like so many times before, pushed away from the table to excuse herself. Peeta stared at her half empty plate and sighed, disappointment sinking in as his appetite too was suddenly lost.
As much as it pained him to sit through the rest of dessert, Peeta forced himself to wait patiently until everyone else had finished (which unfortunately meant another two slices of cake for Mr. Everdeen). In his mind he was still retracing his steps, desperate to figure out where he'd gone wrong this time as he helped clear the table. He could have sworn he'd had her with the cake, but the moment Madge had been mentioned, it was like someone had flipped a switch.
Her walls were back up, and he was back at square one.
Would he ever be able to get through to her again? Or were further attempts to reach out to her now pointless? As hard as it was to swallow defeat, he found himself out of options.
At least there was a bottle of wine still waiting for him up in his room. It was about time he moved on, and what better place to start than there?
Author's Note: Now, before anyone starts to hate me, you guys know I'm Everlark endgame…so bear with me! Also, I mentioned in the first chapter that this would be a three part fic…ha, yeah right…it'll be more. Love to hear your thoughts on this one first!
Big thanks again to sunfishdunes for her beta skills, she rocks!
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