Chapter 3: New Baker, Growing Closeness

From that day on, Peeta Mellark and I become something resembling friends. I guess there isn't many things you can do without helping but liking each other, and saving me from a tree and spraining my ankle is one of them.

It takes months of healing, but my ankle is soon as good as new. And before I know it, another year has gone by. I have just returned from a spring hunt as Mother is sorting the mail at our kitchen table.

Mail is a nice, rare surprise in our house. Only the biggest packages ever arrive on Parcel Day, when our district produces a Victor for the Hunger Games, so I have never experienced one. Almost always, the missives are for Mother: new medicine orders from the Capitol, bills, and even a few invoice payments from the occasional patient who can afford to pay with money. But this time, Mother seems to be sorting the mail into piles, one for each of the Everdeen women.

And there is a pile for me, with an envelope bearing my name across the top. I open it, and am surprised to find that it is from Peeta.

I can tell Mother is trying not to read over my shoulder with interest. "What is it, Katniss dear?"

I feel a small heat come to my cheeks, and turn away so she can't see. "The Baker is retiring. Peeta Mellark is taking over the business, and he's invited me to a party."

Mother gets that almost smug grin on her face, the one she has taken to wearing more and more whenever Peeta is mentioned. "Oh. That's nice, dear."

I want to wipe that smug grin right off her mouth. Just for that, I decide right then and there that I will go. I have something to prove. To prove that there is nothing between Peeta Mellark and I. And, also, the thought of giving his bigoted mother a heart attack is an opportunity too good to pass up.

And indeed, the Witch's eyes nearly pop out of her head when I arrive at the Bakery a few days later. But her reaction doesn't matter. I am here to support Peeta, who looks ecstatic to see me. Even the Baker offers me a warm pat on the shoulder, clearly pleased that I came.


I hurry to the Mellark Bakery after my hunts one morning. I have a very important errand that I have to complete for Prim, which is why I don't make my presence known from the rear loading dock the way I usually do. Julie, Peeta's sister-in-law and his brother Rye's wife, looks up from the cash register and smiles. She calls over her shoulder:

"Peeta! Someone to see you, honey!" Then she winks at me, which oddly makes me blush. Peeta enters from the rear hallway leading to the storerooms, wiping his hands on a tea towel. He smiles when he sees me.

"Katniss!" he crosses up to behind the counter. "I must say, this makes for a nice change. I've never seen you come in from the front before."

I smile as I dump the bag of squirrels on the counter. "For your father."

Peeta nods and hands them off to Julie. "Take these to the back, please."

Julie nods. "Bye, Katniss!"

After a moment, Peeta's mother comes in and begins busying herself at the far end of the counter near the pastries. She's a witch of a woman, a point made clear when she notices me and softly clucks in disapproval.

"And, aside from the squirrels..." Peeta drolls as he pays me on his dad's behalf. "What else can I do for you?"

"I have some amazing news!" I tell him. "Primrose is getting married!"

Peeta blinks, then chuckles. "So, that Rory Hawthorne finally got off his ass, did he?"

I gape at him, half shocked, half amused. "It wasn't like that!" I protest. "He's been saving up for months to buy a ring! Besides," and here I smirk as I deliver my prodding challenge, "I bet you couldn't do any better with a proposal!"

Peeta's gaze suddenly gets very intense. "Actually, I have," he murmurs quietly. The reminder of his proposal from four years ago makes me tug at my braid self-consciously. "But, if you insist on a do-over..." Peeta suddenly takes my hand in his. With a voice both at once dramatic and deadly seriously, he asks, "Katniss Everdeen, will you marry me?"

We both hear the Witch make a deliriously satisfying choking sound from down the counter. Laughing, I toss his hand away... even if my heart begins to pound at the sincerity I heard in his voice. "You tease! Anyway, I came down here as I was hoping you might bake the wedding cake for Prim."

"Tell Prim I would be more than honored," Peeta smiles. "And before you say anything: no charge, no trade, no nothing! This one's on me."

Now, the Witch makes a little yelp - the kind that must be elicited as a good job's profits go down the drain.

I give Peeta's hand a squeeze. "Thank you. And... you're welcome to stay for the reception after you make the delivery."

Peeta peers at me, surprised by my welcoming nature. "Is this a date?"

I find my face flushing and tuck my braid back behind my ear. "No," but my voice sounds hollow, even to my own ears.

Peeta doesn't miss a beat, or look disappointed. "Sure. I'll stay for a bit."

"OK. Gotta go. Thanks Peeta!" And I race out the door.


Prim and Rory's wedding and subsequent toasting are beautiful.

They are assigned a home in the Seam, a decent distance from the mines where Rory now works, but not too far. My 18-year-old baby sister, now a young woman, looks radiant as she and her new husband share the first dance. Just as it begins, Peeta enters with an immaculate wedding cake. I have seen a lot of the young Mellark's creations, and I have to admit, this is probably his finest, as all the guests Ooh and Aah over it. Indeed, they seem reluctant to eat it, or even slice it.

I sidle up to Peeta and give him a hug, encouraging him once again to stay and enjoy the celebration. The beauty of his confectionary creation leaves me feeling indebted all over again, as I ask, "How can I ever thank you?"

"Just one thing," Peeta grins. He holds out his hand. "Care to dance?"

I blink, taken aback, but pleased too. "All right." I take his hand.

His one hand goes about my waist, near the small of my back, and we begin a slow waltz. My free hand goes about Peeta's neck, playing at the nape of his hair there.

"That cake you made was beautiful," I express, my voice thick as Peeta twirls me about the room. "The best ever."

Peeta beams, as if my words have heated his whole being. "I thought you might like it. And that is quite a compliment."

For a while, we lose each other in conversation, in the music. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Prim watching us intently and giggling like a little schoolgirl to her new husband. I can only imagine what she is speculating, so I try to ignore it.

Even as my heart pounds whilst I gaze into those eyes as blue as a summer sky.