Hello! Here is the next chapter. Peeta's point of view. This will probably be the last time we will have the back and forth. From here on it should go a little faster. I had to set everything up, though! I hope that you enjoy it.

Sing With Me-Chapter 4

Once Peeta had signed up, he went about his normal activities. He went to practice, attended his classes, and watched for Katniss. Everyone at the school was discussing the tryouts, especially guessing which girls and boys had signed up and taking bets on who would be the best to represent the district. He kept quiet about it. No one seemed to notice his lack of interest, though, which suited him just fine. The next day, when he heard that students who were being a part of the competition should pick up their music, he decided to try and quietly make it to the music area after lunch.

He said nothing as he walked down the steps to the lowest level. Most of the students were still in the cafeteria, but Peeta kept his eyes down just in case to not arouse notice. He made it to the doors of the office and walked in. Mr. Abernathy was seated behind his desk with what seemed to be a protein liquid lunch.

"I was wondering if I would see you or if I would have to bring this home." He stated while pushing some papers and a CD towards Peeta.

"I thought this would be a good time. No one is really around." Peeta replied as he looked down at the music. A love song from a Disney cartoon movie? What kind of tryout was this going to be? He had seen the movie once and vaguely remembered the song and that the prince sang harmony with Cinderella on it.

Peeta decided to let his opinion be known. "You expect me to sing this?" he asked.

The music teacher looked up through his glasses, "Why not? Everyone else will be doing so. Do you have a problem with it?"

"I have to sing as a prince," the teenager grumbled.

"You have to sing as a young man in love," Haymitch countered, "it doesn't matter if it is a prince or not. As long as the emotion is there, you can be any kind of man you want."

"Alright! Alright!" and with that Peeta gave up the debate and walked out as the music teacher grumbled a good luck to him.

He had just excited the department when he almost knocked into someone. He turned his eyes on the person to see it was Delly Cartwright.

"Oh, Peeta. I'm so sorry!" she said guiltily and then stopped as she noticed the items he held in his hand. Her eyes narrowed at first, then widened and Peeta could almost see the light bulb above her head turn on as she figured out what he was up to.

"Delly! Umm…ummm," he was trying to think about whether to tell her the truth or make up an excuse.

Just as he was about to say more, she spoke up again. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone." With that, she gave him a sneaky smile and walked off. Peeta felt his breath let out and went on himself.

It was 8:00 before he was able to sneak away from his house that night. After helping at the bakery, eating dinner and homework he finally got some free time and left out the back door to head to Abernathy's house. As he figured, the teacher had left the door to his basement open for him. He went into the room which had been converted into a studio complete with all the latest technology. Peeta didn't need any of the equipment, just the space and freedom to practice alone. He tried a few warm ups, then decided to finally look at the music itself.

The song was not long, and the male part didn't come in for quite a few lines, but the harmonies had lots of ups and downs, highs and lows which made it interesting at least. He tried it out a few times and afterwards felt he had the notes pretty well. Peeta wasn't satisfied, though. He knew he sounded flat with no emotion. He just couldn't get into the song. He thought maybe he could go up and try to convince Haymitch to make a change. The blonde knew that wasn't going to happen. This was the song, and he had to learn to work with it. He attempted it for another few minutes, and decided that was enough for one day. Maybe the emotion would come tomorrow. For now, it was exhaustion for the win.

The week flew by and the day was here. Each night up until now he had practiced in the basement, but still the song seemed to lack something. Peeta was out of time, though, and he only hoped his vocals would be passable, if not spectacular. He was only doing it to see what he could do, anyway, and never thought he would actually make the show.

School ended and he hung out to say goodbye to his friends before they left, claiming he had forgotten something. Peeta walked back in and headed down to the now familiar area. It was exactly 4:05 as he saw Mr. Abernathy and a couple of other music teachers holding on to clipboards. He gave them his form and that it was his time. He listened as they told him that his partner for the tryout was already in her booth. He was to go into Recording Room 2 and get his headphones on. Once he was ready, they would start the track of the music for them to sing.

Peeta easily found the room they had instructed him to find , and he went in and placed the waiting headphones on his ears. The familiar voice of Haymitch told them to get ready, and after a downbeat, he heard the track start, followed by a voice. His eyes widened, not because the voice was the most amazing thing he had ever heard, although it was. He was stunned by the fact that he recognized the voice. It was one that he had not heard in so long, but it had stolen his heart long ago.

He was five when he first listened to her sing, when she stood up in the music assembly at the beginning of Kindergarten and sang The Valley Song from their district. The whole assembly, as well as the birds outside had been silenced by her voice that day, and he had fallen in love. From that day on, Katniss Everdeen had been the object of his affections. He had watched her at school and at any other time he ever saw her. He felt deeply for her when her father had died, and he saw her shrinking before his eyes He had tried to do what little he could for her. It was then, he knew, that she had silenced her voice. He had not heard her since that time, that is, until this moment.

It was Katniss who was singing, he didn't have to see her to know it. As she sang, he listened to her sweet natural tone. It was beautiful. His mind quickly thought again to what Mr. Abernathy had said about brining emotion to the song. This one needed to be from a young man in love. Young man in love? No problem. He could sing this song easily, because he was in love, and the girl he was going to sing to was the subject of that love. It didn't take any imagination to create the emotion needed.

With that, Peeta began to sing his part when it came time. He had one line by himself, but then the rest was the male and female parts together. As their voices combined, he was amazed at how they blended together. Wow, he thought, I may not be an expert, but this is sounding incredible. The connection between the two just seemed to have a surreal quality about it. He was getting completely lost in the moment, and the spell was only broken as the song ended.

There was complete silence as it did. Peeta wasn't sure if that was a good sign, but he just couldn't find words for what had just happened. He finally heard a voice instructing them that they were done and could leave, bringing him back to reality. He walked out and immediately to his left saw the figure he was expecting and hoping to see. She met his eyes, and the look on her face made it clear that she had not been expecting to see him. The shock was evident. He smiled at her and as usual around her was unsure what to say. Should he be feigning surprise or just look calm and cool?

It was Katniss who broke the silence by quietly saying, "It was you."

Peeta smiled at the simple knowledge of her speaking to him. "Yeah, it was me. I can see you're surprised to see me here."

"I just didn't expect it. I had no idea you were a singer," and he could tell that she was looking for some kind of explanation of where his skills had come from.

"I have been taking lessons privately for a little while," he said simply.

"Oh. I see. Well, I just have to say that you were really amazing Peeta. You probably made me sound better than I really am since I haven't sung like this in so long."

"Don't underestimate yourself. I could hear you, and it was fantastic. I remember how well you always sang. It was good to hear you do it again. I also have to say…I think we sounded good together." Peeta said this last part mostly to see her reaction.

In response, Katniss lifted up her head and looked straight at him, "I think so too." He took a step and they fell in step together walking out. They were in sync as they walked to the school parking lot. They were silent, but Peeta could sense the electricity in the air between them and this gave him new hope at the possibilities of a future with her.
As they reached her car, she turned towards him and said, "Good luck Peeta. I hope that you get it."

He loved her consideration. "Good luck to you too Katniss. If anyone should get a chance it should be you. I guess we'll just see how it goes. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," and she got into her little car. Peeta watched to make sure it started for her and she could go safely, and then headed towards his own. As he drove off, thoughts of her and what they had done together that afternoon flooded his mind. He could only dream at this point that he would get the chance to do it again.

I hope you enjoyed this one! I loved putting the story about her singing on the first day of school in this part. Next, we will find out the results of the tryout and the reaction to it. Until then…you all know what to do. Your reviews mean everything. Thanks for reading!