Hey, guys! Wow…sorry it's taken so long to update…I've been lacking ideas (hint, hint – y'all should give me some). In response to a couple of reviewer's questions, this is not a Finniss story. Believe me, I love Finnick as much as the next girl, but if you're looking to read about Finniss, zip on over to Drowning Ember's story Plenty of Fish in the Sea—she and I are writing it together. I promise to try to update more regularly, though this week may be a bit off, as I have a show opening on Thursday night. I love you all, and I love reading your reviews – they give me warm fuzzies. So once again, sorry for the wait, and enjoy the chapter!
Cold water splashing across his face woke Peeta. He opened his eyes to find Katniss standing in front of his open car door holding a squirt bottle of ice-cold water, spraying mercilessly at the bridge of his nose.
"What the fuck!?" Peeta jumped from his seat – tried to jump that is. The seatbelt he wore presented a slight problem in that arena and he fell back against the seat, causing Katniss to erupt in laughter.
"Oh my god, you should've seen your face!" she gasped, but she didn't cease her spraying.
Peeta unhooked his seatbelt and grabbed the squirt bottle from her hand. "What the hell was all that for?" He stood and held the bottle above his head when she tried to grab it back from him.
"You were asleep," she smiled, "and I thought you might appreciate my creative method of waking you."
Peeta stared at her in disbelief. "You thought I would appreciate that? How would you like it if I did that to you?"
A wicked smile stretched across Peeta's face as his previous comment soaked into his brain. Before Katniss could run, he grabbed her around the waist and took aim at her forehead. She screamed with laughter.
"How do you like that, huh Katniss?" Peeta laughed
Katniss was laughing so hard she could barely speak, so she settled for squealing at him again. Her body thrashed and tried to rid itself of his grasp. She turned them around so she could press her weight against the car and attempt to push him off.
Peeta wasn't having any of it, and continued to soak her face, until finally the bottle ran out of water and they were simply leaning against the car holding each other.
Silence fell as they looked into each other's eyes. Neither made any effort to move, though Peeta did open and shut his mouth several times in an attempt to speak.
Ultimately, it was Katniss who spoke.
"If you're really holding true to that whole 'men and women can be friends' thing, we should really stop getting into these kinds of positions."
Peeta nodded, not really paying attention to what she was saying as his eyes darted down to her lips.
Katniss noticed.
"Peeta? Peeta!" She shoved against him suddenly, and unprepared as he was, he stumbled backward.
"Oh…uhm…yeah?" he avoided her gaze.
She chuckled. "We're here."
Peeta turned away from Katniss and found himself facing a pale orange store front. The door was a deep blue and from the brown roof hung a sign that said MELLARK BAKERY in big, white letters.
A few seconds later, Peeta noticed a blond head in the window – his brother, Rye, who winked and gave him a thumbs up before turning to yell something into the back room.
Next thing he knew, Peeta's father rushed out the door and enveloped his son in a bone-crushing embrace.
"Welcome home, Peeta."
The two embraced for what seemed like hours to Katniss, who stood uncomfortably near the car, shifting her weight from foot to foot, knowing that the strange blonde man in the window had seen her more-than-friendly interaction with Peeta.
When their hug came to an end, Peeta turned to Katniss, a thousand-megawatt smile on his face.
"Dad, this is Katniss. Katniss, this is my dad."
Much to her surprise, Mr. Mellark smiled and pulled Katniss into a hug.
"So nice to meet you, Katniss," he chuckled. "Peeta's never brought a girl home before."
Katniss's eyes widened and she shot a panicked glance a Peeta, whose face mirrored her own.
"Uh, Dad…Katniss isn't…we're not…it isn't like that."
A frown crossed Mr. Mellark's face. "Oh?"
Katniss shook her head. "We just drove up together."
Having heard this, Rye decided to finally make his appearance, exiting the store and making a beeline for Katniss.
"In that case," Rye smirked, "I'm Rye, Peeta's taller, smarter, funnier, better-looking brother. It's nice to meet you." He took her hand and kissed it.
Peeta smacked his brother on the back of the head. "Rye, cut that out. She's got a boyfriend."
Rye frowns and turns to Peeta. "That explains why you were just trying to put the moves on her, little bro."
"What I do is none of your business, Rye. Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be out banging your secretary or something?"
"At least I have a sex life."
"So there's something wrong with me for wanting to have a special relationship rather than become 'friends with benefits' to a married woman?"
"Peeta?" Katniss's voice cut through the argument and both boys turned to her. "I'm gonna go find my apartment. And I should probably call Finn. Can I stop by tomorrow?"
Peeta nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll just grab my stuff."
He opened the trunk and pulled out his suitcase before pulling Katniss into a brief hug.
"Bye, Katniss."
"See ya, Peeta."
She climbed back into the car and drove off. Peeta's eyes followed her until she disappeared around a corner.
Rye clapped his brother on the shoulder, the argument forgotten as he saw the look in his brother's eyes.
"You've got it bad, bro."
