AN: Soo sorry for the late update, but I had some issues I needed to sort. :( I feel like I should write a huge apology note but I really can't think of anything to say, just really bad couple of months I guess but I am back now and I'll try my best to have faster updates. I know it's been too long but if anyone is still interested, here's the next chapter.

Specials thanks to Naverra for being such an amazing beta reader! :D

CHAPTER: Four

***KATNISS***

I woke up to see Madge sitting on the edge of my bed, her eyes full of pity.

"What?" I gurgled.

"Katniss…" she began slowly. "Glimmer is at the door and… well, she looks pretty scary. She said she wants to talk to you right now, even though I told her you were asleep."

"Urggg… I can't handle her rant right now" I grumbled. Frustrated, I threw myself out of bed. Groggily, I stomped to the door and threw it open. The look of fury on the other end was enough to wake me completely.

"Katniss how dare you" Glimmer snarled.

Half an hour later I finally shut the door behind me. Madge was perched on the barstool, sympathetic, her mouth lost in a chipped mug of coffee.

"I guess you heard most of it" I said in a dead voice.

She just smiled and offered me coffee. I took the mug gratefully and walked around the counter to fix breakfast.

"You know, you didn't do anything wrong, right?" she began.

"Yeah, I know. It's just that, maybe I shouldn't have ditched her. She is our friend after all" I sighed. "But she was really mean and Peeta, he just he …just sat there! He didn't say anything back. I know I would have."

"Let's just forget about it. So you didn't really tell me, where and when are you gonna meet him today" she chirped, pausing only to take a sip of her coffee, her eyes gleaming again.

"You know I spend my Sundays at the café and we're gonna meet up... Oh my god. How could I be so stupid!?"

"Oh god, what now?"

***PEETA***

I bounced right off the bed when I heard the alarm. 'Excited, are we?'

Rolling my eyes at myself, I fumbled my way to the bathroom. I splashed my face with water several times and looked up at the mirror.

Every day I did the same thing. Stare at the mirror and try to imagine what I might be looking like but today I felt like I needed to see what I looked like, what everything looked like. I needed to see the face that went with that voice.

After I was showered and dressed in a pair of deep cream cargo pants and a light blue button down shirt, I groped for my cane by the door and made my way to the kitchen.

The smell of Aunt Sae's special blueberry pancakes made me smile. My mom- surely- was still asleep. I took my place at the dining table and heard aunty place a plate right in front of me. My Aunt was renowned for her cooking – the unhealthier it was the better. It wasn't long before people had given her the nickname Greasy Sae.

"Good Morning, I sense someone is exceptionally happy today" she asserted.

"As a matter of fact I am really happy today; just, not because of the reason you are cooking up in your mind but because of what you have cooked." I joked, shoving a huge chunk of the pancake in my mouth. "Teezepanh-cags agredeleeciousbhythge w-ay" I gulped.

"I am afraid, I am gonna need a translator for that."

"These pancakes are delicious" I laughed. "You should make them more often" I stated devouring another mouthful.

"I make them almost every other day!" She chuckled. "I'll get you some coffee."

She placed the coffee right next to me and took her seat. 'See? You can tell she sat down, from the sound of the chairs.' I guess my mind wasn't gonna let go of what happened last night.

"So Peeta, how long are you gonna stay here this time?" she enquired.

"I don't know Aunt Sae, I just don't know." I said, pulling my hand through my hair. This wasn't something I wanted to talk about.

"Peeta you know I love having you here but you can't escape the inevitable. You're gonna have to go back and you're gonna have to decide" she cooed, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"There is nothing there to decide. I am gonna take over the company. I just don't think I can handle it, knowing that it shouldn't be me that does, we all know it should be him. It was supposed to be Marko's job. And if I take over, dad would leave, to take care of business in Australia. I don't know what I would do after he is gone."

"But you're gonna have step up and take responsibility. Also, your dad needs to take some time for himself" she insisted.

"I know" I sighed.

Both of us sat there in silence until I finished my breakfast. I was about to chug down the remnants of the coffee when she asked, "so when are you going to meet this girl of yours?"

I almost spat the coffee all over the plates. "Peeta, are you alright?"

"Oh my god how can I be so stupid!" I choked.

"What is it?"

"We didn't decide a time and I don't have her number!"

***KATNISS***

"What are you gonna do now?" Madge gaped; her soft brown eyes were wide with sadness.

"Okay, first of all you are over reacting. Second of all, I spend my entire day there; maybe he will show up at some random time" I countered but I wasn't very confident about it.

"Or maybe he won't!" I felt a pang in my heart. I did want to see him, talk to him, get to know him and find out why he makes me feel edgy.

"So he won't Madge! It's not that big of a deal. Anyway, I've gotta clean the house, it's my turn" I said nonchalantly. She just replied with a long hum that made my chest ache.

I raced through the cleaning, hoping to get to the café as soon as possible to avoid missing him. Watching my pain, Madge stopped me half way through, shooing me out so that I wouldn't stress her out with my anxiety anymore. Grateful, I sped out the room, showing and dressing faster than I ever had, headed for the door.

It was an old habit of mine; to spend my Sunday's at the café. I felt peaceful there, no matter what the season or time was. After all these years, everybody at the café knew me; sometimes I would be the last one to leave the café. It was my safe haven and I liked being there alone. I never took anyone there with me, not even Madge. It didn't register with me that I'd invited Peeta to my safe haven until I'd gotten out the shower.

I grabbed my car keys that were hanging besides the mirror, next to the door. Also, unlike myself I peeked into the mirror. It was warmer out, so I had thrown on a sundress that Madge gave me for my birthday – it was the closest summer appropriate thing I could find. I liked the colour, though. A calm, soothing pale green. I'd been in a hurry when braiding my hair, so it looked a little messy around the edges. It surprised me how much more feminine I looked.

"Maybe you could just ask Glimmer, whether she has his number or not" Madge teased from behind me. Glaring at her, I almost laughed.

"Yeah right Madge, why don't I just impale myself while I'm at it?" I grinned, and turned to face her. She just rolled her eyes and then narrowed them.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, it's just that, Katniss Everdeen doesn't smile so much."

I scowled at her and walked out of the apartment. I made my way to the car and stopped in my tracks, when I saw Glimmer approaching her car. Madge's words resounded in my ear. Maybe, just maybe, I could ask her and she won't kill me. I really did wanna meet him.

'Come on Katniss, you can do this.' I squared my shoulders but before I could take a step in her direction, my phone vibrated in my bag. I took out my cell, to see that it was an unknown caller.

"Hello?" I began.

"Katniss?"

My face broke into a huge grin, when I heard the voice of the person on the other end. 'Wait, did I just recognize his voice even though I have met him just once?'

"Hey, it's Peeta here." He continued. 'Well that's some timing.'

"Hi, how did you get my number?" I mused getting into my car.

"Well, when I realized we didn't agree on a time, I called Cato and he called someone else to get your number. Aaand now I sound like a crazy stalker."

"Oh don't worry, I was about to do something along the same lines." I admitted. 'Why did I just say that?'

"Okay? So what time do you want me to be there?"

"Well I am on my way, so whenever you want." I mused.

"How about… I see you when you get here; given that I am already at the café." He admitted shyly. "Two points for 'Stalker Peeta', Zero for 'Normal Peeta'."

I burst out laughing, "I'll see you in a few."

I don't think I've ever tested the speeding limit so much in my life. Getting out of my car to see Peeta's car parked a few cars away from mine made my stomach plummet. His driver gave me a broad smile as I walked passed him. He was burly and a head taller than Peeta. From what I saw, his eyes were blue but ordinary, not as striking as Peeta's. He had sandy hair and a beard covering the lower half of his face. He was a pretty big man, maybe he was a driver/bodyguard.

I walked along the line of the brown picket fence towards the wooden arch that stood a couple of meters away from the café door. There was a pathway that connected the two, either sides of the pathway was covered with Bluebeard shrubs. The rest of the area between the fence and the walls of the café was covered in plush green grass and occasional Potentilla and Butterfly bushes.

The café interior was simple; wooden chairs arranged around dark round tables, a simple counter with high stools and a showcase displaying an assortment of cookies, cupcakes and sandwiches and so on, behind the counter-on the wall- was the huge chalkboard that displayed that day's specials. Every wall of the café had huge windows that gave the view of the beautiful exterior. However the back wall of the café was completely made out of glass and beyond that wall was the huge cliff facing patio, with the same arrangement as the interior and a brown fence.

The café was true to its name; The View. Perched on a mountain itself, the café gave a magnificent view of the lake below and the mountains around it.

I looked around for Peeta and saw him sitting on a table-my favorite- near the fence. His head was in his hands and his eyes closed. He was wearing a light blue shirt and my breath quickened. What would his eyes look like in contrast with that color?

"Hey" I said, as I hung my bag on the chair.

"Hey Katniss" His head snapped up and his eyes focused in my direction. "What a coincidence. I was just thinking we should meet up some time and here you are. Wishful thinking, I guess." He teased as I took my place across the table. His eyes looked a little lighter than I remember; a perfect match to his shirt, that somehow made him look even more boy-ish.

"You haven't been waiting for long though, have you?" I worried, and he laughed.

"Not really, when I did realize how stupid I was, I decided to get here and wait for you. When I was on my way Pollux suggested that I call Cato." He shrugged.

"Pollux?"

"Oh yeah, he is my driver and ummm… my bodyguard." He admitted.

"That's what I thought."

"So what did you mean, when you said you were gonna do something along the lines of what I did?" He queried. 'Uh-oh!'

"Umm I, I meant I err I-I" I stammered tugging the end of my braid. I could feel my face turning more scarlet with every second.

"You? you?" he smirked, that bastard, his cool eyes dancing with mischief.

"I was gonna ask Glimmer for your number." I blurted.

"Oh" he blinked. "Well, it's a good thing that I called then. She didn't give you a hard time though, did she?" he questioned.

"No" I said a bit too flatly.

"You do realize that you are not a good liar, right?" He said with a raised eyebrow.

"Err, well she did have something to say, but nothing that I can't handle."

"I am sure you can handle anything Katniss." He said with a bit too much confidence in his eyes.

His confidence irked me for second. He doesn't know me. 'There, that was more like me.'

Getting mad at anyone was second nature to me but this time I wasn't able to stay mad for long.

I just sat there staring at those eyes and his face too. His face was a little thoughtful right now. His ashy blonde locks falling on his forehead gave shade to his eyes which in turn looked darker. Why did he make me feel this way? Why can't I stay annoyed when I am around him? What is in that blue depth that makes me uneasy?

"Katniss?" Peeta's confused voice pulled me out of my chain of thoughts.

"Huh? What?" I asked and looked up to see Flavius standing next to me.

Flavius was dressed as usual black jeans, black T-shirt and a dark green apron with a 'V' written on it. Even though he was dressed in really simple cloths, he was the furthest thing from normal. Apparently almost everybody who worked at the café was a bit odd, except the owner of this place; Cinna.

We've grown close over the years, Cinna and I. He mostly spends his time at the counter but sits with me when it's closing time. He is the one person in this world who doesn't annoy me. Even Madge sometimes ended up getting on my nerve. Although, I was starting to consider Peeta for that list.

"Would you like some coffee Katniss?" Flavius asked with a huge smile.

"Yeah sure" Peeta said but his gaze was fixed at the table like he was concentrating on something. As soon as Flavius was gone, Peeta's lips turned up and his face turned amused.

"What?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

"Well he called you Katniss, sooo I'm guessing you have been coming here long enough to be acquainted with everyone. I was just wondering how long?"

"Since I was 19, I spend every Sunday here. I just sit here, maybe to complete some assignments or to study or to just look at this view, to see how the clear blue lake reflect the mountain by the day and the moon by night. This place makes me feel…peaceful." I lifted my head to see Peeta's gaze fixed in the direction on the mountains. 'Oh no, how can I be so insensitive?'

"I miss it, you know. I used to come here too, when I was a kid. I used to love to paint it, the greens of the forest and its transformation into a sunset orange during the fall." He pressed his lips together and his eyes became a little darker.

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I blurted the one thing I could think off. "You paint?" 'That was a stupid question. He is gonna be mad about it, stupid, stupid Katniss.'

"I used to, before. Now all I can do at the most is sketch-random things that are in my mind- and hope that it looks like I want it to. It's the one thing I miss the most though; being able to paint, to get my emotions out on a canvas, with colors." He said with a sad smile. "I still try to, but I'm sure it looks more like modern art than a landscape painting."

I just couldn't get myself to laugh or to say anything for that matter. So I was glad when I saw Cinna walk over to us and say, "Good afternoon Katniss." He had a big smile plastered on his face. He looked at me with narrowed eyes, then at Peeta and somehow his smile got even bigger.

"Hey Cinna, this is my friend Peeta" I may have put a little too much emphasis on 'friend'. "Peeta this is Cinna, he owns this café." All the while I glared at Cinna.

"It's nice to meet you." Peeta said.

"You too" Cinna replied, I think he understood what my glare meant; to keep his mouth shut. "Katniss it's almost lunch time and today's special is your favorite; chicken pot pie. Do you want me to get it for you?"

"Yeah for sure. Peeta?"I clucked. I still couldn't get myself to look at him.

"Yeah, no problem" He replied.

"Anything else?" Cinna enquired, again with that smile.

"No, we're fine. Thank you Cinna." I looked at him pointedly.

"So, chicken pot pie, huh?" Peeta said, after Cinna was gone.

"What?" I was puzzled.

"That's your favorite food? I thought it was Cheese Fondue."

"It's neither actually; my favorite is Lamb Stew."

The day went by, without me even realizing it. Having Peeta here was strangely nice. I would have thought that his presence would have disrupted the serenity of this place but in reality, it somehow made it more peaceful. I took a note of time only when I saw the horizon turn orange. Dusk already?

"You were right it is really peaceful here. Even though I can't see it, I can feel it." He smiled. "Would you describe it to me Katniss, how it looks?"

I wasn't really the best person to have 'beautiful conversations'-or conversation in general -with, but this time I didn't fall short of words. "It's mesmerizing. The sky is orange but still has a shade of blue in it. The mountains are green and the sunset's making them a shade darker. The lake is blue as ever and it's reflecting the mountains and the setting sun like a mirror."

Neither of us spoke, until Cinna approached me, "Ummm, I am sorry Katniss but today we are gonna be closing the café a little early." He said.

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, I am leaving for Washington. I'll be staying there for a couple of days, for my daughters' birthday. Don't worry I'll be back before next Sunday."

"Okay, when are you closing then?" I asked for the lack of words. I knew he didn't really get to be with his daughter, since his wife left him.

"In a couple of minutes actually, you guys are pretty much the last ones left."

I looked around to see an old couple standing inside the café-at the counter-ready to leave.

"I guess we should be leaving them." Peeta spoke up.

"Alright, I'll get you your check." Cinna walked back inside.

"What time is it anyways?" Peeta's brows kitted together. He fiddled with his watch; a different Rolex, I could tell. Why would he wear a watch? 'That's very insensitive you idiot.' I snapped at myself. 'He might have some emotional reason' I asserted. 'Not with two different watches. Show off.' Somehow, I didn't believe it.

I tried to peek into his watch but it was hard to tell so I took out my cell phone only to see I had a couple of missed calls and a dozen messages from Madge. 'Why didn't I notice that before?'

Madge: Katniss, why aren't you picking up your cell?

Madge: You didn't really talk to Glimmer right?

Madge: I am worried now. Are you alright? Call me when you get this.

Madge: Katniss?

Madge: I really hope you are ok but I have been calling you for a reason. My dad's in town and he wants to take me out and YOU left your house keys in the apartment, so don't come home before nine AND call me!

"Katniss?" Peeta asked, confused by my silence.

"Umm what? Oh, it's six thirty pm right now. Can you just wait for a minute, I need to call Madge." I called Madge and she picked up at the second ring.

"Oh my God Katniss, are you alright? Why didn't you call me?"

"I am fine, don't worry. I just…ummm…I got a little distracted."

"O…kay? Where are you now?"

"At the café, I gotta leave though but you don't worry, I'll find a way to pass time till nine. You have fun."

"Ok but I wanna know why you 'got a little distracted' when I get home. Bye!" I could see her smirk all the way from here.

"Bye" I hung up to see Peeta handover his card to Flavius. "No, no. You don't have to do that, this one is on me." I said as pulled out my wallet. Again I was a bit irritated, I can afford to pay for a lunch -at least here.

He dismissed me and gave his card anyway. "Katniss, it is bad manners to let the lady pay." He said it so casually, like he didn't need another reason. Again my anger melted away in a second.

"Please" I huffed. "Which century did you come from?"

"The one that came after yours." He retorted. "Anyways, what happened to Madge? You sounded worried before you called."

I shook my head, then cursed myself, 'He can't see, you idiot.'

"Nothing, she just wanted to let me know that she was going out and will be back by nine and that I have left my keys at the apartment." I grumbled.

"Oh, what are you going to do now?" a frown marred his features.

"I have no idea." I answered.

"Well, you and I can grab dinner and then find some other ways to kill time till nine. What do you say?"

"You don't have to do that."

"I know but I want to. Besides what else are you gonna do alone anyway?" He insisted.

"Fine" I gave in. If it would have been someone else, I would have probably shot them a couple of times in my head.

"Great, I have heard there is an Italian place around the corner from the cafe. We could check it out if you want."

Peeta took out his cane and made his way to the counter-with a bit of help from Flavius. It was strange somehow; when we sit and talk it feels like everything is normal, but when I see him with his cane that's when the reality hits me.

Fifteen minutes later we were seated at La Bella Italia. Another place I never thought I would visit and that made me fidget. You would think that if a boy got a girl to such an expensive place, he is just showing off but with Peeta you could tell that he didn't give it much thought. He just chose this place because it was close by.

We were seated far away from the windows but I could tell that the-huge floor to ceiling-windows, gave a spectacular view of the city, especially at night time. It was the opposite of café which overlooked the untouched mountains. This sight was filled with lights from the city; I kept craning my neck just to get a look at it.

"Ummm…Katniss?" Peeta's voice echoed in my ear.

"Huh? What?" I croaked, a little flushed.

"You seem a little distracted, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I reassured him and took a sip of the wine in front of me, trying to calm myself.

"In case you forgot, I can tell when you're lying. So spill it." He insisted.

"Well, I love a great view, you know. I don't know what is it that draws me towards it but it just does. The table we are sitting at is far from the windows and I can tell that the sight is spectacular. So I was trying to get a peek." I admitted sheepishly.

"So, you have a thing for views?" He jested with a cocky smile spreading across his face.

"You're the one to talk? ...you…boy with the bread…addiction?" I was actually going for a smart-ass comeback but it ended up sounding like a question. Plus I took so much time adding 'addiction' to the end that it pretty much sounded like I called him 'boy with the bread'.

Peeta burst out laughing "Boy with the bread?"

"Don't laugh at me!" I grunted, leaning back in my chair and folding my arms. Come backs were never my forte.

"Okay, sorry, sorry. But seriously?" He said defensively but I could still see his shoulders shaking. He bent his face down and tried to hide his smile by placing his fist in front of his mouth.

"Well it sounds better than bread boy, don't you think?"

"I guess it does." He lifted his eyes-his head still bent- to mine with a soft smile and wondering eyes. That was the first time I noticed his lashes, they were long and pale and beautiful and they casted long thin shadows on his cheekbones.

I fidgeted again but this time for a different reason. "Ummm… I gotta go to the washroom, I'll be right back." I stood and tried to locate the bathroom and saw that it was on the other side of the restaurant.

When I walked out of the restroom, I saw a waitress standing next to Peeta. I couldn't hear what they were saying but whatever he said to her; she just shook her head and replied something with a smile.

As I got closer I saw something that halted me in my progress. Peeta's entire demeanor changed; his eyes were visibly different, his expression totally changed. His face wasn't calm but confident, his eyes weren't gentle but intense. 'Was this what his eyes were hiding? Is there something dangerous about him-like Madge said-that makes me edgy?' Even with a new and strange intensity he didn't look dangerous, just more… charming? Even with this confidence and intensity, he looked solemn. The waitress started blushing and giggling and nodded her head as Peeta gave her a crooked and charming smile.

I took my seat after she left, "What did I miss?" I said accusingly.

"Well, I was just talking to the waitress and she said she is going to get us a table with a better view in a minute." He beamed.

"That wasn't necessary" I said softly, looking down at my hand in my lap, feeling my face flush. Even if he did flirt with that waitress, he did it for me.

"It's nothing" he grinned as the waitress came back and ushered us to our new table.

Peeta's charm had worked wonderfully because we were seated at a table which was-in the corner- between the two glass walls; making it feel like we were on an open deck.

There was a live band, performing amazing slow songs. Between Peeta and them, time just flew by.

I rang the door bell, only to be greeted by a grinning Madge, "You do realize what time it is right?" she chimed.

Shaking my head sleepily, I shuffled past her towards my bed.

"Well, it's eleven… seven past eleven to be precise."

I shot straight up. "What? That late?"

"Apparently so." She smirked. I fell back onto my bed only to be pulled up by her. "Oh, don't even think about it, young lady. You still have to tell me what happened? Why were you so distracted, ey?" Half asleep, I gave her a quick account of the day. By the end she seemed suspicious. "Are you sure though he isn't some cocky rich guy just pretending to be nice?"

"Yeah, surprisingly I am very sure. Even though he sorta flirted with the waitress so he could get what he wanted, he didn't seem arrogant you know…he didn't seem like…Cato, for example. Even though he did seem different, there was this underlying goodness in him that didn't change. You haven't met him, so you wouldn't understand the way he talks. He can probably talk a kid into giving up their favorite toy."I still wasn't sure, as to why he was like that, why he had this second personality that he tried to hide. But I was sure that he wasn't bad.

"I think I gathered that when you let him come to the café with you. You never let me tag along" She said accusingly.

"Madge…"

"I am kidding! And well goodnight I am really tired. In case you have forgotten, we have college tomorrow." She said settling into her own bed.

"Good night Madge" I replied softly, folding my arms over myself. I was tired, but I definitely wouldn't be sleeping.

AN: Oooo, Katniss saw Peeta's other side. Just so that it's clear, I wanna say that, Peeta in this story is more like the Post-MJ Peeta, rather than the too-sweet-and-too-good-to-be-true Hunger Games Peeta.

Please REVIEW and let me know what you think! And again realllly sorry for the delay.