"Oh God." She gasps as Peeta thrusts into her erratically.
"I'm coming, Katniss."
"I know." She gasps again, clenching her walls around Peeta's cock. When he starts to grunt, Katniss bites his lower lip.
And he comes. This time, inside her.
She is aware that she said she'll try to make things slow between them, but when she saw him standing in front of her. All wet from the lake, and the dampness of his shirt showing his muscular built, she instinctively forgot whatever pact she made with herself.
Seems like she catches herself in her own game.
She lays down with Peeta on the forest floor for a while. Not really caring that she probably has dirt all over her. Abruptly, he sits up, reaching out to her. Katniss swallows, not really knowing what to think. But then, he removes a leaf from her hair, and she squints at him, questioning.
"What are you doing here?" she asks.
"I go here every noon. Catch some fish or pick some berries."
Katniss sits up, taking him in eye level. "I didn't realize you're familiar with hunting."
Peeta grins. And the boyish charm of it is enough for Katniss to smile back. "I'm not. Actually." He replies. "It's even a rare occasion for me to catch some fish." He looks over at the small pail containing the fish that Katniss doesn't even realize is there until now.
"I can teach you some time."
Peeta's brows shoot up. "Of course, you know how to."
What does that mean? She asks herself. But she does not say it out loud. Instead several questions start popping up in her head. How did you know my name when I've never said it to you? How old are you? What's your last name? How come it's you who's showing up at the times when I'm in need of some company?
But she will never dare say it out loud.
"Well yeah, I used to hunt here before."
They stay quiet for a while. But it isn't an awkward one, which is a surprise for her. Considering she has only known him for a day. She feels comfortable. And she's glad Peeta seems to be feeling the same way already.
"I remember this being a different place back when I was younger." Katniss says. "But then again, it's been nearly 12 years, so I guess it's inevitable."
A woman whose face is caked with make-up leans closer to her, as if she is talking about some murderer in the loose. "I wouldn't say that exactly. It only changed around 2 years ago. The man who owned this now wasn't convinced the bakery should still be named Mellark's after what happened."
She nods. She asks her what exactly happened. It seems like the right question to ask, but in all honesty she doesn't really care. Conversations are not something she's very good at. But throughout the years, she has learnt that as long as she's the one who sends out the questions, then she will have no problem.
"I actually worked for the guy, who owned this. Well before he died." She continues and leans even closer to Katniss that the latter has to move back slightly. Feeling awkward in the situation. "He was a good man. Although, I can't say the same for his wife."
TMI. She wants to call out. Well, if it isn't for Peeta's presence, she would've been out of the bakery already. She looks over at him, who appears at the back door. And she smiles at him, which he gladly returns.
After spending the afternoon with him in the woods, he invited her to come to the bakery he said he was working at. Cheese buns time, he said. Pointing out how she seemed to quite like it during their breakfast that morning. And he was right. She asked about him having two jobs, but he shrugged it off. Correcting her instead that he actually has 3.
The woman catches back her attention when she points out to Peeta. "That guy. It was his parents, who owned this before."
She almost spits out the ice tea she just sipped. Wait. Shit. The look on her face must be so comical right now, but thankfully, the woman remained oblivious. She doesn't want to explain what that was all about.
His parents.. which means...
And suddenly it's not too much information for Katniss.
"He was only 16 at that time."
16. Two years ago. She swallows, trying hard not to reflect on her actions, and instead she listens to the woman in front of her. But yet, she finds herself drifting away to the distracted land, which she tries her very best to abandon.
"The poor kid has to take care of his two younger siblings. He didn't want them to go to the community home. So he took in charge. Sold the bakery to its owner now, Haymitch, with the deal to have the man pretend as their guardian. Until he turns 18. At least. When he finally did this year, he immediately claimed legal responsibility to his two brothers."
Any kind of response that she wants to formulate keeps being blocked away. Peeta. 18 year-old Peeta Mellark. It is no use trying not to dwell on the fact that she has slept with an 18 year old. There is just too many emotions right now for the creepy feel to win out. But she's sure it will eat her up later.
The poor boy. She thinks back about the time when she was 18. Katniss feels heartless in comparison. She handled the problem with her parents through resentment and anger. Meanwhile, Peeta took care of his' through love and kindness. The desire to raise his brothers on his own.
If only she knows that he's been through this much...
Shame. She knows now. It's what wins out against all the emotions that cluster up in her heart. She wants to say more. Ask more. But she's scared of what she might end up knowing.
She tries to think of what her friend Johanna would tell her. "Shut up, and shove some cheese buns down your throat."
A good idea, probably. And she does.
But the woman continues. "I was concerned at first what Haymitch would do. He was a known drunkard in this town. But to my surprise, he actually took care of them. In the best knowledge that he can at least. Hired the boy to continue working in the bakery."
"He's been through a lot that boy. Her mother used to beat her up. But he still maintains a smile on his face every time I saw him when he was younger."
Now, it really isn't making Katniss feel any better. The thought of Peeta being beaten makes Katniss grips hard on the table.
Her sentiments are stopped when Peeta approaches her. "Oh hey, Leevy." He greets the woman. They exchange few words, until a customer enters.
"I'll leave you then." She looks at Katniss. "It's nice talking to you."
Katniss nods, but she still feels distracted. She doesn't think she can look at Peeta the same way again.
She is quite sure her expression is readable, but she's glad Peeta seems to be ignoring it. Or he's just not seeing it. She doubts it's the latter. Instead, he sets out a plate of a piece of cake in front of her. "Try this. It's a mango and strawberry short cake."
She attempts to smile, shifting uncomfortable in her seat. "You're going to make me fat, don't you?"
Is it odd that she suddenly feels like a mother in front of him even though she's only 12 years older?
"Well if it doesn't bother you." He laughs. "It's just something new I invented. I want to know what you think."
She tastes a bite from her fork. As it melts deliciously on her tongue, she smiles.
"Oh, wow. It's really good." She says genuinely, taking another bite. "I never knew you can pair those two flavours perfectly."
"It's my little secret." He replies, smirking.
But Katniss does not reply. Or she just doesn't know how. She takes the time to get a good look at him. He really looks quite young. Especially with those soulful, blue eyes. If it wasn't for his broad shoulders and manly built, she would've never realized that.
Sitting silently, she thinks of a starting conversation. However, Peeta is quick to jump on her mood. If he just tried to ignore a while ago the look on her face, he probably can't now. Katniss isn't even trying to hide what she is feeling.
"What is it?" He asks.
She hesitates, but he fills the silence up for her. "Is it about something Leevy said?"
She still doesn't reply. She isn't sure how Peeta would react about someone gossiping about him. "My parents?"
Your parents. Your siblings. Your jobs. You.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, Peeta." she apologizes contritely.
"Thank you, but it's fine now." He says. They stay quiet for a while. The only sound in the room is of the wind chime, indicating people coming in and out of the bakery. Her phone rings several times, but she just ignores the calls. They can wait for later. She wants to say something to erase the current mood, but when she tries, Peeta stops her.
"It's fine, really." He says. "It's fine."
Katniss sits up straight, and just sighs. "I'm sorry for finding out this way. I didn't mean to involve myself in the gossip around the town." She says, knowing how some people like having their privacy be respected. She is talking based on experience.
"I don't mind, like what I said." He reples. "Seems like you have an understanding about it, without making feel like a pathetic, pitiful person."
"I don't think you are." She replies. And she doesn't think he is. After what she heard, she actually sees him as the opposite of those words. Only eighteen. But already wise beyond his years.
"I believe you." He sighs. "Well, my shift is done." He suddenly says.
And Katniss laughs, remembering how she asked him the previous night when his shift was ending.
"Reading my mind, huh?" She crosses her arms, still smiling.
"No." He says. "Maybe."
But then he gets serious. And Katniss' breath hitches as he smirks. "What do you have in mind now?"