Chapter 4

Peeta's POV

"Hey, baker boy." Said Gale, who for some reason had a big, goofy smile spread across his face.

"Gale." I say, my eyes focused back on my cake.

"My mom sent me for..." He pauses, looking at a list, "Two loaves of bread, and the cake she ordered."

I go into the storage room, and look through our orders. I see the box labeled, "Hazelle Hawthorne", and go back out.

"So," He said as I retrieve the bread, "Been hanging around with Katniss lately?"

I stand up with the bread, and shrug, "Yeah. I visited her yesterday."I start to bag up the bread.

"What did you two talk about?" He said, his grin slightly growing.

"How you got her drunk." I say with distaste. "That'll be ten even." He hands me the money, takes the bag, and just as he's on his way out says:

"She tell you about how she kissed me?"

I freeze, and hear him walking back down the road, laughter booming.

Katniss's POV

I wake up to ind Peeta not there. Again. I venture downstairs, and I see a note and read it.

Katniss,

Had to run to work. Will return around 5! Sorry!

-Peeta

I look at the clock. 2:30. How did I sleep so late? I sigh, and walk over to the couch. I try to read, but can't focus on the words on the page. I lose it, set it on the coffee table, and think.

Peeta. He was so nice yesterday. Do you like him? Why not? He's the nicest you'll get. Do you like Gale? He ditched you! Plus, he;s more of the brotherly figure. Or has he become more than that?

I grumble, and turn on the television. I flip through the channels, and not finding anything, I switch it off. It's raining, so I can't go hunting. How about cooking? I could cook a dinner for me. And maybe Peeta if he wanted to come over. What would I make? Plus, the last time I cooked, it didn't go over too well. Well, I needed something to distract myself.

I go to a giant recipe book in the kitchen, and flip through it. I come across a recipe for chicken and vegetables. I look through the fridge and find everything I need. It's odd. For some reason the cabinets and refrigerator are always stocked in the vector's houses. It's so different than when I was a child.

I gather everything up and lay it on the table. I start cooking, finding it relaxed me. Something I could concentrate on. Finally, by 4:30, I'm all done.

Good, that'll give me time to get ready.

I run upstairs, and quickly shower. I dry, and change into a nice pair of pants and a shirt. I run back downstairs, and see that it's 5:00 exactly. I set the table, with the food, fill our glasses with water, not making that mistake again... Deciding to be decorative, I light a couple of tall candles, and set them int the center of the table. I sigh contentedly and sit at the table.

5:20

I get up, and wash the dishes. He just had some extra work! It's just 20 minutes, Katniss. It takes at least that long to walk there form here. I knew it didn't, though.

5:40

Done washing the dishes, I sit back down. I tap my fingers lightly on the table.

6:00

He just went home, had to change, shower. Probably dirty after all that... Baking. I sigh, and slump my head down onto the table. Why do you even care? Stop being so possessive. The other day you shunned him, now you're cooking for him. Make up your mind!

6:20

I get up, and re-wash the dishes, then dry them and put them all away. I go to the bathroom, fix my hair, and decide on a different shirt.

6:45

I sigh, and blow out the candles. I decide I'm not hungry, and go upstairs to bed. It's early, but I just need to lie down. I decide I will take this time to make up my mind about Peeta and Gale.

Peeta, a strong sweetheart who genuinely loves me. Gale, the friend who has been there fro me forever, but only showed his feelings after I was taken. But was I really taken? And what was that kiss the other day? Does Gale like me? Do I even like him? I'm pretty sire I like Peeta, I mean, I cooked a dinner for him. A dinner he didn't show up for.

Tears sting my eyes at the thought. I don't know why. Maybe I really do like him. I mean, what's not to like? His beautiful blue eyes, his willingness to com over to comfort me every night...

I wrap my arms around myself, squeeze my eyes shut, and try to steady my breathing. WHY AM I ACTING LIKE THIS?

I barely hear the front door open. I gasp, and sit up. I wipe my eyes, and comb my hair with my fingers. I walk over to the bedroom door, and brace myself.

Peeta's POV

5:30

Where is he? It isn't fair of him to make me wait like this. And what did Gale mean, "she kissed me"? Was he lying? Did he actually kiss her? She didn't say anything about that.

I shake my heads rid of the thoughts as a costumer walks in, asking about cookies.

6:00

I'm growing bored as the woman questions me about the types of flour we use in our sugar cookies, and why we don't make dark chocolate chip cookies. Finally, she chooses to bring home three oatmeal cookies, and, mercifully, I'm alone again.

6:30

I'm really mad by now, with the combination of the fact that I'm stuck here until closing time, mixing with the voices battling in my head about Katniss. I try to focus on baking another tray of cookies for tomorrow, but they are done all too quickly, and I'm sitting in the quiet again, watching the clock tick.

7:00

The very second it turns to 7, I'm throwing off my apron, switching the sign from open to close, an blocking the door, and running back home. When I reach her door I pause before letting myself in. I look around, seeing a giant dinner laid out on the kitchen table, places set, candles looking freshly extinguished.

"Katniss?" I call out. She comes down the stairs, and it's apparent she's been crying.

She sniffs. "You're late." She smiles, but I see the tear rolling down her cheek.

I run over to her, and hug her tightly. She hugs back, and I hear her crying.

"Shh, shh, it's okay." I kiss the top of her head. "Did you make all this?" I ask gently.

"Yeah." she says, breaking away, looking down. "I thought maybe you'd like some dinner. It's all cold by now-" But I cut her off, tilting up her head.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to cover my brother's shift. I came here as soon as I could have." I stroke her hair.

"Well." she says. "Why don't we eat, then."

Chapter 5

Peeta's POV

We eat in silence.

"Are you upset?" I ask.

"No." She answers too quickly, never taking her eyes off her plate.

I sigh. We eat for a while longer. I finally break the silence.

"Gale stopped by the bakery today." I say. Katniss freezes, for midair. "He said something interesting."

She sets down her fork, and wipes off her mouth with her napkin.

"Did he? And what was that?"

"That you kissed him the other night." I say, quieter.

"What?" She slams her napkin down on the table. "I did not! HE leaned in and kissed ME!"

"But there was kissing?"

"Yes! What do you care?"

"Well," I say calmly, "first off, you lied to me."

"I did not lie to you! I just... Avoided telling you."

"Why?" I ask, but I don't get an answer. I slowly stand up, push in my chair, and walk to the door. I open it, but hesitate before leaving.

"You should have told me. I would have rather heard it from you than from him." I step outside.

"Peeta, wait-" But I close the door, and walk over to my house.

Katniss's POV

I stay there, looking after the door, as if he'll come back. Why didn't I tell him? I get up and start to clean up dinner. I turn off the lights in the kitchen afterwards, slowly climb the stairs, and go into the bathroom. Even though I've already taken a shower today, less than 2 hours ago, I crawl back into the tub, and run the warm water until I'm chin deep. I just lie there, breathing in the fragrant bath oils that have been dispensed. I block out all thoughts as I close my eyes, and slip under the water...

A/N: I loved this chapter! I won't upload for a while- I'm going off for the weekend. Please R and R!