Title: Behind The Scenes

Rating: M for suggestive language and later sexual content

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or Romeo and Juliet (obviously!) No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 4: The First Rehearsal

A/N: IMPORTANT! Please note that PEETA'S POV will be first in this chapter!

Peeta's POV:

Saturday morning comes and I'm in the bakery making pastries and bread all day. It's hard work at times, but I like it. There is something soothing about kneading the dough and making something delicious out of it.

As I work, my mind wanders to Katniss. I wonder what she is doing right now and what she is thinking about. Is she as nervous as I am about our first rehearsal on Monday? Does she even think about me at all? I think about our upcoming rehearsal and wonder if Effie will bring up the kissing scenes at all. How many times will we have to rehearse those scenes? I am torn between being excited about kissing Katniss and nervous about it. Also, I really don't want our first kiss to be in front of a bunch of other students.

My brother Dave is working the front of the bakery today; he and I switch off every few days and today is his day to help out the customers.

"I'm gonna go grab a bite to eat; can you cover me for a while?"

I roll my eyes, but come out to the front anyway. "I guess so, bring me something back too."

Dave nods and leaves the bakery.

I busy myself wiping down the bakery display case, but when I hear someone come through the door, I snap back to attention.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight of Katniss walking into the bakery with her little sister.

She smiles when she sees me and my heart begins to thud faster in my chest at the sight of her sparkling eyes and perfect lips. "Hey Peeta, I didn't know you were working today."

"Yeah, I work most Saturdays. My brother was the one working out here today, but he just took a lunch break."

Katniss nods and pulls Prim to the display case. "Okay, tell me what you want."

I watch as her sister bends down to inspect the pastries that I had made fresh for today. After a few moments of consideration, she chooses a strawberry muffin.

"Great choice! Anything for you Katniss?"

She shakes her head. "No thanks, I can only afford one thing right now."

I frown. I want to give her something for free, but if anyone finds out, I will be in big trouble. However, as I look at the sad look on Katniss' face as she stares longingly at the cheese buns, I know I can't deny her anything.

Before she can say anything else, I wrap up the muffin for Prim and then a cheese bun for Katniss.

"Peeta? What are you doing?"

I thrust the bag with both items in it into Katniss' hands. "It's on me."

She narrows her eyes at me and tries to give the bag back. "No, I can't accept this."

I sigh, wishing that she would just accept my gift. "Please take it, as a gift."

Katniss looks at me and then the bag and then back at me again. "Okay, but just this once." She clasps my hand in hers for a moment and I feel electricity coursing throughout my entire body from just her simple touch. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Hey bro, who's this?"

I turn around to see that Dave has come back from his lunch break. He must have come in through the back door.

"Oh, this is Katniss and her sister Prim."

Dave gives Katniss a once over and then nods to them. "Hey."

I really don't like the way that my brother was sizing up the love of my life, but since he doesn't know how much I like her, I let it go for now.

Katniss and Prim leave a few minutes later and my brother immediately turns to me and gives me an evil grin. "She's hot."

I feel my blood begin to boil in my veins. "She's off limits…"

Dave smirks at me and then laughs. "Settle down, I know you got a thing for her."

What? How did he know that? "Huh?"

"The walls between our rooms are paper thin bro. I've heard you moan her name late at night a couple of times." He winks at me and chuckles loudly.

Oh fuck… He heard me? My brother heard me when I was jacking off? I feel my face turn red and I stammer for some sort of cover story. "No, I wasn't…I mean…"

Dave slaps me on the back. "Settle down, I'm not gonna tell anybody, but seriously, make a move if you want her."

"Yeah, that is easier said than done. Oh, did I mention that she is Juliet in the play I'm in? And Romeo and Juliet have to kiss in the play?"

"Shit man, that's gonna be awkward! You gotta kiss her before you rehearse those scenes!"

I groan and bury my head in my hands. "I'm going to try to convince her to practice the kiss before we have to practice it during rehearsal."

"Make it a good one, those girl's lips should be worshipped."

I punch my brother in the stomach for what he said and that's the end of our conversation.

When Monday rolls around, I am almost overcome with nervousness. What if Effie makes us practice a kissing scene today? I will be so screwed if that happens…

I try to take my mind off of the rehearsal later by finding out how Madge and Johanna are doing with the homecoming nomination form. When Johanna hands me the form after lunch, I am happy to see over twenty names already signed for Katniss. My plan was going well so far. Now, I had to actually get her onto court and ask her to dance with me at the homecoming dance.

Katniss' POV:

I'm anxiously awaiting the end of school to begin rehearsal for the play. All day my mind has been wandering to the stress of learning all of those lines and acting them out correctly. Also, there's that whole kissing Peeta thing…

Speaking of Peeta, I noticed quite a few homecoming nomination forms going around school today. Peeta's name was on one of the forms and I snagged it up and signed it. He is such a sweet guy and I would like to see him as homecoming king over most of the other guys in our school.

I have been trying not stare at Peeta during Astronomy today, but I can't help it. Whenever I think about kissing him for the play, I get a nervous, tingly feeling in my body. I've only ever kissed one guy before, and I want to know if it will feel a lot different since it is for a play and not for real.

The bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. Well, this is it, time to face the music. I slowly get out my seat and Johanna pulls me back down until everyone else has left the classroom.

"I can't wait to see you and Peeta kissing today." Johanna winks at me.

I scowl back at her. "I doubt we will be kissing any time soon, now come on, let's get to the auditorium for rehearsal."

We make our way down to the auditorium and I immediately look for Peeta. When I find him, he is talking to that bitchy girl, Glimmer.

I watch as her hand lightly touches his shoulder and she bats her eyelashes at him. Could she be any more obvious?

He smiles back at her and I feel an odd, sickening feeling in my stomach. I'm not sure why, but I don't like seeing Peeta smile at her like that.

Johanna notices what I'm looking at and scowls. "Who does she think she is, flirting with your man like that?"

I can't help but to laugh at my friend, she is so misguided at times. "He isn't my man."

"Well, you are Juliet and he is Romeo, so yes, he is your man."

Effie walks in a moment later and directs everyone to sit in the first two rows of the auditorium seats. "We will just be going through a basic read through today to get you all more familiar with the script. Make sure you are all following along so that you can jump in when it is your turn."

We go through scene after scene and soon it is time for the first kissing scene. Once Effie announced that we were just doing a read through today, I had relaxed a little bit. However, it was weird to even speak about kissing when I knew it would happen soon enough.

As Peeta's lines got closer to the kiss scene, my palms began to sweat and my heart to beat faster. I know I shouldn't be nervous, but I am.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

Okay, my line. "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

Before Peeta can speak his next line, Effie cuts us off. "You two have such chemistry together, even when simply reciting lines! I can't wait to see you two act out this scene!"

I can't even mummer a thanks before Glimmer speaks up. "You aren't going to make them kiss are you?"

Everyone student in the room gives an audible gasp at her question. Effie just fluffs her hair and shakes her head at Glimmer before answering her. "But of course! It wouldn't be Romeo and Juliet without the kissing scenes!"

Sweat breaks out onto my forehead and I almost feel like I am going to pass out. Johanna senses that there is something wrong, because she grips my hand in hers and squeezes it.

"It will be okay. We all expected this."

I whisper back to her. "I don't know why I am so nervous about a few little kisses, it's isn't like we have real feelings for each other or anything."

Johanna has to stifle a laugh. "Umm…I'm pretty sure Romeo has quite the thing for you."

No…no he doesn't. I would know if he did…right? I brush off Johanna's response; she must be crazy or something. "Don't be silly, he is just a nice guy, that's all."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Sure, whatever you say…"

When rehearsal is over for the day, I get set to walk back home. It is only a fifteen minute walk, but when I see that it is pouring rain outside, my heart sinks. I know Johanna can't take me home; she has a late detention for swearing in class. I am bracing myself for the wet walk home, when Peeta walks towards me.

"Wow, it is really coming down out there. Can I give you a ride home?"

I look over at him and remember the last time that he asked me that question. I had refused because I didn't know him that well at the time, but now things are different, and I don't want to walk home in the rain.

"Sure, that would be great."

Peeta grins and I see some unknown emotion flicker in his deep blue eyes. Hmm…maybe, just maybe, Johanna is right. Maybe Peeta does have a 'thing' for me…

A/N: Hope you all liked the chapter! Please review! Thoughts for next time: Will Katniss and Peeta finally get to practice their kissing scenes? Will Glimmer continue to be such a bitch? Will Katniss and/or Peeta get on the homecoming court? Will Katniss actually realize the extent of Peeta's feelings for her?