There's a common notion that there's always a calm before a storm. When it comes to the Mellark family, this certainly holds true. Peeta and I try our best to hide our budding romance at work, but it's not always easy. Our chemistry is undeniable. Whatever pent up tension we hold during the day exhausts itself when we are alone. While we are careful, all it takes is one little indiscretion to bring Corinne Mellark to my desk just one short month after Peeta and I first kissed.
"Good morning, Miss Everdeen." She greets me in a way that sets my intuition on high alert. She's being kind. Too kind.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mellark." I reply as I slow my pace to my desk. It's early and Peeta isn't due in for another hour. She knows this. This is an ambush.
"How can I help you?" I offer as she begins tweaking the placement of the things on my desk.
"Tell me, Miss Everdeen, how long have you worked here?" She considers a picture on my desk for a moment before bringing her eyes to mine.
"A few months now, I suppose." I let my bag fall to the floor as I take a seat across from my desk.
She nods as she hears this information.
"And do you like working here, Miss Everdeen?"
What is she getting at? I wonder. My stomach is twisting in nervous knots. I give her a nod. She's quiet for a long time.
"It has come to my attention that you and my youngest son, your boss, have been fraternizing."
She gives me a cold, blank stare. I am speechless. I begin to stumble out a response, but her biting words strike first.
"Let me be clear, this is unacceptable workplace behavior, and if I'm honest, I don't approve of your relationship either. I don't approve of you." She makes clear her point. I drop my head. She takes this as a sign of submission.
"However, Effie tells me you're a hard worker, so I'm willing to give you a second chance. You will be reassigned immediately, and while Peeta is a grown man and can make his own decisions, I suggest you think long and hard about whether you're the best person for my son."
I am at a complete loss for words. I want to scream and cry and claw her face all at the same time. I cannot muster a single thought.
"Please pack your things, Miss Everdeen. I'll be waiting at the elevator."
She stands and looks down at me with disdain as she passes by. Don't let her see you cry, I coax myself as I hastily throw my things in an empty copy paper box. I can feel the tears burning my eyes. I'm not sure if it's rage, sadness or both that brings them on. I carry my things to the elevator where she waits. We do not speak as we ride our way down to the fourth floor where the legal department resides. She directs me wordlessly to a desk at a cubicle where I cannot see any other people. I am clearly being punished. She introduces me to my direct report and leaves to let me get settled.
My hands are shaking. I reach for my cell phone to text Peeta. I'm not sure what to say. Corinne's words have struck me deep. I begin questioning my role in Peeta's life. He is a man of status and power. He makes more money in a year than I will likely make in my lifetime, but none of that seems to factor in to who Peeta is. He is humble and kind. He has never seemed to care about my social status, or lack thereof. I run my fingers through my hair and let out a sigh as I settle in at my new desk, wondering who will be there to greet Peeta. My mind is racing. I debate back and forth with myself about whether I should go upstairs to face the reality of what happened this morning, or not.
"Banished to the fourth floor, huh? You must've pissed off Lady Mellark." A brash female voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up to see an attractive girl about my age with short cut hair. She holds out her hand. "I'm Johanna. Johanna Mason." She says.
"Katniss." I offer back with a hand shake.
"I know who you are. So, what did you do?" She queries with a smirk.
I really don't feel like talking about it, but she doesn't seem to pick up on my body language.
"How do you know who I am?" I try desperately to divert her attention to another topic.
"Oh, you're all anybody can talk about around here. Seems you and Peeta have been turning some heads."
I feel my cheeks burn.
"Yeah... I made the matriarch mad." I finally admit cryptically.
"That's rough. Well, don't be so brainless next time. She has eyes everywhere, ya know?" Johanna replies as she walks away.
I feel like a caged rat. I just want out. I need fresh air. I hop up from my seat and make my way to the stairs. When I reach the roof, I feel my head clear. My chest tightens as I resolve to put a distance between Peeta and I. I am convinced this move will be a good thing to allow him time to move on from whatever feelings he has for me. After a few deep breaths, I leave to head back downstairs. As I open the door to the stairwell, another body comes slamming in to mine. A pair of strong hands grab my arms to steady me.
"Katniss!" I hear Peeta's voice before I register his body.
"Peeta!" I'm just as surprised to run into him this way.
"Are you ok? What is going on? I feel like I've missed something. Where's all of your stuff?" His words come fast. He slides his hands down my arms to hold my hands and searches my eyes.
I'm going to break your heart, I think to myself. I shake my head and pull my hands from his grasp.
"Someone saw us together and your mom found out..." I trail off. I can see him process all of this. "Listen, Peeta...I think we should-"
"Don't say it, Katniss." He pleads.
"Peeta, I'm no good for you. We lead two very different lives. It was fun while it lasted, but let's not be foolish." I say simply, trying to keep emotion from my voice.
"You don't mean that. Please! You and I? We take care of each other. Don't let my mom get in your head."
I can't stay and listen to him pleading. I'm in danger of changing my mind. I move to walk away, but he stops my efforts.
"Let me go" I practically growl.
"I can't." He replies.
"Peeta, it's over." I feel my voice falter. His eyes bore into me. I cannot bring myself to look back. After a moment, he stands aside in defeat. As I head back downstairs I wonder why a decision that was supposed to be for the better makes me feel worse.
I slowly settle in to my new position on the fourth floor. It has been several weeks since I've seen or talked to Peeta. He has finally given up on texting me since I haven't returned a single one. I don't feel any better now than I did then. I pop by to see Madge during lunch in hopes of a cheer up.
"Did you hear about Peeta?" She asks me before we have even exchanged our hellos.
"No. What's going on?" I feel my stomach twist unexpectedly.
"He left!"
"Left? Left where? Like on a business trip?"
"No! Like left. Quit. Gone!" Madge replies in dramatic fashion.
My brain feels slow. I struggle to process this information.
"What happened? When did he quit?" I find myself hanging on Madge's every word.
"Few weeks ago, I guess. Apparently, he had a blow out fight with his mom in the office. He was yelling about being a grown man and making his own decisions. She was shouting back and called him a fool, among other things. Told him he could never make it on his own and how he was nothing without this company...it was not pretty, according to my sources."
My heart sinks. I want nothing more than to reach out to him. Bring him comfort in some way.
"Wow..." is all I can muster. Madge fills me in on a few more details before I tell her I have to go.
I'm not sure why I take the elevator up to the 20th floor then. Perhaps I just need to see it for myself? Confirm what Madge says is true. Maybe I need to lay to rest what used to be so that I can finally let go? Whatever the reason, I step cautiously out into the hallway as if I'm on a hunt. I start planning in my head what I'm going to say if I run in to any number of people up here. I think for a moment that I'll play the lost-and-confused card, or perhaps make up some lie about papers needing to be signed by the legal department. I am a nervous wreck. As I round the corner I see an older woman sitting at what used to be my desk. I peak to make sure Effie isn't around and continue on my journey. She catches my eye as I slip past Peeta's office and try to catch a peak.
"Good morning, dear." She smiles politely as I stop and consider her a moment. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Peeta." I offer.
I'm met with a confused look and then one of caution as she informs me Peeta is no longer here. I nod in confirmation and begin to make my way back downstairs. My mind is flooded with new thoughts and questions having been up here. I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice Rye slip next to me.
"Hello, Katniss." He says almost seductively. "What brings you all the way up here?"
"Paperwork." I spit out, not knowing what else to say at a moment's notice.
He gives me an unconvinced look and takes my arm in his.
"Come with me for a moment, Miss Everdeen." He says as he leads me to his office and closes his door. This feels like a trap. "Have a seat." He offers sweetly and motions to a chair across from his desk. I sit down.
"I can't stay long," I offer quickly "I have a meeting to get to."
"This will only take a moment." He says as he slinks behind me and runs a finger across the chair back. "How are you doing?" He asks with genuine concern in his voice as he takes the seat next to me.
"Um...fine?" I reply cynically.
His hands cover mine that lay in my lap. I pull them back and begin to fidget with my watch band.
"Shame about you and Peeta..." He coos.
I don't offer any remark or expression. I'm not sure what he's getting at, but he's talking to me like I'm a small child or a wounded animal.
"My little brother never could keep it together. He has always worn his heart on his sleeve, and that's what got him in trouble this time around." He continues cryptically.
He stands then to return to the seat behind his desk. "He's a real head case, you know? Being in the war really messed him up. He can be a danger, Katniss and I wouldn't want to see you get hurt."
"I'm not sure why my safety is of any consequence to you, Ryan." I say as I get up to leave. I'm done here.
Before I can make it to the door, Rye is there holding it shut with his hand.
"You're making the wrong choice" He gets to the point as his face draws uncomfortably close to mine. I back away. My steps land me in a corner. Ryan sees his opportunity and closes off my escape. "Hear me out, will you?" He makes to grab for my hands, and in my attempt to take them away he grabs on to my wrists forcefully instead. "You are a live one!" He chuckles as he struggles to maintain his grip.
"Let go of me!" I snarl.
"What else do you have going for you, Katniss? I successfully put an end to whatever game you were playing with my brother. One more call and you're done here for good." He sneers as he sees he's getting nowhere with me by being coy.
"I'm not playing a game with Peeta, what are you talking about?"
"What else would a girl from The Seam want with him? You all want one thing from that side of town. You're all the same" He spits out expertly. "He's pathetic. I know you saw your chance, but I'm on to you. He can't give you what you want. I'm willing to play the game with you, Katniss. Just give it some thought."
He finally lets his grip loose after his final words, and brushes a strand of hair from my face. I reel back from his touch.
"You're disgusting." I remark. I refuse to dignify his words with any other kind of response. With that, I throw open the door to his office and storm out.
I'm not sure where I'm going as I exit out on to the sidewalk. I allow my feet to guide me as I make quick work of putting as much distance between me and that building as possible. My skin is crawling and my mind is whirling at everything that just happened. Was he implying I was only after Peeta for what, money? Power? I laugh out loud at the notion. It is obvious now that it was Rye that tattled to his mommy about Peeta and I. My mind works tirelessly at putting all the pieces of this messy puzzle together.
I'm still trying to work it all out when I realize where I'm at. It looks different somehow. Refreshed. Newer. There are several men milling in and out of Mellark's, scratch that, Peeta's Bakery. I stand dumbfounded for a moment. Only when a worker breaks my thought process to pardon himself to walk by me with a rather large and heavy looking board, do I muster the courage to walk inside. The space is a flurry of activity and noise. Hammers, saws, paint and voices fill the tiny shop. I stop when I spot Peeta in a corner talking with an older looking version of himself. The two men are bent over a countertop looking at what appear to be building plans. The older man's head pops up first to look around and assess whatever idea they've had. When his eyes meet mine, a look of recognition crosses his face. He nudges Peeta who is still engrossed in conversation about whatever it is they were discussing. Noticing a change in the older man, he pauses to look.
I offer him a pathetic little wave when his eyes meet mine. I can't read his expression, and I don't trust my voice with the building lump in my throat. Peeta rights himself slowly, a look of disbelief crosses his features. He turns to look at the man by his side. The man gives him a nod and pats his shoulder tenderly. Peeta begins to make his way toward me then, but Caesar appears from the back room and beats him to it. I bend to give the dog some attention and rise to meet Peeta's gaze. A look of hurt briefly crosses his features, but he recovers quickly.
"Hello, Katniss." He says as emotionless as possible.
My body betrays me at the nearness of him. My arms ache to hold him. My fingers itch to feel his skin. My lips want nothing more than to taste his.
"Hello." I say weakly.
"What are you doing here?" He seems more surprised than upset like I imagined he would be. I go to open my mouth to explain myself, but he interrupts before I have a chance. "Let me introduce you to my dad." He says as he ushers me toward the spot he was just standing.
Arlo Mellark radiates a calm and gentle demeanor. Such a stark contrast from his other half. I see where Peeta gleaned his disposition as his dad greets me warmly. After a bit of small talk, Arlo checks his watch and mentions a need to leave in order to make it to an appointment on time. After he makes his exit, Peeta and I stand motionless. Peeta turns like he's making to leave, but halts suddenly and runs a hand roughly through his hair.
"Hey, guys!" He shouts to the workers in the room as he stares at the floor. All the noises cease and the silence is deafening. "Can we get a minute, please?" He looks up suddenly and the men begin to make hasty retreats.
"What are you doing here, Katniss?" Peeta asks again as he turns to look at me now that the room has cleared.
I feel mute. So many things come rushing to my mind.
"You weren't part of my plan, Peeta!" I say suddenly.
"What plan?" He replies heatedly.
"My plan to live my life in peace!" I say throwing my hands up. "I never asked for this." I continue as I motion between the two of us. "I was surviving just fine on my own. I have not had an instant of sanity since the moment I met you!" I raise my voice as I begin to feel genuinely upset at what he has done to my mind and my heart. I am a wreck.
"I'm so sorry I made you feel something!" He raises his voice to match mine. His tone heavy with sarcasm. "Why did you come? You already ripped my heart out, Katniss! Did you come to do more damage?" He continues as his voice quivers. "Just when I thought maybe I had found someone that needed me..." He tapers off.
"That's the problem, Peeta!" I turn away not able to admit my feelings to his face. "I do."
I feel him step behind me. He breathes heavily.
"You what?" He asks gently.
"I need you." I reply barely above a whisper.
I feel his hand brush the braid from my shoulder as his warm breath hits the side of my neck and his mouth lands gently on my tender flesh. I gasp at the sudden and unexpected display of affection. He embraces me from behind. We stand completely still in that moment, neither of us wanting to break the spell. My mind is racing as I turn to face him. I know he can tell by my face how overwhelmed I suddenly feel because he takes a step back and offers me his hand to shake.
"I'm Peeta." He offers with a smile.
I understand suddenly his desire to start fresh with me. With us. I smile back. "I'm Katniss, it's nice to meet you."
A/N: Thank you all again for taking the time to read my story. I have another one in the works that I look forward to posting soon. I super appreciate the reviews/comments, likes and adds. It truly means the world to me and is a huge encouragement! I hope you enjoyed this story, and hope to engage your minds again very soon!
