Alright people, here's the next chapter. Thank you so much for the support.

I intend no copyright infringement at all. The story is my own idea. Characters are owned by the awesome Suzanne Collins and all other incorporated parties.

Thanks Again.

School started a bit later that morning. The underclassmen had state testing so that meant a little more time to sleep for the seniors. Instead of having their first 3 periods, school would start at 10 and they were to report to the auditorium until testing was complete. Finn and Peeta strolled into the auditorium looking for somewhere to sit.

"Could you make it anymore obvious?" Finn remarked.

"What?" Finn had been talking to Peeta about something for quite a while. Peeta had been too preoccupied with trying to locate Katniss in the rapidly crowding room.

"I know you don't want to sit with us. You lookin' for Katniss." Finn tells him mockingly.

"We are looking for Katniss and Annie." Peeta puts his arm around him shaking Finn lightly.

"No, Peeta." Finn pulls back and stops walking. "I can't, she hates me." Finn has his head down with his hand on the back on his head.

"She doesn't know you. Your not the rumors. Let her see the real Finn." Peeta grabs Finn again and continues walking.

"You're so in love with him, Jo." Katniss jokes with the rest of her friends.

"I do not! I just think he's sexy. I mean what's not to like? Tall, blonde, and muscly." Johanna shudders with a dreamy look on her face. Johanna had developed a fondness for Cato and the girls were having a field day with it. "Besides, you bitches all got the hots for the rest of his entourage."

Aside from Madge who was dating Marvel, the rest of them had a thing for the rest of the boys.

"Umm, I don't have the hots for any one of those guys," Annie chipped in. The rest of the girls all started laughing like they were drunk. "What?" Annie had a puzzled look on her face.

"Yea," Johanna tried catching her breath from the laughter, "Your extreme distaste for Finnick Odair is quite questionable." Then she starts laughing again.

"He's a tool." Annie says.

"A sexy hoe." Johanna can't seem to stop laughing. Her phone starts buzzing suddenly, causing her to stop laughing. A devilish grin replaces her smile.

Peeta: where you at?

Johanna: why the sudden interest?

Peeta: I want those sexy pictures now.

Johanna: lol. Give me a minute.

Peeta: what really? No wait don't! Where are you sitting?

Johanna: why do you want to know?

Peeta: you're a smart girl. You know. ;)

Johanna: aww your balls dropped. Left section center. Come and get her, sexy! And bring Cato!

Peeta and Finn were making their way around the auditorium. They had been at the front when Johanna had texted him back. So back up the room they went, this time on the left. As he climbed back up he caught sight of Katniss. She still had no idea of his intentions or that he was headed her way. He was three rows away when someone grabbed his arm pulling him away.

"Oh, Peeta. You came to sit with me!" Glimmer basically screamed while keeping herself latched onto his arm. Finnick snickered next to him.

Katniss, who had happily been enjoying hanging with her friends, turned her head suddenly to see Peeta in the arms of Glimmer. Anger replaced her happiness. She clenched her teeth and glared at the two of them. Her heart suddenly began to ache painfully.

Katniss definitely liked him more than a friend. Peeta was so easy to be around. He always made her laugh and was forever the gentleman. He would always hold doors open for her, walk her to class, offer to hold her books. Katniss was never fond of being waited on, but, then again, no one had ever paid that kind of attention to her.

Not to mention, Katniss knew Peeta liked her. He seemed to be forever patient though only flirting with her on rare occasions. On those rare occasions, Katniss spent first period blushing so much that Dr. Abernathy had wanted to send her to the nurse some classes.

They also had a recent moment during phys ed. Katniss hated to be distracted while playing volleyball, but he would saunter over all sweaty from playing basketball and she couldn't help but love the fact that he did. This particular day, he wanted to play, but claimed that he didn't know how, forcing Katniss to help him. Her heart beat faster thinking about it.

Flashback

Katniss went to back up trying to get a good read on the ball that was headed her way, when her back came into contact with something. Katniss turned around to see what had stopped her and came face to face with Peeta.

"Hi." Peeta says with a big smile on his face. Katniss wanted to yell at him for making her miss the ball, but his smile was contagious.

"Hi," Katniss couldn't help but reciprocate. "What are you doing?"

"Teach me," Peeta tells her. "How to play."

"It's really not that hard. You just hit the ball."

"No, come on. How do I stand? Where do I stand? Do I hit the ball like this," he gestured with his hand, " or like this?" Katniss sighed. She took his hand to show him how. A blushed crept up her face at the contact.

"Like this if it's low and like this if it's high." She showed him, "then you stand like this, ready to move if it comes your way." She stood low to the ground, knees slightly bent, ass out, hands ready. Peeta couldn't help but cock his head to the side checking her ass out. Katniss turned around to look at Peeta.

"Got it?" She asked him.

"Um, I kinda spaced there for a minute," he grinned shyly, "maybe once more. I'll pay attention. I'm sorry."

One more time, she got into the position. And once more time, Peeta checked her ass out. This time he walked even closer to her. When she stood back upright and turned to Peeta she turned right into his arms. He wrapped his arms around holding her arms hostage between his chest and hers.

"I got it." Peeta's voice was low. His eyes were a darkened blue, lusting after her. "You're so damn beautiful."

Katniss didn't blush this time. She felt empowered by the emotion he held in his eyes for her. She pulled an arm up to cup his cheek.

"Kiss me." There was no hesitation from either part as his lips molded sweetly over hers. He kissed her slow, wanting to savor every moment.

"Mr. Mellark. Miss Everdeen. Where exactly do you think you are?" The gym teacher, Coach Trinket, called their attention. They pulled apart quickly, embarrassed that they had forgotten where they were.

"Sorry, Coach Trinket." Peeta waved his arm up at her apologetically.

"Mr. Mellark, do I have to write you up for leaving Coach Cinna's class?"

"I was just getting some tips on volleyball, you know, so I could join the team." He winked at Coach Trinket, "You know how much I admire your coaching abilties."

"Mr. Mellark." She raised her voice and pointed to the adjacent room where the basketball class was.

"I'll see you later, Katniss." He gently grasped her elbow. He then dipped his head and gave her a quick peck on the cheek and ran off.

Since then, Katniss knew Peeta was waiting for her to initiate the next step. He had told her she was in charge. She just didn't know how to ask him on a date. She didn't want it to be weird or anything, but it had been weird anyway. Watching him talk with lips that had been on hers twice. Everything about Peeta made her want him.

Now she was forced to watch Glimmer fondle Peeta right in front of her. Johanna noticed Katniss' distress.

"Oh, Peeta!" Johanna yelled out getting his attention. She waved frantically and dramatically at him calling him over. Peeta pulled his arm out from Glimmer's vice grip and walked over to them, dragging Finnick behind him.

"Ladies." Peeta greeted them. "Can we join you?"

"Sure Peeta. Here take my seat." Johanna moves over, letting him sit next to Katniss. Katniss rolls her eyes at Johanna. Could she be anymore obvious.

Finn took the seat on the end next to Annie. Peeta looked over with a stern face, letting Finn know, "Talk to her," he mouthed. Peeta turned back to Katniss with a smile.

"So, Annie…What's up?" Finn started.

"Why are you talking to me?" Annie looked at him awkwardly.

"Because…I think you're pretty and…," Finn couldn't think of anything else to say, "I like that."

"I'm sure that line works on all the other girls at this school who drool at your feet." Annie stood up and left. Finn just sat there, his face down with his arms crossed. Peeta leaned over to him whispering.

"Go after her." Finn didn't move, "Now!" Finn gave Peeta a defiant look.

"Hey, Katniss. Did I ever tell you about what happened to Finn this summer at the beach…"

"YOU SWORE YOU'D NEVER TELL!" Finn got up screaming, "Annie wait. Whatever I said, I'm sorry."

"What are you up to?" Katniss looks at Peeta.

"Me? Nothing. How are you by the way Katniss?"

"I'm fine," She smiled at him. Looking at him smile back at her, she knew that this was her chance to talk to him; to let him know she wanted to take the next step. Katniss grabbed his hand which was resting on the arm rest between them. She examined it for a minute, then just held it. Peeta looked curiously at her.

"Um, where's my end of the deal stud?" Johanna leaned over to him whispering. Peeta reached for his phone and text Cato. Within seconds, Cato appeared in the aisle.

"What's up, bro?" Cato asked, "You said it was an emergency." Peeta smiled over at Johanna. Johanna got up quickly and went to Cato, disappearing shortly after that.

Peeta looked down at their intertwined hands. He then looked up at Katniss who was sharing glances with Glimmer. He looked at Glimmer who glared back at Katniss with intent to kill.

"You know I much rather you look at me." Peeta tells her squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"Sorry. She just irks me."

"She irks me too you know." Peeta and Katniss share a laugh. Then, they share a look. Katniss decided right there that she wasn't leaving the room without letting him know just how she felt.

"Peeta…I like this."

"Yea," Peeta looks into the crowd, "Don't you just love when the underclassmen have testing and we get to come in late and chill in here for an hour or so?" Katniss let out a laugh clutching his hand tighter. He was dead serious.

"I didn't mean this," she motioned to the crowd. She took a deep breath and leaned into him. "I meant this."

"Oh." Peeta realized his mistake. Then, he smiled the biggest smirk she'd ever seen. "Really?" Katniss could only nod her head up at him.

"Go out with me?"

"Go out with me?"

They both ended up asking at the same time. Again, they shared a laugh. See how easy.

"I call the shots, remember?" Katniss tells him.

"Right." He swallowed. "Sorry. And yes. Hell yes!" He leaned over the rest of the way and gave her a kiss. When he pulled away, the look Peeta got told him she wanted more. Just as he was leaning in for another he felt something hit his head. Coach Trinket had bopped him on the head with a newspaper.

"Manners. You're in public and in school." She told them and walked away. Katniss tried horribly to hide her laughter. Peeta leaned into her to whisper something.

"It was definitely worth it."

First date coming up. Thanks a lot.