CHAPTER 11

''No one has ever liked me,'' she whispered, her beautiful grey eyes filled with sadness.

''That's not true,'' I said moving closer to her body. ''I have liked you since I was 5 and I first saw you in school.'' She must be blind not to see the heads turning her way when she walks the school hallway. There are not just my eyes which long to see her.

''I .. I don't know what to say.''

''Don't,'' I breathed. ''You don't have to say anything.''

''I-''

''Katniss?'' she looked back in my eyes. ''Would you hate me if I kissed you?'' I asked. Where is my courage coming from? It feels like I'm not even the one saying all this. I was always so nervous around her, but suddenly here I am asking for approval to give her a kiss.

I'm so close to her, only a small movement would make our lips meet. I could feel her quick breathing on my skin.

''I, um, don't really .. know?'' she said shakily. I smiled and brought my hand from her chin to her cheek and stroked it with my thumb.

''You can stop me, you know,'' I said and moved my lips down towards hers slowly. I looked deep into her eyes and mentally cheered to myself. She hasn't moved a bit which is a good sign. Maybe it would finally happen.

''Do you mind?'' I ask her again, my lips almost touching hers. When she gave no sign of backing away from the kiss, I made the last step and my lips touched hers. I cupped her other cheek with my other hand and slowly moved my lips. After a few second of no response I made a move to back off, but she caught my hand on her cheek and moved towards me. Our lips were touching again. I can't believe this is finally happening. I have always dreamed of how her lips, her touch would feel and now I know. Her hands are soft and small and her lips smooth and gentle.

If I died right now I would be happy. Katniss slowly moved her lips in sync with mine. Our kiss was not heated, it was slow, but still passionate. I'm guessing this was her first kiss, because she didn't try anything more than what I was doing. Not wanting to go too far, I removed my lips from hers. They were now slightly pink from the kissing and as inevitable as ever.

''Do you hate me?'' I asked her. She shook her head, biting her lower lip. God, what is this woman doing to me. ''Well say something,'' i encouraged her.

''Peeta, I -''

''Katniss!'' her sister came hurrying into the kitchen. Katniss quickly moved away from me as if she was shot by a lightning. ''It's 8pm already. Can we go home now?''

''Yeah.. sure Prim.''

Prim eyed her suspiciously. ''Are you alright?'' Her sister in answer nodded quickly and went to get her jacket in a hurry. ''Let's go, Prim!'' And just like that they were gone and I had no answer. But, on the bright side, she didn't slap me or denied my kiss, which must be a great sign. I would love to know her answer, but I'm staying optimistic.

I grinned from ear to ear and whistled to myself while cleaning the kitchen. The bakery has closed and the working day way over. Now I can relax and daydream about a real kiss and not one made by my imagination.

.

.

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Rye, Barley and I were eating dinner alone that night, because our parents went to a visit to our friends from Town. I was basically on cloud nine and in a super good mood since the kiss with Katniss.

''You seem to be more cheerful each day,'' Barley commented. ''Two weeks ago you were all glum and now you look like you just found a treasure at the end of the rainbow.''

''Say whatever you want, bro,'' I grinned. ''I'm just in a good mood.''

''A great mood. Should we know something,'' Rye asked? I bit my lip and took a sip from the glass filled with milk.

''We should!'' he yelled. ''What happened? Finally got some?''

I shot him a glare. ''Back off, Rye,'' said Barley.

''I'm just saying,'' Rye lifted his hands in a surrender motion. ''He is almost 17 and still a virgin, you know. As his loving, big brothers we should help him out with this problem.''

''Why would this be a problem?'' I spit back. ''Should I sleep with every girl I see?''

''No, you shouldn't,'' Barley answered. ''Rye stop this nonsense right now.'' It's a good thing me and Rye have a peace maker like our beloved older brother or we would be on the floor wrestling by now. Rye thankfully did back off. Well from that topic.

Not a few second later he asked: ''Seriously, what happened?''

I blushed and covered my face with my hands. I don't know why I'm even that embarrassed to talk about it. It was just a kiss. ''We kissed.''

Rye spit the water he was drinking back in the glass and Barley stopped mid-chewing. ''What?!''

''That's what happened. I kissed her.''

''And she didn't back off?'' he carried on his interrogating.

''No.''

''Woooo go brother!'' he slapped my back excitedly.

''That's great, Peeta,'' Barley commented. I nodded in thanks. We continued chatting long after we finished eating and then it was time to sleep. Tonight, it sure will be a great sleep.

The last thing I heard from my brother (Rye) before closing the door to my bedroom was: ''Tell me when you need condoms!'' I showed him a middle finger and closed the door in his face.