DISCLAIMER: All of the characters, plots, places, and everything else Hunger Games-related belongs to Suzanne Collins. I own none of it, and I am in no way associated with the Hunger Games franchise. No copyright infringement intended.

Katniss

"Peeta, you're doing it wrong!"

"Well, you're going to have to help me because my specialty is bread, not cheese!"

Prim and Peeta both laughed as she took the wooden spoon from him and started stirring. They had found common ground immediately when he learned she used Lady's milk to make goat cheese. Peeta shot me a quick grin while Prim stirred. She handed the spoon back to him, giving him strict instructions about how it was supposed to be done. He good-naturedly did his best to follow along.

My little sister has an uncanny ability to make anyone happy just by being around her. It's what I admire the most about her, and also why I knew bringing Peeta to see her would be a good idea.

They already knew each other, of course, from all the times Prim has dragged me into the bakery to look at the cakes. Even though I always made an effort to stay away from him, Prim asked questions about them and sometimes elicited a free sample. Due to my lack of attention, I never knew Peeta was the one who did the frosting for all the cakes and cookies. When he told me, though, I wasn't shocked. It seemed to fit him.

I glanced at the counter to see them finishing up. Peeta held his hand up for a high five, which Prim happily gave.

"So how did I do, Chef Primrose?"

Prim giggled and said, "Not too bad for a beginner. You still need some practice!"

"Well, we'll just have to work on that, won't we?" He grinned as Prim nodded.

I stood up from the stool I had been watching from and walked over to them. "What do you say we go to the meadow, Prim?"

"That's a great idea! Come on, Peeta!"

She grabbed his hand and pulled him outside. Her energy seemed to be endless. I caught up with them and walked next to Peeta. He was studying his surroundings closely. I figured he had never been in the Seam before today. In a few minutes, we reached our destination.

The meadow was the most beautiful thing about the Seam. Prim immediately ran to the small playground and climbed onto a rusted swing.

She called, "Peeta, you should come swing with me!"

"I think I'm going to stay here and talk to your sister if that's alright." Noticing how unstable the chains looked that held up the swing, he added, "You be careful!"

Prim laughed at his warning. She wasn't afraid of anything. We both sat down in the grass, and Peeta busied himself by examining the tiny purple flowers that covered the ground. I shut my eyes and took in the summer breeze and the warm sun on my skin. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

"It's beautiful out here. I wish I had my canvas and paint."

I gently opened my eyes and looked at Peeta. I knew he liked to paint, but I had never seen his paintings before. Suddenly I wanted to. "Will you show me your paintings sometime?"He looked shocked by my question. He carefully answered, "I don't think you would like them."

His words left me baffled. They weren't what I was expecting at all. "Why wouldn't I like them?"

He studied the ground awhile before speaking again. "I mostly paint after I have a nightmare. It helps me get it out of my head."

"Oh." My reply seemed inadequate, but I didn't know what else to say. I asked, "Do you have nightmares often?"

He seemed reluctant so I added, "It might help to talk about it."

His eyes were clouded with a darkness that made me want to say something, anything, to make him smile again. I was never good at comforting people, and Peeta had been through horrors unimaginable to me.

Finally, he muttered, "Every night. They're all from the arena, but it's mostly just Thresh..."

I remembered once again the terror I felt watching Peeta slide the knife across the boy from eleven's throat. He must have noticed how pale my face had become because he quickly said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Peeta was apologizing for opening up to me because I couldn't handle it. I was a horrible friend. "Peeta, you shouldn't be sorry. You can tell me anything."

I knew I meant the words as soon as I said them. I wanted to help him, no matter how much it bothered me. He said, "Thanks, Katniss. That really does mean a lot."

At that moment, Prim ran to us to show off the four leaf clover she found. She smiled sweetly and said, "I want you to have it, Peeta. Don't lose it because it will bring you good luck!"

He took the clover from her and examined it before placing it in his pocket. "Thank you, Prim! I'll keep it safe." I thought I heard him mumble something else, but I couldn't be sure.

I glanced at the sky and saw the sun beginning to set. Mirroring my own thoughts, Peeta said, "I should probably be getting back before it gets dark."

I nodded and said, "I'll walk with you."

He bent down to hug Prim. She jutted her lower lip out in a pout. "Will you come back again?"

He leaned back, his hands on her shoulders. "Of course. Maybe I can teach you how to make something next time. Would you like that?"

The wide smile on Prim's face was all the answer she needed to give. We stopped by my house on the way, to make sure Prim got back safely. Peeta waved to my mother, who was sitting on the couch. She said, "It was nice to see you, Peeta!"

With a nod, he said, "You too, Mrs. Everdeen."

I grabbed my jacket and followed him outside. Even though it was June, there was still a chill in the air at night.

We walked in silence to the edge of the Seam. It wasn't an awkward silence though. It was natural. Being with Peeta was so easy. He was a naturally friendly person, like my sister. So unlike me. I was the independent one, the one whom everyone else stayed away from. Well, everyone except for him.

Peeta claimed he still loved me. It didn't make sense and the thought made me uncomfortable, so I mostly tried to forget it. He would see who I really was soon enough and realize I was a lost cause. He would find another girl who would love him back. For now, though, he needed a friend and I wanted to be that person.

As we continued walking, dusk started to set in. The sounds of crickets and other insects chirping filled the air around us. "It's nice, isn't it?"

I looked at Peeta to see him staring serenely at the dirt road ahead of us.

I asked, "What is?"

"The quiet. It's so peaceful. It's much better than living in the middle of town."

"Mmhmm," I agreed, even though I had no idea what it was like to live in town.

After a few minutes, he spoke again. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For today. It was nice to get out of the house and see someone other than Haymitch."

"I thought you and Haymitch were buddies now?"

He laughed. "I said he was a good guy, not that I wanted him to be my only contact with the world."

I grinned back at him. The idea did seem a little frightening.

"I've always liked Prim. She's just so genuinely happy. I can tell you really love her."

I sighed. "I do. I don't know what I would do without her."

While thinking about Prim, I realized I had never met Peeta's older brothers. "What about your brothers? What are they like?"

He grimaced, as if he didn't really want to think about them. "I don't see them very often. We don't really have a lot in common."

"Do they like to bake like you?"

"No, they only work in the bakery because they have to. It's the family business," he explained.

I thought about what Prim said about not seeing him there and asked, "Why don't you work in the bakery anymore?"

He stared at the ground. "I don't know. I just don't want to face everyone. All of the customers know me either from before or after the Hunger Games. I don't want to see the pity in their eyes or answer the uncomfortable questions. Not yet."

I nodded. "That makes sense."

I knew exactly what he meant. After my father died, even people I didn't know offered their comforting words or sympathetic looks. After awhile, all I wanted was to tell them to leave me alone.

"Do you think you will ever go back?"

He raised one corner of his mouth to form a crooked smile. "Yeah, I can't imagine staying away forever."

I looked ahead of us and was surprised to see we were only a few yards away from the gates of Victor's Village. Even more surprising, I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

Peeta stopped walking when we reached the gate. "Thank you again for getting me out of the house today. It was nice to spend time with you and Prim."

I stared down at my feet. "You're welcome. I thought it might help, and I know Prim enjoyed it too."

With one finger placed under my chin, he gently lifted my face to meet his eyes. His voiced was soft when he spoke. "I mean it, Katniss. You have no idea how much you help me."

His blue eyes were gazing into mine without a trace of the darkness I had seen in them before. There was only warmth. Our close proximity made me uncomfortable, so I took a step back. I stammered, "Well, um, I should go. I'll come back next Saturday if I can. I mean, if you want me to."

He smiled, seemingly not affected by my discomfort. "I would really like that. See you later, Katniss."

I gave him a small wave and said, "Bye, Peeta."