Author's Notes: OH MY GOD! I am so, so, so sorry for the delay in update! Life got freakin' chaotic as hell, faster than I could keep up! I'm barely covering myself with the correct nutrition and food. I have NOT abandoned the story, nor do I plan too! I am so sorry. I was having a little bit of writer's block, but I think I'm on the right path. This is just a FILLER chapter, just so you guys didn't think I jumped ship! So, it is shorter than my norm, so my apologies!
Thank you SO much to everyone who alerted/reviewed/read. You guys are amazing and keep me going! I appreciate you guys, SO, much, thank you! This little filler is dedicated to everyone!
I'll try and update ASAP (which hopefully will be the end of this weekend! Thank you for all the support and patience!
I know someone wanted some smut, lol, I'm not above it, but I wanted to see if there was a consensus to this opinion? Yes, no, maybe so? I would add it, but it would be tasteful, I'm a lady, lol {No, not really, I'm all for getting down and dirty ;)} And if anyone has any ideas or things they like to see with Johanna, specifically, please let me know! I'm not setting her up with Gale, BTW, just wanted to throw that out there.
HAPPY READINGS!
Even though it's only been a short time that Peeta's been back in my life, I find his silence unnerving. Peeta's never been one for silence, not when we were younger and not now.
I look behind me, my eyes taking in his broad form. He seems at peace, walking through the thick vegetation of trees. His head is pointed upwards taking in the soft light of the sun through the leaves. I see his ears perking when a bird's song flutters down to us. His lips are in a small smile, which is so easily on his face it rivals my half smirk.
"What'cha looking at?" I jump slightly, unaware that I had stopped walking to look at him. I feel the heat rush to my face and I can already tell that I'm colored lobster. He chuckles at me, stopping so that we're barely an inch or two from each other. "We're almost there."
"The top?" I ask; my voice catching in my throat.
I absolutely hate this feeling. Whatever feeling that washes over me when he's in such a close proximity. It's too much and too new. How on earth does Madge and Glimmer deal with this crap?
"Not, technically." He smirks, his hand brushing some hair from my forehead.
"So, what?" I lean into his touch, not noticing until his smirk turns into a genuine smile. He kisses my forehead as his hand moves to my cheek.
"You'll see. It's really not too far." I instantly become suspicious, but remain silent as Peeta takes the lead.
"I didn't peg you as much of a hiker." He chuckles, but does not look back.
"I'm not, quite obviously." He gestures behind him.
Well, ok, he is rather loud. And ungraceful. And unaccustomed to the simplest of wildlife.
I had definitely pictured something completely different however. I don't know I figured he'd try to eat something poisonous and get him or someone else killed.
"You seem to be a decent hiker in my opinion." He does look back for this.
"I think you're just trying to throw me off so I'll reveal the surprise."
I didn't actually think of that…
I smile and shake my head. "No, I want to be surprised."
"You hate surprises." So much. So very much. But for some odd reason I'm looking forward to this surprise. Peeta has yet to disappointment me.
"Still, I'm excited for this one." He chuckles, almost tripping on a large tree root. I wince and roll my eyes, but take two large steps to line myself up with him.
"I'm fine." He straightens himself out and nudges me. "Decent hiker, huh?"
I laugh moving forward. He keeps my pace, our shoulders close together.
"So, why have you been hiding out at your grandfather's?" I look over to him for a brief second, moving my eyes back to the never ending trail.
"I just wanted a break from everyone." I shrug crossing my arms.
"You like space, especially when your head's full or you're angry. You always have."
"Seems like you have an excellent memory, Mr. Mellark."
"Only for things worth remembering. But, then again, that is why we ended up in the woods that morning." I look at him, allowing my instincts to guide my steps.
"What?"
"Remember? Rye and Mark were teasing you, because your mom made you wear that yellow dress. They kept saying you wanted to impress them." Peeta smiles, his eyes staring forward as if there's a picture screen playing. "You got so mad, stomped your feet, and told them that you wanted nothing to do with them. That's when you announced you were done playing with us stupid boys and marched off into the woods."
I stare at him, my eyes wide. He glances over to me and smiles.
"You followed me." I state, half aware of what I'm saying.
"Of course I did." Peeta shrugs. "How could I let you go into the woods unaccompanied?"
"You could have died." I mental slap myself.
"Katniss, I would rather relive the wild dog attack a thousand times than think for one minute that it may have been you in that hospital room."
I freeze staring at him. He pauses as well, his face void of smiles, smirks, or any sign of good-humor. He's looking at me in pain, as if the mere mention of thinking about it causes him turmoil. Which, at this rate, I can't cross out.
"Peeta…" I don't know what to say.
"Hey, don't worry about it." He leans forward and brushes his lips to my temple. "At least I have an interesting story to tell."
Yeah, a story of a scar. A scar I gave him.
He begins walking again, my eyes following him for a long time before my feet begin to follow.
I lower my head, my mind moving at rapid speed. I can't wrap around the idea of someone being so selfless at the age of eight. Then again, Peeta had always been so selfless.
I look up, opening my mouth to say something, only to find that Peeta is no longer in front of me. My heart begins beating abnormally as my other senses go into hyper drive.
"Peeta?" I call out, moving forward faster. "Peeta!"
"Here! I'm here!"
I hear his voice and the adrenaline pumps through my body instantly. My feet don't catch on a single branch, twig, root, or misplaced stone. The sun is bright just beyond the trees and ends up hitting me squarely in my face as I barrel forward.
I stop, staring at Peeta's shirt, shoes, socks, and bag lying haphazardly on the ground. My eyes look to see a giant stone structure, water falling from the top into a medium sized stream.
What the hell?
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to leave you. I just wanted to make sure!" He's drenched, the water running down his body rapidly.
"It's a waterfall." He nods his head, his smile the size of his face.
"Surprise!"
"It's a waterfall." I repeat, astonished at the breath taking site in front of me. I move past him, stepping towards the stream. "It's at least thirty feet high."
"Yep!" His voice is close to my ear. "The water is the perfect temp. Come in."
I spin around and see my half smirk dancing across his lips. He throws me a wink and then dives into the stream. I watch as he crosses, pulling himself onto the other side, walking into the pouring water. I watch as he disappears.
My shirt and shoes come flying off, my socks landing over them ungracefully. I stand at the edge in my tank and shorts.
The water is cool as it envelopes my skin. I feel relaxed and free as I navigate myself under the water towards the other side. The pull up is easy.
I pause under the water fall, allowing the liquid to massage my body. It's not a harsh drop down, rather smooth and calm, like hands.
When I cross into the small cave, past the waterfall, I stare at Peeta who's leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. His smile is wide and happy.
The space itself is small, fitting us comfortably.
"This is cozy." I state, my eyes rolling around the small cave.
"I use to come and hide in here when we went camping." Peeta looks around, nostalgia taking over. "My dad use to bring us here for Rye's Birthday, it was a little escape from mom. Mark and Rye would be running around and going at it, dad would be frying food up on a fire he built himself, and I would be in here."
"Why would you be in here?" I lean to my side, my back facing the water that's curtaining us from the outside world.
"It's peaceful." He shrugs; his muscles are defined in his arms and his chest.
My eyes linger on his chest, staring at the skin that is now exposed and wet and slightly red.
I move forward, thoughtlessly, gently touching his skin. His arms lower and I feel his breath hitch slightly. I allow my fingers to trail over him, tracing the lines and contours.
I look up at him, for a brief second, my bottom lip suddenly feeling the pressure of my teeth. My hand splays across his right pec as our eyes stay connected. The heat from his body and the hard thump of his heart sends a wave of excitement through me, causing me to bite my lip harder and my eyes to shut.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want too, Kat." His voice is low, comforting. "I didn't bring you here under the impression that anything would happen. I am not expecting anything from you. I just figured you'd like it." I can hear the smile in his tone, his genuine sweetness leaking through the words.
Peeta Mellark was a good guy. And it was obvious in everything he did and said.
My eyes open to the intense, beautiful blue of his eyes.
It was obvious that he was the best guy, in the way he looked at me.
I may not have an easy time handling myself or my emotions, but they damn sure knew how to handle me.
I move to my tip-toes, erasing whatever space is between us. My lips meet with his.
His hands move to my hips, holding me steady as my arms snake over him, giving me leverage to tilt my head and explore his mouth.
The familiar heat from the night of our hammock production and from his bedroom rolls across me like a wave. I press myself into him, ignoring the sensations of my wet clothes and his bare chest. The sound of the water is nothing compared to the sounds of our heart beats, banging loudly and harmoniously in my ears.
His hands slip from my hips to my lower back, massaging the spot above my pants. I moan into his mouth, arching my body into him. His smirk interrupts the dance our lips have taken on. He moves his smirk to my cheek, my neck, the crook of my collar bone. My hands move to his shoulders, finding balance to the situation.
I find that I don't have to stay coordinated for much longer, however. He lifts me effortlessly to his own hips, giving me leverage to fully arch myself.
I allow my body to do as it pleases, not thinking about any kind of logic or second thoughts. I'm consumed by the excitement and heat and warmth pulling at my stomach, my legs, and my chest.
He nips my shoulder, causing me to gasp and buck my hips into him, which in turn causes him to groan against my skin. His hot breath moves like blood, filling me with an intense pressure I'm not entirely familiar with.
A part of me doesn't ever want to let go.
"PEETA WHEATON MELLARK! IF YOU LEAVE ME WITH THIS DEVIL WOMAN FOR ONE MORE MINUTE, I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
We complete freeze. Peeta lets out a low moan, sinking his face into my collar bone. My hand instinctively goes to the nap of his hair, playing with it in a comforting fashion.
"I'm going to fucking kill him." Peeta whispers into my neck. I laugh because his usage of the curse is so foreign to his vocabulary and tone.
"I see Mark and I both share the opinion that Johanna is a lovely young lady."
