Peeta's pov

I am whisked off to my room that I'll use staying here and I'm sure i have most stupidest grin on face. She kissed me! Well on the cheek, but still! I can still feel the burning sensation her lips left.

I listen to Effie ramble on about sponsors and diamonds and behind all that thick paint I believe there's someone who truly cares.

I take shower and carefully press the many buttons. Then I tell machine a pair of clothes, black pants and light Orange shirt. Then I wait for Effie to call me to dinner.

My room is huge. Everything magnificent, the bed is giant and fluffy. The showers have a million buttons, and then you can speak whatever you desire into a microphone and food appears there in a minute, hot and steamy. It's wrong. While capital people can get anything they want, in the districts their starving. This food is so different from what I've had my whole life. When I was younger it was stale bread and then slop in the group home. I'm not complaining but all this rich food is making me sick. I almost threw up the train.

I finally get up and go to super early.

China, Portia, and Effie are already there. Effie goes to get Katniss while the stylists and I go onto the balcony.

"So Peeta… you and Katniss seem to have a… past." Portia starts.

"Yeah, um.. We were… Friends…." usually it's not hard come up with things to say, but Katniss and i are a touchy subject. I'm just glad I have her back. And I'll be damned if she thinks she's dieing. I haven't thought of anything besides her for the last eight years. She needs to home to her sister, her mother. She needs to go home and find herself a husband. No matter how painful that is to think about.

"Can you tell us?" Cinna asks softly.

Can I? I don't know… So far they're the only normal capitol citizens. I like them. I can trust them.

"We were best friends since kindergarten. Until… until… my-my family's bakery burned…" images flash behind eyelids, "and was taken to an orphanage. For-for the next eight years. The reaping was the first time I've seen her in-in eight years." I finish a whisper.

"Oh Peeta… I'm sorry." Portia says.

I manage to give her small sad smile.

Then Cinna surprises me with his next question, "Do you love her?" He asks calmly.

I'm sure I'm the color of a tomato right now. Was it that easy to tell? "Umm… Uh-" I chuckle nervously, "What-what makes you think that?"

They now both have smirks on their faces. The same one Mr Everdeen had… "Well it's completely obvious! The way you two stare into each other's eyes… the way you smile at each other… it's easy to tell your in love."

No. Katniss isn't in love with me. We were when were little. But that was a long time ago. She probably has a boyfriend… yes she is trying to save my life, but that's because we're friends.

"Katniss doesn't love me."

Portia stares at me gaping, "You're oblivious! Any one can see she's in love with you! How coul-" she gets cut off by Effie and Katniss walking into the room. We step into the dining room.

And Katniss. Oh she's always so beautiful. Her long dark braid, olive skin, and her stormy silver eyes. She's beautiful…

I stare into her eyes and she doesn't break eye contact.

"A hem!" Our heads snap to Effie. She has a scowl her face, but behind her i see the stylists smirking. "Manners."

"Oh right sorry, how are you?" I ask looking between them.

"Hmp! Better. We're good Peeta. And you?"

"Great." bedside point that a in a few weeks twenty three children will be dead.

I look back at Katniss now. Her cheeks have turned a light shade pink. Adorable. "Hey katniss."

"Hi Peeta."

Now it's back to our staring contest. Oh how much i want to go to her and wrap my arms around her. How badly I want to press my lips to hers. I imagine how soft they would be. How-

"Dinner!" Effie's sing song voice says.

We sit down and I secretly grab Katniss's hand under the table. She gives me a smile that warms my heart.

Haymitch comes in as soon as the foods being served. Surprisingly sober. It seems the stylists have an effect on our mentor and escort.

Servants in white bring out steaming glasses of wine which I decline. Then I try and focus on the meal and make small talk. Mushroom soup, bitter greens with tomatoes the size of peas, rare roast beef sliced as thin as paper, noodles in a green sauce, cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes. The servers, all young people dressed in white tunics like the one who gave others wine, move wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full.

We chitchat about the interview and costumes until a young lady sets an elegant looking cake on the table that is on fire. Katniss has worry etched on her face, "What makes it burn? Is it alcohol?" She say, looking up at the girl. "That's the last thing I wa - oh! I know you!"