The next week with Prim is complete with making up lost time. All these years of me believing she was dead, and she was alive. Living in District Four, under the promise of pretending to be dead. But Peeta had saved that. He had fought to have Prim come home, he had done that for me; and I can never, ever, repay him for that.

Prim has grown into such a smart young woman, she has quite obviously continued her studies while in District Four and now she tells me she wishes to work at the town hospital, helping the other sick children. That is in fact where she is today. After a week of catching up and learning of what has happened in the years we have not seen one another, Prim has been desperate to attend the hospital and start volunteering. Today is her first day, and for the first time in a long time; I find myself feeling lonely. Peeta is at work and doesn't get back until after three.

One glance at the clock hanging on the wall tells me I still have another hour at least until someone arrives home. Well Peeta's home.

Prim has been utterly ecstatic over the stories I have told her of Peeta. She squealed with delight when I grudgingly revealed to her the few times we have almost kissed. She refused to believe me when I mentioned that Peeta only wants to be friends. I'm not even sure I believe myself sometimes, at least I hope not.

Instead of wallowing in my time on the couch, I walk down to the town school, making the most of the sun that is out. The end of school bell should be ringing soon, but I walk down to where I know the staffroom is, on the off chance Peeta isn't teaching for the last period of the day.

Knocking on the door, I wait a good 30 seconds before the door swings open and I am faced with a tall girl. Her hair is dark and shoulder length, she has sharp eyebrows and her dark eyes glare at me. I watch as she looks over me before a smirk pulls at the corners of her mouth.

"Um...is Peeta here?" I ask peering around her into the room. She steps sideways to block my view, her face no longer glaring but amused in a scoffing way.

"He is in fact" she hints with a fleeting glance over her shoulder. "But of course, I already knew that's who you were after. Your Katniss...right?"

I stare at her bewildered, my mind scrambling to find the right words. "Uhhh...um"

"I'll take that as a yes" she smirks, "Peeta your girlfriends here" she yells over her shoulder and I glare at her.

I hear shuffling behind her, "Jo I don't have a-oh Katniss, hi." Peeta's face breaks into a smile when he sees me standing at the door. "Johanna stop interrogating her" he sighs reaching out and grabbing my hand, pulling me into the room. Peeta drags me over to a table where he has obviously been marking some work.

"Um, if your busy I can leave" I say, not wanting to interrupt his work.

"No no your fine, I was just packing up now anyway" Peeta explains as he shuffles through the papers and stacks them all into a haphazard pile. He looks up and smiles widely at me. "Good?" He asks, I nod and follow him back out the door, willing myself not to look at Johanna; who I know is still smirking at me and this whole ordeal. I follow Peeta out into the hallway and together we walk down towards the main door. Peeta has his bag slung over his shoulder and the silence that stirs between us is neither uncomfortable or the differ.

I don't really know how to act in a situation such as the one I am in now. I can't stop my mind from reeling with thoughts. Why on earth did I decide to come here? Surely my boredom and loneliness doesn't account for this type of behaviour. Peeta leads us around the long way home, I don't question it though my mind certainly begs for the answer.

"Did you need to talk to me or something?" Peeta asks suddenly. I shake my head, not sure if my voice will actually work. Now that I've figured out I can stop that feelings I have for Peeta, I don't generally trust what I say to him, compared to what I think I say.

"Oh" his face falls, "I just thought, since you came to the school..." He trails off.

"I was lonely" I say quickly then wish I hadn't as I feel my face heat up in the cheeks. It takes me a moment to realise that Peeta has stopped walking. I stop and turn around to face him. Peeta takes a two long strides until he is directly in front of me. So close I can feel his warmth radiating, and I can smell that distinct Peeta smell.

Not knowing where to look as his eyes gaze at me intently; I glance around us, looking to see if any people are stopping to stare. No one has noticed yet, or at least they have the curtesy to pretend they haven't. I will myself to turn back to Peeta. His deep blue eyes still boring into mine.

"Katniss" he whispers as his hands reach up to my face. I feel my cheeks heat up again, and I have the urge to suddenly start over talking, I don't know but maybe that's something I might to when I'm nervous.

"I have to tell you" he murmurs.

"Tell me what?" I choke out, my voice a harsh whisper.

"Ever since I saw you, that day at the seam school. I thought that...that I had never seen someone so beautiful. I have wanted to tell you how much I am falling for you ever since that day, but I didn't want to frighten you. I am praying that you don't run away from me right now." he says softly as I stare at him blankly. I can't make sense of this all, Peeta liking me? How? why?

"Katniss I could go on all day stating everything about you that intrigues me, your hair and how much I want to tangle my fingers in it; your silver eyes and how they always speak the truth" he is whispering now, his face close to mine. "I don't want to scare you off, but I'm tired of hiding my feelings for you. I want to be with you, to love you and hold you in my arms whenever I want, to hold your hand and kiss you endlessly. To cherish and protect you. Please. " He finishes breathlessly, his eyes searching mine frantically.

I feel my mind swimming with everything he has just proclaimed. I can't make sense if it all, I can never seem to think straight when Peeta is close to me, but now even more than ever. His smell is intoxicating and I can see him staring at me intently, waiting for me to say something back. But I'm not good at saying something. I can't think of what I could possibly say that wouldn't seem lame against what Peeta just admitted. . I can feel my heart pounding and Peeta's face starts to fall when he notices my long silence.

"Why do you always smell like an art department?" I blurt out before I can even register what I just said. My hand claps over my mouth as a smirk pulls at the corners of Peeta's mouth. I feel my face flush with embarrassment.

"I proclaim my falling for you, and you ask me why I smell like paints?" He says slyly and I bury my face in my hands, too ashamed and embarrassed to even look at him.

"I'm sorry" I mumble "I'm not good at saying something."

"Then come here" he murmurs and I glance up from my hands. His eyes are bright as he takes another step closer to me leans down slowly. This time I don't pull away and nothing interrupts us. His hands grip my waist tightly as he pulls me to him, his lips slanting over mine. I close my eyes and try not to overthink what is happening. I have never been kissed before and have no idea what I am doing. I go on instinct as Peeta's kiss shuts my mind down completely. My hands slide up his chest and fist his shirt in my hand as I try and pull him closer to me. His lips are warm against mine and his hands grip me tighter to him.

I pull away breathlessly and he rests his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily.

"I've wanted to do that for so long now" he whispers; and this time I don't have to think as I answer him.

"Me too."