"Hi. I'm Peeta Mellark. I co-star with my very fetching wife Katniss in the very funny, very sexy Katniss stories. If you remember last week we had to give you a flashback Christmas story because our author is a slacker. Blah, blah, blah work, blah, blah, blah Christmas shopping, blah, blah, blah sleep. Nothing but excuses."

"Peeta, you continue. I'll be right back."

"Okay Honey... Alright now that she's gone I'll finish last week's story. Remember how she ended it just sitting in the chair. Well my Father continued to sneak her drinks and she got pretty tipsy. Well she got up and went into Joanie's white living room and..."

"Peeta Vincent Mellark! I thought I ended that story at the appropriate point! Didn't I?"

"Oh, yes dear. I'll continue with the New Year's story. I have a list here. Which one do you want to tell?"

"What's on the list?"

"First there was three years ago."

"Was that the year we dressed up as ...? And went to ...? And did ...?"

"Yes."

"I don't think so. That story is a little too risque. Plus we paid the fine and the judge issued a gag order."

"Yeah I know. Remember he also issued a restraining order. I look at the framed copy every day when I turn off my alarm clock."

"The judge made me keep a laminated copy in my wallet. Okay let's move on to a different choice."

"Alright, second is sophomore year at college."

"Ooooh, I like that story. So here we go. The story of New Year's Eve during our sophomore year in college."

Being home for the holidays is nice. This year living in the city in a dorm room was so much easier than last year. Last year I was homesick, but I'm so much more comfortable now. Jo isn't going to her Grandmother's house for the holidays so she spent the week with us. I introduced her to some of my friends and showed her my hangouts. That didn't take so long so we kinda just sat at home and watched TV all week.

Tonight is New Year's Eve and my best friend Madge is having a party. Her parents went to a party in the City so she took over the house.

Madge and I have been friends since preschool. I can't remember a time I wasn't friends with her. We went through grade, middle and high school together. But while I'm going to NYU in the City she is going to Georgetown in D.C. Her father is a Congressman and she works in his office.

We walk over to Madge's house. They live in a large old brick house on the edge of the village. The block is filled with other large houses. They are all set back from the street with long long driveways and manicured lawns. A large crowd has already arrived and the driveway and street out front are filled with cars.

We don't knock and we just walk in. There must be fifty kids here already. Jo looks around at the amount of guys here and mentally makes a list of those she is going to target. The music is loud and I have to scream to tell Jo to walk with me. I grab her hand and go over to Madge. She is talking to Gale. Gale grew up in the house right behind ours. Prim and I and Gale and his brothers and sister were always at each others houses. Our Moms are best friends and our Dads work together.

"Gale, Madge this is my friend and roommate Johanna." Jo says hi to Madge and then looks up at Gale. Gale is two years older than I am. He is handsome, has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. I had a crush on him when I was younger but I gave up. There were always too many girls around him. He has a cup of beer from the keg and he grabs one for me and Jo.

"Thanks. And call me Jo." She says and as I can see from her eyes she has found her target for tonight. Good luck Gale. You don't stand a chance. "So do you go to school?" Jo asks Gale.

"I have my Associates. I go part time at John Jay now. Criminal Justice courses. I want to be a cop."

"You mean you go to school in the City and Miss Katniss has never brought you around. Shame on her." She grabs Gale's arm and leads him away. "So tell me about Criminal Justice. Do you get to use handcuffs in class?"

"Your friend Jo seems nice." Madge says to me as both of us watch them walk off together. "She is. Once she sets her sights on a boy though, she doesn't let go. So who else is here." Madge reads off a laundry list of kids I knew in high school and some I don't remember. There are also friends of friends of friends. "... and Peeta Mellark is here."

"I know I see him." Peeta is the son of the man who owns the bakery in town. He worked there all through high school and now works there in the summer. He also goes to NYU but I don't see him that often. It's a huge school and I don't even know what dorm he's in. He is handsome though. He has really blonde hair and the most dreamy blue eyes. He was the eighth hunkiest guy in high school.

"...Katniss!" She hits me in the arm.

"Ouch. What was that for?" I grab my arm.

"You drifted off or something. Go talk to him."

"I don't know."

"Oh please. You've been crushing on him since grade school. You made up any excuse in the world to go to the bakery and see him." I just give her a crooked grin.

"He seems to be with people."

"Of course he's with people! It's a party!"

"Maybe later." I leave Madge and wander around. Catching up with my friends from school. I have quite a few beers. It's cheap stuff and not too strong. The party has gotten very crowded and I need some air. I walk upstairs. I'm very familiar with Madge's house and there is a terrace off her parent's room.

I go outside lean on the rail and look out at the lights across the valley. It's very nice out here. The air is crisp.

"Hi."

"Ah! Oh, I'm sorry. You startled me. Hi, um Peeta."

"I was outside and saw you upstairs. So I thought I'd say hello. So, hello." His easy manor brings a smile to my face. "I brought you some hot chocolate. Here." He hands me a cup. I love hot chocolate. His bakery has the most delicious. Prim and I would always order it when we went to the bakery.

"Where did you get it?"

"Madge had it in the kitchen. Her Mom always buys a bag of the mix when she comes in."

"Ooh, bakery hot chocolate." I take a sip. My eyes light up. "This tastes different. What is it?"

"I mixed it with Bailey's Irish Cream. It goes together well."

"Good choice." I take another sip. "So how is school?" I ask him. He answers but to be honest with you, I didn't hear a word he said. I just got lost looking in his eyes. I knew they were blue but they are a deeper blue than I had ever seen in a boy.

"... so that's when I discovered Professor Abernathy was a nut. Hey, it's almost midnight. Let's go downstairs."

"Can we stay upstairs."

"Sure." 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy New Years. The cheers from downstairs are loud.

"Happy New Year." I say to Peeta.

"Happy New Year." He says back. I kiss him. It was a small little peck on the lips. It was the sort of kiss that you give a friend. As I pull back we continue to look in each other's eyes. He leans in and kisses me. I'm frozen as he kisses me. I never even close my eyes. He pulls back. He caresses my cheek with his hand. He is so gentle, so soft. I look up at him, put my arms around his neck, get on my tip toes and kiss him. He puts his strong arms around my waist and lifts me slightly off the floor and closer to him. This is the most passionate kiss I have ever received. It is deep and long. I don't want to stop but we have to come up for air. I shiver. He puts his jacket around me.

To Be Continued...

Happy New Year Everyone! Tomorrow is Part II