Peeta's POV – Chapter 8


"And why do you think you're the best person for the job?"

"Um…"

I leaned back in my chair and tried to do my best to not look intimidating. Not that I was a scary looking guy, but it was clearly this poor girl's first interview ever.

The little girl in front of me shook like a leaf as she chewed the inside of her lip and tried her best to think of a good answer.

"I would…be here on time every day. And I would do my best to make the customers happy?" she half asked, half stated.

Well, at least she sounded honest.

I tried not to grin. A few kids had applied for the part time job when I'd posted the sign in the window, but Rue stuck out. She was kind, smart, and just timid enough to not be a cocky little shit behind the counter. I felt like I could trust her. She'd won me over when she'd politely said 'please' when asking for an application. She was going to get the job as the part time bakery assistant, but I felt the need to put her through the process anyhow. Learning to make your way through an interview was an important skill, and I wasn't going to overlook it. Especially for someone as shy as her. Kids needed skills. Even though she was fifteen and able to legally work, she looked to be about twelve or thirteen. Her small frame and twiggy arms would keep her from doing any heavy lifting or mixing, but I could use a friendly face to help me greet customers and ring people up.

"Good. What days are you available?"

She chewed her lip again and did her best to smile. "Umm…I mean, I'm available any day but Tuesdays…I have church choir on Tuesday nights," she mumbled.

I heard her mother shift in her chair a few tables away. The bakery was nearly empty that day, so it was rather obvious that this poor girl's mother was eavesdropping on our interview. I didn't mind though – my dad would have done the same thing to me when I was fifteen, and this girl didn't look like she was too happy about it. I certainly understood a slightly overbearing parent that meant well.

"Fine, fine….But you think you can wake up early on Saturdays? Four a.m. doesn't look pretty sometimes," I warned her honestly.

She nodded, blinking her doe-like eyes. "I can do it."

I gave her a grin. "Alright. You got the job. Can you start tomorrow?"

She smiled widely back at me, nodding her little head. I shook her small hand with mine and turned to look at her mother. "As if I wouldn't have given her the job with you sitting right there."

The woman chuckled, shaking her head. "How did you know I was with her?"

I shrugged at the empty bakery. "You've been sitting there with a cup of coffee and an untouched cinnamon roll for twenty minutes, and you'd hold your breath every time I asked a question."

"Mom," Rue whined, giving her mother an exasperated look. The pair exchanged a rather sassy look that made me chuckle.

"Oh calm yourself; I was just making sure you did alright. Now tell Mr. Mellark 'thank you' and let's go. We need to get you some nice work clothes."

"Oh, just a clean pair of khakis and some white t-shirts are fine," I told her. "I'll give her an apron, but that's all she needs."

Rue nodded excitedly, glancing around the bakery. "I love to bake," she sighed. "It smells like heaven in here."

I laughed. "Well, I've been baking here for over twenty years and I still love the smell. I guess that says something, doesn't it?"

I had Rue sign a few new hire pieces of paperwork as I refilled her mother's coffee. She would start training the next day with my other part time guy, a slightly older kid named Thresh. They both seemed nice and quiet; I hoped they'd get along well enough.

"Thank you for giving her a chance, Mr. Mellark. She's been dyin for a job for some time now but it's so hard to get that first one."

"Call me Peeta. And no worries, I know how it is. I just need some help with things around here and I think Rue will do great. She'll learn how to work a cash register, do inventory, order supplies, talk to customers. A lot of it will look good on a resume and college applications, that kinda stuff."

"We sure do appreciate it," her mother cooed. "I'm Cora, by the way."

"Nice to meet you. Well-,"

I was cut off by Cora's sudden gasp. I turned, following her eyes to the small television behind the counter. The warped screen of the tiny tv was hard to read, but I could see enough of the headline to make my stomach turn. I reached across the counter and cranked up the dial. Soon the news reporter's voice was echoing in the empty bakery as she narrated the gruesome scene.

"If you're just tuning in, we're watching a breaking news story unfold. A mine just outside of District Twelve has just exploded, leaving a harrowing scene in its wake. As you can see behind me, there are swarms of ambulances and fire trucks pour into the mine's entrances. We're being told that as many as twenty miners were inside the tunnels at the time of the blast. It's unknown at this time if there any survivors."

The three of us watched in horrified silence as the news helicopter circled around the mountainside, the camera struggling to focus through the black smoke that was billowing from the tunnels. Men, trucks, and ambulances were everywhere on the ground below, and the mountainside looked as though it was reduced to dust. I felt my insides turn over as I thought about the men trapped inside that mountain. That had to be a horrible way to go. I hung my head and said a silent prayer that the men were all okay, tucked safely back into the mine. I wasn't a particularly religious man, but whatever would help I suppose.

After a while, Cora gave a shaky goodbye and led Rue towards the front door.

"See you tomorrow, bright and early," I called after her.

She gave me one last grin before turning and heading out. The bell on the door rang out after them, leaving me with nothing but the television. I turned and leaned against the counter, watching as the chaos unfolded in front of me. I watched the same few clips over and over and over until I had to turn and flip the switch to turn it off. A small community like this was sure to be rocked to the core with a tragedy like this. We weren't a small town by any means, but it was close knit. Small business like ours were supported and most people here knew each other. The thought of someone I knew being trapped in a mine to die made me sick to my stomach.

Shaking my head, I turned back to my work of balancing the shop's checkbook before I was supposed to take lunch. My dad would be coming in soon – I was covering more and more early mornings for him as he neared retirement. I knew I had to buckle down and really learn the business, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the right distractions when they came along.

Katniss.

Her name was like honey on my lips – smooth, familiar, and intoxicating. She'd been coming in once a week or so for the past month, and we'd been getting friendlier and friendly with each visit. Each time she came, she'd stay a little longer than the last. I'd stuck to my guns though – I hadn't tried to hit on her or ask her out yet, and I was fine with that. We were getting to know each other and I wasn't just another smarmy guy trying to get into her pants. I liked where we were and the pace we'd set on our friendship. At this rate when I finally did ask her out, we'd be able to spend our first date talking and laughing and having a genuinely good time rather than fumbling through an awkward set of twenty questions over a moderately priced meal. Out of the two, who do you think she'd go on a second date with – the friend she'd laughed with and possibly seen something more in, or the awkward almost blind-date feeling guy?

It was a no brainer.

I planned to ask her on a date the next time I saw her and that was that. I'd taken my time, I'd laid the ground work, and I'd won her over. I could tell by the way her silvery eyes would shine and her rose colored lips would turn upwards into a smile when she talked to me. Yes, we were almost there.

The next time she came in, I was finally ready to take that next step.


Oh Peeta...*sigh*

I felt it was important to show a few things here: That time had passed, the mines had been blown up, Katniss' father dies, Rue started work, and Peeta met Cora, who will eventually go on to work for Gale's family.

Up next: Peeta asks Katniss out, but she has some news of her own. *sob*

Thanks for reading!