PEETA

I want to turn back time or something. I rummage through the fully stocked kitchen( I get out some ingredients to make some sugar cookies) before deciding to call my big brother Rye.

Come on Rye. Pick up the phone. The is my older brother. He and his wife Marie live in Merchant Village with my niece Marley. Rye works at the family bakery still.

"Hey Peeta. What's up little brother?" Rye says when he answers the phone.

"Rye, I really messed up."

"Yeah I heard mom kicked you out. Just between you and me though, I think your own bakery is a great idea." He says.

"Thanks, but that's not what I'm talking about." I sit back on the couch. I can hear Katniss in the bedroom. Crying. "Do you remember Katniss?"

"Huh, the plant? Yeah." Rye says confused.

"No. Katniss Everdeen." I cream together the butter and sugar.

"Yeah. You had the biggest crush on her."

"Well I still do and I just blabbed it out like an idiot. She told about her parents and got kind of emotional and ruined my chances with her."

"Slow down Peet. First where are you and why are you with Katniss this late at night?" Rye asks.

"I gave her a ride home. Or I was supposed to but the rain detoured us. We are at together townhomes. I told the owner we were a couple so we could stay here. And by telling her that, I pretended to be her boyfriend."

"How did that lead to you blabbing?"

"Have you seen her? Her eyes alone pull me in." I dump my flour and sugar and baking powder together and whisk it up.

Rye chuckles and I hear him whisper something to Marie. I put the cookies in the oven to bake for 10 minutes.

"Anyway. She asked why I pretended to be her boyfriend instead of just saying we were friends. I guess I couldn't hold back."

"You really like her that much?"

"Yeah. But like I said. I'm pretty sure I ruined everything. I mean she probably hates me."

"I don't hate you." Katniss says from the hallway that leads to the bedroom.

I look up and blush deep red. "Rye. I uh I should probably go."

"Peet. From what I remember, she is perfect for you. So don't blow it." Rye says. His way of wishing me luck I guess.

"Bye. Talk to you later." I end the call and rub the back of my neck. "How long have you been standing there? How much of that did you hear?"

She walks over to the kitchen island. "I heard that you think I hate you…and."

I can see a blush forming on her cheeks. "And?"

"Something about my eyes." She avoids my gaze, but I see her smile.

Crap. I run my hand over my face. "Can we talk?"

She simply nods.

We sit in silence for a while. I reach for her hand, but leave it just out of reach. No Peeta, that's a bad idea.

"I'm sorry I just left," Katniss says.

"No. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you. I should have just listened."

"You didn't take advantage of me."

"Yes, I did. You were upset. Listen, after tonight if you never want to talk to me again, believe me, I get it." The timer for the cookies goes off. "I'll be right back. I'm doing a vlog on cookie decorating and I can't burn the cookies." I quickly take them out and set them out to cool down.

"Peeta," Katniss calls my name, bringing me back to reality. "I don't want to not talk to you."

"You don't?" I walk back over slowly.

She shakes her head as I sit down a little closer to her this time.

A loud clap of thunder prompts her to reach for my arm.

I look at her. "Come here." I open my arms and hope she falls into them.

She falls into my arms and pull her into a hug.

"I don't want to not talk to you. "

"Let's talk then." I rub her back as the thunder grows louder.

We sit for oh I don't know, 20 or 30 minutes. After she calmed down we talked for the majority of the time.

When we get ready for bed, I insist that Katniss take the bedroom.

As I shut the bathroom door, Katniss calls out my name.

I lean against the frame of the door. "Yeah."

I can tell she's been crying more. "Will you stay with me?"

I look at my attire. A t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. "Are you sure?"

She pulls back the covers beside her.

I slide in beside her and wrap my arm around her. "Is this okay?"

Katniss nods and curls up closer to me. She places her hand on my chest. "Thank you."

My heartbeats pick up in speed. Katniss drifts off to sleep before I do, but eventually sleep eclipses me too.

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