Modern day AU. Rue is ordered by her mother to deliver baked goods to the Everdeen farm. Can she do that without embarrassing herself in front of her crush Katniss Everdeen?

6AM

Why my Mama insisted on getting into the bakery so early when she doesn't open it until 9 is beyond me. It's not like she really needs me there in the morning any how, she's so particular about everything. She's constantly on my back about making mistakes when I'm there.

I just turned 18. I had to get out of here. Out of this town. There was honestly nothing for me here. 15 years ago this place was booming but now it's like the aftermath of an apocalyptic crisis. One of the big things that changed everything was the mine incident. This was really a mining town built and owned by Capitol Industries. Almost everyone's father or brother worked there but one day almost 10 years ago an explosion happened and trapped almost 50 men down in the tunnel. Only 14 made it out alive.

My father was no miner. Never knew him. He left long after I was born. My Mama said he was no good.

"Rue! Where's that flour! I need that flour!"

"Coming, Mama!"

I remember how I used to not be able to lift these 50lb bags but over the years i got some muscle and I found I could easily toss one over my head.

"We got to make 10 pies. 2 blueberry. 2 apple. 2 strawberry. 2 rhubarb and 2 key lime."

"Wait is this an order for one person?"

"The Everdeens, girl. Family reunion. We have to have these over there by 3."

When she said we she meant me. Damn. I'd use any excuse to go to the Everdeen farm. Katniss Everdeen had been a girl I always looked up to. 24. She could likely model if she wanted to. Porcelain white skin, those nice curves...there was a girl that was going places.

"Dammit, Rue! Stop daydreaming and help me with these pies!"

Shit. See I can't have a single moment without her ordering me around. Once I had enough money I was out of here.

I got out all the ingredients. Our ovens weren't the biggest so this was going to take some time. Especially on top of our regular display items. A family reunion at the Everdeen farm? I wondered what that would even be like. Be fancy. The Everdeens weren't rich but they were doing better than us. Mama would joke about them being rich white people even though she knew their house wasn't that much different than ours, same broken shingles, they all did the same chores.

I'd sneak over to their house sometimes. They had horses, that's one of the main things they did there, breed and race these beautiful creatures. Of course my eyes weren't always on the horses but the girl riding them. I remember one day I was watching her come out of the stables looking fine. Het long brown hair blowing in the wind. The way she sat on that saddle and commanded that beast of hers. She would jump him over those trenches and around barrels.

"Lucky horse," I'd say to myself, "I wish she was riding me."

If you haven't noticed by now yes this girl has me. I've fantasized about her for years. I remember when I was 10. She recused my cat Jangles from a tree. I still remember the smell of her, her hair freshly washed. She climbed that crooked old tree out at the kids' park like she was training for the Olympics.

"Here you go, Rue. He's scared but he should be ok." She hugged me and put him in my arms. I really should've tried putting him up there myself but I imagine after the third or fourth time even she'd suspect something. She might not think I was in love with her. I had no siblings. No real friends. I guess mainly because I never really talked much. I was very shy by nature so most people around here probably think I'm stuck up or some kind of idiot. I'd repay her by giving her free pastries every time she came in the shop which wasn't often these days.

Katniss's father passed away in the mine incident, not sure if they were very close but she seemed like a really nice person, talkative, more beautiful than me. Nothing got to her or at least that's what it was on the surface.

The pies were coming along nicely. I knew I'd get there earlier if I took the back road. Their house was on a long dirt road. The back way was kind of bumpy but I could manage the old car we had for deliveries. Never took it too far out of town because I think Mama was afraid it might break down. It had a lot of milage on it and many repairs over the years but it got the job done.

Watching those apple pies bake in the oven and after getting a whiff of that goodness made me think of what I'd like Katniss to do, what id love to do to her. Crazy I know. Some times being around all these desserts made my mind go crazy. I always dreamed of Katniss being covered in whipped cream and cheesecake coming into my bedroom. I always wanted to leave her a letter anonymously. Never got the courage. I left a tiny glass horse in the stable where her horse slept. I think she got it. Wasn't there the last time I snooped around. Cheap little thing but it changed from blue to red in the right light.

I remember when my Granny was still alive she gave me this special vile. She claimed it was some kind of love potion given to her by a woman she met on a train to New York once. She said it really worked, real magic.

"You take this Rue and when you find the man you want to marry you put a drop. One drop. Into his food or drink. Before that you say his full name. You make sure he drinks it and no one else. Within 24 hours he'll be knocking on your door."

Of course it sounded ridiculous. I mean she never even used it herself she was married when she recieved it. I think she wanted me to have it because I think she knew as well as Mama that I'd have trouble finding somebody.

I thought why not? It's dumb there's no way it could work but worth a shot. I found a large cupcake and snuck it into a box just for Karniss. She lovex these things I knew because she had been in the bakery at least 2 times before. I had the little glass vile in my locker, I almost forgot I had it back there. Luckily Mama was in her office at the time so she didn't catch me stealing a cupcake and performing the dark bakery arts.

"Katniss Everdeen," I said to the cupcake. I turned the vile over and the tiniest drop of clear liquid came out and slid down the frosting. I couldn't believe that was it. I could hear Granny's words. "One drop". But I didn't believe one drop could do anything so I tried getting some more out of it. The cupcake seemed to shine when I added the second, bigger drop.

Pies baked and boxed. I hated being rushed, then I knew I'd drop one of them and never hear the end of it. I was all good to go. Pies in the back and a small box for Katniss' cupcake.

"Young lady!" Mama shouted as I went to open the driver's side door. I thought she knew, knee I stole the cupcake, ask what it was for but no I just forgot the keys.

I was to hurry back, no small talk just drop everything off and give them their receipt. The bumpy road did distract me a bit. Damn. It was already 3. They're probably calling the bakery right now wondering what the hold up is. But now I could see the house at 3:04. I made it. A little late. The mother Ms Everdeen might mind the late delivery she did seem uptight. I didn't see any other cars yet so maybe the actual reunion was the late evening.

When I got to the porch I was greeted by Katniss'younget sister Prim. She was about my age. She was alright. Cute. Great body. Nice buns but I dunno Katniss just did it more for me.

"Oh, hi! Rue, right?"

"...uh yeah...should all be here..." I'm even worse talking to people when she was giving me the kind of eye contact she was.

"Great. Thank you."

I was just about to hand over the receipt when she noticed the small cupcake box. Clearly with Katniss's name on it.

"Oh? She loves these. But I don't think anyone ordered one."

"Uh...it's on the house." On the house? Damn I probably was an idiot.

"Oh," Prim said, this disappointed tone, "Any for me? I mean I really like these things too."

Of course she had to be the one answering the door giving me these problems. She was acting...not really flirtatious because no way in hell she knew I liked women but she had this pout. I bet she did that a lot to get what she wanted.

"I uh...I can go back...get you whatever you want."

"I'd like that," she said, hands behind her back and rocking back and forth. "You know Katniss is just over by the stables maybe you'd like to see her..."

I tried to object but then there she was. "Somebody call my name?"

The sun was hitting her just right like she was in a spotlight or in a really good studio for photography. She looked so radiant today. When she smiled at me it ceased my lips. Dammit, say something to her! Why was I so weak around her?

"Hey, Rue, long time no see."

"...Hey...," that was seriously the best I could do, I could hardly look her in the eye. She knew how shy I was. She smiled bigger. She was showing some cleavage. Hard not to look. I took some pride noticing my boobs were quite bigger than hers. Hers of course still had to be nice. I could picture myself letting them bounce off my face.

"This is for you, Kat," Prim handed her the box.

I was oddly tense, I mean I knew this couldn't possibly work but I had to be sure. I wanted Katniss to eat it in front of me. Hell I knew she probably wasn't into girls especially one like me but might as well get this out of my head now.

Katniss took it out, said she had been craving one of them yesterday. She took one bite. A mess of white and purple frosting on her face. She put the rest back in the box.

Prim laughed at Katniss, Katniss smeared some of the frosting on her cheek in return. Shit. I really didn't want her to get even a dab of it near her. Well luckily Katniss took the box and told Prim she would hide it from her. She thanked me for it and she went on her way. I wanted to tell her something. Anything. But I wasn't smooth. I watched her walk into the house.

Prim of course asked when I'd be back. I just lied and told her sometime later. She batted those long eyelashes and whisked her hair back. Was she on something or was she always this flighty? I got back in the car. Well Granny, looks like whoever it was that gave you that love potion was full of it. Sorry to say.

As I was about to pull away I got a glimpse of what looked like Katniss staring out a second floor window. Couldn't really see her face she was in a dark room. Motionless like she didn't want to be seen. Was she staring at me? This was too much craziness for one day I needed to get back before Mama made me stay late tonight and clean everything top to bottom. But I knew I'd be back. Maybe bring that cupcake for Prim and another for Katniss. Three drops.

Just a taste of what's to come. Thank you for reading so far!