Peeta

Katniss reluctantly gets in the passenger seat of my car. I can tell she doesn't want to talk, but I still try to make small talk.

Katniss has the same grey eyes as I remember from way back then. They are beautiful.

"So, it's been a while, huh?" I ask as I pull out of the shop village.

"Yeah, I guess so," she says. She tucks a hair behind her ear.

The way the sun hits her face is magical. I focus on the road and the directions Katniss gives me.

We make small talk along the way. "So, how did you find this place?"

"I kind of stumbled upon it one day. It was…" she hesitates. "I took a ride around town to get out of the house one day and

found them."

"So, Katniss," I clear my throat. "What's your favorite color?"

"Why do you need to know my favorite color?" she asks.

I shrug. "Just trying to make small talk."

Katniss smiles and looks out the window as I turn into the

parking lot of the townhomes. "It's green. What's yours?"

I park and flash a smile at her. "Orange. Like the sunset."

She looks around. "Pretty." She opens the door to get out.

"Wait…" I grab a piece of paper and pen and scribble my number on it. "Here. In case you need a ride tomorrow or anytime."

"Ohh thanks." When she takes the paper, my fingers brush against hers.

I'm brought back to holding her hand when we were little kids. I want to hold her hand again.

I watch her walk away, until she is inside and then make the drive back to Rue's.

I've got to find a place of my own.

Katniss*

When I get inside, I wipe the palm of my hands on my pants and crash onto the couch.

What just happened?

I do my best to shake off the longest 20 minute car ride of my life.

I don't even know Peeta very well but sitting next to him was torture. Not bad torture. Good torture. If that even exists.

I call Madge and put her on speaker while I go to my room and change into something more comfortable. I unfold the piece of paper Peeta gave me and set it on my dresser.

"Hey Katniss. How was your day."

I pull on some sweatpants. "Well it was pretty good until oh about an 40 minutes ago."

"Oh no what happened?"

"I made a fool of myself that's what happened." I fall back onto my bed, not wanting to get up and go make myself dinner.

When Madge doesn't respond, I know she is waiting for me to continue.

"It started when my car battery died after work."

"How did you get home?" Madge asks.

"Do you remember Peeta? The blonde kid. His parent own Mellark's Bakery."

"Yeah. I remember him, why?"

"Well he's opening his own bakery for stores down from my garden shop and he gave me a ride home. Madge it was awful."

"I never thought I'd see the day." Madge says.

"

What are you talking about?" I sit up on my bed.

"You like him."

"Madge. I barely know the man."

"Yeah, but you like him," she says just as I get a notification for a new vlog from Mellark Masterpieces. He is going live in five minutes.

I invite Madge to video chat so she can see. I flip it around so she can see on my laptop. "Wait until you see him."

"Wow. Katniss. I'm shocked."

"Shut up," I tell her when the countdown stops and Peeta appears on the screen.

Peeta's Vlog

"Hello to my one viewer. You're going to be a regular I can tell. Let's wait for some more people to join before I get started.

I text Prim and Madge and Rue and make them all log on.

"Hey, three more viewers. I guess I'll get started." Peeta pulls out some dough, a pan, some cheese and some flour.

"Today im going to be making some cheese buns. It's a favorite at my parents place but Mellarks Masterpieces likes to shake things up.

He dusts the counter with flour, then gently places the dough in the center. He starts kneading it.

I can't take my eyes off the muscles in his arms. Gosh, what is wrong with me.

"It's key not to over knead or the bread won't turn out well."

He sprinkled the dough with cheese and some green herbs. Then kneads it again.

"If you are local, stop by my shop for samples of this delicious bread tomorrow from 12:30 to 2pm."

Should I randomly show up?

"I hope you enjoyed my lesson in bread making. Next week I'll be painting. I was inspired tonight on my drive home, but already promised to bake something for all of you."

Peeta smiles and waves goodbye to his viewers.

I close my laptop.

"Wow, Katniss. He's a catch. You better move quickly."

I feel my cheeks heat up.

"So do you think inspired him on the drive home," Madge teases.

"I don't know."

"I think I do. A beautiful passenger named Katniss Everdeen."

"Ok. That's enough. Bye Madge. I gotta go make some dinner."

I hang up on her and hit replay on the live.