So Katniss can't stay away from Peeta...would you? Especially when he's taking chances sending his spy Madge to slip poetry and funny notes into her book. As for Corky well you know him...he's well up to his tricks yet again!

Thank you to norbertsmom for being an amazing beta, without her this story wouldn't be what it is. Her insights are like gold. Also, thank you to all of the reviews, they truly make me smile...ps...I do not own the hunger games

Katniss snuck out of her bed, dressed haphazardly in the dark. She didn't want to wake up her mother or sister. Opening the door to her darkened home she slunk through the district until she reached Mellark's home. She was extra careful. Things in the district were changing and Katniss did not want to be caught for breaking the curfew. There were Peacekeepers everywhere and she used the darkness to help her disguise. As she reached the bakery, she spotted the unit patrolling the streets.

Swallowing, she waited until the Peacekeepers passed by before she slunk into the backyard. The only thing she was afraid of was of the squirrel. As quietly as possible she shimmied up the tree, and out onto the branch.

She gasped when she saw Peeta. There was a bruise on his face and she knew it was his mother's work. Her hand went to her mouth. She was furious, but as she rested on the tree limb she felt the leaves shift.

Her eyes widened as she saw the squirrel's head pop up in-between the leaves. Its eyes narrowed the moment it spotted her. The squirrel opened its mouth and spewed what Katniss knew to be insults, before it disappeared back into the leaves. She had a choice, either go backwards or forwards. She was going to crawl backwards when she felt a branch hit her bottom. She looked over her shoulder to see the little furry menace hurling twigs at her bottom.

She was forced to crawl forward. The furry little monster was throwing anything it could find at her. Katniss was running out of space on the branch. With no other alternative, she jumped through the open window and onto Peeta's bed.

The moment she landed on the bed, Peeta woke up. They both tumbled to the floor. The squirrel stood by the open window looking at them both. Its little fist in the air, barking something before hopping away.

"I hate that squirrel," Katniss muttered. She was so focused on the creature that chased her to notice that she lay flush up against Peeta.

"I think it's growing on me," Peeta said, grinning at her.

Katniss turned red when she realized her compromising position.

Peeta started to laugh. She clamped her fingers over of his mouth to keep his laughter down, but that just spurred him on and he snickered. His laughter was contagious, and she started laughing too.

"Shh," Katniss said, though she couldn't help the way her shoulders shook. Once they calmed down they sat side by side. "You're as horrible as that stupid buck-toothed, evil furball."

Peeta grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "Maybe he's on my payroll. I pay him in nuts for the pleasure of seeing you scared of a pint-sized monster."

"If I had my bow he wouldn't be a monster, that's for sure," Katniss grumbled.

"Do you want to be friends?"

The question caught her off guard. Of all the things he could have said, this knocked her for a loop. He wanted to be her friend. Katniss looked at his face. He was flushed and his expression was hopeful, but in his eyes, she could see he was preparing for her rejection. "I'm not good at making friends with people."

"Well, that's why we talk and get to know each other, you know, talk about the deep stuff."

Katniss scoffed, "The deep stuff?"

"Yeah, the deep stuff." Peeta scratched his head, his blond wavy hair stood on end. "You know, we tell each other the secrets we don't tell anyone else."

He was adorable, sitting there trying to convince her to be his friend, but she wasn't ready to give in. "I don't talk about the deep stuff."

"Well, I do. I was hoping that we can even braid each other's hair."

She couldn't help the small breathy laugh that escaped her lips at his affronted face and reply. No one ever reacted like this with her. No one, not even Gale begged to be her friend. When he first met her he treated her as if she was a chore to have her underfoot until he saw her really shoot. Fact was, Katniss was not sure she knew how to be friends with someone outside of having to trade with them.

Katniss knew Madge because her mother treated Madge's mom. Most of the time, they sat next to each other during lunch time, each in their own little worlds. They only spoke to one another when they had something important to say. They never talked about the things that other girls their age spoke about. The only person that got underneath Madge's skin was Gale, but Madge didn't know about Peeta. No one did.

Peeta was an original, and she was curious as to what he meant by the deep stuff she never shared with anyone. She bit her lip as she took his request into consideration. It wasn't as if he was making a play for her. Plus, he did not make her feel uncomfortable like Darius did. He was waiting patiently for her, allowing her to make up her mind. His face, eyes, and body language was that of a puppy waiting for its master's attention.

"Okay, I'll allow it."

Peeta's excitement was visible on every part of him, "Really?"

She nodded, but she suddenly felt shy.

Peeta wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. He had to carefully choose his words, "So now for the deep stuff."

Katniss swallowed nervously waiting for his question.

"What is your favorite color?"

Gobsmacked by his question she sputtered, "My favorite color?"

"I warned you these would be hard-hitting intimate questions." Peeta grinned at her, and then winked.

"No one has ever asked me what my favorite color was." Katniss shook her head.

"Not even Prim or Gale?" It was his turn to be shocked.

"Well, my sister knows I favor green. I traded for a green cup at the Hob. But Gale has never asked me."

"So your favorite color is green?"

"Yeah, what's yours?"

"Orange."

She wrinkled her nose. "Orange like the Capitol Escort's hair?"

Peeta chuckled. "No that's too much." He edged closer to her. "The shade I like is softer, like the sunset."

"In the woods the sunset is beautiful. There are so many colors that bounce off the land. You'd like it."

"The woods must have every shade of green imaginable." Peeta sighed. "I'd like to be able to draw it, but I can't afford the paint."

"You draw really nice." Katniss felt the way her cheeks bloomed with color.

"Thanks, not many people know I draw. Well, I use it to design cakes."

"Prim loves your cakes."

His smile was instant and his voice sly. "So, is Prim the only one that likes my cakes?"

She shook her head no.

He could have made an issue but he did not want to push the friendship they were forming. "A lot of folks like the cakes I design."

She could not help the smile that came to her face.

The comfortable silence that ensued allowed them to soak up the radiance of each other's presence. They sneaked glances at each other. It was Katniss who spoke first; though she did not speak loud it was a quiet voice because she did not want to wake anyone up.

"Peeta, what happened to your eye?"

He frowned then his eyes widened. "Oh no, this wasn't my…I mean…"

"Did you mom do this?" Katniss asked thoughtfully, concern etched on her face. Her voice trembled a little; she was stepping into new territory.

"No, my mom didn't do this." Peeta flushed. "This time she's innocent."

"Oh, then how?" Katniss was curious.

"This was my brother Rye at wrestling practice yesterday. He elbowed me trying to get out from under me. He was doing an illegal move."

"Did you get back at him?" Katniss had no idea his practices were so intense.

Peeta laughed. "Yeah, I got him." He grinned then amended what he was about to say. "I got him below the belt."

"I'll ask my mom for something for your eye."

"It's not necessary." Peeta shrugged.

"So why did you stay home today?"

"My dad needed help in the bakery today. My mom hasn't been feeling well." Peeta said looking at his feet.

"Oh."

"She's been anxious ever since the Peacekeepers came to our home in the middle of the night not so long ago."

"They went to Madge's house too. Checking to make sure her father is maintaining the duties of the Mayor."

"Katniss, you need to be careful. The Peacekeeper who came to my house was not someone I would want to make angry."

"Did they hurt anyone?"

"No, but they checked Rye's breath to see if he was drunk."

Katniss swallowed. She thought about what Madge told her and what she knew about the old Head Peacekeeper Cray. Things were not looking good. "Your brother needs to be careful."

"My dad warned him."

"What were they looking for?"

"They were looking for things that are illegal. Make sure you guys hide your food stores carefully, somewhere, they can't find it. I do not want anything to happen to you or your family."

She kept quiet. There were chances she had to take to feed and shelter her family. Prim was growing by leaps and bounds and since Katniss mostly wore her father's clothing that her mother helped her adjust, Prim needed clothing.

"I know you have to earn a living. All I'm asking is for you is to be careful."

"Will your dad stop trading with me?"

"No, he will not."

"Madge said the same thing," Katniss had a feeling many in the district were not going to feel that way.

"He fought my mom over it."

Katniss nodded then looked at him. There was something she wanted to know. "Peeta, how did you get those notes into my backpack?"

"Ah, I'll tell you but you have to promise not to get mad."

Katniss waited rather impatiently for the answer.

"Madge helped me."

"Madge!"

"Don't get mad at her. I asked her and told her I wanted to be friends with you. I didn't think you'd speak to me in school, or outside of it."

Katniss gazed into his eyes; even in the moonlit room, she could see he was sincere. He was right. She wouldn't have approached him anywhere. She would continue to observe him from afar. Though it wasn't enough, no matter what she told herself.

"Katniss, do you want to stay tonight?"

She could have said no, but his voice was shy. She could see in the darkness how warm his cheeks were. It did something funny to her insides to see that he wanted her to stay, so she nodded.

Embarrassed by the next question Peeta rushed through it, not taking a breath. "Do you want to sleep in something of mine? Not that you have to, but I thought I'd offer, something more comfortable, a shirt?"

Her reply was a high squeak, not even a word.

She watched him go to his dresser and pull out a shirt and hand it to her. He turned around as he spoke, his hands covered his eyes for good measure.

"I'm turning around so that you can change. I wouldn't mind if you saw me naked, but I don't think you'd like for me to see you naked. Jiminy, Peeta just shut up."

He was so anxious that it was cute. Katniss quickly removed her bra and shirt and put on his. His shirt was large and comfy and it smelled like him, like being enveloped in warmth and security. Katniss tapped his shoulder when she was done. She hadn't removed her pants. She couldn't do that yet, but she had removed her boots.

"Okay," Peeta slid onto the floor, leaving her the bed. The moment her head met his pillow she fell asleep easily. Peeta watched her from the floor.

He could not sleep. It was a little different. He had to wait until his heart stopped thudding so loudly and for his body to calm down. His last thought before sleep finally claimed him was that he and Katniss were friends.