Finnick had called his contacts at the Panem Times and managed to get his piece into the Sunday edition when circulation was highest. Katniss had awoken Sunday morning to Gale handing her the paper and a cup of coffee, both of which she enjoyed while lazing in bed.

Finnick's editorial was beautifully written, wrapping small town practicality with feelings of tradition and nostalgia. Her greatest hope was that the article would steer customers back to Everdeen's. While she expected a positive response, she couldn't have predicted the scale.

By Tuesday, there were several wonderfully written letters to the editor from local supporters. Katniss chose to ignore the rebuttal letters, including one drafted by Mellark's that also appeared. On Wednesday when she showed up to the store, she saw that a protest had been organized in front of Mellark's. She chuckled when she spotted Johanna with a megaphone, who she later learned helped organize the event through a Facebook page she'd created to support her store.

Throughout the week, many new faces dropped into the store to check out their offerings. It filled her with hope that this really might work.

On Thursday night, after Gale had gone to bed, she logged in to her e-mail and saw that Serene-Pilot was online.

Warrior-Woman: Hello! How is your week going?

Serene-Pilot: It's good. I'm dealing with some pain in the ass work stuff but nothing I won't be able to handle. You?

Warrior-Woman: This week is going great! I followed your advice and removed the gloves. I've seen more new customers this week than I've seen in months. Thank you so much.

Serene-Pilot: I knew you could do it! Good for you. How is the next chapter coming along?

Warrior-Woman: I'm struggling with the Mal/Inara subplot but I'm sure I'll figure it out. Sometimes I just need to think about it for a bit. The perfect solution will probably hit me at a time where it's impossible to write down, like when I'm driving or in the shower.

Serene-Pilot: Maybe you should get some grease crayons. Then you can write notes on your shower walls. I also figure out solutions while driving. I've on more than one occasion recorded dictation of ideas into my cellphone. Don't worry, I use hands-free.

Warrior-Woman: The grease crayon idea sounds brilliant except for the thought of having to scrub down the walls afterwards!

There was an unusually long pause. Maybe he had to run to the bathroom or something.

Serene-Pilot: Would you like to meet?

Now it was her turn to pause.

They had learned a while back that they lived in the same district. They didn't know exactly which town each other lived in, but they knew that they were within an hour or so of each other. Katniss had to consider whether she was ready to take that step. He was someone she had met over the internet. However, he'd become a good friend and confidant.

Warrior-Woman: I would like that very much.

Serene-Pilot: Are you free to meet Tuesday evening at 7:00pm for coffee or something?

Warrior-Woman: That would work. Can you come to Panem?

Serene-Pilot: Yes.

Warrior-Woman: Why don't you meet me at The Chocolate Bar, which serves great espresso and has an amazing selection of desserts? Do you need the address?

Serene-Pilot: I'll just Google it! How will I know you?

Katniss thought about it for a moment before answering.

Warrior-Woman: The place isn't that big. Look for me at a two-person table. On the table will be a DVD set of the Firefly and a yellow dandelion.

Serene-Pilot: I look forward to it. Unfortunately, I need to go. If you need help with anything on your current chapter send me a note.

Warrior-Woman: Will do. Have a nice evening.

Serene-Pilot: You too.

The rest of the week flew by due to the attention she had received from the Sunday editorial. On Friday, the local television news station interviewed her. When she watched the story repeat during the 11 o'clock news that night, she saw that they had also interviewed Peeta. His interview had been perfectly edited to capture a sound bite that showed him in the worst possible light, which made her laugh. She didn't mind bias when it worked in her favor.

The next day, her little store experienced the busiest Saturday that they'd seen in months. The staff was running from the moment they opened until close. She had to call Johanna in on her day off to help. Sunday was full of errands that she hadn't been able to get to during the week because of the increased business and publicity. Monday was much of the same, managing weekly supplier shipments and an incredibly crowded lunch rush full of new customers checking out the offerings of the café.

Before Katniss knew it, she was off work on Tuesday. Gale was working late again, so she didn't need to worry about him. She rushed home and ate a bowl of reheated soup of dinner, before jumping in the shower. She unwound her braid and ran a brush through her hair, deciding to leave it loose. She slipped on a pair of skinny jeans, a lightweight forest green sweater, and her boots. After grabbing Firefly and a small bud vase holding a dandelion that she'd picked earlier in the day, she ran out the door. She wanted to get there a few minutes early so she could calm her nerves.

Katniss entered The Chocolate Bar and found a little table for two. A server came by and she ordered a decaf cappuccino. Looking at her phone, she saw it was 7:25. She placed her DVD set on the table and positioned the little bud vase with the dandelion on the edge so it could be seen from the entrance. Considering it was mid-October, she realized that it was probably one of the last of the season, as the frost would soon set in.

Her cappuccino arrived and she took a sip. Glancing at her phone, she saw it was 7:33. He should be here any moment. She sat back and waited, and waited some more. The little restaurant was filling up with people dropping by for after dinner coffee and dessert. At 7:55, a man asked if he could use the other chair at her table. She told him no, she was waiting on someone. At 8:01, she ordered a second decaf cappuccino. At 8:24, with a shaky hand she picked up her copy of Firefly, preparing to place it back into her purse.

"Well, if it isn't Katniss Everdeen."

She looked up and saw Peeta Mellark pull out the chair in front of her and plop himself down. Her table's extra chair was only open seat in the house.

"I'm waiting for someone. You can't sit there."

"Really. It looks like you just finished your coffee and were getting ready to leave."

"I was. He's late. Something must have detained him." She shrugged. "But he could still be here any moment and if you're sitting here he won't find me so please move."

Peeta sighed. "Okay." He stood and took the chair at the table immediately next to her, which had just been vacated.

"Do you really have to sit there?" she huffed.

"Well, yes. It's the only available table."

At that moment, a server arrived to take his order for a double Americano. Once the server walked away, Peeta looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"How is it that someone wouldn't know who you are if they are meeting you? Now wait a minute. Is this one of those internet dates from or something?"

"No. As you know, I have a boyfriend. I'm meeting a friend."

"Wouldn't a friend know who you are?"

"Well, I did meet him on the internet," she mumbled.

"So it is an internet date!"

"No it isn't. This is a friend. Someone with whom I share a common interest. We've just never met in person before."

"How do you know the guy isn't some crazy living in his parent's basement?"

"Because he's supportive and has a great business brain. He lends an ear when I need to work through problems and he's helped me become a better person and a better writer." Katniss shook her head. "Why am I justifying myself to you? I don't need to. I imagine that considering your current lifestyle, where you go from town to town building your stores, you can't understand anything beyond shallow relationships. Especially considering a calculator has obviously replaced your heart."

Peeta pulled out his wallet and threw a five-dollar bill on the table to cover the coffee he had just order. "Have a good night, Katniss."

She watched as he quietly walked through the little restaurant and out the door. When she realized she was crying, she wiped at her cheeks. She stuffed the DVD set back into her purse and paid her bill. On the way out of the restaurant, she dropped the dandelion into the trash.

When she arrived home, she immediately opened her laptop hoping to find an e-mail or private message that explained Serene-Pilot's absence. There was nothing.

Katniss composed her message:

Dear Serene-Pilot,

I waited for you tonight. For over an hour. I'm sure you have a good reason for not showing. I hope that nothing is wrong.

While I was waiting for you, my nemesis, the gentleman who manages my business' competition, showed up. And for once, I knew exactly what I wanted to say to him. I was unnecessarily cruel to him, which felt good for about 30 seconds, and then the guilt set in. I feel just horrible. You are right that having the ability to say instantly the perfect cutting response is not a gift.

Please write back soon to alleviate my worry.

Still your friend,

Warrior-Woman

The next morning while drinking her morning coffee, she read his reply.

Dear Warrior-Woman,

I'm so sorry I did not show last night. Please know that I had a good reason, which I can't explain.

What I feel most bad about is that while you waited to meet someone you consider a friend, someone who you could trust, you instead encountered someone else. I'm sure he deserved every word that you said to him, even if it felt cruel.

Please know that if I could have been there, I would have.

Still very much your friend,

Serene-Pilot

A/N:

Thank you very much to Pookieh for being an amazing beta. She turned around this story so fast and I'm grateful.

If you'd like more information about my fanfiction please visit my tumblr: dispatchesfromdistrict7

The characters are the property of the amazing Suzanne Collins and do not belong to me. I occasionally weave lines from her novels. Those totally belong to Ms. Collins too.

As I mentioned the plot is inspired by the movie You've Got Mail so I credit the creators of that film for the story idea – which I've adapted to modern times and Everlark.