I flop down onto my lumpy love seat and think about what just happened taking in the lingering smell of cinnamon. I didn't want to have sex with him yet, and I guess technically I didn't. I don't know what is going to happen between us now. I'm probably thinking too hard about this, whatever is going to happen will happen. That's that, I'm done thinking about it. I decide I should clean up the mess from last night and raise slowly from the couch and start to fold up the blankets in the floor. My mind tries to make its way back to Peeta, but I will it back to the task of cleaning up my small apartment.

Once my apartment is cleaned satisfactorily, I take a shower and get ready for the rest of the day. When thoughts of Peeta keeping invading my brain I decide I need to talk to someone about what happened, so I pick up the phone and call Joanna.

"Hey man, are you busy?" I ask her when she answers.

"Nah man, not really. Why, what's up?" Joanna replied.

"Well, about earlier…."

"Dude, I am so sorry." She interjects.

"Seriously, it's no problem. But, could you come over? I have to talk to you about him, about Peeta. I've still got some pizza left from last night."

"Yeah, sure, you know I can't turn down pizza."

About ten minutes later, there is a knock at the door followed by it swinging open and Joanna standing on the other side demanding to know where the pizza is. I laugh heartily and grab all the pizza I have left out of my small fridge. She grabs a slice and directs her attention to me, "So, what is it about Peeta you needed to talk to me about?"

I draw a ragged breath and begin to tell her all about how I've got it bad for Peeta Mellark. "He keeps seeping into my mind like a disease, I can't even think!" I finish the story.

"You make it sound so negative," Joanna retorts, "I think it's good, man. You can't let Gale continue to control you, even now."

"I know, but I don't know if I can trust someone in a relationship setting again," I argue.

"Relationship setting? What the fuck, you're just making things up now," she laughs, "But seriously, I'm not saying you need to love him, or marry him, or anything. I'm just saying you need to be happy."

"Yeah man, I guess you're right. Damn, you went and got all deep on me."

"Yeah, whatever. So what did I interrupt this morning? Were you guys fucking or what?"

I feel my cheeks flush, "That's Jo I know and love, no, uh, we weren't fucking, per say. But we probably would have gotten that far if you hadn't intervened."

"Shit."

"What? It's not a big deal, I can't decide if I want to jump right into being physical with him or if I want to see if anything actually becomes of us."

"Wow. And here I thought you were just a cynic. Maybe this Mellark will do you some good."

"Oh, shut up," I say as I throw a pillow from the loveseat at her. We both shake with laughter. Suddenly, I get a text message from Peeta:

Hey beautiful, would you like to do something awesome with me later?

Joanna senses that the text I just got was not just from Annie, or Delly, or Rue, "What's lover boy want?" she inquires.

"He wants me to do something awesome with him later."

"Ohmygod, you have to do it, whatever it is."

"Yeah, I know. Dude, he called me beautiful."

"Damn, Everdeen, it's like you're smitten. You might want to chill out on that," Joanna laughs.

I give her a look at my middle finger and stick my tongue out before replying to Peeta:

Yeah, sure. What do you have in mind?

Before I even have time to say anything else to Joanna regarding her comment Peeta replies:

It's a surprise JI'll see you at 7:00

"Well damn, he won't tell me what we're doing. He only said he'd be here at 7:00. I don't even know what to wear…I'm thinking sweat pants are probably a no," I look to Joanna for guidance.

"Oh, shit, we're gonna need a team," she grins.

An hour and a half later Delly has just put the finishing touches on my make-up. It's more than I would normally wear, but it's not excessive, it's natural looking but shimmery. Annie has raided my closet and decided what I should wear: a dress that is white and form fitted at the top down to the waist where it becomes black and flairs out a bit, this is to be paired with strappy black sandals (I was opposed to the heels she initially suggested).

"Damn, Kat, you look fucking hot," Joanna declares once I am dressed. "I'd fuck you."

"Oh, shut up Joanna," I grumble but I can't help but feel good about the compliment she just gave me despite its crassness.

"There's just one more thing," Joanna commented.

"What is it?" I ask, skeptical.

"Your hair, can you please not just braid it this time? This is kind of a big deal, this is kind of like a date with Peeta Mellark."

I sigh, "Fine, what do you suggest?"

Joanna, Annie, Delly, and I decide that curling my hair may make me look too dressed up, so straightening it is the best option. I'm completely ready to go by 6:15 and at 6:30 I'm bidding my friends goodbye and thanking them for all their help. They make me promise to tell them everything when I return to my tiny apartment later that evening. As soon as I shut the door behind them the butterflies in my stomach multiply tenfold. Now I just have to wait for Peeta to get here.

At 6:50 there is a knock at my door. Of course Peeta would be early. I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves and open the door. There he is, the most gorgeous boy I've ever seen, standing at my door (again) with a container of something in his hand and a wonderful smile on his face.

"Cookies," he explains offering the container to me, "I thought you would like them more than flowers."

"You were right," I laugh taking the cookies from him. "So where are we going?"

"Ah, you will find out soon enough," he replies grinning. God, he's so adorable.

"Well alright, shall we be off then?"

He says nothing, he simply nods and continues to grin at me. Peeta must think his idea for this evening is fantastic. I hurry to the kitchen to put the cookies away, then we make our way into the night.

"You look lovely, by the way," Peeta compliments me.

"Why, thank you sir," I smile at him.

I take his hand as we continue to walk toward the center of the small downtown area. I try to pry information from him about his plans for us this evening but he deflects everything. Finally we come to a stop outside the bakery but it appears to be closed. I look at him inquisitively and he pulls a key out of his pocket and winks at me. As we step into the shop I see that there is only one table that is set in the middle of the floor. The table is covered in a white cloth and there are beautiful white china plates and candles. Peeta pulls a chair out from the table for to sit in before lighting the candles and excusing himself to the kitchen.

Is this a date? It feels a bit datey. What does one do on a date? I don't even know. Oh God, I'm 21 years old, a junior in college, and I have never been on a date. When Peeta finds out he's going to think I'm so lame. Fuck.

"I hope you're hungry," Peeta says as he returns with a tray of food.

"Starving, actually. Did you cook all of this?"

"Yes ma'am, I hope you like it."

Peeta has made us filet and baked potatoes and green beans and these glorious cheese buns. I fucking love the cheese buns.

"Holy shit Peeta, this is delicious," I gush, "I can't believe you made all of this."

He's blushing now, "It's really not a big deal, I was just trying to impress you."

"Well you succeeded," I admitted. I could swim in his eyes they are so blue.

Once we've finished eating and Peeta has taken the dishes back to the kitchen, he announces that our night is not yet over, we have another stop before he takes me home. But just like before, he won't tell me where. I take his hand once more as we leave the bakery and walk down the sidewalk. His hand feels so good in mine, almost like it's meant to be there. I'm happy with him. This thought nearly slaps me in the face, I'm so astonished by it that I don't realize we have arrived at the city park. Peeta leads us to a blanket that is spread on the ground between two white oak trees. A picnic basket with the sweet smell of freshly baked goods wafting from it catches my attention, Peeta notices and flashes that crooked grin I love so much. Did I just say love? Fuck.

"Alright, spill," I demand Peeta.

Peeta chuckles, "Spill what?"

"How did you do it? I know there is no way you set this blanket up and left these goodies that are in this basket right here, begging me to eat them by the way, in the middle of the park for like, two hours."

Peeta just laughs as he hands me a chocolate éclair from the basket, "Ok, so I may have had some help, but I'm not telling you all my secrets." He shoots me a wink and I laugh at him.

"Alright, well just so you know, I'm having a really good time with you tonight." I smile, a genuine smile.

"Good, that was kind of the plan."

We both laugh until it fades into a comfortable silence. I finish the éclair he handed me and lean back until I'm lying flat on my back, Peeta does the same. We lie there staring up at the stars for some time until Peeta begins, "Katniss…. Uh, about this morning…" He's fidgeting now.

"Yeah?"

"I'm-I'm sorry. I kind of… got carried away…."

"Peeta, don't worry about it, honestly," I reply.

"Alright," he noted, "I just wanted you to know, that it's not just like that, I don't want to just fuck you when it's convenient. I…. I like you Katniss…. I don't want to fuck this up before it even gets started."

I should tell him I like him too, but I don't. I just reach over and grab his hand.