Chapter 2

Peeta tiptoed to his studio and dialed the phone. "Finnick, it's me."

"Hey, why did you leave me hanging on the phone dude?"

"Sorry, I was having sex."

"Oh, Christ. You finally got laid. Thank God-"

"Nevermind that. Get over here now."

Peeta paced back and forth. He ran out of nails to bite. He pulled Finnick in as soon as he knocked.

"So tell me about her. What does she look like?"

"Shut up Finnick."

"Was she good in bed? Do you think-"

"I'm begging you to stop talking."

"Okay, okay, okay, okay-"

"Why are you still talking?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just so excited for you and-"

Peeta placed his hand over Finnick's mouth. "You need to calm down before you hyperventilate. Now deep and easy breaths." Finnick's chest rose and fell three times. "Better?" Peeta pulled his hand off his mouth.

"I'm better."

"Okay, like I said on the phone. I woke up with her over me."

"Was she naked?"

"No. She wore a nightshirt?"

"Did she-" Peeta placed his hand over Finnick's mouth again.

"She asked me to take a shower with her." Finnick turned just one shade under the color of a fiery Hollywood explosion.

"She finally told me her name, Katniss."

"Who cares about her name, did you take a shower with her?"

"Don't you understand? She's the girl in the painting."

"So what, you're fucking your model. Something I wish I was doing."

"I never saw her before, I swear, but she's the girl. She stepped out of the picture."

Finnick pressed his lips together, his eyebrows and face tightened. Just as fast he broke out laughing. "You had me going there for awhile."

"No, I swear. Here, come see. She's not in the painting anymore."

Peeta dragged Finnick to his studio. The painting had a white drape over it. "Look." He flipped the cloth over. "See."

Finnick folded his arms and raised one eyebrow.

"See."

"You need a rest."

"What ..." Peeta's eyes grew wide. "Hey, she's back." Peeta looked at the back of the painting like he was looking a door. "How'd she get back in?"

"Alright, jokes over. I'll see you later. I have to go to work. People need their pictures framed."

Peeta trailed behind him, gasping. His chest tightened. "I swear it's true."

"Blah, blah, blah."

Peeta grabbed his arm. "Wait, I'll get her." He bolted to the bedroom. "Katniss, I want you to meet Finnick." Only the comforter met him. "Katniss, where are you?" The bathroom and kitchen were also empty.

"Maybe you and "Katniss" can have dinner with me and my "imaginary girlfriend" later," Finnick smirked and went for the door.

Peeta lowered his head. He threw the drape back over it and ambled back to his living room. He sighed as he plopped into his recliner. Visions of Katniss streamed through his mind. I know I saw her. He placed his chin in his palm and he leaned on his knee. Am I sure I saw her? Maybe Finnick was right. Maybe I need a rest.

Peeta reclined the chair and closed his eyes. He drifted into a deep sleep.

Peeta, wake up.

No, a few more minutes.

His heart sped up when he felt her warm lips meet his. He struggled to keep his eyes closed and keep dreaming. Light streamed the slits as his eyes opened.

"Hey handsome."

"Hi, I just ..." He pushed himself back and the chair flipped over. He rolled on the floor. Sweat poured out of him. He pushed himself away from her.

She got down on all fours and crawled to him. "Peeta, what's wrong? You're white as a ghost."

"Um, um, um."

She crawled on top of him and kissed him hard. She bit his tongue. "What's wrong, Kat got your tongue?" She giggled.

"I'll be right back." He rolled her off him and sprinted to the studio, pulled the drape off the painting. "Ahhhhh!"

"Peeta, what's wrong?" Katniss said while she marched in. "Tossing me off wasn't very nice Peeta Mellark."

"You're not there." Peeta gawked at the painting, the girl was gone.

"That again. I'm over here." She walked behind him and smacked his ass. "Maybe you did hit your head. I'm going to change." She strolled out. Peeta froze, eyes wide, mouth open. His breathing quickened and he became lightheaded. He groped around for a chair, never taking his eyes off his painting.

"Peeta."

He found it hard but he finally turned. Katniss stood in the doorway in one of his tee-shirts. It fell to the top of her thighs. She twisted her hair in her finger. The lamplight glistened off her moist lips. She strolled over to Peeta and stood in front of him. He lowered his gaze and eyed her feet. His eyes moved along her legs. He brushed his hands against her thighs and reached her butt.

"Mmmmm, that feels good," she said. Katniss sat on his lap facing him. She cupped his face in her hands. They closed their eyes and kissed. Peeta couldn't catch his breath.

"Take me to bed," she said.

Peeta lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. She locked her eyes with him as he walked to his bedroom. He lowered her to the bed and he crawled on top of her. She reached down and unbuckled his belt.

"I hope you don't mind."

He arched his back and moaned.

Peeta opened his eyes and spied the clock. His heart still raced from the night they spent together. "Oh crap, it's 2:30 AM. At least, I have thirty more till I have to get up. I don't think I slept much." He rolled over, sighed and swallowed hard. "Damn, she's gone again."

"Where do you think I went?" Katniss stood in the doorway with a tray.

Peeta's smile was broad. "Oh, nothing." He bounced as he sat up.

"You're always complaining that you're always late for work so I figured I make you breakfast." She placed the tray on his lap. "Eggs, bacon, toast and juice. Coffee will be ready soon." She bent over to pick up a napkin that fell.

Peeta leaned over to watch her.

"Watch it! You almost dropped everything." She returned Peeta to the upright position. She lay on her side next to Peeta and picked at his food.

He kissed her good-bye and left. Even this early in the morning cars sped past Peeta as he skipped to work. He strolled through the back door.

"Hey you."

The hair on the nape of Peeta's neck stood on end.

"Good morning mother."

"What's wrong?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not late."

"Sorry, I'm not used to you showing up on time." Peeta flashed a half smile. "You're lucky. The cake at the Cologino wedding was a hit." His mother frowned. "One of his "associate's" daughter wants a cake just like it now."

"That's good news, isn't it?"

"She wants pink flowers instead of white, raspberries instead of strawberries, rainbow-colored icing instead of just white."

"So just like it."

"And six layers instead of five." She stood on her toes and glared at Peeta. "Did you hear me? Six layers. Your poor father almost had an aneurysm making the last one."

"You call me," his father yelled.

"Get back to work," she bellowed.

"Okay dear."

She shook her head as she checked her clipboard. "That man is gonna work himself to death. Oh, by the way, she wants the flowers to be orchids."

"I don't know how to make orchids."

"Well learn. Did I tell you that the middle name of the father-of-the-bride is 'the'."

Peeta's eyes widened and his nods quickened. "As in Tony-the-Slasher?"

"Yeah, something like that? Why are you standing there? Get to work." She scampered off.

"Hey bro, what's with the big smile?" His brother Graham asked.

"Nothing, just happy."

"No, that's not it." Graham pursed his lips and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll figure it out."

Peeta blew through his work day with ease. He even found time to practice making orchids. He scrunched his nose.

"What the hell is that?"

Peeta shivered when his mother snuck up behind him. "It's my first shot at an orchid."

"You better do better than that if you don't want to be fitted for cement shoes."

Peeta's heart rate explode. He liked being alive. The orchid wasn't very good either. The color was off along with the shape.

"You're in a hurry," his father said.

"Yeah."

"Who's the girl?"

Peeta kept his head down and tied his shoes. "What are you talking about?"

"Bring her around sometime."

"There's no one dad."

His father cracked a half smile and patted Peeta on the back. "Have a good day son."

Peeta's heart pounded and he couldn't get the key in the slot. He took a deep breath. "Okay, relax, be one with the key." He got through the door. "Katniss, I'm home."

"In the kitchen."

Peeta peeked through the doorway. She had gone dark since he left this morning. She wore a black miniskirt, black top, and black tights. An orange apron was tied around her waist. "Did Halloween come and I just didn't notice."

Peeta almost jumped out of his skin. She gave him the same shy, innocent smile he painted her with.

"If you're good, I'll let you lick the spoon." She dabbed a little bit of chocolate icing on his nose. She bit the tip of his nose. "Sorry, I couldn't wait." She smacked him. "Listen, go take your shower. Your extremely early dinner is almost ready."

Peeta's stomach growled when he smelt the pot roast cooking. He dipped the spoon in the pot.

She smacked his hand. "Hey, go shower first."

"Alright, I'm going."

Peeta washed the flour off him. His phone rang as he was drying off.

"Hi, Effie."

"I'm outside. Open up."

"Did you ring the doorbell?"

"No. I stared at the door and waited for the force to do its thing."

"Okay, okay." Peeta wrapped the towel around his waist and sprinted to the door. "Katniss, Katniss." He looked around the small apartment. He opened the door. "Hi."

Effie raised her eyebrows. "Hi, handsome." He recoiled when she tugged his towel. "I'm here to pick up the painting for the exhibit."

"It's in the studio."

Effie's eyes were drawn to the painting under the drape. "What do we have here?"

Peeta chest pounded. "Don't touch that."

Effie cocked her head. "Why?"

"It's not finished. That's all." He handed Effie a wrapped painting.

"I'll let you know if there's any interest." Effie wandered around the studio looking at his other paintings. Peeta stared at the drape covered one.

"I'm going to take this one too." Peeta kept his gaze on the drape. "What is so interesting Mr. Peeta bread?"

"Nothing and everything."

Effie donned her sunglasses and took the paintings. "Peeta, stick to painting and leave the philosophy to idealistic college students." She whisked through the door.

Peeta let Effie out and walked back to the painting. He lifted the corner andH felt the finger go from the bottom of his spine to his neck. He arched his back. "Ahhh!"

"Who was that?" Katniss asked.

"Oh, Christ. You scared me. That was Effie. She owns the gallery that shows my work." He turned.

She wrapped her arms around him.

"Where were you?"

"Inside."

"But where."

"Dinner's ready." She kissed him and released his towel. "If you want to eat you better get dressed." She rubbed against him. "Or I'll attack you right here."

His pupils grew to the size of 8-balls as her skirt swished back and forth when she walked away. He shook his head and realized he was in his birthday suit.

"You're cute when you blush."

He sprinted back to the bathroom.

When Peeta took a break at work he picked up his messages.

Hello Peeta, it's Effie. Good news. I sold one of your paintings. I need another one. You weren't home so Finnick gave me his key to your loft. I took one from the studio. I have someone interested already. Bye-ee

Peeta jumped up and down. "Whoa yeah." His wide smile could be seen from around the back.

"Why you so happy bro?" Rye asked.

"I sold a painting."

"Was it one with a nude babe in it?"

"No, it was ... shit." Peeta sprinted to the door.

"Hey, works not done."

He dialed as he ran. "Effie, pick up. Damn. Effie, call me now."

Peeta bolted through the door. "Katniss, where are you?" His calls were met with silence. His eyes darted to the empty easel. The girl in the meadow painting was missing. Katniss was gone.

A/N: Thanks for the favs and follows. Reviews are most welcome.