Chapter 4

Peeta felt a weight on his chest. He took a deep breath and cleared his mind. When he opened his eyes he saw Katniss curled up on his lap like a kitten. He thought he heard her purr. Her head was over his heart. If she was awake she'd hear it pounding. He ran his fingers through her long dark hair.

She yawned and stretched. Her eyes flickered, she rubbed them. "Hello," Katniss said. She cupped her hand around his neck. He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. They were moist and soft. Warmth spread over his body.

Peeta put his arms under her and stood. She never took her lips off his. He carried her to his bed and laid her down. On all fours, he knelt over her. They locked eyes.

She unbuttoned her shirt, then her bra. Peeta kissed her chest, Katniss grabbed Peeta's hair and moaned. She reached down and undressed Peeta while he removed her pants. Naked, they buried themselves under the down comforter.

Like vines, their limbs wrapped around each other. Their hearts beat as one. He crawled on top of her. When she dug her nails into his back and bit his shoulders he went faster. She arched her back, every muscle in her body tensed and then relaxed. They collapsed together on the bed.

Peeta rolled off her and pulled her into him. They were one.

The alarm went off at 2:30 AM as usual. Peeta garnered enough energy to turn it off.

"I can't believe you get up this early every day," Katniss said.

Peeta watched her roll over and scamper off to the bathroom. He wiped the sleepies out of his eyes and collected his clothing for the day. He stood and stretched, and found himself flying back to the bed.

Katniss had tackled him. He lay on his back and she straddled him. Like a panther about to jump her prey, she pierced him with her dark eyes.

"Hey, I gotta go to work."

She reached down and stroked him.

"I really have to go to work."

She kissed his chest.

Peeta stared at the ceiling as Katniss kissed him. Pictures of orchids made of icing and cement shoes swirled through his head.

Katniss backed off. "What's wrong?"

"I really have to get up and go to work."

"Then don't let me stop you." She rolled over and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"I'll come straight home after work."

"Whatever."

Hey, you're late again. I knew the other day was a fluke."

Every nerve in Peeta's body lit up. "Good morning mother."

"Don't good morning me, get to work. You have a wedding cake to do. I hope your orchids are up to snuff."

Peeta sighed and rolled his head.

"If they aren't, we might find you buried under a sports stadium."

With his head hung low he went to work. He squeezed the piping bag and made the base of the orchid. Next came the petals. He moved on to the next one.

After he finished he stood back and admired his work. He squeezed icing into his mouth. He winced as the sugar attacked his teeth.

"What is that?" His mother asked.

"Those are the orchids."

"Were they stomped on by an elephant?"

His head fell fast.

"Try again before you're wearing cement shoes."

Peeta fingered through the local arts magazine. He had off today and he wanted to go out with Katniss.

"There's a band I'd like to see playing at the club. Maybe we can have dinner out and see the show after." He didn't get an answer, he walked to the kitchen and saw her over the stove. "Did you hear me?"

She nodded yes, "but I already made dinner."

He meandered into the kitchen. Crackling oil came from the stove. "What are you making?"

"Guess."

"Chicken?" She shook her head. "Beef?" Another no response. "What's left, squirrel?"

Katniss opened her mouth wide and stuck her tongue out. "Ewe, that's disgusting."

Peeta leaned over and took in the aroma. He smiled, "lamb, right?" She smiled back. "How about the show afterward?"

Katniss leaned her head against the door jam and bit her lip. "Do you mind if we watch a movie at home tonight?"

He lowered his head. "No, of course not." Peeta puttered around the loft. He had cabin fever. Not for the great outdoors, but just someplace besides the loft and work. He yearned to show Katniss the sights and sounds that made the city come alive.

He asked himself if she was afraid of the outdoor. "Impossible, she is in a field in the painting," he muttered. Museums, galleries, clubs were out there but Peeta wouldn't enjoy them without Katniss.

Finnick almost spat out his beer. "Oh crap, there she is."

"You're right, she's cute. I like the red hair," Peeta said.

"And those green eyes." Finnick kept his gaze on the girl.

Finnick's pupils dilated and his breathing quickened. Peeta smirked. "You're like a lovesick teenager." Peeta went back to his beer.

"I'm gonna make another pass at her. Come with me."

"Nope, I'm staying right here."

"You have to come with me. She's got a friend."

She had a smile that lit up a room, but she wasn't right for him. Peeta shook his head.

"Why not? Oh, that's right, your imaginary girlfriend."

Peeta looked over at the friend. His heart didn't jump, his breathing stayed steady. "No thanks."

"I see, not your type. What's wrong with this one, too short? Too flat? Hair not dark enough?"

"That's it, I've had enough."

"If you two are going to fight, take it outside," the bartender said.

Peeta and Finnick backed away from each other.

"Hey, I'm sorry," Finnick said. Peeta nodded in return. "I'm just worried about you bud."

"I'll be fine. I gotta go."

Peeta sloshed through every puddle on the way home. He wiped the rain off his face. He meandered past one storefront after another. Stopping at Effie's gallery, he stared at the fake Katniss painting in the window waiting to be exhibited next week. He placed his hand on the window and tried to feel her. He frowned and walked home.

"I'm home." Katniss didn't respond. Peeta peeked through the bedroom door.

Katniss sat on the bed with her arms wrapped around her legs. She rocked back and forth. She kept her gaze on the wall.

"Hi, why didn't you answer me?"

"Where were you?"

"I was out with Finnick."

"Oh, the mysterious Finnick."

"Where is this coming from?" She threw the covers off and bolted to the bathroom. "I'll invite him over if you want to meet him. Where are you going?"

She slammed the bathroom door. "Get out of here!"

Peeta paced the apartment. His pulse quickened. He punched his fist into his hand as he muttered to himself. Why is she acting like this? What happened to her? Why did she change?

Sweat poured down his face. His breathing wouldn't slow. He leaned against the wall. A pain in his stomach radiated through his chest.

Peeta fell to the floor. He blinked and closed his eyes.

He shook his head and screamed. Peeta sniffled in water through his nose and coughed. "What the hell?" He sat up and coughed again. Katniss stood over him with an empty pitcher.

"I'm sorry. You passed out. I didn't know what else to do."

Peeta grabbed the wall and pulled himself up. "No, you did okay." He wiped his face and straightened up. "I'm better."

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled herself into him. "Don't ever scare me like that again. I want you to stay with me forever."

He kissed the top of her head. "I will." The room spun and Katniss helped him to the bed.

"Here, lie down. Why did you faint?" She asked.

Peeta looked away and thought about the last few seconds before he fainted. He remembered smacking his fist into his palm. His next thought was punching the door she was behind. He wasn't angry, he was furious with her when his body shut down.

"Oh, I don't know. Probably too many beers with Finnick."

She crawled next to him and held him tight. Not a molecule of air separated them.

"Come on in. Just let me get my bag," Peeta said.

Finnick wandered through Peeta's studio. He lifted the drape off an easel. He rubbed his chin and tilted his head and then threw the drape back over it.

"What do you think of my new piece?"

Finnick's eyes widened. "So what do you want to do after the sketch crawl?"

Not getting a straight answer, Peeta sighed. "I know. It's not that good. Come on, let's go."

Finnick followed Peeta and caught the Katniss painting out of the corner of his eye. "Hey, what did you do?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Her hair."

Peeta opened his mouth but nothing came out. His eyes narrowed.

"She's hot now with the blonde, short hair," Finnick said. "I'm surprised you changed her. I have a suggestion, I'd make her chest bigger."

Peeta glared at Finnick. "But I didn't do it."

"Did the imaginary girl cut her own and then use Clairol?"

How could she have done it? When she's live, she's not in the painting. If she's in the painting, she couldn't change it. Peeta rubbed his temples. "Come on, let's go."

Surrounded by other artists, Peeta emptied his mind and let his pencil go wild.

"That's pretty good. I like the cafe." Finnick cocked his head. "You sketched everyone sitting out front except for the girl at the end table."

Peeta looked at the sketch, then to the cafe, then to the sketch. He lost his inspiration. "Let's move on."

They ate dinner in silence. Peeta kept imagining her with the long dark hair she had.

"I don't understand you," Katniss said.

He brought his fork to his mouth and ignored her.

"What is wrong with you?"

He kept his gaze on his magazine.

"Look, I don't need your permission to get my hair cut."

"I never said you did. And who cut it anyway?"

"None of your business."

Peeta walked to the studio and focused on the spot where the girl should be. He thought about how different Katniss had become.

"Oh my God. Is that the only thing you can do when we fight. Run to that God damn painting?"

Peeta turned, Katniss glared at him. He went to the kitchen and opened a beer.

"Christ Peeta, will you talk to me?"

He placed his hands on the counter and leaned over. "Will you just get off my back."

"That's it." She picked up a steak knife and bolted to the studio.

"What are you doing?"

She lifted her arm, pierced the painting and sliced it from top to bottom.

Peeta's heart was ripped apart at the same time. He lunged at her and grabbed the knife.

Katniss cut her hand. She stared at the blood and smeared the painting.

"No, stop it."

She tore the painting into small pieces. "Now you have nothing to run to."

Peeta went to the floor on all fours and collected the pieces. He narrowed his eyes and picked up the knife. He looked for her in the kitchen. It was empty, also the bathroom. The bedroom too. He never heard the front door open. His face softened, he dropped the knife and searched every square inch of the apartment.

He dropped to his knees. Katniss was gone.