AN: I will be updating this story at least once a week. I also might have to switch the rating to an M in the future. Just a heads up. Also, feel free to check my Everlark oneshot "Twenty Years". (I talk too much) Anyhoo, enjoy! :)
Katniss moaned as she took a bite off the cheese bun. Peeta was right. It's impossible not to fall in love at first bite with a Mellark cheese bun, especially if they were created by a certain handsome blue-eyed baker. Katniss' mind drifted as she thought of him. The man was impeccably good-looking. Katniss hated to admit it, but the man's rear view as he bent down the display seemed to be more temptingly delicious than the buns on the display shelf. She blushed darkly at the thought. Get a hold of yourself, Everdeen! You barely knew the guy! She mentally restrained herself. Katniss toyed with the end of her braid, something she usually does when she's bothered. She wanted to think that Peeta invited her to drop by the bakery because he wanted her to.
I could drop by to give the feedback on the cheese buns, Katniss thought to herself. Besides, she wanted to buy a nice cake as a gift to Annie. That would be a great way to pay for the free cheese buns.
She paced around her apartment, cheese bun hanging from her mouth as she checked her phone messages.
"Katniss." She froze when she heard her sister Prim's voice. "I don't know if you are getting my calls or if you are just blatantly ignoring them." Prim sighed on the other line."I'm sorry. I should've told you about Gale. About everything that happened... I'm really sorry. I know I messed up big time. I won't force you to return this call. I just wanted you to know. Call me when you're ready to talk. I love you."
Katniss slumped on the couch. She didn't want to be this faraway to Prim but she coudn't accept the fact that her sister was involved in this mess. Not after all the years Katniss dedicated to Prim's well being. It felt like betrayal.
Katniss knew she couldn't stay mad at her sister for long, but for now all she wants is to be alone.
Annie and Johanna were on Katniss' workstation the next morning. They were laughing in the middle of their conversation. How these two girls get along with each other is still a mystery to Katniss. They were complete opposites. Annie is very pretty and very feminine, with flowing reddish brown hair and sea green eyes while Johanna is edgier looking with her spiky brown hair and fierce brown eyes. Their personalities are also different, with Annie being soft-spoken albeit a bit eccentric in nature while Johanna is much more outspoken and brash. Even their job descriptions were different since Annie is the oceanographer mapping the marine ecosystem surrounding Panem's coastline while Johanna focuses on Panem's arboriculture research. Katniss was used to Johanna's open and frank personality since they were friends in college. Annie was one of the few people Katniss got along with well when she moved here in Panem.
"Hi Katniss! I was wondering if you're going to my party on Saturday. Johanna said she asked you yesterday but you said you didn't want to go." Annie greeted, her face showing hints of disappointment.
Katniss felt a twinge of guilt but she doesn't want to change her mind. "I don't know Annie. You know I don't like clubs."
"Oh cmon brainless! It would be fun!" Johanna butted in.
Annie smiled. "Yes Katniss, it would be fun. We will just drink and have a good time with some of my other friends. Please?" Annie pleaded.
Katniss sighed. "All right. I'll think about it."
Katniss stood in front of Mellark's Bakery. She bolted out of work immediately, much to the curiosity of Johanna who knew that she doesn't leave work that early. She had been fidgeting outside the bakery for a few minutes now, undecided if she would go in and talk to Peeta. She finally took a deep breath and went in. Here goes nothing.
She glanced around to check if Peeta was around, but she found a different guy manning the counter much to her disappointment. Katniss approached the red-haired guy and looked at the nameplate on his shirt. Darius, it said.
She glanced at his face which seemed to be a bit flushed. "Hi, I would like to know if Peeta is around?"
Darius shook his head. "Sorry, Mr. Mellark is doing the inventories. Do you need something from him? I can tell him you dropped by."
Katniss felt her earlier high deflate. "Oh I see. Nevermind." She was about to hurry out of the bakery when she heard quick heavy footsteps and a familiar voice.
"Darius, could you-oh! Katniss!" Peeta approached her with a big smile. "You came back."
Katniss felt her cheeks burn up. "Yeah. The cheese buns were beyond delicious."
Peeta's smile grew wider. "I'm glad you liked them."
Darius looked at the both of them with questioning eyebrows and a slight smile on his face. Peeta noticed this and turned to Darius. "Uhm, could you help me out with the inventory? You could continue with where I left off."
Darius let out a small chuckle before walking away. "Yes boss. I'll be going."
Peeta's cheeks were tinged with pink when he turned back to Katniss. "So what can I do for you?"
Katniss turned her eyes down and shifted on her foot. "I would like to ask if you could make me a cake for a friend? Her birthday is coming up and I wanted to give her something special."
"You came to the right place. Shall we sit down? We can discuss about it over coffee." Peeta gestured towards one of the tables and pulled a chair for Katniss to sit down on while she waited for Peeta. She couldn't prevent her eyes from staring on those tight jeans, perfectly tailored to highlight his impresive rear as he turned around and walked away. Peeta came back a minute later, coffee and donuts on a tray in his right hand and what seems to be a sketchbook on the left hand. Katniss found him so incredibly sexy. Damn him and his good looks!
"So, what would you like for the cake? Designs? Flavor?" Peeta asked as he placed down the tray, serving the steaming cups of coffee very carefully. "Sugar? Milk?" Katniss nodded, distracted by the close proximity she had with Peeta. She could see how long his eyelashes were and she wondered if the lashes tangle everytime he blinks.
Out of nervousness, she grabbed the still-scalding cup of coffee, causing her to wince and spill some of the coffee on her hands. Great, now I look like an idiot. Katniss wanted to run out of shame at this moment.
"Are you alright?" Peeta asked, genuine concern on his eyes. He grabbed a napkin and grabbed Katniss' hand. Katniss hissed at the contact; she felt electricity jolt and spark between their hands.
"I am sorry. It's my fault." Peeta apologized profusely, their hands still linked together. Katniss sighed. How could someone be so good looking and be such a perfect gentleman at the same time?
They discussed cake matters with Peeta doing most of the questions and Katniss giving short answers. Katniss just mentioned she would be giving her co-worker slash friend a cake, preferably an ocean-themed one since Annie likes the ocean. Peeta changed the topic.
"Is it ok if I ask you something?" Peeta said, scratching on his 5-o-clock shadow nervously.
"Sure. What is it?" Katniss replied curiously.
"Where do you work exactly?"
Katniss' eyebrows quirked at the question. "Why are you asking?"
Peeta ignored her defensive answer. "Well, you see me in my trade. Boring baker. What's your trade?"
"Being a baker isn't boring. Being a researcher/scientist sucks. I work in Panem Research Institute. I'm a forestry scientist. Just started couple of months ago actually." Katniss shrugged.
"That's very cool and interesting. I suppose you find Panem an enigma, having a very diverse environment. A town which can be swallowed by the sea and surrounded by the mountainous forest on the other side." Peeta smirked. Katniss was surprised; not many people are interested in the nature of her job. They found it too boring. Peeta looked genuinely interested.
"Yeah." Katniss said in return, unsure of what to say. "I should get going, it's getting dark out."
They both stood up and looked at each other uncertainly, neither wanting to move. Katniss was the first to break the silence. "So I hope you could deliver the cake to my workplace on Thursday or Friday. By the way, the recipient's name is Annie."
Peeta looked surprised. "Annie?"
"Yup. Annie Cresta. Just call me on my mobile." Katniss handed Peeta her card. Peeta visibly swallowed as he took the card and carefully placed it in his pocket.
Peeta accompanied Katniss to the bakery's exit. "Goodbye Katniss. Take care." He held out his hand. Katniss stared at it for a few seconds before shaking it with her own. His warm, manly rough skin enveloped her small hand, sending shivers and jolts down her spine. Coldness seeped in Katniss' hand as she let go of Peeta's hand. She waved an awkward goodbye before walking off. She had walked a bit of a distance when she looked back to the bakery. He was still standing by the door, his eyes fixed on her.
Her heart skipped a few beats. She didn't like that feeling at all.
Katniss Everdeen officially hated Peeta Mellark.
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