Chapter 11: Peeta's POV
My visit to town goes better than I expected. People greet me along the way, people who know me or knew my family, my dad. It's nice to see that they are so fond of him, even though he's not here anymore.
They tell me how excited they are for the bakery to reopen and their excitement is contagious; I can't wait for it to open, too.
Progress at the bakery is going steady. It's not ready yet by any means, but the ovens are installed and that is a great surprise. I may even come by at night, while there's no one working, and do some baking. I can do so much more here, more than I do at home. I'm really excited.
The workers devour everything; the rolls, the cinnamon buns and the tea. I feel flattered, but realize I now have nothing to sell at the Hob. It's not like I desperately need the money anyway, but I enjoy it. It reminds me of the old times at the bakery; my old life before everything happened.
Since there's no point in going to the Hob, I decide to walk around for a while.
More people greet me as I walk with no real direction, and before I even realize it, I'm standing in right in the center of the district, looking at the Justice Building; the place that changed my life, our lives forever.
A shill runs through my body and out of nowhere, I feel the urge escape, to run away and disappear. There are too many ghosts here; too much blood stuck to these walls.
But I stand my ground; I won't let fear of the past get the best of me.
I look at the building, beyond the ghosts and the blood that no one else can see, and notice a huge banner hanging in front. Big bold red letters read Naming Ceremony. The smaller text below explains what it is and where and when it will be held. It will be in two days and held here, in front of the Justice Building; the same place where the Reaping took place for 75 years.
"Good. Time to make new memories in this place." I think.
I walk away from the building, ready to go home, when a man stops me and introduces himself. His name is Pip Treefit, and he used to work at the mayor's office. I've never met him before, or at least don't remember him, but he knows me and knew my father.
Mr. Treefit noticed I had been looking at the Naming Ceremony banner, and proceeds to explain the reason behind it. I tell him I heard something about it from Greasy Sae.
"Yes, she became a member of the Town Board not long ago." He says.
"Wow that's great." I say genuinely surprised. I had no idea.
We talk for a while, and he tells me I should go to the meeting the Town Board will be holding later today.
"Maybe you can participate in the preparations and even contribute some of your delicious baked goods for the celebration afterwards." He says between chuckles.
"I would be delighted to." I say. It's good to feel needed, to have some purpose again…in addition to my other current purpose.
I go back home thinking about the Naming Ceremony and how lucky I am to have the ovens already installed at the bakery. There are not many of us here in District 12; not as many as we used to be anyway, but there's only me doing all the baking. I'm going to need help, but I know just the person to ask.
Katniss's game bag is on my doorstep; this was not here when I left. I grab it and open it. I gasp with delight "Squirrels!" this is definitely a nice treat.
"Oh" Is what comes to mind when I realize what Katniss's act means.
"I guess I have to go over there and say thanks." I smile and get inside the house.
I skin and clean the squirrels, then place them in the freezer. I won't be making these any time soon. I have different plans for breakfast, dinner and lunch; and they involve a certain someone.
All done in the kitchen, I go upstairs and take a shower. Not only I want to look nice for the meeting, but now that I have to make another stop, well, now I need to look nice for that too.
I take a look inside my closet, move some stuff around and chose what I'll wear. I go downstairs, grab the game bag and head to Katniss's house.
Katniss opens the door and it's as if the sun itself is there. I smile because I don't trust myself with words right now. She looks like the sunset, the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen and she's… choking?
She coughs hard and I snap out of my trance.
"Are you ok? Do you want some water?" I ask. She nods and I go inside. I place the game bag on the table and fetch a glass of water for Katniss.
She drinks it fast, and some of it falls down her chin. A lucky drop makes it down her neck, but she doesn't notice it. I watch almost spellbound; I would give anything to be that drop of water right now.
"Stop" I tell myself.
I notice a piece of cheese bun in her hand and assume that is what she choked on. I try to joke around; to make light conversation, but just looking at her distracts me.
The color of her dress draws me in, and I can almost taste the sunset in my mouth; it's crisp, fresh, sweet and tangy at the same time.
"Talk" "Thank you for the squirrels" I say, remembering what I came here for.
Katniss speaks, and I listen to her, but the damn dress is killing me. I take in every single detail; the way it frames her body and hugs her waist. The open back and the exposed skin; begging to be touched…kissed "Stop it!"
I need to concentrate. I didn't come here to fantasize about Katniss.
"I'm really sorry Katniss. I…"
She interrupts me and says she doesn't want to talk about it. I agree, not wanting to upset her, but right now not talking is not an option if I really want to focus.
"I'll do whatever you want. So truce?" I say.
"Truce? Katniss says. "We can do a lot better than that."
I'm surprised, speechless even. I was not prepared to move that fast, but if that's what she really wants, then I'm more than happy to obey.
"I…I mean we're friends Peeta. There's no need for a truce between us. I'm sorry for everything that happened and I really want to be your friend."
It takes me a few seconds to process this. I just flew to heaven and fell down, hard. It's probably better this way; baby steps.
"Oh…sure! Of course we are friends!" I mumble a bunch of stuff, trying to convince Katniss I totally understood what she meant.
We stay in silence and I begin to worry. I'm not used to being speechless this often.
"Would you like to stay for supper? Sae brought food and she always brings a lot. There's more than enough for both of us." Katniss says, and I love her even more for that. She wants me here.
And I hate myself a little for not being able to stay.
"Ahh I can't, I really can't." I tell her about the meeting, the Naming Ceremony and how I was invited to participate.
I have an idea.
"You are going, right? It's in two days." I ask Katniss.
"Um to the Naming Ceremony? Sure! I'll be there. Of course I'll go." She says in a not very Katniss-like manner.
"I think we should go together."
"We should, definitely." She answers and I can see how this plan, set in motion by both of us, will be a total success. "Time to be a little bolder"
"Can I come over tomorrow? Maybe I can have breakfast with you again. I mean, if you don't mind." I say shyly.
"I don't mind at all." She says.
I look into her eyes; the longing in them matching my own.
"I've missed you. A lot." The words stumble out of my mouth before I even have time to understand what I'm saying.
"I've missed you too Peeta."
And with this, she disarms me, leaves me defenseless; but I can't afford to be undone. Not now, not when we are so close to finding each other again. This time, we have to do it right.
If I stay here…I don't trust myself right now.
"I really, really have to go, but I'll be over tomorrow." I say hating myself again. "You're doing the right thing." I say in my head, trying to convince myself.
She smiles and walks me to the door. "Keep walking. Keep walking."
To hell with it. I can't leave like this.
"I need to say something, but I'm totally saying this as a friend."
"Don't do it!" I ignore the sensible side of me.
"That dress…looks amazing on you. I know it was made for you, but wow. It was made for you. You look beautiful and the color! It's the"
She doesn't let me finish. "It's the color of sunset."
"Yes. It's my favorite color." I say smiling.
"I know. That's what I thought when I found it in the closet." says Katniss.
"She remembers."
"You thought about me when you saw that dress?" I can't help asking; it's too tempting.
"Yes. I thought about you." She says, not a hint of shyness in her voice. Her words melt me like butter.
"Have fun at your meeting, or what's left of it." She says.
If it weren't for the damn meeting I would never leave; but I should be grateful for the meeting. The more I stay here, the less I trust myself.
"I'll be lucky if they still want my help." I tell Katniss. "See you tomorrow then?"
"See you tomorrow." She answers back, and I finally leave; reluctantly.
I hoped you enjoyed Peeta's side of the story; this is always fun to write. Let me know what you think! Thanks again for the reviews, adding the story to your favorites and all the alerts! I must tell you, I used a website to generate Pip Treefit's name. LOL I have no clue about how to come up with names for "fictional" characters in HG. See you soon! ;)
