Author's note: Back from NaNoWriMo! Half of this was written before, but I didn't get a chance to finish. I hope you enjoy the events of this chapter.
I would like to thank the following Tumblr folk for voting on how Peeta and Katniss should interact first irl: b-boop5, who-says-im-not-a-millenial, anotherr-fine-mess, jrosely, thesaltywinteradult, stjohn27, norbertsmom, thelettersfromnoone, and flicialy23. See the bottom for the next opportunity to help.
Happy reading!
Chapter Three
Peeta's knee still ached. He really had been overdoing it lately. He found his crutches in the back of the closet and used them to make his way down the block to the bakery.
Conrad took one look at him and nodded. "Just do the cakes, son."
"You know I can do other things, Dad." Peeta argued.
"I do. I also know that you had barely surgery three months ago. You're not supposed to be up on your feet and lifting nearly as much." Conrad pulled the stool to the decorating table. "I'm glad you got the crutches back out. When do you go to your next physical therapy session?"
Peeta sighed and propped the crutches against the wall. He tied on his apron and walked to the sink to wash his hands. "This afternoon. At three."
"Good. I'll drive you." Conrad turned to the fridge to retrieve a cake Peeta had started the day before.
"You don't need to do that, Dad." Peeta took out the piping bags and other decoration tools. "I'll Uber."
"You'll get a ride from your old man." Conrad slid the large bucket of frosting over to Peeta. "Because I love you and I want to make sure you get there and home safe." He pressed a kiss to the side of Peeta's head. "That needs to be done by noon." He walked to the front to finish setting up the cases.
Graham and Annie started laughing in the kitchen. Peeta heard Ryan begging them to stop.
Peeta picked up his crutches and walked into the other room to find his siblings all covered in flour. "What happened?"
Annie pointed at Ryan. "Someone was distracted and set the mixer on high without putting any liquids in."
"I'm not distracted." Ryan argued, sweeping the last of the mess into a pile.
Graham chuckled. "No, you just came in here thinking about that girl who kept you up all night."
"She didn't keep me up all night." Ryan was a distinct shade of red. "Please just help me finish cleaning this up so we don't get behind."
"I'll help." Peeta offered.
"No, you won't." Annie took him by the shoulders and turned him around. "Conrad said you have cakes to decorate."
"I'm not completely crippled." Peeta protested, turning back around.
Graham shrugged. "You want to help, fine. But if Dad gets mad, we'll tell him you made the choice all on your own." He got out the vacuum to finish getting the last bits of flour off the floor.
Peeta watched his brothers a moment and then turned to Annie. "I guess I'll finish the cakes." He turned forlornly and went to the other room.
Annie followed. "Hey, don't get down on yourself, Peet."
"I'm trying not to." Peeta set his crutches off to the side again and washed his hands.
Annie leaned her elbows on the table while Peeta got the frosting tinted the right colors. "You're moving around really good. Especially after being laid up on the couch all night."
"Yeah, I've gotten a little bold." Peeta leaned forward and got to work on the base coat of frosting. "Dad's going to want you out there to open."
"I know. Just wish I had the talent for that." She indicated the cake. "I can barely mix the most basic batter."
He sat back and smiled. "But you're the best at the register. It always makes me a little anxious."
Annie grinned and walked around the table. She planted a kiss on Peeta's cheek. She whispered, "You're the best brother. Don't tell Graham or Ryan."
"I'm the baby. They already know I'm better." He winked and leaned forward to continue his work.
Peeta took a break a short time later to check his messages. He had no new messages from his friend. He tapped "write a message" at the bottom and started typing.
painetcoucherdesoleil: I looked up your recipe and it looks pretty simple. I'll probably make it this weekend. I'd love to make it tonight, but I have to rest up.
He looked at the message and erased the last sentence. They hadn't really revealed a lot of personal information and that was cutting it a little close.
He was about to get back to work when a new message came.
keen3ye0508: I'll try to get the blondies today. I have quite a bit of time on my hands.
Peeta was desperate to ask more, but instead chose another thread.
painetcoucerdesoleil: I can't wait for you to try them! The bacon is the best part.
keen3ye0508: Bacon makes anything better. :)
painetcocherdesoleil: It really does. So how is your day going?
keen3ye0508: I've been in a meeting for the last hour, but it feels like three! I just want to be on a hike or in the kitchen.
painetcocherdesoleil: Don't really have meetings at the family bakery, thankfully.
keen3ye0508: Yeah, my family is very extra.
keen3ye0508: I'm getting glares for being on my phone. I'll let you know how the blondies go.
Peeta smiled to himself as he put his phone away. Wonder where she works. He went back to the finishing touches of the cake. "She said her family is bakers." He mumbled to himself.
"What was that?" Conrad asked from the doorway.
Peeta blinked a couple times. "Uh, nothing." He indicated the cake. "Almost done." He looked up at the clock. "And nearly two hours ahead of schedule."
Conrad smiled proudly. "You're better than I'll ever be." He watched as Peeta finished the last flowers and then slipped the cake off the counter. "I'll box it up later. Take a five minute break and then go help Annie in the front."
"Sure thing." Peeta took up his crutches and walked into the other part of the shop.
His phone was heavy in his pocket as he thought about his internet friend. How did her meeting go? Was it an all-day thing? Was she out and working on the blondies?
After his lunch break, Peeta returned to the counter to work the register while Annie packaged the orders.
Afternoons usually were a little slower until the rush right before closing. Peeta felt bad that he was leaving right in the middle of it, but he'd made the appointment knowing there would only be a few more things baking, so at least one of his brothers could help with the rush. And Annie's mom usually came in to work the afternoon.
A brunette woman stopped outside to look at the window display. She had a concerned look on her face. Her mouth was in a straight line and her brow furrowed. But even so, she was quite pretty. Her eyes lifted and he saw they were gray. I would love to paint her portrait, He thought to himself.
Annie noticed him staring at the woman and shoved the tray of samples toward Peeta. "Go offer her a cookie."
"I can't." He indicated the crutches.
"Yesterday you were all over the place without them." She took one of his crutches. "You said yourself that you're not a cripple."
Peeta took the tray and walked out the open door. He smiled. "Would you like to try a sugar cookie? My grandmother's special recipe."
The young woman's face smoothed out and she took one of the offered cookies. "Thank you." She took a bite and a smile grew on her face. "I haven't had a sugar cookie this good in a long time. Is there nutmeg in here?"
"There is." Peeta was impressed. It was only a touch, but it gave it a slight character, or so his grandmother always said.
"Interesting. I've never had sugar cookies with nutmeg. It's different." She looked away. "Are you worried about that big bakery that's opening down the road?"
Peeta offered the tray to some people passing, leaning a little more on the crutch to balance himself out with the tray. "Not really. That bakery can do some things we can't, but we can do things they can't either. They make large batches of cookies and breads for events, but we can do the special cakes for birthdays and weddings."
"How long has your family been here?" She asked kindly. Was she just making conversation or was she sincere?
"For fifty-six years. My grandparents opened it up just before my dad was born." Peeta offered the tray to more passersby. "And we don't plan on going anywhere."
"I sure hope so, with cookies as good as these." The woman paused. "You know, I walk by this bakery every day, but I've never seen you in there."
"I haven't been here much in the past four months, but I work in the back most of the time when I am here." He indicated the cakes in the front display. "I decorate the cakes."
Her grey eyes brightened. "Those are my sister's favorite." She finished her cookie. "I should probably let you get back to work." She started to walk away.
"Wait, what's your name?" He asked before she moved too far away.
"Katniss." She turned back. "And yours?"
"Peeta." He answered. He knew he wanted to ask her more, but he couldn't form words. She was just so pretty the way the sun shone behind her. It brought out the highlights in her brown hair.
"Hey, Peeta, it's about time for your appointment." Conrad said from behind him.
Peeta tore his eyes away from Katniss and nodded. "Thanks, Dad." He turned back. "It was lovely to meet you, Katniss."
"And you, Peeta." She gave him a small smile and then walked away.
"Wow, kid, you are smitten." Conrad clapped Peeta on the shoulder and took the cookie tray from him.
"Maybe." Peeta retrieved his other crutch from behind the counter.
Conrad led them through the back of the shop calling out final requests for the afternoon. He took Peeta's crutches when he opened the passenger door.
Peeta slid into the seat and took the crutches back from his father. "My heart feels like it's about to fly out of my chest."
Conrad laughed. "Well, she was pretty."
Peeta sighed. "I don't think I'm smitten, Dad. I think I'm in love."
Conrad laughed again. "Did you get her number?"
"Oh, shoot. No." Peeta groaned. "I'm an idiot."
"Nah, I'm sure she'll be back." Conrad gave him a sideways look. "She knows where you work."
Peeta pulled out his phone and typed a message to his Tumblr friend.
painetcocherdesoleil: Did you survive your meeting?
It took her a while to respond. He checked the activity on his posts and then scrolled through his dash for a while. They made it to the hospital just as the number popped up over the face.
keen3ye0508: I did. And now up to my elbows in blondie batter.
Conrad patted his knee. "Let's go, Peanut."
Peeta followed his dad inside. His reply would have to wait.
Katniss smiled to herself as she walked away from the small bakery. The man—Peeta—had been very sweet. And she desperately wished she could have gone inside. It smelled heavenly. And if Peeta was any indication, the staff were friendly. Maybe they would survive the opening of the latest Snow megabakery after all.
She picked up the ingredients for the blondies her internet friend suggested and then headed home. Being the granddaughter of a rich businessman had some perks. The main one being that she really didn't have to do a lot of work. Sometimes she sat in her grandfather's office and watched him work, but he never let her do anything.
"It's nothing you need to worry about." He always said.
Gale worked, though. He was her grandfather's assistant and was being groomed to take over. Snow wanted his granddaughters to reap the benefits of the bakery more than anything. She and Prim knew the basics and came in to supervise and be the face, but that was all.
Katniss started on the batter, but decided to look up the recipe before she got too far into it. She smiled when she found a message from her friend.
painetcocherdesoleil: Did you survive your meeting?
She smiled and typed her reply.
keen3ye0508: I did. And now up to my elbows in blondie batter.
She found the recipe and went to work mixing all the ingredients together. She put everything in a pan and stuck it in the oven. She decided to take liberties with the recipe and add the bacon to a frosting she'd put on the top.
Katniss stuck the bacon on a pan in the oven and then opened up her phone. She smiled at the number on the bottom of the screen.
painetcoucherdesoleil: I hope they turn out okay. I can't wait for your review.
painetcoucherdesoleil: P.S. Glad you survived the meeting.
keen3ye0508: I've taken a ton of pictures. The batter tastes okay, so I think I did a good job.
She paused after sending that. She'd wanted to know more about him, even though they had sworn to keep things as superficial as possible.
"Well, knowing a little more won't hurt." Katniss said to herself before she started typing.
keen3ye0508: So what part of the country are you in?
His answer came almost an instant later.
painetcoucherdesoleil: I live in District 12. Right about center. You?
keen3ye0508: Same! Wow, I didn't even think we'd be that close.
painetcoucherdesoleil: Would you like to meet up sometime?
Katniss stared at the screen a moment. Should they? Her grandfather always warned against meeting people from the internet. She was about to answer when she heard keys jingling in the door and Prim came inside.
"I have a big math test tomorrow and I need your help." Prim said as she dropped her bag by the door.
"Um, hello. My day was great, how was yours?" Katniss took a cup out of the cabinet and poured Prim some coffee.
"Hi, Katniss. How was your day? Mine was long." Prim took the coffee and added sugar and milk. "What are you baking?"
"Salted caramel blondies." Katniss peeked into the oven. "Just need a couple more minutes." She turned. "I met the guy that decorates the cakes at that bakery we passed the other day."
"Did you? Is he cute?"
Katniss shook her head. "I'm engaged, Prim."
"But you're not dead. You still have eyes. Feel attraction." Prim leaned closer. "So is he cute?"
Katniss smiled and nodded. "He's pretty cute." She turned to get the ingredients out for her frosting. "But I felt like a fraud talking to him. It seems so mean."
"Well, you could buy stuff from them. Help them stay afloat." Prim took her homework out of her backpack.
"One purchase won't make much difference." Katniss said.
"Then offer to buy the place, I don't know. Or don't go by there again if you feel so bad." Prim sipped her coffee and read over her textbook.
Katniss took the blondies and bacon out of the oven. "Listen, I know I've told you not to meet people in real life that you've talk to on the internet, but—"
"Are you having an internet affair?" Prim asked, her voice full of excitement.
Katniss laughed. "No. But I have this friend I've been talking to and I found out he lives close. And he asked if we wanted to meet up."
"Well, what did you tell him?"
"I haven't yet." Katniss started putting together the frosting. "I was trying to decide if it was safe."
"You can call the shots." Prim suggested. "And I can go with you. Two people are harder to kidnap than one."
Katniss chuckled. "Okay." She finished making the frosting base and set it aside. "Okay, I will." She picked up her phone.
keen3ye0508: Sure. There's a diner I go to a lot called Greasy Sae's. Do you know it?
painetcoucherdesoleil: Know it? I love that place! I go there all the time.
keen3ye0508: You want to have lunch there? Saturday?
painetcoucherdesoleil: Saturdays are usually pretty busy. What about a late lunch/early supper?
Katniss asked Prim, "Do you want to have a late lunch Saturday?"
Prim nodded. "Sure. But you have to promise me to go by that bakery before."
"Why?"
"Because we need to help out at least a little." Prim poked out her lower lip. "Please?"
Katniss sighed. "It won't do much, but whatever."
keen3ye0508: That can work. Is it okay if my sister comes along?
painetcoucherdesoleil: Sure! You'll definitely feel more comfortable meeting some stranger if you have her along. And I will too. :)
They finalized their plans and Katniss passed along the information to Prim. "But don't say anything to Gale. You know how jealous he can be."
Prim sighed. "I know you love Gale, but he's not right for you." She walked around the bar and wrapped an arm around Katniss's waist. "You only started dating him because of Granddad."
"Stop it, Prim. I do like him." Katniss started crumbling the bacon into her frosting. "I need to start making supper. Gale will be home soon."
"Just know that I will support whatever you do. It isn't much since I'm still a kid, but I am your sister, so that has to count for something."
Katniss leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Same to you, kiddo. Now get some potatoes out and start peeling."
Prim sighed. "Fine."
Post story note: How should Peeta and Katniss identify themselves for their meeting? Exchange pictures? Carry an identifying item with them? A specific article of clothing? Let me know what you think!