Three cheers for FLUFF(: Woot Woot!
This chapter takes place about three weeks later from the previous chapter.
3:00.
2:59.
2:58…
Hurry up, already!
"Katniss, would you please step away from the oven?" Peeta smirks at my reluctance to look away from his newest batch of fudge brownies, my newest obsession. "You know, it helps to distract yourself while waiting for the timer to go off." I smile ever so lightly. Peeta Mellark, my dandelion in the spring, my hope for the future, is back. I think back to Gale, with whom I could never imagine loving as much as I do Peeta. It's odd, really, that me, of all people, ended up falling in love with him (it's too late for denying it now; I'm practically ecstatic, waiting for just the right moment to show Peeta the bakery). That me, Katniss Everdeen, who's calloused hands have killed countless forest animals to survive, would need Peeta Mellark, who's kindness and loving demeanor is always bringing smiles to District 12. While I ponder this, Peeta starts planting small, wet kisses at the base of my neck. When he wraps his arms around me, I wriggle around in his strong grasp until I'm facing him, or in other words, his lips…
The timer goes off all too soon, and if it weren't for my excitement over showing Peeta my surprise, I would've let them burn without a second thought.
"Come on, let's take them to Greasy Sae!" I'm jumping up and down, moving the brownies to a Ziploc container before bounding out the door and down the front steps, towards the square. I've been keeping Peeta from going into town for the last three weeks, making up household chores here and there or moving him into my house, a task in which involved many heavy hearts and tear-filled apologies. Finally, after speaking it over with Thom and his growing construction crews, the small bakery that Haymitch and I designed is finally built.
Peeta is laughing as he pulls the front door closed. "Okay, already! You'd think we were running a race." He tries to catch up with me, and I allow myself to laugh at his attempts to keep from tripping over his artificial leg. We walk along the only slightly worn Victors' Village path and make our way towards the square.
"Peeta, let's go the long way. You know, see how they're rebuilding District 12." He hesitates, knowing that if we do go the long way we'll be passing by the bakery. But when I do that thing where I loop my fingers around his neck and nuzzle his jaw, he doesn't give it a second thought.
...5 buildings left.
"Looks like they've got the grocery store up and running." I sigh. Peeta's only been pointing out the construction progress on the left side of Main Street, completely avoiding the right side.
…4 buildings left.
"Ya, they've really done a nice job with it." I say nonchalantly.
…3, 2, 1…
Peeta sucks in a breath, trembling. I bring our looped fingers up to my mouth and kiss his hand. "Peeta, look." I bite my lip…and wait.
"Katniss…" Thom really did an excellent job with the bakery. It looks the same as it did before, even with the same 'Mellark and Sons Bakery' sign above the door.
"Go in." I see his shaking hand, the one that's not holding onto mine, reach for the handle. We walk in and Peeta looks around, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm sure it's not exactly the same as it was before, but Haymitch and I have only been in here a handful of times so we just kind of tried to throw our memories of it together." He only responds by squeezing my hand, but only barely. Terror runs through me. "Do you hate it? If you don't want it, I'm sure they could change it into something else. We won't ever have to come here again, I swear-" Peeta's lips are on mine before I can continue. His hands are on my neck, running through my hair, finally resting on my hips. When we break for air, he finally speaks.
"It's perfect." I smile into his shoulder.
"I love you, Peeta." It's the first time I say it aloud, but we both know it won't be the last.
The End! I really enjoyed writing this story and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. In other Hunger Games news…did you hear about Jennifer Lawrence being cast as Katniss? Of course you did! It's everywhere. Personally, I'm happy Jennifer got the part, instead of Hailee Steinfeld…I wasn't really a fan of her. Now they just need to cast Hunter Parrish or Alex Pettyfer as Peeta and we'll have ourselves a movie! (:
Don't forget to review please! Reviews make my day(: