A/N: I'm not sure how much farther I should take this,since it was only supposed to be a 2 shot to begin with...anyway,I figure explaining last chapter would be a good idea. You see,where I come from-it isn't uncommon for 14 year olds (people my age) to...uh...not be virgins. So that's where that came from. Now that we have that cleared up-here we go again...
Peeta
Reaping day. I've been dreading this for weeks. Katniss doesn't let me help her. She insisted on taking out tessera for her family again this year,even though I've been helping her keep them all fed. When I got to her house this morning,she was already outside. I smiled half-heatedly and hugged her.
"You ok?" I whispered. She nodded,and I kissed her as gently as I could. "You sure?"
"Peeta,stop. Don't worry about me,ok?" Katniss said,pulling back from me.
"I can't help it..." I took her hand in mine and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too..." She mumbled,staring down at our hands.
I've learned not to take her lack of affection at times personally. Yes,it still stung a little bit,but it didn't take a lot to see that she does love me back. Just by the look in her eye,or the way she looks at me longingly from across the room at school.
We slowly walked back to the bakery,hand in hand. Not many people were out,only a few people watering plants or feeding animals. I'd been walking through the Seam,back and fourth to Katniss' house for months now. But the Seam still fascinated me. But I didn't have much time to think about it,because we were soon at my front door. Before I opened the door,I stopped and brushed her hair back.
"Did I tell you that you look beautiful,today?" I whispered,in case my brothers were within earshot. She just smiled slightly and quickly kissed my cheek.
Katniss
I always love it when Peeta takes me to the bakery. Besides the place always smelling fantastic, I love watching him work. I always try and help,but usually only wind up making a mess. But today,only a dim light was on in the back of the room. Surely it was only Peeta's father. Nobody else seemed to be awake yet,and Peeta and I were already wide awake and in our reaping clothes.
I glanced up the the clock. We still had maybe 10 minutes before Gale came over. Gale had quickly taken a liking to Peeta. I'm not sure if it was because he meant food,or if it was Peeta himself,but Gale started tagging along with us. Occasionally,helping with deliveries for Mr. Mellark- meaning more food for his family.
"You hungry?" Peeta's voice broke through my thoughts. He was behind the counter,shuffling things around. "I couldn't sleep last night,so I'm plenty sure we have more cookies then we can sell." He smiled,walking back over with half a dozen cookies in each hand.
"Why couldn't you sleep?" I asked,although I was pretty sure I already knew the answer,taking a cookie out of his hand.
"Worrying about you. What else?" He said with a laugh,taking a bite out of a cookie.
Before I could respond,the bell on the door rung quietly and Gale slipped in.
"Hey,Catnip." Gale said,ruffling my hair gently. I shot him a look and fixed my hair as best I could.
"Peeta," He said,grabbing a few cookies and sitting down across the table from Peeta and I.
I rolled my eyes and went back to nibbling on my cookie. Gale seemed a little too cheerful this morning.
"Happy Hunger Games!" He said,suddenly dropping into a ridicules Capitol accent. "And may the odds..."
I looked at Peeta and rolled my eyes again.
"Be ever in your favor!" Peeta finished Gale's sentence,in an even more ridicules accent than Gale's. They both started laughing uncontrollably,although I couldn't figure out what exactly was so funny about it.
"I took some food over to Prim and your mom," Gale said,shoving another cookie in his mouth.
Again,I didn't get the opportunity to say anything. But this time,it was Peeta's brothers.
"Hey Peet!" Silas yelled,grabbing a cookie and digging his fist into Peeta's head.
"Silas! Get offa' me!" Peeta yelled,fighting against the headlock his brother had him in. Bain came over and tried to hold me still,but Peeta managed to kick him off before he had the chance to get close. Unfortunately,his plan backfired,because from the floor,Bain knocked the chair over,sending Silas and Peeta both tumbling backward.
Gale was just about to step in,but Mr. Mellark beat him to it.
"Bain! Silas!" He barked. Both of them let Peeta go and scrambled over to their father,while Gale and I went to help Peeta up. Once we got him back in the chair,I knelt down and quickly checked him over,like I'd seen my mother do a million times before. Other than a small cut by his eye,that was a little too close for comfort for me,he was fine. For now. Gale seemed to know what I was thinking,and ran to the sink,returning with a damp towel.
"Hold still..." I told Peeta.
"Kat. Really,I'm fine." He tried to argue.
"No,you're not. This cut's pretty deep. Seeing as we all make it out of the reaping,you're coming back to my house."
"For what? You mom's probably just gonna clean it again." He said,laughing softly.
"If I know my mom,I think you're getting a couple stitches" I argued. Peeta was about to rebut,but Gale stopped him.
"Hate to break up the love fest here,but we better get going. It's getting close to 2."
Peeta
Gale was right. I started to get up,but Katniss pulled me back down again. She intently studied my eyes,and just as I was about to ask what she was doing,she pulled me up.
"Just wanted to make sure your pupils weren't dilated or anything." She said,tangling her fingers in mine.
"Looks who's all worried now?" I laughed as we walked out the door and to the square.
Once we were both signed in,I quickly kissed her one last time. For luck. She squeezed my hand tight before she let go. I sighed and Gale came up behind me.
"She's going to be fine." He said,squeezing my shoulder and pointing up at the stage. District 12's Capitol escort,Effie Trinket,was making her way to the microphone in the front of the stage. "Not long now." He patted my back before going to meet a group of his friends. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"Welcome,everyone!" Effie chirped into the microphone. The small part of me not focused on making sure I don't puke said, 'would you shut up and get it over with already,old bat? Why welcome us when we've lived here our whole lives?'
"It's that time of year again,when we pick our Tributes for the 72nd annual Hunger Games!"
I glanced behind the giant purple bat standing on stage to Mayor Undersee and Haymitch Abernathy. By the way things were looking,If I puked,I wouldn't be alone. Haymitch looked about 30 seconds off from turning Effie's outfit another color. And Mayor Undersee just looked bored,like 'which 2 kids are leaving and not coming home again this year?'
"Ladies first!" Effie stuck her hand into the fishbowl containing the girl's names and brought one out. I silently prayed to myself,unconsciously gripping my stomach. All I heard was a 'P'. After that,I knew she was safe. I felt someone grab my arm. Gale,making sure I was alright. I smiled back,and he let go of my arm.
Effie made her way to the bowl with the boys names in it,but not before Haymitch lost his lunch all over the stage. Well,more like lost whatever alcohol he'd downed before he came here. Mayor Undersee grabbed his shoulders before he could fall off his chair,and gently set him down against the back,and motioned for Effie to continue.
"Well,this certainly is fun!" She exclaimed wearily,not seeming thrilled about the puke that hit the back of her leg,which me and probably 75% of District 12 found hilarious. She took her time finding a suitable piece of paper before pulling one up from the bottom. I didn't recognize the name she read off,but a boy around 13 maybe made his way to the stage. Both tributes were fairly young,the girl had to be 12. I felt bad for their families,but at the same time,was relieved we had been spared for another year. I looked up and hunted in the crowd for Katniss,who must have been looking for me. She smiled,and I smiled back. Both of us anxious to be free to leave-so we could be close once again.