A/N-Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it! It means a lot to me! This takes place on that special Sunday. Here's a long one. Enjoy!

Disclaimer-I do not own the Hunger Games

Today is finally the day I get to hang out with Peeta outside of the bakery. I'm not as happy as I know I should be. Maybe it's because we're going as friends. I frown at the thought. That boy has no clue. Does he already know? Is he just trying to be the nice guy he is? I don't know. If I knew he just wants me as a friend maybe it would be better. Maybe I would get over it.

There are moments, though, when I think he feels the same way. The times when his hand lingers on mine more than necessary. The times when his eyes light up when he sees me. The times when he tells me that he missed me. The times when he tells me his secrets. The times when he asks me what's wrong. Maybe it's just that I want him to love me back so much that I'm creating things in my head. Maybe his hand being there was an accident. Maybe his eyes lighting up was all in my head. Maybe he missed his friend. Maybe he wanted to get his secrets off of his back. Maybe I was a wreck and he wanted to know if it had something to do with my mother.

The internal conflict gives me a headache. I pace my room and keep glancing at the clock. We really never did agree on the time. I stormed out before we could.

I lie facedown on my bed and moan. My mother had it much easier. Dad chased her. If only I was that lucky. I grab my pillow and scream into it.

I glance at the clock on my wall again. It's 1:00. I mentally scold myself. I have to get up, put on something pretty, and make Peeta Mellark fall in love with me. I scream into my pillow again. Could this get any more impossible?

I decide to think of simpler things. School's out. Yes, I'll think of that. I got straight A's again. Being lonely does have its advantages. All of that extra time is great for studying. Peeta could fill up that extra time…

"Ugh," I groan. What's the worst that could happen? I have a bad time? He doesn't like me that way? I should stop being such a baby and just see what happens. Maybe I'll even have a good time.

I get up and mosey to my closet. I scan my clothes. What should I wear? Should I wear something casual? Should I wear something dressy? Maybe I should just wear something in the middle. I'm tired of making decisions.

I pick out a pretty short skirt paired with a simple top. I put the clothes on. I look at myself in the mirror that sits next to my closet. The light blue of the skirt matches the color of my walls. I like the color blue. It reminds me of the sky. The sky is endless. You can look at it for miles and miles. I think I like the sky so much because it reminds me of freedom.

I gaze at my outfit in the mirror for a long time. It just doesn't look right! I glance at the clock again. It's 1:30 now. I should hurry up. I don't want Peeta to think I ditched him or worse. I don't want him to show up when I look like such a mess.

I rummage through my closet and find a dress. Would a dress be too fancy? I don't even care anymore. I put it on. I stare at myself in the mirror again. I look much better.

The dress really shows off my curves. It's tight, which is good. It also has black and white stripes repeating across the whole dress. It's pretty fancy, but I don't really have anything else to wear.

I decide to pair it with a pair of black flats to dress it down. I keep glancing in the mirror. I look great, but I feel as if I should do something more. I guess I'll curl my hair.

While on my way to the bathroom, I keep thinking of Peeta. What will he think of this outfit? Will he like it? Will he not? Ugh. I don't even care anymore.

I curl my hair in the bathroom and storm down the stairs. I'm already upset and I haven't even met up with Peeta yet.

The house is oddly silent. The servants are doing there chores and I wave goodbye to them. They wave back. I want to slam the door on my way out, but I know it will wake my mother. It's not worth it.

On the walk to the bakery, I calm myself down. I have to at least walk in with a good attitude. What time is it? I didn't even get a chance to look before I left.

When I do get to the bakery the nerves kick in. Just breathe. I just have to remember to breathe. I glance down at my dress. Crap, it's too dressy. I knew it was too fancy!

I consider turning back and going home, but I don't want to do that to Peeta. I push the nerves down and enter the bakery. The bell tinkles. My nerves instantly come back. I see Peeta sitting behind the counter watching the door. His eyes instantly light up when his eyes lock on me. His smile mirrors mine. My nerves immediately melt away.

"Wow. You look beautiful," he says. I instantly blush.

"Thanks. You look handsome yourself," I reply, absolutely stunned. He does look handsome in his faded blue jeans and his black t-shirt. These are the moments where I believe he loves me back, but I doubt he does.

"So…where are you going to take me?" I try to hide my blush behind a curtain of my golden hair.

"Wherever you want to go." Where I want to go? Oh, crap. Say something, Madge!

"Wherever I want to go?" Nice, Madge. Real smooth. What a well formulated response.

"Yeah," he says, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets. He looks nervous. "I thought I would let you decide. I'm sorry. I probably should've picked a place and everything. I guess I just wasn't thinking."

He's apologizing? For what? "Nothing to apologize for. Just a little surprised. That's all."

I rack my brain for any good places to go to. A restaurant? No, that would seem like a date. The woods? How did I even come up with that idea? No one really goes into the woods unless you're desperate. I want to go to the woods, but I am desperate to get out of here. Anyway, I doubt Peeta has ever crossed the fence. I know I never have. Okay, I have to think of more places. The meadow? Yeah! I like the meadow. Good job, Madge! Ugh, I have to stop doing that.

"We could go to the meadow," I suggest.

"Sure!" He shuffles out from behind the counter and moves beside me. "Shall we go," he says as he offers me his hand. My hands immediately begin to sweat. I place my hand in his.

"We shall," I say with a huge smile. I mean he says we're friends, but then he holds my hand! Why can't he just make up his mind?

We stroll out the door hand in hand toward the meadow. My hand begins to sweat even more. Great. Now he'll think I'm sweaty on top of everything. He doesn't say anything, though. Thank goodness.

When we reach the meadow, I become worried. What should I say? Should I say anything? Should I sit in the grass? Should I stand? Should we continue to walk? Should I do nothing?

"How are you? You seemed a little out of it last time I saw you."

Oh, why did you have to bring it up? Everything was going so well! "I don't know," I reply while shrugging my shoulders.

"Oh, come on. It was something."

"It was nothing!" It was definitely something. Something I can't tell you about…

"Did that girl say something to you?"

Yeah, she did. Something that is really getting to me. Am I so different from her? She comes to his bakery all the time. She doesn't come for bread. She doesn't come for pastries. She comes from him. Am I really that different? She expects him to ask her out. Don't I? Deep down don't I expect him to ask me out sooner or later? So, yeah, it really is bothering me.

"No."

"I don't usually pry, but-"

"It was nothing," I stress, interrupting him. "Why do you care anyway?"

"I care about you. I don't want anyone taking advantage of you."

I have the urge to roll my eyes. He's always hinting, but he never says anything more. "Thanks, but I can take care of myself."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Really, really?"

"Really, really."

"Really, really, really?"

"Really, really, really," I say with a straight face. I begin to laugh and he joins in. We're acting like little kids.

"Seriously, though, I'm just trying to protect you." Yeah, like a little sister. I could be his sister. We both have the bright blue eyes and the blonde hair. Jeez, that's an awkward thought.

"Thanks, Peet. I appreciate it."

"No prob."

We walk and walk. We're still hand in hand and I really like that. Neither of us pulls away and I don't think either of us wants to. Do friends hold hands? I really hope not.

"Are you hungry? We could always run back to the bakery and get a snack."

"Yeah, sure." We turn around and begin to stroll back to town. We pass by some people, but they pay us no mind.

Peeta and I talk about little stuff on the way back. He talks about the bakery, and I comment where I'm supposed to. I just let him talk because I don't really know what to say.

"We're here," he announces as we reach the little bakery in the middle of town. He lets go of my hand to open the door for me. The bell rings. He's such a gentleman.

"Thank you," I say as I saunter through the open door.

"You're welcome," he responds while striding in behind me.

I'm about to say something else when a woman calls Peeta's name. The woman must make Peeta nervous because he instantly stiffens. I give him a questioning look, but he ignores it.

"Peeta! Peeta is that you," the woman asks from behind the bakery. I can't see who it is.

"Yes, mother, it is." Oh, so that's his mother? I don't know if I've ever really met her. I've met his father and one of his brothers, but I don't think I've ever really met his mother. I've seen her from afar, but I've never spoken to her.

She stomps out from behind the bakery. She kind of looks like Peeta. She has the same blonde hair, but hers has strings of gray. They both have the same blue eyes, but Peeta's seem nicer.

"I thought you were supposed to be working today," she yells as she takes off her apron and hangs it on the little hook by the door that leads to the rear end of the bakery. "What's the matter with you…," she trails off as she spots me next to him.

"I'm sorry, but dad told me I had off today."

"Oh, okay," she says, still staring at me. I shift a little. Her stare makes me uneasy.

"This is Madge, mother," he declares while gesturing to me. I smile nervously.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Mellark."

"Yes, you're Madge Undersee. Aren't you?"

"Yes ma'am." Where's she going with this?

"The mayor's daughter?"

"Yes ma'am."

She smiles an eerie smile. "Why isn't my son lucky man? Dating the mayor's daughter and all." She directs her gaze to Peeta. "Maybe you're not a waste after all."

My eyes widen. She has the nerve to say that to Peeta? How dare she! Peeta is the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful-

"We're just friends, mother," Peeta says, interrupting my inner monologue once again.

Her eyes turn cold once again and her smile vanishes. "I knew it was too good to be true," she mutters under her breath as she trudges back to the rear end of the bakery. She leaves us in complete silence.

"Do you want some cookies," Peeta asks, interrupting the silence. He looks a little beat up.

"Sure." How can I help? I've never dealt with this. What should I do?

Peeta moseys behind the counter and grabs a bag of cookies. "Do you want to eat these in my room?"

"Sure." He leads me up the stairs to his room. I suddenly become a little excited. I've never been in Peeta's room before. I wonder what it'll look like.

He opens up the door for me and I enter without a word. Should I bring his mother up? Should I pretend nothing happened?

Peeta takes a seat on his bed and I take a seat next to him. We eat the cookies in awkward silence. I don't like to see Peeta like this. I like to see the bubbly Peeta with a smile ingrained on his face.

"It's not true," I mutter. He looks at me with a confused look. I keep going. "You're not a waste, Peeta. You're mother doesn't know what the heck she's talking about."

"Thanks," he says with a tight smile. He doesn't look too convinced.

"I'm serious! Peeta, you are the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful, caring, loving person I know."

"Thanks, Madge, but it's fine. I'm used to it." Wait, what?

"What do you mean?"

"Eh, it's nothing."

"What's wrong, Peeta?" Peeta averts his eyes to his lap. "Peeta, tell me."

"Well, remember when I came to school with a black eye?"

"Yeah…" I remember that day perfectly. His eye was puffy and black. No one knew what happened. He never said anything, but there were rumors that he picked a fight with an older kid. It hurt me to think someone could hurt him. I never really believed the rumor anyway. Peeta is too kind to do something like that.

"My mother did that to me."

I don't say anything for a long time. I need to calm myself down. I want to go yell at his mother for causing him pain. I want to scream at his father for letting this happen.

Memories of a scarred Peeta come back to me. There were many occasions where Peeta came to school scarred and bruised. Peeta never told me. I don't think he even told his friends.

"Your mother…beats you?" It's hard to get the word out. My poor Peeta in pain for…nothing. What could Peeta possibly do to deserve that?

He just nods. "She hurts you physically and mentally," I state, just trying to talk it out. He just shrugs. "You don't deserve that."

"There's nothing I can do about it. Once I'm eighteen I'll move out and hopefully get a place of my own. I'll be able to get a job by then."

I just can't fight the urge to hug him right then and right there. The gesture takes Peeta by surprise, but he doesn't pull away. He slowly returns the hug.

"I'm so sorry, Peeta. I didn't know."

"It's not your fault at all. My mother just can't help it."

"She shouldn't be doing that to you."

"I know."

I pull myself to him tighter. "I'll be here for you. Whenever you need me I'll be here. I promise." I knew right when I said it that I couldn't have said anything truer.

A/N-Sorry this chapter is so late! I took a last minute trip to Indiana. Sorry! Review, please!