Peeta POV
"Ladies and gentlemen, Flight 1145 to the Capitol will be landing in five minutes. Please make sure you seatbelts are buckled and your tote trays are in the upright position." The intercom crackled with the attendant's announcement.
Peeta woke up from the semi nap he had been taking. From experience, he had found that this was the best way to not attract any attention. He sat up and felt the plane quickly descend before making its landing. After waiting the endless minutes to taxi to the gate, he finally was able to grab his carry on and get off the plane. Being able to stretch his legs felt good as he walked quickly towards the baggage area. He waited a little ways away from the crowd for his suitcase, until it finally came around. He picked it up off the carousel and looked towards the exit. Peeta smiled as he saw Haymitch standing there by the doorway.
"You actually came back," the agent said with obvious sarcasm as his client approached. "I wasn't sure you were going to for a little while."
"For a moment there was a part of me that didn't want to come back." Peeta admitted. "But, I keep my commitments."
The older man nodded. "The girl was that special, huh?"
"Yeah, she was." the actor said while running his hand through his hair. "I don't know how to explain it, but she is everything I could want and more. The only thing that kind of ruined it was running into the cameras and fangirls. Did you find out how that happened?" Peeta had informed Haymitch about the incident while he had been at the District12 airport.
"I put in a few calls," the older nodded. "It seems that someone at the restaurant picked you out and made the call to the media. The word got out then. The reporters knew you were there; they just waited until they could spot you. Does the girl know what's coming?"
"I'm not sure." Peeta replied. "I told Katniss to expect to hear from all of the reporters with all of their questions. She's nervous, but she can do it. If she gets overwhelmed, though, I asked her to call and let me know so that you can help her. She will have no idea how to handle these guys if they get nasty."
Haymitch had a thoughtful look. "You know…I think I will call her anyway. Just to let her know which couple of reporters she can actually trust, and how to respectfully decline the others."
His young client breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you Haymitch. I think that will help her a lot. Hopefully she can deal with the rest on her own. She's a strong person."
"And what about you?" the agent asked. "What have you to say about the girl?" Although his eyebrow was raised in jest, the tone was serious in his question.
"When they ask, tell them that I met an amazing girl and we had a great time together." was Peeta's simple reply.
The older man nodded, and with that, the two men left the airport and finally headed home.
"Rehearsal is at 1:00 tomorrow." Haymitch grouched his final instruction as Peeta got out of the car.
"I know, old man." Peeta smiled. "Have I missed a gig yet?"
"No." the agent answered. "Just making sure."
Peeta laughed as Haymitch and his sedan drove off. Finally alone, Peeta unlocked his door and gratefully walked into house and dropped his bag. He sagged onto the couch and picked up his phone to call a number. It was answered on the first ring.
"Hey there," he said, "I finally made it home."
"I'm so glad." Katniss answered. She sounded exhausted. "I've already had three calls just tonight from reporters wanting to talk to me."
Peeta sighed, "Boy they work fast. Don't worry. Haymitch already said that he will call you soon to let you know how to handle the offers. You can trust him. It will probably be crazy for a week, and then it will die down. Something else always comes up and they lose interest. Life will return to normal, I promise."
"Alright. Although I think normal has been thrown out the window by becoming the girlfriend of a mega movie star," she said.
"Hey," he replied in encouragment. "Come on. Chins up, smiles on! You're going to be fine." Peeta could almost hear her shaking her head. "We can make this work. Just be honest with the reporters." He was quiet for a moment before adding, "Miss you already."
Katniss sighed as well, "I miss you too."
"I'll call you tomorrow to check in, okay?" Peeta asked.
"Okay. Goodnight, Peeta."
"Goodnight, Katniss." He regretfully hung up the phone then. He wanted to tell her so much about how he was feeling. He had a feeling that would scare Katniss away, though, after only knowing each other for only a day.
At that point, Peeta decided to change. He put on some sweatpants with white shirt and began thinking about the current situation. He had told Katniss before he left that she was his girlfriend. He had a girlfriend. This was an amazing revelation and the young man didn't want to take it lightly. Not that he had great experience with relationships, but he knew they all took work. Considering that this one was going to be a long distance relationship, it would probably mean even more work than he imagined…On both their parts. He wanted to think of ways that they could stay connected even though they were many miles away. Peeta didn't want to risk losing Katniss. If he was sure of one thing, he knew what he was feeling. The actor got out a piece of paper and jotted down some notes.
Over the next few days, the plans he formed that night went into action. While they were already using texting and the phone, the couple soon added Skype and Facetime to their methods of communicating. At least with those he could actually see Katniss' face, even if he couldn't touch her. They called each other every day, always taking a moment to talk about their days and anything new going on. Her face would light up the moment she saw him, and it was the highlight of both of their days. Soon enough, they began to sign off the same way each night by kissing two fingers and placing them to the computer screen as they said good night.
The expected pictures of the two of them together in District 12, along with an article about Katniss being Peeta's new girl came out within three days of their date. Titled District 12 Girl Wins Date with Superstar, the paper prided itself on having all the juicy details on the new romance. As Peeta had predicted, Katniss came out sounding fantastic (and maybe a little nervous), but just like herself as she talked about her winning the contest and their date.
"I never would have dreamed something like this would happen." Miss Everdeen tells Stars Weekly with a noticeable blush. "But Peeta made our date the most wonderful night ever. I won't ever forget it."
Peeta was so proud of her taking it all in stride. And as expected, within the second week, Katniss reported with relief that no one was calling her anymore.
"Are you okay?" he asked her some three weeks later when the furor had finally died down.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered. "I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although I definitely don't want to deal with any more people asking me questions any time soon. I'm thinking of changing my number."
Peeta chuckled. "I understand. But you better not change your number without telling me the new one!"
He could almost feel her smile reflecting over phone. "I won't. It's those wolves I want gone, not you."
"I know," he boyfriend said. "It all comes with the territory. Being my girlfriend means you are going to have to deal with it once in a while. You sure you're up for the challenge?"
"If you want me to be, then I'm game," Katniss replied.
"That's my girl." He loved saying to say that to her. Peeta felt like he would burst open right then and there. The actor didn't think he had ever been this happy.
Of course, he was dying to be with her is person. The one thing that made not being with Katniss easier in these days was his new movie. Production had begun three weeks after their date. Peeta loved the set, the director, and the role. It was a fun witty script and he completely enjoyed playing a baker. It definitely connected him with his father in a surreal way. His coworkers were some of the best he had worked with. Usually Peeta distanced himself from the snobbery and politics that he found in people working in the movie business, but here they were really genuine. This was especially true of the young actor who was portraying his best friend in the film, Finnick Odair. They usually had lunch together and talked. He was one of the few people Peeta opened up to about Katniss. The other man showed understanding when he listened.
"I really miss her Finn. It's so hard with her being in Twelve and me here." Peeta lamented over lunch together in the Commissary one day. "I mean, we talk, but after a while it's not enough, you know?"
"I went through the same thing once I met my Annie," Finnick told him in understanding. "We met and she was fantastic. She wasn't one of those phonies I worked with all the time, but a real genuine person. I knew she was what I wanted in my life, but she lived in District 4. Her family and life were there and I was here working on set. She didn't much like coming to Capitol City either. It was rough for a while trying to work it out how to spend any time together, hut we found a way. Marrying her was the best decision I ever made."
Peeta was curious after hearing the other man's tale. "How did you do it? Work it out, I mean?"
"Well," Finnick began as he stuck a fork in his chicken. "It really came to me making the realization that while Annie was firmly planted where she was, my life was a little more flexible. We compromised, and I ended up moving there to be with her. I still keep a place here while I am working, but once I am done, I go home to her. Sometimes I'm able to convince her to come with me while I'm on set, too."
"Thanks, Finn," the young actor smiled. "You've given me some things to think about."
"I'm sure you'll find a way," his friend replied. "If the girl is worth it like you say, then I know you can find an answer."
The young actor took all this in as he continued working and spending his nights talking over a screen with Katniss. He was about to offer up an idea he had in mind during one of their conversations, but his girlfriend came up with more interesting news that overrode his own. She told Peeta that something had happened at work that day.
"My manager called me in," she started. "He said that I had some leftover vacation, and wanted me to use it as soon as possible. I was thinking that I might come visit you in Capitol City if it okay with you."
Peeta couldn't contain his happiness. "Of course it's great with me. When are you thinking of coming?"
"Sometime in May?" she said questioningly.
It was mid-April now. "That would be perfect," he replied after thinking over his schedule. "I finish shooting then. Why don't you come on the 7th? That's the last day. You can see the set and what it's like filming, and then we can spend the rest of the weekend doing stuff around town."
"Okay," she replied nodding. "The 7th it is. That means I will be there for my birthday on the 8th. It would be fun to spend it with you."
"I would love celebrate your birthday with you," Peeta answered. Katniss told him she would make the flight and hotel arrangements in the next few days and they signed off in their usual way. He went to bed so impatient for her to be there with him. If it was going to be Katniss' birthday when she was here, he needed to start making plans.
Over the next weeks he focused on his work even more so that it would take his mind off waiting for May to come. He loved it as he heard her tell him about her late morning flight, and the hotel that was only a few blocks away from his house. Peeta enjoyed calling up some of the best restaurants in town to make reservations, as well as a few other surprises for his girlfriend.
The movie shoot was going extremely well, and finally the day Katniss was to arrive finally came. Peeta woke up before the sun, anticipation flowing through his body. He showered and dressed, ate breakfast, then got in his car to drive to the airport. Glasses and hat in place, he managed to sneak into the baggage area unnoticed to wait for her arrival. He heard the call that the plane had landed, then ten minutes later saw her descending the escalator.
Katniss saw him immediately, and ran over to place her arms around him. Peeta spun her around and they were both laughing. The feel of her in his arms again was amazing.
"Hey you," she said as he placed her back on the ground
"Hey yourself." Peeta kissed her with everything that a month of longing had built up. "I can't even tell you how good it is to see you."
"I know," she said quietly as he placed his forehead on hers. "It's so good to see you too."
"Let's get your bag." He directed her back to the carousel. "We need to get out of here if we are going to make it to the set before the end of the day."
They located her small blue suitcase and immediately walked out. "I'm actually really excited," Katniss gushed as the Peeta backed the car out of their parking space. "I never thought I would visit an actual movie set before."
The young man chuckled a little. "It's really not as glamorous as everyone believs. Most of the day you spend waiting around just to get one small moment filmed."
"I'm sure it's more excited than that!" Katniss argued.
"You'll see," he said as he continued to smile during their drive.
Peeta showed his badge to the security guards, who allowed the two of them entrance onto the studio lot and parked to the building where his film was being shot. They walked in together hand in hand. He was obviously not ashamed of their relationship as the actor introduced his girlfriend to the director and some of his costars.
The last person they met was Finnick. "Finn, I'd like you to meet Katniss."He smiled as his friend raised a questioning eyebrow at Peeta when he was introduced. The blonde nodded at his green eyed friend, who animatedly shook the young woman's hand.
"Well, well," the bronze Adonis looked her over. "So you're the girl who stole the heart of Mr. Big Shot here."
For a second, Katniss seemed unsure, but caught on quickly that the man was joking around. "Yeah, that's me," she said. "You must the big lug of a best friend Peeta's been telling me about."
"Whatever he has told you is a complete fabrication." Finnick replied.
The young woman couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure it is."
"Well, good luck to you handling this goofball" the actor continued. "You have your hands full with his nonsense."
"Nah," Katniss said looking with complete admiration at her boyfriend. "I think I can handle him."
Finnick couldn't contain himself any longer. He laughed out loud where everyone could hear him. "Oh, you are a spitfire. You will have to meet my wife Annie sometime."
"Any woman of yours should be very interesting to meet," she answered holding out her hand. "I would like that very much."
"We'll have to do that," the young man shook and was impressed by her firm grip. "It was nice meeting you Katniss."
"You too, Finnick." Peeta watched the entire exchange in awe. As his friend walked away, he notice the bronzed haired man turn one last time and wink at him. From that look, Peeta noted that his friend obviously gave his approval.
Next, there was a tour of the set and of Peeta's trailer. He enjoyed seeing the amazement on Katniss' face as she took it all in. He remembered that feeling well from the first time he had been on set. Finally, he found her a chair to sit in and watch while he got through makeup and costuming to shoot his scene. It went smoothly and eventually all the shots were completed. The director called a wrap and they were let go.
Peeta took Katniss to her hotel to check in and clean up, and they came back together later for dinner. Over seafood, he asked her about the experience.
'What did you think of being on set?"
"It was amazing," she said honestly. "I had no idea what all went on. You were great, by the way. It was interesting watching you. When you acted, it was physically you, but at the same time not you. I could tell it was a completely different person. You are more compassionate and self-assured than the character."
He was impressed at how she was able to pick that all up just from watching. They continued their meal and discussion until Katniss was about to pass out from exhaustion. He took her back to sleep, but quickly retrieved her in the morning. This time, he brought her to his own condo.
"I made breakfast," he told her assuredly. He lifted the cloth off a platter to reveal what he had made that morning.
Katniss laughed. "Cheese buns! I hope these are as good as you claim they are."
"Better," Peeta replied.
They ate up the food voraciously, then lazily spent the day by his pool. She swam for a while, and then sat beside him as he was reading a script.
"Haymitch said this one is Oscar worthy," he told her.
"Let me hear it then." He read the dialogue out loud to her, giving background on the plot. She listened as he played teh different parts. When he was done she noted, "I think Haymitch is right. You should do it."
"I don't know," he was hesitant. "It would be different. I'm so used to the romantic comedies. This would really be a shift."
"I think you would be great," she encouraged. "It will be good for people to see a different side of you."
He nodded as if to tell her that he would think about it. They cooked hamburgers on the grill and took a walk on the beach to look at the stars. Before dropping her off at the hotel that evening, Peeta told her that a car would be picking her up the next morning for her birthday surprise. She was just to dress casual. She joked that she would obey his command and kissed him before heading in.
The next day, Peeta waited nervously throughout hoping that everything was going according to his plan. He called and continually heard that all was well. In the afternoon he got himself ready. He dressed in a suit with blue dress shirt and headed to the most elegant restaurant in the Capitol. With a rose in hand, he waited until Katniss walked in to see the candlelit restaurant.
"Oh!" was all she could say at first. Peeta walked over and gave her the rose. Taking her hand, he led her over to the table where dinner was set up. She was wearing a light purple dress with spaghetti straps and strappy heels. Katniss looked stunning. The food was excellent and he knew he had won when she took her first bit and gave an "Mmmm."
"So," he said smugly, "I assume you've had a good birthday?"
"It's been great," she enthused. "It started with a massage, which was heavenly, by the way. Then I got a manicure and pedicure. Then, I got whisked off to the nicest clothing store in the country to pick out this outfit, followed by another salon visit with the top hair and makeup designers. Then, to top it all off, the most delicious food I have ever tasted and you. Yeah, I'd have to say that it's been the best birthday."
"I'm glad," Peeta chuckled. "It's not over yet, either."
"Really?" she said in amazement. "What more could there be?"
He smiled secretively and said, "Just eat your dessert and I'll tell you when you're done."
She followed his instructions, and when the food was cleaned up, he gave her a small bag. Katniss was made to change into the clothes that were in the bag for the next part of the evening. She looked at him suspiciously, but went to the bathroom. Peeta changed himself, then met her and took her outside. Waiting there was a motorcycle, shiny and beautiful.
"Ever been on one?" he asked her.
"No," she replied, "but I get the feeling I'm about to." Peeta smiled as he gave her a helmet and they got on. He started it up and drove off. He could feel Katniss place her arms around his waist, putting them even closer as he picked up speed. He drove up into the hills and the peaceful feeling of the drive overtook them both. She placed her head on his shoulder and he could feel her relax with each mile.
Finally, he came to the spot. It was a cliff at the highest point of the hills, directly overlooking the entire city. He stopped and turned off the engine. Peeta found that he had timed it perfectly. Within a few minutes, the colors of the sky changed to their soft orange hue as the sun set in front of them. He watched her eyes take in the beauty of the moment.
"Happy Birthday Katniss," he whispered in her ear.
"Thank you," she replied "You made it so special. Everything has been just amazing."
"You're welcome." Peeta let the moment go silent, but then decided it was now or never. He looked directly into her grey eyes and said, "I love you."
Her gaze met his exactly as she responded, "I love you too." Peeta leaned in and kissed her more passionately than any they had shared before. He wondered how he would ever let her leave after this.