Normally, Katniss taught archery at the Y on Sunday afternoons, which is why she tried to run all her errands on Saturday. But this week Gale, another archer who taught at the Y, had asked her to switch days so he could attend a wedding with his new girlfriend Madge. Katniss and Gale had been close friends since they were both small and taking archery lessons themselves, and they had even tried dating once but that had ended after the first disastrous kiss when they both realized that it felt more like kissing a sibling.

Taking Gale's Saturday shift, meant Katniss was planning to do her grocery shopping on Sunday instead, and hence the reason she ended up in the coffee shop bright and early on Sunday morning. Despite the early hour, she was in an unusually good mood and had a wider than average smile on her face as she came through the door into the warm, aromatic place that she had come to think of as a home base of sorts. Peeta was behind the counter and he returned her smile eagerly, calling across the space to her. "Good morning Katniss! What brings you in here so early?"

"Actually," she began shyly, twisting her braid as she spoke, "I've been craving another one of those chai teas." He was watching her intently, nodding his head slightly as he listened. "Absolutely," he said, "turning to grab a fresh cup, "Do you want something to eat, too?"

"No-No thanks," she said, unconvincingly. The truth is, as inviting as the scones and other pastries always looked, they were expensive and unnecessary so she always passed. Working as a teaching assistant while she went to school for her doctorate didn't leave much room in her budget, and what little discretionary funds she had all went to her expensive caffeine habit at this coffee shop, anyway.

"Go ahead and sit down," Peeta said, giving her a friendly smile, "I'll bring it out."

"Oh, okay," she replied. No one had ever offered to do that before. Was this something they normally did for customers on Sundays or was he just being overly nice? She wondered about it to herself as she found her way to her window seat, which thankfully was free. A few minutes later he approached carrying her chai tea and something else on a plate. Her scowl formed before she could check herself.

Ignoring the look on her face, he set the plate carefully down in front of her, and said "I know you said you weren't hungry, but everyone needs breakfast and these go perfectly with the tea, I think."

"What is it?" she asked, her voice coming out slightly rude.

"It's a cheese bun," he replied eagerly, "I just took them out of the oven."

"You made this?" she questioned, still sounding more abrupt than she meant to be.

"Yeah," he said, smiling warmly down at her in a way that melted her defensiveness. "I made too many, so it's on the house." She looked into his sapphire colored eyes and saw only sincerity. Sighing, she relented. "Well, thank you," she said, but he still didn't move from his spot where he stood next to her table.

"Oh, um..." Katniss mumbled nervously and then pinched off a piece of the bun and popped it into her mouth. Warmth and flavor exploded on her tongue and she was unable to suppress a reactionary moan as a blend of melted cheeses and savory herbs assaulted her taste buds in the most tantalizing way. When she had swallowed she looked up to see Peeta grinning proudly. "Good?" he asked, although the question seemed entirely unnecessary given her reaction.

"This might be the best thing I've ever tasted," she admitted, unable to control the ridiculous grin that was overtaking her own face.

"I'm glad you like it," Peeta said, and then he turned back toward the coffee bar, walking away with what Katniss noticed was a slightly uneven gait. Halfway there he seemed to change his mind and he turned back toward her, catching her staring after him. "Just um, let me know if you need anything else Katniss," he said.

"Sure," she said, choking a bit on the word and then clearing her throat afterward. She tried not to look up at him working behind the counter too many times while she polished off the rest of the cheese bun and drank down the delicious tea.