Chapter 17

Dinner was served at the little iron table Peeta had out on the balcony. The weather could not have been more perfect, and the lamb stew with dried plumbs Peeta served was possibly the best thing Katniss had ever tasted, next to cheese buns.

After dinner, several beers and lots of laughing and talking, the two headed off on a short walk to the concert venue. Katniss could hardly believe some of the things she was willing to tell Peeta about her private life. For some reason he just made her feel at ease and she was willing to open up with him more than anyone before. And Peeta was so sweet and funny that she found herself smiling almost nonstop.

She didn't even think twice when he reached for her hand as they made their way down the sidewalk, headed toward the warehouse district where the concert was being held. She let his fingers close over hers and her smile grew even wider.

The concert venue was small and thus crowded, but it led to an intimate feeling for the audience. Peeta had purchased pretty good seats, about 8 rows back, and the two soon found themselves dancing along with the rest of the concert-goers to song after song. Katniss couldn't help herself-the music and the atmosphere and Peeta's comforting presense all combined to make her feel so relaxed that she started singing along to the lyrics. It wasn't until she noticed Peeta's mouth hanging open in awe that she suddenly stopped singing, her furious blush well hidden in the darkened venue.

"Don't stop!" Peeta called to her over the loud music that pumped through the concert hall. "You're voice is amazing!" Shyly, Katniss took up the chorus once again, glancing at Peeta with a small smile and gaining confidence from the intense look of adoration in his eyes. He was flushed and sweating from the dancing and the crowd and she thought he had never looked so attractive as he did in that moment. Their eyes stayed locked on one another as she sang out the remainder of the song, and even after it ended and there was a brief hush among the crowed as the band qued up for the next song, they remained transfixed.

"What?" she finally asked, noticing the way the blue in his eyes had been practically eclipsed by the dark center of his pupils.

"You're so lovely," he answered, just before he leaned down and surprised her with the gentle touch of his lips. Katniss felt that unexpected warmth flood her body again and she responded to his kiss without hesitation. The moment was over quickly, ending abruptly once the band struck up the next song. Katniss found she could not keep the grin off her face as she began to sway to the music once again. A glance at Peeta revealed that he was also grinning ear to ear and Katniss bumped his hip in a friendly gesture before raising her clear, melodic voice to join the enthusiastic crowd.

They danced side by side the rest of the concert and when it was clear that there would be no more encores, they moved out of the building and into the refreshing, cool night air along with the rest of the audience.

Katniss expelled a long breath into the dark, "That was SO much fun, Peeta, thank you." As she spoke she turned to him, grabbing his hand first this time. Together they strolled back toward his apartment, arms swinging lightly between them.

"It was amazing," Peeta agreed. "I had no idea you had such a beautiful voice. You know I'm going to make you sing for me all the time now." He flashed her one of his mega-watt smiles.

Katniss chuckled. Her face had started to actually ache from all the smiling, but she just couldn't stop. "If I'm going to sing for you all the time, does this mean you plan to be hanging around me more often?" she teased.

"It does, actually," Peeta replied and she could hear the smile in his voice, even in the dark. "That is, if you'll allow it."

"I'll allow it," Katniss replied, and gave his hand a meaningful squeeze.

...

The next morning Katniss slept in later than usual. She woke with the barest grasp on what she had been dreaming, but she knew it had been happy and warm and it definitely had something to do with Peeta. She stretched her arms overhead and immediately thought about heading to the coffee shop for a chai tea, and to see Peeta, of course. The idea of seeing him again had her bouncing out of bed with excitement.

She threw on some clothes, grabbed her house key and was almost out the door when the idea of seeing him again so soon actually stopped her in her tracks. Who was this person that was literally running out the door to see a boy? Katniss hardly recognized this version of herself and she felt suddenly overwhelmed by her feelings for Peeta. How did she grow to care for him so quickly?

Typically this is when Katniss would withdraw from the situation, her feelings causing her to be confused and unsure. She set her keys down near the kitchen sink and rested her arms on the counter, sighing as she looked out the window. 'What if he doesn't feel the same way?' she thought.

Almost on cue, she heard the ding of her phone that indicated a new text message. She fished the phone out of her pocket and saw that it was from Peeta. He had sent her a photo of a painting. The painting was simple: a bright yellow dandelion that stood out in a field of green, the sun shining down on it from above. Under the photo, his text message read: "Good morning! I hope I didn't wake you. Just wanted to say last night was perfect and I can't wait to see you again. Is now too soon?"

Katniss let out a loud, disbelieving laugh. Leave it to Peeta to make her feel secure in her feelings. He wanted to see her just as badly as she wanted to see him, and the knowledge warmed her all the way through, just as the sun warmed the yellow bloom on the photo of the painting she was sure he had made himself.

She didn't need to pretend anymore; She wanted him in her life and she wanted him to know it. She set out on a brisk walk toward the coffee shop, intent on having a chai tea made by her favorite barista in the world.

Peeta was already untying his apron when she came through the door. His entire face lit up when he saw her. "Perfect timing," he said, handing her the chai tea latte he had just finished making.

"How did you know?" Katniss asked, bewildered but delighted.

"I didn't," he said. "I was just hoping you'd come, and if you didn't I was planning to bring the tea to you if necessary. I meant it when I said I couldn't wait to see you again."

Katniss drew in a deep breath, and before she could talk herself out of it she leaned up on her tip toes to plant a firm kiss on his mouth, surprising them both.

Peeta laughed, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. "I'm finished here. Are you up for a picnic?"

Katniss nodded happily.

...

Peeta packed up a few items he had set aside in the back of the coffee shop. He had apparently been planning to ask her on a picnic all along. Together they headed off on a walk to the same park he had taken her to all those months before. There in the hidden garden, they unpacked their lunch and shared it along with an abundance of laughter and kisses.

When they were full and the sun was still high, Katniss lay her head in Peeta's lap while he ran his fingers through her hair, untangling it piece by piece while she let her thoughts drift happily. "Can I sketch you?" Peeta asked. "Later, I mean. At home." Katniss turned so she could see his face. "Yes," she answered, contented with the idea of spending all her free moments with Peeta from this moment on.

He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, then returned to his movement in her hair. "I wish I could freeze this moment...and live in it forever," Peeta whispered, his words echoing her thoughts.