I just stand there. Dazed, out of thoughts, and no way that my brain could convince me to move from this spot. She smiled at me, she actually smiled! I broke her, I broke Katniss Everdeen! I broke through her protective walls that block everyone out, even the people that love her dearly. I just look around and take in my surroundings, the sunset is blooming, the orange of it just dazes me, the wind blows softly and just moves my hair out of my face. This day, this wonderful day in fall I will remember. I will remember it as the day Katniss Everdeen thanked and smiled at me, with such genuine that my heart melted. I breathe in the cool air and realize I should be heading home. The last thing I want is for my mom to decide that today is a good day for a beating. I walk back home, quickly because my day went great I don't wan't my day to get ruined. I can still feel the pain from the last time my mom hit me. She hit me with a hot pan fresh out of the oven, I can still feel the burn stinging my body as it slammed against me, like a child touching a stove for the first time times ten.
I am eventually standing outside my front door dreading the screams I'll face walking in. I'm fifteen minutes late, great! Last time my brother was fifteen minutes late he had purple bruises in every place possible, maybe my mom will be nice today. I laugh at my own thoughts. I walk in and everybody's at the dinner table as silent as usual, unless my mother is screaming. I look at my mother she is the only one who hasn't turned her head to stare at me. Even worse than I thought, she won't even look at me this can't be good!
"In your room now! No dinner and I'll deal with you later!" I nod my head and shuffle upstairs. I should've seen it coming. I sit on my bed and shake my leg as I wait, who knows how long she'll keep me waiting, knowing my mother she won't even come and beat me in the morning. That wouldn't be surprising. I try to sleep but I can't knowing my mom could barge in at any minute. I decide to go and talk to her.
"Mother?" She is sitting on our couch, hands in face and obviously frustrated.
"What!" She spat. Her eyes are narrowed, her voice fierce, but she looks like she's in the middle of a mental breakdown.
"About tonight -"
"You better not have been with that poor, dirty, seam brat! I warned you!"
"No mother!" I lied. "I had a delivery out in the Seam for some sort of celebration. How they could of afford that would've fooled me, if I didn't see it myself!" A pang of guilt swept through me, how could I say that! Of course, it had no meaning behind it but still that was cruel! My mother gave me a wicked grin. I could see her crooked, yellowed teeth, gray hairs escaped her hat, wrinkles covered her face and she had a wicked look placed impermanently in her eyes.
"I'm glad you finally learned your lesson about those disgusting people, Peeta. They are no good for you! They only get you in trouble and no where in life! Not worst wasting time over! Now, because you learned a valuable lesson, I will excuse your absence. Just don't let it happen again!" She warned. I nod my head and walk back into my room, her words echoing in my head. "Disgusting people, not worst wasting time over, valuable lesson." I can't believe her! She treats human beings like scum because of the family they were born into! Katniss is sweet and kind, but my mother would never know what people in the Seam would be like. Sometimes, I swear her heart froze one day causing all sympathy, no humanity to escape her soul. My fist clenched with anger and my face red, I stood up and punched a hole in my wall. My dad walked in on the scene and gave me a look and a sad smile.
"Sit, Peeta." He said as he sat on my bed and patted the spot next to him. My father had blonde hair with little gray ones just barely showing, he was strong and built even in his old age, he still had the softest blue eyes but his worry wrinkles that formed over years made me feel guilty for not being a better son. I always felt like I could do more but never did. I sat down next to him and he stared at me.
"Now tell me son, what do you think about coal?"
"Coal?" I repeat. "Coal, it's black and dark, dirty, and just ugly lumps of rock."
"Ok, what does coal do?"
"It ignites a flame."
"What do you think about flame?"
"Flame, it is beautiful. It is warmth, and pulls people towards it, together. Flame can make several people into one. But flame can cause much harm."
"What do you do to keep it from causing harm?"
"You contain it, not extinguish but contain."
"So the beauty of it is always there." He explains. " So, remember son, good things can come out of the less beautiful things in life. Don't let your mom convince you any different." I nod. I just walked him walk out the door without a word left to say. My father always knew what to say. He was a man of wise words. Katniss was my coal and my fire and my father must've heard what I said about the people in the Seam. I thought about Katniss's mother a perfect example, she ran of with a coal miner for love not looks or wealth and I knew that when he sang even the birds stopped to listen and I knew just like Katniss's mother I was a goner. I fell asleep with my fathers words rumbling through my head and I knew I couldn't give up on Katniss even if I didn't have my moms approval.

I woke up to the sound of the birds singing a simple tune and the sun shining through my window, what a perfect day, too bad I had to spend it stuck in a bakery. I shuffle downstairs dreading today, I had five cakes for delivery by the end of the day, at least my brother Robert. I walk downstairs and walk in the kitchen, Robert is pacing back and forth like a madman.
"What's wrong Robert?" I regret asking. He looks up at me and I can tell he is distressed.
"I have a d-date." He stumbles on the word date and blushes quickly. "She's really pretty and this is my only chance but mom made me work today! Can you cover my shift today?" He looks at me with pleading eyes like some of the children that look at the cakes in the window and I reluctantly nod. He smiles the biggest smile I've ever seen and bolts out the door and now I am left alone.
Hours have passed and I've finished three out of the fives cake due for tonight. I sigh and decide to take a short break. I walk out from the kitchen and glance outside my window, the street is empty and I feel like I'm wasting my time. As soon as I walk back into the kitchen I hear the bell on our door signaling that we have I visitor. I am truly shocked and I'm sure she can see that on my face. She stands before me wearing her dads old hunting jacket, boots, green pants and a plain black shirt, she shifts uncomfortably as I stand before her truly surprised.
"Well, hello Katniss!" I greet her. I smile and she seems a little more comfortable and half smiles.
"Hi Peeta just decided I'd stop by and say hi. It seemed pretty dead in here." She glances around the room then at me again. I feel like she's waiting for me to say something but I'm not sure what to say.
"I was just making cakes want to see?" She nods her head and I lead her into the kitchen, she seems quite impressed with my work and freezes.
"You made this?"
"Uh... yeah" I smile sheepishly and I felt like a twelve year old with a crush again and I suddenly have a fascination with my feet.
"It's beautiful, Peeta!" She exclaims I blush and she seems to notice because she does too. I laugh nervously and we sit in silence for a while before she speaks up.
"Peeta..." she starts but her words trail off.
"Yes Katniss?" I suddenly feel nervous and my palms start to sweat and I shift, I hope she doesn't notice.
"Would you like to go hunting with me on Sunday?" She blurts out. She covers her mouth like she can't believe she said it, I can't believe she said it either. I can't respond it's like my tongue became paralyzed my brain unable to function. Finally, she gives up and get up to leave with a heavy sigh. I can't let her leave!
"Katniss," she looks over her shoulder and raises her eyebrows waiting for a response. "Yes, I'll go with you on Sunday." Suddenly a smile gently tugs on her lips and she nods. "See you on Sunday, Peeta." Then she walks off and left me in shock. Finally, I get to spend time with Katniss Everdeen.
I finish my other two cakes with ease, suddenly inspired and blissful. My brother, Robert walks through the door and I immanently rush to him.
"Hey, Robert! Do you think that because I covered your shift today you could cover mine on Sunday. I-I'm going...out." He looks at me curiosity plastered all over his face but instead of giving me a hard time he nods and says, "Of course, lil bro!"
He walks off with a smile and so do I, I can'y believe it in just two days I'll be in the forest, alone with Katniss Everdeen. My heart starts to beat faster and I smile until my cheeks hurt but then I realize something, did Katniss Everdeen just ask me out? No, Peeta! Stop acting crazy it was just a friendly gesture, right? It's not a date! Katnniss and I are just hunting together, she did that all the time with Gale and the had nothing but a friendship. It's not a date? Right! Right?