First Train Ride With Peeta Kiss
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark sat side by side in the last car of the train taking them to the Capitol. They had yet to meet their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. Neither tribute looked at each other, and Katniss was especially stubborn. She was almost prissy in her attitude, but then again, she was usually cold towards most people.
Nevertheless, the blonde boy beside her tried to break the ice. "So have you ever met him? Haymitch?"
Katniss didn't answer, which Peeta found annoying. She didn't even look at him.
"You know, Katniss, this is scary for me too, but I don't think it's wrong to ask for a little bit of help!"
At the word 'help', Katniss turned her head to face him. She stared at him, her expression in a grim, thin line. As a flashback of lying weak in the rain and watching this same boy throw bread to her came rushing back. She had never thanked him.
So she did now. Leaning across the armrest that separated them, Katniss captured Peeta's lips in a gentle kiss.
She had never initiated a kiss before, and she was still learning how it was done. Personally, she thought her skills were awful. So it surprised her with how quickly Peeta relaxed into the kiss. But wouldn't any boy, if offered a free kiss out of the blue?
Katniss drew away with a small pop!, her expression still deliberate and serious. "Thank you," she whispered. "For saving my life all those years ago." Even if it was all for nothing now.
Peeta smiled. He must have remembered the bread, too. "You're welcome."
