Morning felt like it came awfully early that day. They had stayed up so late fooling around after the party, that neither one of them got very much sleep.
Peeta looked at the clock, yawned and stretched. He so did not want to get out of this warm bed right now, but he knew he needed to. He had a feeling it was going to be a busy day, especially if the mayor was right about the party guests wanting to stop by and see what kind of goodies he had in the bakery.
He looked over at Katniss, who was sleeping peacefully next to him. She hadn't woken up screaming last night, and he was happy about that. It seemed like her nightmares about the Games were getting less frequent. He hoped that it meant that one day she would be able to leave all those horrific memories in the past, and stop reliving them night after night.
Peeta lay there for a while, just watching her sleep, stroking her soft hair. The only thing that kept him from suffering as much as she did was that he had a very different perspective on their experience. Katniss saw things very matter-of-factly... that she just happened to be lucky enough to survive, to live and breathe another day. For her, even after winning, the fear never really went away. It imprisoned her.
For him, winning the Games didn't just mean that he had escaped death. Peeta understood that winning had truly blessed his life. It had given him everything he could have ever wanted but never would have dreamed possible... this beautiful house, his bakery, a life of love shared with Katniss. He would go through it all again, if this was the reward at the end.
Reluctantly, Peeta decided he really needed to get out of bed. He made his way into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. The warm water was refreshing, but he still only felt half awake. He leaned his forehead against the tile wall and closed his eyes, letting the water pour over his body.
"Rough night?" asked a voice behind him.
He nearly jumped a mile as Katniss appeared in the shower door.
"Oh! You scared me!" Peeta said, laughing, as he slapped his hand to his heart.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I woke up when I heard the shower start, and I thought maybe you might like some company... you know, help you wash your back or...whatever..." she trailed off as she looked his body up and down.
He smiled and rolled his eyes. "Come on in, then!" he invited her.
"Did you sleep well?" Katniss asked him, as she stepped into the shower.
"Yes, just not enough of it!" he replied, hugging her close. "You?"
"Yes. No nightmares!" she said happily. She gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "Now turn around and I'll wash your back."
Peeta turned around, and Katniss lathered up her hands with lots of soap. She massaged her hands all over his back, which was quite muscular from all the heavy lifting he did in the bakery. He had to admit, he was very much enjoying the back rub.
Then Peeta felt her reach around his front and wrap her hand, slippery with soap lather, around his dick.
"And there's the naughty girl I know!" joked Peeta.
"Mmmm-hmmm..." she said into his ear.
"You do know I have to get to work soon, right, my love?" he asked sarcastically.
"Don't worry," she teased. "I don't think this will take long."
"Not with your talented hand!" he replied, smiling.
She began stroking him, gently at first. The soap suds made her hand very slippery, and it felt incredibly good to Peeta, as she slid her fingers up and down his shaft.
"Mmmm, I could get used to this sort of wake up call..." he sighed.
She grasped him a little harder and stroked a little faster. Just as she'd predicted, it didn't take very long before he was approaching his release.
She whispered, "Let me know when you're getting close and I'll finish you off with my mouth."
"Now might be good!" he panted.
She quickly rinsed the soap off of him, knelt down in front of him, and took him in her mouth. He moaned as she sucked him hungrily. A few moments later, she swallowed down his load as he finished in her mouth.
"Wow," he sighed, "That was certainly a nice way to start the day! I can't exactly say I really feel like going to work now, though. I'd rather be going back to bed with you and returning the favor...I'll have to owe you one." he told her, as he stepped out of the shower and handed her a towel.
"If I remember correctly, you still owe me a night of pleasuring for the work I did at the bakery yesterday!" she said in a teasing voice, wrapping herself in the towel.
"Oh yeah," he said. "Well, I'll have to pay you that debt later tonight."
"Speaking of work," Katniss said, more seriously this time, "Do you need me to come down and help you out today? I know you said that it might be a busy day."
"Well, yeah, actually, if you're willing, I probably could use some extra help. That would be great!"
An hour later, they had the bakery open, and things were already getting busy. Peeta was working like crazy, baking fresh pastries and muffins, and Katniss was greeting the customers and filling their orders from all the delicious choices in the display counter. Just as the mayor had predicted, Peeta recognized several of this morning's customers from the party last night.
At one point, Katniss looked up to help the next customer in line and noticed that it was none other than the capitol official who had caught them in the bathroom last night. Katniss instantly blushed scarlet red with embarrassment.
"Good morning," she said shyly. "How can I help you?"
"Ha ha, just look at the two of you lovebirds, working side by side! A perfect team!" he boomed, with a huge smile.
Katniss smiled, grateful for his friendliness.
"Tell me, dear, do you two do everything together?" he asked.
"Pretty much!" she replied. "We never seem to tire of each other's company."
"Well, keep up that spirit, young lady, and you'll have a long, happy life together!" he said.
"Thank you," she said, smiling warmly. "Now what kind of goodies can I get for you?"
The official picked out several types of pastries and cookies, which Katniss wrapped neatly in a box and handed to him.
"My wife will just love these!" he said. "Before I forget, take this-" he said to Katniss, as he handed her a business card with his name on it. Bartlett Harrington, it read. "If you ever find yourselves in the capitol, do look me up! The missus would just be over the moon to meet the two of you! She was a big fan of yours during the Games! She can't resist a good love story!"
"Thank you, Mr. Harrington! We'll do that!" she replied, with a warm smile. She liked this man. He seemed very kind and sincere, not phony and pretentious like most of the people she'd met from the capitol.
"Take care of each other!" he yelled to her as he walked out the door.
This was turning out to be an interesting morning.
The next couple that walked into the bakery was... Haymitch and Effie?
Peeta and Katniss glanced at each other, with knowing grins on their faces. They approached the counter together to greet the unusual pair.
Katniss wanted so badly to tease and poke fun at Haymitch about them showing up together, but she knew better than to do it with Effie at his side. That would surely be considered "bad manners". She forced herself to keep the conversation light and pleasant... there figured there would be plenty of time to press Haymitch for details later.
"Good morning!" Peeta greeted them warmly. "What a nice surprise to see the both of you at the same time! And so early in the morning, no less!"
Haymitch narrowed his eyes at Peeta. "Yeah, well Miss Trinket here was on her way to the train to head back to the capitol, and wanted to stop by here to get some snacks for the trip..."
Effie broke in to finish the story. "Haymitch was kind enough to offer to walk me to the bakery and then see me off at the train station. Isn't that so kind of him?"
"Oh yes!" Katniss agreed. "How kind of you, Haymitch! So nice of you to look out for your friend!"
"Sure, sweetheart. Nice is my middle name." replied Haymitch.
Effie picked out what she wanted, and Katniss packed it up for her.
"Well, I'm afraid we must be going!" Effie chirped. "Can't be late for the train! Bye bye!"
She waved at them and then pranced out the door, followed by Haymitch.
Peeta and Katniss looked at each other, trying to stifle a laugh.
"You really think?" Peeta asked her. "The two of them? You think they hooked up? Or is this Haymitch actually just trying to be nice for once?"
"I don't know," Katniss said. "They did look pretty cozy last night, and then they show up here so early today? Haymitch is usually still passed out at this hour!"
Peeta just shrugged his shoulders. "Guess we'll find out eventually!"
They got back to work, as another group of customers walked in the door.
Peeta's business was booming. It continued like that all day, and the next day, and the next day.
Soon Katniss found herself helping out in the bakery daily.
After a few weeks of her being there every single day, Peeta began to suspect that something was up with her. He wasn't complaining, because he loved having her by his side all day, but it just wasn't like her. Usually she preferred to be outdoors as much as possible. She didn't like to be confined inside all the time.
Over breakfast one morning, Peeta finally decided to ask her what was going on.
"Katniss, why haven't you seen Gale lately?" he asked.
Katniss almost choked on her breakfast. "What?" she sputtered.
"You have been working with me every single day for three weeks now. Don't get me wrong, I love having you around to help, but I know it's not really your favorite thing. You haven't even mentioned Gale in ages, and you obviously haven't been out hunting with him. So what's the deal? You guys have a falling out or something?"
Katniss' heart was pounding so loudly in her chest that she could hear her pulse in her ears.
"You could say that." she said.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Peeta asked.
Not really... she thought to herself. But I guess the time has come.
There was a long pause while she considered what to say.
"Let's just say that he had gotten a little too... envious of you, and I didn't like it."
"What do you mean?" Peeta asked.
Are you really going to make me spell it out? She thought.
She took a deep breath. Just tell him. Tell him the truth.
She sighed. "Peeta, the last time I saw Gale, he kissed me."
"What? He kissed you? Like a "you're more than my friend" kind of kiss?"
"Yes, like that." she replied.
"I thought you said he didn't see you like that."
"Peeta, I was as shocked and surprised as you are. He told me that he had feelings for me. He told me..." she trailed off.
"Told you what?" he asked.
Just say it Katniss, you owe it to him to know the whole truth.
"He told me that he wanted me to break up with you... that I should be with him instead."
Peeta didn't say anything for a while. He just sat back in his chair, quietly considering this new revelation. His silence was driving Katniss crazy.
She spoke again to break the uncomfortable silence. "I told him that I loved you and I wasn't going to leave you, and I haven't seen him since. That's why I haven't been going out to the woods. I'm avoiding Gale."
"Do you plan on just avoiding him forever?" Peeta asked.
"I don't know, maybe. If that's what I need to do."
"Katniss, that's not realistic. You can't hide from him for the rest of your life. The district's not that big. And you can't avoid the woods forever, that's like asking you not to breathe."
"Well, until I come up with a better plan, that's what I'm going to do."
There was another long silence between them.
Then Peeta asked, "Were you ever going to tell me about it?"
She could see the hurt in his eyes.
Her own eyes started to fill up with tears. It took all her strength just to find her voice to speak.
"I didn't know how to tell you, Peeta. I didn't want to hurt you, and I didn't want you to worry, because there is nothing to worry about. I only love you. And I would never leave you, not for anyone."
"If you love me, then you need to be honest with me, even if you think I don't want to hear it." he told her.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you," she whispered hoarsely. "I just couldn't."
Peeta stood up and brought his dishes to the sink. "I've got to get to work now," he said softly.
"Do you want my help?" she whispered.
"Why don't you take today off." he replied. "I think we both could use a little time to think today."
He left for the bakery without kissing her goodbye.
Her stomach was in knots. What was she supposed to do with herself all day? Peeta wanted to be alone, so she couldn't go to the bakery, and she couldn't go to the woods because she was trying to avoid Gale. It was going to be a very long day.
She went into her bedroom, flopped herself down on her bed and cried.
She wished with all her heart that Gale had never kissed her, but it was too late for wishes.