By body stiffened out of fear that it was a predatory animal. "Katniss?" his voice said as he neared me. "Katniss, are you okay?" Peeta asked as he crouched down near me, reaching for my forehead. "Sae came by when you weren't home. We were worried that something had happened." My body relaxed and Peeta helped me sit up. He sat next to me and continued, "Are you okay? Did you mean to be lying on the boulder like that?" There was concern and a twinge of humor in his tone as he bumped me on the shoulder, trying to emit a response from me. "Yeah. No, I'm fine. I just fell asleep," trying to divert his attention and prying eyes. He didn't seem too convinced. "Are you sure? Your eyes look swollen. Let me look," he said as he gently takes my chin in his hand and turns it so I face him. "I'm not sure what you'll see since it's dark out here." But it wasn't. Not really at least. The moon was bright and gave off enough light that we could see each other's face. He looked into my eyes and there was sadness in them. But I just stared blankly into his. I tried not to show emotion. I loved him, I had realized it while sitting here and crying on this rock. But I knew it could never be returned. Sure, we would be the best of friends, but it would never be the same. He helped me stand up and we walked home.
As we walked he asked why I had been crying. Curse you, Peeta Mellark, for being able to tell I was crying! "I wasn't crying." "Liar," he said flatly. "I'm just sad because of everything. I'm sad that nothing is the same." "What isn't the same?" "Everything. My family's gone, my friends are gone. You're here, but not really. You don't even come see me for a month. Peeta, I can defend myself despite what you may think. If you let me be around you more I could help, believe it or not. I'm good for more than just hunting." I didn't care anymore. I let it all out." We stood there silently on my porch before Peeta opened the door and led me into the home to sit on the couch. He brought me some bread and sat down next to me.
"Katniss, I don't know what you want from me. You take care of me, but what do I do to take care of you? I hurt you. You deserve better than that. You deserve someone who will treat you better because your whole life has been hard since your dad died. How can I do that when I flip out randomly and hurt you?"
There was sadness in both of ours when I responded, "Peeta, you have always been good to me. YOU have. The Capitol hasn't. Snow hasn't. Coin hasn't. They stole you from me. But I want to get you back." He pulled me in for a tight hug and kissed my forehead before resting his cheek there. We didn't move the rest of the night. We fell asleep there on the couch. And I had no nightmares.
When I woke up Peeta looked at me and smiled, "Hi. How'd you sleep?" "Fine I guess, despite this pain in my neck," I said, beginning to rub the knot that had developed over night. He began to massage the area and my shoulders for me before pulling me in for another hug. It felt wonderful. I smiled at him and before we could get up Sae came barging through the door calling my name. "Katniss? Katniss, are you he- oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," she said, stopping in her tracks. Even if she was old you could notice her blushing.
I stood up and smiled, helping her get the table set. Peeta stood up quickly too and began helping Sae prepare breakfast, "How's your husband?" He asked, trying to deflate the awkward air in the room. "He's okay but not much better. We're going to the doctor in a few weeks to see what's wrong." We went again in silence until they finished breakfast and set it on the table. Sae excused herself and left.
"Was that as awkward for you as it was for me?" Peeta asked once the door had shut. I chuckled and nodded as I finished my food. Once we finished we stood up and headed to the sink to do the dishes. Despite the time since the last time we had done dishes together we worked together smoothly as I smiled to myself. When we finished Peeta asked me what my plan was for the day and I responded, "Definitely not go into the woods. I spent enough time there yesterday." He chuckled and nodded, confirming that that was probably a good idea. "How about you?" I asked. "Well, we've been working on the bakery. It looks pretty good. You should come see it." I eagerly accepted the invitation and asked if I had enough time to change before he left. He wouldn't have time to wait since he needed to go change and be there to meet Thom in less than half an hour. So I told him to leave, that I would meet him there, and then ran upstairs to shower and change into cleaner clothes.
As I walked towards town a few people stared but I did my best not to notice. Why do people stare anyway? Have I changed that much? I suppose so since I was again wearing the blue dress and non-hunting boots. I really should get something else to wear.
As I walked up to the bakery Peeta was helping Thom lift a pallet topped with several layers of bricks. I stopped a far way off to look so that he wouldn't notice me looking at him. For once he had on a short sleeved t-shirt. Even though the weather was starting to get cooler, it was sunny and you could tell he was sweating a little. But he did look good. I saw a few people observing me as I watched him and decided to head over to break from their suspicious glances. Peeta was carrying a large box that was obviously very heavy when he saw me and stopped to smile. Because he turned his head he didn't notice the wheelbarrow someone was pushed across his past and his grip on the box fell as both he and the contents fell to the ground.
Surprised I headed over to help him but the man with the wheelbarrow was already there helping him back up. He laughed and thanked the man and turned to me, "Maybe having you here isn't such a good idea," he said winking. I shook my head trying to ignore what he said as I walked in front of him up the steps to the bakery and opened the door for him. The bakery looked great! There was a simple coat of white paint on the walls and about four different men besides Thom were around the area finishing installation of the windows. There was a large one near the front that had another sheet of glass behind it. "That's where the decorated cakes will be displayed," Peeta pointed out to me. In the back I could hear men working in the room where Peeta said they baked. He indicated for me to follow him and I could see they were installing a second brick oven and replacing the broken parts of the original. "Peeta, this looks incredible!" I said. He proudly smiled and nodded, a sense of triumph emanating from him.
We left the back room and he led me to a set of stairs at the other end of the building. You could tell this area wasn't quite as complete but we walked upstairs and he led me into two large rooms. "This is where I want to teach. This room will be for teaching baking and the other will be for art classes." I was impressed with his idea. Although the area was definitely better off than when Panem was under Snow's control, the area was still very "utilitarian." There was the school and the medicine factory and the clinic, but other than a few shops, there weren't any other places to really go. I heard we were supposed to be getting a library, but that would take a few years. I appreciated Peeta's consideration of the community as a whole.
We walked downstairs and I sat on a pile of bricks watching Peeta and the other men buzz around me like busy worker bees. After around 45 minutes Peeta offered everyone things to drink and then came over to sit by me, offering me my own drink. As we sat there sipping the water I could feel him looking in my direction. "What?" I asked, looking at him. "Nothing, I'm just wondering what you think about all of it," he answered. I reiterated my earlier response that it looked wonderful and that I thought the class ideas were great. "I really want to make the bakery more inviting this time. You know, some place everyone feels comfortable walking into." I liked the idea and smiled as he continued telling me what would go where. Not really noticing the other men returning to work, Peeta stopped once Thom called for his attention the third time and got up to return to helping. As he reached for my cup it slipped from between our hands shattering on the concrete floor. "Maybe having me here isn't such a good idea," I said, laughing as I knelt down to help him clean it up. He laughed and I left.
I decided to explore the area more before heading back home. I wandered through an apothecary's store and a book store. When I got to a clothing store I remembered my thought to get some clothes other than the clothes I was in and the hunting clothes I wore. As I entered a woman I didn't recognize came up to me, "Oh, it's the Mockingjay," I flinched as she called me that and she changed her tone, "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." "No, it's fine, don't worry," I responded quickly. Her name was Zenobia Dunbryll and she had come from District 8. One could tell she was more fashionably attune than I was but not overly so like the people from the Capitol. I spoke with her a little while discussing what I wanted. Nothing too girly, I told her. She moped a little at this but then came out with a few outfits that I was surprised I liked. Mostly soft pants and a few tops that were comfortable as well. Definitely nothing I would go hunting in, but not bad. While I was changing she brought me something else and slipped it over the door. I bragged it without really looking and noticed it was another dress. Before I could say anything she said, "You need at least one dress. Besides, this one bring out the color in your eyes." It was a simple dress really. Nothing frilly about it. The color was a dark blue. I tried it on and liked how I looked in it.
Upon leaving the changing room she asked in anticipation what I thought and fighting the urge to show her how much I liked it, I nodded my head and said, "they work." She was excited with her choices and began to ring me up. Luckily I had money with me. She said someone would bring them by later and that she was glad she could help. Walking out of the store I appreciated the woman from 8. She was a genuinely kind person who didn't care who I was.
As I walked home I could hear someone running up behind me and turning around saw Peeta. He was jogging to catch up for I waited for him to reach me. We he slowed down he was a dusty mess and I told him so. Jokingly he came in for a hug and pretend kiss but I pushed him away telling him to go shower before coming over and dirtying my house with the sawdust from the bakery.
About an hour later he showed up clean and changed into his regular slacks and button up. I missed looking at his nice arms, but was glad to have him over regardless. Sae came over with her granddaughter and prepared food while Peeta and Sae's granddaughter played a game of keep away with a ball of yarn and Buttercup. I sat on the couch watching this happily when someone knocked on the door.
"Sweetheart," Haymitch said very confused, "I don't know if these are my size." As he held up the bag filled with my new clothes. I jumped up and grabbed them, inviting him to come in. I guess the delivery man got our houses mixed up? At my sudden movement and sight of clothing the little girl left her game with Peeta and the cat and came over to oooh and aaah over my purchases. Sae came over as well and Haymitch and Peeta sat on the couch, confused by women's amazement with new clothing. "Try them on for us, girl" Sae said, excitmenet in her voice. "No, I.." "You're gonna wear 'em sooner or later," Haymitch piped in. "Yes, please! Please!" Sae's granddaughter said. I looked at Peeta and he had a smirk on his face. "Okay, fine." I said, heading back to the bathroom.
As I came out with my different clothes on Sae and her granddaughter commented on the pants and tops while Haymitch make wisecracks. Peeta just sat there with Buttercup on his lap glancing every once in a while and politely smiling. I didn't have a lot of clothes, just a few things, but I debated not showing them the dress. Realizing it didn't really matter I put it on and headed out. "Wooow," Sae's granddaughter said. She began clapping and Sae even joined in. "This one's the winner" she said. Haymitch gave me a thumbs-up and Peeta just stared with his mouth a little open. Who knew such a simple dress could get such a reaction. I began to blush when I looked at Peeta and quickly we both looked away. I went back to the bathroom and quickly changed while listening to Sae's granddaughter and smiling, "When I grow up I want to look like Katniss. She's the most beautiful lady in the world." Sae and Haymitch chuckled at this.
We all ate dinner together that night and Peeta and I finished the dishes alone. "You did really look beautiful in that dress you know," he started. "Don't worry, no one's around, you don't have to lie," I said. He smiled and we finished the dishes. When I noticed he was getting ready to leave I pulled his arm to stop him and thanked him for his compliment. "No problem," he said. "When do you want to get started on that book?" he continued. Because I wanted my happy mood to continue I suggested, "why not right now?"