-Chapter XIV-

Katniss is standing outside of the diner, waiting for Peeta. She feels excited and anticipation to see his face again. As she continues to look on, she saw Gale approaching.

"Hey'a jerk." She greeted him smirking, not trying to hide her voice having the tone of mockery.

"Great," Gale covered his face with one hand trying to hide his face showing any kind of embarrassment, "She told you huh."

"Well, she told me how you tried to explain yourself out of your obvious cheating and got you a respond of her telling you to shove it up your ass." Katniss said smiling widely at Gale, who's clearly embarrassed as she carries on of teasing him.

Gale sighs, "Would you stop mocking me? I'm already six feet under here. And you're supposed to be on my side."

She chuckled, "Says who? You brought this on yourself brother. And quite frankly, you're lucky Jo let you live."

"She didn't even let me explain." Gale reached for his nape and continue to look down avoiding Katniss' stare.

Katniss is really astonished as to how her cousin can be a complete idiot, "Explain what? How you slipped and fall into that tramp's mouth? You were caught red-handed. I doubt that whatever smartass explanation you have in mind is going to work."

Gale looked up and gape at her, "Hey! It wasn't my fault. And why are you being snarky?"

Katniss scoffed, "Really? You have to ask? You know I hate cheaters Gale! Why did you have to be one! And whose fault is it if it's not yours? You're better than this Gale, are you actually getting your brain drained at work that you have none left when you're not working?"

Before Gale can answer, they were interrupted by Peeta, "Something wrong?"

Katniss turn to look at Peeta who's staring at her and Gale, "No. Everything's cool." She cleared her throat and reach for Peeta, "Um- Peeta, this is my cousin Gale. Gale, Peeta."

"Hey." Gale nod at Peeta.

"Hi." Peeta reach out a hand for Gale and they shook hands, "Peeta Mellark."

"Let's go in." said Katniss. Before she and Peeta go inside, she turn to see Gale leaving, "Aren't you going in?"

"I'd rather not. I should wait until things cool down."

Katniss sighs and walk towards Gale, "Come 'on, they're still your friends."

"I know. I just don't have the balls to face Johanna now." Gale gently rubbed his eyes, "Catnip, if it's not too much to ask can you do me a favor?"

She continues to look at her cousin who's also looking at her intently.

"I know, you're mad at me right now. But I was hoping you can help me. Please."

Katniss knows that Gale can be a jerk, but she also knows that he's good for Johanna. She can see that Gale loves Johanna and for this one, she might be mad at him for cheating on her friend, but she also knows that Gale would stop at nothing to make things right, "What is it?"

She saw Gale's face light up, "Can you please tell Johanna that I really am sorry. And I'll be waiting until she's willing to talk to me again."

Katniss sighs and hug her cousin, "Okay."

Gale smiled at her, "Thanks Catnip." He then turned to Peeta who's looking at them, "Anyway, nice to finally meet you man."

Peeta nod and give Gale a small smile, "You too."

"I'll see you Catnip."

"See you."

When Gale is out of sight, Katniss and Peeta go inside and head towards the booth where her friends are sitting.

Her friends stopped chattering when they saw them approaching. She swears she heard Johanna and Madge gasp, "Hey guys, this is Peeta."

Katniss don't know if she's going to laugh or what by the look of Johanna and Madge's faces. She turn to look at Peeta, who's staring at them with a confused look.

He shifted to her and lean closely to her, "What's with them?" he whispered.

Katniss let out a small laugh and shrug before looking at Cinna, who's grinning at the corner staring at Johanna and Madge. Cinna glanced at Katniss, "Do something." She mouthed at him.

Cinna smiled and snap his finger in front of the two ladies, "Okay girls. Wake up!"

Johanna and Madge slightly shook their head. Johanna stood up and offered her hand to Peeta, "Sorry, it's not every day we see a God. Johanna Mason."

Peeta chuckled and took her hand, "Thank you. I'm quite flattered."

Cinna moved slightly so that Peeta can sit beside Katniss. Peeta, extended his hand to Cinna and Madge. Johanna then hailed for a waitress so that they can all place their order. Katniss can't help but feel pleased as to how her friends are treating Peeta. Johanna and Madge, clearly can't both take their eyes off at him.

"So, Peeta, what do you do for work?" asked Cinna. As their food is slowly being served.

"I work at a bakeshop." Peeta answered with a smile on his face, "It's a family business."

"You bake?" asked Madge.

"Ah- Yeah. I've been taught how to bake since I was 5."

"Nice," said Johanna, "Maybe sometime you can show me how to bake." She said with a flirty expression on her face.

Katniss is amused to not even care of Johanna hitting on Peeta. She and Cinna would just look at each other and let out a small laugh.

Peeta just chuckled, "So um- what about you guys? What do you do?"

"I own a boutique, I design clothes." Said Cinna.

"Wow." Peeta said under his breath.

"I work as his assistant." Said Madge not bothering to look away from her food, clearly avoiding eye contact with Peeta.

"Well, I," Johanna started, "Work with Katniss."

"Really? You're a lawyer too?" asked Peeta. His tone shows a hint of surprise.

"Okay, why is that surprising?"

"Nothing." Peeta smiled and looked at Katniss.

Cinna laughed, "You gotta admit Jo, it is quite surprising."

Johanna rolled her eyes at him, "So Peeta, how is your new heart working for you?"

"Jo!" Katniss' voice is exasperated, "You don't ask questions like that!"

"No, it's okay," Peeta said smiling at Katniss, before turning to Johanna, "It's been going well actually."

"How about when you first had it transplanted?" Cinna asked, "Did you feel any different?"

"Not really, although, I can't shake off the habit of anticipating any heart failure that may happen at any moment."

Katniss just continued to look on her friends questioning Peeta. She's feeling angry at her friends but also feels eagerness to hear Peeta's answers. She have her hands fisted in her lap when she felt a hand hold them. She looked down to see Peeta's hand enclosed at hers.

Katniss look up to see Peeta's face flushed and smiling at her sweetly. The anger she's feeling slowly vanished and started to feel calm. She smiled back at him, equaling his sweet one.

They stayed staring at each other when the realization slowly sink on her and turn to look at her friends who's looking at them, grinning. She felt her face get hot.

After a while, it's already time for them to return to work. Cinna and Madge made their way back to his shop.

"I'll go on ahead." Said Johanna winking at Katniss. She then hailed a cab and immediately get on it.

Peeta walked Katniss to her car, "Your friends are really nice."

"Really? You're not just saying that?" Katniss asked raising an eyebrow at him.

"Well, if I have to admit it, Johanna seems a lot of work." He said, slightly hesitant.

Katniss laughed, "You're not wrong there."

Peeta felt glad to hear Katniss' laughter. He reach to grab her hand and grip it gently as they are closing in on where she parked her car, "Although, I think you two best complement each other's character."

"Is that so?"

"Well, yeah. Cinna and Madge are like in the neutral zone."

Katniss chuckled and reach for her keys, "Anyway, are you going back at your shop?"

Peeta sighs, "Yeah, I kind of just asked my brother to look after it. It's his day off, so…"

"Oh, sorry."

"Don't be, I'm glad I got to see you today."

Katniss smiled at him and reach to open her door, but Peeta beat her to it, "Well then, I'll go now."

"Okay, drive safely."

Peeta still holding Katniss hand, he tug it gently so that she would face him as he forms himself to kiss her on the cheeks. Katniss is expecting it so she move to turn to him, but what would be a simple good bye kiss on the cheek is not what greeted them.

As Katniss turn to face Peeta, their lips met. And not Peeta nor Katniss wants to break off the kiss.

Peeta slowly shut his eyes and cup Katniss' face. She also let her eyes close, as her lips continues to kiss Peeta's. She felt her arms move on their own as they make their way around Peeta's neck. He then clutch her by the waist with one hand and the other holding Katniss' head.

They both felt their breathing getting heavy as Katniss slightly open her mouth as she felt Peeta's tongue brushed her upper lip. She can feel their body is now close to each other.

Peeta is about to enter Katniss' mouth with his tongue when they heard a phone ring. They both stopped and look at each other. Both breathless and flushed. Peeta slowly, let go of Katniss. She let go of Peeta and reach for her phone.

"What?"

"What do you mean what? Where are you? You're going to be late!"

"Right, I'll be right there."

"Did something happen? Tell me!"

She dismissed the call and turn to Peeta, "It was Jo. I have to go."

Peeta nod, "Of course."

Before Katniss get on her car she again put her arms around Peeta and kiss him sweetly. She smiled at him at put her forehead against his, "I'll see you soon."

Peeta also smiled and put his arms around Katniss, "Very soon."