-Chapter XV-

Katniss quickly make her way back to her cubicle after the meeting. Johanna quicken her pace to catch up with her, "Hey Everdeen!"

Katniss groan and turn around as Johanna closing in their distance, "What do you want?"

Johanna caught up with her, grinning and they both walk their way to their cubicle, "Don't be so coy. You know what I want. So what happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Means something definitely happened."

Katniss groan, "That reminds me, I talked to Gale." She glanced at Johanna and see her face turned serious.

Johanna cleared her throat, "I- I don't care."

"Really? Not even an ounce of curiosity?"

"No." Johanna's voice is firm. Katniss started to count on her mind and it took Johanna 10 seconds before turning to face her, "Dammit! What does he want?"

"Well, he asked me to tell you that he's really sorry." Katniss said as they continue to walk towards their cubicle.

"Is he now?" Johanna sighs, "That's just unfortunate. I don't accept apologies."

Katniss stopped and faced Johanna, "Come 'on Jo. You're not even giving him a chance to defend himself?"

Johanna crossed her arms in front of her, "No! A chance is only given for the sole reason of a person defending himself because of the fact that he's done nothing wrong. And Gale did something wrong! He cheated on me! So he doesn't deserve any kind of chance. For all I know, he would just use it to come up with a smartass excuse to hide his culpability!"

"Okay, I get where you're coming from. You're skeptical. But Jo, this is Gale we're talking about." Katniss can understand what Johanna's saying, but Johanna also knows Gale as well as she knows her own cousin.

"Exactly! It's Gale. Of all people, it's Gale!" Johanna looked down at the floor and shook her head, "I've put him in a pedestal Katniss." Her voice turned soft almost like a whisper.

Katniss reached to touch her friend at her back. Between the two of them, Johanna is the strong one so she cannot bear to see her friend like this. The last time she did, she wasn't able to do anything for her, "Okay, I'm not going to insist you on talking to him. For now. But please do."

"Why bother?"

Katniss sighs, "Because you both love each other. Are you really willing to just give it up like that? Are you really going to let some girl get between you and Gale?"

Johanna looked up at her. Katniss can see tears forming at her eyes, "But Katniss, he cheated on me."

"I know, and I hate him for doing that to you. But Gale is still Gale. Quite frankly, I don't think Gale would cheat on you on purpose. I don't think he would cheat on you, ever." Katniss let out a harsh breath, "Well, voluntary that is, because you know, he already did."

Johanna laughed, "You and your cousin can be both such an ass but I love you both."

Katniss joined in the laughter, "Well, I got that from you. And I'm starting to think Gale caught it too," She slightly distanced herself at her friend, "Wow! You're really contagious." She said still laughing.

"But look where it gotten you," Johanna said when they reached their cubicle and they both started to fix their things and get ready to get off work.

Katniss raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"

Johanna smirked at her, "You managed to find an extremely rare creature."

"Creature?"

"Yes! You're God of a boyfriend. Damn! I envy you! He's clearly yummy."

Katniss sneered at her friend, "He's not my boyfriend. And stop calling him that."

Johanna laughed louder, "I'm just kidding. But you got to admit, he's really hot. Managed to get me wet just by looking at his face that's clearly carved to perfection."

Katniss groan, "Ugh! Why are you so nasty?"

Johanna just laughed at her, "But kidding aside, help me out here. You let him hold your hand but he's not your boyfriend?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes at her friend, "Is that wrong? You do that all the time. You let guys who is not your boyfriend hold your hand. Come to think of it, you let them hold more than your hand."

"Hey! How is this about me?"

They both gathered their things and left their cubicle, Katniss can't help but laugh at Johanna's consistent defensiveness.

As they are closing in to the main door, Katniss saw Peeta just outside the building leaning at a motorcycle. She tried to blink spontaneously to see if what she's seeing is real, she even reached to rub her eyes when Johanna grabbed her arm.

"Isn't that Peeta?" asked Johanna.

"Oh good. You can see him too."

As soon as they exited the building, Peeta immediately approached them, "Hi."

"Hi." Katniss smiled at him, "What are you doing here?"

"Um, my dad came to the store so I get to get off early." Peeta felt his face get flushed, so he shifted his gaze at the floor, "I'm actually wondering if I could give you a ride home."

Katniss looked at Johanna who's smirking at her, nodding, and giving her a two thumbs up. She looked at Peeta again whose still looking at the floor. She take a deep breath and reach to touch him by his shoulder, "Sure."

Katniss saw Peeta's face light up and smile at her more captivating than ever. He grabbed her hand, "Is my motorcycle okay for you?"

Katniss glanced at the motorcycle parked behind Peeta. It's going to be the first for her to ride a motorcycle, Cato never allows her to ride one because he says they're completely dangerous, "Is it safe?"

Peeta can see Katniss' cautious expression, "You've never ride one before?"

"Uh- No. Cato never allows me to ride one. He said it's unsafe."

Peeta then squeezed Katniss' hand making her shift her gaze at him. He smiled at her sweetly, "Don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Katniss stare at Peeta in amazement and just nod, "What about my car?"

"Don't worry about it!" Johanna said. Katniss and Peeta both looked at her, "I can park it at my apartment, you can come get it tomorrow." She tell them and wink.

Katniss sighs, reach for her keys and toss them to Johanna, "Not one scratch! You got me?"

Johanna catches the keys, "Copy that!" then left.

After a few minutes, Katniss and Peeta arrived at her apartment. Her hands are still shaking from the motorcycle ride.

"Are you okay?" Peeta asked her with an alarmed expression.

She walked and make her way to her couch and settled her feet on coffee table, "I'll be fine."

"Sorry, I guess I should have brought my car instead of my motorcycle." Peeta sat beside Katniss and hold her hand, stroking it gently.

Katniss can feel her nerves getting calm and covered her eyes with arm, "No. I liked the ride."

Peeta chuckled, "You're just saying that."

She take a peek at Peeta not removing her arm, "Is it that obvious?"

Peeta let out a small laugh, "Don't worry, I won't bring my motorcycle next time." He then reached to remove Katniss' arm, and touch her cheeks.

Katniss closed her eyes as she felt her face getting hot from getting flushed, "That's better."

Peeta moved to bring himself closer to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. Katniss opened her eyes and looked at Peeta, who's staring at her intensely. She can feel some kind of force pulling her in. She can feel herself getting lost from his stare.

Peeta can feel his breathing get heavy as he continues to stare at Katniss' beautiful gray ones. As they both slowly closed their distance, Katniss can almost feel the hotness of Peeta's breath. With only inches apart, she wrapped her arms around his neck and close her eyes. Peeta also closed his eyes and is about to capture Katniss' lips with his when they heard a phone ring.

"Son of a-", Peeta cursed under his breath. He reached for his phone inside his pocket with his arm still clutching Katniss' waist, "Sorry."

Katniss just smiled at Peeta and curl herself placing her head on his neck, as he answers his phone.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm with Katniss."

"Oh, sorry. Is this a bad time?"

"What is it?"

"Well I need you to look at the store until 8. My attorney wants to discuss something with me. Could you come here now?"

He sighs and looked at Katniss, "Okay. I'll be there in 15."

Katniss opened her eyes and stare at Peeta with a questioning look.

"I have to go back to the store. My dad, suddenly have to be somewhere."

"Okay." She said smiling at him. She can see Peeta is hesitant to leave, she put her arms around him again, "Go."

Peeta sighs and hugged her tight, "I'm sorry."

Katniss chuckled, "Don't be."

"It's just that, I don't want to leave yet."

Katniss pushed Peeta slightly to face him, "You can always come back." She closed their distance and briefly kissed him on his lips, "Now go."

Peeta smiled at Katniss before bringing her hand to his lips, "I'll see you."

As soon as Peeta is out of her apartment, she let herself fall into the couch and immediately dozed off.