Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. The characters belong to Suzanne Collins.

Peeta wasn't at school on Friday, which, ultimately, led to me panicking. Not only had I completely screwed up my apology, but he could be seriously injured and neglected to mention it on the phone last night. I can't wait for the school day to be over.

I have his phone number somewhere in my agenda. We'd exchanged phone numbers at some point during the course of working on the project. I thought that I'd never use it, and it was ridiculous that he suggest we share them with each other. Right now, I feel the exact opposite. I've never been happier that I did something that I didn't want to do. I plan on calling him when I get home. I need to hear his voice.

As I type in the number, my fingers start to shake. Is this inappropriate? Is he going to be mad that I'm doing this? What if his mom answers instead?

The line rings once- I need to hang up. Twice-I'm making a mistake. Three times- They aren't going to answer.

"Hello?"

Holy shit.

"….Hello?" The voice is male. He sounds almost like Peeta, but I'm not really sure.

"Uh, hi. May I speak to Peeta, please?"

"May I ask who's calling?"

I clear my throat. "Katniss. Katniss Everdeen."

"Oh, Ms. Everdeen. This is Peeta's father. I've heard so much about you! Sorry that we have never met. I'm pretty busy when I'm at the bakery. It's nothing against you."

I'm not really sure what to say. I wish that I could say that I had heard a lot about him too. "Uh, it's okay, Mr. Mellark."

"Well, it was nice to finally talk to you, dear. PEETA!" he shouts.

I hear rustling and someone's muffled talking.

"Hello?"

"Peeta," I take a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" He sounds alarmed.

"Yes. Just…you weren't at school today. I was afraid that you…that you…"

"I'm fine, Katniss, really. Do you want to come to the bakery?"

I want nothing more. "Yes."

"Can you bring Prim with you? I'll teach her how to make cupcakes."

I'm not comfortable with this at first, but today is not the day to have the conversation I want to have. I just need to see him. Not to mention, Prim will be beside herself. "Okay. We'll leave right now."

"Alright. See you soon!"

Prim chattered the entire walk to the bakery. I love her, I really do. I just don't understand how we're related. She makes friends easily, when she gets excited it's visible, and she has the ability to charm the pants off of anyone within a mile's radius. I swear, I don't know how she does it. Maybe it's her age, but her talking wears on me a bit. It makes me tired, but I still listen and respond when appropriate. Honestly, I hope she never loses her enthusiasm, even though I have difficulty keeping up at times.

She asked me how her coming along ever came up. I told her it was Peeta's suggestion. This made her even more giddy.

When we finally arrived, Peeta was at the counter to greet us.

"Hey, Prim! How are you?"

"I'm great, but Peeta, what happened to your face?"

I see why he didn't come to school today. His cheek is swollen. The swelling has met his left eye and there is a nasty looking bruise under his eye and down his cheek. "Prim!" I say sternly. I really hope that he doesn't answer honestly.

"Well, I'm kind of clumsy sometimes. I slipped in the back, and my face hit the corner of the prep table." Prim's face was skeptical, but she accepted his response. It's as if she knew it wasn't her place to question it.

"Let's get started, shall we?"

I brought some materials with me to study while they worked. I hear Prim giggling. I look over as she helps Peeta mix up batter in a large bowl. It looks like she's chosen chocolate…surprise, surprise.

He speaks to her like he has known her for years. The conversation never becomes awkward between them. I envy them both. He is so patient with her, too. I haven't seen anyone, other than myself, give her this much in a long time. She is thriving under his supervision. Her smile is so wide that her face might hurt for weeks.

"Well, what do we have here?" I tense up at the question. I vaguely recognize the voice, but my experience with others interrupting at the bakery has always been unpleasant. I look up to see who must be Mr. Mellark. He looks like Peeta with a five o'clock shadow.

"Oh, hey dad. This is Prim, Katniss' sister. We were just making some cupcakes. I was going to teach her how to decorate them."

"Very nice! Nice to meet you Prim." He walks over to her and shakes her hand. He looks up and notices me at the front table. "Oh, you must be Katniss." He walks over to me. "Nice to finally meet you, Ms. Everdeen."

I shake his hand and smile, "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Mellark."

He smiles and turns back to Prim. "Prim, what do you say to learning how to make cookies while you're here? We can work on them while your cupcakes bake and cool."

"YES!" Prim starts jumping up and down, "Yes, please!" She is trying to gain composure and failing miserably.

"Come with me," Mr. Mellark says. He gives Peeta a knowing look and smiles at me as he leads Prim to the back room. "We'll be right back here." I look to Peeta, and he nods. "What kind of cookies would you like to make, Prim?"

"What can we make?!"

"Anything you want."

"Oh my gosh…" Their conversation trails off. Peeta is smirking and looking at me. I smirk back, like we are sharing an inside joke.

"She's a sweet girl," he says.

"I know. Too sweet sometimes, believe me." He chuckles. I look to the floor, suddenly realizing that I am alone with him. I start, "I'm so glad you're okay." I look up and his smile drops. "I was scared that your mother was going to…going…" I breathe in sharply. I can't finish the sentence.

"My mother has never hit me like that before. She can be really harsh sometimes, but it has never come to that. When my dad came in and saw what she did yesterday, he was furious." He points to his face, "I stayed home today because of this. It will still look bad next week, but the swelling won't be so bad. I'm sorry that I worried you today."

I nod. "You didn't have to stand up for me."

"Yes, I did," he says, his voice rising. "It wasn't true, what she said."

Even thought I was a completely awful person and ran away from him after he kissed me, he still finds it necessary to defend me. "I don't deserve it, Peeta."

"I think you do." Now I know I don't deserve him.

I start to protest when Prim shouts from the back. "Katniss, come look at these!" Another moment lost.

The cupcakes that Prim and Peeta created together are amazing. I can tell the difference between them, but Prim's decorating improved as she went. Peeta hands me a cupcake, and said, "For you. Prim decorated this one." It as a bird holding and arrow in its feet. It reminds me of my father.

"It's beautiful."

"Thanks," she says. "I don't know what made me think of it, but I knew that you would like it."

Peeta packs up the cupcakes and hands the box to Prim. "Are you ready for our presentation next week?"

My stomach flips. No. I am never ready to talk in front of people. "I think so," I lie. I help Prim into her coat and slip into my own.

"It'll be okay, I promise," he says. I look at Prim, and she is looking between us, grinning.

"I'll see you Monday," he says.

"Bye."

"Thank you soooooo much, Peeta!"

"Any time, Prim. Any time." He winks at her. Prim and I wave goodbye and push out the bakery door.

A little ways down the road, Prim says, "You guys are so cute. You are meant for each other."

I smile. "Maybe."

A/N: First of all, a big, big thank you to the beautifully named everlarkcheesebuns for being my beta. She makes me sound more like a person instead of some weird, steam powered robot. Thank you so much!

Second, I know that we all want Katniss to get it together and tell Peeta how she feels. She is going to, but I felt that this chapter was important. I think that if Katniss is going to fall in love with anyone that she has to see her sister with that person. From the last line you can see that she is starting to believe that her and Peeta are possible. I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but I feel the need to explain myself. No angry mobs or heart attacks. The next chapter will be full of fun. Stay tuned.

Okay, Mockingjay trailer. My thoughts: Not enough Katniss, too much Gale, AND NOT ENOUGH PEETA! I know that he was in those One Panem things or whatever they are called, but I just can't. I can't. I need to see his face. (I have a problem). Otherwise, it's going to be a great movie, I'm sure. Let's hope a longer trailer comes out soon. At this rate, though, we will be waiting until a week before the movie is out in theaters.

All of you are wonderful people. Thank you for reading/favoriting/reviewing! You all should know that I do read every review, and I would love to respond to every single one, but I don't want you guys to think that I am creepy. You guys bring me so much joy. I love the way you think. You are fantastic!