Can't thank everyone enough. Thanks again for sticking with me.

I intend no copyright infringement at all. The story is my own idea. Characters are owned by the awesome Suzanne Collins and all other incorporated parties.

Thanks Again.

It was about 8 o'clock that night and Katniss was beyond happy that the day was over. Peeta had texted her a few times, but she never responded. She didn't really know how to talk to guys. A hot guy, who she had awkwardly kissed, and she liked it…she was beyond confused. She didn't know what to say to Peeta so opted for texting nothing.

"Earth to Katniss." Prim had apparently been tying to get her attention for some time. "Turn it to movie or something there's nothing on TV." As Katniss was changing the channel she heard her phone buzz.

"Here Prim," Katniss throws her remote to Prim, "Pass me my phone." Prim grabs her phone. It's still flashed on the lock screen and Peeta's name brightens the screen.

"Peeta iMessage, What?" Katniss dives for her phone, but Prim is too fast.

"Prim give me my phone!" They are both standing at opposite ends of the couch. They chase each other around the couch a couple times before they stop and end up where they started.

"Let's see…What ever could your password be?"

"Prim, don't you dare…"

"So predictable, your birthday."

"Prim," Katniss attempts one more dive across the couch only to face plant the couch.

'"Come outside?"'

"What?"

'"Come outside.' Oh god, Peeta's outside! I can't let him see me like this." Prim then drops Katniss' phone on the couch and heads for her room. Katniss picks up her phone and sure enough it's a text from Peeta asking her to go outside. She didn't actually think he was outside. Either way she promptly threw herself to the ground and crawled up to the front window. Katniss slowly rose her head to the window and slid the curtain just enough to see if anyone was outside. Peeta stood right at the side of the street leaning on his car. She quickly ducked down and leaned against the wall. Shit. Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Peeta: I'm not leaving until you come outside.

She could just pretend she wasn't home. He would have to leave if she never came out.

Peeta: I'll serenade your ass if I have to.

He wouldn't.

Peeta: Don't test me, Katniss. I have a great singing voice.

She heard the familiar sound of car doors unlocking and a beeping to signify keys in the ignition. For a minute, Katniss thought he was leaving. That was until she heard a mid-tempo beat drop from outside. Oh no. He was actually going to do it. That was enough for her. She got up off the floor and bolted through the door and down the sidewalk toward him.

"Turn it off," Katniss yelled at him over the song.

"What?" Peeta was sitting in the passenger seat facing her.

"You heard me, turn it off."

"Make me." Peeta challenged back. With that, Katniss pushed Peeta so he was lying down into the driver seat. She was on top of him reaching for his keys in the ignition. She tried to yank it out, but it wouldn't budge.

"Your key is stuck." Katniss yelled at him. Peeta then took hand and placed it over hers. He guided her hand with his, pushed the key in and turned. The music stopped and Katniss put her head down and took a breath. She then realized that where her head was resting was moving up and down. As she looked up, she saw Peeta smiling down at her. She had been resting her head on Peeta's chest. Through their struggle for the keys, they ended up in a compromising position.

"This is nice," Peeta said.

When Peeta had challenged Katniss to make his music stop, he never thought that she would literally throw herself onto him. He would be lying if he hadn't been turned on when she inadvertently rubbed herself up on his manhood while trying to rip his keys out of the car. She was also wearing a pair of skimpy shorts that showed off her tone legs and, if they had been an inch shorter, would show off her tone ass. Peeta really hoped that Katniss wouldn't notice the bulge that had started showing from their little escapade.

Apparently her and Peeta would constantly be caught up in compromising positions. Lucky for her, no one was around this time. Katniss quickly pushed herself off Peeta. She hoped he didn't catch on to the blush that was creeping up her face. It was then that she realized what she was wearing. She might have been wearing a hoodie, but her shorts were far too revealing. She tried to adjust her shorts enough to spare her some embarrassment.

"Don't do that. You have great legs." Wow did I really just say that.

"Peeta, what are you doing here?" Katniss says crossing her arms across her chest.

"I've been texting you all day. You didn't answer so I thought I'd stop by. Sorry about the hour. Just got out of a late practice."

"So, you want to talk," Katniss said quickly losing her patience, "Get on with it then."

"Are we cool after what happened today?" Peeta asked.

"It didn't mean anything." Katniss wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.

"I didn't say it did."

"Oh." Katniss quickly wished she hadn't voiced her disappointment.

"Not that it wasn't good, because it was." Peeta said trying to figure out what Katniss wanted to hear.

"Was it now?" Katniss asks with an inquiring eyebrow.

"Wait, what?" Peeta was now confused.

Katniss was laughing now. She liked seeing Peeta uncomfortable. So he is human.

"Okay, we've established that the kiss meant nothing and it was good, according to you. Continue, please," Katniss joked.

"Oh, so it wasn't good for you? If I remember correctly, you tried to suffocate me with your tongue…or do I have it wrong? Ooh ooh, their might have been a moan…" Oh Katniss, you have no idea who your playing with. "Maybe I got it wrong…So, how bout you let me redeem myself…"

Peeta walked closer to where Katniss was standing. She was looking at her feet when he reached her. He wondered what she was thinking before gently grasping her face and forcing her to look up at him.

"I'm not sure what to say to you, Peeta."

"Then, let me talk…What I'm about to say to you is not to scare you. Katniss, I like you." Katniss opened her mouth to protest, "but I know your not ready for all that. So, I'll wait."

"What if I'm never ready?"

"I'll wait as long as it takes."

"Why? I mean you can have any girl at school."

"Maybe, but they're not you."

"Peeta…"

"Katniss, I'll make this easy for you. You know how I feel now, that I'm willing to wait. We'll take it slow. We start as friends. You call the shots." With that Peeta takes a step back, finally releasing her. He extends his hand out to her. "Friends?"

"Just like that?" Katniss asks him.

"Again, it's your call."

He was giving her an out. A "yes" would start them on a path of friends, where they could become more if Katniss wanted it. A "no" would rip Peeta right out of her life, she would be back to where she started at the beginning of the day. Johanna's words from earlier rang in her head What is the worst thing that can happen from you accepting a friend request from the school stud?

"Friends." Katniss says finally taking Peeta's hand. "I don't want things to be weird with us, Peeta."

"They won't be. Remember, we never have to go out if you don't want. You're the boss. We could stay friends forever if that's what you want. I'll see you tomorrow, Katniss."

Peeta leaned against his car watching her leave. He had taken the first few steps. She knew he liked her and they were now friends. He knew he would have to ease Katniss into the transition from barely knowing to lover by being friends in between. He was damn sure that they wouldn't stay friends forever. His heart would never allow it. He would be there for her until she was ready.

Katniss walked back into her house, closed the door behind her, and leaned against it. Things just got more complicated for her. Peeta liked her. He actually liked her. She should have just told him no, but her heart ached at the idea of never seeing him again. Hell, she might just use him to have a story to tell when she's older. Reminisce about the time she lost her virginity to the hottest guy in school. That was not the way she should be thinking about her new friend. It was looking like it was going to be a lot harder to stay friends with Peeta then she thought. What have I gotten myself into?

Prim sat on the couch facing the TV doing an awful job at holding back her deviant grin.

"How much do you know?" Katniss asked her little sister annoyingly.

"Enough to know the backseat is out of style"