Chapter 11

I finish up and head out the back to collect my coat. There is definitely a funny vibe going on between myself and Peeta and it is making my heart race. This past half hour I have found my eyes straying more and more towards him and every time I do, he is staring straight back. Nothing has changed I chant over and over internally.

"So sweetheart you all done?"

I turn from lifting my coat of the hook and see Haymitch propped against the doorway.

"Yep that's me boss, I'm just heading out." I answer shrugging my arms into the jacket.

"See your boy is out there waiting on you. You finally going to give that a chance?"

My head shoots up in surprise. "What?"

"Ah come on sweetness do you think I'm blind? You two have been skirting round each other for months. 'Bout time you give him a shot, way I see it you could do a lot worse."

I am looking at my shaggy blonde haired boss in shock.

"Peeta and I are just friends, that's it." I answer defensively.

Haymitch takes a deep breath and shakes his head "Ok, so you still want to kid yourself. Fine. I'll tell you this though sweetheart, he won't wait forever. A good looking kid like him is probably beating them of and I hate to break it to you, but you are kinda hard work." He looks me over with a smug arrogant smile that I want to punch off his face.

"Fuck you!" I grunt pushing my way past him and back out into the bar.

My body is shaking in anger as I spy Peeta hovering near the doorway. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down as I make my way towards him. I won't let Haymitch ruin my night, the grumpy old drunk, I think as I make my way towards across the room.

He turns and see's me as I get nearer, a huge smile breaking across his face. I almost stumble, my anger disappearing.

"You ready?" He asks, still smiling down at me.

"Yeah" I answer breathlessly and feel myself flush. He shoots me a questioning look as he ushers me through the door out into the warm spring night.

"Is it still ok if I change quickly? I ask him as we make our way down the steps away from the bar.

"Sure, no probs. The pizza place is open late anyway, I'm in no rush" he says still holding my gaze. I feel my tummy flutter again and drop his gaze scared all of a sudden at the feelings that are flying through me.

We make our way to my house and I fly up the stairs shouting at him I will only be a moment.

I strip my clothes of, have a quick wash and make my way to the closet wondering what to wear. I flip my way through the hangers not seeing anything appropriate before giving up and pulling on an orange shirt dress that Prim had bought me for Christmas. I stand in front of the mirror wondering if it will look like I'm trying to impress him. I groan in defeat as I have run out of time and quickly pull out my hair and apply some lip gloss before making my way down the stairs.

Peeta is relaxing on our old sofa flicking through a local paper as I make my way back into the living room.

"Well I'm ready" I murmur, walking further into the room.

His head shoots up and his eyes darken as he takes in my appearance. My head swims at the intensity of his gaze and I find myself blushing again.

"You look amazing" he says softly, moving towards me.

"Em, thanks. Prim bought it for me" I answer shyly dropping my gaze to the floor embarrassed.

"It's lovely…. you're lovely…" he whispers gently, now in front of me and my skin prickles in awareness. I clear my throat, uncomfortable with the compliment.

"Emm thanks…. We should go"

I turn panicking and bolt for the door unsure of what is transpiring between us tonight. I am at the bottom of the steps before Peeta comes out and shuts the door. He stands at the top of the steps for a moment looking at me and I can sense he wants to say something but before I can react he shrugs his shoulders and bounds down to join me.

We make our way to the pizza place in an uncomfortable silence and I am unsure how to break it. Usually Peeta chats away, him being the more talkative one out of the two of us. Tonight though, he seems a million miles away and I try several times to break the tense silence to no avail.

As the restaurant comes into sight I decide enough is enough and stop suddenly.

"Right that's it. What is going on Mellark?"

He looks at me in surprise.

"Oh… sorry Katniss. I guess my mind is elsewhere." He smiles gently over at me.

"Come on, let's go eat!" He grabs my hand and pulls me inside before I can object.

District 12 Pizza is a lovely old fashioned pizza parlour serving delicious authentic Italian dishes and is really popular with the students. Thankfully because we are so late, we have no problems getting a table.

"Thanks for this" I smile over at Peeta "all that work builds up an appetite in a girl.

Peeta raises his eyebrows and smirks across at me "Are you kidding? Katniss you are always hungry." He lets out a soft chuckle and my eyes drop to his lips. I look away quickly hoping he didn't notice.

"You guys ready to order?" I look up at the pretty server and notice her full attention is on Peeta as she bends slightly forwards giving him an ample view of her full cleavage. I scowl up at her as Peeta orders for both of us knowing the four cheese is my favourite.

As she saunters away I smirk at him "Oh is that all I can get you?" I mimic her girly high pitched voice and put two fingers into my mouth like I want to puke. "So pathetic!" I state grumpily.

"What?" he looks questionally over at me with a cheesy grin. "I can't help if they all fall for the Mellark charm."

"That girl has no shame. I could be your girlfriend for all she knows!" I bite out grumpily without thinking.

Peeta's eyes cloud over at my words and I realise my mistake. "No chance of that Everdeen, you made that plain enough a couple of months back."

God this night is really going downhill I think. I look away embarrassed.

"Sorry" he mumbles and I glance back to see a flush creep over his face. "I dunno what is up with me tonight. Do you want something at the bar?"

"A cocktail please – surprise me."

He makes his way out of the booth and I cant take my eyes of him as he makes his way over to the crowed bar area. Shit! I groan internally. Seriously what is going on? My mind is in turmoil. Usually everything is so relaxed between Peeta and I and I am finding it hard to pin point what exactly has changed to make things this awkward between us.

I hadn't stopped thinking about him when I was in LA. I had missed him so much and found myself daydreaming about him more and more, much to my chagrin. He was one of my best friends now, I couldn't afford to think of him like that. What if I lost him again? Last summer I had been a mess over him and I had struggled to forget him. Now I was closer than ever to him and I knew if we became romantically entangled and it didn't work out it would kill me this time.

The waitress returns and bangs my pizza down loudly in front of me while setting Peeta's down more gently. I shoot a nasty glare up at her as she stalks away without saying a word – nice service I think bitchily. My eyes turn to the window as I notice that it is pouring down outside now, rivulets of water running down the glass in a steady stream. Great, we will have to get a cab home I think as I reach for the pepper and sprinkle it liberally over my cheese pizza.

Lifting a hot slice I take a bite and enjoy the delicious gooey cheese as I realise I was starving. Where is Peeta? I think as I look over to the bar wondering what could be keeping him. My hand freezes midway to my mouth as I spy him deep in conversation at the far end of the bar. My eyes narrow as I realise who he is talking to – Madge.

Madge Undersee is standing with her arm around his waist, her big blue eyes looking up at him and looking drop dead gorgeous as she talks animatedly into his ear and he stands with his arm slung around her shoulder, head bent listening to her. My breathing hitches as I watch them, jealously flooding my body. They look so good together, like they belong, both blonde, blue eyed, golden people. My stomach twists in agony as I watch them, looking so close and friendly. I knew they were on the same course but I didn't realise they were still so friendly. They look more than friendly as I notice Peeta turn to look down at her tenderly before wrapping both arms around her and bringing her in for a close hug.

I can't watch anymore as my mind screams to get out of there. Just looking at Peeta with Madge is killing me. I find myself bolting out of the booth and making my way to the front door before I even think about what I am doing. I hear him call out my name just as I pull open the front door but I don't turn to look at him. I can't. Tears are running down my cheeks now as I step out into the pouring rain, not caring that my dress is saturated within seconds.

I am running half way down the block before I hear heavy footsteps running behind me.

"Jesus Katniss! What the fuck are you doing?" Peeta shouts as his arm catches mine to pull me roughly around to face him.

"Don't touch me Peeta!" I shout back at him and he takes a step back.

His hair is plastered to his face and his white v-neck t-shirt is stuck to his body making it almost see through. I swallow heavily.

"I'm ok, just go back to Madge!" I bite out breathlessly, now unable to stop myself from crying openly. Peeta just stares at me in shock.

"Katniss, what's wrong? Please? Why are you crying?" He takes a step forward and reaches his hand up to curve round my cheek pulling me into him and I can notice the worry on his face.

"I saw you with Madge" I blurt out without thinking "it hurt."

I watch as he narrows his eyes in confusion, streams of water running down his face and neck. "It hurt?" he shakes his head "why would it hurt Katniss?" He whispers gently, still caressing my cheek as he tips my face up to look into his.

I know now I have to be honest with him. I have been fooling both Peeta and myself ever since I saw him again that I didn't care, when the truth was I had never stopped thinking or caring about him.

"I can't do this anymore Peeta" I look into his eyes as he assesses my words.

"Can't do what?" he questions looking hurt.

I take a deep breath knowing it's now or never.

"I can't keep pretending that I don't care about you when I do. I care so much that it scares me." I drop my eyes not daring to look at him.

"You care…." He trails of and all I can do is nod.

Ah, sorry to leave it there but part 2 will follow later in the week. Please review!