I've been inspired to post this as I got some positive reviews for the last chapter, so it made me want to write. Big thank you to everyone who reviews, follows, favs, etc. You really have to know that all of it helps.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea.
They were coexisting, which was a start. Katniss was on her best behavior, which she found was easy as long as she didn't question each and every one of Peeta's idea. They engaged in comfortable conversation and were getting along better, given their first day tiff. After breakfast, they used the next morning to finish unpacking, primarily just their clothes, seeing as the house came furnished. They also used the time to finish reading over their cover story, which consisted of their job descriptions. Katniss would be teaching at the recreational center and Peeta would be an instructor at the gym just a mile down the road from Katniss. The work week started the next day. Katniss was already dreading it.
So, after a productive morning, Peeta and Katniss were just finishing up getting ready for dinner with the Odairs.
"We shouldn't be friends with these people…" Katniss tells Peeta while she watches him fix his tie.
"You definitely have the hang of this: Trust no one." He laughs. "You sure you don't want a job with us when we get back?" Peeta grabs his jacket and walks over to the door where she's waiting. "But, unfortunately for us, the Odairs are clean."
"You looked them up already?"
"Yep, while you were taking a shower." Katniss blushes at his comment. "Background check cleared. Not even a parking ticket." He opens the door. "Ready?"
"As ever."
It doesn't take long to walk across the street. With a knock, Finnick opens the door and lets them in.
"Come in! Dinner is almost ready!" They make their way into the house, which is a lot similar to theirs. "Please, take a seat! I'm going to go check on Annie." Katniss takes a seat on the loveseat while Peeta goes over to the recliner. Katniss is still looking in the direction Finnick left for, when she turns to the right, expecting to see Peeta right next to her. She quickly looks between the empty seat next to her and where Peeta is.
"Get over here!" She whispers harshly to him.
Peeta looks over at her strangely before whispering in her same tone, "What?"
"You're supposed to be my husband and your sitting all the way over there?!" Peeta is still confused as he eyes the room curiously.
"I don't get it!" He whispers.
"Get over here!" Katniss demands, almost slamming her fist on the spot next to her. Peeta throws his head back on the couch before reluctantly making his way over to her.
"Anything else? Take your shoes off? Rub your feet?" He whispers. Katniss scowls at him before sticking her tongue out.
"It's like we're complete strangers with you sitting all the way over there!" She whispers while gesturing where he was previously seated.
"I don't know what I'm doing here! I didn't know that sitting all the way over there," He mocks, "Was against some marriage rule!"
"With all your rules, I though you would know."
Peeta rolls his eyes. "Two rules?! Two rules and that's a lot?"
"You don't like me do you?" Katniss asks.
"What?! No! Yes! I don't not like you." Peeta says, sort of confusing himself.
"Because you sitting over there is going to get me killed! They'll never believe we're married!" She whisper yells.
"I'm here now! Geez!" Peeta tells her.
"So act like you're married to me!"
"Act like we're married?" Katniss nods. "So, you've done this before…"
"No-" Katniss starts.
"So, how do you know what is right and what's not?"
"Will you just shut up and act like you love me?!" Katniss says.
Peeta sits there awkwardly before trying to figure out how to sit next to her like a husband would. He shuffles around on the couch, playing with how far or how close he should sit. When Katniss turns to look at him, he just smiles and she's no wiser. He's pretty close to her at this point so now it's just a matter of figuring out what to do with his hands. Peeta lifts his left arm, which is the one closets to Katniss, a few times. He wonders if she'll get mad at him if he throws his arm around her. Peeta releases a sigh. Fuck it.
Peeta throws his arm around Katniss. She looks over her left shoulder and sees a hand. Then she looks over to her right and sees Peeta avoiding all eye contact.
"Uh, Peeta?" He turns to look at her.
"Hm?"
"What's this?" Katniss asks him while touching the hand he has on her shoulder.
"What?" He smiles down at her. "I'm supposed to be your husband, right?"
She smiles, "Yea, but-"
"What? You afraid you'll lose at your own game?" Peeta smirks at her. Oh no he didn't…
Katniss narrows her eyes at him, "Game on, Peeta." She smirks back before kissing his hand. He pulls her in closer. They laugh together as he teases her with kisses. She tries to shove him away, but Katniss can't deny that she likes it as an uncharacteristic giggle escapes her. Their game is momentarily interrupted when a woman they assume is Annie comes into the room.
"Dinner's ready!"
They walk into the dining room, still a bit giddy from fooling around. Peeta pulls Katniss' seat out for her, then takes a seat next to her.
"I'm Peeta, by the way, and this is Katniss." Peeta quickly introduces them to Annie.
"Oh, I know! Finny told me about you guys yesterday! We're so excited about having new neighbors!"
"Well, not so much neighbors, but a couple our age to hang out with! Everybody around here…let's just say their old timers." Finnick adds.
"Don't get me wrong, they're the greatest. You're going to love it here!" Annie happily tells them.
"Thank you." Katniss says.
"So, how long have you guys been married?" Finnick asks them. Both Peeta and Katniss look to each other.
"Uh, we've only been married a few days actually…" Peeta tells him.
"But we've been together forever. Marriage was just a technicality." Katniss finishes.
"Aww, you guys make a cute couple!" Annie tells them. At that, Katniss and Peeta blush.
"What about you guys?" Peeta asks, trying to divert the attention away from them.
"Going on about two now," Finn looks at his wife for reassurance. "Yea, two. I'm surprised, you know? Because when we first met, she hated me!" Finn tells them.
"I didn't hate you. I just didn't particularly like your womanizing ways." Annie tells him.
"Whatever! You hated my guts. But I charmed my way into her heart anyway." Finn leans over and kisses his wife. Peeta gives Katniss an amused look making Katniss laugh quietly next to him. "You think yours is better? Come on then! Tell us how you met!" Finn tells them.
Katniss looks over at Peeta a little distressed. That's it! Their jig was up and it would all be her fault. She wasn't good with words and they were going to get caught. What surprises her is when Peeta simply smiles at her then turns to their audience.
"I've loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her. I mean, look at her!" Katniss, who was still looking at him, gives him forced smile. "Anyway, we were together for awhile, but then we split up. I was heartbroken." Peeta reaches for Katniss' hand. "Then fate brought us back together." Katniss laughs as she remembers how she had read that to him just the other day. "I saw her at that conference we were at and I just knew that us being apart was a mistake. We got married and that's where we are." Peeta leans down to her. "I love you, Katniss." She smiles at him before he captures her lips in a kiss.
Katniss is as entranced with Peeta's words. How was it possible that she had read the same cover story as him and yet, Peeta had managed to speak so eloquently that even Katniss believed him?
"Why are you so good with words?" Katniss asks him against his lips.
"I'm a teacher!"
"Instructor." She corrects him.
"Then, I get it from my better half." Katniss leans up to him, kissing him again. He opens his mouth a little and Katniss lets her tongue explore him. He's surprised when she does, but he figures she's still playing their game. When she moans a little, they break apart. He embraces her and places a kiss on the side of her head. "This is the part where you tell me you love me."
"I love you, Peeta." She turns back to her plate of food. After about a minute, Katniss discretely brings her hand up to touch her lips. She could still feel the tingling where his lips had touched hers and she could still taste him. Vanilla and something else, chocolate maybe; any girl's favorite. Katniss shook her head. Why did she kiss him like that? She wanted to believe she was caught up in the moment, but it was nice and it confused her.
Katniss turns back to Peeta and can't help but smile at how easy he holds conversation with Finnick and Annie. He really was the perfect man for this job. Peeta feels Katniss' gaze on him and turns to look at her. Her face turns a crimson color when he smiles at her.
"You okay?" Peeta asks her.
"Yes." She says with a smile. Peeta grabs her hand and just holds it. The simple gesture catches her off guard and her eyes drift to their intertwined hands. Katniss sighs. It's been two days. Two days! She mentally screams at herself. It was no use. Katniss was in trouble.
There will be drama/action in a couple chapters. For now, I'm just trying to get them situated. Thanks Again.