Hey all! So again, I'm sorry for the long delay and I hope you all forgive me!

So here we are! The long awaited chapter 16 of Peeta and Katniss' first date! I hope you all enjoy!

Now onward to the chapter!

Katniss- POV

The Date- Part 1 (Sorry it's going to be in 2 parts hehe please don't be mad at me )

This is it. I was finally going on a date with Peeta Mellark. I don't know how long I've had a crush on him, but I know it's been a while. I wonder how long he's had a crush on me...

"Katniss", a voice said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I looked up to find Peeta's azure, blue eyes boring in to mine. "Yeah Peeta?" I asked.

"I wanted to give you this." He tucked a blood, red rose behind my ear.

I laughed and pulled the rose away from my ear. "Thank you Peeta."

He beamed at me and replied with a "Your welcome."

We kept walking down the hall making small talk when a certain question popped in to my mind. "Peeta?" Peeta looked at me. "Are going to tell me exactly where you are taking me?"

He pretended to have a thoughtful expression while looking in to the distance, as if he was deep in thought. "Hmm..." He started, making me curious. "How about a...no?"

I playfully hit his shoulder, laughing. "Peeta!" I complained.

He laughed at this and said, "Nope. It's a surprise."

I started to pout when he continued, "Which reminds me, I'm going to need you to wear this blind fold." He took something out of his back pocket and went to stand behind me. Suddenly, the world went dark, and I couldn't see anything as a piece of fabric came down and covered my eyes. I could feel Peeta tying it behind my head.

"You better not let me fall or trip Mellark." I warned.

Peeta just chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I got you." And he put his hands on my shoulders to guide me.

"Right, left, slow, up, down, STAIRS!" This went on for about ten minutes before I felt the weight of Peeta's hands leave my shoulder. I heard the bustling of feet, followed by laughter and talking.

Hmm... I wonder where hes taking me? Could it be the new Pizza Place? No, it would be louder than this.

DING! The sound of a door opening broke me from my thoughts, and I felt Peeta's hands on my shoulders once again.

What place has a bell ring when you open the door? Let's see there's Boston Pizza, White Spot, and another one that I can't quite remember...

"Mellark, special for two" Peeta stated to the secretary I'm guessing. He let go of my shoulders and grabbed my hand, pulling me through the crowd. We entered a room and all the noise from before vanished. I felt myself being seated on a chair, and my blindfold was taken off. I quickly took in my surroundings and found myself in awe.

I can't believe he did this for me!

I was in a room lit only by candle-light. The room had only one table, ours, which had a big, red table cloth draped over it, mere inches from the floor. There were rose petals everywhere: the chairs, the table, the floor...everywhere, and the room smelled of french baguettes. (Sorry, I really love that smell).

I covered my mouth with my hands and muttered, "Oh Peeta."

Peeta came out from behind me and sat in the seat across the table. "Do you like it?" He asked, worry appearing on his face.

"I-I love it", I stuttered. "But why would you do all this for me?" I questioned curiously.

Peeta smiled and reached across the table, placing my hand between both of his like a sandwich. "Because Katniss, I really like you- I have ever since I helped you find your dorm on the first day we met. You have no idea the effect you have on me. It's like-" I can see that Peeta is nervous now, "every time I see you, my heart flutters, but I know I will never have a chance with you. Your are gorgeous, and funny, and unique, and..." He pauses, wondering if he should go on, "the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on." And by the look in his eyes, I know he is being truthful.

I feel my cheeks start to heat up, and a blush is obviously appearing. "Thank you Peeta. No one has ever done something this nice, or said something so truthful and caring to me."

"Your welcome." He replies, never taking his eyes off me.

He gently takes his hands back and I ask 'Peeta? Where are we?"

"We're at Tony's Palace."

"And how did you get us a reservation in this room?" I question.

"Well that, my lady" We both chuckle and he continues, "is for me to know, and you to find out."

"Haha" I state, heavy on the sarcasim.

As soon as I say that, our waiter enters the room. "What may I get you for drinks?" He asks, but his voice seems oddly familiar...

I look up and, "Finnick!"

"Hey there gorgeous." He says with a wink.

I giggle to myself and look at my menu. I flip to the beverages section and see there are milkshakes (strawberry, vanilla, butterscotch, or chocolate), coffee (gross), orange or apple juice, beer (no), wine (no), lemonade (regular, berry or green apple), hot chocolate, milk (regular or chocolate), water and pop (pepsi, coke, root beer, sprite, grape, cream soda and orange). I look back up to Finnick and notice him anxiously awaiting my answer, and Peeta looks annoyed at Finnick. Hmmm...

"I'll have a butterscotch milkshake Finn." I state. Finnicks smiles and jots my order down on his notepad, then turns to Peeta.

"And you, Peeta?"

Peeta has his answer ready and replies with a, "Coke please."

"Alright." Finn writes down Peeta's drink and continues, "I'll be back in about five minutes with your drinks." He turns to leave, but before he does, he winks at me again. I see Peeta scowl out of the corner of my eye, and Finnick struts out of the room.

"I still can't believe you did this for me Peeta. It's all so wonderful." I say.

"Well, I wanted our first, of hopefully many, dates to be worth remembering Katniss."

I smile at Peeta and suddenly my cheeks begin to heat up and a blush creeps up on to them.

I can't believe my crush, Peeta Mellark, has liked me longer than I have him.

Peeta and I make small talk for the remaining minutes while waiting for Finnick to arrive with our drinks. A couple minutes later, Finn walks in to the room, holding a silver tray with 2 drinks on them. He sets mine down in front of me, a tall transparent glass, filled with white and brown substances, topped with whipped cream and butterscotch. Peeta's was a transparent glass, much like mine but shaped differently near the top, with a black-ish substance filled with bubbles.

"And what may I get you two for your dinner?" Questioned our waiter.

"I would like the lamb stew with dried plums please." I answered.

And Peeta said, "May I please have the lamb stew also?"

"Two lamb stews coming right up." Finnick stated while scribbling them down on his note pad. Then he walked off and we heard him yell, "TWO LAMB STEWS WITH DRIED PLUMS FOR SPECIAL RESERVATION!" I laughed and glanced at Peeta who was obviously trying to hold in a laugh. We continued over conversation, starting at our dislikes and likes. I found it actually quite comfortable talking to Peeta, nothing that has happened to me before.

What is this man doing to me? I questioned myself. I'm laughing and actually staring a conversation with some one, this is all new to me.

Finnick entered the room not too long after, holding a tray with our dinner. He placed a bowl each in front of us, a big pot in the middle with out stew, a ladle for the stew, a spoon and napkin each, as well as a seperate bowl and spoon with dried plums.

"Thanks Finn." I said.

He smirked at Peeta, then looked back at me and said, "Anytime my lady." And he bowed.

I found myself laughing again. How many times have a laughed tonight? Ten? Twelve? I don't know, all I know is that I have laughed more in one night than I have all of school so far.

Peeta and I ate our dinner in a comfortable silence, making small talk here and there, followed by dessert (I had apple pie and Peeta had chocolate cake.)

At about seven-thirty, Peeta and I left. We walked out side to his car, and just before I was about to enter the car, I turned to Peeta. "Thank-you Peeta."

He smiled and replied, "Your welcome Katniss, but t-"

I shocked myself and Peeta by cutting him off with a kiss. He was slow at first, but then pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my waist, while I wrapped mine around his neck. We eventually had to pull back for air and found ourselves both blushing furiously at the ground.

Peeta cleared his throat and said to me, "This date isn't over Katniss, there are still more surprises up my sleeves."

I gave him a confused look, but he just replaced the blind fold on my face, sat me in the car, and we drove off.

While we were driving, three words popped into my mind.

Best. Kiss. Ever.

Part 1 is done! Haha that rhymed. So they finally kissed! Yay! But dont leave yet, there's still more to come...

~mellarkfan121~