Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

When You're Not Looking	By : Embracer Category: G through L > The Hunger Games Trilogy Views: 13084 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the Hunger Games. It all belongs to Suzanne Collins. This is just for fun, not money.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8
PEETA’S POV
This morning was a good one. I went to the bakery early and made some of those cheese buns that Katniss seemed to like so much yesterday at lunch. I thought it might give me an excuse to see her or at least give her something so she thinks of me. I haven’t gotten her out of my head yet. As predicted, I had to bite my lip to keep from bursting out a laugh when I ran my hand over that spot on the counter.
I’m heading over to the diner to meet up with Finnick, Cato, and Gale in just a few minutes. This should be interesting.
I’m still trying to reconcile all the things Finnick told me yesterday about her with the phenomenal woman I was with last night. I didn’t see the firecracker he told me about yesterday, at least not the violent one. Although, I could see fire in her eyes, but it was more desire and hunger. Her eyes were so intense. Every time she looked directly at me, I felt like she could see straight through to my soul. Snap out of it!
I get to the diner, and see Finnick and Cato are already there. They wave me over. I join them anticipating the onslaught of inappropriate questions. Gale showed up only a few seconds after me. We’re both being greeted by the other two when the waitress comes by for our drink orders.
Finnick starts, “So, Mellark, how was your date last night?”
“It was really good actually.”
“Really? Do Tell,” Cato chimes in with a smirk on his face.
Gale looks confused, “What’s her name? Where’d you meet her?”
FInnick laughs, “Mellark here managed to get Katniss to go out with him! So, tell us, man.”
The trio looked at him imploring him to give out the details, “It was great. We’re going to see each other again. She’s beautiful, warm, open, sweet, spicy, and I can’t wait to see her again.”
The three of them look at me like I just grew antenna out of my head. They’re jaws are on the table. I’m confused, but hold my gaze.
“Are you sure this is the same Katniss Everdeen that was at lunch yesterday?” Cato asks.
“The very same. She came to the bakery last night and we made dinner together and talked. It was really nice.” I defend.
Finnick is sharing a knowing glance with Gale before speaking, “Mellark, it seems like you got a different version of her than anyone else.” I narrow my gaze at him. I’m not going to let them put her down. He seems to read my stare, “I’m not saying we don’t all love her. She’s been our friend for quite a while. I would say fiercely loyal, protective of those she cares about, and guards her heart like a Rottweiler.” He looks at his hands, “Beautiful and spicy I can see, but warm, open and sweet are not exactly easy to assimilate.”
“Well, maybe she just never trusted any of you fools to be those things. That’s how she was with me and I’m not going to let you say anything against her, got it?” I say as calmly as I can. Although, I’m sure my face is a bit red by now.
Gale pipes up in my defense, “Katniss is actually a mystery to most people. Mainly because she does tend to keep herself closed off emotionally. But, I don’t doubt that she has all those qualities. She just chooses very selectively who she allows to see those sides of her. Obviously Mellark, she chose you!”
Gale slaps me on the shoulder and smiles. The others seem to consider what Gale said, and nod in agreement.
Finnick has to add one last thing, “Did you kiss her?”
Shit! I’m not one to kiss and tell, and I definitely can’t tell them anything that happened between us. I answer the only way I can without lying, “I’m not going to answer that.”
They all eye me, I assume, hoping I’ll change my mind and talk. I won’t. So, eventually, they break out into laughter and Finnick proposes a toast to me for cracking Katniss’ shell. Take it whatever way you like.
The rest of breakfast goes by talking about sports, upcoming University events, Gale’s plans to go Shrimpin’ next weekend, and Cato’s discovery of the new cheerleading coach.
I tell the guys I’ll see them tonight, and head out. There’s a bar-b-que at my friend Delly’s house. Delly is my very best friend. She and I have known each other since we were in diapers. She’s only 2 inches shorter than me, and our hair and eyes match. We might as well be siblings. She is stunning, but there’s never been anything between us. Even though everyone in high school thought so, and that was fine with us. Neither of us had much interest in others in those days. Delly because she hadn’t come out to anyone but me, not even her parents. Me, because I had already had my heart broken by Astrid in 8^th grade, and was not looking for that to happen again. In a way, we protected each other by allowing the people to think whatever they wanted.
Delly told me to invite some people to the BBQ. She always jokes that my friends are cooler than hers. I told her she needs to stop hanging out with the other teachers and kids she teaches. She needs people her own age. Hopefully, once she finishes her doctorate she won’t have to be around high school kids anymore. She’s teaching history and economics at the high school right now, but she wants to be a professor of Political Science. Maybe one of these days I’ll talk her into running for mayor. She’d be one of the “good ones” in politics.
I’m hoping that Katniss will go to the BBQ with me. I’ll ask her when I get to her work. The other girls can come too. I’m heading over there now to drop off these cheese buns. I hope she’s there and not on a delivery. At least, she’ll know I was there when she sees the box.
I’m at the pharmacy in no time. When I walk through the familiar door, it’s a bit chaotic. Annie is behind the counter with her back to me putting something on a shelf. Johanna is crouched over a box examining the contents. Neither of them seem to notice the yelling that’s coming from the back. As I draw closer to the counter, I can tell it’s Katniss and a man yelling at each other. She’s saying something about performance reviews, and he’s calling her “Sweetheart” a lot. Not sure if I like that!
I’m leaning on the counter, still eavesdropping on the argument when Annie notices me. “Peeta. Hi there.”
“Oh, hi…Annie, right?” I ask with a smile.
“Yes, what are you doing here?” Johanna has made her way over now.
“Is everything ok back there?” I ask as I point in the direction of the war behind them.
Johanna laughs, “Oh yea, this is perfectly normal for those two. They can only make it a few days without a blow out. Don’t worry, she doesn’t usually hurt the old man.” Apparently, Katniss and her boss have a strange combative relationship. I’ll have to ask her about that later. Jo hops up on the counter, and eyes me suspiciously, “So, what brings you here, Baker Boy?”
“Baker Boy, huh? Real original!” I chide. “I’m here to see Katniss, but I guess she’s occupied. I made these for you guys this morning.” I hand over the box, which they both dig into.
“Peeta, thanks, but we still have the pastries you sent with Katniss.” Annie is smiling at me, while Johanna is stuffing a whole cheese bun in her mouth.
I laugh at her attempt. She looks like a blowfish. Annie joins my outburst. Katniss storms from the back, and stops in shock, “Peeta?”
I smile at her, “Hey Katniss.”
“Hi.” She’s blushing. Her eyes are a mystery, so many things going on in them right now. I’m not sure how to read them.
“I made you these this morning, and wanted to drop them off.” I point to the box that is firmly held in Johanna’s lap.
She goes to look in the box, and looks up at me with delight, “Cheese buns!” She eyes me for a moment. Then, she takes two of them out of the box. Walks over to the cooler and grabs a bottle of water. She steps towards me, and hands me the bottle of water. She takes me other hand in hers, and tells the girls, “I’m taking a break.”
She drags me through the pharmacy, through the back and out the door. She doesn’t stop and walks straight into a patch of woods behind the store. I’ve no idea where we’re going, but her hand in mine feels good, so I follow. We wind up in the middle of the woods. We can no longer see any of the stores, shops, or roads. We can hear only the birds, crickets and whatever else is out here. She sits on a rock, and pats the spot next to her. I do as I’m instructed and sit next to her. She offers me one of the cheese buns, but I’m still full from breakfast with the boys.
“I’ve already eaten, but thanks. Besides, I made them for you.” She shrugs and wraps the extra one in a napkin she grabbed on the way out.
“This was really nice of you. You didn’t have to.” Her cheek is sticking out like a chipmunk stuffed with bun. She’s smiling at me. My heart constricts a bit. I smile back. She finishes her cheese bun, and downs some water. She offers me some, and I drink as well. She takes the bottle back and another swig, and puts it down on the ground. I can see she’s grown nervous, so I reach my hand over hers that sits in between us. She doesn’t pull away, but tenses a bit. After a moment, I can feel her relax a little.
“I had a really good time last night, Katniss.” I try to catch her eyes, but she’s looking up at the trees. She finally looks at me, and our eyes lock. Her lips curl up at the edges, and her eyes are shining with fire. I want to just grab her and kiss her right now, but I’m scared she’ll pull away.
She responds, “I did too. It was kind of a shock, and I was…” she trails off. I’m hoping it’s because she’s as lost as I am in her eyes at the moment. Her eyes quickly flit to my lips, and mine to hers. She bites her bottom lip, and I can’t take it anymore. I reach my right hand up to stroke her cheek. She leans into my touch, her eyes still flitting between my eyes and my lips. I have to take this chance…I lean in but wait for her to make the connection. She doesn’t disappoint.
Our lips meet and her hand reaches the back of my neck pulling me in deeper. We kiss like this for a few minutes. The electricity is back, the hunger, the same as it was last night. We’re pulling each other closer, but not getting close enough sitting next to each other. She shifts onto my lap, snaking her arms around my neck and into my hair. My arms entrap her working their way around her waist and up her back. Holy Crap! This is intense! I can’t help the effect she has on me. She notices, and instinctively grinds a little on my growing hardness. Wow, Oh my God! Wait, we’re in the middle of the woods. We can’t do this here.
I break away first, breathing heavy. Our foreheads are still together, “We have to stop. I can’t…we…we’re in the woods. Someone could…anyway…you deserve more than a rock in the woods.” I managed to get out while still trying to calm myself down. She’s still breathing heavy too. Our hearts are still pounding.
She pulls back a little, but I can’t seem to let go of her yet. I keep her wrapped in my arms. This time, I lean in and kiss her once more willing her to understand my want for her. She seems to understand. Although this kiss is full of passion, we’re both trying to reconcile the primal draw we have and the appropriateness of our location.
“I’m so confused.” She says, her eyes are frightened but still heated. “I…this…I don’t really date. This is…I don’t know…I’ve never been like this before.” Her eyes are asking me to understand now.
“Neither am I. I’m usually a lot more reserved, but there’s something about you that draws me in. It’s almost like…”
“Electricity.” She finishes my sentence. I smile broadly. It means we are both feeling the same thing. “I just don’t know if I can handle this right now.”
I can see her internal battle, “Look, we just met. Obviously, we have a huge attraction to each other, but we can go as slow as you want…need. I don’t want to scare you off or freak you out. But…I don’t think I could walk away from you at this point.” I search her eyes for any trepidation or acceptance, and see her internal battle continuing to rage.
I implore more, “Do you want to try? Are you willing to give us a chance?”
Her eyes are changing into something else, but I’m not able to read this look. She doesn’t speak, but raises both of her hands to my face. One is firm on my cheek, and the other is brushing over my features. She runs her fingers along my eyebrow, my temple, my cheek, and finally over my lips. She leans in slowly and right before our lips meet again, she whispers, “I don’t think I have a choice.” She kisses me with longing and desire, but more heartfelt than primal. I was a bit confused by her words, but her kiss tells me what I need to know.
When we finally break away, we’re both ginning like Cheshire cats. We make our way back to the pharmacy hand in hand. I tell her about the bar-b-que and Delly. She says it sounds like fun. I told her to invite the girls. I would pick her up but I have to go over early and help Delly set everything up. She’ll ride with Jo and Annie, and I’ll take her home.
We reach the store again, and enter through the back. As soon as we’ve closed the door, a scruffy blonde haired man is standing in front of me. “Who’s this, sweetheart?” the way he says that make my skin crawl a little.
She introduces us, and he shakes my hand with a warning. His eyes reiterate that warning. As gruff as this guy is, he seems to be very protective of Katniss. I can respect that. She reassures Haymitch and tells him to go take a shower. He scoffs at her as she pulls me away from him back to the front.
Jo and Annie go silent when we walk back in. Katniss tells them about the bar-b-que and they are excited about it. So, I say goodbye to them, and turn to walk out. Katniss says, “Wait, I’ll walk you out.”
I try to remain calm. It’s a simple gesture, but means a little more coming from her. She makes her way to me, and grabs my hand. I turn back to the girls to wave and see their mouths hanging wide open in shock. Hmmm, this must be another first for Miss Everdeen.
We make it out the door, and over to my car. I’m not waiting for her to make a move this time. I figure, her move was to walk with me out here. So, I just turn to her and pull her to me and take her mouth with mine. She responds in kind. It’s brief, but dizzying all the same.
“I’ll see you later,” I say as I kiss the top of her head while hugging her one last time. She nods into my chest. She looks up, pecks me on the cheek, and goes back inside. I notice as she walks towards the door, Jo and Annie are scrambling back. They were watching. I hope they don’t give her too much grief over this. I don’t want them scaring her off and sending her running back into a shell.
I drive off, and head home for a while. I really want to take a nap before Delly assigns me all kinds of manual labor to set up for her party.
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

When You're Not Looking