A/N: New story, y'all! Welcome, welcome! I am VERY excited about this story. I've had this idea floating around in my head for a while and needed to get it out. Tell me what you think?

Katniss' POV

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am twenty-six years old. I live in New York City. I live in Manhattan around the fucking richest people you've ever met. I have worked hard my entire life, never settling for just okay. I struggled as an adolescent due to my difficult family circumstances, but that's a story for another day.

My younger sister Prim is my everything. I have been fortunate enough to have found a really good job, worked my way up the ranks a bit, and paid for my baby sister's med school.

Speaking of my job, I am the assistant CFO for Abernathy International. We're the largest and most diverse medical research and pharmaceutical company on the globe. Needless to say, I have an important job. I wasn't always this high up, no.

When I first started, I was merely a secretary. Over the years, I worked hard and dreamed harder. I have goals for myself and I intend to do anything to reach them. Haymitch, or Mr. Abernathy, saw something in me that I still have yet to see in myself. He said that one day, I could hold the reins on this company, considering I am the closest thing he has to any family. I don't know if that is something I'd ever want, though.

I don't have many friends, considering I have close to no social life. My apartment is far too large for just myself, so I often have my two best friends there. Johanna, a crass, outgoing woman I had met about three years ago and Gale, a tough, caring man I had met when I first moved to New York 5 years ago. They're all I have, really. Well, besides Prim. I don't bother with people, and especially not relationships.

Love is bad. Like, really fucking bad. I keep far, far away from it. I've seen it kill people and I want nothing to do with that. I know people say you can't let other people's mistakes rule your life, but I just can't.

So, that's me in retrospect. I'm nothing super. I'm just a five foot five brunette with a broken past and a broken future. Nothing special.

Today started out as any Wednesday. I got up, showered, got ready and hailed my daily cab to take me to work. The day itself was uneventful. I had new finance logs to process, paychecks to sign and meetings to attend. Literally, today was just an ordinary day in the life of Katniss Everdeen.

It was about 4:30 when I sat down in my office and finally took a breather. Damn, my heels were killing me today. I am just about to write up some invoices when I hear a faint knock on my door. I tell them to come in and see my beautiful green-eyed secretary walk in the room.

I smile. "Hey, Annie. What's up?" I ask. Annie is one of the few people I can stand around here. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but the people here are inconsiderate assholes. She's a few years older than me but I don't mind. Honestly, I really like her.

"Leave early. You deserve it. I'll do the invoices." She says all with a smile. I shake my head.

"No way. You can, though." I try. In her eyes I can see her weigh her options, but soon she is persisting.

"No, really. Go get dinner and relax tonight. You work so hard, you need this."

I guess she's right. I've barely had time to breathe these last few weeks with all of the new manufacturers we have recently signed with. You know what, I'll take her up on this offer. I stand up and hug Annie, not something I usually do. She's taken back but ultimately hugs me back.

"Thank you." I say.

"It's nothing." She responds.

Not five minutes later I am sitting in a cab having them drive me to my favorite pizza shop on 76th. It's a little place called Sae's that is just amazing. The building itself is a bit hole-in-the-wallish but the food is like no other. Not many people go to this place which truly is a shame, so whenever I have the chance I stop in. It's totally worth it.

I pay the cab driver, jump out and scurry inside.

As soon as I open the door, I'm greeted by the scent of fresh garlic and kind souls. The thing I notice very quickly is that it is very busy today, which like I mentioned, is not usual. Good for her. I'm about to get in line when Sae herself spots me.

"Darlin'! Why, don't you look just beautiful! Come, come! I'll get your food!" she says. I shake my head.

"Thank you, Sae, but I'll wait in line like a normal customer." I persist. This woman just won't have it, no.

"Uh-uh. You're comin' with me!" she shouts back. I continue to shake my head, fighting back the smile in mock anger as she drags me to the back and sits me down at a small table.

"Now, what can I get you today?" she says.

"Uh, how about just two plains?"

"Sure thing! Although, you need more meat on those skinny bones of yours!"

Sae has been telling me this for close to five years now. I just smile and pull out my phone to check some e-mails.

Within minutes I'm walking towards the front exit with two hot slices in a thin paper bag. The one thing I do enjoy about not being a "normal" customer is the swiftness in which I get my food. Don't ever make an Everdeen angry while hungry. You WILL be shot.

As I am walking towards the exit, I take notice to the man walking in front of me. From the back I can tell he's about 6 foot and has shaggy blond hair. I like it.

Just as he goes to open the door, he quickly spins around and I, being the fucking screw up I am, slam right into his chest. Oh no, not only did I slam into his chest, I slammed my pizza into his chest. Oh my god, run me over with a fucking bus.

I quickly back up and pull my pizza from him, revealing a huge, triangle grease stain smack in the middle of his shirt. Shit.

I try to apologize, but my words get jumbled with his because we both attempt to speak at the same time.

"I'm so sor—"

"Are you o—"

I let out a small embarrassed laugh just as he does and he says, "You go first."

I start, "I am so sorry. Oh my god, this is embarrassing. I'm really so sorry." He seems to find my admission amusing because he lets out a soft laugh and says, "I was going to say the same thing. Are you ok?"

I finally look up at his eyes only to see the most shocking blue I have ever seen. It's like a mix between the bluest oceans and the whitest pearls. My cheeks heat up when I realize I'm staring and I clear my throat.

"Uh, yeah. It's you I should be asking, though! Look at your shirt! Oh my god, I'm terrible…"

He looks down at his shirt and shrugs. "This old thing was getting tight anyway. You're okay, really." He persists.

I think about this whole situation for a minute then realize he's just making an excuse for my actions. His shirt fits him perfectly. Like, really fucking perfect. It perfectly accentuates his biceps from what I can see and believe me, it isn't too tight in the abdominal area. Before I think about what I'm saying, I blurt out, "Let me buy you a new shirt."

He looks momentarily stunned, but soon jumps in to protest. "No, really, it's not necessary—"

I cut him off, "No, I'm sorry but I am getting you a new shirt." I say with as much sternness as I can muster. He gets the hint and nods. I walk over to the nearest trash and throw away my now ruined pizza. Well, I need to cut down on carbs anyway.

We walk out of the restaurant without another word and a few doors down to the nearest men's clothing store which just so happens to be Jos. A Banks.

I go to open the door but the man I am with grabs my wrist and shakes his head. "What?" I ask, confused. He just continues to shake his head and answers, "This place is far too expensive."

I scoff and wiggle my wrist free before answering, "Money isn't an issue. I'm buying it." And walk inside. I'm all the way to the other end of the store before the man catches up with me. I turn to him. "Pick out a shirt. Any shirt you want."

He gives me a questioning look before nodding and looking around. From what I can sense, this man seems far too nice. He seems like the person who hates taking from others when they know they can provide for themselves.

Like me.

About ten minutes later, he comes back up to me with a similar forest green oxford style button down shirt in hand. I nod and take the shirt. The shirt he picked out is my favorite color. It reminds me of home, of my dad…

"Miss? Did you hear me?" the man asks at checkout, obviously seeing that I had zoned out.

I blush and say, "No, sorry."

The man gives me an annoyed look and looks back at his computer. "I said, your total today will be $47.43. Cash or credit?"

"Credit." I say, handing him my gold American Express card. Business perks, I guess.

After the transaction, I give the man I am with his shirt to go change. When he agrees and heads to the back, I make my way out of the store. What a weird encounter. I'm such a screw-up. How do I always manage to do something to embarrass myself? Always! Ugh, I'm infuriating. Sometimes, I truly hate mys-

"Hey! Wait!" I hear behind me and turn around. Jogging towards me in the brand new shirt is the man I bumped into.

I stop and wait for him to catch up. "Why'd you leave?" he asks. I shrug in response. "Why would I stay?" I retort. I swear I see a faint blush rise on his neck, but it's gone even quicker than it came.

"I didn't catch your name." he says. I smile, just a bit.

"Katniss Everdeen." I say. He holds out his hand and we shake. "Peeta Mellark." he tells me.

"Like the bread?" I ask and immediately regret it. I am about to apologize but he just laughs. "Not quite. More like P-E-E-T-A. Weird, I know. My dad owns a bakery."

Makes sense. "Ooh. Gotcha." I say. This conversation is getting real awkward real fast. So, I say, "Well, Peeta, it was nice to meet you." And start to walk away when he grabs my wrist again. This slight touch makes my whole body tingle for a reason I don't know.

"Wait, let me buy you some pizza." He says. I smirk. "Not necessary." I say, retracting my wrist from his grasp and missing his warm touch. Wow, you're so fucking stupid, Everdeen.

He lets out a full belly laugh that completely shocks me. "No way, Ms. Everdeen. Let's go." He says and jerks his head over to Sae's once again. Reluctantly, I agree. Now, why would I do that?

Once inside, Sae rushes over to us again. "Back so soon, beautiful?" she asks, kissing me on my cheek. I laugh, "Well, I kind of ruined my pizza so can I get two new slices?"

Before Sae can even reply, Peeta butts in, "No, I ruined your pizza."

See looks up at him and then back at me. She smiles. "Sure thing, hun. Take a seat. It'll be out in a minute." I thank her and go to sit down at an empty table, Peeta sitting across from me.

It's really quite awkward for a minute, but Peeta seems to be a conversationalist and gets it going.

"So, Ms. Everdeen, tell me about yourself."

I am taken aback at first. Tell him about myself? What do I say? I'm a broken bitch who has a better life than she deserves. Yeah, that'll go over real well.

"There's not much to tell." I say quietly, trying to avert the subject. He laughs again. For some reason, I enjoy hearing him laugh.

"I'd bet on the contrary. How about… where do you work?" he asks.

"I'm the CFO for Abernathy International." I say. His eyes widen, not replying. I giggle. Wow, I just fucking giggled. "Shocking, I know." I say.

"N-no, I just… I didn't pin you for an office girl." He tries to clear up, which makes me laugh harder.

"Yeah, well don't judge a book by its cover. How about you, Mr. Mellark?" I say, trying to change the subject away from myself.

He lets a smile far larger than he has during any part of our encounter rest on his face as he says, "I'm an art teacher at a local middle school."

This honestly, warms my heart. Public education is something that needs people like this man. Not everyone can afford fancy private schools where the best teachers are and it's nice to know that intelligent, considerate teachers still exist in the public school systems.

"That's… amazing." I say. I look up at him and see a look of pure admiration in his eyes. There's something else there, but I can't place it.

Peeta and I end up talking for far longer than intended. I learn that he has two brothers, he bakes much like his father, and art was always his passion. I end up telling him about Prim, about how I got into business when I saw a financially stable future in it, and that I don't really have many friends.

"Well," he says, seeming nervous about whatever he's about to say, "I'd like to be your friend."

This takes me by surprise. A man, incredibly attractive at that, wants to befriend the lonesome Katniss Everdeen. Huh, this is a first. I don't usually do friends, but he has been so easy to talk to. Scratch that, I enjoyed talking to him. Man, something must be in the water today because I am so out of it.

Before I can overthink my choice, I say, "I'll allow it."

He smiles. "You'll allow it?" he asks with a shit eating grin.

I let out another small giggle. Damn, what is this man doing to me? "Yes, I'll allow it." I say.

Finally, after about 45 minutes, Sae comes back with my food.

"Here ya are, darlin'!" she says, with her normal happy chipper.

I go to take out my wallet, but Peeta stops me. "Remember, I'm paying." He says and hands Sae the money. I shake my head. Before Sae walks away, she whispers in my ear, "Don't let this one go."

I blush almost immediately. Peeta catches and asks me what she said. I shake my head and tell him it was nothing. I know he wasn't convinced, but he lets it go. We talk for a few more minutes then I get up to leave.

"Katniss?" he asks. I just turn and look at him. "Can I get your number? You know, if we're going to be friends and all?"

I smile and nod, typing my number into his phone. We bid our goodbyes and he promises to make plans soon. I just agree and get on my way. Once in the safety of a cab on my way back to my apartment, I take the few minutes to appreciate what happened. Sae purposely took so long on my food. I have a new friend because of her.

This new friend isn't just any friend, either. He seems like someone I could trust, someone I could confide in. I, Katniss Everdeen, have made friends with Peeta Mellark.

But the thing is, as happy as I am, Katniss Everdeen doesn't trust. I've been burned far too many times for that to happen. Someone always gets hurt and Peeta is just too good to be burned by someone like me. As much as I want this to work out, I know this is going to be short lived.

A/N: SO? What do you all think? Yay or Nay? Let me know! I appreciate ALL FEEDBACK!