A/N to follow…

I'm here.

Katniss read the text after hearing the ping signaling a delivered message. Peeta had been giving her rides to and from school since the day they met face to face, nearly two weeks ago. The ten minutes in the car with him was always too short, but they were quickly becoming the best parts of her day.

Slinging her bookbag over her shoulder, Katniss bounded out the door, down the walkway, and into the passenger seat of Peeta's truck.

"Hey, you," Peeta greeted her with a smile that made her knees weak, passing her a treat-filled, paper bag, spotted dark in a few places from butter.

"Thank you," she said in response to his offering. Peeta had taken up feeding Katniss whenever they were together. Once he found out she loved food, more specifically his food, there was no shortage of goodies he wouldn't have ready for her consumption. He even tried new recipes, including different ingredients he knew she liked.

"What's in the bag today?" she questioned him, peering into the bag, trying not to seem too eager. She was starving after Haymitch brought soup home for dinner last night. The oily broth had done a poor job of satisfying her hunger, and her stomach had complained much of the night and all of the morning.

"Bacon cinnamon roll with maple-pecan frosting."

"Peeta!" she scolded him. "Just because I said I liked maple syrup and bacon with my pancakes doesn't mean you have to go and mix it all together just for me!" Katniss shook her head, exasperated by his continued benevolence. Her stomach betrayed her words, growling loudly in the small space.

"Eat," Peeta said firmly.

She was still trying to get used to Peeta's generosity. She hadn't had anyone to care for her in over a year, and she hated feeling like a charity case, but something about the way Peeta behaved with her made her view it differently. It was easy to accept things from him because she honestly believed he did it because they were friends, no ulterior motive or pity attached.

"I made them for me," he said, a ridiculous grin forming across his face. "Just thought I'd share with my best friend."

Katniss knew better. He made them just for her, but he wouldn't admit it so they would be easier for her to accept. Katniss felt a flutter in her heart at how thoughtful and attentive he always was to her, and she tried to keep her own, widening grin under control.

"Well, thanks for sharing," she responded before savoring the delicious treat. The drive to school was quiet as Peeta shifted the gears of his dad's old Toyota Ranger that had gone through his older two brothers before ending up with him. Katniss ate each breakfast treat, offering Peeta the last one. When he declined, she polished it off just as quickly as the first one.

Peeta always carried her books from the truck to her first class, and today was no exception. It was a daily struggle with herself to let him do chivalrous things for her, and remembering that Peeta wasn't acting out of pity was what caused Katniss to allow it at all.

"I'll see you after school?" he asked, handing over her backpack as they prepared to part ways. He repeated the same question every morning, and she responded with the same answer every time.

"Always," she said, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.

"At least for the next 54 days," they both replied in unison, as had become their custom for counting down the days left of their senior year. It both excited and terrified Katniss to move on from high school. She wanted to be far away from this town, the town she had to come to hate because it was here where she had been orphaned. But it was also the place where she met Peeta, the best part of her life since her family died.

He had told her he was planning to go away to college, and they had even put in applications to the same schools after which they had both been accepted, but his dad's health might throw a hitch in those plans. Katniss really hoped, for Peeta and herself, that his dad would pull through. In the last week his health had gone downhill. Peeta was vague about it, assuring her it was nothing serious and everything would work out fine, but Katniss knew he was putting on a brave face for her. She tried to think of ways comfort him, but how do you comfort someone who's trying to cover their pain?

Katniss wasn't the best at being friends, and she still didn't know what Peeta saw in her. She thought hey were polar opposites. Where Peeta was outgoing, Katniss was secretive and closed off. Peeta was kind and generous, while Katniss tended to be untrusting and suspicious of everyone. Peeta had more friends than she could keep track of and Katniss only had him. And Delly, if you counted Peeta's blonde, excessively attentive friend that Katniss was convinced knew no boundaries. Peeta had wanted Katniss to meet his two best friends, and Katniss had tried to put if off as long as she could, since she was still adjusting to not being alone anymore. But knowing Peeta also meant knowing his friends.

Delly was pretty, but that's not what was intimidating about her. She had announced to Katniss, on their very first introduction, that any friend of Peeta's would be a best friend of hers. She had linked their arms together and dragged Katniss down the hall towards her next class, Delly having to go in the same direction. Katniss had looked back at Peeta with a panic-stricken face, seeing his eyes twinkling with amusement as his fingers wiggled in a sly wave and his mouthed formed the words 'see you later'. He obviously thought he was doing her a favor.

On the way to class. Delly had rambled on about herself the entire time, not allowing Katniss one word, although she supposed she probably wouldn't have said anything anyway, as introverted as life had made her. But Delly was a bit much to take at first meet, especially without Peeta as a buffer. To Katniss' dismy, Delly promised they would get together for a girls night soon. That wasn't something she would look forward to, but she could try to appreciate what Delly was doing. For Peeta.

After that, Katniss had started to share her lunch periods with Madge, Peeta's other very blonde, and very attractive friend. He seemed to have no shortage of girls as friends, and Katniss had yet to meet one of his guy friends, if he had one. Unlike Delly, Katniss was very intimidated by Madge's looks. Her skin was flawless, needing no makeup, and the little she did wear enhanced her beauty perfectly. Her soft, blue eyes and bright white smile were framed by loose, flowing curls that fell gracefully at her shoulders. She had a perfect hourglass figure and Katniss was sure no one would ever notice her next to Madge. She was the antithesis of the beautiful girl, with her straight body, small chest, long, dark, hair and eyes void of color. Her skin wasn't creamy like Madge's, rather it was olive toned and dull. She considered herself plain anyway, but next to Madge she was non-existent.

What Madge did have to offer, though, and the reason Katniss spent time with her at all, was an easygoing, relaxed personality, the exact opposite of Delly's. Katniss felt mostly comfortable around her and that was enough to help her push away the insecurity she felt at the stark contrast between their appearances.

"So, Katniss. What are your plans for spring break?" Madge asked as Katniss contemplatively swirled her leftover dinner of soup with a plastic spoon, wishing for one of Peeta's baked goods.

Katniss hadn't thought too much about the upcoming week off from school. Between her studies, taking care of Haymitch, spending time with Peeta, and her new found relationships, she'd had little time to think about making plans.

"I'm not sure," she fibbed. She did have some idea, although it wasn't necessarily what she was looking forward to. Her best friend Johanna, from the school she transferred from, had called to tell her she would be crossing counties for a week-long visit. 'No buts' had been Johanna's way of telling Katniss it was a done deal.

"I was hoping you would say that," Madge smiled and winked at her, as though she had something up her sleeve.

"Why is that?"

"I usually go with my family down to our lake house, but since this is my senior year, they've said I can take some friends with me. Will you come?"

Katniss stared at Madge. She had never been on an away trip with anyone but her family. Her family. Mom. Dad. Prim. She missed them all, but there wasn't a day that went by that Katniss didn't remember her sister. She had been too young to be denied the rest of her life. She blinked a few times, willing the building tears to subside.

"Are you okay?" Madge asked, the concern on her face doing little to harm her beauty.

"Yeah, yeah," Katniss insisted, swallowing a spoonful of hot soup in an effort to regain composure. "I'm fine. That sounds really fun, Madge, but I have a friend coming to visit and I probably should be here when she arrives."

"She can come, too!" Madge said, and Katniss' way out of the potentially awkward trip was dwindling.. "Please, Katniss? I really like spending time with you." Madge hesitated with her next words. "I mean, I like Delly and all, we've been friends forever, but she can be a bit much, you know?" Katniss understood what Madge was saying, but she didn't want to wholeheartedly agree, being new to the group. She stared contemplatively across the room. It did sound fun, and she could use some time away from this place. She briefly wondered what Uncle Haymitch would do while she was gone.

"I'm going to ask Peeta to come," Madge said, a hint of slyness in her tone.

"That won't influence my decision," Katniss said quickly, feeling as though Madge was trying to persuade her.

"Sure it will. I see the way you both act around each other, and the way you look at him - the same way he looks at you." The smug smile on her face had Katniss fortifying her carefully built walls.

"We don't look at each other any way," Katniss defended, uneasy about anyone watching her, and especially uneasy with them drawing conclusions as to how she felt. She wasn't even sure how she felt, other than that she and Peeta were really close friends, so how could someone else be?

"We're just friends."

"Right," Madge said unconvincingly. "Well, he'll probably only say yes if you do, so think about it and let me know. It'll be a good time." She began to gather her things, the lunch bell signaling the end of the break. Before saying goodbye, she put one last thought in Katniss' head, a knowing smirk on her face. "Who knows, maybe you'll come back more than friends. See you later, Katniss."

Katniss walked to her 5th period class, a hazy cloud of confusion settling around her. Was Madge right? Did she like Peeta in a more than friendly way? She knew she was happier when she was with him. He made her happier than any other person currently in her life. She remembered the way his innocent touches sparked something into existence inside her, something she had never felt before. And he filled a void that made its home in her heart ever since she had lost her family. She didn't believe any of this was evidence of something more than friendship, but she did realize that she wanted to keep Peeta in her life as long as she possibly could, even if all they ever were was friends.

The drive home that afternoon was peaceful, with the windows rolled down and the sun warming her skin. Peeta had taken to driving five miles under the speed limit. He said it was precautionary and he just liked to be on the safe side of the law, but whatever his reasoning, Katniss didn't mind. It allowed them more time together.

"So Madge told me she asked you to go to the lake next week?" Peeta asked.

Katniss nodded at his question, her mouth currently full of the raspberry crumb pastry Peeta had saved for her from lunch. She had thought about the trip all afternoon, and the prospect of Peeta going certainly added weight to her decision, begrudgingly confirming Madge's statement, though she would never admit it out loud.

"Have you decided?" he asked as she swallowed the last bite, reaching over to brush a few crumbs from the side of her mouth. The gesture felt intimate and comforting, awakening that spark in her belly again.

"I'm still thinking about it," she said. "A friend is coming to visit, and Haymitch probably won't bathe, eat or go to work if I'm not there to make him."

"Katniss, your Uncle is a grown man. He took care of himself before you moved in, and he can do it again. And your friend is welcome to join us," he explained, his closing statement leaving little to be argued with. At least not any argument Katniss wanted to get into.

Yes, Haymitch was a grown man, and yes, he had taken care of himself at one time, but that was before. Before his sister's family, save for her, met their untimely end, causing him to turn to the bottle for relief. Katniss was dealing with it the best she could, with no liquid help, which she noticed wasn't really help at all. She kept it all in, pushing it deep down when the pain of loss and the despair of loneliness threatened to choke the life out of her, and sometimes she didn't understand why Haymitch couldn't do the same. But she couldn't bring herself to share that with Peeta. She wasn't ready to let him have access to that part of her life yet.

The questions, the gossip, and the pity that had come from everyone she had left behind were fresh in her mind and was the motivation behind her keeping a tight lid on her past. Haymitch was the only person here who knew what really happened, and he was more tight-lipped than Katniss. Until next week, when Johanna arrived. Then there would be two people who knew her past.

No, there was no way she could go on the lake trip and take Johanna with her.

"I don't think I can go, Peeta." The look of disappointment on his face made Katniss immediately want to take the words back. He reached over the center console and twined his fingers through hers, the gentle pressure and brush of his warm skin sending a tingling sensation up her arm. Her resolve was quickly dying between his eyes and his touch. Maybe she could still say no if she were battling only the hopefulness of his gaze, or the pleasure of his contact, but together they were a force to be reckoned with.

"Katniss, please come with me." Peeta's sweet, pleading tone was the straw that broke her. Her rationalizations crumbled to the ground in a dust-filled fog, and he jiggled her hand to gain her attention, his eyes questioning her silence.

"Okay, Peeta," she said exasperatedly, tightening her hold on his hand. "I'll go. But stop it with the puppy-dog eyes! I can't take it anymore." The smile that followed threatened to split his face in two, and Katniss felt satisfaction at being the one to cause this happiness. It was short lived, though, as nervousness and doubt about the decisions overshadowed it. She hoped she could keep Johanna quiet for a whole week. It would be difficult, but she knew the time she spent with Peeta would be worth it.

The following Saturday, a loud, obnoxious knock on the front door alerted Katniss to the fact that Johanna had made it safely to her house. She wasn't ready for this, wasn't ready to face someone from her past, someone who had known her family and the pain it caused her to lose them. It was like opening the still healing wound all over again.

With an audible breath she opened the door to see her friend, with large, dark shades covering her hazel eyes and half of both cheeks. A wicked grin graced her face, and her normally long pony-tail had been exchanged for a pixie cut.

"Katniss!" she exclaimed, pulling her in for a tight, rib-cracking hug.

"Johanna!" Katniss returned the sentiment with a glee she wasn't sure she would have been able muster. Stepping back from the familiar embrace, she took in her old friend.

"Wow, you've changed so much," Katniss said, her eyes roving over all the new details she noticed about Johanna. Her new haircut, her straightened, white smile sans braces, her new style of clothing, decidedly more revealing than the baggy pants and sweatshirts she used to wear.

"And you haven't changed a bit," she drawled, grabbing Katniss' long braid slung over one shoulder. "What say we cut this baby off?"

"No thanks," she answered, removing her hair from Johanna's grasp as she walked across the threshold. Katniss closed the door and moved to take Johanna's things to her bedroom.

"So what wild things have you got planned for us this week? Please tell me you planned something for us to do besides hang out in this dreary place!" she exclaimed, Katniss noticing her looking around the bare walls and unkempt furniture of the living room. Katniss had never really cared what it looked like, and even Peeta hadn't made mention of the state of the house. Though she tried to keep it clean, she was a terrible housekeeper and probably not fit for any domestic titles. The furniture was probably as old as Haymitch, and she couldn't deny that the house needed a massive makeover, but she had never thought much of it until now.

"Actually, Jo," Katniss started, using the nickname she'd had for Johanna since grade school, "we're going to the lake." She stood proudly, glad she had something interesting for them to do. Katniss was known among their old friends as the cautious one, while Johanna was known for being rowdy and boisterous. Katniss had often gotten into trouble following Johanna's impetuous nature, but they had been the best of friends ever since Johanna had given a black eye to a bully that had been picking on Katniss during recess in the fourth grade.

"Sweet. When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow," Katniss answered.

"Why tomorrow? Why can't we jet out today? This place sort of reeks of stale booze." Johanna scrunched her face in disgust. Katniss didn't deny the accusation. She had felt the same way when she moved in, but she supposed she had just gotten used to the smell of Uncle Haymitch.

"Peeta has to close the bakery on Saturdays, so we're waiting for him."

"Back up," Johanna abruptly demanded, holding up a rigid hand in a stopping gesture. "Who is this Peet-a and why are we waiting for him? I brought a car, you know. We could just go now."

"Peeta is my friend, and our ride. He can't leave until tomorrow, hence the waiting," Katniss explained in the simplest language she knew. Looking at Johanna, she noticed her friend cock one eyebrow.

"He?"

"Yes, he, and we are just friends." She accentuated her last two words, not wanting another person to challenge her on her feelings.

"Whatever," Johanna said, dismissing Katniss' words with a tired wave. "I need a nap. I stayed out all night with my new fling, Gloss."

"I don't want to have to hear the dirty details of your sex life this week, okay?" Katniss had listened to more than her fair share of Johanna's dirty escapades since her friend had become active in that way three years earlier.

"Geez, Kat," Johanna said, reverting to her nickname for Katniss. "You don't want to hear anything?"

"Of course I want to hear what's been going on in your life since I moved, just maybe not every account of it?" Katniss cringed at the word 'every'.

"Alright, alright, Miss Purity. I'll spare you the orgasmic details," Johanna said, nudging Katniss with her elbow.

"Gross, Jo."

Johanna followed Katniss upstairs and into her room, where Katniss plopped the heavy overnight bag down next to her dresser. Both girls collapsed onto the bed, causing it to squeak under their bouncing weight.

"So, tell me about this Peeta," Johanna started, pulling two chocolate candies from her pocket and offering one to her. Katniss rolled her eyes, hoping this wasn't going to be an inquisition into her and Peeta's relationship.

"What do you want to know?"

"Shoe size?" Katniss pinched the arm Johanna had stretched out closest to her.

"I have no idea, we're just friends, and even if I did, I wouldn't say. Next question."

"You're no fun anymore, Kat. What happened to you?" Johanna retorted quickly without thinking. Katniss glared at her friend, overcome with anger and despair, before jumping up from her bed with lightning speed into the jack-and-jill bathroom she shared with the unoccupied room next to hers. She was careful to lock both sides. She had made that mistake once with Haymitch when she first moved in. They'd had a few go-arounds while getting adjusted to each other's presence in the same space.

"Katniss," Johanna said through the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Katniss sat on top of the vanity, hugging her knees to her chest, allowing the tears to roll freely down her face. She remembered with agony the three-person funeral she attended. Three caskets. Two large, one small. Three beautiful floral arrangements splayed over the tops of them, made from pink primroses, orange stargazer lillies, and the very difficult to find white katniss flower. They were her father's favorites, symbolizing the names of his three girls.

The tears became heavier, falling in fat droplets on her faded jeans as her mind recalled the dark, rectangular holes in the ground, the final resting places of her family. The loneliness pressed down on her even more so than normal at the memories. This was why she didn't allow herself to think about it. This was why she locked it up and never shared this part of herself. The grief was too much.

Katniss leaned her head back onto the mirror, exhausted from the torrent of emotions, and fell into a fitful sleep.

"Katniss?" A faint knock on the bathroom door, and the sound of Peeta's concerned voice on the other side caused Katniss to jump in her sleep. Rubbing her eyes, red, swollen and dry from crying, she called out to him.

"Just a minute." She ran cold water from the faucet, splashing it on her face and trying to wash the redness away so Peeta wouldn't know something was going on. Why was he here, anyway?

She plastered a meager smile on her face, hoping to be able to convince him nothing was the matter, knowing he wouldn't press the issue, and opened the door just enough to see his face.

"Katniss, what's going on?" he asked, his tone worried and consoling at the same time.

"Nothing, Peeta. Why are you here?"

"Your friend messaged me from your phone. Said you locked yourself in the bathroom and wouldn't come out and that I was the only person you'd mentioned. So I came right over, leaving mom to close the bakery," he lifted his hands, showing Katniss the flour still dusted over his skin and caked underneath his fingernails. "Now tell me what's wrong?"

"Where is Jo?" Katniss snapped, looking around him into the room. She wanted to give her friend a good tongue-lashing for involving Peeta.

"She's downstairs." Peeta nudged the door open, moving inside the bathroom and closed it behind him. The area was small and the two of them together gave them little space to maneuver. Katniss pulled herself back onto the counter, in the position she'd spent most of the afternoon in.

"Johanna, she just said something stupid is all." Katniss tried to throw Peeta off her trail of sadness, but she had a feeling it was going to take more than that explanation to get the job done.

"So, you're friend said something dumb, and you locked yourself in the bathroom for three hours?" Peeta's tone, although calm, said he wasn't buying it at all. She shrugged her shoulders and rubbed at the fresh tears forming in her eyes, wanting it to be enough for him and at the same time wanting to tell him everything. She felt him step closer to the cabinet. He pulled her down from it and put his arms around her, bringing her into his chest. His hold was firm but gentle, and Katniss could feel the solid ripple of muscle under his t-shirt. He smelled like sugar and spices, and she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his middle.

"Katniss, I'm truly sorry for whatever happened to you," he whispered in her ear soothingly. "I wish I could fix it and take all the pain away." She nodded her head against his chest, hoping he understood that she was grateful for his words and his presence.

"Just know that, whenever you're ready to talk about it, I'll be here to listen, okay?" He backed away from her just enough to look into her face without loosening his hold. His eyes seemed to share her pain, and she felt confident that he would do exactly what he said if he could.

"Thank you, Peeta. Maybe one day I can share it with you," she said to him, noticing a flicker of disappointment cross his face. She hoped he accepted that it just couldn't be today.

"I have to get home and pack for tomorrow. That is, if you're okay? I can stay longer if you need." Katniss shook her head.

"Okay. Mom's probably breathing fire out her nostrils since I left her to close everything down." Peeta let out a weak laugh with his words, but Katniss could see something in his eyes that spoke truth.

"No, I'm fine now. You should go before your mom gets angry. Thank you, Peeta," she said in a small voice.

"You're welcome, Katniss." She smiled at the silky way the end of her name rolled off his tongue.

"I hope she's not too mad at you," Katniss said, still hanging on to Peeta, who hadn't let her go either. He brought his hand to her face, brushing loose strands of hair away.

"Don't worry about her," Peeta replied, leaning closer. Katniss closed her eyes, expecting him to kiss her lips, which had begun to ache with his nearness. Instead, he gave her a soft peck on the tip of her nose and she was surprised at the disappointment she felt. He released his arms from around her body and she suffered immediately from their absence.

"See you tomorrow?" he asked her, opening the door and letting them both out into the room.

"Yes. Looking forward to it, actually."

"Me, too." Katniss breathed a heavy sigh and followed Peeta down the steps and into living room where Johanna was waiting, anxiously chewing her nails. The room was silent as Peeta took his leave, reminding the girls of their early start time the next morning. Kaniss sat in the worn-out, leather barcalounger across from Johanna, waiting for her to start the conversation.

"I'm sorry," she blurted out. "I'm so sorry, Kat. I wasn't thinking. I haven't seen you in forever and I just forgot to put my filter in." Katniss sat, unblinking, staring a hole through her friend. "You know how I can be sometimes," Johanna added. It was true, and Katniss forced back a grin at the memory of Johanna complimenting their freshman year history teacher on how good she looked with a baby in her belly, only to find out she wasn't pregnant.

"I forgive you, Jo." At her words Johanna exhaustedly dropped her hands in her lap, blowing out a deep breath.

"Thank God. This trip would have really blown if we were fighting the whole time," she confessed. She moved to give Katniss an apologetic hug. They left their arms around each other, walking side by side up the stairs, laughing as Katniss reminded Johanna about the time they had taken Johanna's father's car out for a drive when they were just fifteen. The cop that pulled them over, responding to a stolen car report, was confused when Johanna asked him if he was a veterinarian, and upon hearing no, fed him the line, "That's too bad. These are some sic puppies", while lifting her shirt to reveal her naked breasts.

"Hey, Kat?" Johanna asked after they composed themselves enough to have a conversation and begin the packing process.

"Yeah, Jo?"

"I think I need to do some shopping. I'm not really packed for a lake trip."

"Jo, you know I hate shopping," Katniss whined.

"Have it your way. I can always walk around Peeta naked," she said matter-of-factly.

"Get your keys, Jo," Katniss ordered, dropping the pair of shorts she was folding into her bag.

"Just a friend, eh?" Johanna teased. Katniss hid her face as it flamed red, hoping Johanna didn't notice.

Please review! I brought in some supporting cast to get us through these next twenty or so chapters. How did you like them here? Did you love/hate my 'sic puppies' line? My husband is a gym rat and he and his buddies trade gifs all day long about their workouts, (lame). This happened to be one of them so I switched it up hoping it seemed like something Jo would say and add a teensy bit of humor. :D My outline is what I like to call roughy/fluffy. I know this started out as cute and cuddly, but a fic is only as good as its drama and finale, so this won't be all fluff all the time But we do have a few more chapters to get through before I take on the role of Satan. Thank you to my friendgirl and beta, titania522, who was assured this was just a broken up one shot, but gets right down to biz when I send her my drivel, telling her I've decided to outline it and make it a wip, thus putting off my other fic ideas plus the other wip I haven't update in four months. Boo.

Let me know what you think and come follow me on tumblr as Peetabreadgirl.