Peeta Get's Dared Chapter Two

The ghost of Katniss's lips on mine haunts me for the rest of the afternoon. Not long after the encounter I catch up with Anna and tell her I won the bet. She congratulates me, but it feels empty. I don't feel like I won anything except maybe a broken heart. In a way Katniss did put an arrow through my chest. By kissing me she had shown me what could have been. If anything my love for her was solidified and finalized with that kiss. I wanted her. I needed her. My heart was in disrepair to the point that not even the most skilled surgeons in the capital could fix it. Everyone noticed my Melancholia, even my mother, who had no interest in my well being, noticed. She even said to me, "Peeta, whatever's bothering you, fix it. You're taking it out on my rolls." Which was probably the most heartfelt thing she had ever said to me. It had gotten to the point where my brothers couldn't ever cheer me up, and that was serious. I got out of my funk only long enough to trade with Katniss, the only time during the summer that I was able to see her. If it was possible, she became more radiant to me every day. One day when she came to trade I noticed that her eyes were red and puffy. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she had caught Gale kissing someone at the slagheap yesterday. She burst into tears and I took her into my arms even though my heart was shattering into a thousand pieces. I held her as she cried and cried for what felt like hours. I wanted to kill Gale for what he did to her. Between the sobs she also said that her sister, Prim, was sick and it wasn't looking good. I told her everything would be okay, and she seemed to take some comfort from that. This time I took the plunge and gently placed my lips on hers. She kissed back, tentatively at first, and then more and more passionately. She had me pinned up against the door and I couldn't help but notice again how well our bodies fit together. Eventually though I had to push her away even though it killed me to do it. She looked at me, quizzically, and asked, "Peeta? What's wrong?"

"Nothing it's just. Katniss do you have feelings for me? I mean do you like me?"

"Clearly I like you, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't like you."

"No I mean do you like me?" I ask. "The way you like Gale."

"Oh." She responded. "I don't know, I mean I like you a lot Peeta. But Gale and I, we have been friends for so long I….."

"Katniss." I interrupt. "I need to make some things clear. The reason my friends wanted me to kiss you for that bet, it was because I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you since we were kids, Katniss. I know I should have told you sooner but there it is. I'm a coward. I'm a coward who's in love with somebody who loves someone else, so I guess that also makes me an idiot."

"Peeta.."

"I'm sorry. I should have told you when we kissed that first time. I really wanted to but I chickened out. So I guess you should go now."

"Peeta, I'm in love with you, too."

"What!" I say.

"I think I've been in love with you for a very long time. Since the day you threw me that bread. You saved my life, Peeta. You saved me in every possible way that day. I didn't realize it till now. I need you Peeta, please don't go." She practically begs. I respond by kissing her again. I kiss her until we both can't breathe. I guess I should thank Anna, without her its possible Katniss would never have become mine. Without her I wouldn't have gotten down on one knee five years later and asked her to marry me and she definitely never would have said yes.