My Peeta Mellark

Peeta

"So, tell me about yourself." I say. Peeta looks slightly confused so I elaborate, "Come, On. I just got into a car with a complete stranger. Make me trust you at least."

"Ok..." Peeta says as if deciding what to tell, then answers, "I'm a baker."

No kidding, I think. "What do you bake?"

"Cakes and bread. I help decorate, too." He says. I think he's playing with me, but I decide to roll with it as I tell him to take the next two rights. 

"What about you?" Peeta asks, taking a sip of his tea as we stop at a red light. 

"I'm majoring in journalism."I tell him.  He seems to think thats cool. 

"I like your shirt." He says after a moment of silence, "Orange is my favorite."

I want to laugh and tell him I get the game, but playing along is, too, fun, "Like neon?" 

"No, like the sunset." He's really good at this. I laugh a little. 

"What's funny? You don't like Orange?" He's not mad, because he's smiling. More of curious. 

"No. Orange is fine." I try to keep playing.

When we arrive to the collage I lead him to registration. 

"Jane!" I hear a voice yell from behind me. I turn just in time to catch Adri's embrace instead of being tackled. 

"Hey! How was the boys' stay?" I ask, holding her. 

"It was so nice to have Luke back for awhile. And they did great, as always. What about New Zealand?" She says, extending me at arms length so she can see my face. 

"It was amazing. Especially Hobbiton! I wish you could have come!" I hear someone whisper from a circled group near the entrance, "It's the travel freaks, again." 

I decide to ignore them and introduce Adri to Peeta. I can't wait to see her face. 

"Peeta, Adri... Adri, Peeta," I introduce. Adri looks humored. 

"Peeta?" she clarifies. 

"The one and only." He smiles, shaking her hand, and sneaking a glance at me. He seems to think we have an inside joke about his name. 

Your not far off bread boy.

She tries to talk to me with her eyes, but I'm distracted by him kneeling down. As a girl this always gets my attention. He ties his shoes and stands again, then we all walk into the office. 

Double knot. Wow, he's really done his homework. 

But once we get to the stand and he signs his name and fills the papers I end up with my mouth gaping open. I can't help but look over his shoulder to make sure my eyes aren't cheating me. But it says it everywhere. 

Peeta Mellark. Peeta Mellark. Peeta Mellark. Sighed everywhere and on his ID card. 
 Oh My Gosh... Either he is really PEETA or this is a really sick joke.   

I grab Adri by the hand a cue her to read the papers. 

"You look pale. Are you ok?" She asks. I turn her face from me and direct her to Peeta's side. I silently tell her again to read the papers. Her eyes widen. 

"Is...He?" She asks, obviously as confused as I am. 

"I get the joke!" I suddenly yell into the practically empty room, "You can stop pulling this now. I get it!" 

Peeta and the registration guy look at me like I'm crazy. But still Peeta's eyes are kind. Always trying to understand instead of judge. Like the real Peeta. Fictional Peeta? My mind swirls with the complex matter. Peeta Mellark can't be here. He lives in district twelve with Katniss and their two kids. In a book! I read every letter of that book more than twice. I know how it ends and begins, and It sure doesn't have me in it. 

I stop making a scene and try to wrap my mind around what's happening. Adri and I whisper to each other on a bench in the building. 

"It can't be him, Jane." Adri says quietly. 

"I know it can't, but..." 

"But what? There is no other explanation. Your being pranked." 

"I know there shouldn't be any other way, but look at him, Adri!" I whisper loudly, "He looks exactly like he's described. Everything! His favorite color is Orange, he doesn't take sugar in his tea, he double knots his shoes, he bakes and decorates and I'm willing to bet he sleeps with the windows open." 

"He obviously read the books." Adri says.

"Well if it's not him then obviously, but what about his papers? They don't just DO that sort of thing for a prank."I argue.  Adri seems to contemplate this for a moment, staring intently at Peeta. She then stares at me and smiles. 

"What?" I ask, completely confused, "I don't see how this is funny!" 

"Jane, Your first flabnogging celebrity crush was Josh Hutcherson solely because he portrayed Peeta in a movie. And this might be the real Peeta... you know what that implies?" Adri explains, grinning widely.

 I shake my head vigorously, "No. Nu-hu. No way. Bad idea."

"My Jane is gonna meet the guy she's been waiting for and Peeta Mellark is finally gonna fall for a girl that recognizes his potential." Adri says triumphantly through a giggle. I desperately attempt to grab her hand as she approaches Peeta, who is just finishing all the paperwork. 

"Lord take me now," I whisper as they both approach me, Adri beaming in glorious victory. She's been dying to get me a boyfriend since sixth grade, and hasn't had much luck. And now I'm about to let her play matchmaker with a fictional character. Well... there never has been any real chance of stopping her once she's determined.