The plan

       The question started it all. It was unexpected and came out of nowhere, but it would forever change life as they knew it. It started out like any other day, Katniss was scowling at a joke Johanna made, Finnick and Annie were cuddling, and Peeta was working on his latest drawing.
Finnick gave a knowing look to Annie and stood up.  "Peeta!" he said. "Accompany me to getting our lovely ladies refreshments" 
He grabbed Peeta's arm before he could protest and with a wink to Annie, they were off.  As soon as they disappeared from sight, Annie and Johanna turned towards Katniss.
"What?" Katniss asked, her scowl ever present.
"So what are you going to do for Peeta for Valentine's Day?" Annie asked, eyes gleaming.
Katniss' eyes widened.  "Wha-what? Peeta?" she sputtered. "What kind of question is that?! We're not even together!" 
"Oh come on, brainless, you might as well be," Johanna said.
Katniss huffed indigently. "I have no clue what you're talking about"
"Come on," Annie said, nudging her. "It's the perfect time to tell him you like him.  God knows he's liked you since the day he laid eyes on you."
Katniss rolled her eyes.  "Okay, say all of this is true, what do you suppose I do? Make him chocolates, saying 'I like you' on them? You all know I can't cook, and doing something like that just isn't my thing."
"Just think about it, okay?" Annie finished, and with that, the boys were making their way back, drinks in hand.
"So," Annie started as they arrived, "Peeta, when is your next wrestling match?"
Peeta smiled, eyes brightening. "This Thursday actually."
Peeta continued to give more detail about his match, and Katniss found herself lost in the way his blue eyes were sparkling as he talked about one of his few passions. Times like these were when she would feel warm, and feel the want, the need to be more with Peeta. This was also the moment Katniss decided she was going to confess to Peeta by Valentine's Day.

"Okay, plan one," Annie said that following day. Katniss, Johanna, Prim, and Annie were all gathered at Katniss' house.  Annie had dragged out Katniss' sister, Prim's, old black board, and had written "Plan One" at the top.
"Is this really necessary?" Katniss asked, eyeing the board skeptically.
"Of course! We need a game plan or you'll chicken out! Now, his match is in two days so plan one will be there."
"But I always go to his games. How is that a plan?"
"It's what you're going to do at the game," Johanna replied, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
Katniss looked around at the three girls, grinning mischievously, and sighed.  "Alright, let's hear this plan."
"Yay!" Annie cheered. "Okay, so this plan is the one I came up with. After the game, we always go out to eat. This time we'll go get Chinese food, and in his fortune cookie we'll put 'I like you -K.'"
"Okay...that could work. But it doesn't sound like something for me to do."
"Well, we will never know till we try."
Prim spoke then, "Ooh Katniss, please let me do your hair. I know just the perfect hair style!"
"Of course, little duck." Katniss couldn't say no to her little sister with her blue, doe-like eyes.

Peeta won his match, and together the girls outvoted Peeta and Finnick, who both wanted to get pizza. Prior to arriving at the restaurant, Annie, Katniss, and Johanna went to the restaurant and instructed the lady who would wait them to give the specific fortune cookie to the blond boy. Katniss was sitting at the table, anxiously tapping her foot. They had just finished eating.
"You had a great match Peeta!" Annie said enthusiastically.
Peeta smiled.  "Thanks."
Finnick turned to Katniss. "Care for a sugar cube?" he asked.
Katniss laughed, shoving his face away.
The waiter came and delivered the fortune cookies along with the check.
Katniss, Annie, and Johanna stared at Peeta as he opened his fortune cookie. His reaction was normal, and he proceeded to eat his cookie.
"So what did your cookie say?" Annie asked Peeta.
"Oh, nothing special."
Katniss made an irritated noise, "What do you mean nothing special?"
"Oh Katniss, I had no idea you liked me," Finnick cut in.
Slowly Katniss, Annie, and Johanna turned towards Finnick.
"What?" Katniss spoke through clenched teeth.
Finnick showed them all the fortune cookie. Johanna was the first to react, throwing her had back with loud chortles. Katniss' face turned beet red, and she yanked the paper from his grip. Peeta raised an eyebrow, not being able to see what the cookie said from his position next to Finnick.
"What does it say?" he asked, still munching on his cookie.
"Nothing!" Katniss said loudly.
"Ooh Finnick! That wasn't meant for you!" Annie huffed.
Finnick connected the dots, and grinned mischievously. "Maybe next time, Katniss"

"Okay brainless, we tried Annie's plan, and now for mine," Johanna said. They had all gathered at Katniss' house once again, and now it was time for plan B, which was made by Johanna.
"I don't know. Maybe the first time was a sign that I shouldn't."
"It was a simple mistake Katniss," Annie said. "Finnick is also blond, so they must have thought it was him we were talking about."
"Alright, Johanna. Let's hear your plan."
Johanna smirked. "Okay, so on Monday in English class—since we all have that together—you'll pass him a note that we write telling him how you feel.  Then voila!"
"That doesn't sound like something you would do, Johanna."
"Yeah well, I was gonna have you just yell it to him, but I felt like that was just too straight forward. We don't want to scare the poor boy to death."
"Alright then, let's write this note."
"So Katniss, tell us how you feel about Peeta."
"How I feel? I don't know.  I'm not good with words, I'm more of an action kind of girl."
"Oh come on, it's easy. You like his eyes right?" Annie asked.
"Well, yes."
"Well, we will just say something about his dazzling blue eyes."
"Dazzling? Alright."
Katniss sat in her seat, rereading the note for the thousandth time.  "Okay, you can do this.  Just pass it to him," she said to herself.
She tapped Annie, who was in front of her, and gave it to her to pass to Peeta. She passed it to Johanna, who passed it to Madge, who passed it to Gale. Gale took the letter and started to open it. Katniss panicked and tried to get his attention, but to no avail. Defeated she sat back in her seat and watched as Gale raised his eyebrow and turned back to her. She slammed her head to her desk.

"Hey, Katniss," Peeta said, sliding into the seat next to her during lunch.
"Peeta," Katniss smiled
"I got you something for Valentine's Day. I know it isn't until tomorrow, but I couldn't wait any longer."
He pulled out a box and handed it to Katniss. Gingerly, she opened the box to reveal a small pearl. Katniss' eyes started to water.
"I know it isn't much, but—"
Katniss cut him off, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"It's perfect," she said, her voice muffled.
His arms came to wrap around her slim waist, and she felt him relax into her touch.  After a moment, she pulled away.
"Thank you, Peeta," she said sincerely.
He gave her one of his gorgeous smiles. "You're welcome."
That night, Katniss was in bed, rubbing the pearl between her fingers when Prim climbed into bed with her.
"How did the letter go?" she asked.
"The wrong person received it. Again"
"Don't worry, Katniss. I'm sure you can confess tomorrow."
"The ideas Annie and Johanna came up with were great, really, but they just weren't me."
"That's because it's their ideas, not yours. You should confess to him your own way."
"You're so mature for your age, little duck."
Today's the day, Katniss thought to herself. She just needed to get Peeta alone and blurt it out. She caught a flash of his blond hair in the crowd and took off.
"Peeta!" Katniss called, jogging to catch up with him. She stopped when she saw Finnick with Peeta and sighed.
"I'll get him at lunch," she promised herself.
But at lunch, all their friends were already there when she arrived so it wasn't a good time either.  The end of the day was coming, and Katniss was beyond frustrated. Her patience was running thin. The bell for the end of the day finally rang, and Katiss thought this was it.  Whether he is with anyone of not, she was going to tell him. She found him by his locker with some of his wrestling buddies and Finnick. She marched over, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
"Katniss? Wha—"
She cut him off as she slammed her lips onto his. The kiss was messy, and they clashed teeth from the force of her pull. He took a second to respond, from shock, she guessed. But when he did, it was like fireworks went off on her lips. His lips were soft and warm. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled himself flush against her. He started to take control of the kiss, and together their lips moved in sync.  Peeta pulled his mouth away and looked down at her. His lips were swollen, a flush to his cheeks, and his eyes were clouded with lust.  She figured she must look similar.
"So," Peeta said, licking his lips.
"I like you Peeta, like a lot," Katniss blurted.  "And I've tried all week to tell you and all my plans kept backfiring until I got so frustrated."
He smiled. "It's okay.  This seems very much like something you'd do. I'd expect nothing less."
Katniss smiled, lowering her eyes to the ground, suddenly aware of the company they had.
"Katniss!" Finnick whined. "I thought you liked me."
"Well, that's one way to do it," Annie said, coming up them.
"Congratulations, brainless," Johanna said.
Katniss listened to all her friends talking and smiled. Peeta leaned down to her ear and whispered, "By the way, I like you too."
A deep blush grew on Katniss' cheeks and Peeta gave a hearty laugh, kissing the top of her head.