I will always stay with you

Chapter 9

Peeta POV

I can't tell if I was dreaming or not. I think they put me on some kind of pain medication for my arm so I very well could have imagined it all. It was what I was wishing for the most right then and there. Could Katniss actually like me the way I like her. I decide to ask her. 

I wake up pretty early, around 6:30 am and see Katniss sleeping in the chair next to the bed. She looks so peaceful and she actual looks kind. Her features are all softened by sleep and she has a small smile. I decide not to wake her up yet, but the position she is in does not look very comfortable. 

At around 7:30 she wakes up and gives me a small smile before a big yawn escapes her mouth. Then I think she remembers what we said last night (which confirms my suspicions) based on the look on her face. She almost looks embarrassed but not quite. 

"Were you just high on pain killers or did you actually say you liked me"

"I said that" I say with a smile. 

"What do we do with this information?" she asks. And honestly I don't know but I decide to say something that will make or break. 

"Katniss, would you like to go out with me? Would you like to be my girlfriend."

"Peeta, I would love nothing more, but I have an idea. First of all, yes I will be your girlfriend but I think we should spend some more time together as friends. Know that I do like you in the same way I think you like me but I think we need to get to know each other better before jumping into anything. "

"Okay" I respond. "I think that is a good idea."

"I think we should go on a little 'get to know each other' date as friends and see how it goes."

"That sounds awesome" I say just happy to spend some time with her. 

Katniss goes down to the cafeteria to get us some coffee and comes back a couple of minutes later with 2 steaming cups in hand. Somehow she knew that I only like a little bit of sugar and no cream. 

"How did you know I like my coffee like this?" I ask, holding up the cup. 

She blushes and replies "I didn't, that's just how I like my coffee." 

"Ha, ok" I respond and we giggle together. 

God I like her so much. Shes perfect, in every way. Even in coffee preferences. We drink our coffee and then Katniss has to go home. My dad comes and picks me up from the hospital at around 10 and I start work at the bakery right when I get home. My arm hurts a little when picking up heavy things like bags of flour but its not too bad. 

Katniss and I have our "friend" date tomorrow so I make sure I go to bed early tonight because the events of the yesterday really wore me out. 

~The next morning~

 I wake up and make a couple of the orders from yesterday. When I am done I go upstairs and get Ready for hanging out with Katniss. I make sure to wear long sleeves so that the wound on my arm is covered. I drive over to her house to pick her up. When I get there I get out, walk up and knock on the door. 

Katniss POV

I wake up later than I should have and get out of bed. I can't believe Peeta likes me too. It feels impossible. The only reason I told him that I wanted to spend more time as friends is because I really felt like I needed to be prepared. I felt like I should know him very well before jumping into a relationship.

I throw on some clothes and head downstairs. Peeta and I are planning on eating brunch together and then doing whatever we want afterwords. Just as I am making my way downstairs I hear a knock on the door. 

"It's open" I shout to him, knowing it's Peeta. "Just come in. " 

"Hey how are you?" he asks. 

"I'm pretty good. How are you? How's your arm?" I question him

"It feels way better this morning and they gave me some pain meds to take home." he answers. 

"That's good Peeta, really good." I tell him. "Thank you again for what you did yesterday, that was pretty awesome. Not the getting bitten by a mountain lion but you were awesome for saving me. I'm rambling just ignore me." I say and for some reason I feel nervous. He just smiles and gestures out of the door. 

I walk out with him and get into his car. "So do you want to eat first or do something else now?" He asks. 

"I honestly don't care. It's just fun spending time with you. How about we go on a short walk in the park and when we get hungry we can go get some food?" I suggest. 

"Sounds great!" Peeta drives us to a small park in town and we get out to take a small walk. We get out and find one of the paths. Peeta and I walk beside each other in silence for a couple of minutes, then I reach down and take his hand in mine. He gives me a look and I see tons of different emotions flash across his face. Happiness, relief, gratitude and adoration. 

We walk like that for about 20 minutes, hand in hand, not talking just enjoying each others company. It's honestly really nice. 

Suddenly Peeta blurts out something unexpected but nice "I'm so glad I met you Katniss, you are such an amazing person." 

"I'm glad I met you too" I say with a smile. I reach out and give him a small hug. "I am also glad we didn't all get eaten by a mountain lion yesterday."

"Ha, I'm glad we didn't get eaten as well" He says. 

The rest of the day is amazing. I love spending time with Peeta, he is so kind despite what he has to deal with at home and I hope that I will be able to do something for him. I think I will have a talk with his mother. She needs to get it into her head that Peeta is an amazing human being and what she is doing to him is awful. 

I go home and have dinner with Prim and my mom, then go up to my room to be alone for a bit. I need to think. I need to think about Peeta, need to try and figure him out. how does someone that perfect actually like me? He is such a nice guy and I am kind of mad at myself for turning him down. Well I didn't really turn him down just said to wait. But I think that was a stupid decision. I think that I was a complete idiot yesterday. I decide to call Peeta, even though i just saw him. 

On the phone with Peeta

"Hey I know I just saw you but I needed to tell you something."

"Ok...what" he says with a laugh. 

"I lied earlier." I say and take a deep breath. "I do want to be in a relationship with you. Now." I say and sigh."

"Ok. I want to be with you as well." he says and I can here the excitement in his voice "Are you sure this is what you want" 

"Yes!" I reply, very excited. 

"Ok I have you go, but I will see you tomorrow at school." He pauses as if he can't believe what is happening and then says. "Bye...girlfriend"

"Bye boyfriend" I say with a smile, sure he can hear how excited I am. 

We hang up and I start jumping up and down on the bed. Prim comes in very confused and when I tell her about today she joins me on the bed. We jump together holding hands, laughing and listening to music for most of the night.