Icing on the Cake

Birthday Cake~Rihanna

Peeta

I decide to change into sweatpants and a tank top and I put on extra deodorant. I even grab a piece of gum before I go.

When I get to her house, she's in the kitchen with her back to me, reaching for a high cupboard, wearing a tank top with the shortest shorts I've ever seen. Her hair isn't in it's signature braid. It's in a high ponytail showing off her pretty neck. She looks as good as a piece of birthday cake. I'm thoroughly aroused and confused.

"Hey, there you are."

She looks so... perky? Yeah, perky is the word.

Oh crap. She's walking over to me and I'm looking right at her chest.

STOP! Ok, eyes up.

Look at her... face, dammit!

For the love of all that's Holy. She's hugging me... tight. Standing on her toes to wrapping her arms around my neck. Too much of my skin is touching hers. I back my lower half off of her so she won't notice what's growing.

"Hey. Uh, you look... different." I say.

"You wanna go to my room?" She asks.

I'm about to lose it and do exactly what Finnick said, and more. Much more.

Hold it together Mellark.

I hesitate for a second and let her go. Did she just frown?

Katniss lets go too, and I say, "Can we talk first."

***

Katniss

I change into Johanna's sexy suggestion, and go downstairs so when Peeta comes in he can see my new look. I don't think I look very good. You can see the slight scars on my arms from the fire. They're a light pink but at least they are soft and smooth to the touch. They're visible all the same and there are similar scars on my legs as well. Scrapes and stitch scars that have faded but will probably be a shade lighter than my skin the rest of my life. I start to feel nervous when I hear the door opening. I hurry into the kitchen and reach into a cupboard for something kind of high. Jo would be proud. His eyes pop out of his head.

"Hey, there you are." I say.

He's still standing there just staring, so I walk over to him to give him a hug. He doesn't put his arms around me at first. Maybe he doesn't want a hug. But then I feel his familiar warmth and I smile.

"Hey." He says. "Uh... you look... different."

Yeah, it's for you. Wait, different bad?

I just want to get this show on the road so I say, "You want to go to my room?"

Oh, Katniss I thought you'd never ask. Peeta scoops me up in his arms, kisses me and carries me to my room...

Okay, that was all in my head. In reality, he backs away from me and let's go. We aren't even touching at all and I'm feeling rejected. Then he asks if we can talk.

Talk? I did what Jo said and he wants to TALK to me!

Not even close to a kiss.

"Sure, I guess." I say and walk to the couch and plop down frustrated.

"Katniss are you okay?"

Why is he asking me this? Why can't I just say... I think I love you and want to take our relationship to the next level? But that I'm also scared we could lose our friendship and then I'll have nobody again, and I'd be miserable that I wrecked us. So you have to give me a clue you want the same.

"Yeah, Peeta... why?" Is what I go with instead.

"You're dressed like that, and I mean, are you really hot or something?" He asks.

"Kinda, are you hot?" I say in my sexiest voice.

I was hoping he'd think I look hot, but he seems irritated.

"Kat are you doing this on purpose? Cause it's not nice to play with people. Did Johanna set you up to this?"

I can't understand his hostility. If he's gonna be like this why even try. I can't rationalize it, but I'm getting defensive and pretty pissed.

"What? So what if Johanna gave me some fashion tips. I like the way I'm dressed. And what do you mean on purpose?" I yell at him.

Okay, I don't really like how I'm dressed but he doesn't have to pick on me. This whole thing is not going as planned.

Then there's a knock at the door...

***

Peeta

"Are you expecting someone?" I ask.

Is that what this is about? Why is she acting so weird?

She just shakes her head no, looking beautifully furious with me.

What'd I do?

I don't have a clue, so I just answer the door.

What the hell?

Perfect timing, Gale.

I feel like I'm floating above myself as the Peeta below me tries not to look so shocked to see him. Katniss jumps up looking thoroughly shocked herself. So... I'm guessing she didn't dress this way for him.

Then why?

Gale comes in and greets me first saying, "Hey Peeta."

Then he looks at Katniss like he's seeing the ocean for the first time, to quote Annie and says, "I missed you Catnip."

I never liked that stupid nickname. He pulls her into a hug.

She's looking at me when he hugs her and her face goes from angry, to surprise, to a sort of relief, and she hugs him back. I can't sit here and watch him touching her while she's dressed like that.

The Peeta below me just says, "Well, you have company so I'll go. Good to see you Gale."

What are you doing?

Tell him to let go of your woman and punch him for good measure!

The polite Peeta puts a hand out for the weasel to shake. I go back into my body and grip his hand a little too hard and he winces.

Good.

But then smiling at me Gale puts an arm around Katniss' waist pulls her closer and squeezes her just above her hip.

Stick a fork in me cause I'm DONE.

I get outta there as quick as possible. I think I hear Katniss saying something, but I just close the door.

Of course he can just come back, swoop in and take the girl of my dreams.

Before I can even reach my yard...

"Hey kid!" It's Haymitch. "Did I just see your competition waltz through our girls' door?"

He takes a swig of his drink of choice.

"Yeah, he's back." I spit.

"So where are you going?" He says.

"HOME!" I yell at him and slam my door closed.