Katniss POV- (The next morning)
I wake up at 6:30am and that means it's time to get the Christmas tree star!
"Peeta!" I say, jumping up and down on the bed excitedly.
Peeta opens his eyes, disturbed from his sleep, "What?" He says, pulling the covers up over his head.
"Get up, dude!" I say pulling the covers down.
Peeta snorts, "Did you just call me 'dude'?" He laughs, turning over.
"Yes. Come on!"
He glances at the clock.
"Katniss, it's 6:30 and my day off. Why am I getting up?"
"Because we have to make a trip to town!" I tell him eagerly.
"Katniss, the sun isn't even up yet." He whines.
I scoff, "But Peeta." I say, dragging out the end of his name.
"Katniss." Peeta imitates me.
"You said first thing in the morning, it's the morning and it's first thing." I complain.
Peeta just rolls his eyes, "The store won't even open until eight." He says, pulling the covers back over his face.
"We can go get breakfast at the bakery." I suggest.
I can hear him laugh breathily under the comforter, "Fine."
"So, can we go?" I ask.
He brings his messy head of hair up, "Sure. I needed to talk to my dad anyways. Let's get ready and well go Christmas shopping today. I found the perfect gift for you. Sound good?" Peeta says.
I raise my eyebrows, "Peeta, I don't need anything." I say irritated.
"Well, you're getting something from me." He says getting up from bed.
I shrug, "You didn't want anything either...So you are getting something whether you like it or not." I say, flipping on the light.
"Fine."
We get dressed.
"Let's go." He says, grabbing his keys off the dresser.
I put on a coat and throw one at Peeta as we head downstairs together.
We get in the car and he starts it up.
"My Dad will be surprised to see us." Peeta says.
I nod, "Probably. I feel bad because I never go and you are always working so it will be fun to go." I smile.
He laughs, "I guess."
"It's so freezing." I say, shivering at the cold.
"It's because it's December and it's 6:45 in the morning."
"Hush." I laugh.
He reaches over and grabs my hands, rubbing warmth into them and blowing heat onto my skin.
"Better?" He says after a minute.
I smile at him, "Yes. Thank you."
Peeta drives us to the bakery and we walk in.
Immediately, Peeta's father comes out.
"Welcome to Mellark-hey, kids!" Mr. Mellark smiles, coming over to us.
He embraces Peeta and then me.
"What are you two doing up so early?"
"Just gonna go get some shopping done. Thought we would stop to get some breakfast." Peeta smiles.
"Great. Take a seat and I will have Ryan bring you out some cheese buns?" He suggests.
"That would be perfect. Could we get two hot chocolates as well?"
"Of course." Mr. Mellark smiles and goes back to the back.
Peeta and I take a seat in the corner of the crowded bakery.
"It's weird being on this side of the store." He laughs.
"I bet."
He smiles, reaching across the table for my hand.
"No personal displays of affection allowed." Someone interrupts us, causing Peeta and I both to jump.
Ryan.
"Did someone order a basket of cheese buns and two hot chocolates?" He asks.
"Yes. Thank you." Peeta says.
"Hi, Katniss." Ryan says, smirking.
"Hey." I laugh.
He ruffles Peeta's hair, "If you need anything else, get it yourself."
"I'll be sure to tell Dad the service was astounding." Peeta jokes, rolling his eyes.
Ryan laughs and goes back to the back, checking on other customers as he walks by.
"Your brother is something else." I tell Peeta.
He raises his eyebrows as he takes a sip of his hot chocolate.
"Brothers, you mean."
"Well, yeah."
"Yet, they are the favorites." He shrugs, nodding across the room as his mother makes an appearance.
I shudder, hoping she doesn't notice us but even if she does, she wouldn't approach us.
"If it helps, you're my favorite." I tell Peeta.
He smiles, "It helps a lot."
"Good." I laugh.
An old man comes up and smiles at Peeta.
"Hello." Peeta smiles, shaking the man's fragile hand.
"Your girl?" The man says, struggling to get out the words as he shakes uncontrollably.
Peeta nods, "This is Katniss."
The toothless old man gives me a grin and takes my hand.
"Nice boy. Nice girl." He mumbles.
Peeta smiles, "Thank you. Katniss, he comes in every single day to eat and drink coffee. Has since I was little."
The old man nods his head shakily, "Good friend."
I smile, "It's nice to meet you."
He nods again and waves to us as he limps away.
"What a kind old man." I comment.
"Very. It's sad, you know? I've asked his name the entire time I've known him but he doesn't even remember it. He always shrugs. I've heard other people refer to him as the 'Goat Man'."
"Goat man?" I repeat.
He sighs, "Yeah, I suppose he use to raise Goats after he retired. I have no idea though. He always asks me simple questions. Mostly about you."
"Really?"
Peeta nods, "He has seen you visit me before. Wanted me to tell him all about you and us. I heard from another older man that comes in, that he had a wife but she died. That's when he got the goats."
I frown, that's so sad.
"Wow."
"Even though it's hard for him to communicate, I've grown very fond of him." Peeta says.
I smile, "He seems to really like you."
"I hope so."
"I'm sure you've made a huge difference in his life." I tell Peeta truthfully.
The way that old man smiled at Peeta, I know that my statement reflects the truth.
Peeta smiles sadly, "He's made a huge difference in mine."
"That's really sweet." I say truthfully.
"Maybe we could find him something for Christmas?"
My heart melts, "I'm sure he would absolutely love that."
"Let's do it."
Peeta and I finish breakfast and have a really good time together.
He pays up front and we bid his family goodbye and go back to the car, but of course not without stopping to say 'hello' to several of the customers.
"Okay, the only store for sure open now is the craft store and I do need to go there first. I bet they have Christmas stars too." Peeta tells me.
I nod, "Let's go." I tell him.
So we do.
When we get there there's about 13 cars outside, "Wow, there's a lot of people here." I say.
Peeta nods his head as he finds a parking spot, "Artist like to work at the oddest times. Sometimes it could be really early or really really late at night when they get a spark." He says.
I nod.
"That's why they're open all night." Peeta informs me.
"You nerd. You told me nothing opened until eight."
"I said no such thing." Peeta laughs.
We get inside and Peeta turns to me, "You go find a Christmas star and I need to get a few things for something I'm making you, okay?" Peeta says.
I nod my head and go into the Christmas decoration section, that we visited yesterday.
I look through all the tree toppers and decided to be traditional and get a star, like my mom used to have.
I pick it up and wait for Peeta in the checkout.
I hand him the star and he takes the stuff, he refuses to let me see and purchases it.
He hands me a bag containing the little silver star and puts his bags in the trunk.
"Wanna go to the mall?" He asks, it's now 8:30am.
"Sure." I say.
Peeta gets back onto the highway and heads towards the mall. About ten minutes later, we arrive in the almost empty parking lot.
"I need to get you some more stuff and then I thought about finding my parents and brothers a little something too. You go find something for whoever you want and your mom. I'll keep my phone on me incase you need me. Call me when you're ready." Peeta says and pecks my lips.
He said 'his parents' and I'm curious to see if he gets his mother a gift.
Knowing Peeta, I know he will despite it all.
"Okay, I love you." I say.
Peeta turns around for a quick second and smiles sweetly, "I love you too." He says and walks in the opposite direction of where I stand.
I go into a shop and decide I definitely want to get Finnick, Annie and Bristol something for sure.
I have no idea what to buy Peeta or my mother.
It's not that Peeta wouldn't be okay with whatever I decide, but it's just nerve wracking trying to find him the perfect present or two.
I looked and looked and couldn't find anything but I did get a few ideas so I'll come back soon.
I mean Christmas is about 19 days away, I have time.
I call Peeta and we meet back in the food court, it's around 10:30.
"Wanna get some coffee?" Peeta suggests.
I nod and together we walk down to the little coffee cafe.
We both order and sit down.
"So, did you get everything you need?" I ask Peeta.
"Almost. I still need a few more things but I got every thing else." He says.
I smile, "I got Finnick, Annie and Bristol a little something, I hope you don't mind." I say.
Peeta smiles, "Not at all. You'll have to show me when we get home."
I smile and a waitress brings us our coffee, "Here you go, Lovebirds." She says.
Peeta looks at me to see my reaction, which I don't.
I give him a smug look and he smiles widely and sips his drink.
We sit there for another hour just talking and sipping our piping hot drinks and just as we are about to leave, I get a call.