Peeta couldn’t handle it anymore. He finally came to terms with his feelings. It wasn’t just an act. He genuinely was in love. But he wouldn’t tell you, he would only hint at it. Giving you small gifts he could craft with what little you guys in the arena. Of course love was the last thing on your mind in these situations. So he never really tried to get in the way.

But every now and then you could find him sneaking glances at you. Or even stares. Peeta couldn’t really help it, you cared so much for him. Peeta liked everything you did, wether it was the way you parted your hair, the way you walked. The lover boy noticed everything, even if you thought he wasn’t paying attention. In any other situation, he would have said something about his feelings. In another life he would have been open. In.. no he couldn’t think about the what ifs, or what he would have done in different times.

He needed to treasure the time you two had now. Even if it was in such awful condition. You were always worrying about him, worrying about others. But who worried about you? He did, and he took pride in it. Even though Peeta knew you acting, you didn’t know he wasn’t. One of these days he would let you know. But Peeta just needed to time it right.

After all, you two did everything side by side. Wether you asked to be there, he was always going to be there. Peeta was just hopelessly devoted to you. So, when he saw you kneeling down by the stream, he kneeled alongside you. You told him he didn’t have to and you were fine. He just looked at you and smiled. " I know, it doesn’t hurt to be safe. " He said.

It was troubling times in the arena, but somehow he managed to keep his smile. You had no idea why or how he kept smiling. But he just did. But Peeta knew, he knew that he would smile for you. So he watched you, he watched you with that stupid boyish smile. He watched you, he said it was to make sure you were alright. But Peeta just wanted to look at you a little longer.