It begins….
It was her own damned fault for letting Johanna talk her into buying such a ridiculously expensive item. Since when did Katniss fucking Everdeen care about fashion much less looking fashionable. The promotion was the straw that broke the camel's back and gave Johanna the last bit of leverage needed to press her point home. "You owe it to yourself," she said. "Do something for you for a change," she cajoled. The coup-de-grace had been when she involved Prim. Katniss couldn't deny her little sister anything even the outlandish request to "spend some money already. You work so hard for it." She had been outnumbered and outflanked and eventually had given in. And then just like that, in an instant, it had all gone straight to hell.
It was the kind of day that Katniss usually favored. The sky above was a lovely shade of robin's egg blue with just a few wispy clouds to mar the perfection. The subtle warmth of the afternoon sun lay on her shoulders as lightly as a blanket. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, enjoying the light breeze that caressed her cheeks and toyed with her hair. That moment of inattention gave the jerk all the opportunity he needed to ruin her day and her congratulatory gift in one fell swoop. She felt the furtive pull on her bag and dismissed it initially. When it came again more strongly, she quickly opened her eyes and tightened her hold on the strap as she spun toward her assailant. Without warning, he shoved her away hard even as his hand yanked her bag roughly in the opposite direction. The rest happened so quickly that later she could only recall a blur of dark clothing, a painful yelp as her posterior connected with the concrete path, and a loud snap as the pretty chain detail let go dropping her little indulgence into the bastard's waiting hands.
Katniss shook her head in an attempt clear the tears obscuring her vision and bit back a curse as she noticed the comforting weight of her bag was no longer there. Several people stopped to offer her a hand up. Furious, red-cheeked, and fighting mad; she grasped one proffered hand and climbed to her feet. "Fan-fucking-tastic," she bit out. "Two days. Less than two days before the gods decided to punish me. I should have known." She waved away the offer to call an ambulance and hobbled under her own steam to a nearby bench. Once there, she began a hasty examination of her injuries. Her boots were dusty but otherwise unharmed. The tights were a complete loss. The knees were shredded, both material and the skin beneath. She pulled the sleeve of her jacket over her hand and gingerly dabbed at the beads of blood forming. She hissed out an oath as the material caught a tender spot, biting back a groan as she continued to wipe away the mixture of dirt and blood.
The whirling of wheels on gravel pulled her head up in time to see an officer bringing his bike to a gentle halt in front of her. Clutched in his hand were the ruined remnants of her once beautiful Marc Jacobs bag. Katniss bit her lip as she viewed what was left of it. Unbelievable. The officer regarded her over the top of his steel-rimmed glasses. "Ms. Everdeen, does this belong to you?" He asked hesitantly. She gave him a terse nod. He handed it to back to her, "Can you please check it over carefully and give us a detailed description of anything that is missing?"
Katniss blew out an irritated breath and undid the clasp so that she could look at the bag more closely. Keys. Day planner. Phone. Wallet. She met the officer's steady gaze as she finished. "Everything looks okay except for the bag itself. It's ruined. Did you catch the guy who took it?"
The officer shifted foot-to-foot as he answered carefully, "We were able to take two men into custody. One was in possession of your belongings when we arrived on scene. The other was identified by an eyewitness who stated that he saw him running by with the bag. The other pursued and they scuffled. Right now, it isn't clear which one is our perp. They were both pointing fingers when I left. Hopefully, my partner has untangled the mess by now. "He glanced at her bloody knees and disheveled appearance. "Do you need medical help, Ms. Everdeen? I can radio for an ambulance. "
She looked at his name tag before smiling politely and replying, "No, Officer Beetee, I'm fine. I think I'd like to go home if that's okay."
The bespectacled man smiled sympathetically. "I'm afraid that we need you to come down to the station. We're asking that you take a quick peek at a lineup to see if anything leaps out at you. It will only take a few minutes and you can be on your way. It would help us to have your cooperation."
Katniss grudgingly agreed but was pleasantly surprised when Beetee radioed in a request for a cab to pick her up and take her to the station. "Give this card to the officer on duty when you arrive. He will take care of the fare and arrange for you to be taken home if you need additional assistance." The cab ride was blissfully short for which Katniss was thankful. The adrenaline was subsiding and her aches and pains were beginning to make themselves felt. Once there, she was led into a small room containing a window, a small table, and a couple of prefab plastic chairs. She had just sat down when the door opened and a dark-haired woman wearing a vague, bewildered expression wandered in.
She started abruptly after catching sight of Katniss sitting forgotten at the table. Her face held a look of extreme concentration before settling into dazed blankness the next instant. She flipped erratically through a small stack of papers and then pinned Katniss with a frightingly direct stare. "Ms. Everdeen, my name is Geraldine Wiress. Officer Beetee is my partner. I understand that your bag was forcibly taken this afternoon. I'm very sorry that you had to go through such a difficult ordeal." She leaned forward to pat Katniss's clasped hands. "You told Beetee that you didn't get a clear look at your assailant. What we hope to do with this lineup is to spark your memory. See if you might have noticed something that will enable us to make sure the thief is brought to justice. If you feel up to it, we'll go ahead and get started."
Katniss gave the woman a resigned smile and allowed herself to be led into a narrow room that looked out over a gallery. The far wall was marked off in an ascending grid with the numbers delineated at regular intervals. Wiress led her to a spot just before the viewing window and then pressed a button on the nearby table. "Go ahead and send them in," She briskly commanded. Releasing the switch, she turned to Katniss and advised, "They will be numbered from one to six. Look each of them over carefully. Here is a pad and pencil to jot down any impressions that you have. Take your time. If anything looks familiar or gives you pause, make note of it. It could be important later. We're not looking for a grand revelation, Ms. Everdeen. Just take your time and see if anything stands out."
The men shuffled into the arena and at a barked command, turned to face the window. Katniss felt exposed as six faces turned expectantly toward her. She shied back causing Wiress to place a concerned hand on her shoulder. "Can they see me?" She asked uncertainly. The older woman smiled and shook her head. "So I just look them over to see if I recognize them. Right?" Again, a supporting nod. "Okay," Katniss sighed. "I'll try." She stepped back to the window and peered through the fogged glass at the line of men shifting uncomfortably just a few feet away.
The first one was nothing to speak of. She studied him closely but quickly determined that she had never seen him before in her life. The second was visually stunning and Katniss couldn't help but be impressed. Greek god was the first words that came to mind as she took in the bronze curls, sea green eyes, and a physique that only came from hours spent in the gym or being blessed by the genetics gods. His lips were curved up in a perpetual smile. Devil may care practically oozed out of his pores. Katniss mentally shook herself as the reason for her being here came back to mind. His navy blue hoodie and almost black jeans fit her memory of a blur of dark cloth darting past her right before she fell. She made a note on the pad and then moved her attention to number three. Here again, nothing stood out. Okay, Katniss said to herself. Only three more to go. Her gaze shifted right to take in number four and she gasped as the world slowed down and stopped.
He was without doubt the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Officer Wiress's instructions to look each one over carefully echoed in Katniss's mind as her eyes roved over his face and form taking in each and every detail. His hair was light almost white and fell in tousled curls over his forehead and about his ears. His face was a study of angles with an aquiline nose, thin lips, and a prominent jaw. As if somehow feeling her eyes moving over him, those lips curled up revealing a cadre of dimples. Broad shoulders tapered down to a trim waist and slim hips that were beautifully accentuated by a pair of low slung jeans. Katniss hummed quietly to herself as she considered the way those jeans rode his hips and outlined the long length of his legs. A voice sounding disturbingly like Jack Nicholson's Joker crooned in her mind, 'Stop the press. Who is that?' She rested her chin on an upturned palm as she considered him not realizing that her attentions hadn't gone unnoticed.
Officer Wiress cleared her throat and inquired, "Is everything all right, Ms. Everdeen?"
Katniss blinked and felt her face unintentionally flush. "Yes," she muttered. "Everything is fine. I just wanted to make sure that I didn't overlook anything." She hesitated, feeling a small flash of guilt at what she was about to do. The officer looked on attentively and prompted by a tendency that could have only come from Johanna Mason, Katniss blurted out, "I really only saw the guy from behind. It happened so quickly that I didn't see his face. I'm sorry."
Officer Wiress's mouth tightened briefly but she nodded in understanding. She keyed the speaker once more, "Please have them face the wall." The lineup shuffled as the men turned away from the window. Katniss felt herself blushing once more but turned her gaze studiously forward. Her eyes went immediately to number 4 and stayed there. God, the rear view was even better than the front. Those damned jeans had to have been made specifically for this man. There was no other explanation. Her mouth went a bit dry, her stomach a riot of warmth and tingling sparks that danced and flitted as they brought her nerves to full and joyous life. Caught unaware by the reaction firing her blood, she pressed a hand to the glass with fingers tautly flexed. The sight of him standing there so unconcerned evoked something in her that was both strange and wonderful. Never had she felt something so abruptly and yet so strong.
She had always considered mutual likes and compatibility as the most important factors when choosing a potential mate. She put so little store in her own looks that it was anathema to think that way about the men she spent time with. Gale had been an avid outdoorsman and shared her love of the woods. Thom had been quiet and steady, never pushing her for more than she was ready to give. Darius had been fun and lighthearted. Their dates were more akin to two friends hanging out than a romantic evening. The heady rush of awareness that poured through her left her breathless. The polite sound of a clearing throat pulled her out of her concerted study. Giving him one last, regretful look, Katniss turned back to Officer Wiress and forced a smile. "I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful. I really didn't see enough of him to be able to tell you anything specific. Was the witness able to give you anything to go on?"
"They really weren't clear. It was a similar situation to what you experienced." Wiress consulted her file. "They saw the two men grapple and noticed that one was holding a lady's bag. It could be that one of them was a Good Samaritan who got dragged in after the fact. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing which one took the bag from you. We'll discuss the situation and let you know if we need anything further, Ms. Everdeen. Thank you for coming in."
Katniss opted to make a phone call and not have the duty officer procure her another cab. She took a seat just outside the front door of the precinct and dialed Johanna's number by rote. "What?" Her friend's irate bark answered on the second ring. "I'm right in the middle of something so this had better be good."
"Can you come pick me up?" Katniss retorted scathingly. "I'm stuck downtown without a ride and I'm bleeding all over my damned shoes."
"Bleeding," Johanna yelped. "Kat, what happened? Are you okay? Hang on. I'll be right back." The sound of a drawer slamming and then Johanna yelling that she was taking her lunch break filled up the ensuing silence. Katniss waited through a series of muffled oaths and the slamming of a car door before her friend came back on the line. "Okay, I'm back. Now tell me where you are and how exactly that you came to be bleeding." Johanna ordered.
"I'm at the 53rd precinct down on Capital Street. I took my usual route through Mockingjay Park and planned to pick something up at Sae's for lunch. Just past the fountain, some jerk decided to help himself to my bag and knock me on my ass in the process. They brought me in to see if I could identify the bastard. Unfortunately, all that I was able to tell them was that he had on dark-colored clothing and could run like a damned cheetah. Johanna, this day sucks. My purse is ruined and I just want to go home and go to bed."
Johanna made a few sympathetic noises. "I'll be there in ten minutes. Just stay put. We'll have you home in no time. Are you sure you don't need to go to the doctor? You should get checked to make sure you're okay."
Katniss groaned. "I promise you that I'm fine. I've had worse cuts falling out of a tree while hunting. I'd really rather just go home and hibernate." Her eyes narrowed as immaculately white tennis shoes came into view. Her gaze traveled upward, breath catching as her eyes focused on the familiar jeans that she had so thoroughly admired not ten minutes before. Up. A blue Hollister hoodie zipped over a chest hugging ice blue t-shirt that hid none of the impressive musculature underneath. Higher, a tanned throat running smoothly into a clean-shaven chin. She tilted her head back slightly to bring those last few details into focus. And gulped as breath not only caught but ceased to exist all together. Blue. A glorious combination of cobalt, sapphire, and azure melded and mixed to make up those eyes staring back at her. They were surrounded by impossibly long lashes so pale that they were almost invisible. Thick curls and waves the color of warm, ripened wheat fell over his forehead almost but not quite obscuring that bright, inquisitive gave. "Johanna, I'll have to call you back," Katniss murmured and didn't wait for a reply as she clicked her phone shut. The choked off squawk made it glaringly obvious that Johanna hadn't quite finished with her part of the conversation. Katniss shifted her pile of belongings into various pockets and tried to focus.
"I asked if you're okay," he repeated giving her a concerned look from beneath his unruly bangs. "You seem to be injured. Do you need help getting to a doctor?"
Katniss finally untangled her tongue and managed to reply, "No. That is, I'm just waiting for my friend to come pick me up. I don't need any help but thank you for checking." His lips tilted up into a smile, the dimples that she had noticed earlier riding high on his right cheek. "She should be here any minute." She finished breathlessly.
"Well in that case, I'll wait here with you until your friend arrives. It wouldn't be polite to leave a lady unattended during her time of need," He replied and sat down beside her on the rickety bench. He stretched his legs out before him, crossed carelessly at the ankle and crossed his arms as he looked at her appraisingly. "It's a little early for a bar brawl or sporting event so I'm wondering what has you sitting in front of the police station with bleeding knees and your stuff scattered all over your lap. What happened?' His expectant look pulled a reluctant chuckle from her. He looked at her curiously, one brow lifting in amused inquiry.
"My purse was stolen in the park earlier today," she finally commented. "The jerk knocked me down and took off. That's how I ended up with these." Her hand gestured toward her mangled knees and shredded tights. "Let's just say that my day isn't going as well as I had hoped."
"Did they get the guy that did this to you?" He asked in a worried tone. "I can't believe that he hurt you to take your bag." There was real heat in his tone causing Katniss to smile slightly as she turned to face him fully.
"No. They picked up a couple of guys but didn't have enough to charge them with anything. I didn't get a good look and the only other eyewitness wasn't much better. I guess I'll have to let this one go." She failed to mention that he had been included in the suspect lineup. She was curious about what his intentions were in seeking her out. Surely, it was more than concern over her scraped knees. "I'm just mad because it was a new bag. I had just bought it to celebrate a promotion at work. I'd only had it a couple of days."
He winced in sympathy but Katniss didn't miss the flicker of something in his mesmerizing eyes. Regret. Anger. It was gone before she could pinpoint it exactly. His tone was all things gentle as he remarked, "That's a shame that you didn't get to enjoy it longer. I'm sorry that this happened to you. You deserve to have pretty things for a job well done. The idiot should be horsewhipped instead of set free." He gave her an intent look, which pulled pink into her cheeks once more. "I'm Peeta Mellark by the way."
Katniss took his proffered hand, suppressing the urge to gasp as his fingers clasped hers tightly. "Katniss Everdeen. It's nice to meet you."
"So what kind of promotion rates treating yourself? Where do you work?" He asked lightly.
"I'm a biologist with an environmental studies company over on Heavensbee. You might have heard of them, Panem Biotechnology Group." She waited until he shook his head then continued. "My boss is retiring and I got picked as her replacement. My little sister was so excited that she insisted I celebrate a little thus the infamous bag. I'm almost afraid to tell her about this. Prim will be so disappointed." The questioning brow went up again and she elaborated. "Prim is short for Primrose, my sixteen year old sister."
"Primrose and Katniss the biologist. I'm starting to sense a theme." He said jokingly.
"You would be right," she laughed. "Most people don't know that katniss is a plant that lives near water. Nicely done." She complimented. "So are you interested in plants or is reading up on obscure foliage just something you do to pass the time?"
He blushed faintly, making his eyes look more impossibly blue than they already were. If the jeans hadn't already hooked her, those eyes would have reeled her in. Katniss almost choked at that thought. They were only talking; not discussing a happily ever after. She reined herself in before her galloping thoughts got her into trouble. Apparently unaware of the effect he could have without even trying; Peeta pushed a hand through his hair and laughed uproariously. "No, nothing like that. I own the bakery over on Cartwright. We do a lot of specialty items like cakes and frosted cookies. I also teach art a couple of day a week at the elementary school. We did a plant section last term." What he would have said next was lost in the sound of an impatiently beeping horn. Katniss looked up to find Johanna blocking traffic, waving to her frantically from the street.
"I couldn't find a parking place," she growled. "You don't look like you could walk far anyway. Come on, brainless, before some idiot decides to take matters into his own hands."
Katniss tossed Peeta an apologetic glance and climbed shakily to her feet. His hand on her elbow steadied her and she blushed as she whispered her thanks. He went so far as to let her lean against him as he helped her to the car. Once she was inside, he stuck his hands in his pockets and backed away. Leaning down, he gave her a playful grin and said, "It was nice spending time with you, Katniss Everdeen. Take care of those knees. And congratulations on your promotion." With a last little wave, he spun on his heel and sauntered back across the street. Katniss watched him go with a look of mingled appreciation and regret on her face.
The sound of Johanna's soft laughter pulled her head around. Katniss blushed furiously once more and said, "What? We were just talking. What's so damned funny?"
"You," Johanna crowed. "If he had offered to come home with you, you would have pushed me out of the car in an instant. I've never seen you so smitten, Kat. It's about damned time."
Katniss let her gaze wander back to the window, where he could just be seen waiting for the light to change before crossing. Her eyes were immediately drawn back to the jeans that had so easily caught her eye. Just then the light changed and he broke into a slow jog, crossing the street just as a car turned into the crosswalk and blocked him from view. She met Johanna's victorious look and shrugged. "What can I say, Johanna, except the damned jeans made me do it. It should be a crime for a man to look that good in plain ordinary Levi's. He should carry some sort of sign around to warn unsuspecting females."
Johanna laughed and finally Katniss joined in. It was good to find something enjoyable about this wretched day. She resumed her study of the passing traffic and remained quiet as they headed for home.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO XOXO
The next morning, Katniss looked up in confusion as Delly set a massive box down on her desk. "What is this?" She asked hesitantly. "I didn't order anything."
Delly bounced in her excitement as she hurried to answer, "This was delivered by courier to the front desk. I signed for it since you were still in the meeting with Haymitch and Effie. Hurry up and open it. I'm dying to know what it is."
Katniss rolled her eyes and shared a look with Johanna. The pretty blonde girl was one of the sweetest people that you'd ever want to meet but her cloying sweetness could get overbearing at times. "Delly, I'll bet you were an absolute terror at Christmas when you were a kid." Katniss remarked as she slit the tape and pushed back the flaps. A thick white envelope rested innocently on top of a mass of green tissue paper. Katniss's brow furrowed as she grabbed the envelope and slid a finger underneath the flap. Pulling out the paper, she grew even more confused at the mass of unfamiliar writing covering half the page. A small square fell free of the paper and into her lap. She picked it up, glanced at the name and felt her jaw drop as she raised it up to study it more closely.
'Peeta Mellark, owner Mellarkable Creations 555-0423'
Johanna read the card over her shoulder and lifted her eyebrows in amused surprise. Katniss shook her head in confusion and set the card aside as she turned back to the letter. Her shock increased with every word read as she tried to take in what she was seeing.
Katniss the biologist,
Allow me to apologize for not giving this confession yesterday. Our conversation was so unexpected and enjoyable that I didn't want to mar it by having you attempt to bash my head in while waiting in front of a police station. That would have ended badly for both of us.
Blame my knight in shining armor tendencies or my inability to dissuade Finnick from helping me to make an absolute mess of the smallest situation. I never meant to cause you the slightest harm or inconvenience. Trust me when I say that I couldn't feel worse about what happened. He was only supposed to grab your purse and run. The plan was for me to apprehend your attacker and retrieve your property making you absurdly grateful enough to go out with me. As Finnick is unable to follow even the simplest of instructions, I should have expected a catastrophe of epic proportions.
Therefore, lovely Katniss, I must make amends for the injuries you suffered by my hand and because of my inability to ask for the honor of taking you out one evening if you are so inclined. The enclosed is just the first payment on the debt that I owe you. If you would be willing, the second is dinner at the bakery Saturday night 8pm. You are under no obligation to come and I wouldn't blame you if you chose not to. I hope that you like your present. I only caught a glimpse of the original so it may not be exactly what you had before. Congratulations on your promotion and I look forward to seeing you Saturday.
Peeta the idiot
Unable to restrain herself, she tore into the evergreen hued paper and felt her stomach knot at what lay inside. She pulled it free and turned it from side to side admiring the supple leather and subtle detailing. Johanna whistled and bent to examine the bag more closely. "Is that a Cinna original?" She gasped. "That's the most expensive bag they have in the store. Damn it, Katniss. That must have been one hell of a conversation I interrupted yesterday."
Katniss nodded slowly, her eyes glued to the beautifully detailed stitching and superb craftsmanship of the bag. It put the one destroyed yesterday to shame a thousand times over. She could use every paycheck for the next two months and it still wouldn't be enough to buy this bag. Hell, it wouldn't even buy the strap. Her eyes flickered back to the letter lying forgotten in her lap. Knight in shining armor tendencies. He had set her up. Then he actually confessed even though they had gotten away with it. What the hell? Katniss looked at the bag once more than back to the letter. Saturday at 8pm. She nodded shortly as she decided to take him up on his offer. She had to know why he had gone to such lengths to get her attention. She had to return the ridiculously extravagant gift. She smirked as the thought rolled through her mind. She had to get another look at him in those damned jeans. Then, she would decide whether to continue what they had started on that bench. She had a feeling Saturday was just the beginning.
It ends...