A/N: Hello! This is what I wrote for the S2SL drive back in February. After I finished it I realised wasn't quite ready to let it go and I have decided to extend it from the original posting. It won't be a full blown fanfic, just snapshots of their lives as their relationship and each chapter could be read on its on or as part of a whole. It won't be updated as regularly as my other fics as my other WIP is my main focus but I am hoping to update every couple of weeks. This chapter is the original posting for S2SL but the next one will be a totally unseen expansion. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of its characters.
Part 1
I pull my grey cardigan tighter round my body and cross my arms over my chest. It is that awkward time of year in Scotland where it is too warm to wear a jacket but too cold for just a cardigan. I shift about nervously on my feet as I chew my bottom lip and stand on the doorstep of a virtual stranger. This is not a situation I am entirely comfortable with.
"Are you sure he doesn't mind me coming? I mean the rest of you are all really good friends. I don't want to be seen as some lame tag along," I ask my best friend who stands beside me.
"Don't be silly. Darius says the more the merrier and you have met Gale and Delly before. No one is going to care," Madge replies trying to reassure me.
I take a deep breath and nod my head trying to convince myself that this is true. I'm just not good in new social situations.
I have a few very good friends but don't really do casual acquaintances. I'm content in having a small group of really good friends rather than a large group of people I only pretend to like most of the time. Coming to a curry and Game of Thrones night with a bunch of people I hardly know is one of the scariest things for me to do. I always end up clamming up and hanging about awkwardly on the fringes whenever I am put in new social situations.
But Madge has persuaded me to come to this small get together with her friends from church. I have known her for the last 20 years and after we met as messy 3 year olds at a local play group. Most of my fondest childhood memories involve her. I am not a religious person but that has never hindered our friendship. She has never pressurised me to believe certain things and has largely kept that part of herself separate from our friendship.
That was until recently and she developed a crush on her tall, dark and handsome church friend Gale. She won't stop talking about him and has tried to get me to come to more gatherings with her church friends to act as moral support. I have only relented a couple of times and hated every second of them feeling greatly out of place. Some of her friends are a bit holier than now about their religion and look down their noses at me for not going to church. I have never felt comfortable around them. But I agreed to this one because I am a big Thrones fan and don't have Sky TV. I won't get to watch the first episode of the new season if I don't come to her friend's tonight.
Still doesn't mean I am looking forward to a night where I get my tongue tied as I hopelessly try to make small talk.
Madge's friend, Darius, answers the door with a big smile and a hug for Madge. I smile awkwardly at the freckly, red headed young man and clutch the strap of my bag tightly as I step into the slightly messy hallway.
Madge instantly makes herself at home, shaking off her shoes and talking a mile a minute about her love for Darius's home brewed beer. I follow them silently from behind as Darius takes us through to his living room and offers us a beer before he collapses on an old bean bag chair. Madge immediately flops down on one of the sofas and nestles into the cushions while I awkwardly perch on the edge of the sofa beside her. I clutch my bottle of beer tightly as I take a sip to try and calm my nerves.
Only one other person has arrived and Darius waves his hand between me and this other stranger once we have sat down.
"Thom, Katniss. Katniss, Thom. Katniss is a friend of Madge's from school," Darius says.
The Thom guy nods his head at me and I try to smile back in acknowledgement but the muscles in my face don't seem to be working properly and it comes across more of a grimace. However Thom doesn't seem to notice and the 3 of them all begin chatting about some ceilidh their church has coming up to raise funds to build a school in Tanzania. I busy myself by scanning my eyes over the various knick knacks around the room and drinking my beer as I count down the minutes until the show starts and it will become socially acceptable for me to sit back and stay quiet.
About 10 minutes later the doorbell rings and Darius jumps out of his bean bag and bounds towards the door. Madge picks herself off the sofa and straightens out the navy dress she is wearing before smoothing her hair back. It is clear who she is hoping is at the door.
I hear loud exclamations coming from the hallway and both Madge and Thom walk through to greet whoever it is that has just walked in. Not wanting to be left by myself I get up and follow them through and hover at the back.
Madge smiles shyly at Gale, who has indeed just arrived, and he smiles affectionately back at her. There is a smallish, excitable blonde girl with him who practically bounces up and down on her feet as she tells Darius about the latest gossip she has heard. I've met Delly before and although a bit squeaky for my liking she does at least make an effort to talk to me at these things, something that the more pretentious church goers don't do as I am not one of them.
Madge's eyes widen though when she catches sight of the other young man with them.
"Oh my goodness! Peeta! I didn't think you were coming tonight! I thought you had already left!" Madge exclaims as she wraps her arms around him.
"You've not got rid of me quite yet. I fly out to tomorrow. Got to be up at 0320 hours sharp," the man replies tapping at his watch.
My heart actually stops at the sight of him. I have definitely not seen him before at any of these things Madge has dragged me to. I would have definitely noticed him if he had been.
This Peeta person stands just a few inches shorter of Gale's 6 foot 3 inch frame. He has broad shoulders and strong arms that are perfectly emphasised in his tight fitting white t-shirt. I catch a glimpse of some black writing inked on the inside of his left forearm as he raises his arm to scratch the side of his head. His ashy blond hair is cut short and neat and he has dimples in his cheeks when he smiles.
But his most striking feature is his blue eyes. They are the brightest cerulean blue and my breath is momentarily taken away when they look in my direction and catch my eye.
The stranger looks at me curiously before giving me a cheeky grin and taking a step towards me.
"You're new. I don't believe we've met before. I'm Peeta," he says.
"Katniss," I reply. "I'm friends with Madge."
Peeta flits his gaze briefly to Madge who nods her head before he turns back round to face me. He smiles at me again.
"Katniss. That is a strange name," he says.
"No stranger than Peeta," I reply.
Peeta raises his eyebrows in surprise before setting his face in a grin and leaning his side against the wall.
I don't quite know where that came from. Normally I would have blushed and tried to deflect the situation. But there is something about this man that makes me feel unlike myself.
"Well said," he replies still looking at me curiously. "My real name is Peter but my older brother couldn't pronounce his "r"s when he was younger. The nickname kind of stuck."
He pauses before looking me up and down. I blush a little at the intensity of his stare before his eyes rise up to settle on my face again.
"I didn't mean to offend you. Katniss is just such an unusual name. I have never come across it before," he says.
"It's the name of some edible water potato," Madge chips in, making her way to stand beside me.
I cringe as my best friend divulges this piece of information. Most girls are named after pretty flowers such as lilies or roses but my father had to name me after an edible water root.
Peeta seems to find this amusing and stands up straighter as he gives me a wide grin.
"Well Water Potato, it is nice to meet you. Why don't you lead us all through so we can get this shindig started," he says with a smile.
I would be offended by his slight dig at my name if his eyes didn't linger on me for a moment longer than they probably should have.
My heart beat picks up again but it has nothing to do with nerves this time.
Everyone finds a seat in the living once we have walked through. Madge leaves the seat she had beside me to go and sit next to Gale and I don't miss the look of delight in his eyes when she sits close next to him. This leaves Peeta free to sit down next to me and Delly then squeezes in next to him.
With 3 of us sitting on the sofa there isn't a lot of space between us and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as Peeta's arm gently brushes against mine before he swings it around the back of the sofa. His left arm rests close to my head and I try to peer at the writing on his arm, curious about what it says.
"So how long are you going to be out there?" Darius asks turning to Peeta.
"They don't know. They said it could be anything from 2 weeks to 9 months. It is kind of depressing when you pack for 9 months and realise that all your belongings can fit into one large rucksack." Peeta replies.
Peeta stops and pauses as the rest of the room nod their head in understanding. I am left completely confused about what he is talking about. Delly must see my confusion because she turns to me and leans across Peeta to speak to me.
"Peeta's in the army. His regiment fly out early tomorrow morning," she says filling me in.
Realisation washes over me as it all makes sense. But then something else appears in my chest. A hint of disappointment.
I quickly push that thought aside. I have known him for all of 15 minutes. I shouldn't be disappointed about him going away.
"Hopefully it won't be too long. They just need to give us a job. My commanding officer thinks we will be back for the summer," Peeta adds.
I grow curious to know more about his job. I have never met anyone who is part of the armed services before. I didn't realise that there was so much uncertainty in it.
"Where are you going?" I ask. "Or are you not allowed to say?"
Peeta smiles at me broadly as he tilts his head to one side to look at me.
"I couldn't tell you. I won't know until I step off the plane sometime in the next 2 days and they say welcome to Syria or wherever we end up," he replies.
"That's crazy!" I say.
Peeta smiles and nods his head.
"Yep. We get taken out to the airport at 4am tomorrow morning and we will just wait around until we are told to get on a flight. Technically I am not supposed to be here tonight. We are all supposed to be tucked up nice and safe in the barracks," he says.
My eyes widen at his revelation. I find they whole thing fascinating. So much unknown. I am a person that likes a plan. I need to know where and what I am doing a long time in advance.
"Don't worry about it Peet. We'll host you a party when you get back. Delly will make the cake," Gale says.
Peeta, who had been staring at me intently, turns away to look at Gale. A cheeky grin spreads across his face.
"I only want one of Delly's finest creations. Lots of chocolate and nuts," he replies.
"Hey, if you come back missing a leg or something we can shape the cake to look like the one you lost!" Delly exclaims.
I am shocked by her words. Peeta is about to go off to a war zone. He might not come back. How can they joke about it?
Peeta seems to find it funny though and laughs it off.
"I think I deserve two cakes if that happens," he replies.
The rest of the group all laugh too as they start suggesting all the ways that Peeta could hurt himself while he is out there.
I stay out of the whole conversation, slightly disturbed by how they can all laugh at something so serious. Aren't they all supposed to be Christians? Surely this is not in the Christian spirit.
The conversation comes to an end when Darius gets up to check on the curry and the remaining people in the room break out into their own conversations.
I sit back silently as I try to wrap my head around the conversation I have just heard. Peeta shifts his body to look at me with another smile. My heart does flip when I see it. He has such a nice smile. It just seems so genuine and he has these adorable dimples in his cheeks when he does so.
However Peeta must see my slightly freaked out look and his features soften slightly at the sight.
"Are you okay? Did we freak you out just then?" he asks.
I shake my head as I answer.
"How can you joke about it? Those things could really happen to you. Isn't it a bit insensitive?" I ask.
Peeta grows quiet for the first time since he has arrived and I worry that I have offended him in some way.
"If you don't joke about it, it becomes an all too scary thought. Once you are out there you can't dwell on all the things that could happen to you. That is a sure fire way for you to go crazy or get killed," he replies.
I nod my head as his revelation makes sense. We often joke about things we fear to distract us from the reality of it.
"Do you get scared?" I ask.
Being in the army is such a world away from what I do. I teach 6 years olds every day for a living. I don't have to face the prospect of mortal danger every day I go into work.
Peeta looks at me and shrugs his shoulders indifferently.
"Everyone gets scared. There would be something wrong with you if you didn't," he replies.
He then shifts so he can pick his arm off the back of the sofa and bring it down to lay his forearm across my lap. He runs his finger of the words that are tattooed along the inside of his forearm. I shift closer to get a better look. I have been intrigued about what is written there since the moment he walked in.
"Power is made perfect in weakness. Corinthians 12: 9," Peeta quotes.
I stare down at the intricately written words on his forearm. I reach a finger out to trace over the letters. Peeta watches me intently as my fingers write on his flesh. I have never met someone so interesting before. The quote is a beautiful reminder that our vulnerabilities do not weaken us.
"It is okay to have weaknesses. God will always be there to strengthen me," he says.
I stop tracing his tattoo to raise my head to look at him. Even though I have known Madge since we were little I have never really understood why she believes in it. I have just never seen the appeal of living your life by someone else's rules.
"I've never got the whole God thing. There just seems to be too much bad out there in the world for him to be real," I reply.
"There is also a lot of good out there in the world," Peeta replies.
I shrug my shoulders. Peeta smiles.
"It can get pretty lonely when you are on tour. You miss your home and your family. It's nice to know that He will always be there for me," he adds.
I nod my head in understanding. I don't think it is ever going to be something I believe in but I can't begrudge Peeta if it gives him comfort in times of need.
I want to find out more about him. Has he been on tour before? Do the other men in his regiment make fun of him for his religion? But Darius bounds through interrupting our conversation.
"Okay people. Dinner is up. Try and form an orderly queue as you all rush to taste my culinary masterpiece!" he exclaims.
Madge rolls her eyes as she and Gale get up to go through to get their dinner. Delly and Thom follow them soon after.
Peeta turns to me with a smile. Another skip in my heartbeat.
"We better get there quick. Gale eats like a horse when he has the chance," he says.
I laugh lightly as I rise with him off the sofa. He puts his arm out and steps to the side to let me through and I follow my nose to the spicy smells in the kitchen. Peeta follows closely behind me and a warm feeling spreads though my body at his close proximity.
There is a short queue in the kitchen as people pile their plates high with rice and naan bread. However I am so distracted by the soft smell of mint coming off Peeta's body that I don't notice the tiny step that you need to take up into the kitchen. I trip on the step and have to stick my arms out to steady myself against the door. As I grip hold of the door frame I feel a strong pair of hands grab hold of my waist to steady me.
"Woah! Careful," Peeta voice calls as he steadies me.
I twist round to look at him and find his face right next to mine. This close I can see the tiny specks of purple in his brilliant blue irises. His hands have a tight hold of my waist and they feel like they are burning through the fabric of my shirt. My eyes flit down to look at his plump lips and there is a flash of heat to my core as he sticks out his tongue to lick his bottom lip.
The only sound I can hear is the pounding of my own heart. His eyes piercing mine. The hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
But then Peeta's face breaks into a grin as he steps away and helps me right myself.
"I've never seen anyone fall up steps before," he says.
I scowl at him and he laughs. Slowly I step out of his grip and grab myself a plate. No one seems to have witnessed the moment between us and I concentrate on getting my heart rate back to normal. I go to grab a spoon so I can start filling my plate with rice.
Peeta sidles up behind me and leans down to whisper in my ear as he grabs a piece of naan bread.
"Darius makes a pretty hot curry. I hope you can handle it," he says.
I turn my head back to look at him with a coy smile.
"I like things hot. It makes things more exciting," I reply making sure I hold his gaze.
We are stuck staring at each other again. I don't quite know where that came from. Maybe it's the effects of Darius's homebrewed beer. Or maybe it is something this man does to make me feel relaxed and less shy.
Peeta's smile grows.
"Someone is finding their tongue. They always say it is the quiet ones that you have to watch out for," he replies.
"You better believe it. I did archery at school. I could come after you if I wanted," I reply.
Peeta chuckles.
"I'll make sure to keep my eye out for you then," he says.
I give him a casual shrug of the shoulder before turning back around and serving myself some of the curry.
A thrill goes up my spine as I try to hide my smile from him.
We take our plates back through to the living room to start tucking into our meal. Much to my delight Peeta sits next to me again. His body is even closer to mine as our elbows gently knock together as we eat.
Apart from the high strung tension I feel in my body from being in such close proximity to Peeta I find the rest of me relaxing around Madge and her friends. It helps that there are only a few of them here tonight and most of the holier than now ones are absent.
Darius and Peeta are at the centre of most of the goings on. Both of them are slightly cheeky but charming and they often get teased for their sometimes very basic general knowledge. Considering Peeta travels the world with his job he knows where very few countries are. Apparently Alaska is its very own continent.
He makes me laugh with his silly tales about his time in the army barracks and his rather grumpy officer in command Haymitch. He takes all the teasing on the chin and has a fantastic ability to make fun of himself.
I find I am able to join in with some of the good natured conversation as well and share stories of my own. For the first time I don't feel like a wallflower lingering at the back of the party.
It is one of the most enjoyable nights I have had in a long while.
After dinner is cleared away someone brings out the board games and we start a heated game of Pictionary where cheating is prevalent. Peeta immediately claims me as his partner and we squish together on an old arm chair so we can get the best view of the flip chart. I am practically sitting on his lap as I curl my legs up onto the chair and use Peeta's front as a back rest. He places a casual arm around the back of the chair and I imagine briefly what it would feel like to have his arm around my shoulder instead.
My competitive nature kicks in though and even with my lousy drawing attempts Peeta somehow manages to make sense of my scribbles.
"Scrambled egg!" Peeta shouts out as I pepper the sheet with small black dots.
"Yes!" I exclaim pointing my pen at him in delight.
"No way!" Darius exclaims shaking his head. "That is literally a squiggle with dots."
I smile at him triumphantly as I put my pen down and make my way back to Peeta. He gives me a high five as I sit back down.
"Suck it up mate. We are just an awesome team," Peeta says.
I laugh as I reach over Peeta to grab a drink of my beer. I accidentally graze the top of Peeta's chest as I bring my arm back. I swear I almost see a shiver go up Peeta's spine.
"Or you are both just on the same juvenile wavelength," Madge points out as she gets up for her own turn.
Peeta turns to give her a shrug of his shoulder as he takes a sip of his own beer.
We sit facing each other now and our eyes lock together as we sip our drinks.
"I've never met a person as competitive as me," he says. "It's hot."
I give him a coy smile as I place my beer bottle back down.
"You should see me at Scrabble. Now that is my game," I reply a little cockily.
The beer is definitely making me more confident. I would never be this bold and forward sober. The alcohol and Peeta's intoxicating smell of mint and spice is spreading a warm tingling sensation throughout my body. I realise that I haven't thought once about leaving.
"Remind me never to challenge you to a game. Spelling is not my strong point," Peeta replies.
"Are you admitting there is something you aren't good at? Haven't you been trying to convince everyone that you are a master of all skills?" I tease.
Peeta has no problem about showing off his talents. From baking to drawing to speaking 3 different languages he has a wide range of skills. With anyone else it could be considered arrogant but there is a charm in the way he says it that doesn't make it sound like boasting. And he is quick to make fun of his own faults when they do crop up.
"We can't all be as perfect as you," he replies with a grin as he gently bumps his shoulder with mine.
An excited thrill runs up my body. Throughout the game he has found ways to touch me. Pats on the back. An encouraging leg squeeze. Brushing my fingers as he passes me my beer. Every touch sends an electric current through my body. My body has never had such a strong and instant reaction to man.
"I never said I was perfect," I reply.
Peeta's face suddenly softens and he looks at me intently. My heart begins to hammer again underneath the intensity of his stare.
"You seem pretty perfect to me," he says sincerely.
My breath gets caught in my throat. There is no way this attractive man could think of me in that way. I am too normal and plain. But the way he looks at me, like I am the light in the room, turns all my insides into mush.
We are broken out of our trance by Gale correctly guessing that Madge has drawn a submarine and she lets out an excited shout.
The game comes to an end as Game of Thrones is about to start and we settle down to watch the first episode of the new season.
I cough as I break my gaze from Peeta and turn so I am facing the TV. Peeta leans further back against the arm rest of the chair and I feel my body being pulled back with his as he does so. My back leans against his front as I swing my legs round to hang over the edge of the chair. Peeta rests his right hand on his thigh, his thumb gently brushing the edge of my leg. I try to ignore the heat there seems to be brewing from that part of my body.
"I have to say I am intrigued about how this season is going to play out. With all they changed and left out last season the butterfly effect is going to be huge," Darius says as he settles into his bean bag chair.
Madge bobs her head as she snuggles into Gale's side. It seems her mission to get closer to Gale tonight is working.
"I know. It will be interesting. What is going to happen with Brienne and Pod if there is no Lady Stoneheart? And how is Jaime being in Dorne going to affect things?" she says.
I nod my head in agreement and so do most of the other people in the room. Thom and Gale then start discussing the various fan theories about the Hound and Jon Snow's parents.
Peeta sighs and shakes his head.
"Are you lot speaking another language? I have no idea what you are talking about. Is there really any reason why the characters can't have normal names like Bob?" he asks.
I twist round to give him a frown.
"Why did you come to a Game of Thrones night if you don't like it?" I ask.
Peeta grins as he shrugs his shoulders.
"Free food and beer. And my last night in civilised company. I just didn't realise you would all take it so seriously," he replies.
I roll my eyes at him before twisting back round to face the TV again.
Peeta leans forward to whisper in my ear.
"Besides, you wouldn't be having as much fun if I wasn't here," he whispers.
Goosebumps rise on my arms as I feel his hot breath against the back of my neck. He has certainly made the evening more entertaining but I am not going to let him know that.
"I think you over estimate the power of your charm," I say keeping my eyes straight as they look at the television.
I am not about to let him see just how true his comment is. I can feel him chuckle lightly against my back but he doesn't say anything more as the opening credits begin to play and everyone grows quiet.
The room mainly stays quiet throughout the show as nearly everyone becomes engrossed in the political goings on in Westeros. I can tell Peeta is a little bored though as he fidgets behind me. He tries to start various conversations as we watch but he is shushed down pretty quickly.
I am incredibly warm nestled against his back and don't want to think about the time when I will have to get up and go. I have never felt quite so comfortable around a virtual stranger.
Eventually the episode without too much blood shed or boobs bared comes to an end. There are a few yawns as everyone moves slightly from their positions to stretch out their cramped limbs. I reluctantly sit up and swing my legs round to stretch out the tightness in my lower leg. Peeta also sits up and swings his legs round so we are sitting side by side on the chair with our arms brushing up against each other.
"That is definitely not a programme you can start watching at the start of season 5. Every time I felt I was understanding what was going on they switched to a new set of characters," Peeta exclaims.
"It's just too sophisticated for you Peet. We all know you love the cartoons the best," Gale says as he gets up and cracks his knuckles.
Peeta gives him a smile. Gale then turns to look at Madge who is still sitting down on the sofa.
"Sadly I am going to love you and leave you. I promised Rory I would pick him up from his friend's house. I'll catch up with you all this week. Peeta don't die wherever it is you are going," Gale then adds.
Madge jumps off her seat to meet him and follow him out the door. Everyone waves a goodbye before a brief discussion about the episode resumes.
Madge spends a rather long time seeing Gale off and I smile to myself, happy for my friend. I join in with the conversation about the death of Mance Rayder while Peeta stays quiet beside me. I don't dare turn to look at him but I can feel his stare on me as he watches me talk. A flush begins to rise at the base of my neck as I grow slightly self-conscious under his appraisal of me.
Madge eventually re-joins us with a rosy flush on her cheeks and a few strands of her usually perfectly styled hair out of place. I raise my eyebrows at her with a questioning look. Madge blushes and ducks her head down to avoid my look. I smile before going back to join the conversation with the others.
Thom and Delly are the next to leave as Thom offers her a lift since they live on the same side of town. We wave them goodbye and suddenly it is just Madge, Peeta and I left in Darius's flat.
"Are you going to be fine sneaking back into the barracks?" Darius asks Peeta.
Peeta gives him a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders.
"I have been sneaking in and out of there for 4 years now. I know the best way not to get caught," he says with a smile.
I am suddenly reminded that he is leaving tomorrow. Who knows if I will see him again. A twinge of disappoint grips my heart.
"What about you girls? How are you getting home?" Peeta asks turning to us with a frown.
"We live 10 minutes away. We can walk," I reply.
"No way. I'm not letting you two walk home by yourself," he says.
"It's fine Peeta. The barracks are in the opposite direction and besides Katniss can be pretty mean when she needs to be," Madge replies.
Peeta is shaking his head from side to side.
"How can I call myself a member of the Queen's armed forces if I let two beautiful girls walk home alone? I'll walk with you. That way I can make sure Katniss doesn't do too much damage to any guy that tries to attack you," he replies with a playful grin.
I elbow him in the ribs. Peeta makes a slight noise of hurt as he goes to rub the area I hit.
"Goodness Katniss. I didn't expect to get injured until after I got off the plane tomorrow," he teases.
I roll my eyes at him as I turn away to go and pick up my bag. The hammering in my heart picks up again as I think of the prospect of getting to spend an extra 10 minutes with him. For all my reservations about this night before I came I no longer want to leave.
Madge and I gather our things and Darius waves us off as we start the short journey back to our flats. My flat is the first one on the route with Madge's being a further 5 minutes up the road.
Peeta starts whistling as we head out into the chilly spring air. It is definitely too cold for just a cardigan now. Peeta spies me rubbing my arms to try and keep warm and immediately shrugs off his leather jacket to give it to me.
"Here. Take this. I can't have you freezing to death in my presence," Peeta says as he hands me his jacket.
I smile at him gratefully as I pull my arms through the sleeves and hug the jacket close to my body. It is still warm from Peeta's body and I can smell his scent of mint and spice. I inhale it deeply as I immediately feel warmer.
"But won't you get cold?" I say as we walk along the quiet street.
Peeta just shrugs his shoulders as he swings his arms at his sides.
"Where I'm going tomorrow, I won't be feeling cold for a long time," he replies before flashing me a grin.
Madge is on her phone, probably texting Gale, leaving Peeta and I to our own devices.
"So you have to get up tomorrow to rally the little munchkins?" Peeta asks in reference to my job as a primary school teacher.
"Nope," I say wrapping my arms across my chest. "School holidays."
I turn to Peeta with a grin and he rolls his eyes.
"You half timers. Your job must be easy with all the holidays," Peeta says nudging me in the side.
I turn to him with a look of indignation. It is my biggest bug bearer when people tell me my job is easy.
"I will have you know that I work very hard. You try keeping 30 6 years olds occupied for 6 hours a day and then there is all the unnecessary paperwork on top of that," I reply nudging him back.
"Though," I add after further thought. "I doubt my job is very different from keeping you and Darius entertained."
Peeta clutches his hand to his chest in mock hurt.
"How dare you. You barely know me," Peeta says pretending to be offended.
I roll my eyes at him.
"You should sit in on my geography lessons. When it comes to knowledge of the world you are on par with my class. When I asked them to find Scotland on the map they pointed to Australia," I say.
Peeta stops and pretends to look shocked.
"Wait. Stop. Scotland isn't part of Australia?" he asks sarcastically.
I laugh and shake my head as we carry on walking. Madge has put her phone away now and joined our conversation.
"It is shocking Peeta how little you know about geography considering you travel for a living," Madge says.
"Hey. They just put me on a plane and tell me where I am once we have landed. There are no maps of the world involved in that. Though if it is an OS map I could easily navigate you to the nearest town," he replies.
Madge rolls her eyes as we approach a set of traffic lights. Peeta stops at the curb abruptly and I end up banging into him.
I put my hands out to steady myself against his back and don't let them drop once I have done so.
"Hey! Why did you just stop walking?" I accuse.
Peeta twists round to give me a teasing smile.
"I just saved your life. A car was coming," he says pointing his head in the direction of the car that has just driven past.
"And you couldn't have just told me to stop instead of letting me bang into you?" I say.
Peeta smiles again and bends down to look me in the eye.
"And miss an opportunity to have your hands on me? I don't think so," he replies.
My heart thuds in my chest. It seems I am not imaging his attraction to me.
Madge looks at us curiously before a smug smile spreads across her face.
"Seems I've been too busy flirting with Gale to notice what has been going on here," she says pointing her finger between us.
Instantly I drop my hands from where they had been resting around Peeta's waist and move away from him.
"You are mistaken. Go back to texting Gale," I say hoping the darkness is hiding my blush.
What am I even doing? Peeta leaves tomorrow. He's going to be gone for months. Nothing is going to happen.
Madge smiles and shakes her head before checking that the road is safe to cross and stepping onto it.
"Fine. I'm sure Gale will have something to say about this any way," Madge says as she takes her phone out again and starts texting him again. "You continue to pretend that you don't fancy each other."
I wrap my arms around me as I try to not let her comment bother me. Peeta's been a pleasant surprise tonight but I am not stupid enough to not know nothing is going to come of this.
Peeta just shrugs her comment off and begins telling us a tale about a time him and his brother got lost camping in the Cairngorms.
I'm soon laughing again as he retells the story of how his brother thought they were going to be eaten by a wolf and they tried to light a fire using their underwear for kindling. My embarrassment over Madge's comment is forgotten.
I find my feet slowing as we draw nearer to my flat. I may know nothing further is going to happen but I am reluctant to say goodbye to him. He's made my heart pound in a way it hasn't in a long time.
Eventually we reach my flat and stop outside the front step of my door. I linger on my doorstep, twirling my keys in my hand as I don't want to say goodbye to Peeta just yet.
I wish Madge wasn't here. That her flat had been the first one on the route and I could have spent some alone time with Peeta. Maybe even let him kiss me. A small token before he flies off tomorrow to a war torn land.
Peeta leans against the railings as he watches me. His blue eyes seem to shine even more in the darkness.
"This is me. Thanks for walking me home," I say.
Peeta smiles as he straightens up and stretches out his arms.
"Anything to avoid going back to the barracks for a wee while. Though the company has made the walk even more pleasurable," he says with a grin.
I smile nervously back at him before remembering I am still wearing his jacket and step forward to give it to him. I shiver as I remove the garment from my body and instantly miss having his smell around me.
"Try not to get blown up when you are over there," I reply with a grin.
Peeta chuckles and shakes his head.
"Look at you. What happened to the girl who was shocked we were joking about my death earlier? You are definitely full of surprises," Peeta replies.
His eyes are fixed onto mine. I am lost in the blue of his irises. Fear over never seeing those blue eyes again grips my heart. I shouldn't feel this way about someone I have just met.
Madge watches us before she sighs and shakes her head. She reaches out to hook her arm under Peeta's elbow to tug him away.
"Okay. Let's go now before I get any colder," she says.
She tugs him away and whatever spell we were under is broken. Madge shouts back that she will call me later in the week and I nod my head in response. I watch them walk down the road for a little while, a form of regret settling over me that I just let Peeta go.
Finally I shake my head to rid it of impossible thoughts of Peeta and turn to enter my flat.
My orange cat, Buttercup, hisses at me when I get in but I ignore him as I immediately start getting ready for bed. I change into a comfy pair of pyjamas and brush my teeth before deciding to grab my book and reading a few pages before bed. As I walk back from the bathroom though my phone buzzes with an incoming message. I frown when I pick it up and see an unknown number.
Hi. This is Peeta :)
My heart stops when it sees the words in the message. This can't be happening.
I hope this is okay, but Madge gave me your number.
This message follows soon after the first. I am stuck staring at the screen for a moment. He left. I had let him go. He should be back at the barracks. He's leaving tomorrow for up to 9 months.
And yet my heart can't stop beating rapidly in anticipation. I eventually regain my senses enough to type back a response.
That's okay. Shouldn't you be sneaking back into the barracks now?
The reply comes almost instantly.
I'd rather be talking to you.
A tiny thrill runs through my body and I can't stop the smile spreading across my face. This is crazy. I don't normally do things like this. But yet I can't stop myself around him.
I sigh and shake my head as I put my phone down and try to forget this is happening. He is probably just bored.
But just as I am about to curl up in my bed my phone buzzes again. I reach over to look at the message trying not to get my hopes up too high about what it might say.
Are you still up?
My heart stops as I try not to over analyse what he means by this. After a moment of thinking I quickly reply that I am and wait impatiently for a reply.
I chew on my finger nails as I sit and watch my phone on my bedside table. I can't let my imagination go into overdrive. He probably just wants to talk. Or he is just playing with me. But I can't dislodge the thought that he wants something more. Butterflies swirl about my stomach at the thought.
5 minutes go by though and he doesn't reply. I huff as I sit back on my bed and try not to dwell on the disappointment that is rising up inside of me.
Suddenly the buzzer for my flat goes and I startle at the sound. It can't be him. He's probably half way back to the barracks by now.
But the foolish part inside of me hopes that it is him. That he regrets how we left things just as much as I do. Slowly I get up to answer the door.
"Hello?" I say down the receiver.
"Hey. It's Peeta. Can I come up?" his voice rings through the speaker.
My heart goes into overdrive at the sound. Even his voice is attractive.
"Sure," I say trying to sound casual.
I press the button to let him in and wait for him to bound up the stairs. I hear his feet clattering against the stone steps as I hover behind the door. Not long after there is a soft knocking on my door and I open it to find him standing on my doorstep.
He gives me a shy smile as he stands a little awkwardly in the doorway. Any of his slightly cocky bravado is gone and he runs a hand nervously through his short hair.
"I hope you don't mind. It's just the thought of not seeing you again for 9 months is a lot scarier than entering a war zone," he says.
I am rendered speechless. I don't know what I was expecting of him but with him now standing in my doorway looking all sexy and shy I know what I want. Words have never been my strong point so I let my actions tell him how I am feeling.
I take a step towards him as I push up onto my toes and bring his head down to capture his lips in a fierce kiss.
I sense his surprise when I first mould my lips to his but he is soon kissing me back fiercely as he wraps his arms around me and we stumble back into my hallway.
We crash into the wall opposite my door and his tongue licks my bottom lip searching for entrance. I eagerly let him in as his tongue tangles with mine and my fingers scratch at the fine hairs at the back of his neck. He tastes and smells of mint, with just the hint of spice from the curry earlier. My whole body is set alight as his scent and touch consume me.
It doesn't take long for hands to wander. I push the leather jacket off his shoulders and his hands slip underneath the thin cotton of my vest top to rest against the skin on my back. I lean my head back to allow him to plant hot kisses on my neck and my hands grasp his head to guide him to the spots I want him most. All my desire is pooling together and making my core ache. I press up closer to him, desperate for some more friction.
I don't think about how inappropriate this is. Or how I never do anything like this. All I can think about is him and how good he is making me feel right now.
I moan softly as he gently nips at the skin at the base of my neck. Suddenly his kisses aren't enough. I need more of him. I need all of him.
We haven't said anything since I attacked him with my lips but I realise I need to say something to find out if we are both on the same page.
"Please tell me you are not one of those no sex before marriage Christians," I moan as Peeta kisses the spot behind my ear.
I can feel him smile against my skin. He rubs his nose along the side of my face before bringing it round to nuzzle it with mine. He places a soft kiss on the corner of my lips.
"God is wise about many things but sex isn't one of them," Peeta replies as he places another soft kiss on my lips.
I sigh as his hands make their way further up my back to rest on my rib cage. My centre is throbbing and I need to do something to relieve it soon.
I pull Peeta down for one last deep kiss before breaking away breathless and tugging him towards my room.
He grabs my face as I turn round to face him and slowly walks me back towards the bed. Once my legs have hit the edge of the bed he gently scoops me up and lays me down on the bed.
He stays standing at the edge of the bed and I get a view of the very obvious bulge in the front of his jeans. I bite my lip in anticipation as I wonder how big he is. He is looking down at me with a predatory stare. Like I am about to be his next meal.
Slowly he lowers his body back down to gently lie on top of me. He gaze softens as he fixes his stare on me and he slowly reaches a hand up to caress my face. My eyes flutter close at his touch and I feel a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth. I snap my eyes open and am met with Peeta's intense stare.
The blue of his eyes is almost indistinguishable now. His pupils thick and black with lust.
He begins planting kisses down the side of my face and I let out a contented sigh as I close my eyes again and lean my head back against the pillow. Peeta continues his kisses across my face and down my neck as his hands rest on the edge of my pyjama bottoms. Slowly, as his lips make their way back up to my mouth to kiss me, his hands inch up to bunch the hem of my vest top. His thumb rubs patterns on my skin as he claims my mouth with his own.
His lips move downwards again. Down my neck and along my collar bone. He inches my top up, further exposing my belly button and midriff, as he kisses over the tops of my covered breasts and down towards my exposed skin.
I moan as he kisses up my stomach and twirls his tongue in my belly button. I grip the sheets on either side of me as he pushes my top up even further to expose my breasts to the air. He continues his trail up my body as he kisses the underside of my breast while a hand reaches up to squeeze the other one in his hand.
I am losing control of my breathing and my moans get louder as he sticks a tongue out to lick the area round my nipple while he plays with the other breast in his hand. His tongue continues to circle my mound as I arch my back off the bed to try and encourage him to take me fully in his mouth.
He smirks against my skin, stopping his ministration for a moment before descending down to take my whole nipple in my mouth. I cry out as he does so and the pleasure shoots straight to my core. He slips a hand underneath my waistband and runs a thick finger up my slit until he has found my clit.
I groan loudly as he begins to rub me while he continues to suckle my breast. My hips buck up to push further into his hand and I run a hand though my hair. I grip onto it tightly in an effort to try and keep myself tethered to something.
It is fast becoming all too much. I have only ever had one boyfriend before and while the sex was always nice it was never like this. I am being stimulated in so many areas that I struggle to hold on. All of a sudden my orgasm rips through me and I come with a cry.
Peeta smirks against my skin as he finally removes his mouth from my breast and continues to rub me gently as I ride my orgasm out.
I am breathing heavily and have a hand lying across my forehead as I try to come back to earth. Peeta is resting his chin on top of my chest with a satisfied smile.
"You are beautiful when you come. Do you know that?" he says.
I blush a little at his compliment and this makes him chuckle lightly. It is then that I realise that while I am half naked he is still fully clothed. Determined to rectify this situation I sit up abruptly, knocking Peeta off my chest and pulling my top off the rest of the way. I swiftly grab his shoulders as I twist him round and lay him flat on his back. I move to straddle his hips and slightly grind down on him as I settle over him.
Peeta growls a little as I push my warm core into his bulge and his hands snap out to grip my hips to steady me. I smirk back down at him as I play with the hem of his t-shirt.
"My turn now," I reply with a suggestive smile.
Peeta's eyes darken as I lean forward to place a kiss on his lips before pulling back slightly to pull the shirt off his body.
"You have another tattoo," I say as a finger reaches out to trace the outline of the large crucifix over his heart.
Peeta smiles at me as he reaches to take the hand that is tracing over his chest. He raises it up to place a kiss on my knuckles.
"My faith is important to me," he says sincerely.
"Just not as important as sex," I say with a teasing smile.
Peeta laughs as he tangles our fingers together.
"Certainly not possible sex with you," he says with a grin.
My heart does a flip and his words make me bolder as I lean forward again to place a kiss on his lips. I make my way down to his tattoo and mark it with my kisses. I like that he feels so passionately about something that he marks his skin with a reminder of it.
I never thought religion could be sexy.
Slowly I move my lips even further downward and I hear him groan as I get nearer the waistband of his jeans. I reach down to gently squeeze him though his trousers and he moans. I go to unbuckle his belt but he sits up, grabbing my wrist and stopping me.
"No more foreplay. I need you now," he says.
His eyes are locked intensely onto mine. His gaze burns right through me sending a flash of heat to my soaking core. I am powerless to do anything other than nod. Peeta nods to make sure I am certain and I nod again. He smiles at me and reaches a soft hand out to kiss me gently.
He pulls back slightly to undo his belt and pulls down his jeans and boxers. I gulp a little when I see his sheer size. It's been a while.
Peeta seems to see my shock and reaches forward to gently touch my cheek. I snap my eyes back up to look at him.
"Hey. We can stop if you want. We don't have to do this," he says.
My heart melts at his words. I don't know where this charming, slightly cocky but kind man has come from.
"No. I don't want to stop," I reply.
Peeta gives me a genuine smile and it gives me the courage to stand up and remove my own pyjama bottoms. I hesitate just slightly before I hook my fingers round the elastic of my underwear and tug them down. I chew my bottom lip, exposed and nervous, as Peeta watches me from the end of the bed. An awed smile crosses his face.
"You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met," he says.
I blush a little and he smiles wider.
"Come here," he beckons gently.
I take a deep breath and slowly crawl on the bed until I our noses are only inches away from each other. Peeta smiles at me sweetly as I gently nudge his nose with mine before ducking down to catch a kiss. The feel of his lips relaxes me and I give him another kiss. And then another. Slowly the kisses grow more heated until I have Peeta flat on his back and between my thighs.
I pull back breathless as the throbbing in my core roars again. I sit back on my haunches as I reach into my bedside table to retrieve a condom. Peeta watches with black eyes as I roll the condom on him.
I look back at him one more time and he gives me a sexy smile before I rise on my haunches and impale myself on his length.
I feel impossible full as he pushes himself deep inside me. I wait a moment to get used to his girth before resting my hands on his abdomen and slowly swirling my hips in a circular movement.
Peeta grunts as I begin to move and he sticks his hands out to grab my hips tightly to guide my movements. He feels so good inside of me and I am soon panting in pleasure as my body sets itself on fire.
I alternate from swirling my hips and moving up and down and through these actions he is hitting my clit just right. I can feel the coil in my belly being wound tighter and tighter as I ride him. Peeta is gripping my hips tightly, surely to leave marks, as he lets me control the pace. His eyes fix on the place where we are joined as he watches himself sink in and out of me.
As my orgasm builds to its peak Peeta suddenly jerks forward, cupping his hands behind my ass and titling me backwards as be brings his lips down to kiss me deeply. I yelp a little from being caught unaware but this soon turns to a loud moan when this new angle allows Peeta to hit that sweet spot inside of me.
He is the one in control now and he slams me up and down his length. This angle lets him perfectly hit my g-spot and my orgasm begins to build stronger than before. I am powerless to do anything other than grip the back of his neck tightly as he pounds into me.
My orgasm rips through my body and I cry out as Peeta continues to move rapidly inside of me. My arms cling loosely round his neck as my whole body sags and I no longer have the energy to hold myself up.
Peeta grunts as he pulls me tighter towards him and sinks his nails slightly into my flesh. He thrusts a few more times before he lets out a strangled moan and slumps against me after he has filled the condom.
We stay tangled together like that for a moment. Peeta's head rests against my breast as my hand runs through his short hairs. We don't say anything as we let our heart rates get back to normal.
Eventually Peeta pulls his head off my chest and smiles at me sweetly as he sweeps a sweaty strand of hair behind my ear.
"Well that was one way to make sure I don't forget you while I am away," he says with a smile.
I laugh lightly as I lean my head against his hand and watch him look at me. A shiver goes up my spine from the way he is looking at me.
"Will you let me see you when I come back? I don't quite know what I will do if you say no," he says laughing a little nervously.
I smile sweetly back at him for a moment. It is scary to think that he is going off tomorrow. That he may not come back. And yet that won't affect my answer.
I get on to my knees and straighten up so we are nose to nose. I hold his gaze as I answer his question.
"I'll allow it," I reply.