Chapter Four: You Get Me.
Breakfast Flirting
"Hi. Here let me help." Peeta takes her bag from her shoulder and grabs the drinks. Katniss follows him to a small table off to the side of the lobby. She shrugs off her coat as she goes.
Say something Katniss! You haven't spoken a word yet. Katniss struggles to come up with something clever so she settles for something benign. "I didn't know how you liked your …" She motions toward the drinks. "So, I just got what I like."
"Well, generally I like my hot chocolate hot. Beyond that I'm not picky."
"I meant…oh nevermind!" She says blushing and looking away.
Peeta worries he embarrassed her so he tries to find something to say.
"Did you get your tire taken care of?"
"Yeah, I did. I caught the shop just before it closed. They were just as appalled as you were at the state of my tires. I think the phrase "death trap" was mumbled at one point." He gives that little crooked smile again. Keep talking Katniss. "He's sporting 4 new tires which probably cost more than he's worth."'
"Ah but he's priceless to you!"
"You either get me, or you're teasing."
"I hope it's the first one.' He says and DIMPLE! Katniss can't take it anymore. She's never been a good flirt and she's pretty much tapped out on charm here. She looks down at her hands. Peeta has never in his life had difficulty talking to women but, this is a different story. He can't stop staring at her face, she's so pretty she's literally stolen his breath and words.
Katniss, can't look away for too long although, she can't bring herself to look in his eyes right now. She's finds that she is marveling at how tight the gray T-shirt under his hoodie is. It's stretched across his chest just right and holy crap it's a nice chest. Ugh! Her inner voice grunts. Stop staring Katniss before he notices, say something. "University of…?" She says pointing to his chest.
"Chicago" he finishes for her. I got my masters there."
"In what?
"Physiotherapy."
"What's it like?"
"Physiotherapy?"
"No, um, going to college. I didn't go, for obvious reasons. Always thought I'd like it. My sister just got her undergrad and she's in her first year of medical school. She'll tell me about classes, what grades she got and what she did with her friends but, not what it's like, you know?"
Peeta thinks for a minute. "I guess it means something different for everyone. For me it was freeing. Things were pretty strict at home. College was making my own choices."
She likes that answer. She likes the way he thought it through. He's special. Oh damn it, he's special. Peeta and Katniss' eyes meet again and this time they hold, neither looking away. Peeta is just about to speak when…
"Everdeen, there you are. Annie wanted to run some choreography changes with you before Gale gets here." Finnick interrupts.
"I'll be there in a minute." She calls after Finnick. "Well I better…" she says to a disappointed Peeta. "Thanks again, for yesterday. It was nice of you to help."
"Even though you could totally do it yourself."
"You do get me." She says smiling as she stands, grabbing her bag and coat.
"Katniss wait!" He says much too loudly since she hasn't actually moved. "I have to ask. I mean, I need to know. Not need, I don't need to know but, I want to know. I just…" He lets out an exasperated sigh, giving up all hope of being smooth. He just has to get it out. "You and Gale, are you…together?"
"We're just partners and friends."
"So if I were to ask you to dinner, Gale wouldn't be in the way?"
"Gale wouldn't no… but I…." She sees the disappointment in his eyes. She knows it must be in hers too. She has work to do, a medal to win. She can't be distracted. As if he can read her mind, Peeta seems to understand.
"How about we do this again tomorrow. Tea this time? I'll buy, maybe even bring you something to eat too."
"Ok, tea would be Ok. I'll see you tomorrow?" As she reluctantly backs away from the table, he calls.
"So how do you take your tea?'
"Hot!" she calls back and all but skips to the locker room.