Yay! I finally found time to sit down and get this finished! I hate that it's been 3 weeks! A little writer's block (obviously because I'm new to this and didn't compose my thoughts into any kind of outline) and a hectic schedule have kept me busy. I'll try not to do that anymore and get this story to completed status. J Thank you to inmyfavor for helping me sort out my thoughts and giving me suggestions. I enjoy our back and forth emailing!
If you think any of this is good you should definitely check out my girls, ct522 and bubblegum1425 who have the most amazing stories and are always writing new things and adding chapters to their current wip's. They are really great and I haven't mentioned anything to them about writing a fic because I'm waaaaay too self conscious that they would actually read it! They definitely would find a new beta… Lol
To Kathryn's comment, I am considering starting Divergent for my therapy. This could possibly backfire, as I've been told the love story rivals that of K/P. I doubt it, but I could find myself in two black holes. Ain't nobody got time fo dat.
And to sarammlover, I included a little something for you. J
Please kindly leave a review. I'll take smiley faces if you just don't like typing stuff. Also, suggestions are welcome!
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I remain in my seat while all the other passengers deplane. I hate standing in crowded lines and being pushed forward due to everyone's haste to get wherever it is they're going 45 seconds faster. And, you'd be hard pressed to get me to admit this out loud, I also want to hang around and see just what this is going on between Peeta and Glitter.
Madge walks up the aisle and stops beside me, giving me an inquisitive look. "I thought you'd have high-tailed it out of here already. It's not every day we're on a plane that we don' t have to clean up after 150 people." She speaks true words I can't deny, but it doesn't stop me from trying.
"I just thought I'd hang back and see what you're doing for dinner." I lie straight through my teeth.
"Actually, Gale messaged me just after landing and wants to meet up. Rain check?"
"Sure, rain check." I say, less enthusiastic than I mean to, but she gets it. Gale and Madge have been slowly becoming an item lately, and while I'm really happy for my two best friends to have found each other, I'm sad for myself and I loathe the new third wheel status I'm sure to become.
"Maybe I'll see what Finn's doing." This slips out before I realize I probably don't want to see what, or who for that matter, Finnick is doing for dinner. Or dessert.
I get up to grab my bag and follow Madge to the exit. Finn is gone and Madge is close to gone, but I spot Peeta talking to Glimmer just outside the doorway on the edge of the jet bridge. Exactly the person I want to see.
Staring at them I can tell Glimmer feels more at ease than Peeta. I haven't seen him edgy like this, yet. I know it's only been two days that I've known him, but something just doesn't seem right. My feet carry me forward as I decide to go over and test these uncharted waters.
"Hey Peeta, hey Glitt-"
"Glimmer!" Her narrow eyes and clipped tone cut me off. "It's Glimmer." She repeats in a more calmed manner, trying to stay composed in front of Peeta, but the look she extends to me is not forgiving. I shrug it off and plow through.
"Uh, sorry, Glimmer." I enunciate her name in a pleasant sort of way. Well, at least to me it was pleasant enough. I can tell by her expression she's not convinced.
"So what do you two have planned?" I don't really know what's gotten in to me. That was pretty straight forward and really none of my damn business, but it's already out there so I guess I'll hang around to hear the answer, even if it pisses me off.
"Peeta and I were just deciding where to eat for dinner," she purrs to me and leans into him. She gives me a sly smile while patting his right pectoral with her left hand and bending her left leg at the knee like some girl who's just won the "hot guy lottery". Disgusting. I want to punch her in the face.
"Hey, Katniss, you're going with us, right?" I'm completely floored by Peeta's statement and it must show. You can visibly see every one of my teeth, crowns and all, my mouth is so wide open. This was definitely not what I was expecting. Did he just invite me on his date with Glimmer? Wait a second – what is he… is he freaky like that? Before any kind of further realization can dawn on me he adds a very pained explanation.
"I was supposed to be the one to let you know. We were all going to get some dinner together but Finnick and Madge both bailed at the last minute with a change of plans, so now it's just me, you and Glit – uh, I mean Glimmer." I see him shake my nickname for her out of his head. She's choosing to ignore his obvious blunder and from the way she reacted to me moments ago when I did it, I know she must be serious about this game we're playing.
"You know what they say; themorethemerrier." This last sentence came out a little too quickly to be comfortable. His uneasy smile is plastered on his handsome face and it's a tad frightening. I do realize, however, that Glimmer must have mistaken Peeta's offer of dinner out with the group for a date with just the two of them. This realization, which I am now noticing, is also clearly spread across her face. That is not a happy look she's giving me. In fact, I think she's daring me to come.
She removes her hand from his chest and steps back, giving him a little bit more of the personal space she had previously stolen. It's not much, but it's enough for me. I sashay right up to his side and loop my arm through his much to everyone's surprise, including mine, and announce in a giddy tone I have never heard come out of my mouth, "I would love to join you both for dinner." I put on the most genuine smile I can muster and direct it right towards Glimmer. Then I gently tug on Peeta's arm and look over to him as we begin to walk. I note the "thank you" his divine blue eyes seem to be sending my way and I'm glad I chose to get out of my comfort zone for once.
Glimmer hasn't said a word on the walk up to the terminal. To be fair, though, neither Peeta nor I have said much, either. I guess he's still feeling a little uncomfortable with the situation since Glimmer is snuggly holding onto his opposite arm, and I'm just trying to figure out the next step of my hasty plan. I'm not usually this impulsive.
I suddenly feel Peeta being pulled down on my left, like dead weight is claiming him with a force and I hear a high-pitched squeal and a thud. I look over to find Glimmer in a heap, with her legs crossed over one another in what seems to be very uncomfortable Indian style. The heel of her red pump is lodged in one of the grates connecting the bridge to the terminal, while the pump itself is still on her foot.
She is beet red and pissed off to the point she could sprout horns and breath fire. Peeta, the ever-gentleman he seems to be, helps her to her feet and retrieves the broken piece of her shoe from the grate.
"I can't believe these shoes are so cheap!" She blames the shoe for her little collapse and pardons herself to run home and change, saying she'll meet us at the restaurant in thirty minutes. I can't believe my luck! Something must be in my favor tonight. I don't have long, though, to endear myself to Peeta before Glimmer returns, but I find confident Katniss has gone into hibernation now that I'm alone with him. This is not good.
"Shall we?" Peeta looks much more comfortable now and extends his elbow out to me, waiting for me to take it again. I stammer around for a few moments, trying to quell the butterflies suddenly making a disco dance floor out of my stomach.
Those beautiful baby blues turn a little confused the longer he waits for me to take his arm.
It's now or never, Katniss.
Take. His. Arm.
You can do this.
I can't think of one reason not to so I slide my arm back through his and smile shyly.
"So did you want to ride with me and I'll bring you back here to pick up your car after dinner?" Peeta's offer makes no sense, as any restaurants would be toward home, but for the life of me I don't want to waste what little time we would have alone together. Plus, that means more private time after dinner since he'll have to drive me back to the employee parking lot at the airport. I wonder if he registers how out-of-the-way this plan is, too?
"Yeah, that works for me. I don't have anywhere to be in the morning." I really don't. I can't work until I get Dr. Aurelius to release me back to the job after a head exam, and I have to retake that safety course. Thinking about my earlier predicament turns my mood a little sour. It must show on my face because after Peeta closes the passenger door of his loaded Audi RS 7 for me, then slides into the driver's side, he possibly asks if everything is alright. I don't hear it, of course, because I'm sitting in a loaded Audi RS 7. It's gorgeous, sleek, back body and supple leather seats are heaven and the dark wood grain against the black dash is breathtaking. This is something I could never, ever own and I probably shouldn't even be riding in. If the intimidation factor wasn't already raised, its head is reared now, and it's ugly. This is what will take me down; not Glimmer. Just Peeta, being Peeta, and he's out of my league. I am not this girl, the kind that's used to living in luxury. He could have any girl, actress, model, successful, rich, probably famous, without even trying. I have absolutely no chance here and I'm fooling myself.
I break away from my thoughts at the sound of his melodic voice and hear him ask, for what I presume is a second time, if I'm alright.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good." I move on quickly before he has a chance to consider my brush off to his question. "So where are we eating?" I'm looking anywhere but his face, which he doesn't really notice because he's concentrating on the road.
"Everyone else suggested Abernathy's, but we can go anywhere you like. I don't have Glimmer's number, though, so we wouldn't be able to let her know if we changed plans."
A slight smile spreads across my face and I have to work to keep it from growing. I have a huge dilemma before me. I can actually shut Glimmer out from this whole evening just by requesting a different place to eat, and I'm so tempted to do it, but then what impression would Peeta get from me? That I'm cold? Jealous? Bitchy? I surely don't want to send those signals. Even if he is out of my league, as I'd thought earlier, we can at least be friends.
"I guess it would be rude to stand her up so we should probably stick with the plan." His head bobs in agreement.
Abernathy's is a bar and grill owned by Haymitch Abernathy, who was a close friend of my father's before he died. His restaurant is in my old neighborhood and I've been eating there for years. Haymitch would feed Prim and me when we were too broke to buy food ourselves, which was often. I hate taking charity and if it hadn't been for trying to keep Prim alive while my mother checked out, not even trying to cope with the grief of my father's death, I would have probably starved out of pride.
Pulling into the parking lot I notice there is a larger than normal crowd for a weeknight. We enter and spy a small, vacant booth near the back. It's the only one open and although it will be cozy for two, it will probably be a little crowded for three.
Haymitch is nowhere to be found tonight. It's just as well and I find myself relieved a little. He probably wouldn't be the best person to run into right now, what with me being alone with a guy. He would either be shocked into silence or worse, launched into the protective uncle-figure role he's adopted since Prim and I have been on our own. He's usually wasted by noon, which is sad and humorous all at the same time because he could never actually protect us beyond slurred words and swayed movements in his condition. Truth be told, I protect and take care of him more than the other way around.
When we reach the booth I sit across from Peeta and after a few minutes I begin to realize I have another dilemma to deal with; when my unwanted dinner guest shows up she will have to choose which person to sit next to and I'm pretty certain it won't be me. As if reading my thoughts, Peeta speaks up, clearing his throat anxiously. "I don't suppose there would be any way I could convince you to come and sit next to me?"
I pop my head up from my menu at this request, not that I need to look at it. I've known what's on Abernathy's menu for years and I never have to consult it. I just needed somewhere for my eyes to focus so I'm not caught staring at what I can't have. His cheeks turn an adorable light shade of pink, as if he thinks he's being too forward asking me to share a booth seat with him. His stare is soft, but burns through me with an intensity I can feel deep down into my core. I think to myself this suggestion of his could work out for me because then I won't be forced to keep myself from making eye contact with him.
"Yeah, okay." The words leave my mouth more calmly than I feel. I grab my purse and slide out of my side of the booth and into his. He takes my bag from me and places it near the wall, leaving no buffer between us. I feel our knees touch and I jerk mine away, embarrassed at the semi-intimate contact between us. Peeta notices my action and tells me with a light chuckle, "It's okay if you touch me. I promise I don't mind." He looks past me at that moment, while I'm still considering the implication of his last words and see the easy smile on his face falter.
"Here comes the rest of our party." There's no contempt in his voice, but it certainly lacks the jovial quality I've noticed in him the last couple of days. Turning my head towards the door I spy Glimmer making her way over to us. Her eyes become disheartened for a split second when she registers her seat will be across from Peeta, rather than next to him.
She recovers quickly with a glint in her eye and saunters over to the booth, pausing while she greets us. I'm sure this is so Peeta can admire her change of clothing; a denim mini skirt, frayed at the ends, a simple low cut white tank and 4 inch brown leather wedges that show off some pretty remarkable legs, if I do say so myself. Her long, blond hair tumbles over her shoulders and down to mid-back in soft curls. Her simple gold bangles clank together as she maneuvers into the seat.
"Hey, Peeta. Glad to see you didn't start without me." She skips any greeting for me all together, taking up her menu and placing her finger at her lips as if in deep thought. I have to hide a snort as I think about how deep Glimmer's thoughts actually go.
The waitress has come and gone to fetch our drinks and, as we're all deciding what entrees we should order, I feel something graze my calf and slowly make its way up to my knee and then back down. I shift my eyes to stare at Peeta, who is still perusing his menu and completely oblivious to what's going on under the table. I chance a look at Glimmer and see she's also staring at her menu, but her tongue seems to be licking her finger and as she rubs it over her bottom lip.
It dawns on me what's going on, that Glimmer is actually rubbing our legs together thinking she's hitting on Peeta. I don't know what happens to me when she comes around, but reserved Katniss fades into the background and emboldened Katniss takes over. Her forwardness has me throwing caution to the wind and I feel like I'm being set on fire, the small embers beginning to be stoked. I sense an empowerment to mark some kind of territory, like I'm trying protect Peeta from becoming the meat this girl most likely chews up and spits out. The only person I've ever felt the need to protect is Prim. This thought causes me to do a double take inside my brain, but I'm too far gone now register what it might mean.
I just let this feeling take over me and adjust myself slightly so that Peeta's thigh and mine are flush together. He shoots me a quick glance and I smile sweetly back at him. The grin on his face makes my heart pick up speed and I wonder for the first time if he may feel the same tug toward me that I feel for him.
The embers from just moments ago are being quickly fanned by desire and turning into raging flames. He said he didn't mind if I touch him, right? With Glimmer still rubbing my leg with hers, and without much thought for my actions, I reach my hand over to his knee and settle it there. I feel him tense and then relax after he looks down and sees that it's me. He glances back down at something else and I see his brow furrow in confusion, and then break into understanding. The mischief is not lost in his eyes as he speaks up.
"You know, Glim, if you really wanted to be alone with Katniss you could have just said so instead of using me as a third wheel." His teasing tone and expression make me laugh out loud and Glimmer looks mortified at being caught flirting with the wrong person.
"Wha-?" She looks from him to me in bewilderment and thankfully yanks her leg back to herself as she stutters a few times trying to gather her thoughts and say something witty. This will probably take a while. I look over at Peeta and squeeze his knee lightly. To my surprise he reaches over to grab my hand and reciprocate the affection, his gaze never leaving mine. Maybe this isn't a one-sided attraction after all.
Glimmer was unmistakably quiet for the rest of dinner. She ate in silence, paid for the meal after asking the waitress for her check and excused herself for the night, with little other than a casual "see you later" and wave to us over her shoulder.
"So I have the early flight tomorrow." Peeta mentions to me. I know this, since we've been assigned to the same schedule, but I can't help but feel a pang of sadness that my night with him will be coming to an end. "I should probably get you back to your car." I agree with a nod and a small smile.
Peeta picks up the check and, as much as I protest, insists on paying for my meal. In the parking lot he opens the passenger door for me again and I can't help but feel that this ended up being a date. All the signs point in that direction; he drove me there, we sat near each other and exchanged intimate touches and smiles, he treated me to the dinner and now he's driving me home. Well, to my car, but driving me back to where he picked me up technically. I feel a sense of relief and, dare I say, giddiness, at the thought that I just went on a date with Peeta.
On the drive back he asks me about myself. I'm surprised at how much I open up to him, mostly about Prim. She's the only good thing in my life anyway, so I try to keep the mood non-depressive. I don't really get to ask him about his life, so that part remains a small mystery to me, but I find myself daring to hope I'll get another chance to do it.
Peeta pulls into the employee parking lot at the airport next to where we left my car. As I reach down to gather my purse I see he's already moved out of his seat to my side and is opening the door for me. He offers me his hand to help me get out of the car and I take it. The impending goodbye is hanging in the air, making the atmosphere seem ripe with tension. I make a note in my head that there's one thing this so called "date" is missing; the goodnight kiss.
I go rigid with the thought that he may try to kiss me. Then I get nervous at the thought that he may not try to kiss me. This isn't territory I feel like I can lead the way in, so it's going to be up to him or it isn't going to happen. I close the distance between the two cars, hunch slightly and begin to dig through my purse for my keys.
"Katniss?" Peeta's voice is soft but hesitant and it causes me to break away from rummaging through the bag. I just look up, without a word, silently expecting him to continue.
He takes two strides toward me and his nearness makes me stand up straighter and turn my body to face him. My back is against the car and, while I wouldn't dream of running away, his closeness is very telling, or at least I hope it's telling. The disco flutters awake in my stomach again.
"I hope this isn't too forward, but, I uh… I'm really attracted to you. I have been since we met two days ago. I haven't been able to think of anyone or anything but you. There's just something about you… you have this effect on me." He pauses, hands in his pockets and head tilted slightly to the side, hoping for some kind of reaction.
I blink.
I hope he saw it because that's about the only reaction I'm capable of right now. I feel certain that any moment now I'll snap out of this dream. I never have good dreams. Only nightmares. Nightmares about my father's death and my mother's abandonment. Nightmare's about losing Prim, the last living, breathing love I have in my life. It seems too much to hope in what he just expressed to me. If only he would take it one step further.
He stands there, not moving, not speaking. Only staring with those intense, I-can-see-into-your-soul eyes. I find that I want him and only him to see into my soul and I desperately want to make this real and so I contradict my earlier thoughts about not making a move. Before I can think too much about it I step forward, placing my hands on his shoulders lightly and sliding them around the back of his neck. I raise up on my toes as my fingers curl into the soft, blonde hairs at the nape of it and lift my lips to his.
He must be shocked at my actions because he freezes for a few seconds before moving his warm hands to my waist. At this sensation I press my lips harder to his and open them just enough to take in his plump lower one and suck it gently. He makes a soft gasping sound, as if unbelieving about what I'm doing. I'm pretty unbelieving about it as well, but then I remember my thought from a few days ago about what it would be like to run my tongue across his beautiful teeth.
He welcomes my advances into his mouth and begins his own into mine. Our tongues are soft and slow, deliberate in their brief exploration. Our mouths widen to take in more of each other and he pulls me closer to him while twining his arms around the small of my back and arching me into him.
To my disappointment he breaks the kiss and leans his forehead down against mine, our noses are touching and the intimacy of it strikes me as appropriate, even though we've barely just met. I can't say I've ever felt like this about anyone.
"Should I take that to mean you feel the same way?" Peeta says, breathily. I nod my head in assent, my fingers still playing with the curls on his neck.
It must be too much for him because in just mere seconds I find myself backed against my car, his lips moving feverishly against my own, his tongue pleading for access to my mouth. I don't hesitate to grant his request and our kiss intensifies enough so that I feel an electricity rush through my core, all the way to my toes.
All too quickly it's over and Peeta is backing away, staring at me as if he might go too far if he doesn't slow down now. I feel the same way and I would probably have a hard time saying no when he feels too good not to let him have his way with me.
"Goodnight, Katniss." His eyes never leave mine as he walks around his car. I don't have the frame of mind to move to open my door and climb into my car until I notice he hasn't driven away yet. He's waiting for me to leave first, I realize. This simple gesture tells me he wants to make sure I'm okay, to take some sort of care with me even if it's only minor for now. I don't think he can endear himself to me anymore than he already has, but I'm definitely willing to find out.
A/N – okay I know it's not a smutty scene but it's still terrifying to have written any kind of intimate scene and have people read it! It's my first so any reviews about it would be appreciated! I don't know if I have the guts to take it further, so I guess we'll find out. Thanks for reading!