The flight was long, and the air was cold. Indiana in the winter is not my favorite place to be, but it was the opposite and far enough away from Florida for me begin my new life. I really needed a fresh start. It also helped that the university was gorgeous, and they offered me a full ride scholarship. I spent the last few summers studying and working to be able to spend the fall semester of my senior year in Costa Rica, and it was every environmentalist's dream. The bugs were big, the scenery was breath taking, the weather was hot, and the water was walk-in ready. I wish that I never had to come back.
When the program offered a winter break extension, I couldn't say no. I scraped up the money to stay in paradise for another month, and I have no regrets. Well, I have one regret. The winter break extension ended days before the spring semester began. I was set to arrive back in the snow-covered Hell again on Friday. Thanks to a ferocious winter storm, it was now Saturday.
The Residential Programs and Services building closed at three, and I made it with minutes to spare. My mood only worsened when the woman working told me that my room had been given away due to overcrowding, a common problem at the university. I almost had a mental breakdown in her office. After talking with the director of the services, I was allowed to keep my full ride scholarship, that required that I live on campus, and given a reimbursement to find new housing.
That only left me with one problem. I needed a place to stay immediately. Sitting in a small café, I called everyone I could think of. My friends Madge and Annie lived in a small apartment together with two bedrooms and one bathroom. They offered me their couch until I found a place to live so I would not be homeless, but they couldn't offer anything more permanent. Joanna lived in a one bedroom apartment that cost more than the school's tuition for a year, but she also couldn't offer anything long term either per her lease.
That left the only other person I could think of- Rye Mellark and the apartment that he shared with his brother.
I've been in classes with Rye Mellark since we were freshmen. In fact, he was my first friend on campus. Since he studies biology and I study the environment, we have had a plethora of classes together in the last three years. He even occasionally joins the girls and I when we hang out. For some reason, I think I remember him saying that he would have an empty room in his apartment by the time I came back to the states. He was flirting and drunk at the time, but I'm desperate.
I've always gotten the impression that Rye liked the four of us as more than friends. His preference is always different, but he is still protective over the four of us when we go out. At first, I thought that he had a crush on me. Occasionally, he finds Joanna's wild side attractive, Annie is absolutely charming, but it's Madge Undersee that catches his eye the most. This is the exact reason why my finger is able to press the call button under Rye's name.
It rings for a while, and I fear that he might not answer... until he does. "Katniss! I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. How was Costa Rica?" His excited voice booms through my phone.
I can't hide the smile that covers my face when I think of that tropical country that captured my heart. "Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it, but I need a favor."
"Sure, anything," he says without hesitation. This boy was always so kind.
"They gave my room away due to overcrowding. I need a place to live, and the girls can't break their leases..." I trail off, not sure how to ask him the actual question.
"Man," he says with a sigh. "They really need to stop admitting so many people when they don't have enough room for them. I guess it's all about the money, but you are in luck! Our third roommate just graduated and moved out, so I have an extra bedroom with your name written on it."
I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Rye, you're a life saver."
He laughs into the phone and jokes, "I know I am. Do you remember the address?"
"I do. I'll be there soon."
Rye's apartment is quiet spacious for the rent he's paying. Its a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment. While I can't convince Rye to give me the room with the bathroom, I also can't be too choosey. I do need a place to live, and I'll take it even if it means sharing a bathroom with Rye's older brother. I've never met Peeta Mellark, but he's kind of a legend around campus. He was a hot shot wrestler, and he graduated before I moved to Indiana.
As Rye helps me gather my things from storage, he tells me more about this legendary brother. He's twenty-six and teaches ninth grade English at one of the local high schools. For the next months or so, he'll be home late because he's coaching wrestling. Rye swears that Peeta won't have a problem with me moving in, even when I beg him to call and ask. Regardless, I spend the rest of the afternoon decorating and organizing my room and praying that the older Mellark will not throw me out. I've yet to meet him with Rye and I order pizza from our favorite place for dinner and drink cheap vodka into the night.
It's well past midnight by the time I make it to my bed. It's a hard mattress, just the way I like it. I'm about to fall asleep when I realize that I have to go to the bathroom one last time. Quietly and clumsily, I open the door and walk towards the bathroom that is directly across from my room. The hallway is dark when I run into something hard and wet. With horror written all over my face, I look up to see what I've run into.
Even in my drunken state, Peeta Mellark is every bit as handsome as I've heard, even in the dark hallway. He switches on the light, and I get an even better look at him. Currently, his blonde curls are wet and clinging to his face. His piercing blue eyes look directly into mine, even though mine want to wander down his bare, toned torso. I'm acutely aware of the towel hanging low on his hips.
When his eyes take me in, I'm fully aware of my attire. Since I was almost asleep, I've shed my pajama pants and am standing before Peeta in an oversized t-shirt that reveals my silk panties. No pants. No bra. I quickly cross my arms over my chest to preserve what dignity I have left.
I could kill myself based off the scowl on Peeta's face. Self-consciously, I wonder if he doesn't like what he sees before him. I've always been skinny and only slightly attractive. Lucky for me, hiking in the rough mountains has toned my entire body and melted off the beer fat that I gained in college. My olive skin is tanned, my brown hair is lighter than ever, and I've never felt better... until this moment.
I've never cared what people thought of me. In high school, I was a swimmer. I'd show up to school in sweatpants and a bun. I was never interested in the boys there, they were all too immature, so I didn't put an effort into my appearance. Since beginning college, I only wear jeans in the lab or at my job in the library. Any other time, you'd find me in sweatpants, leggings, or shorts. When the girls and I go out, I occasionally dress up with them and wear make up. It's fun, and I'm more confident when I'm drunk.
I wish I was wearing anything else at this particular moment. Peeta's silent gaze is making me second guess everything myself. "There's a bathroom in Rye's room," he tells me in a deep voice. There's a warmth that spreads in my stomach at the sound of it.
Then, it turns ice cold when I realize what he's thinking. "No... I mean... I live here now. Rye said it was okay if I took the empty room..." I feel like a blubbering idiot since I am unable to form a decent sentence.
His scowl only deepens. "You're living here?"
"Yes," I tell him sounding more confident than I'm feeling. Some of the alcohol must be kicking back in because I smile and say, "Hi, I'm Katniss."
His blond eyebrows raise at my name. "Rye's Katniss?"
It's my turn to scowl. What does he mean by that?
"Um..." I say trailing off, unsure of what to reply. "Yeah, I'm Rye's friend." I don't know why I feel the need to emphasize that I'm Rye's friend and only his friend, but I do. I want to make that very clear to his attractive, older brother. Nothing is or has ever gone on between Rye and I besides late night study sessions at the library and sitting beside each other in class. Not even dancing at the bar.
Peeta is quiet for a moment longer. "I guess we'll be sharing this bathroom then," he finally says with a hint of a smirk on his pink lips. The smirk makes it hard for me to think. So, I can only nod at him. "I'll see you around, Katniss." Then, he turns and walks down the small hallway to his bedroom.
I rush into the bathroom and lean against the door. For some reason, goosebumps prickle at my arms, and my heart is pounding in my chest. Only once I'm finally back in the safety of my bed, I know the culprit.
I really like the way my name sounds coming out of Peeta's mouth.