Chapter 2
My tiny studio apartment is about five blocks from campus above an old antique shop. I don't have much in here, a small lumpy loveseat, a tiny desk with a couple of drawers (one of which is lopsided), a queen sized bed (my favorite thing in this place), a tiny kitchen with just a few pots and pans and smaller than usual refrigerator and stove. As I come in I drop the bag of goodies I collected on the small bar between the kitchen and the sitting area and flop down on the couch. I close my eyes, the image of the boy with the bread immediately popping up behind them. I press my palms to my lids to make the image leave, it's stupid of me to even think about him, why would he be interested in me? I've seen this beautiful boy with the golden curls around campus before but we've never actually spoken to one another. I don't even know his name.
There is a knock at my door. I reluctantly rise and slowly pad to the door. Who the hell is that I frown. My frown immediately changes to a grin when I see my good friend Johanna on the other side of the door. "What's up man?" she greets me with a hug. "I haven't seen you since May, how've you been?"
"I've been busy," I answer, "I worked two jobs over the summer to save money for this place so I don't have to work as much during the semester. How about you man?"
"Good man, real good." She steps inside taking in the tininess of the place. She flops on the couch, "This place is pretty nice man."
I snort "Yeah, ok."
"Seriously, better than a damn dorm room. At least you get some fucking privacy," Johanna retorts.
"Roommate problems? Already?" I ask surprised, Johanna may be a little rough around the edges but she normally gets along with other people.
"Yeah," she rolls her eyes, "some new girl, a transfer, a blonde sorority type. Her name is fucking Glimmer, what kind of name is that? It fits her though, she wears clothes that fit her a little too well, and she's already brought like three different guys back."
"Seriously? What the hell? The dorms have only been open for a week."
"Yeah dude, anyway, it's whatever. Are you ready for classes to start tomorrow?" she asks sarcastically.
Shit. Classes start tomorrow and I'm not ready at all. I like to have everything together the night before, I don't want to be late on the first day. "Yeah, I guess. I only have a couple classes." I answer her.
"Lucky," she scoffs, "I have a full load tomorrow. So I guess I better get going so I can try to sleep before Glimmer stumbles in late with bachelor number four."
I laugh, "Alright man, see you tomorrow, we'll do lunch or something."
I walk her out and walk slowly back up the stairs, I am not looking forward to my critical thinking class first thing tomorrow morning. It's one of the last gen ed classes I have to take before I'm in all of my program classes. I get a couple notebooks and shove them in my book bag along with a couple pens and pencils. Ok, I sigh, now I'm ready for tomorrow. I nibble on a brownie before kicking off my jeans and climbing in to bed. I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
As I walk into the critical thinking class the next morning I stop dead in my tracks. The class is almost full and the only seat that's left open is right next to the boy with the bread. I swallow hard and make my over and sit down. Dammit, I thought I was going to be early, now I won't be able to pay attention at all, he is too beautiful, too distracting.
He turns to me and smiles, "Hi, I'm Peeta," he says.