Time slipped by far too quickly, something she noticed always seemed to happen when she was with Peeta. Before she knew it, they had been sitting together at the table for several hours. He was the first to notice.
"Katniss, I'm sorry, I have to go," he said, glancing at his phone and noting the time.
"Oh my gosh, same," she replied, flushing at the thought that she had lost track of time in his presence. Really, because of his presence.
They both stood up at the same time, gathering their belongings but still reluctant to part.
"Well, I'll..." she began, but Peeta was speaking at the same time.
"I wanted to ask you..." he started.
They both laughed, cheeks flushing.
"So I'll see you around," she began again.
Peeta hesitated, then seemed to decide on something. "I'll give you a call," he said. "If that's okay?"
She nodded, a small smile on her face, then turned and headed off toward her tiny campus office. After a few steps she turned, glancing back, and finding his blue eyes trained on her, she gave him a small wave.
Facing forward once more, she found an irrepressible grin spreading across her face. She might have even admitted to feeling giddy. What was this? Katniss shook her head slightly, but her smile was not going anywhere.
...
It was late in the day on Saturday when Katniss nocked her arrow and pulled back on the bow string, a bead of sweat running down the side of her face just before she released. Her arrow found the bullseye easily.
"Nice shot," Gale quipped from behind her. She turned to him grinning. "I know," she said, sticking out her tongue briefly.
"So what has you all wound up?" Gale asked, nocking his own arrow and lining up a shot at the target a few feet to her left.
She furrowed her brow. "Nothing," she said, shoulders shrugging.
"Not nothing, Catnip," Gale said, "You've been out here for an hour, taking something out on that target. And I know you don't need the practice."
"It's nothing," she mumbled.
Gale rolled his eyes, taking another shot. "Is nothing the name of some guy that said he'd call and never did?" He smirked at his own joke, but his expression quickly changed when he saw hers. "Oh my God, it is!" he exclaimed.
Katniss turned, her face hot. "It's no big deal," she said quietly.
"It's that guy from the coffee shop you go on and on about, isn't it?" Gale asked, laying down his bow and stretching out on the ground, his legs crossed at the ankle.
Katniss felt her face and neck heat further at his words. She shook her head slightly at him, while nocking another arrow and taking aim.
"Oh, please," said Gale, scoffing at her. "You bring him up any chance you get. You can't tell me we need to have this many conversations about chai tea without it having to do with you having a crush on mr. coffee shop." He smirked at her, waiting for her response.
Katniss finally set her bow aside, looking at him fully for the first time. "Okay!" she relented, throwing her arms up in the air. "I think he's kind of cute, okay? I like talking to him." She paused and then added more quietly, "He's a really good listener."
"So ask him out," suggested Gale.
"It's just..." Katniss hesitated. She wasn't used to talking about her feelings, but if there was anyone she should be comfortable with, it was Gale. "He asked if he could call me sometime, but he hasn't. I'm sure he's just not interested."
"Catnip. Catnip. Guys are just like girls, okay? We get insecure, too. Maybe he's not sure if you're into him, so he's hesitating. You aren't the easiest person to read, you know," said Gale.
She nodded. She knew she could seem closed off.
"You should call him," Gale went on. "Ask him to do something you enjoy, but don't make it too heavy. Not a date-date. Just hanging out." Gale snapped his fingers. "Ask him to hike up to the gorge with you. It's perfect. Daytime, outdoors. No pressure."
Katniss chewed on the inside of her lip, thinking it over. Yes, she supposed since Peeta invited her on that walk the other day, and baked her cheese buns, the next move was hers.