Wow! I am overwhelmed by all the follows and reviews. I seriously just started writing this as a fun distraction. Thank you for all the support. I feel obligated to give you a good finish to the story now. :) This chapter is short, but contains some new info about Peeta. I'll try to keep updating on a regular basis.
As mad as she had been, Katniss felt completely unsettled by their conversation. Sipping her chai tea, she consoled herself with the fact that at least it tasted perfectly delicious; of course that was thanks to Peeta. Her mind deep in thought, Katniss wrapped her hands around the warmth of her cup and closed her eyes, which is why she heard him before she saw him approach.
Peeta hesitated next to the empty chair across from Katniss before pulling it out and taking a seat. "Katniss," he said, the pleading in his voice once again, "We need to talk."
Slowly she opened her eyes, the only visible sign of her acknowledgement. Peeta continued, "I'm sorry I didn't explain why I couldn't go hiking with you. The truth is, I had been trying to work up the courage to call you and invite you to do something for days. When you called, it caught me off guard."
"I don't understand," Katniss spoke quietly, still refusing to look him in the eye.
"What I'm trying to say is that I'd love to hang out with you, but...I can't go hiking," explained Peeta.
It was quiet for several moments while Peeta waited for her to react.
"So what are you saying? You just don't like the woods, or being outdoors, or...?" Katniss struggled to understand his meaning.
"I mean," Peeta said, patting his left leg as he spoke, "that hiking is very difficult for me." Katniss might have missed the gesture to his leg as he spoke, except for the fact that she was looking down and easily caught the movement with her eyes.
'Oh,' she thought. Then, "Ohhhhh," out loud. Katniss' eyes darted to his face quickly and then back down to his leg. "Your leg," she said helplessly. Then, "Why didn't you just tell me?"
Peeta laughed, a soft, non-humored sound. "I should have," he said. "I just...didn't want to freak you out?" he said it almost as a question. "And then, by not telling you, I made everything worse. I've spent all these days wondering where we stand and worried that I'd never get the chance to explain."
"So what happened?" Katniss asked, looking at him fully in the face now. "To your leg," she clarified.
"Do you really want to know?" Peeta asked, seeming slightly unsure.
"Peeta, yes," Katniss assured him. She reached across to him, grazing her thumb over his knuckles where his hands sat folded on the tabletop. The gesture was her way of saying, "Trust me. I won't run away." It was the best she could do, not being very good with words.