Katniss was struggling through the last hour of another evening shift in the diner when her coworker informed her that a customer had requested her to be his waitress. Surprised, as she was rarely requested as a server due to her prickly personality, Katniss headed toward the table. As she rounded the corner of the kitchen, she spotted the blond hair. Rushing over with a rare smile upon her thin face, Katniss called out, "Your back!".
Peeta started at her voice before a warm smile took over his face and his blue eyes sparkled.
"I got in a few hours ago. I was hoping to catch you at the end of your shift," came his lovely voice. She realized at that moment that she had missed this boy she barely knew. He looked mostly the same as the first time she saw him in this diner. His hair was a little shorter, his skin was a little tanner and his army greens seemed to fit a little tighter over his broad shoulders. But his bright smile and kind eyes looked exactly the same.
"Luck is on your side, I only have 30 minutes left in my shift," came her reply, surprising even herself with the chipper tone as she shook off her thoughts and focused on the conversation.
"Well in that case, I will take a slice of pie and a cup of coffee while I wait for my favorite waitress", came his reply with another dazzling smile. Katniss smiled back and hurried off to get his pie and coffee. She couldn't even believe her own actions. She had never cared about any boy's opinion of her and yet, as she waited for the fresh pot of coffee to finish brewing for his cup, she found her hands reaching up to feel her braid and make sure it was still tight as she tried to catch her reflection in the shiny side of the coffee pot. She chastised herself as she did it, after all he was just another soldier and he was too old for her.
Once the fresh coffee was brewed, she poured him a brimming cup and sliced off an extra large slice of apple pie. As she carried the order back to his table, she found herself smiling yet again. The effect this solider boy had on her was truly astonishing.
Peeta smiled as he saw Katniss fiddling with her braid as she waited behind the counter for the coffee to finish brewing. She looked as beautiful as ever with her long dark braid and her icy grey eyes. He thought she was smiling more than the first time they met and he was glad for it; she had a beautiful smile and it softened her features. He had gotten off the bus around noon, dropped his bags at his house, said hi to his brothers and immediately set to work baking a chocolate cake for the girl he was quite crazy about. His father had mercifully asked no questions about the cake and simply informed him of the news around home he had missed while he was at boot camp. His father had also stayed silent when he had taken off with the cake in a box right before dinner. He was sure his father guessed what was going on but knew that commenting or drawing attention would bring the wrath of his mother. He was glad for his father covering for him and made a mental note to thank his dad and tell him he loved him before he left home.
Now, that same chocolate cake was boxed up and sitting on the seat next to him so he could give it to her at the end of her shift and hopefully convince her to let him walk her home. Seeing her in the diner after the months they were apart made clear to him what he already knew; he was absolutely smitten with the quiet, beautiful waitress. His new goal while he was home was to convince Katniss to let him call her "his girl". After all, he was heading off to a war he didn't want to fight and leaving behind a girl he was slowly falling in love with; what did he have to lose? He watched as she gracefully made her way back to him with a surprisingly large slice of pie and cup of steaming coffee. Her pink dress hugged all the right places and she had that lovely smile back on her face. It was all he could do to keep from letting his jaw hit the table as he looked at her. She had the quiet beauty of someone who had no idea how beautiful they actually were. She moved with grace and purpose in everything she did. The clink of the plate on the Formica table in from of him shook him from his thoughts.
"Thank you, Katniss,", he said with a smile. She blushed ever so slightly and smiled back at him.
"I'll check back to see if you need refills and once my shift is over we can talk," came her melodic voice before she bustled off with one last smile in his direction. Yes, he was smitten indeed.
The 30 minutes passed slowly for Peeta as he sat with his pie and coffee and watched Katniss move around the diner. The anticipation of giving her the chocolate birthday cake was killing him. He breathed a sigh of relief when he finally saw her remove her apron and punch out. She came over to the table and sat on the other side of the booth. Her hand came up to fiddle with the end of her braid nervously. He smiled at her and plopped the cake box down on the table top in front of her.
Katniss stared at the box on the table for a moment before lifting her eyes to Peeta's smiling face. She was utterly confused. Peeta's voice took her by surprise when he said to open the box. She quickly untied the white string looped around it and lifted the top. Inside lay a beautiful cake decorated with green leaves and scroll writing across the top said "Happy Birthday, Katniss". Tears stung the back of her eyes as she looked down at the beautiful cake. She could not remember the last time anyone besides her little sister had taken the time to wish her a happy birthday. She couldn't even remember the last time she had a birthday cake. Such frivolities were not a part of her life. It struck her how this boy she barely knew had taken more interest and care in her than anyone had since the death of her father. She looked up and finally met his eyes. He had a wary look on his face, as though he thought she might not appreciate the gift. He started talking rapidly,
"You said your favorite is chocolate so that is a double chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. I made it myself. I just thought you should have a birthday cake and you have been so kind to me over these last few months it seemed like a nice thing to do…" She cut his rambling off.
"Thank you Peeta. This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long, long time," came her soft reply accompanied by a big smile. His face softened immediately, and he matched her smile before speaking again.
"Katniss, could I maybe walk you home?" She smiled at him again and nodded. He reboxed the cake, figuring she wouldn't want to eat it in the diner she hated so much. Then they made their way to the door, which he made sure to hold open for the beautiful girl. They fell into step together as she directed him on which direction her house was in. They walked in silence for a few minutes while Peeta fought an internal battle about what to say to Katniss about his feelings. They were nearing the street her home was on before he finally got up the nerve. As they passed the small, run down houses Peeta reached out and touched her arm.
"Katniss, I have something to say to you." She stopped and looked up at him, grey eyes curious.
"Katniss, I have so enjoyed getting to know you. While I was at boot camp, I looked forward to every one of your letters and thought of you often. I think you are beautiful, strong and smart. I know you don't know me all that well and I am older than you and if you don't want to I completely understand but I would really like to continue writing to you when I go overseas. Writing to you as my girl… everyone in my unit already thinks you are because I read your letters so often. You can say no. I won't be mad." He looked at her expectantly, a nervous look upon his handsome face.
Katniss looked up at him, utterly surprised. She couldn't believe that any boy would like her in that way, let alone a handsome boy from a good merchant family who could probably have any girl he wanted. Her heart said yes she liked him but her mind wandered to a darker place knowing that she was not good enough for him, she was too young and she wasn't even sure that a relationship or marriage was wanted she wanted in life. But as she looked into his kind blue eyes, she didn't really care about all of that. This sweet boy was heading off to war and against her better judgement, she did like him. More than she cared to admit. She reached out and took one of his hands into her own before smiling.
"Yes. I would like that very much Peeta."
The smile that took over his face was infectious. She smiled back at him and to her surprise, a small giggle escaped her lips. The large, calloused hand she held in hers felt surprisingly right as he tugged her closer to him and stared down into her eyes.
"Katniss, I know this is terribly forward of me and you are more than welcome to say no but…" She cut him off with her lips on his, her boldness surprising even herself. It was quick and she stepped right back but there was no denying the spark she had felt. Peeta now had a look of utter shock on his face as he stared down at her, blue eyes wide and a soft smile on his face. She smiled again before plucking the cake box out of his hand.
"When do you leave again?" she asked to change the subject from her surprise kiss on his lovely pink lips.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Can I see you off?" she asked, surprising herself again with her boldness.
"I would like nothing more, Katniss," came his soft reply.
"I will see you in the morning then," she said as she began to turn toward her small home.
"Good night, Katniss and Happy Birthday," Peeta replied befoe turning and walking away, hands buried deep in his pockets and what appeared to be a little extra skip in his step. Katniss walked toward her house, her fingers going to her lips unconsciously as the tingles of her first kiss continued.
The next morning, he was at her house bright and early and she walked with him toward the bus station with her hand firmly held within his larger one. Before the he boarded the bus that would take him back to camp and later Vietnam, he leaned down for one more quick peck to her lips. As he walked away, she called out to him.
"Stay safe and come home, Peeta." He smiled back at her and then he was gone, leaving her with only the tingle of his kiss on her lips and a desperate wish that he would make it home.
