Chapter Text
Summer! The best time of the year in my opinion. Especially in Australia. Blue skies, high temperatures, glorious beaches, and Oh...all those beautiful sun kissed bodies that populate those beaches....Hey I'm only human. I've been coming to Australia every year now since I was fourteen. Normally it's with my family, enjoying our two weeks, two marvellous weeks with the sun sand and surf. It beats the biting cold of New York this time of year.
I'm nineteen now and have decided to take three months off before heading to college and with just my three best girlfriends in tow; we decided to explore the land down under. No parents, legally able to drink and 3 months of pure bliss heading our way. We get off the plane at Sydney International and already I can hear the call of the beach. As much as I was expecting the heat, my girlfriends weren't. This being their first time here.
"Fuck Katniss, you could've warned us about the heat." Says Johanna (She prefers Jo), in her familiar eloquent way. "I'm about ready to melt."
"Not surprised Jo." I reply. "In your ten layers of clothing."
"It was ten below back home." Jo responds. "I wasn't expecting to walk out in 100 degree heat." The rest of us laugh at Jo's uncomfortableness.
"C'mon guys let's get our bags." Annie says through small fits of giggles.
"Yes!" Madge answers excitedly. "The sooner we get to our hotel, the sooner we hit the beach and the sooner we get to check out all these glorious bodies Katniss keeps raving about." Madge finishes with a wink.
We all head in the direction of baggage claim, then off through customs before jumping in our shuttle to head to our hotel in the heart of Bondi Beach. Jo wasn't joking about the heat. It's only nine am and it already feels like it's the middle of the day, with the temperature easily up around thirty degree Celsius. I Can't wait to hit Bondi. It takes us a good half an hour to get to our hotel. We sign in and get our key to our 3rd floor apartment.
I unlock and open the door. From behind me I hear gasps of "Wow" from Madge and Annie and an almighty "Fuck Yeah" from Jo. We walk in to the spacious apartment. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms and the most incredible view of the beach from the expansive balcony. It's equipped with all the modern facilities.This vacation and all the perks are a graduation and college acceptance reward from my Dad. Good grades and good choices have given me this vacation.
"Alright bitches time to hit the beach.” Jo says with her charming endearment.
After changing into our bikinis and throwing on some form of clothing over the top we head off on the 500-metre walk to Bondi Beach. The beach is already packed when we get there. Lots of beautiful girls and HOT guys in and out of the water. We find ourselves a spot and lay out our towels.
"So sand or surf first.” Annie asks. Sand referring to sunbathing.
"SURF." The rest of us reply in unison.
So we spend the next hour just fooling around in the water. Only the grumbling of our stomachs -as none of us has eaten since the plane- making us emerge from the water. As we sit and eat our food we ogle the talent. Hot, gorgeous, nice specimen. These are just a few of the words we use to describe the mountain of good looking guys on this beach. We chatter away, when suddenly Jo sits upright on her towel and looks in the direction of the sea.
"Well hello tall, dark and Handsome." Says Jo as she peers over her sunglasses.
We all look in the direction she's looking. Out of the ocean walk four hot gorgeous good-looking specimens. We all peer over the tops of our sunglasses and I swear I'm actually drooling. The tall dark and handsome one is exactly that. At least six foot four, with dark hair and oh so dreamy. The other three don't disappoint either. It's like they were all carved from stone. With rock hard chests and sun kissed skin.
One has bronze hair and he has a smile that could light up a room not to mention the abs, OH MY GOD. He's laughing at something the third one is saying who is also tall and dark with mocha skin.However my eyes drift to the fourth god in the group. Not as tall as the other three but he has a mop of golden blonde hair and a body that I'm sure is just making every girl on the beach swoon
However, it's his eyes that get me. Blue! As blue as the ocean he just walked out of. You could swim in them. And I actually am. I'm lost in them, I'm drowning quickly. They're getting closer and closer to us and my heart rate is soaring with the temperature. I'm not sure how long I've been staring (or drooling for that matter) before I'm bought out of my daze by a loud whistle. I whip around to find the culprit. Why am I not surprised?
"Jo!" I hear Annie hiss.
Too late. She has already managed to get four sets of eyes leering over at us. We all quickly push our sunnies back on our faces as we try and cover our blush. All except Jo of course. Brash as always. Putting on her best flirting face as the guys all walk past us, slowing their pace a little I think as they stride by. Just as they're almost passed the bronze one nods his head to acknowledge us and says
"Ladies!"
They all flash their brilliant smiles and continue on their way up the beach. Jo follows them with her eyes, the rest of us a bit too embarrassed to do the same. However once I think the coast is clear I turn my head over my shoulder hoping to get a good look at blondie's behind. Much to my horror as I turn I look up to see him also looking back over his shoulder. Busted! I must turn fifty shades of red before he gives me a quick shy smile and turns around to catch up with his friends.
"Fuck, I would love to get me a piece of that." Jo say "Mmm mmm mmm".
"Jo do you always have to be so crass." Madge I think replies.
I'm not too sure as I'm still reeling from the beautiful blond Adonis. I'm bought out of my daydreaming by silence. I look to my friends they're all staring at me.
"What?" I enquire. Obviously a question pointed at me that I didn't hear.
"Geez Kat where'd you go." Jo starts. "We were discussing which one of those four we would fuck!"
I laugh.
"Seriously Jo. Ten thousand people on this beach, you really think we'll see those four again." I say still giggling and silently praying that it does happen. "Don’t like the odds being in our favour there."
"Kat's right." Annie says. "Not a chance in hell."
"C'mon guys plenty more fish in the sea.” Madge says solemnly.
We spend the rest of the day swimming, sunbathing and assessing the 'other fish in the sea'.... I was right we don't see the four gods (as we have officially nicknamed them) again. At about 4pm we start heading back to the apartment. It's a pretty animated walk home as Jo, Madge and Annie recount all the events of the day. But only one thing sticks in my mind...or maybe two or three. Blue eyes, blonde hair and that shy smile. I'm a goner!!!
~
After getting back to the room, we decide to unpack our bags and settle in. After all we will be here for a month, may as well make it a bit like home.
"So where are we going out for food. I'm famished?" Jo asks.
At the mention of food there is a slight grumble coming from all four of us. We all chuckle.
"Well there's this nice little place down on the beach." I explain. "They serve to your hearts content. I happen to know the couple who own it too."
"Sounds great should we head down then." Annie asks
"Yes please." Madge pipes in. "I'm starving."
So after all getting showered and changed we head down to the beach. Towards a little place called Capitol.
I should probably describe my friends in a bit more detail.
Annie Cresta is the quiet and shy one of the group with her long Auburn curls and striking green eyes, are perfect porcelain skin. I've known her the longest. We met in third grade, when she moved from Ireland to New York with her Mother. Madge Undersee is the perky one. Your typical American girl. Honey Blond hair that cascades down in soft waves, blue eyes and the most perfectly proportioned body you will ever see. Annie and I met Madge in Junior High.
Then there's Johanna Mason standing at only five foot six, compared to Madge and Annie’s five foot eight. However what she lacks in height she makes up for in personality. Jo is originally from Canada. She has short dark hair, brown eyes and a small petite frame. And she is fucking sassy as hell. I think she suffers from short mans syndrome. She is the newest edition to our group.
As for myself. Well my name is Katniss Everdeen. New York born and breed. I'm not stunning like Annie & Madge, but I'm not ugly either. My long brown hair is normally tied in a braid over my shoulder. People describe my eyes as silver grey/blue. An olive tinge to my skin I inherited from my father. I stand at 5'7". I have more of a sports style body. Due to all my outdoor activities. I haven't got major curves or overly large breasts but I'm happy with how my body looks.
Surprisingly none of us have serious relationships. That's not to say we haven't. My own personal long-term relationship ending eight months ago, when I decided, school and my chastity were a priority. Yes I'm still a virgin. As for my ex....It took me a while to realise that he was an over egotistical asshole and only wanted one thing. And I certainly wasn't handing that over to him.
So there you have it a simple breakdown of the four of us. We're an odd group, but our friendship works. We're there for each other no matter what. We do everything together. We may have very different personalities, but we would risk jail for each other.
We make it to the little bar and bistro sitting on the beach. We enter and wait to be seated. We're chatting amongst ourselves when over the hustle and bustle comes a shrill shriek that sounded like my name...
"KATNISS!" The voice squealed
"Hi sweetheart." Comes a deeper voice. I turn to the voices.
"Hi Effie, Haymitch." I reply smiling and nodding towards them.
"How you doing girlie?" Haymitch asks, "Your dad rang and said you'd be here for a bit." I shake my head and let out a small giggle.
"Should've known he'd want to keep tabs on me." I answer smiling. I turn to my friends,
"Haymitch, Effie, these are my friends Annie..."
"Hi!" Annie replies with a small wave
“.... Madge."
"Hello." Madge says shaking both their hands.
"And this is Jo." I finish
"Hey guys, great place you have here." Haymitch nods in acknowledgement of all three and Effie replies with a high pitched "Hello."
"So table for four then sweetheart?" Haymitch asked
"Yes please we are famished." I answer just as our stomachs growl again.
"Ok Effie will get you to the table, what can I get you to drink."
"Beer, any type, I don't care just something wet." Jo says.
Haymitch snorts. "A girl after my own heart...and for the rest of you?"
"Vodka and orange." Madge adds.
"Same for me." Annie says
"I'll have a beer Haymitch." I add my drink to the list.
"Right, two beers and two vodka oranges." Haymitch walks off in the direction of the bar.
"C'mon girls let's get you the best seat in the house." Effie states excitedly. And she does. Right out in the alfresco area with the best view of the beach.
"Thanks Effie." I say as we all take our seats. It's not long before Haymitch brings our drinks over.
"Enjoy ladies, I'll send someone over to get your meal orders." He states as he passes us our drinks.
"Cheers ladies." Madge says holding up her glass "Here's to a great vacation, great friends, and maybe to getting a great lay while we're here."
"Fuck yeah." Jo says as we all clink our respective drinks while Annie and I just giggle in response to Madge’s toast.
We all take a sip of our drinks and just as I'm about to put my beer bottle down, my eyes lock on to ocean blue eyes staring back at me. He smiles that same shy smile, his blue eyes sparkling even from this distance, as he raises his own beer bottle at me. I nearly spit out my drink as I try and not cough with surprise. The girls all notice and their eyes drift over to where I am staring.
"Fuck me!" Jo exclaims "Would you look who it is, all four gods from the beach today, how do you like them odds now Kat?"
She turns to me with a sly wink and a smile that could rival that of the Cheshire cat on her face. I can't respond. I'm speechless. Drooling again probably, in my own little dream world as he smiles at me again and turns back to his friends and nods in our direction. The other three look over to our table and all together they raise their glasses at us. Madge, Annie and myself all blush, but Jo just blows them all a kiss.
Those eyes are now piercing through me again, trying to find their way into my soul, and try as I might I can't seem to look away, I really am trying, I just can't get my head to drop and again I think to myself
'I'm a goner'
~
Finally after what seems like forever I manage to avert my eyes from his. Just in time too as the waitress approaches us to take our orders. We all select our meals and order another round of drinks.
"Phew I think the temperature just went up a few degrees in here." Madge turns to me as she speaks. "Blondie couldn't take his eyes off you girl on fire." She finishes with a grin. I just shake my head.
"Madge is right Kat, definitely wants to get in your pants that one." Jo pipes in with.
"Shut up Jo!!" I snap back trying not to smile.
"C'mon Kat, admit it you want him BAD!". Jo retorts. My face must blush because she just grins that Cheshire smile at me again.
"Ooh foods here." Annie announces excitedly interrupting Jo’s tirade on me.
"Thank god." Madge says. "I'm famished."
I couldn't have loved that waitress more in that moment for arriving when she did. At least with her mouth full of food Jo can't taunt me anymore. I settle in to start my meal. With light conversation and the occasional moan over how great the food is, it really is to die for. We casually eat our meal and drink our drinks. Every so often I sneak a glance over to where 'Our' gods are eating, drinking and laughing. Just as we're finishing our food Haymitch walks over with another tray of drinks.
"How's the food girls?" He asks as he places our drinks in front of us. We all look at each other bewildered.
"The food was amazing...." I reply. "But Haymitch we didn't order anymore drinks." He looks up at us with a smirk and answers.
"I know."
"Would you care to elaborate?" I say back.
And he just nods his head in the direction of the bar. We all follow his nod, all pretty sure we know who we are going to find on the other side of the room when we look up. Sure enough all four gods are once again smiling at us and raising their bottles towards us.
"That's it!!" Jo exclaims as she stands up and grabs her bottle of beer. "Time to acquaint ourselves with these fucking gorgeous men."
"Jo no...wait...come back." Annie stammers out.
"Too late she's gone." Madge States "Is there any limit to her audacity?"
"Apparently not." I say as I feel the rise of the blush on my face again.
Jo definitely is not backward in coming forward. She just goes straight out there and does things whenever and however she wants. The three of us sit there trying to have a conversation, trying to ignore the impulse to look up and over to where Jo is animatedly introducing herself to the guys. Madge and Annie have their backs to the bar so it's easier for them. Me on the other hand am nervously bouncing my knee and stealing a few glances up and over, when it all becomes too much.
"Excuse me guys.” I say as I rise up out of my seat. "I'm going to the ladies."
I start walking in that direction, when I realise albeit too late that I have to walk past where Jo and the guys are. I look down at the floor so as not to make eye contact. I can feel that I'm getting close to where they are and resist the urge to look up. I am almost past them when I feel someone watching me. I try so hard to keep my head down, but I can feel those eyes boring into me. My head disobeys me and looks up. I know whose eyes will be the offenders, before I even meet them.
I'm stunned for what seems like forever. I can't move. I can't speak. My body is frozen. My mind isn't functioning. Why do these eyes affect me so much? He starts to move towards me. Without any control over my mind or body at all, I give him a quick wave and a shy smile and then my body remembers how to move. I make a beeline for the toilets, before he's even taken three steps. Once inside the ladies I lock myself in to a stall, sit down on the closed seat and bury my face in my hands.
I have no idea what is wrong with me. This boy makes me completely incapacitated every time I make any sort of contact with him. My heart rate soars, my breathing becomes hitched and I get the stirrings of desire in the pit of my stomach. It's stupid; no boy has ever made me react this way. I've never been shy around guys at all. 'Stupid Katniss' I think to myself. Then I remember him walking towards me with those blue eyes intoxicating me.
'Get it together Kat, it's just another everyday guy'.
I unlock the stall and stand in front of the mirror. I straighten out my top and finger some loose strands of hair behind my ears. Then I stare at my reflection and say out loud.
"You can do this girl."
I strengthen my resolve and head out the door to make my way back to my friends. I get barely five strides, when he's right there in front of me. I'm sure there's smoke coming from my shoes with how hard I had to put on the brakes. 'Just another guy, just another guy' I think to myself, as I try to keep my rising heart rate and desire in check. Then he speaks in that Australian accent and my heart melts.
"Hi." He says
'Just another...' Then he smiles at me with the most gorgeous smile I've ever seen '.... Geez! Who am I kidding, he is not just another guy'. I think again 'He's a six foot, Blonde hair, blue eyed god.'
It takes me forever to respond. In fact he says Hi again to get my attention, which it does this time. I answer shyly.
"Hi." I can't stop the blush that is rising on my cheeks.
"I'm Peeta." He holds out his hand for me to shake.
I take it and immediately feel the electricity that flows between us. He must feel it too as he stills ever so slightly. His hands are large but warm and slightly calloused. I can feel my face getting hotter by the second, my skin is crawling but in a super hot, charged way. I still haven't stopped shaking his hand when he says.
"And you are?” I quickly withdraw my hand as he brings me out of my stupor.
"Oh...I'm s..sorry." I somehow stuttered out. "Katniss, Kat for short." I'm now looking down at my shoes as I can feel the blush and don't want him to notice.
"Well Katniss, Kat for short it's nice to meet you." He's still boring into me with those eyes. There's a brief silence before he continues. "Ah your friend...Um...."
"Jo?"
"Jo right." He says smirking. "She is quite the firecracker." I laugh softly.
Looking up finally and peering over Peetas shoulder, I see Jo all over the mocha skin guy with the blinding white smile. There really is no stopping her. I also see Madge and Annie have made their way over and are in some sort of humorous discussion with the other ridiculously gorgeous men. I chuckle a little to myself, look back into his eyes, before shaking my head and replying.
"You have no idea." He laughs.
It's a beautiful sound, just to add to the one hundred other beautiful things about this man. He stops laughing and searches out my eyes again.
"So would it be too forward of me or too clichéd to ask if I can buy you another drink." He asks once he has my full attention again. All I can do in reply is shake my head. He smiles again.
"You don't say much do you?"
"I'm not good with saying anything."
Which is true. I've never been very articulate. Stuttering and stammering to try and get out my feelings. I'm more of a show person than a tell person. He chuckles.
"Well should we head back to our friends?” he says sidestepping to let me pass.
I just nod and start to make my way to the bar. I feel his hand go to the small of my back to help guide me through the crowd. It sends glorious shivers through my whole body. I decide I like it. I like it a lot. We finally join the others and I'm introduced to his friends. The tall dark handsome one is Gale Hawthorne, the mocha skin one is Thresh Davison and the one with the thousand-watt smile and bronze hair is Finnick Odair.
"Guys this is Katniss." Peeta says
"Finally decided to join us hey brainless." Jo pipes up with. I just nod at her term of endearment.
We spend the good part of the night talking and laughing and finding out more about our Aussie gods. All four are from Melbourne and like us are travelling around for a few months. This is their fourth stop after starting their journey in Western Australia, travelling into the desert to Alice Springs, down through Adelaide in the south, skipping over Melbourne to stop in Sydney for a month.
We're all exchanging life stories and the guys are giving us tips on the best places to visit, when Haymitch comes over and announces the place is closing. I quickly glance at my watch. It was nearly midnight. Just now I start to notice the effects of the alcohol on a few of my companions. In particular Jo, who is having trouble standing up straight. She giggles as she nearly trips over the bar stool she has just come down off. Thresh’s strong arms save her.
"Ok Jo I think it's time we took you home." Madge says taking Jo by the arm to direct her towards the exit.
"Night Haymitch, Effie." I call out over my shoulder.
"Night sweetheart, see you soon." Haymitch replies. We're all outside. Madge is trying to hold Jo up, not very effectively.
"Well ladies it was nice meeting you all." Finnick states. "Maybe we could catch up again soon." Hopeful in his words. He hasn’t taken his eyes off Annie the whole night. She nods at him shyly.
I take Annie's arm.
"Sure maybe we'll see you around." I reply.
"You ladies all right to walk home by yourselves?" Gale asks...looking straight at Madge and nodding towards Jo.
"We'll be fine, trust me she's been in worse condition than this before." Madge replies smiling.
"Yeah we're just up the street here so it shouldn't be too hard." I add. Annie has gone over to help Madge.
"Ok as long as you're sure.” Gales says. We all nod. "Ok well it has been fun ladies catch you around hopefully."
I look up at Peeta who has said barely two words since Haymitch came up and all but kicked us out. He has that shy smile on his face again. It looks like he wants to say something but doesn't quite have the courage. I give him a small wave, and a gentle smile, as we all say our goodbyes. We start to head off in the direction of our apartment and the boys in theirs when he calls out to me.
"Katniss!" We all turn.
The girls looking between Peeta and myself. I nod for the girls to keep going as I wait for him to catch me up. He slows, as he gets closer.
"Hi." He says sweetly. I blush.... AGAIN. "Sorry...I just wanted to say that it was really nice meeting you and I hope we can hang out again soon." He doesn't take his eyes off me the whole time. I'm totally addicted to his eyes. And I answer with a soft
"Me too." As my eyes shift to my shoes again.
"You sure you'll be right with Jo?" He asks looking up to where the other three are.
I turn to look as well, then turn back to him and nod. He smiles. He's so close I can see the abs that ripple under his close fitting t-shirt. I can see his eyelashes are really long, I notice the spray of light freckles under the suntan that is just starting to cover his body. I notice that those beautiful eyes have a darker blue rim around the ocean blue irises. He truly is a God. I feel that stirring in my stomach again.
Then he's leaning in closer towards my blushing face. I think he's going to kiss me, hoping is probably a better word. I close my eyes anticipating how his lips will feel on mine. Waiting, waiting then I feel those lips but not on mine, they're on my cheek instead as he leaves a soft lingering kiss there. I breathe in deeply and open my eyes when he whispers quietly in my ear
"Goodnight Katniss." He pulls back and stands up looking into my eyes as he grins and turns to walk away towards his hotel.
I can't move. It's like I've been hit by lightening. I'm buzzing with electricity just from a kiss on the cheek. I bring my hand up to the place on my cheek where his lips had just left a permanent branding scorched into it. 'Wow' I think to myself. If a kiss to the cheek can make me feel like that I'd hate to think how my body would've felt if he'd actually kissed me. A tremor runs through me with the vision I have in my mind.
I shake my head to clear it and a smile crosses my face. I turn back towards my apartment thinking that this is going to be one interesting vacation. Once in my room, I shower quickly and change into my sleep clothes? I go to bed that night with images of Peeta swirling around in my head. It takes me a good hour to finally fall asleep. When I do I dream of sun-kissed blonde hair, ocean blue eyes and soft lips kissing me all over.