Chapter Text
Peeta
This is the fifth day this week that I've made the fifteen minute detour to this cafe to get my morning coffee. I happened upon it by chance when I was here meeting a client for lunch. The reason I've been making the detour is her. The silver eyed, brown haired beauty that works the counter. I did a double take when I saw her at first, because I couldn't quite believe it was her. My childhood crush. The little girl with the two braids has definitely grown up.
Katniss Everdeen is her name. Not in a million years did I think I would ever see her again. She left our small home town ten years ago. We were twelve. No one ever knew exactly why the Everdeens left Panem. There were lots of rumours. Eviction, divorce, death even. All I remember is my heart breaking when she didn't turn up for school that day. Or the next or the next. Not that she ever really knew I existed. I just admired her from afar.
We were never in the same class. Nor did we travel in the same circles. Her friends scared me a little if I'm being honest. Especially that small short spiky haired girl. I am man enough to admit that now. The only time I really saw her during school was at lunchtime. Then I would sit at our table with my group of friends and sneak glances at her for forty five minutes. Sometimes completely blocking out anything my friends were talking about.
We shared a bus home every afternoon as well. I would always sit at the back so I could look at her without getting caught. I was completely taken with the enigma that was Katniss. She didn't seem to like people very much. Just her core group of friends and her little sister Primrose. I saw her smile once and it made her even more radiant than she already was. I'm not quite sure what it was about her that drew my eyes in her direction so often.
So when I came in here last Friday and saw her standing behind the counter. I just knew it was her. Sure she had changed. Haven't we all in ten years? However I would know those silver eyes anywhere. Her hair had been in one braid, instead of two (like she use to wear it) sitting over her shoulder. She had served me that day, but if there was any recognition there at all, she didn't show it. She took my order and just moved to the coffee machine to make my macchiato.
I had instantly looked to her hands to see if there was a ring on her finger. There wasn't one. That didn't mean anything though. She might not be married, but she probably has a boyfriend. A big, scary, possessive boyfriend. I certainly would be if she was my girlfriend. Of course she has somebody. There's no way Katniss Everdeen was single. Especially not with how she has filled out in all the right places.
Now I'm standing in line (a very long line) peeking over everyone's shoulders to make sure she is still there. I'm still quite shocked that in this city of nearly four million people, I see her here. Today she has her hair in a bun on top of her head. Her plain black uniform hugs her chest and her hips just right. As I move forward a bit more in the line, I chance another glance over the four people in front of me, this time though she is looking straight at me. And she is smiling.
~
Katniss
He's here again. The man with eyes so blue that the ocean would be jealous. There is something familiar about him, but I can't quite place what it is. He's not very tall, maybe 5'10 or 5'11, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in other areas. Like the broad expanse of his chest, and the unruly curls that fall into his eyes. A soft melodic voice when he spoke. The kind of voice, I'm sure, that makes most girls swoon when he spoke. I'm slightly shocked to realise that would include me.
Damn I wish I could figure out why he looks so familiar. He seemed nervous and jumpy the first time I served him. Hell if I knew why. I noticed him looking at me and it sent a pleasant wave of heat through my body. I can't remember anyone ever looking at me like that. I was so shocked that I had to move away from him as soon as I took his order, so he wouldn't see the blush that was starting to form on my face.
But he has come in every day this week and I've found myself looking for him every morning at the same time. I'm not quite sure what has come over me. Guys don't usually affect me this way. Two years ago I was in a very bad relationship. When I finally found the courage to get out of it I promised myself that I would be very guarded when it came to men. I haven't let anyone in since, and until blue eyes here walked in, I was determined never to let anyone in ever again.
Now though I find myself daydreaming about him all the time. What his lips would feel like on mine? If his hair would feel as soft as it looks when I run my fingers through the curls? What his hands would feel like running over my body? What sort of noises would he be able to elicit from me? Fuck! I shake my head slightly to rid it of the images. It's a hard task considering how vivid they always are.
He orders the same drink everyday and the last two days I have found myself making it before he even asks. Large macchiato, weak, no sugar. Unfortunately his god damn illegal good looks have made me a bit distracted these past few days. I've stuffed up more orders than I care to remember. My customers and my boss are kind of pissed off. There's no cure for it though. I just can't think straight when he is around.
When he walked through the door today I was hit with a memory from a very long time ago. Twelve years ago in fact. I see a blonde haired boy sitting at a table with his friends, sneaking glances my way. The strange little boy was always looking at me. We never had the same friends and I never spoke two words to him. I know we use to share a bus together after school and I could always feel his eyes boring into the back of my head.
It's in that moment I chance another look at the man. He doesn't notice me watching him at first. Could it really be him? Is that the reason why he looks so familiar? Wearing charcoal grey jeans (that fit him so well) and a plain white t-shirt, I scrutinise him discreetly. It could be him. People change a lot in ten years. When he peers over the other customers and our eyes meet I smile. He smiles back. It's then I know that the man standing in line is a grown up version of Peeta Mellark.
~
Peeta
One more customer to go and then I will be face to face with her again. She keeps sneaking glances up at me. A shy grin on her face and a slight blush ghosting over her olive skin. She hands the lady in front of me her cup. Then I step up to the counter ready to place my order. Before I can say anything though she is already starting my drink. She looks up at me from behind the machine and smiles again. Then she speaks.
"Macchiato right? Large, weak, no sugar?" She reels off in order.
So she has noticed me. Well enough to remember what I order everyday. I just nod my head yes. I can barely find the words to speak. She has a habit of doing that to me. I feel like that shy boy all over again. I never could form a coherent sentence around her. I'm usually so good with words. But Katniss Everdeen makes my head spin and my tongue tied. There's so many things I want to say to her but it all just gets caught in my throat.
Since that first day I saw her again my mind has been full of all kinds of visions. She has featured nightly in my dreams. Boy what dreams they've been. Sometimes it's just of her and me talking like two normal people. The majority however have been a lot dirtier. I blush a little thinking of the one I had last night. It was so vivid and so real that I woke up sweating and having to go and relieve myself in the shower.
She's finishing up my drink. I really should say something to her. I must seem like some kind of creep. Coming in here and looking at her the way I do without saying a word. She hands me my cup and takes my five dollars from me. I stand there with my mouth opening and shutting trying to formulate some kind of sentence. I'm not sure how long passes before she smiles at me again and then shocks me with the words that leave her mouth.
"I get off at five.....did you want to get a drink with me after?"
Did she really just ask me out? The girl of my dreams has just ask me to join her for a drink. Does this mean she's single? Unattached? No big, scary, possessive boyfriend, to bash the shit out of me? Surely this is just a figment of my imagination. One of my vivid dreams back to haunt me. I must look like a complete idiot, standing there with my mouth gaping and probably wide eyes to go with it. Her head drops slightly and that blush is back. She looks embarrassed.
"Sorry....don't worry about it....you don't have to say yes."
She doesn't think I want to join her. Is she crazy? No! I'm the crazy one. I haven't given her an answer yet so she has taken my silence as rejection. If she only knew how long I've been fantasising about this moment. A chance to go out with Katniss Everdeen. Again I'm taken back all those years ago. My twelve year old self has inhabited my body. I've started fidgeting and my palms are sweating. I can't have her thinking I'm not interested. Finally my mouth decides to work.
"Sounds great. Where should we go?"
She looks up from the counter and that smile is back on her face. I smile back seeing her eyes wide with excitement. She really does want to have a drink with me. I can hardly believe my luck. I wonder if she remembers who I am. Surely not if she has asked me out. If she knew I was the shy little boy from school, who use to watch her from afar, there's no way she would go out with me willingly.
"Do you know of Abernathy's a few blocks over?" She asks. I nod yes. "Meet me there, say at about six?"
"Great, awesome....I can't wait." My god I sound like a teenager and a bit too keen for my liking.
She chuckles softly at my nervousness. She looks me square in the eye and answers.
"Me too Peeta....who's next?"
She turns to the disgruntled man behind me. I'm left standing off to the side staring straight ahead. Completely and utterly shocked that Katniss Everdeen remembers my name.
~
Katniss
I can't believe I just asked him out. Me. Who has been totally against dating for the last two years. At first I thought he was going to say no. What was I thinking? Of course he's not single. God look at him. How could someone that good looking not have a girlfriend or a wife or someone? Stupid Katniss! He looked totally aghast when I suggested he meet me for a drink. Or so I thought anyway.
Then he said yes and my insides starting doing somersaults. 'Not taken' are the words that flash behind my eyes. Excitement bubbles up in my throat. I swallow it down trying to hide my nerves. Time has been good to Peeta Mellark. So good in fact I feel my panties starting to get wet. Thank god there's a counter between the two of us, or he would notice that I have to squeeze my thighs together to try and fight the feeling away.
Does he remember me? Is that the reason he has been a regular here for the last five days? He looked completely shocked that I knew his name. He stood there for a good couple of minutes before a smile rested on his lips and he turned and walked out the door. The thought floats around in my brain for the rest of the day. All I can think of is that knowing smile and the small dimple it created in his left cheek. It has completely distracted me from my work. Again.
Four o'clock arrives and there's a small rush of customers coming in. My co worker has joined me and notices how distracted I am. She calls me out on it.
"What the hell has you so uptight today?" She asks.
Johanna isn't only my co worker. Her and I go way back. She's the only friend I stayed in contact with when I left Panem ten years ago. As luck would have it her family moved out here to Los Angeles just two years after mine. We didn't go to the same school here, but we would hang out together on weekends and ended up going to UCLA together. When I was desperately looking for work to help pay my way through college, she suggested I join her here. That was three years ago.
"Kat!" She almost yells. I jump a little at her tone. "Explain."
I shake my head to clear it of thoughts of what a Peeta Mellark might do to me tonight after a few drinks. Slow down Kat. It's just a drink.
"You're never going to believe this, but I'm going for a drink....tonight....with Peeta Mellark." I answer her a little to excitedly.
Her eyes go wide. With what I'm not sure. Shock? That I'm actually going out. Bewilderment? That it's actually with a guy. Or recognition? That she actually remembers Peeta. Maybe all three. She eyes me cautiously. Scrutinising the look of euphoria on my face. I can see the flash across her eyes when she realises I'm not making up a story to placate her. The corners of her mouth turn up in a wicked grin as she crosses her arms over her chest.
"Well fuck....I never thought I'd see the day you would actually start dating again." She replies with a knowing tone. "And who is Peeta Mellark?"
"It's not a date....just a drink." I say trying to convince myself.
Her eyebrows raise in mock amusement. I scowl at her stance and move to start the end of day clean up. Muttering 'Bitch' as I walk away. Thank god for the few customers that just walked in. At least I will be able to avoid her for a little while. When the last customer leaves, and only after she has hounded me for another half hour, do I finally regale her with just who I'm having a drink with. She is still completely clueless when I mention his name.
"We went to school with Peeta, back in Panem." I Offer.
"Jesus Kat that was years ago, describe him to me." She asks.
"Blonde hair, blue eyes." I start. She interrupts me though.
"Well you've just narrowed it down to half the boys at school." I roll my eyes at her snarky comment.
"The one that use to stare at me all the time." I say hoping now she will know who I'm talking about.
I see her mind ticking over. She's reaching into the depths of it trying to put a face to the name. Then suddenly she remembers and she lets out a low whistle.
"Wow." It's all she can manage. "You sure going out with him is a good idea, he was a bit strange and kind of weird in school."
I shrug my shoulders and head towards the door to lock up.
"Do you think he knows who you are?"
I make my way back to the counter before I answer her and lean against the cool metal.
"Pretty sure he recognised who I was before I realised who he was." I answer as I grab my bag from under the counter. "He's been in here everyday for the past five days and he's always looking at me."
Ok. Maybe Jo is right. I barely know this guy and I'm thinking about (or rather fantasising about) what he plans to do with me and my body tonight. The only memories I have off him are him gawking at me all the time. I know nothing about the guy other than the fact that he was popular and good at sports. Especially basketball. Even at twelve he looked good in those shorts. Damn! Maybe I paid more attention than I thought.
"It's been ten years Jo. I'm sure he has grown out of that awkward phase." I answer.
I don't go on to tell her how hot he has grown though. I'll keep that little bit of information to myself for now. What could one drink hurt? Two old school mates catching up, sharing a few memories. And maybe my bed or his later. Fuck! I need to go. I'm not going to make it to the bar by six if I stay here and let Jo talk me out of it. I really, really don't want her to talk me out of it. I turn on my heel and make my way to the door. I say goodnight to Jo and tell her not to worry, I'll be fine.
"Ok, just be sure to get laid tonight...fuck knows you need it." She says to my retreating back.
I smirk as I think she is right. It's been way too long. Maybe if all goes well tonight I will have my way with Peeta Mellark. Eventually.