Linking Arms

Chapter 8

Peeta

It's Sunday, the-date-with-Katniss-Everdeen day. And wow, am I exhilarated from it. I've been extra keen of doing the chores around the house (even Ryan's) so Mom will hopefully extend my curfew by a few hours.

I got an extra hour, but it's worth it.

I shuffle through my closet, looking for the white t-shirt from Hollister. Once I find it, I take off the hanger and throw it on the floor, pulling my shirt on. I remember when I caught Katniss staring at me in Hollister. I smile to myself.

I grab my Levi denim jeans from my bed and jump in them, swiveling around to fit my legs in. I squat down under my bed to get my new red Vans. I double-knot my shoelaces, you know just to make sure I don't trip and make a fool out of myself. Lastly, I walk to to my dresser and grab my shades on top of it, the ones Katniss bought me from Ascus.

I turn to the dusty long mirror at my left, ruffling my hair up.

Wow, take that Gale. I don't look half bad. Maybe I'm not the geek he said I am. I grab my phone and car keys from the wooden drawer, and head out upstairs. I greet Ryan in the kitchen and then Mom.

"I expect you to be here at 5:00 P.M sharp." Mom turned up her nose as she placed her hands on her hips.

I nod. "Yes, Mother."

"Good." She said. She shows a smile; well something close to one.

I stare at her, taking in the somewhat-smile I had never received as a kid. Without reluctance, I engulf her in a deep hug. She stiffens a bit, but embraces me back. I let go and sigh.

"Now leave, you ass."

I laugh and proudly walk out to her little yellow Audie, starting the ignition with the rusty car keys with a little pineapple keychain on it.

+++

I park my car right in front of Starbuck's. I put the console on park and look through the see-through glass inside. Katniss isn't here yet. I pull out my phone and check the time; 1:56PM. Katniss told me she would be here at 1:50. Maybe she's just running a little late.

I decide to head inside anyways and order for Katniss. The cool air from inside breezes through me as I step in. I jab my pockets as I walk into line, but get a sense that someone's watching me. I look around the shop to see the girl who replaced me in the basketball game. She waves. I wave back.

"Next!" The barista exclaimed.

I turn back around and step up, eyeing the menu above. "I'll have a grande, very-berry hibiscus please."

"Peeta?" A familiar voice gulped.

I look back down to a gaping Clove in a Starbuck's uniform.

"Oh, hi Clove." I smiled. "I didn't know you worked here."

"I do." Clove swallowed and pushed back a few strands of hair. "Y-You look. . . really really good."

Clove's face is now flushed with patches of pink. "I mean-"

"Thanks." I grinned. "Katniss did a good job on me with only a few days, I guess."

"Y-Yeah she did."

I continue with my order. "Anyway, can I also order a grande, java chip frapp?"

Clove writes something down and pauses to look up at me. "Isn't that Katniss's usual?"

"Yeah." I beamed. "I'm ordering for her."

"Oh. . . Oh!" Clove exclaimed. She clicked a few buttons on the register. "That'll be $4.59."

I pull out four dollars.

"I'm sorry Clove, I left the rest of my money in my car."

"That's fine!" She widely smiled. She grabs the money from my hand. "The rest is on the house."

I smile and find a table by the entrance door. After a few minutes, Katniss walks in wearing a 2 in 1 white-collared shirt and a nice fitting grey sweater over, paired along with some pink skinny jeans and leather sneakers. Equaling, beauty.

"Katniss!" I called.

Katniss

I turn my head to Peeta-or well I think it's Peeta. This guy totally does not dress like him at all, but I'm pretty sure it's him since he's waving at me. I walk to him pull out a seat in front of him and scoot myself in, the screeching noise of the chair scraping against the tile.

"Nice outfit. Looks way better than that whole," I gesture my hand in circles. "Grease getup."

Peeta laughs and pushes his shades up to his hair. "Well, it is your work."

I smile. "I'm gonna go order my-"

"One grande, java chip frapp for Peeta!" Clove yelled. "And one grande, very-berry hibiscus!"

"That's for you." Peeta winked. He gets up from his seat and gets my drink and his. He walks back to me, handing me my frappe.

"Thanks." I grinned and took a sip of the cold coffee.

"So, what exactly is a hibiscus?" Peeta asked, holding up his drink in the air.

I widen my eyes. "You don't know what's in a very-berry hibiscus?"

Peeta shrugs in response.

"Just try it."

"I don't know, if anything Clove could've poisoned it." Peeta chuckled, glancing towards Clove.

I roll my eyes and take his drink, slurping the contents. "You're fine."

Peeta's eyes widen. "Bitch."

"What?" I snapped.

"I'm just kidding, Katniss." Peeta started to laugh. "Do you remember when you called me that?"

My cheeks redden from embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry about that."

Peeta grabs his drink back from my hand and slurps it up. "It's okay."

I shake my head, laughing as Peeta slurps his drink. He sets his drink down and holds up his hand to his forehead.

"Brain freeze?"

"You effin know it." Peeta groaned and clenched his teeth.

"Try rubbing your temples. That helps." I suggested.

"But... It's like... really hurting right now." Peeta's voice lilted. I swear I just saw a little smirk on his face. Whatever.

I sigh before I reach out over the small wooden table and start rubbing his temples for him. Peeta cringes at the touch of my fingers, but relaxes.

"Is that better?" I asked, chuckling.

He looks up to me so we're forehead to forehead. Woah. Okay, I stopped laughing. He clearly looks okay now. But we're not pulling apart. We stay. I stay.

He looks straight into my pencil-colored eyes and I look into his clear-sky eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered, still locked in his gaze. "for the bread."

He nods slightly, still tranced in my cloudy skies.

"No." He muttered. "Thank you, for letting me do this..."

_____________________________________________

Nice cliffhanger eh? I would go nuts if someone did this to me. 😁

Anyway, my story reached 1K a few days ago! Thank you all so much for all your support and comments and votes! I love you all very very much.

Comment if I should do some facts about myself and possibly a selfie? Idk but it's up to you guys. ☺️ 🙌

[TODAY IS JENNIFER'S 25TH BIRTHDAY OMF]

I'll update very soon

Love,

Chloe 💕💋