Social Casualty

Chapter 17

If there is a pretty great way of waking up, it is to the sound of Katniss Everdeen's voice, even if through the phone.

"Peeta, I'm down here, are you going to open me the door or what?" she asks, her voice ringing on my ears.

"Just a sec." I mumble, hanging up the phone and walking to the front door, almost tripping on the creme colored rug in the hallway. I enter the elevator and go all the way to the ground floor, where Katniss is waiting for me, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, most likely uncomfortable with the stare that the concierge is giving her.

"Hey." I greet, still a little dazed from the sleep. Katniss sends me a small smile, the way she usually greets me when she feels like that there is no need for words. "Come on up." I turn around entering the elevator again, this time followed by Katniss.

I take this time to inspect her a little better. My attention perks up at the sigh of the bag she holds in her arms, most likely containing the costume she picked for me to wear today. She notices me staring and brings the bag closer to her, smiling. "No peeking. It's a surprise." she says sweetly. I am astonished to say that Katniss Everdeen is much more pleasent during dawn than she is the rest of the day.

"Oh, you're killing me here!" I groan. "Just tell me what it is!"

Katniss chuckles, finding my desperation sort of funny. "No." she states.

"Ok, give me a hint then!" I beg.

The elevator dings and the doors open. Katniss gets out and I trail behind her. I open the door to the apartment and let Katniss in.

"We can't be very noisy. Effie is still sleeping." I state, climbing up the stairs to me bedroom. As soon as Katniss enters the room I close the door and pull the curtains open, letting light in.

"Ok, what am I gonna wear?" Katniss asks excitedly.

I smile and open my closets door, taking out a small box wrapped in blue paper with a ribbon on top. "I wasn't really sure what to get you. It's not very original but it sorta made me think of you." I tell Katniss, handing her the box. She beams, carefully unwrapping my gift. After she studies it for a minute she lifts her eyes, looking at me questioningly. "It's Lara Croft, you know, from that game?" Katniss nods, her mouth shaping in an 'o'.

"That's right!" she says, realizing what I'm talking about. Suddenley she looks very excited.

"She kinda reminds me of you because, you know, she is always wearing a braid and is pretty lethal, just like you." I explain her. Katniss laughs.

"Thank you, Peeta." she states happily. "My turn now!"

Katniss puts her costume on top of my bed, and reaches for her bag. "I didn't really wrapp yours." she says quietly, passing me the bag. "Before you open it, I just wanna say something." I look up at her. "So, you sort of invited me on the last minute, and I totally had no idea of here I could get a costume for a 17 year old. So, this is not your regular superhero costume guys take to sci.fi conventions and such, but i think it's pretty great, and I hope you like it."

I nod, smiling at her. She smiles back, pointing towards the bag, signaling me to open it. I do. And when I see my costume I start laughing. Not just chuckling, I fall in a huge fit of laughter, thinking this is the most ironic thing someone ever did.

"So, you like it?" katniss asks, also laughing a little bit, most likely finding my reaction funny.

"Do I like it? I love it! This is probably the best cosplay ever." I state. "How did you even get this?"