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Peeta is good at not getting his hopes up.
He didn’t get his hopes up in first grade, when his father told him he’d talk to his mother about the hitting. He didn’t get his hopes up when his neighbor, Maren Dudley, got reaped at thirteen years old, and promised to bring Peeta’s favorite cap back from the Capitol. He didn’t get his hopes up last month when his wrestling coach told him he had a real chance at beating Rye. He’s okay with the level of mild disappointment and lack of faith in his life. Comfortable with it, even.
Especially since it leaves plenty of space for him to hope in Katniss Everdeen.
She’s disappointed him almost every day thus far, but today could be different. At least, that’s what he tells himself as he watches her tie Posy Hawthorne’s shoes in the school courtyard. He’s so busy watching her that he doesn’t even notice Primrose, Katniss’ little sister, until she’s right in front of him.
“Hi, Peeta! How are you?”
He knows Prim from the market. She sells cheese from her goat sometimes, and Rye is one of her best customers. They seem to have built their own rapport, and it’s not at all uncommon for the girl to turn up at the bakery in search of his brother. “I’m alright, Prim. How are you?”
“I’m great,” she grins at him, biting her bottom lip. Her sister has joined them now, albeit a few steps away as she surveys the situation. Katniss shoots Primrose a glare that Peeta’s seen all too many times in his own older siblings. And Prim - well, he’s given enough shit-eating grins to know what’s going on here.
He hopes against hope that it means Katniss is actually going to talk to him today.
“Peeta, you know Katniss, right?” Prim introduces them with a saccharine smile, though no introduction is necessary. They’ve been in the same class since they were five.
“Of course I do,” he says, nodding at his future wife. “Hi, Katniss.”
Katniss’ eyebrows shoot sky-high as he acknowledges her, before she scowls at her feet, tugging Posy close. “Peeta.”
He doesn’t think he’s imagining the blush on her face. Or the grin that Prim shares with his brother, a few yards away.
“Well, I should take Posy to class,” the younger girl says, nudging her sister. Katniss tries to argue, but Prim cuts her off before she can even begin. “It just makes sense. We’re in the same building after all. But maybe, Peeta, you could walk Katniss to class?”
Yippee!
Peeta’s heart feels like the fireworks show that the Capitol plays on television sometimes, and he glances at his classmate, gauging her reaction.
Katniss’ face is the shade of a strawberry now, and she shakes her head at her sister. “Prim, I’m sure I can find my-”
“I don’t mind!”
Peeta surprises even himself with the insistence in his voice. If this is his chance, he’s got to do everything he can to take it.
Primrose nods once with finality, backing up before Katniss can object any more. “Then it’s settled. I will see you both after school!”
The two little sisters run towards the primary building, and Peeta knows that he’s not imagining the salute Prim gives Rye as she goes. He knows, because Rye does it to him right after. But he can’t respond, because Katniss is - she’s talking to him.
“I’m sorry about her. I don’t know what’s gotten into her this morning,” she says, shaking her head. Her hair is down today, and it takes all Peeta has to not stare at the way it gracefully lifts in the hot summer wind. “I really don’t need you to walk me to class.”
“It’s alright,” he says, shrugging. “I mean, I have to go there anyway. We’re in the same rotation.”
Katniss pulls her lips into a grimace, nodding. “Yes, but if you want to walk with your friends, I can go.”
Peeta shakes his head. This is the longest he’s ever held Katniss Everdeen’s attention, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t walk her to class this morning. “I’ve been walking with those idiots the last ten years. They won’t miss me for one morning.”
Katniss regards him carefully, her hands clutching her books tightly against her chest. She’s seemingly out of excuses. It still takes her a good ten seconds to make up her mind, and Peeta stays scarily still, waiting for her to decide whether she’s going to let this happen or not. The odds seem to be in his favor today, though, because she just nods her head, eyes not quite trusting him. “Okay. If you want.”
Peeta grins at her, and he doesn’t think he’s imagining the tiny upward quirk of her lips. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”