#everhutcher

Oh wow. I’ve just never had a filter. I think it’s a family trait. I’m from a large, loud Eastern European family where everyone speaks their mind, sarcasm is the norm, etc. As far back as high school, my friend and I would read smutty romance novels (mostly Jude Deveraux’s books) out loud at the lunch table just to make our male friends cringe. Totally juvenile, I know. I suppose if I psychoanalyzed myself I might see it as a way to explore sexuality in a safe way or something. Because I’m not nearly so bold in my actions in that way. But even now, I’ll see a double entendre in anything and won’t hesitate to point it out. Cards Against Humanity gives me life. I blame the inner 10-year old boy in me who giggles at inappropriate times. My own 10-year old son is far better behaved than I am in that aspect.

LOL! At some point our inner teen makes a reappearance. 

What Eastern European country is your family from? Have you been there?

We’re Ukrainian on both sides of the family. I’ve never been there but it has been fun to connect with cousins from over there through social media. Some of them grew up in the Soviet days, so when I was a kid, we never really had contact with them.

Give me an example of everhutcher as a ball-buster…

It’s sort of just who I am… again, the no filter thing. I will say I don’t ball-bust in a super-aggressive or antagonistic way, because I know that’s how some people interpret the term. My brand is more teasing. My husband is 14 years older than I am, so the old man jokes are abundant. I’m always telling him at the store to ask about the AARP discount or I’ll remind him that when he was 18, I was in preschool. Just often enough to creep him out.

How did you end up in THG fandom?

That was definitely not a straight line between two points. I knew of the books for a long time, but never read them. I’d also seen THG and CF on DVD at the time they came out, and was entertained enough, but didn’t love them in the way I loved other fandoms like HP or Star Wars.

Then my stepdaughter sort of made me read the books right before MJ1 came out in theaters. She promised I’d love them. And she was right. I loved them and then my love for the whole franchise grew from there.

I can relate to that! It definitely ‘snuck up’!

Have you written for other fandoms?

To be honest, nothing has grabbed me the way THG has, so no.

I get it! Same here.

I guess one exception is that I took part in a RPF Secret Santa thing for JHutch fans. I was really satisfied with how the story turned out but I’m not as comfortable writing about real people, so I have not been compelled to do that since. Kudos to those who can, though.

So what drew you into writing fic?

The ending of MJ just left me unsettled and unsatisfied. 

And although I understand that in a way, it was likely written in the way Katniss would have genuinely told it (i.e., not dwelling on details), as a reader I wanted more. So, I went in search of some insight into Suzanne Collins’ choices as a writer. Instead, I stumbled across fan fiction. I started looking for some good “growing back together” fics. And my love for the entire genre was born. Eventually I felt brave enough to dive in and write some of my own because I couldn’t get enough of Everlark in just about any setting.

What was it like for you when you posted your first fic for all to see?

The same as it is now: I hit “post” or “send” and I squeal and do a panic dance in my home office. I feel like I’m jumping off a cliff or something. 

You never know how it’s going to be received. You don’t want to look or sound stupid (the story or yourself). You might think it’s the best work you’ve done but it’s a load of shit. You just never know what will resonate with people and what won’t. I mean, ultimately you can’t worry about that during the writing process; you have to go with your gut and let the story take you where it wants to go. But you just have to hope people will see something in it that they can relate to as well.

It really never gets any easier, does it? What was a pivotal moment for you in the books?

Arghhhhhh. I think there are so many people who are so much better at noticing details of the book. So many moments. I don’t know if I can classify anything as “pivotal” but I do think some parts resonate with me more than others. The entire sequence of Peeta’s time with the Star Squad in Mockingjay was particularly important to me as a reader, as I think it lends a whole sense of hope, which is so central to the series. In particular, I think the moment Peeta realizes the lizard mutts are coming and he chooses to protect Katniss by yelling for her to run... that, to me, is it. He has already chosen Katniss over Snow in that moment.

Such a good one! What was the hardest moment for you in the series?

I would probably say Everlark’s separation at the end of Catching Fire. I’m such a sucker for those two. Throughout that book they’re connecting in a way they never had before. And unlike the film, Katniss and Peeta are both aware of the other’s presence somewhere around the lightning tree in those final moments in the arena. They can each hear the other calling out. They’re desperate to save one another, and are so close to achieving that. You know, as the reader, that it’s not going to end well for either of them. And, of course, it doesn’t.

What’s the moment you hold onto from the series? That ‘Yes! This is why I love this series’ moment…

That has to be Peeta’s return to 12. As I said earlier, you have these pivotal moments in Mockingjay where Peeta chooses Katniss, in defiance of his hijacking, sometimes without really even being conscious of it. I always wonder what happened to Peeta during his time in the Capitol after Katniss’s trial. Was it a deliberate decision to return to 12? Or was it just instinct driving him to where he felt he belonged? Either way, he returns to Katniss and his first thought is to help Katniss heal. To show Katniss some beauty in the world. He yet again creates a thing of beauty - a simple flowerbed to celebrate Prim’s life - and says “I thought we could plant them for her.” Not me, but we. Even though Katniss isn’t involved in his project, he includes her. They are a team. He is with her, in whatever way she needs. It’s unconditional and pure and lovely to see this reborn in him. Wounded but not broken.

I think you did a lovely job of picking out the details! 

What do you enjoy writing most? (Trope, canon/AU, etc)

I think modern AU is probably what comes easiest to me. For one, it’s fun to imagine Peeta Mellark alive and well and walking amongst us in the modern world just waiting for love  - and who doesn’t want that? LOL. I’m a fairly open book emotionally, more like Peeta, so writing Katniss is a fun challenge for me. And in modern AU, there’s the added challenge in presenting Katniss as someone who stays in character, still finds it hard to open up, without the details of her life in canon District 12 at play. You have to get into the psychology of a modern young woman and the things which might affect her life.

Where do you get your inspirations?

Oh, man. So many places. I suppose, now that I think about it, a lot of of my fics start with real-life events. Some are sad, like the circumstances of a friend of friend which inspired my PiP fic Promise. Others are often inspired by the random convos I have over chat or text with other bloggers. Like, Drill and Fill started with me complaining to another writer about having to go to the dentist but that thank goodness, at least my dentist was cute, and the rest unfolded from there. I also love that there are so many prompt ideas out there, whether on Tumblr or elsewhere. I’m so grateful that someone might not feel comfortable enough writing a fic on their own, but still has a great idea they want to share with others to make the story a reality.

That’s a really great observation. Give me an idea of yours that you will never write, but you would love to read.

Oooooh. That’s so tough because I think, never say never. If it’s something I’d want to read, and it doesn’t already exist, then I generally wouldn’t hesitate to at least attempt to make it a reality myself. That’s why I started writing fic, not just consuming it. I had ideas that I wanted to share. So I’d have to dig deeper to find something I’d read but not also write.

What has been your favorite fic to write?

No fair! My fics are my kids! I love them all for different reasons LOL.

If two of your fics were drowning… see where I’m going with this?

Well, if I have to choose, I’d probably say Under His Wings. I wasn’t sure where I was headed with it at all. Usually I have a strong idea to jump start the process, and my struggle is to keep the momentum of the story going later on. In this case, I had a hard time starting this story, and it picked up steam as I went along. It sort of took on a life of its own very quickly. I think it’s probably my most moving story.

What is the most challenging fic you’ve written?

I tend to write very quickly once an idea hits me, so anytime I end up with a WIP it’s because the mojo isn’t there. I’m currently on the third version of a story that I haven’t published yet. It’s supposed to be part of @papofglencoe’s clearance condom series, which she started after I took a trip to Target while chatting online with her. Her Pumpkin Spice story was such a treat, and I really want to do something fun and sexy with all that inspiration. But if I force it, I know it won’t be as good as it might have been. So WIP it remains.

If you were stranded on a desert island with any THG character, who would you pick? Just one, now!

Peeta. Hands down. Or wherever the hands want to go. See what I mean about raunchy?

HA! Down is a start in the right direction, though, yeah?

We all have that fic that’s our go to - whether it’s our own or someone else’s - that we return to because we love it and know exactly what we’re going to get. What’s yours?

If we’re talking Everlark fic, I’d probably say The Bucket List by Meadowlark27.

Why?

Faith constructed such a beautiful and heart-wrenching story that made me cry several times. If Everlark fans haven’t read it yet, it has it all. Humor and angst and sorrow and friends to lovers, all my favorite elements. And the ending. Ughhhhhh. All the feels, for sure.

What’s your writing process? Some people like to write their stories all at once, then post weekly, while others like to take it one chapter at a time, where posting is more random. Where do you fall in that spectrum?

I’d like to have the discipline to be the former, but I’m definitely the latter. Once I finish a chapter I want people to see it right away. In theory I always think it’s going to force me to work more steadily, because then I can tell myself that people have read it and want more. In reality, life always seems to fill up my time. The older I get, the more of a procrastinator I seem to become.

I get it. Why is that??

Favorite Book? (non THG)

Probably the Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

I first read it in sixth grade, not understanding the historical context in which Tolkien crafted it. At the time I just knew it as a cool good versus evil kind of story. Now I have a much deeper understanding of the historical context, and as a history teacher it speaks to me on that level, for sure. Beyond that, the immense time and energy and effort Tolkien put into creating that universe is just astonishing. The man crafted an entire mythology that the world has embraced as readily as anything mythology of ancient times.

It is incredible. I completely agree, and I love the series!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have to think about what spare time is these days lol. I suppose beyond work and family (my husband, son, two stepkids, daughter-in-law and any day now, a stepgrandbaby!) 

Congratulations!

My fandom activities have filled most of my free time. Otherwise, I definitely have a love for genealogy. I’ll go through spurts where I’ll spend hours a day scouring records to add to our family tree. And I enjoy traveling. I wish I had more resources for that, but I try to get out of town every couple of months, even for just a night or two. Living in the Northeast helps, being so close to so much. I’m basically halfway between NYC and Toronto; I have a ton of family and connections in Philly so I’m always there, too. I just spent my birthday in Vegas and I really want to get back out to L.A. soon. Been an East Coast girl my whole life but I love California.

Favorite thing about Tumblr?

The friendships. They’ve gone so far beyond fandom it’s sort of astonishing. The ladies I connect with the most are just about the most open, take-me-as-I-am group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have my group of girlfriends here in “real” life, particularly my friends from work. But my blogger friends are a constant presence as well. Maybe even more so, because you can always shoot off a text or a group chat throughout the day, come back and find someone three time zones away has weighed in on whatever was on your mind. We throw story ideas at each other, talk about our jobs and kids, nothing is off limits. And when you know most of you write Everlark smut you can’t really hide anything after that lol. They’ve become some of the best friends I’ve ever had.

Can you give some advice to new writers?

Just don’t be afraid to jump in and try something. Challenge yourself. There is a vast community of writers out there with a huge array of talents and strengths and styles. If you are worried about how your work compares to someone else’s, and allow it to make you hesitate to write, you’re bound to hold yourself back due to fear of failure. The only failure is to not let you idea come to life in one way or another. Put it out there and share it. Audiences are always going to be better off for it.

Thank you for taking time to talk to me!

Peeta chuckled knowingly, since they played this game once a month. He knew that afternoon, when Katniss texted that she was “never leaving the house again,” that she was about to get a visit from her unwelcome Aunt Flo. And as her longtime best friend and now boyfriend of just under a year, Peeta almost recognized Katniss’s PMS before she could. For years he’d been there to cheer her up through a bitch session, since the way someone blinked was enough to set off Katniss, or to bring a half gallon of ice cream. Or to rub her sore belly. This time, Peeta even risked losing his man card to pick up a box of tampons so Katniss wouldn’t have to go out.

Hormones and Katniss required delicate maneuvers, but Peeta figured it was all good practice for the day Katniss might decide she wanted to make lots of babies with him.

Katniss’s roommate, Johanna, always joked that Peeta was far better at planning a girls’ night in than she was; which was why tonight, Peeta was on PMS duty while Jo sauntered through the living room in stilettos and a short, slinky dress. Before heading out, Jo paused to check her makeup in the hall mirror and spied Katniss curled up against Peeta in the reflection.

“All right, you lovebirds. Seriously. I know plenty of actual married people who aren’t as much of an old married couple as you two.” Katniss returned Jo’s look with one of her signature scowls. “There’s a new bottle of ibuprofen in the bathroom. Peeta, since she wallows too much in her own agony to get up and make the ten foot trip, would you grab Katniss a glass of water and make her take a couple?”

Peeta made a mock salute. “I know the drill, Jo.”

Jo grabbed her keys, then paused in the open doorway. “Actually…” she called over her shoulder, eyes sparkling, “I’ve also heard that a good orgasm works wonders for cramps. Later!”

Katniss wasn’t quite sure what was ringing in her ears more loudly: the slam of the door or Jo’s final bit of advice. An intense heat soared quickly from her chest all the way to the tips of her ears and she hid her face in the most convenient place, on top of the knees already pulled tight into her chest.  “I’m so sorry you had to hear that,” she exclaimed, her voice muffled by the fabric of her shorts. Only as she peered down between her knees into her lap did she remember that Peeta’s hand was still on her belly. She watched as his fingers twitched and clenched, then released.

“Oh, please,” Peeta said with a nonchalant soft snort, though Katniss didn’t miss the hint of tension in his voice. “You know I’m used to her by now.”

Not knowing what else to say, Katniss uttered a noncommittal “Mmmm-hmmm” and watched Peeta’s hand resume its small, gentle circles on her abdomen. Katniss closed her eyes and focused on the relaxing motion of Peeta’s hand, and eventually uncurled her shoulders and knees, stretching her limbs and settling back into the sofa. Jo’s comment was almost a distant memory when Peeta spoke again.

“Do you want to?”

“What?”

“Have – do – um, what Jo said.”

“What?!” Katniss bolted upright. Peeta quickly drew both arms away from her, palms up in a defensive gesture as his face grew red.

“What, yourself!” he retorted in confusion.

“Peeta! I’m not talking about this with you. It’s too… too ewwwww.”

Peeta’s hands dropped to his thighs and his blush faded, replaced by a slightly incredulous expression. “Too ewwwww?” he repeated. “Since when did the thought of me making you come bring a response like that?” Peeta thought back to the last time he’d made Katniss fall apart, in that case with his mouth. She sure didn’t seem adverse to it at the time.

Peeta’s thoughts must’ve registered pretty clearly on his face because Katniss rushed to reassure him. “It’s not…that… in general. That’s fantastic. You’re fantastic,” she admitted. Peeta’s eyes twinkled at how uncomfortable Katniss still got talking about sex, even though Katniss’s eager actions in bed were beyond any of Peeta’s wildest imaginings. “It’s… well, it’s doing that while I’m like this.” She gestured helplessly at herself.

“Adorable and sexy?” Peeta’s eyes twinkled.

Katniss wrinkled her nose. “Hardly. You can’t touch me when I’m… not so fresh.”

Peeta grinned. “You sound like a commercial. And I love you. Don’t you know by now that I’d do anything to make you feel better?”

“This isn’t chicken soup, Peeta. Or even cheesebuns.”

“No it isn’t, Katniss. It’s going to make you feel much better than chicken soup could.” His voice dropped to a stage whisper. “Or. Even. Cheesebuns.”

Peeta’s hand returned to her abdomen and began making soft circles again, but slowly, his hand moved tentatively down the slight swell of Katniss’s aching stomach. His fingertips skimmed the waistband of her shorts before dipping beneath them. At the edge of her panties, his fingers plucked playfully at the elastic.

Katniss clamped her hand down on his. “Hey! I told you – no touching.”

Peeta’s hand stilled as he leaned over, his nose barely grazing hers, his warm breath ghosting over her cheeks. Katniss still wasn’t used to the feelings that overcame her whenever Peeta’s incredibly blue eyes stared her down. Mesmerizing. Somehow, they always made her worries dissolve. She felt so safe with him, so brave, like she could risk things she wouldn’t normally do.

The truth was, not all of her aches at the moment were related to her current condition. She felt a rush of warmth down below that had nothing to do with her time of the month, and everything to do with the way Peeta looked at her.

“I’ve never - we’ve never,” she stammered out.

Peeta nodded solemnly in understanding “You’ve known me forever, Katniss. Better than anyone else. Trust me,” he murmured. “Let me take care of you.”

Peeta’s hand began to move again. She felt the pad of one of Peeta’s fingers press down, slipping between her increasingly swollen folds, the thinnest of fabric separating his skin from hers. His hand had remained over her underwear to give her the modesty she wanted. Even so, Peeta definitely knew what else she desired. Twitches of pleasure simmered through her as she watched his hand moving under her shorts, sliding over her panties against the full length of her pussy from top to bottom, then skimming back up to make tiny, firm circles around her clit. He continued to tease her this way until her hips were flexing upwards, seeking more pressure from his ministrations.

Katniss’s hands twitched. She needed more.

Katniss began to touch herself over her t-shirt, making just the whisper of a caress over her breasts. Her fingertips mimicked Peeta’s movements, teasing her nipples with small circles. As a tiny mewl escaped her lips, Peeta’s attention was immediately diverted from between Katniss’s legs to where her hands had landed. He watched her eyes flutter shut, head lolling slightly to the side as she rubbed more urgently over the small mounds, pushing up her t-shirt just enough for him to spy the soft curve of the underside of one breast. Peeta reached over with his free hand and pushed at the edge of her shirt, fully exposing it to him.

Katniss grabbed Peeta’s head and like a starving man, he brought his mouth down to the dusky nipple, laving the already hard bud with his rough tongue. After a few moments of his greedy mouth devouring one breast, Katniss pulled her top off completely. Peeta moved his attention to the long-neglected second breast, licking it like the finest of sweets.

His hand worked her pussy without interruption as he continued to suckle her. Katniss’s hips bucked in response to his attention and she began making small rotations of her hips against his fingers.

Peeta grinned against her breast in response, her throbbing nipple grazed by his teeth as he spoke. “Nice moves. I thought your back was sore, too.”

“Oh shut up,” Katniss retorted without any real sting in her words, eliciting a deep chuckle from her boyfriend that vibrated against her breast and triggered another rush of desire between her legs. Her hips thrust against him again and she gasped his name. Peeta resumed his work on her breasts while he pressed harder against her panty-covered clit, creating more friction by rotating his fingers in the opposite direction of her gyrations.

Katniss openly moaned now. She met the pressure of his hand with wild thrusts, wishing desperately for him – any part of him – to be inside her, time of the month be damned.  Even without that kind of contact, she already began to feel the familiar swell of tension throughout her body. Peeta was bringing her so, so close without even being skin to skin. Damn, what this man could do to her. He seemed to know her body better than she knew it herself.

After that, all she could concentrate on was the tight bundle of nerves that Peeta was now stroking with a frenzied pace. She vaguely registered the sensation of a bead of sweat making its way down her neck and Peeta’s tongue chasing it into the shallow valley between her breasts. But most of her focus remained on his fingers, and her clit, and the building stress that had to end, must break, or she might die from the searing agony of it all.

“Ohhhhhh…” she uttered even as she tried to gather her breath. Peeta was making it near damn impossible to breathe.

And then the ripples began, the tension finally breaking but immediately replaced with something just as agonizing, for each sweep of pleasure threatened to overwhelm her senses. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t even see as her eyes squeezed shut; she ceased to hear anything. All she knew was touch, her whole being focused on that tiny spot that Peeta continued to incite with his rough fingers. Katniss grabbed Peeta’s hand with both of hers and pressed down, prolonging the waves of aching satisfaction. She bucked against his hand, her body bending in an arc off the sofa as her pussy spasmed; her chest heaved, her body strained to ride out the coil of flame that swept through her.

The surge began to subside and Katniss moaned in exhaustion. Her other senses began to return to her one by one. She could hear her own labored breaths, taste Peeta’s tongue as he swept it across her lower lip, smell the cinnamon and dill on him as he nuzzled her neck, see his smile as he pulled away to take in the sight of her. Peeta sat up and raised an eyebrow at Katniss.

“Was Jo right?”

He ducked as Katniss threw a pillow at his head, then laughed as quickly pulled her across him and he leaned back into the sofa. She looked gorgeous, face flushed, eyes sparkling, soft breasts pressed against his chest. She kissed him soundly before resting her head on his shoulder and muttered one last thought before she dozed off safe and warm in Peeta’s arms, the ache in her belly a dull memory.

“Thanks,” she repeated dumbly as she stared into bright blue eyes with the longest blond lashes she thought she’d ever seen.

“You’re welcome,” came a pleasant voice from the even more pleasant face. Strong jaw, soft lips, wavy blond hair that seemed to hang wherever it wanted. Katniss’s eyes wandered down over a broad tee shirt-clad torso that tapered into a slim waist and dark wash jeans, then ascended back to the sturdy-looking hands which had given her the much-needed sleeve.

Embarrassment crept into Katniss’s face as she blushed, and she reached into her brain for something to deflect her obvious stare. “The cup even tells you it’s hot,” she mumbled, and the blond laughed heartily, as if she’d actually succeeded at being funny. She took a breath and relaxed under his kind gaze.

Silence descended on them both even though the cafe around them was buzzing with the noise of customers, the hum of the espresso machine and clanging coffee cups. Katniss played absently with the end of her long, dark braid.

He broke the silence first, with a small lilt of hope in his voice. “Um, you’re waiting for another?”

“What? Oh, um… yeah.” He didn’t miss the flare of pink that infused her cheeks again. “This is my sister’s drink. I’m waiting for mine.”

“Oh. Your sister. Right.” Another long moment passed before he blurted out again. “I’m Peeta. Come here often?” Katniss swung around to look up at him in mildly offended surprise.  “Oh, God,” he stuttered, as it was now his turn to blush. “That totally sounded like a come on, didn’t it?” His hand crept up behind his head, and he scratched at the back of his neck as he avoided her pointed gaze. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she replied, though her tone made Peeta think it was not.

“I don’t usually hit on women here, you know. I mean, I don’t usually hit on women anywhere,” he spluttered.

Katniss stared at him, the middle of her brow crinkling slightly.

“Shit,” Peeta continued, “That makes it sound like I’m gay, doesn’t it? I mean, nothing wrong with that. I love gay guys.” He frowned. “Ohhhh, but I’m not. Not gay. I love women. Lots and lots of women. I mean, not a lot. Not a few, either, I do okay. Not gay, though. Nope,” he ended, his words trailing off with a pop of the final P.

Finnick snickered loudly as he poured another drink. Peeta sent him a withering glare.

Katniss was clearly now looking at anything but him, and Peeta groaned inwardly.

“Grande iced Americano!” Finnick announced as he pressed a lid onto a clear cup. “For… Katniss…” he added loudly with a sly grin at Peeta as he slid the cup over the girl beside him.

“Thank you,” Katniss said politely. She grabbed a straw and took one more brief look at Peeta as she turned to leave.

“Have a nice day,” Finnick said with a saccharine tone. The two men watched the brunette exit the shop before Finnick turned an impish grin to his friend and whistled lowly. “You got it bad for her, Peet. Usually you’re a wordsmith. You know, when you spotted her here, what, three weekends ago? I was stunned you didn’t ask her out right away. And now you know that second cup isn’t for a boyfriend!  So what’s your excuse now?”

Peeta rolled his eyes. “Shut up and make my drink, Finn.” Finnick got to work, and a full minute of silence passed before he replied to Peeta’s words.

“Oh, I did.”

Peeta huffed impatiently. “What?”

“Made your drink. She took it, though.” Finnick passed a venti latte to Peeta with the name PRIM printed in the barista’s sloppy handwriting. “This is her sister’s.”

Finnick pointed toward the door.

Peeta grabbed the cup, stopping only to curse in pain and grab a cardboard sleeve before rushing out to the street in pursuit of the girl with the long, dark braid.

He swiveled around twice, looking in all directions, until he spotted her entering the large apartment building across the plaza. He raced to follow her and breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he saw she was still waiting for an elevator in the lobby.

“Um… Katniss?” he called out.

Katniss turned, startled at the sound of his voice uttering her name, as one of the cups slipped from her hands. Coffee splashed all over the floor and onto her feet. She cursed loudly as Peeta approached and knelt down, pulling a napkin from his pocket to wipe up what he could.

“Great,” Katniss grumbled as she joined Peeta on the floor. “My sister is a caffeine addict and she’s going to kill me because I spilled her drink.”

“My drink, you mean,” he replied as coolly as he could, mopping dangerously close to what he’d already decided were adorable toes with one hand, and passed the cup he still held to her with his other. “You stole mine.”

Katniss looked up sharply and caught Peeta’s half-smile before he gestured to the cup he’d just given her. Katniss examined it and, setting down her iced coffee carefully, picked up the spilled cup. Sure enough, comparing the two scrawls beginning with the letter P it was clear she’d taken - and now spilled - Peeta’s drink, and he had Prim’s after all. “Well, shit. I’m so sorry. How embarrassing.”

Peeta chuckled. “It’s fine. Actually, I’m not really a huge fan of coffee. The caffeine does me some good in the morning, but,” he shrugged, “I prefer tea if I’m honest.”

Katniss sat up with determination in her eyes. “I have tea!”

“You do,” he repeated back to her, trying to understand her logic.

“Why don’t I bring Prim her coffee,” she suggested as he helped her to her feet, “and I can bring a cup of tea back down for you?”

“You don’t have to do that…” he began to argue, then clamped his mouth shut when he realized the opportunity presenting itself.

“Let me make this right. It’s only fair.” Katniss pushed the elevator call button and then gestured back toward the plaza outside. “I like to have my coffee outside when the weather’s nice.”

Peeta continued to watch her warily, hoping against hope that she might be leading up to something.

She almost squeaked out the last part. “Maybe you could join me?”

Peeta grinned. “I’d like that.” The elevator arrived and Katniss smiled broadly back at him.

“Okay, then.” She stepped onto the lift and then gasped. “I’m out of sugar!  I could get some from my neighbor…”

Peeta shook his head. “Nah, I don’t take any. And I hate to think you’d steal some sugar just for me. I don’t want to further inspire your life of crime.”

The elevator door started to close, and Katniss put out her hand to block it. “I wouldn’t steal it,” she retorted with a slight huff as she smothered a smile. “I’m gainfully employed.”

“Good,” Peeta replied. Clearing his throat loudly, he added, “If our coffee-slash-tea time goes well this morning, maybe you can tell me later about your job. Over dinner. If you want, I mean. If you’re free, that is, and you want to…” he stammered out the last part as the elevator door started to close again.