Chapter Text
Gale is late. It’s not unusual but it’s still annoying. As she’s double checking her bag a text comes in.
G: Go ahead without me. I’ll meet you there.
Translation: He has company he needs to send home before he can leave for practice.
Katniss and Gale have been skating together since she was twelve. 13 years together spending at least 5 hours a day training, sometimes she thinks she knows him better than she knows herself. When they were kids skating in their small local rink, they had to fight for rink time. Sometimes they’d be forced into a corner to practice as a hockey team took over. Rink time was precious and Gale wouldn’t think about being late for practice. Once they started winning and became contenders for the national title suddenly, the hockey team had to work around their schedule.
A few years ago, their coach Mags had to retire due to health reasons. Former National Champs Cresta and ODair courted Katniss and Gale. They packed up their lives and moved to Colorado to train at the National Olympic Center. They never had to fight for rink time again. Still, Gale sometimes took advantage.
As Katniss pulls into the parking lot her ancient Jeep groans to a stop in her assigned spot. The fresh snow crunches under her Sorel snow boots. She should be used to the cold and snow, they had it back home but, there’s just so much, so, so much. As she reaches the doors she tries to stop herself from scanning the lobby. For the last month, she’s seen the same guy every morning. He has the most beautiful blue eyes Katniss has ever seen and he smiles at her every day. On days when she doesn’t see his blonde curly hair right away, she finds herself stalling, stopping for a water at the juice bar even though she has one in her bag already. He’s there today, chatting with some other men wearing USA Hockey shirts. Hockey that makes sense, he’s built like a hockey player. His eyes meet hers as soon as she removes her hood. There’s that smile.
Smile back Katniss, you can do it, smile back. If it’s even possible, his smile gets wider. Oh! Wow. Did her heart just flutter? She thinks it did. She doesn’t realize she’s stopped walking until Finnick bumps into her. “Keep it moving, Everdeen.” Blue Eyes gives her a small wave as she moves to the locker room. Katniss nearly trips over her own feet.
After their morning practice, Katniss and Gale hit the gym for some weight training in the afternoon. She’s headed back to the locker room when she sees Gale standing at the window that overlooks one of the hockey rinks. “Hey Catnip, come look. These guys are animals.” Katniss joins him at the window. On the ice is the US Paralympics Sled Hockey Team. They’re amazing, the speed and passion they play with is contagious. Gale is gripping the railing, wincing when the players crash into one another. “Watch, they just get up and keep going.” The period ends and Gale moves on but Katniss is frozen in place. One of the players has removed his helmet and Katniss has caught site of a pair of blue eyes.