darker_london | Peter Meets Katherine (Part 1) Rating: PG

Peter stepped onto the campus of the University of London, feeling more than a little overwhelmed. His sister, Elizabeth, had talked him into enrolling in a course on ancient Hebrew cultures. That was a topic he already knew more than a little about, having been a Monk for the last several years. But there were...people. Everywhere! Peter was surrounded by university students shouting and squealing and hugging and everything was so loud. He'd only left his monastic life three months prior, and he's spent those months closed up in his sister's guest house, drinking every drop of alcohol he could find. He needed to do something with his life, but THIS. After years of quiet, solitude and worship, this was chaos.

Peter stared for another few minutes as a group of girls flew at each other and started sqwaking about a gig they'd been to the night before. "I can see why people call them 'birds'" he muttered to himself as he turned around to run away, almost running into a girl who happened to be standing behind him. "Sorry, sorry!" He mumbled, and then he looked into her eyes. She had the most amazing green eyes he'd ever seen. "Um....muh?" He said, and then turned red.

She laughed an entirely enchanting laugh and said, "That's okay!" Her voice was pleasent. Melodic. Peter just stood there like a lump, unaware of what to do next. He could talk to a woman forever about religion, give anyone advice about anything, but he was feeling things for this girl that he wasn't used to feeling. It lead to a lot of stuttering and sweaty plams. Luckily, she seemed to sense he was uneasy, and swooped to his rescue. "Are you taking any classes here?"

"I'm-not sure?" Peter said, feeling like a tool.

"I'm taking some art courses. I figured I might try my hand at interior design. My name is Katherine. Katherine Daniells."

"Peter Kemp."

"Cheers, Peter!" She flashed him a winning smile. "Do you want me to show you around? Maybe then you can decide if you are taking classes here for sure?" She winked.

"That-that would be nice." Katherine grinned and took his arm, leading him around the campus, pointing out random landmarks and various buildings. By the end of their two hour tour, Peter was beginning to relax. He still wasn't sure he was ready to take classes here, but he was definitely going to keep visiting the campus to see Katherine.

And that he did. They quickly became inseperable friends. Katherine was bringing Peter out of his shell. Everytime he felt uncomfortable, or unsure of a situation, she'd take the lead and guide him through, flashing him a smile to let him know everything was fine. She did wonder sometimes, why he was so awkward socially. And he wasn't exactly forthcoming with the information that he was an ex-monk. Still, she loved his sweet quiet company, and often invited him round to her flat even when there wasn't much to do.

On one such occasion, she was lying on her bed working on an essay on the history of design and Peter was looking at a book on Hebrew civilization to prepare for the classes he wanted to start taking next semester. Katherine glanced over at him, smiling at the sexy way his hair fell into his deep brown eyes. "Hey." She said softly. Peter looked up and smiled.

"Yes?"

"Peter...ask me out."

"Wha..?" Peter's face froze in a rather unattractive widemouthed expression.

"Ask me out!"

"Do..do you want to go out? With me. Do you want to go out with me?" Peter turned red, matching her crimson carpet.

"Yes!" Peter just stared at her, feeling intensely pleased but more confused that ever. She said yes, what happened now?! Katherine shook her head, amused. "Now you book a restaurant and you buy a new suit, because you want to impress me, even though I don't care what you wear. And then you do your hair fifteen different ways, you put far too much cologne on, you buy me flowers and then get incredibly nervous. But it will all be fine." Peter continued to stare at her blankly. "I like Italian food."

"I..I can do that. Probably all of it."

"Good." She grinned. She couldn't help but adore his cluelessness. It was one of his many quirks that she adored. "There might be a kiss or two in it for you." She went back to her essay as Peter's cheeks reddened once again. He gazed at her for a moment, and then he looked back down to his book. he read the same sentence 12 times before looking back up to see what she was doing.

Katherine had crawled off of her bed and onto the floor beside him. "There could be a kiss in it now" she said seductively. Peter's stomach was suddenly invaded by a herd of very unwelcome butterflies.

"Fff."

Katherine giggled. "Fff to you too." she said as she scooted closer, touching his knee. It was like electrical sparks ran all through his body. He held his breath as she crept closer and closer until their noses were almost touching. "I adore you, Peter. Everything about you" she whispered and then she pressed her lips to his softly. Peter had no idea how to kiss, but he found that you learn quite quickly. He put his hands on her face and kissed her once again before pulling away.

"I adore you too, Katie." He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled. She was about to lean in again, when Peter jumped up excitedly. "I'll go book the restaurant now!" He said, a huge grin on his face. Katherine watched as he rushed into the other room to grab a phone book.

He was certainly a weird one.