Sallie, Charlie, Rue and Peeta.
Sallie never changed how much she normally cooks for dinner, when planning out the menu for her three guests for the evening. She always over-prepares to begin with, and now with two extra places at table, it might all get eaten this time
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The toy keyboard had been exciting in and of itself, but the toy rabbit had been completely unexpected. Rue wondered how Father Christmas even knew about that; she'd thought about it briefly, but never mentioned it!
If she were completely honest, Rue would admit that she was more glad than surprised to find out that Peeta was also invited to Sallie's dinner. Maybe it was because of the kindness he had shown her when she'd first arrived in Milliways. Or maybe it was because he was a link to Panem, to Katniss.
Not that Rue would ever tell him any of this, though, not without the fear of being laughed at. So she just kept the conversation to simple things as she helped him carry the cake to Sallie's room, like the presents she had found under the tree that morning.
She'd never seen such a dinner; not since the Capitol, at least, before the Games. And never, ever in her old own home. Here, Rue could ask for seconds and not feel guilty about it (at least, not completely). She didn't have to worry about whether or not her brothers and sisters had enough to eat (even though she still did).
The man sitting next to her at the table was named Charlie; at least, that's what Sallie called him. Rue thought he was pretty nice. He talked to her, didn't treat her like a kid, and he didn't ask about her death or anything related to it. It was nice, not having to think about such things for at least one afternoon.
(Charlie and Sallie were sweet on each other; Rue could tell. It showed in the way they looked at each other, especially when one thought the other wasn't looking. Or when their hands touched when one was passing a dish to the other.)
And the music! Oh, that was the best part! Rue had so many questions she was practically bubbling over with them, especially when the music changed from piano to something Sallie called a "banjo". When she thought no one was paying attention to her, Rue would hum some of the bars to herself trying to commit them to memory, so she could try and copy them on her keyboard later.
She didn't mind helping Peeta with the dishes afterward when Sallie asked.
And she'll deny being the one who started the soap bubble fight.
It was warm, it was cozy...and it's the happiest Rue's been since she first came to Milliways.
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