Author´s Note: Alright, so this is my first fanfiction story so please be nice to me =)
This fanfiction is a KatnissxGale story so if you like Peeta, you won´t have a lot of fun to read it.
Also, this story has nothing to do with the Hunger Games! Nothing at all! AU!
Summary: Katniss and Gale are best friends since they can remember. They both went through thick andthinn and are closer than ever. My story starts with the wedding of Gale´s sister and will continue with many other nice and also not so nice events they both will encounter. For 99,9% Katniss and Gale will end up together in later chapters =)
Have fun and if you like it or have some other comments to make, than let me know! And now I just stop babbling and you start reading..have fun!
Oh before I forget it..Many thanks to my awesome beta reader IWriteStuffWithWordsInIt 3
Chapter 1
Katniss' POV
"Zoey, did you see my pearl bracelet?" I asked my good friend and roommate, who was lying on our small sofa, watching TV. She was still wearing her pajamas, her hair badly tied back into a bun like every Saturday morning.
"No hon, I have no idea," she replied, her eyes still fixed on an animal documentary report. "Maybe it's on the cupboard in the bathroom?" she suggested, and finally turned her gaze away from the television, looking at me.
"Wow, Katniss! You look absolutely gorgeous!" she let out, sitting up to take a better look at me. We were both studying at the university and it was cheapest to move into a small apartment, sharing the rent. I knew her since high school, so we were pretty close, although she was a feisty girl.
"You really think so?" I asked, a little insecure, playing with my earring. I wasn't really a dress-wearer, so I felt a little uncomfortable. The only reason I'd dressed up like this was because it was the wedding of Gale's oldest sister, Darcy. I hadn't seen her in a very long time, but my best friend had asked me to accompany him there, so of course I had agreed.
Zoey smiled, leaning back on the sofa.
"Yes, you really look adorable. And I love your hair," she added, before turning her head back to the television. For a second I considered getting out of the yellow dress and just snuggle up on the sofa with her, but instead I walked to our small bathroom, continuing to look for my bracelet.
Our noisy door bell rang when I finally found the evil thing, hidden under the sink.
"Can you please let Gale in? I'll be right there!" I yelled, because Zoey was a lazy bum, always waiting for me to get the door.
"If I have to!" she yelled back while I walked to my room, pulling out my shoes from the shelf.
"Hey there, high heels. Please be nice to me today," I said, already seeing myself twisting my ankle at the worst possible time during the ceremony. I was a clumsy person.
"Katniss, come on." I suddenly heard the voice of Jeremy, Gale's annoying cousin. I was getting upset that my best friend hadn't mentioned that the jerk was coming along. I was beginning to check my purse, when Gale appeared at the door.
"Heeeeeey," he let out over- enthusiastically, so I turned around, glaring at him. He was handsome as always, standing there in a black suit and stretching out his arms for a hug. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, not willing to hug him right now.
"Why is Jeremy coming with us?" I asked him instead, as quietly as I could so his cousin wouldn't overhear. Gale put his arms down, stepped inside and closed the door behind himself.
"Okay, first of all, you look drop-dead beautiful," he started, and I rolled my eyes. "Second, I am so sorry, Catnip! I didn't intend him to come along with us, I swear, but he called me two hours ago and asked and I couldn't say no since I had no good excuse," he explained, pouting and taking two steps closer towards me. His eyes were begging and I hated the fact that I couldn't stay mad at him for too long.
"You could have said that he is annoying as hell, talks non-stop and I hate him," I suggested while Gale stood right in front of me, looking at me with his blue puppy dog eyes. I had not seen him for the last two weeks since he was away on an excursion with some students from the university. His cute smile and the fact that I had missed him a lot let me forgive him quicker than usual, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"You just can't stay mad at me," he laughed, giving me a bear-hug while briefly lifting me up from the ground.
"And you take advantage of it very well," I replied when he put me down with a mischievous look on his face.
"Let's go," I said and took my purse, moving towards the door.
"Nice shoes. Are you planning to break both of your legs today?" he asked, walking behind me. I didn't have time to say anything back, because there was Jeremy already standing in front of us, waiting impatiently.
"Are you guys finally ready?" he asked, watching me as I gave Zoey a goodbye hug.
"Have fun, hon," she said, winking at Gale as he moved towards the door.
"Never seen you like this before Katniss, trying to seduce me?" Jeremy asked, walking behind me down the stairs. "If yes, there is a possibility that I would go with it," he added and I was sure he was gazing at my butt.
"Watch it," I heard Gale say from behind him, while I was concentrating on not twisting my ankle on the stairs.
"I'm just trying to make conversation," Jeremy replied as we walked toward Gale's car.
"Then choose another topic," my best friend retorted, opening the door for me to get in the passenger seat.
"Or you could just shut up instead," I added, sitting inside. Jeremy sat behind me and I felt his knee in my back and sighed. This would be a long drive.
"Why are you sitting at the front?" he asked me, receiving a glare from Gale. "Just curious," he added, arbitrating, when we started to hit the road.
I fastened my seatbelt, trying not to crinkle my dress too much. Glancing at Gale, I wanted to talk with him about a lot of things, but I hadn't a chance because of the annoying guy in the back seat, babbling non-stop about his latest conquest,a hot blonde girl, whose name he didn't even remember. After that, he started to talk about some British guy he met last night, not even caring that neither Gale nor I reacted to his story. I would have tried to sleep, but I didn't want to ruin my pinned-up hairstyle, so I just watched the road, exchanging knowing glances with Gale from time to time.
"How was the excursion?" I finally had the chance to ask my best friend a question after a while, when Jeremy started to eat a sandwich he'd brought along. Gale let out a sigh, glancing at me.
"It was okay, I guess. Nothing special and actually a little unnecessary," he replied, yawning.
"I don't understand why we need excursions at all," Jeremy intervened again with a full mouth.
"I doubt that there is generally something that you understand," I said - I couldn't suppress it - feeling Jeremy's knee a little harder in my back. "Stop it," I hissed at him, turning around in my seat. "Can't you put your legs somewhere else?" He stopped chewing and stared at me.
"Sure, maybe I can detach them and put them on the seat beside me?"
"Maybe you could jump out of the car and take your legs with you," I retorted stupidly, totally annoyed by him. I felt Gale's hand on my arm, forcing me to turn back to the front again.
"Just give it a rest," he said, and I crossed my arms in front of my chest, leaning back with my head on the head rest. My hairstyle was forgotten and I just wanted to close my eyes and take a nap.
I really must have dozed off because the next thing I remembered was Gale nudging my arm to wake me up.
"We're here." I sat up, pulling out my hand mirror from the purse, and gasped.
"Oh my gosh!" I let out, looking at my hair which was standing up in all directions. "I look horrible!" I whined, but glad that Jeremy had already left the car so I didn't get a nasty remark.
"You don't look horrible," Gale tried to calm me down, unfastening his seatbelt. "Your hair is just a little messy from sleeping," he added, grinning, and I considered whacking him over the head with my hand mirror.
We were parked in the middle of the parking lot with people passing by, glancing inside. I groaned and decided to undo my put-up hairstyle, removing the first bobby pin.
"What are you doing?" Gale asked, grabbing my arm to stop me. "We have to go inside. There is really no time for doing your hair now."
I shook off his hand, removing another bobby pin.
"You go first, I'll just let my hair free. It won't take long, I promise," I said.
"I'll just wait here with you, then. Remember, I wanted you to come along with me, not separately," he replied, making me feel guilty about him coming late for his sister's wedding.
"Fine," I said, removing the last pin, brushing my hair really quick. "I look like I just woke up, but let's go," I added, getting out of the car.
"Well, you did just wake up," Gale replied nonchalantly, getting out of the car as well.
Looking down at myself, I noticed my dress was all wrinkled and I started laughing about the whole situation. My best friend walked up to me, watching me curiously.
"Maybe you'd consider going in there by yourself and not with me, looking like this?" I suggested, but he suddenly cupped my face with his hands, forcing me to look up into his piercing blue eyes.
"If you didn't exist, I'd have to invent you, you silly girl," he said lovingly, giving me a peck on my forehead. "Let's go."
"I'm sorry," I let out, ashamed about my behaviour, linking arms with my best friend. "Thank you for bearing with me," I added, and he grinned down at me while we walked towards a big white church. I was glad that the ceremony hadn't started yet, and held tighter on to Gale's arm as we walked up the stairs to the entrance. I discovered Jeremy was already sat in the second row, talking to some guy I'd never seen before. As we started to walk in the front, Gale's mother - Theresa - came up towards us, hugging her son.
"Oh darling, I missed you," Theresa let out, before letting go. She was wearing a tight black dress, looking gorgeous for her age. "You look so handsome," she added, and then turned her eyes to me.
"Katniss," she said, smiling lovely before wrapping her arms around me. "You guys look really stunning. How was the drive?" With me linking arms with Gale, she lead us to the first row, babbling away about the wedding preparations.
Although Gale and I have been friends since childhood, I've never really had a good relationship with his family apart from Theresa and Darcy. His dad, Gary, didn't like me and was not an easy man to deal with. Gale himself wasn't on good terms with his father, because of many disappointments he experienced with him in the past. I kept an eye out for Gary but couldn't spot him as we sat down beside Theresa. While mother and son talked about family matters, I looked closely at the well-decorated church that smelt wonderfully of orchids. Seconds later, the organ started to play in full blast, and we all stood up as Darcy walked up the aisle. She was a pretty bride, grinning broadly as she finally arrived beside her future husband. I smiled, glancing at Gale who seemed to be really happy for his sister.
"She's gorgeous," I whispered to him after we all sat down again. Only then I noticed Gary coming up and sitting beside his wife. He didn't deign to look at us at all, holding his gaze firmly to the front.
"He can't even be on time for his own daughter's wedding," Gale whispered annoyed and tensed up. "Like he had something more important to do on a Saturday afternoon," he added, and I put my hand on his to calm him down.
The ceremony was short but nice and I somehow feared the encounter with Gary. As the bridal pair left the church, there was an awkward quietness in our row.
"Let's walk over to the party hall," Theresa let out, standing up. "Gary, did you say hello to your son?" she added, giving her husband a knowing look before leaving for the exit. Gale's dad stood up, holding out his hand to Gale.
"Nice to see you here," he just said while Gale stood up as well, ignoring his dad's extended hand.
"You were late," Gale let out, "again." His dad didn't react to this, but instead turned his attention to me now.
"So, you're still hanging out with each other like two little kids?" he asked, looking at me like I was totally unwanted at this place.
"Hello Mr Hawthorne," I just responded, feeling more than awkward.
"What's the point of this question?" Gale hissed at him, totally annoyed by now. He had never talked much about his dad, but when he did he always had an angry look in his eyes. He had never told me what specifically happened on that night when he was eleven, coming down to our house, crying and shaking. I was nine and didn't know how to handle the situation, so I just let him lay down on my bed and snuggled up next to him.
"What's the point of you two being friends?" his dad countered, and I grabbed Gale's arm, fearing that he would do something stupid.
"Let's follow your mom to the party hall," I said when they were just scowling at each other, not wanting him to get in any trouble. I knew that Gale was pulling himself together so as not to destroy his sister's wedding. He listened to me and we walked to the exit.
"This is just so ridiculous," Gale said upset, once we were outside. The sun was burning down on us and he pulled off his jacket, throwing it over his shoulder. I tried to fan myself with one hand as we walked over to the big party hall.
"I'm proud of you for not starting a big fight," I encouraged him and he glanced at me, taking a deep breath.
"Well, you taught me to keep my anger under control," he let out, putting his arm around my shoulder.
A/N: Tell me what you think about this..I really appreciate every opinion =)