~Katniss~
I walk into our house. Our house. Its weird. I moved in with my boyfriend Gale two weeks ago. I don't have much so the move was easy. He had been nagging and nagging me to move in with him. We've been dating two years now. We went to the same college. I was getting my bachelor's degree to become a middle school teacher. I teach science but mainy about plants. Gale is technically still in college but he has a house that was his dads house but was left to him when he died. I work at Pearl Middle School teaching 8th graders. My sister Prim is just going into Medical School. My parents are dead so I'm the one paying. She managed to get a scholarship but it doesn't pay for everything. So while I was in college I had a side job. Prim and I lived in an apparent, but the medical school has dorms so that's where she lives now. Ever since Prim moved, Gale was nagging me to move in with him.
My relationship with Gale is... complicated. We argue a lot but we care a lot about each other. Gale can be controlling and honestly it gets on my nerves sometimes.
"Johanna and Annie invites me to go for a girls night out this weekend" I say
"Who?" Gale asks me
"My friends from work. Honestly you could make some effort with them!" I say annoyed
"Why should I?" Gale asks
"Because I make an effort with you're friends! You know how I am about new people yet I go to your work parties and you show me off but we never go to mine!" I say
"Come on babe, lets not have this argument again. I'm busy and I don't have time to go with you" Gale says
"Whatever" I say rolling my eyes
"I just love you so much that I want you all to myself" Gale says
"Yeah, but you're controlling sometimes" I say
"Look, you shouldn't go" Gale says
"Why not?!" I ask annoyed.
"Because... mom invited us over this weekend. Bonnie really wants us to meet,the twins" Gale says. I feel a twinge of guilt because Delly has wanted us to go and see the twins. I sigh.
"Alright I won't go" I say
Bonnie can be a bit much sometimes because she's so peppy but the twins were cute and Gale kept giving me those looks. He wants kids but I don't. We're not even married so I don't know why he's already thinking of kids.
I set my bag on the table and go through the mail. Bills. Bills. Coupons. Huh, interesting. I pick up the envelope and walk over to where Gale sits on the couch.
"Look at this" I say
"What is it babe?" Gale asks me.
You have been selectected for a free dinner at Celestial
The adress is inclosed in the envelope. Celestial is a recently opened Italian restaurant
The owner Graham Mellark has selected two residents for a free dinner
Another house in your neighborhood was selected for Sunday
Your free dinner is this Saturday
Your reservation is for 6:00pm
This reservation is for two
We hope to see you soon
"That sounds great! I'm not one to turn down free Italian food." I say
"Alright then its a date" Gale says giving me a kiss.
"I'm gonna get dressed" I say
"For what?" Gale asks me
"Finnick invited me to go check out this new arcade" I say
"What about Johanna?" Gale asks
"She's got a date" I say
"Annie? Isn't she his girlfriend? What does she think of this?" Gale asks
"She thinks its a cool idea. She doesn't really like arcades though. They're not her thing" I say
"I don't like this idea. Just you and Finnick" Gale says
"He has a girlfriend and we're just two friends hanging out" I say
"Well I don't like it" Gale says
"Oh come on Gale, he would have invited you but lets face the facts. You never want to come when they invite us." I say
"Its different" Gale says
"This isn't a date! I'm going and you being controlling isn't going to stop me hanging out with my friends" I say
"I'm your boyfriend!" Gale says
"So?" I ask
"So I get a say in who you hang out with" Gale says. I scoff and go to get dressed.
At The Arcade
Finnick and I walk into the Arcade and its fairly empty. This one's new so not many people know about it
"Lets get coins" I say. We walk over to the counter and we each pay 10 dollars worth of tokens.
"Ski ball?" Finnick asks me, I nod and we walk over. I put the rest of my tokens in my bag. We both start at the same time. I am great at this game and soon I've hit the center one and the number of tickets I'm getting is getting larger and larger. When my balls have run out I grab my tickets and put them in my bag. I turn to look at Finnick and see that its the third time he's hit the center one. I sneak my hand over and swipe his tickets from the machine. He turns and sees me just as I run.
"Get back here!" He shouts taking after me. I run around people, saying rushes apologies as I run past. "I see you!" Finnick shouts.
I jump over a kid on the floor looking for her token and hide behind who I think are her parents. I see Finnick run past. Thats when I realize I had grabbed a blonde man by the shoulders to keep him in front of me.
"Oh shit" I say letting go of him. He turns around to look at me, he has the most blazing pair of blue eyes I've ever seen.
"You said bad word" Says the little girl I jumped over.
"Oh I'm sorry" I say. "Did I really jump over you?" I ask her
"Yeah it was cool!" She giggles. I turn to her family and se two men and a woman. All blonde hair and blue eyes.
"I'm really sorry" I say to them.
"Its fine, no one got hurt. I'm Delly" The woman says, extending her arm.
"I'm Katniss" I say shaking her hand. How is this woman so perky? Kind of reminds me of Bonnie.
"This is my husband Rye" She says pointing to the man next to her, "And this is his brother Peeta" She says pointing to the man I grabbed
"Hi. I'm really sorry for hiding behind you" I say awkwardly
"Its fine, I take it you were hiding from the man that ran past?" Peeta asks
"Yeah, thats my friend Finnick, I swiped his tickets so he was coming after me" I say
"I'm Polly" The little girl says
"Hi Polly" I say " I should probably get going. I'm sorry for jumping over Polly and hiding behind you guys" I say
I'm about to turn around when I feel a pair of hands come up and tickle my sides from behind. I jump and squeal.
"Katniss Everdeen squeals?" I hear Finnick ask from behind me. I turn around and punch his arm.
"Tell anyone and I'll kill you" I say.
"Hey" Finnick says to Delly, Peeta, Rye, and Polly. "Whats going on here?"
"I jumped over Polly and I grabbed Peeta so I could hide from you" I say
"Katniss Everdeen, Jumper of children and grabber of Men" Finnick says
"Don't say it like that" I say " Anyways, we'll let you guys have your fun"
"It was nice meeting you" Peeta says
"Same" Finnick says. Finnick and I walk away and head towards more games. "Wait till I tell Gale you went and grabbed a blonde haired blue eyed man today"
"You make it sound inappropriate. I didn't even realize I did. You better not tell him, he'll just use it against me in an argument. Besides I'll probably never see him again " I say
"Why don't you break it off? You're always saying how controlling he is" Finnick says
"Lets not talk about this right now" I say
"Alright" Finnick says.
Friday
I finish packing up my school bag. The bell rang a 10 minutes ago. My classroom is completely empty. The rain is starting to fall slightly. We're supposed to get some rain this weekend. Johanna comes into my classroom. She is a P.E teacher here.
"Hey, we're having a Christmas work party in two weeks so mark your calendar." Johanna says
"Okay" I say
"You bringing the boyfriend?" Johanna asks
"I'll see if he wants to come" I say
"And if he doesn't?" Johanna asks
"Then I'll come" I say
"What if he tries to stop you?" Johanna asks
"He can't" I say
"He practically owns you" Johanna says
"No he doesn't" I say angrily.
"Whatever you say" Johanna says.
When I get home Gale is in the kitchen making dinner.
"Hey babe" He says giving me a kiss as I enter.
"How was school?" I ask him
"Fine. You?" Gale responds
"I teach Eighth graders." I say. Gale chuckles.
"Johanna told me the Christmas work party is in two weeks" I say. Gale groans.
"Do I have to go to that?" Gale asks
"No but it would be great if you did" I say
"Pass" Gale says
"Come on Gale. Make an effort" I say
"I've met your friends" Gale says
"Barely" I say
Saturday
At The Restaurant
Gale and I walk into the restaurant. Its big and beautiful. There are paintings on the outside and inside. They are beautiful paintings. Aurora Borealis. Stars. Outer space. We're greeted by a man.
"I'm Graham Mellark, welcome to our restaurant" Graham says. He guides us to our seats. There are many tables but only the center table is decorated. We sit at the table.
"Your chefs will be my sons, Peeta and Rye" Graham says. The names sound familiar. "We'll be with you in a moment" he says after pouring our water.
"Gale I think we should talk about something" I say
"About what?" Gale asks. I pause, thinking of how to say it. I notice a small stage on the side if the restaurant, there's a microphone set up. Probably for opening day. There's no one out here.
"Maybe it'll be easier if I sing it" I say. I walk up to the stage and connect my phone to the speakers through Bluetooth. I look for the acoustic version if the song and press play. The music starts.
You don't own me
You don't own me
You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys
Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display
You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display
I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
And I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please
Huh! Hey!
Ohh-oh nooOhh
Noo no-ohHell
No no no-ooh
Don't, you don't
Hey!
You don't own me
NahNah nah nah nah nah nah
You don't own me
You don't own me
Gale eyes look livid, he's angry. He walks up to the stage.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gale asks me angrily.
"You are too controlling Gale. I don't like when you show me off to your friends. I don't like when you tell me I can't hang out with my friend because he's a guy. I don't like when you try telling me what to to. I'm your girlfriend, but you don't own me" I say calmly. Gale scoffs
"Where's all if this coming from?" He asks.
"I've made excuses to Prim and to my friends about the way you are with me, but this has to stop. Each day it gets worse. Gale you are too controlling" I say
"This is about that fact that I don't want to go to your stupid friends Christmas work party" Gale says
"No its not, and don't call them stupid" I say
" I'll call the people who are messing with your head whatever I want."
"They aren't messing with my head! Can you just admit you're controlling and stop being a fucking bastard!"
Before I know whats happening, Gale's hand is raised and I feel a sharp pain in the left side if my face. The slap echoes in the room. I look at Gale shocked. I know Gale has his issues, but he hit me. I feel something trickling down my face. I raise my hand to my face and feel it. I lift my hand to look at the substance. Blood. I lool at his hand. He's wearing the ring he taked pride in. The ring cut me. I feel anger boiling inside me. I walk off the stage and back to the table, I grab my bag and strart walking towards the door.
"Katniss where are you going?! Gale asks
" Away from you!" I say
"I didn't mean to hit you. You made me mad and I lost it" Gale says. I turn around and narrow my eyes at him.
"Don't you dare blame me for this. I know that relationship problems aren't one sided but you slapped me. This relationship is over" I say
"Ma'am, are you alright? Would you like some help?" Graham asks me. I turn and see him watching us and holding out a napkin to me. I take the napkin from him.
"I'm fine, thank you" I say.
"Where are you going? You don't even have a car, you gave your to Prim" Gale says.
"Thats none of your business" I say angrily "I'll be at your place at noon to get my stuff"
"Come on Catnip, don't do this" Gale says
"Don't call me that" I say before leaving. I get outside and its raining. Whatever, I like the rain anyways. I'm drenched within minutes. I pull out my phone and call Madge. My head hurts. He has strong hands and he hit me with a lot of force
Katniss?
Hey Madge
What's up? I thought you were on a date with Gale?
I broke up with him.
What happened?
He slapped me Madge, I sob Its raining, I don't know where to go
Come to my place
Really?
Yeah. Dammit my cars in the shop
I'll just get an Uber or Lyft
Okay, I'll start fixing stuff for you
Thanks Madge
Of course.
Instead of getting an Uber or Lyft, I walk into a store. I'm having trouble walking in my high heels because I'm wet and I'm slipping. I take off my shoes and hold them. I walk to the back of the store where they have the alcohol. I grab a bottle and head to the front to pay. People give me strange looks as I pass. I must look strange. My hair is drenched. I'm barefoot. There are tears down my face. My mascara is running from tears and rain. I'm holding a naplin to my face that has a line of a cut across my cheek. The left side of my face is red from being slapped so hard.
"Miss are you alright?" A woman asks me
"I'm fine." I say
"Should I call someone?" The woman asks
"Not necessary" I say, going up to pay for my bottle.
I show them my I.D. and pay. I walk outside taking a swig from my bottle. Fuck Uber! Fuck Lyft! I can walk to Madge's apartment. I'll enjoy my bottle and the rain. I start walking and Gale's car starts following me. He's driving slowly and drives along the sidewalk as I walk.
"Katniss get in the car" Gale demands
"No" I say
"Stop being stubborn and get in" Gale says
"I'm done with you! Leave me alone!" I shout. Gale starts to say something but the cars behind him start honking their horns. He has to keep moving. He drives off, but I know he'll be back. I start waking faster, drinking my bottle as I go. I hear footsteps running up behind me. Suddenly the rain stops hitting me. I look up and an umbrella is covering me. I turn around and its the man I grabbed at the arcade.
"Katniss, let me give you a ride home" Peeta says. I'm surprised he remembered my name.
"I'm fine" I say
"My brother and I saw what happened at the restaurant, we were just going home, let us take you home" Peeta insists.
"Really I'm fine" I say
"Katniss its pouring rain and its only gonna get worse. You're freezing" Peeta says
"I don't need anyone" I say stubbornly. My phone starts ringing. Its Gale. I decline it.
"Come on Katniss" Peeta insists. Just because I know it would make Gale angry, I say yes. Peeta walks me back to his car. He opens the back door for me and I get in and sit down. He takes off his jacket and covers me in it. He closes the car door and goes up to the drivers seat. The passenger seat is occupied by his bother Rye.
"Where are we taking you?" Rye asks. I give them Madge's direction and Peeta starts driving.
When we pull up to Madge's building, I put my high heels back on because I know that the floor will be freezing. Peeta
opens the car door for me. I step outside and I slip. Peeta helps me walk into the lobby. The elevator is broken.
"Are you gonna be able to walk up stairs?" Peeta asks me
"Its only the second floor" I say. I start walking up the stairs. Around the fifth step, my heel breaks and i fall.
"Ow! I think I twisted my ankle" I say. I rub my ankle. Great now I'm in more pain. Could tonight get any worse? Peeta comes over to me and helps me up. I out my arm around his shoulder for support. I take off my high heels and Peeta helps me walk as I limp up the stairs. He helps me make my way to Madge's apartment. He knocks on the door. We wait a moment before Thom opens the door. Thom is her boyfriend. He comes to my other side and the two of them guide me to the couch. Madge comes into the living room and hands me a wipe. I wipe my face clean. She grabs her first aid kit and puts these little white, "I" shaped bandages along the cut. Thom is asking Peeta what happened.
"I'll go get some of my pajamas for you" Madge says walking off to her room. I turn to look at Peeta.
"Thanks for the help Peeta" I say
"Of course, maybe next time you come to the restaurant we can have you try something" Peeta says. I nod. Thom thanks Peeta as Peeta leaves.
"That ring of his cut you?" Thom asks me, I nod. Madge comes back into the room and she gives me her pajamas. I limp my way over to her bathroom with the help of Madge. She runs the bath for me and tells me to leave my clothes outside the bathroom and she'll dry them for me.
45 Minutes Later
I am sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket drinking hot chocolate.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Madge asks me
"I love him. We had a bad relationship to he honest. I made excuses for him but we loved each other. I swore to myself that I would never let a man hurt me. There's no stopping emotional hurt, but I would never let a man physically hurt me. I swore I would break up with him that moment " I say, my voice breaking
"You did the right thing" Madge says. " If he gets away with it once, who's to say he won't do it again"
"You're right, but he was the first man I fell in love with" I say
"I know honey, things will get better though, abd you're welcome to stay as long as you like."
Hey people! So I couldn't resist writing this! I know this would be my third story in progress and I already have a lot on my plate, but Secret Couple is coming to an end so I'll do my best to keep Hidden and this story up to date. The name of this story is currently You Don't Own Me but if you guys come up with a better name please tell me.
The song she sang is You Don't Own Me by Grace the no rap version.
