Ch. 2
I don't know how long I have laid on the ground for. I kept repeating what he said in my mind. I thought so too, until you slept with him. Just thinking about him sends another body – wracking sob, leaving me an utter mess. I eventually get up, and start my two mile trek back to my house, alone. I was supposed to ride home with Peeta, but we all know how that turned out.
I try to keep my mind off him, but all I can do is think about how his curls fall across his forehead, sometimes covering his eyes. Oh, those wonderfully blue eyes. That always look so bright and loving, no matter what. But then I remember the hate and spite in them, just from looking at me. I choke down a sob. No, I tell myself. I will not break down, again. Gale. That name turns my grief into an anger that cannot be contained. He told someone. That's the only way that someone could have known.
Like I told Peeta, it was a huge mistake. I can't believe Gale convinced me to go to that party Friday night. I wore a tight black dress that went down to my knees, while Gale only wore jeans and a tight black t – shirt. When we arrived, people were already passed out on the lawn, making out in a corner, talking, dancing, or upstairs in one of the many bedrooms. "Hey guys! I see you made it!" exclaims the nearly wasted Finnick Odair. "Where's Peeta?" "His mom is making him do that lame extra credit project for Trinket." I explain.
Finnick wanders off to greet more of his guests. Gale and I just grab a cup of beer and sit on the couch talking about the upcoming graduation. To other people, it might seem like we are dating, but let me assure you, it's purely platonic. Gale is like a brother to me. We have been friends since we were born. Our parents were very close with each other.
Two hours later, four cups of beer and a couple shots, I am totally and completely wasted. I can't even stand up on my own; I am leaning heavily on Gale, who has a protective arm around my waist. After hours of dancing, Gale and I say goodbye and leave. We get into his car and he wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Gale! You know I am with Peeta!" I exclaim. Instead of backing off he just leans in and kisses me roughly.
So startled by his aggressiveness, I don't respond. He continues to kiss me while I just sit there. My mind is too foggy from the alcohol and I can't think straight. It's not the first time I have ever kissed Gale, but it was before Peeta. We sat at the edge of the lake my father had showed me when I was a child. All day the two of us fished, talked, and goofed off. The sun was beginning to set, and we sat side by side, watching the glorious colors spread out across the sky. Being with Gale was never awkward, I mean we were best friends, but lately he had kept trying to get closer to me. We were both 13, and I could handle myself, but I didn't want anything to come between myself. Breaking me from my thoughts, he leaned over and put a chaste kiss on my lips. It ended as soon as it started. "I'm sorry," he replied quickly. "I just had to do that at least once." We haven't spoken about it since. I didn't count that as my first kiss, though.
The next thing I know, we were in the back of his car, all of our clothes off. I don't need to go into much detail about what happened. After it happened, I felt sick to my stomach; whether it was from the alcohol or what we just did. He dropped me off at my house, neither of us talking the whole way there. I didn't see him that weekend so I assumed our secret would be safe.
Having replayed the whole night in my mind, I realized I had already arrived at my house. As soon as I walked through the door, I was swamped with questions from Mom and Prim. Not realizing what was going on, I checked my iPhone. Eleven missed calls, seventeen text messages, and four voicemails; all wondering where I have been. Still extremely upset, I ignore them, go to my room, dress in my pajamas, and collapse in my bed.