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"Gale," I say evenly, "Didn't plan on seeing you here today." Or ever, for that matter.
"Who's at the door, sweetheart?" Peeta says, using Haymitch's word of 'endearment.' He obviously is still playing along with my little charade, unaware of Gale's presence.
"It's Gale and his…" I struggle with the word "family." I hear Peeta get off his stool and come toward the door.
"Well, we came to visit my mother and Rory and Posy. I just thought we'd drop by, it being Peeta's birthday and all." Gale smiles a cruel, smug smile at me and looks at me with those eyes. It takes everything I have to not slap the look off his face. The nerve to come and ruin Peeta's birthday! Because those are obviously his intentions. Why else would he show up uninvited, towing his wife and kid? That son of…
"Hello Gale!" Peeta says, interrupting my train of thought. "How have you been? It's been so long."
"Yes, long time, no see." Gale responds, nonchalantly.
Ugh, Peeta's so good with words. They sound friendly and inviting, like he genuinely cares about Gale, while I sounded so distant and mechanical. I snap back into reality.
"Well, uh, come in please." I say, trying to sound pleasant.
I can already tell this is going to be a long afternoon. I usher them inside and sit them in the living room, and bring them some small appetizer platters I had saved for the party.
All four of us sit down, Peeta and me on one couch and Gale and his wife on another. After a few awkward seconds, Peeta finally breaks the ice.
"Would you be so kind as to introduce your-" he contemplates his word choice, "lovely companion, Gale?" Peeta says, gesturing to the pregnant girl.
"Wife," Gale corrects him. No shit. Peeta can sense my anxiety, and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. This immediately calms me.
"8 years next month." He says, smiling at his wife.
"Peeta, Katniss," his voice falter a little on my name, but he regains his composure. "This is my wife and the love of my life, Lydia." His wife, Lydia apparently, blushes slightly. I don't know if it's just me but Gale's words sound forced, as if he doesn't really mean them. Are you stupid Katniss? How can he not love her? He's been with her for 8 years, they have, are going to have, 2 kids. I take in a deep breath and notice everyone is staring at me.
"Nice to meet you, Lydia." I say quietly and Peeta looks at me subtly but with questioning eyes. I shake my head discreetly, a sign telling him we'll talk about it later. He seems to understand.
"What about the little one?" Peeta says, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Oh, this is Tristan." Gale says, ruffling the kid's hair. He's sitting on the floor between his parents, playing with something in his hands. Peeta looks at the child with almost fascination, probably wishing we had one of our own. Soon enough, Peeta I think.
"And how old are you?" Peeta asks, directing the question at Tristan. He ignores Peeta, obviously too absorbed in whatever he's playing with. Lydia clears her throat, trying to get Tristan's attention. He's completely oblivious and she answers for him, clearly embarrassed.
"He turned 7 just last month."
I nod toward her belly.
"You're expecting?" I ask her, rather bluntly.
"Yes," she says, radiance seems to roll off of her as she talks about her pregnancy. A pang of jealousy hits me and I wish more than anything that I was expecting too.
"Do you have children?" Lydia asks, and this question catches me off guard though I don't really know why. Peeta is about to answer, when I interrupt him.
"As a matter of fact, I'm with child right now." I say confidently. Gale's eyes widen, Peeta looks at me, perplexed, and Lydia looks genuinely happy.
"Is this your first child? You must be so excited! How many months are you long? How do you feel?" All these question pour out of Lydia. What the hell did I just get myself into? I think. I need to get out fast before I say something stupid.
There's a knock on the door.
Well that was convenient.
"I'll get that." I say a little too eagerly. I walk toward the door, glad to have a reason to leave the room. I can feel Peeta's questioning eyes on me but I try to ignore them. I'll have to explain everything to him later. I sigh at the thought. I open the door and find Annie there, with her young son and a toddler in her arms.
"Dylan, I haven't seen you in so long! I missed you!" I say, embracing the 8-year old. He is an exact replica of his father; the bronze hair, the sea-green eyes, the golden tan skin, and that makes his presence so much more bitter-sweet.
"I missed you too, Aunt Katniss! I wish I could live here with you and Uncle Peeta, but there's no water here." I smile at his random comment.
"Tell you what; if we have time tomorrow I'll take you to this really nice lake in the woods." His eyes brighten and he hugs me.
"Thank you, Aunt Katniss!" I chuckle and ruffle his thick hair.
"You're welcome. Now go inside and say hi to Peeta." He nods and runs off toward the living room.
I embrace Annie, and seeing the confusion in my face as I see the toddler in her arms, she quickly introduces her.
"Katniss, this is Marilyn, my daughter." My eyes widen and I make no attempt to hide my surprise. The girl is at least 2 years old. Why did Annie fail to tell me she was pregnant? Did she really get over Finnick? Enough to be with someone else? Annie seems to pick up my mood rather quickly and explains.
"She's not really my daughter, biologically I mean. I adopted her a year ago." My face relaxes, and I'm embarrassed for overreacting. She loved Finnick more than anything; of course she wouldn't go with another man.
"I'm sorry for overreacting, Annie. I was just a little surprised. And she looks so much like you I thought…" I say, apologetically.
"Don't worry about it, Katniss" She assures me, giving me a hug. She frowns slightly.
"But what's wrong with you? Is something wrong?" For being so quiet at times, Annie was really perceptive.
"It's just I told Gale and company I was pregnant but I'm not and just the fact that he's here…"
"Wait, Gale is here?" She asks quietly, her frown deepening.
"Unfortunately," I say, grasping my elbows.
"That bastard," she whispers with hushed rage, as anger starts to sprout on her delicate features. I look at her, confused at her sudden resentment. She doesn't bother to answer the confused look on my face. She hands me her daughter and I obediently take Marilyn and place her on my hip.
Annie casually walks into the living room, where Haymitch is now present, and heads straight toward where Gale is. He sees her and the blood starts to leave his face.
"Annie," Gale says with false cheerfulness, "How are yo-" His greeting is interrupted by the sound of the slap to his face.
"That's for calling me a stupid, frightened whore." Annie says silently but with so much fury she might as well me screaming it. Everyone falls silent, even the kids, and stares at them
"And this," she says, slapping him again, "Is for calling Finnick a useless, superficial coward," Annie's voice lowers slightly but it's still loud enough for the rest of us to hear,
"and for letting him die." Her voice cracks on the last words and I can tell she's on the verge of a breakdown. I walk toward her, trying to help her, but she just simply shakes her head and walks out of the room as if nothing happened.
sorry if Annie is kind of OOC, but in this story she's a little more "grown up" and less scared, i guess.
And i also apologize if you really love Gale because i'm making him look like such a jerk! :(
but HEY! i story has to have a plot right ;D
all in all, people change over time, for better or worse, and characters are people so yeahh!
