Author Note: I am so glad you guys are enjoying this story. If I'm being honest I'm enjoying this one so much more than my other one! Keep on reviewing! I get so excited every time I have a new one to read. I do not own the Hunger Games.
Chapter four
Katniss has a new boyfriend.
Lately he is all she can talk about. Gale this and Gale that. Gale can hunt Peeta. Gale taught me about all these new snares I can use. Gale and I went swimming in the lake yesterday. Gale kissed me for the first time Peeta! Can you believe it?
I hate Gale.
Thanks to him I barely ever get to see Katniss anymore and I miss her. I've been so bored that I'm begging my dad to give me more hours in the bakery. It's during one of these shifts that Katniss and I share, when she informs that she is going to bring Gale over for Christmas Eve dinner. She thinks it's a good idea if she properly introduces him to the family.
I think it's a terrible idea.
"I don't know Katniss," I start. "You've only dated the guy, what, two weeks?"
"Three." She corrects.
"Oh, pardon me, three weeks. Shouldn't you make sure it's going to last before you go around introducing him to the family?"
"Gale and I are going to be together for a really long time. I can just sense it." She smiles brightly. I bite my lip to keep from groaning in frustration.
"Fine, but I'm getting the protective older brother speech." I insist.
"Peeta shut up. You're what, two months older than me? Shouldn't we leave that to Rye? You can have the 'If you hurt my best friend I'll kill you' speech."
"Why does Rye get to have the brother speech."
She drops the spoon she's using to stir the cake batter and stares off into space.
"I don't know." She says slowly. "I guess… I guess I never thought of you as my brother. I don't mean that to be offending."
I'm not offended, because the truth is I've never thought of Katniss like a sister.
"Alright, Rye can have it." I agree.
"Good! This is going to be so exciting!"
Yeah… I can't wait.
On Friday we all dressed up in our nicest clothes and get ready for our big family Christmas Eve dinner. This will be the first one as the Mellark/Everdeen duo. I would be exited if Gale wasn't coming over. I really don't want to meet the guy who is taking my Katniss away from me. I knock on Katniss's door so I can talk to her about how I've been feeling.
"Come in!"
"Hey, Katniss, I need to tal-" Katniss turns around from her mirror and is standing before me in a knee length dress that hugs her body and accents her curves. It's a bold red that stands out on her skin tone. There are flecks of orange jewels covering the bottom that make it look like she's on fire. Her hair is down and flowing in beautiful waves, and she is even wearing makeup. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." I tell her.
"Thank you Peeta, you're not so bad yourself." She blushes. I love it when I make her blush.
"No Katniss really," I walk over to her and twirl a piece of her hair in my fingers before brushing it behind her ear. "You're stunning."
"Peeta…" She starts. Are faces are very close. We've been this close before, If not closer, but it's never felt like this. The proximity has never made my body tingle with excitement. I start to think that maybe it's because I miss her. But as her lips inch closer to mine, I know that this isn't the case. I feel an over whelming desire to kiss her. Are lips all but brush when the doorbell rings.
Katniss jumps back from me flustered, and races from the room to go greet Gale. I go out into the living room where everyone is saying their hellos to Gale. Gale looks Katniss up and down in a seductive way that makes my skin crawl.
"Wow Catnip. You look hot." He tells her, and she coughs uncomfortably.
"Beautiful." I correct.
"What?" He looks at me.
"She looks beautiful."
"What's the difference?" He says. Is he joking?
"One is a compliment, and one is disrespectful and degrading." I stare him down.
"So who's ready for dinner?" Lily squeals, breaking the tension.
Everyone begins to make their way into the dining area and I take my rightful spot next to Katniss. Gale sits down to her left and she shoots me a warning look to play nice.
Dinner passes through with tension. At least I know my muscles were clenched the whole time. All I kept focusing on was Gale reaching for Katniss's hand and her snapping it away every time. I know that she doesn't want to display her relationship in front of her family like that, but Gale doesn't seem to get the message.
Everything that comes out of his mouth is arrogant. He talks about the military a lot and how he wants to join because he feels so strongly about protecting his country. I'm about ready to stab my ears out by the time he leaves and Katniss shuts the door behind him. He tried to go in for a kiss goodbye but she turned her head quickly so it landed on her cheek. That's my Katniss, not one for public displays of affection.
Rye and Prim chuckle and Lily tightens her lips in a fine line. My dad's face is expressionless.
"I don't like him." I finally say.
"Peeta! You barely gave him a chance!"
"Look, I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking."
"Really?" Katniss looks at everyone. Everyone but Prim nods.
"I kinda like him." Prim offers.
"You like everyone little duck." Katniss sighs.
"If he makes you happy then that's all that matters." My dad says.
Katniss stomps up the stairs frustrated. I follow her, like I always do.
"What's wrong Kat?"
"I don't want to date someone my family doesn't like." She huffs.
"Then don't."
"But I like him. Shouldn't that count for something? I mean, it's my relationship after all." She says crawling into bed. I crawl in after her and take her hand.
"He treats you like an object Katniss. You deserve better than that."
"Maybe I don't." She mumbles into her pillow. I pull her face to look at me.
"Don't you ever say that. You're beautiful, brave, smart, honest, bold, caring, and daring. Everything about you is what's good in this world. Any guy should be lucky to deserve your affection and should offer you the moon in return."
"No guy would ever offer me the moon."
I would. I think to myself.
"Just you wait, someone will come alone and sweep you off your feet before you know it."
"I think I like Gale because in my heart I feel like my father would like him."
"You never did tell me about him."
She sighs and lays her head on my chest.
"My dad loved to hunt. He's the one who taught me how. He made my very first bow and arrows and I still use them to this day. He taught me how to swim, and how to ride a bike. He was kind to everyone that he met, making sure he took his time to greet every last one of them. People used to say that his voice was so captivating, that when he sang even the birds stopped to listen. He had a huge passion in everything that he did and talked about. It made listening to his stories fascinating." Katniss is smiling wider than I've ever seen.
"What happened to him?" I ask.
"He used to work in the mines back where we used to live. When I was eleven he went to work and never came back. Mine explosion." She keeps her face expressionless. "It was the most devastating day of my life."
"I'm sorry." I bring her closer to me and kiss her cheek.
"He would have liked you too you know."
"You think?"
"Yeah, you have some pretty endearing qualities." She laughs.
When she falls asleep lying next to me that night, I stare out the window. It's a full moon tonight and it's almost as beautiful as her, and I can't help but think about how I would love to give that moon to her.
I hope none of you are Gale lovers because I hate him. So next chapter… he's not the best person in the world(; Who's dying for a little kiss between the best friends? I know I am! Review!
