So I've been taking a little longer to upload so I apologize, but this chapter is here lol so yeah. So what can I say, I hope you have as much fun reading this as I do writing it lol. And as always reviews are always appreciated. =D
Chapter 6: Dinner
Peeta POV:
The second I wake up the pain in my head is beyond belief. The dim morning light feels like a thousand suns against my eyes.
"Crap!" I say to myself as I put a pillow over my head. How could I have been so stupid. Drunk? What was I thinking? Small images flash into my brain. I know I spoke to Katniss, but what I said is a blur to me. What did I say. I prop myself up against the headboard and instantly flashes go through my brain. I remember kissing Katniss. Or maybe she was kissing me? Damn it why would I go to Haymitch at a time like that. What did I expect to happen? By now any progress I made with her is most certainly gone. Still one memory rings clear and true in my head. I saw her kissing Gale.
I close my eyes and lean my head back. The throbbing in my head is excruciating. After a few minutes I decide to get up. I stumble towards the bathroom, each step resounding loudly in my head. My eyes have yet to adjust to the extremely bright lights. "Lightweight…" I whisper to myself. I don't bother to turn on the light in the bathroom; my corneas have suffered enough. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and stumble blindly back to my bed. Just a few more minutes…I'm not ready to face the day and all of its consequences.
"Feeling better?" I hear a soft voice say. Alarmed quickly prop myself up on my arms and shift my head painfully around the room. My senses ache to keep up with the motion. There, in the corner of the room, near the window, where the light is at is painfully brightest I see Katniss sitting on a rocking chair covered with a quilt.
I stare at her completely unsure of how to react. "Feeling better?" she repeats.
"I feel like death." I let myself fall back to the bed and stare at the roof. There is no point in keeping appearances now. "I'll get you something for your head. Where do you keep your tea?"
"It's in the same place where you keep yours. Peppermint if I have any. Please." She stops for a minute, I assume to imagine they layout of her house, before leaving the room.
Minutes later she returns with two cups of steaming tea and some bread in a platter. "I took the liberty if you don't mind." I only nod. We drink and eat in silence. Neither one of use sure of what to say, she breaks the silence. "Do you remember anything? From last night?"
"I'm not sure if I do, should I be apologizing for something?" I say, maybe that kiss was more of an assault? "Not really." The way she's acting…maybe we didn't kiss at all, maybe it was part of some drunken dream.
"Thank you for taking care of me…"
"I'm just returning the favor." The nonchalant nature of her voice makes me think she's hiding something.
"What is it Katniss did I do something I'll regret."
"No, you did nothing wrong. Except the obviously stupid choice of getting drunk." I stare her down, trying to probe into her mind, to know what is going on through her head.
"What about you? Anything you regret?" my question catches her off guard; she's silent for a few moments then smiles. "No, I don't think so."
I smile back. "Good." Still I wonder if she's lying. "Will your mother be worried?"
"I don't think so. I often go out early in the morning to hunt so I don't think she'll notice."
"Oh good, I didn't want to cause you more trouble. Was I that bad that you had to stay the night?" I see her blush for a moment. "It got really cold and I forgot my jacket, so I just decided to keep an eye on you…" and uncontrollable laugh escapes me. She shoots me a glare. "It's not like I had time to prepare."
"Sorry, sorry I know." I stand and walk towards the closet grabbing a thick wool jacket. "Here, you won't have to be cold." I walk over to her and drape it over her shoulders.
"You really don't remember anything?" She has an almost disappointed expression on her face. "My head is pounding. It's all kind of hazy. If I do you'll be the first to know." I smile warmly and that seems to bring her out of her own thoughts. She gets up, wrapping the jacket tightly around herself. "I'm going to go. You're welcome to come to dinner again. You told Prim you'd beat her at chess today."
"Yeah" I say smiling. "Thanks."
Katniss POV:
He didn't remember anything, well with that much alcohol in his system I guess it makes sense. It's probably for the best, our relationship is complicated enough without him remembering that I kissed him or the things I said.
As I walk out of his room a warm sensation overtakes me. I hang tightly to his jacket and take in its smell; it has the same sweet scent of his skin. It's a cold winter morning but in my current state I feel more than comfortable. "I finally have a jacket." I whisper to myself and laugh silently.
I'm about to reach my house when I hear Gale's voice. "Hey can we talk?" The warm feeling in my body drains and I start to feel the cold of the morning more than ever. I grip tightly to jacket.
He eyes the jacket for a second before he begins to speak. "New jacket?" his voice sounding strangely accusing. "No." is all I say, I don't need to explain myself to him nor I don't want to bring Peeta into the conversation. He drops the subject and continues. "Listen about last night I know I was a little hasty, I know you need time, and you've been through a lot." He takes a deep breath. "You're my closest friend and I don't want to lose you Katniss." I feel my eyes tearing. "You're my best friend Gale I don't want to lose you either." I see his face light up and I hug him tightly. Still in the back of my head I can't help but feel awkward.
We go hunting that day and I feel a great sense of relief that our dynamic hasn't isn't gone. I never feel more comfortable with Gale than when we're hunting. Last night flashes through my head every now and then, and I find that I'm excited for dinner.
"You're in a good mood." Says Gale. "Am I?" I am, but probably not for the reasons he thinks I am.
"Hey I was wondering…do you mind if I stay for dinner at your house today?" my previous excitement is wiped off, but I keep my façade. I don't want him to think that I would hate to spend time with him. But what will happen when he sees Peeta. "Ye—yeah that's fine. What about your family though?" I say, hoping that he feels guilty leaving them alone.
"They'll be fine, the trains have been coming with food all week, there isn't a shortage anymore, I'm really only hunting out of habit." I nod and paint on a nervous smile. "Perfect!" He smiles back and we return to our hunt. But my anxiety doesn't fade. We part ways after a couple of hours of hunting. On my way home a maelstrom of negativity rages in my head. I see cold stares and stinging comments, but most of all I see Peeta hurt and defeated because of me once again.
I should have said something; maybe I should have invited him on a different day. Why would he even want to have dinner at my house? In the years I've known him he's never even made a suggestion of that kind. Well I guess it's not really a mystery it's because he knows Peeta has been having dinner at my house.
Regardless of my nerves the day continues, as it gets closer to dinner my anxiety increases greatly. Every few minutes I look out the window to see if Peeta or Gale is coming or worse yet if they meet along the way. "What's wrong Katniss?" Prim says from the couch. "Nothing…"
"Gale is coming to dinner today…" she makes a strange face. "Why? I mean it's not that I don't want him to come, it's just strange of him."
"Didn't I say he was acting strange?" She looks at me knowingly. "You did, but you didn't say why." I twist my face at her wit. "Maybe later then." She pouts in disagreement and I walk out of the room, unwilling to cave to her demands.
Peeta is first to arrive, he enters the kitchen and sets the bread on the counter. Says hello to Prim and tells her to prepare for her defeat. She just laughs. They seem to have gotten close these past few days. He seems to be in a great mood. Which makes me nervous; I don't want Prim to see his reaction once Gale arrives.
"Can we talk?" He says seriously. I nod but as we are about to walk away I hear the knocking on the door. Crap! I think to myself. I feel my face become numb and my stomach churn. "Are you ok Katniss." I don't' want to answer. I make a motion between a nod and twitch and head to the door.
I hear Peeta settle in the couch with Prim. I open the door slowly and greet and effervescent Gale. It makes it harder to know that his mood won't last long. "Am I late?" he says smiling. "No…" I say slowly. "Right on time."
My mother calls me into the Kitchen to help her with some stew so I lead Gale in and excuse myself. I only catch a glimpse of his jaw muscles tightening as he sees Peeta sitting in the couch laughing with Prim.
Peeta POV:
The second I set my eyes on Gale I see his face muscles tightening, he never seems shy to show his anger. I'd like to think I'm surprised but I guess I should expect this. "Hi Gale." I say as amiably as I can, there's no point in letting him ruin my mood, and I don't want to sulk around Prim, she's much to perceptive.
"Hey" he grumbles, hostility brimming in his voice. He sits on the sits on the couch farthest from us and stares intently.
I try my best to ignore his glares and continue my conversation with Prim, but the glares are unnerving even for Prim. "I'm going to go see if they need any help." Says Prim awkwardly. I give her a glare, begging her to stay, but she ignores my plea.
We sit, in absolute silence for minutes before he speaks. "You've been coming often?"
I nod confidently "Just a few times really." Maybe I should feel awkward but I decided the second I saw him enter the room that I would stand my ground, I'm just as much a guest as he is.
"Oh" he says making no effort to hide his disappointment. "How is your family?" I ask trying to make small talk. "Good, everyone is doing much better now that we aren't being controlled by the Capitol." A small smirk spreads across his face and instantly I understand his meaning. I feel like lunging at him for reminding me that Katniss and my relationship was nothing more than a farce by the capitol but I won't give him the pleasure of knowing he's getting to me. "I'm so glad to hear that." I say smiling brightly at him. I may be feeling vulnerable but he'll never now that.
"How about you and your family." He asks, the smirk all but gone from his face. "They've been doing well. Me too, ever since I won the games with Katniss things have been good, especially now that we're free from the Capitol." His face twitches every time I mention Katniss and myself as a couple, I can play his game too. The muscles in his face tighten once again and I sit back and relax, enjoying my victory.
No matter how much his words hurt me I'll never give him the pleasure. I've had to act calm under much more pain than he can ever inflict on me.
Prim calls us into the kitchen and we get dinner started. I act as normal as possible. I make small talk with Mrs. Everdeen, make Prim laugh a few times, and even get a chuckle or two out of the anxious Katniss. Gale seems to lack charm when the only mood he can portray is anger, and that suits me just fine.
After dinner we all move to the living room, and sit in front of the fire. Katniss offers to make some tea for everyone and asks me if I can help. I glance at Gale to measure his expression but he seems expressionless. Too angry? I think to myself.
In the kitchen I maintain my happy façade, it seems to have worked on everyone but I can tell it didn't work on her. She knows that Gale's presence in something I felt was ours hurt me. "Are you ok?" she asks softly. "Of course Katniss why wouldn't I be." She looks at me sadly and looks into the living room. "I didn't' plan this if that's what you were thinking. It just sort of happened." I don't acknowledge what she already knew, but it makes me glad to hear that. I smile genuinely at her and set her at ease. We prepare the tea in silence. After passing out the tea we settle on the couch with Prim. I promised Prim I would beat her at chess but I was too preoccupied to focus. "I thought you said you'd beat me today?" I smile at her? "I thought I told you to take it easy on me." My wit earns me an innocent laugh. "Next time?" I nod and agree. "Next time!"
Gale did not waste any time, when I look away from the board he's settled next to Katniss on the couch, distracting her from the game. Prim hugs me then Katniss, and Katniss' mother who until now had not spoken bids us good night and goes up the stairs with a triumphantly Prim.
We are left there all alone, staring into the fire. I feel Gales yes burning to the side of my head, measuring and calculating how long he would have to stay until I leave. After almost an hour of silence I give up, there is nothing to be gained from making myself uncomfortable. Or Katniss, who sits anxiously between the two of us. "It's getting king of late, I think I'm going to go back home now, thank you so much for inviting me to dinner Katniss. I appreciate it." I smile at her warmly and she returns the gesture. I get up slowly and give my farewell to Gale who sits with a triumphant expression spread across his face. I'm about to leave when I decide to do it. "Oh Katniss I forgot to tell you when I got here." I lean down a little so that my face is closer to her. "I remember." I smile at her then Gale. "Good night."
As I stand straight I see her face become incredibly red. Gale, who cannot possibly comprehend what my parting words mean, stares perplexed at her complexion.