We finally pulled into the capitol at 1pm. I clasped Peeta's hand, and a porter who had been sent on the train to feed us, took control of our baggage. I'd decided to wear my most comfortable jeans again and I wore a green cardigan. Peeta was also wearing understated clothing-jeans and a beige sweater. I whispered to him as the porter put three bags of luggage into a car that Effie had sent to us, "I don't like the feeling of being back here."
Peeta nodded and whispered back, "Neither do I. But we better suck is up." I bit the inside of my mouth as we hopped into the back of the car. The driver turned around and introduced himself, "Hi, my name is Phillip. I'm Effie's personal chauffer." I nodded and Peeta shook his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Phillip." I smiled at him in thanks for speaking on behalf of the both of us, and Haymitch hopped in the front seat.
I was grateful that the windows were tinted. Effie really had thought of everything! It meant people were less able to see me. Peeta rubbed my shoulder and I sighed as he said, "Everything will be ok." I wanted to believe him. Finally, we got to a large, cottage styled house with white washed walls. The garden was quaint and it seemed to unlike Effie. It seemed to be one of the few un-ruined inner buildings in the capitol. All the others we'd gotten a glimpse at through the tinted windows seemed to have been bombed and run down from the war.
I clutched Peeta's hand tighter as we stepped outside the house, not sure if I was ready for this. Phillip took our luggage out and I said to him, "You don't have to do that." He smiled at me sadly, "For you, Katniss Everdeen, I'd do anything." I forced a smile, not sure how to react to that.
Then I saw a dressed up figure I knew only too well. She was wearing a black jump suit which was pretty simple for her, but still extravagant for me-and she wore extremely tall black high heels to match. Effie came running down the stairs and grinning broadly she gasped, "Katniss! Peeta! Haymitch! Oh how I've missed you all so dearly!" She embraced Haymitch in a tight embrace first before she moved to us. She kissed Peeta on both cheeks first and then she moved to me. Her smile faded slightly as she said slightly less dramatically, "Oh Katniss, how's my girl on fire been?" I forced a smile, "I've been better, and I've been worse." Effie shrugged, "That's a more positive response than the one I was expecting so that's a start." I decided to hide my ring finger and the easiest way to do that was by holding Peeta's hand, so I did.
Effie smiled, "Well, I have a bit of a surprise for you. Your mother has been living with me!" I widened my eyes in disbelief, not sure if I was feeling like this was a good surprise or a bad surprise. I forced a smile though, "That's good news Effie, thanks! Is she home?" Effie shook her head, "Not now. She's at the hospital tending to those who survived the war but sustained life threatening emergencies." I nodded, "And you?" Effie shrugged, "I'm making clothes for the homeless. Simple outfits of course, but simple is better than nothing." I beamed, "Effie that's wonderful! I'm really proud of you!" She looked like she might just tear up, "Thank you my dear. Come, let's get you inside! It's not safe to linger out here."
We followed her up the steps and onto the porch. She opened the grand wooden door and I stopped mid-step and scowled. Gale was standing by a window and I whispered to Peeta, "Let's get out of here. I knew this was a bad idea." Gale said to me, "Hello Katniss. Hello Peeta." His voice was stiff and he wasn't being himself. I didn't even know who he really was any more to be honest. I turned my back to him and made as if to head out when Peeta nodded, "Hello Gale. What are you doing here?"
I turned my head over my back and spat, "Yes, I might ask you the same question!" He wouldn't look at me as he said, "President Paylor has said that I should protect Effie when she goes and gives clothes to the poor. I live here with her and your mother." I felt like I had just walked right into a trap. I said loudly to Peeta, "Come. We're leaving! I'd rather live in Snows mansion than stay in this room for another second!"
I left the room angrily and stormed onto the porch, huffing and puffing. I knew Peeta had followed me and I said heatedly, "She knows I want NOTHING to do with HIM! What is he doing here? I can't stand him! I HATE him!" I screamed. There was silence all around us as Peeta enveloped me in his embrace and I sobbed into his shoulder, "Katniss…Katniss…it's ok. Just ignore him."
However, at that moment, Peeta froze and he removed his arms from my waist. I frowned and he looked lost. He turned back into the house and suddenly I heard yelling. I ran inside and found him throwing books at Gale from one of Effie's living room bookshelves. I panicked and ran over to him, "Peeta…Peeta…it's ok. It's not real." Although, even as I said it, I wondered what wasn't real. Either way, I knew what I had to do to get him to stop.
He was about to throw another book when I grabbed his face and said loudly, "Peeta! Look at me!" He did and his eyes were in a frenzy of anger. I sighed, "Peeta…whatever it is, it's not real." Peeta raised his eyebrows sarcastically, "So he's not in love with you and he isn't a threat to me?" I swallowed hard and whispered, "No. He's not. In truth, he never was."
Peeta visibly relaxed and I smiled as he fell into my arms. I looked at Effie and she looked terrified. Of course, she had never seen Peeta in this state before. Haymitch whispered to her, "Get them to their accommodations now. And get used to it." She nodded and came and stood awkwardly beside us as I let Peeta go. Effie smiled, "I'll show you to your rooms now." I thanked her she led us through the hallways and kitchen to a glass door which led into a garden.
The garden seemed to have smaller lodge buildings and Effie explained , "This road was a road full of bed and breakfast type of housings. Lots of people have moved into them while renovations are being done on the lost buildings." She showed us to a lodge and she opened the door for us. It looked like a mini version of the bigger house- white washed walls, all very plain and simple neutral colored décor. There was a mini kitchen in the left hand corner and Effie smiled, "The fridge is stocked and there is a bathroom to your left over here." She showed us a bathroom that led off the bedroom, which also connected to the kitchen. It was very small, but it was big enough for the both of us."
I smiled, "Thank you Effie. For all of your help." Peeta was still sweating but he nodded, "Yes, thank you. I'm sorry…about that. Just…" Effie shook her head and placed a hand gently on his shoulder, "Peeta, you really don't have to explain yourself dear. I'm just happy you made it out alive in one piece." Peeta smiled weakly, "Thank you Effie. I think I just need to go and sleep."
She nodded and I watched him lie down on the bed as I asked, "Do you need anything Peeta?" He shook his head and smiled, "No Katniss. Thanks." He smiled lazily at me and I nodded as I watched him drift off. We closed the sliding door and Effie whispered to me, "Is that what the capitol did to him?" I nodded and said sadly, "He usually gets set off in dreams. Something he dreams about will trigger it. Or, I think in this instance, the capitol must have show Gale as threatening and seeing Gale again was too much for him."
Effie sighed, "He's lucky he has you to care for him so much." I shook my head, "I'm lucky to have him. I have my moments too, as you know." Effie smiled and whispered, "Would you come and speak to Gale. I think it would be easier without Peeta around." I sighed, "I don't really want to Effie. He…his idea…killed…" I swallowed again and Effie smiled softly, "I know, dear. But I think he needs to talk about it, for his sake."
I suddenly felt exhausted too-emotionally exhausted- and I sighed, "Effie, I think I'm actually going to go and join Peeta, if you don't mind? Wake me if my mother is here please?" Effie nodded, "Of course, sweetheart. Sleep well." I nodded and went to do and lie down on the bed next to Peeta. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and he automatically pulled me closer.
Gale's P.O.V:
I looked at them through the glass sliding doors and shook my head. Effie had just told me that Katniss didn't want to speak to me right now. Would she ever want to speak to me again? I knew she thought I was selfish in my decision, and maybe I was. I didn't mean to hurt her sister though, how could she not see that?!
And seeing the two of them sleeping next to each other like that made me feel ill. She was smiling in her sleep, and so was he. Didn't she realize that the only reason they were together was because they had no other choice? However, with her and me it had always been a choice to be friends. No one had forced us to be friends. I'd always felt more for her than that anyway. And at times, I'd thought she felt the same way.
I couldn't fathom what made her choose Peeta over me, when it was finally her turn to make that decision. I could have gone to district 12 when the war ended, but her mother and Effie had both insisted on Peeta going. I knew Katniss's mother, and she was never vocal about anything, but she had been vocal about me staying here. She'd even shouted at me. I don't think Katniss has even heard her own mother shout before.
But I knew Ivy secretly wanted me to end up with her daughter. Or at least she had, before Prim. Maybe, like Katniss, that had been her deciding factor. I felt like such a failure and I felt like I could never let that down. Katniss would always remember. Her mother would always remember. I felt like I had lost even more family.
I jumped when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Ivy had returned from nursing and she smiled at me, "I see Katniss and Peeta are back, Gale." I nodded awkwardly, "Yes Mrs Everdeen." She smiled, "Gale, how many times must I tell you to call me Ivy?" I shrugged and murmured, "Too often." She nodded and sighed, "How is my daughter?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that. I felt awkward as I glanced at the floor, "Uh…she didn't take seeing me too well. She kind of lost it." Her mother sighed and whispered, "Give her time. She will come around." I shook my head, "Will she? She's so stubborn." Ivy shrugged, "We'll see. She can't ignore you forever. And how's Peeta?"
I shrugged, "He threw a bunch of books at me. Told me I was threatening him and Katniss. Katniss said something about it not being real. I think it was a 'memory' the capitol fed him." Ivy sighed again, "Poor boy. I just worry that this might be a toxic relationship. I worry that she will become too dependent on him. And if something ever had to happen to him again…" I nodded, "I think everyone else thinks the same thing." Ivy shrugged, "But if she's happy, that's the main thing. She deserves happiness more than anyone else I know." I hated to say I agreed with her on that last comment, but I wasn't necessarily agreeing that her happiness relied on Peeta Mallark.
A/N: Hi All! So I just felt like writing from Gale's P.O.V so I can understand what he's thinking. I thought some people might like to read it. Please let me know what you think? I might not do it all the time, this might just be a once off, but it depends on how you guys feel about it? Also I researched and it appears we never find out Katniss's mother's name so I'm naming her Ivy for this story. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
