I promise my updates will be sooner. I was just having a bit of writer's block, but now I know where I'm going with the plot and everything. Thank you to all my loyal readers and reviewers! Here's a virtual cookie.
Chapter 7: The Half-Truth
I wake up and stare at my pregnant belly. As I run my hand over my stomach, I know I can't wait to be a mother and raise this child! I'm actually really happy Gale is the father. That was always the way I had imagined my future when I was younger, but things had definitely changed. I look at the sleeping figure next to me. Peeta.
I feel so terrible to know that soon I am going to be taking away all the joy of being a father from him. But he doesn't deserve my lies anymore. And neither does Gale. I will call him today. And I'll tell him in person the whole truth. It's going to be a long day.
Later that day
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
Oh, come on Gale! Just answer the phone.
"Hello."
"Gale! Oh, I'm so glad you answered and-"
"Katniss?"
"Yes, it's me, Gale."
"Look, I don't want to talk to you." The bitterness in his tone towards me was hurtful and it only increased with his every word.
"But Gale-"
"Why did you call me?"
"Well, I missed you and need to see you."
"Katniss, I DON'T want to talk to you. Better yet I don't want to see YOU! You ripped out my heart and used me."
"Gale, don't act like that. I didn't use you. You know that I love you."
"Love me! Really! Because, sleeping with me and then trying to run out on me isn't usually what I call love."
"Gale! I was scared. You don't understand how it feels to care so much about the two of you and be so torn."
"Did you ever tell him?"
"What?"
"Did you ever tell your precious baker that you cheated!"
"No! Of course, I didn't. It would break his heart."
"Oh, so then it's just okay to break mine. Goodbye Katniss!"
I spoke up right before he could hang up. "I'M PREGNANT!"
"What?"
I couldn't tell him over the phone. So I told a tiny white lie. "And Peeta and I want you to be the godfather of our child!" So it was a half-truth. I was pregnant, but Peeta definitely wasn't the father.
No answer. "Gale! Gale! Are you there?"
"I'm sorry, Katniss, but I think I heard wrong. You want the guy that you cheated on your husband with to be the godfather of your child?"
"Gale, you've always been important in my life. And you're my best friend! Please come back to District 12. Just do this for ME, please."
He was silent for a long time before he spoke up. "Fine. I'll catch the train tonight and be there tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
"Just don't be late picking me up, Katniss." He hung up.
I don't know how that worked, but he actually agreed. He must love me a lot more than I thought!
Gale's POV
I wonder if this is the stupidest decision I've ever made in my life as I pack my things. I love her too much though to stay away. I should stay away. It's not like I can ever be with her. And now I really never can because she's having Mellark's baby. She probably wants to forget that we ever shared that night, too. But as much as I regret going back there, I can never regret being with her that night. It was too special to me to hear her whisper my name as she slept against my chest, and I just tightened my arms around her more. She was mine for that one moment. Atleast, I'll finally get to see her again after all these months. But she'll never be mine again.
