Ace High by K. Jessica Ramirez

Chapter 6:

You can almost feel the awkwardness in the air. Posy and Haymitch are speaking to Mrs. Hawthorn completely ignoring me. I mean I get how mistaking your daughter for the help is harsh but forgive and forget, right? Mrs. Hawthorn and her family does not have to be so rude.

This is seriously not what I expected when agreeing to come here. If I knew that Gale's family was not only redneck trash but impeccably rude I wouldn't even have agreed to marry Gale. Yes I am that angry.

That asshole just left me to go 'Base Burner', which I later found out meant drink whiskey, with some girl without my consent and to make it even worse he left me with his mother. I'm inching to get back to New York already. I even miss the hobos.

I tear myself from my sullen thoughts and try to tune into the conversation.

"Ya'll will still be coming 'round for Sunday dinner right Posy?" Mrs. Hawthorn asks directing her question towards her daughter.

I internally raise an eyebrow and turn to really inspect Gale's sister. I vaguely remember Peeta mentioning her marriage but Posy looks sixteen at most. Her husband, Haymitch aka Hangover, sits next to her lazily not really paying attention to the ladies conversation.

"Yes Maw" Posy answers reminding me of her southern accented voice.

I choose this moment to intervene. I might hate Gale at the moment but I'm still marrying him and don't they always say Texas people are huge on family? I need to make them like me or at the very least stand me.

"Gale never mentioned you were already moved out." I comment towards Posy.

Posy turns to me with the same dust of hatred in her eyes but it's less so now, for which I'm thankful for. However her mother turns at the sound of my voice sending daggers in my direction. I hold her glare for a moment before turning towards Posy. I have never let anyone intimidate me I am not starting now.

"That is of none of your business." Mrs. Hawthorn states firmly sending a glare in my direction.

I feel my temper bubble and try to rise to the surface but I push it down. This woman no matter who she is related too has nothing on me and I won't give her the satisfaction of speaking to me in this matter.

"Mrs. Hawthorn I sure hope I am mistaking the tone of your voice because I do not appreciate nor will I stand for anything below politeness." I spat in her direction.

I stand from my seat as both woman stare stunned at my comment. I feel a smug smirk cover my lips. I may be knee deep in Texas land but I have and never will be anything short of a powerful business woman.

"Doll I may just take a liking to you." Haymitch says clearly laughing at the faces of Posy and Mrs. Hawthorn.

I smirk in his direction before turning back to the woman.

"I'd like to be escorted to my room now." I state to both woman.

Mrs. Hawthorn is the first to compose herself but does not bother answering me instead settling for sending daggers at me. Haymitch laughs again but this time gets up. I watch him from the corner of my eye to see his motioning for a hallway. I nod at him and grab my things from the corner.

"Come on darlin' I'll show ya to Gale's room." Haymitch says as he leads me down another hallway.

Haymitch leads me into a room at the far end of the house. I move to step into the room I notice that Haymitch leaves as I roam inside the room. The room looks like such a clique hick decorated room it's just sad. This is clearly Gale's childhood room and obviously he had none of the taste he now holds. This room is in serious need of a makeover.

The queen size bed has a cow print comforter with a homemade cover decorated with horses. There is a deer head put on display above the small closet along with the skin of an alligator. The only normal parts of the room are the couple of childhood pictures of Gale and his family.

I still can't manage to wrap my head around my perfect Gale being related to these people. He's never once showed any signs of having this type of history. I may never have shared much about my family or my past but at least I wasn't hiding behind a persona that I obviously am not. The New York Gale I know wouldn't even consider these people proper acquaintances.

Gale would have stuck by my side, not run off with some redneck to get drunk. Again something he never would have done in NY. I can count on one hand the number of times I've even seen Gale with a drink in his hand.

Gale better be prepared for the fight of his life he most defiantly is going to get when he gets home. I don't care if we are in his mother home, I'll be damned if I let my own fiancé treat me without respect. I don't even care if the whole damn trash state of Texas knows I'm fighting with him. I dare him to even suggest that I'm making a scene and then I'll really show him a scene.

Cashmere always said I loved myself a good fight and damn is she right. I am done letting Gale treat me like a child. He's never done it in New York and he will not start just because were in his lame excuses of a childhood town.

I climb into the bed with every intention of waiting for Gale only to blow up on his most likely already drunk. I lean against the head board. I watch the clock across the room on the bedroom drawer change absentmindedly. Time ticks by with the pace of a snail. It's already one in the morning when I start to feel my eyes droop. I close my eyes for a few seconds only to be devoured by sleep itself.

I jolt away at a sound. My heart hammer in my chest and I take in my unknown surrounding. Where am I? In the next second I take note of the crickets chirping outside and my memories come flooding in. Right I'm in Dawson, Tennessee. Oh Joy.

Another noise brings me from my thoughts. I move to turn on a side lamp. I wonder if they have thieves in this town or if even that's too modern for these prehistoric dinosaurs. Gale was right about one thing. No internet here aka no connection to society. Wait, I think I remember towns having bandits or something like that in the moves.

As my eyes adjust to the light I take in the sight before me. Gale stands hunched over clutching the bedpost for dear life. His eyes are blood shot read and his hair is matted down with sweat. I move to help him stand. Even if I am way angry at him it wouldn't do either of us good to see him free-fall towards the floor.

I maneuver his arm around my shoulder and place his weight onto my shoulders. The strong smell of hard alcohol burn my nose immediately.

"Damn Gale would it kill you to hit a gym once and a while" I comment to him as I stagger to get him to the bed.

He ignores me obviously too drunk to even comprehend my presence. He turns lazily to me as I flop him onto the bed with a small oof.

"Madge" He slurs in my direction waving a finger in my face.

"Fuck off Gale. I'm Katniss, your pissed off fiancé who is too tired to deal with her drunk fiancé." I mutter throwing his finger back to him.

I start to make his belt come loose to strip him to only his boxers for bed. I'm not cruel enough to make him sleep uncomfortably in clothes although it is tempting. Damn my good nature.

"Katniss" He states looking at me.

I nod at him and continue with my work of riding him of his clothes.

"Can't know" He slurs once again.

"You know what Gale? Shut up. I am not in the damn mood to even deal with you right now. I mean what were you thinking? Oh I'll just surprise my wife by taking her to meet my family who lives in damn Texas and then go for drinks with some 'family friend' that she doesn't even know. Great plan Gale. Just wonderful" I spat sarcastically.

"You know the only man who's actually acted like a man today is your friend Peeta. My own fiancé threw me to the wolves and then left me to get goddamn drunk. You know what I am not dealing with this! What is with you Gale-" I rant on.

Another noise breaks me from my rant. I turn my head up to see that Gale is snoring. Oh heck no! He did not just put me through everything that he did today and then fall asleep on me mid-rant. He will pay for this. After I strip him down to his boxers I grab hold of his feet and begin to drag him to the porch. I feel my inner evil master mind chuckling beside herself.

I can't wait until he wakes up naked on the front porch. Oh what genius idea on my part. I stifle a giggle as I close the front door and make it back to my room. I catch sight of Haymitch standing in the corner with a beer in his hand. I think about explaining myself but then decided against it. He is my fiancé and I don't have to explain anything between us to anyone.

I signal for him to be quite and make my way back to my room again. I hear a soft chuckle coming from his direction. Maybe he and I could at least get on good terms.

I throw myself onto the bed content with my payback. Oh morning come soon!

A chime wakes me from my slumber. I turn to notice the time. Five AM sharp. The noise has to be the alarm clock set for my morning workouts. I guess I should find out another way to wake up every morning without Gale finding out about my stashed phones and laptop.

I jump up and quickly dress in my jogging spandex and hot pink sports bra. Living in New York I never have the chance to actually jog on the streets but here I can. That may be the only benefit to this place.

I run out the house quietly. I stifle a laugh as I pass Gale curled up in a ball on the porch.

I start out on my jog. I set off down the street. Thankfully no one really lives within walking distance of each other here. I really wish I had thought to smugly my IPod into my carryon before coming here. What is a run without music? I'll tell you, torture.

"Hey der little lady."

My head snaps to the right coming to a full stop. I catch sight of Peeta standing by a fence. I jog over to him to say good morning. It is the least I can do he was at least bearable yesterday.

"Good morning" I greet as I come to stand by the fence.

"I'd say so" He replies quietly.

I raise an eyebrow but he shakes it off.

"So what's got you up so early?" I ask him.

Good job, Everdeen. Creating polite conversation is why you made it so big in New York. You have great communication skills.

"I saw a woman running round like a madwoman thought I might need to call the sheriff." He answers chuckling to himself.

"It's called jogging" I counter scowling at him.

"Call it what ya want ain't nobody round these parts go 'jogging'. Anyone else woulda called you crazy. You oughta be mighty thankful I caught sight of you first." Peeta replies trying to act serious but there's a certain tone of playful.

"Oh thanks so much for saving me from everyone's opinions." I answer sarcastically.

As if they all didn't already hate me.

"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't stopped me. Oh wait I know maybe keep jogging." I continue just as sarcastically.

"Anytime" He answers still playfully and then adds in a more serious tone "However 'round here it ain't in a ladies best interest to go round without a man."

I laugh at him this time until I notice he isn't laughing with me. He cannot be serious. I mean come on this is the two thousandth generation. Woman not only have rights but hold powerful positions in this economy, myself very much included.

"Oh come on Peeta. I can handle a couple of boys." I reply trying to joke off the serious tone.

Peeta is pretty cool and if I only make one friend this summer I hope it's him.

"Can ya handle a Buscadero holding a Blue Lightnin to your head to have his way with you in the dead of night with no help, in a town you ain't know."

So much for having a light conversation and for amazing communication skills.

"English Peeta." I reply already annoyed with this country talk.

It's only been a day and a half and I already feel like I could blow my brains out. Peeta scowls at my lack of understanding.

"You needa learn our lingo if ya gonna survive sweetheart. Buscadero means a gunman and Blue Lightin means a six shooter or gun."

"Peeta I'll be fine, I live in New York, home of cocky men, I'm sure I can handle myself here too." I reply reassuring him.

I pat his shoulder and turn to continue my jog. He grabs my hand before I could move it. I turn back to him with an eye brow raised.

"I just warned ya. I be damned if I still let ya outta my sights." Peeta says.

"So what, you're gonna join me in my jog?" I ask him my eye brow still raised.

"Yupp"

"Okay"

"So let's go" He suggests as he jumps the fence.

"Aren't you going to change?" I ask eyeing his outfit.

He's dressed in normal clothes. He has on a black button up long sleeve with blue jeans. He has on his ever present black cowboy hat and oldish boots too.

"Into what?" He asks.

"Into something exercise worthy?" I answers pointedly looking at his outfit.

"I told ya ain't no one 'jog' 'round here"

"Fine let's go"

I start to job off in the direction I was in before. Peeta runs up to catch up with me. After a while he manages to keep a constant speed alongside me. I turn to watch Peeta look determinedly at the road ahead. His nose in scrunched up as he continues to run. He looks almost childlike, it's adorable. His grey eyes flicker to catch me staring. My cheeks heat up instantly. Bad Everdeen, no checking out other men. Peeta gives me a smile that looks so sincerely it almost makes my breath catch in my throat. I haven't seen a sincere smile in years. Now I really hope we become friends.