Chapter 7
I had hoped to eat breakfast alone for some time to think, but almost as soon as I had settled down with my bowl of oatmeal, Finnick joined my table with a young woman in tow. I had never been formally introduced to Finnick, but I knew him from the Games and I had spotted him at a handful of military strategy meetings since his arrival in District 13.
"Gale Hawthorne, right?" He asked as he pulled out a chair for his companion.
"Yes. Finnick Odair?"
"That's the name." He leaned across the table conspiratorially. "And I hope you're not going to pretend that you're Katniss's cousin around me. That reality television performance that she's had going with Peeta might fool every purple-haired lemming in the Capitol, but it doesn't fool me."
I grinned, instantly at ease with Finnick. "You're the first person I've met here in District 13 who hasn't believed it. It's about time somebody saw through that one."
"If you were her actually her cousin, she would listen to her instincts and let herself fall in love with Peeta Mellark. You know, the other boy from your district?"
"Yes," I replied curtly. I diverted my attention back to my oatmeal.
"Hey now. Take it easy. It's only breakfast," he reminded me. "Have you met Annie Cresta, my beautiful bride-to-be?"
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I replied, grateful for the change in subject. I extended my hand to Annie, but instead of shaking it, she shrunk back against her chair. Finnick set down his spoon and wrapped both of his arms around her, pulling her closer. I retracted my hand and shot Finnick a questioning glance. He whispered something in Annie's ear, and she seemed to relax, although she avoided eye contact with me for the rest of the meal.
"She just arrived in District 13 a few days ago," Finnick explained slowly, as though he were choosing his words with great care. "Soldiers on the same mission that rescued Peeta brought her home."
"We would have been on the hovercraft together then," I said, watching Annie cautiously. She was staring distantly at the wall behind me, but clinging to Finnick's arm as he took her hand.
"You saved Peeta?"
"My team covered most of the strategic planning, but they sent me in."
Finnick nodded, his forehead creasing slightly at some unknown sobering thought. "How is Peeta?"
I glanced tellingly at Annie and shook my head slightly. It can't be pleasant for her to hear this conversation. Finnick sighed. Just how well did he know Peeta?
"Can I visit him?" Finnick asked.
"You can try. They cleared me to see him, but he's... sensitive. Check in at the nurse's station and they can tell you what's going on."
Finnick and I each directed our attention to our oatmeal. I scooped the mush from side to side, building mountains and then flattening them with the bottom of my spoon. If I knew Finnick better, I could ask him about the Games. I could ask him about Peeta and Annie. Peeta never mentioned her. Then again, I hardly know anything about Peeta or what he went through. He might not even know exactly what he endured himself. And Finnick could tell me about Katniss, about the nature of her real relationship with Peeta. Then again, maybe it's better if I don't know about that. If Katniss loved him in the Games, she loved the baker's son. The baker's son doesn't exist anymore.
I glanced up when Finnick moved to clear his and Annie's bowls. "We'll be heading out now," he said. "Breakfast was a pleasure."
I did my best to produce a smile, for Annie's sake. "It was lovely to meet you," I told her. She refused to meet my gaze.
"Gale... about Katniss and Peeta..." Finnick began. My back straightened to attention, sending pain shooting through my left shoulder. "Don't try to rush Katniss. She'll make the right decision on her own, whatever that is. And be kind to Peeta. He once loved Katniss with everything that he was. He's been through trauma that you could never imagine. But if somewhere deep down he still loves Katniss the way he did in the Games... Then for Katniss's sake, let him."
Thank you so much for reading! I hope that everyone has been enjoying the story. There is so much more to come. Please review-I really do appreciate them!
