Hi Lovelies!
I am dearly sorry that I could not post this chapter sooner. That last chapter ended in a cliff hanger(to say the least) and I for one absolutely hate waiting to know what happens. This chapter picks up where the last one left off(as in with Katniss's POV), but 3 months later. Hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter up in around a week. Winter break is coming up, and that means more writing time! Expect a lot to come soon. Please, please, please, please review. And now...chapter 10!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, including it's plot or characters. Those belong to Suzanne Collins.
"I still don't see why you have to leave!" I stammer at Peeta. He looks up from his suitcase and into my eyes. He looks tired, exhausted from all the events over the last few months. Ever since Gale called, three months ago, telling me that he would be coming in, things became harder. Although Gale stated he was coming in strictly for capital business, Peeta wasn't so convinced. Personally, neither was I. But I agreed to meet with him. At the very least I needed the closure with him before I could pursue Peeta further. Peeta agreed that he was fine with Gale coming, even with Gale staying in one of our guest rooms. It seemed like Gale's visit was going to go well, until Peeta told me that he was going to district four that same week. His reason was something about bread. Either way, I was, and still am, not happy about him not being there.
"You don't need me here, Katniss. Its just Gale." He replies calmly. I glare at him, desperately racking my brain for a snappy comment. I give up, and go with the second best thing. Guilt.
"I do need you, Peeta. I always have. What if it's something about Prim? Or the Hunger Games? What if I can't handle it alone?"
"Katniss," Peeta says as he turns around and reaches for my hands. His touch sends chills through my body instantly. "Your strong. The strongest woman I know. Don't be afraid, even if it's unknown. It'll be better for you if I'm not here when you hear what he has to say. If not because you need to handle the Capitol business on you own, then because you need the closure with Gale. I can't be here for that to happen, and I think you know that. I'll be back before you know it, you'll see." He releases my hands, turns back towards the bed, and zips up his suitcase. I stay where I am, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest. Although I know he's right, I hate saying goodbye. Every goodbye feels like it might be the last one. You learn to think that way after being in the Hunger Games. Safety becomes a myth, and even though it no longer is, old habits die-hard.
He pushes his suitcase off the bed and onto the ground, and turns back to look at me.
"Walk me down?" He asks politely. I smirk and nod my head. We descend the stairs in silence, and end up at the door faster than I would have hoped. I resume my position as devil's advocate just as he goes to the closet to grab his jacket. Although it's only August, Peeta claims that he needs to have a jacket just in case.
"I just don't understand why you had to go this weekend! Do you really hate Gale that much?" I exclaim. He turns around, and flashes his baby blue eyes at me. I blush slightly. It isn't out of character for me to show my strong emotions, but I may have been a bit over the top this time.
"Katniss, we've been over this. Cassy scheduled my trip. There was nothing I could do unless I wanted to blow off the whole thing, which would have resulted as a very bad business move on my part. It was amazing that the bakers from district four, who hadn't died in the war against the capital, agreed to meet with me and discuss recipes and teach me how to make the district four bread; let alone meet with me so soon! Most of the other districts haven't even responded to my request yet! I need to do this Katniss. It's part of fulfilling my dream."
Once he's finished I avert his eyes. When Peeta's right, it's impossible to argue while keeping eye contact. He has the ability to make you believe whatever he says. I find it an attractive quality, yet not at this moment. And, it isn't entirely his fault either. Cassy, his new assistant and an old friend of his from school, made the trip. He didn't plan for it to be on the same day as Gale's visit; it just ended up that way. This really is a big moment in his life. I shouldn't be angry with him, but rather overjoyed.
Even though most of my anger has subsided, I still feel the loneliness growing inside my heart.
"I just wish you weren't going to be gone for so long." I mutter half under my breath. Peeta's fingers find my chin and tilt it upward so that I'm staring into his eyes. He looks at me curiously, as though for the first time, before leaning in and planting a soft kiss on my mouth. It's short and sweet, and just right. When he pulls away his eyes meet mine, and linger there.
"It's only a week Katniss. Less than the time we spent apart after the Second Hunger Games. I know you can do it, Katniss. Besides, I'll be back before you can say Mockingjay." He winks at me, quickly kisses me on the cheek, turns the doorknob, and leaves. I stare at the open door for a few seconds, processing that Peeta just left.
"Mockingjay." I mumble almost silently, before closing the door and heading back upstairs.
I sit alone in the bedroom for a while before I hear a distinct knock at the door. At first I assume I just imagine it. Peeta couldn't be back so soon, could he? But then, realization hits me, and I slowly get off the bed and go downstairs. Even before I open the door, I know its Gale. The knocking pattern was the same one he always uses. Yet, I'm still surprised when the door swings open and I see a man in front of me instead of a boy. Gale's hair is still brown, and he's as tall as ever. Of course he has muscle, since he's a hunter, but a nice button down shirt and a pair of slacks replaces his normal raggedy clothing. A small bag is slung across his left shoulder, overflowing with files and clothes. He flashes a brilliant smile at me as he walks through the door.
"My, my, Catnip." He beams. "You've become a woman since I last saw you. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen you look better." I look down at myself, checking to see if what he says is true. I'm wearing my usual: black hunting pants and a white short sleeve V-neck. Not amazing, but I guess not to bad either.
"You look pretty good, too." I reply back. We stand awkwardly for a moment, before I rush up to him, jump into his arms, and give him the biggest hug I can muster.
"Oh Gale," I say. "I missed you so much! I thought that the best of our friendship had already passed, what with the bombs and Prim and…" But Gale cuts me off with a long, soothing "Shhhh."
"It's okay, Katniss. I'm here now. And by the time I leave, not only will we have talked about everything from the moon and back, but we'll be better friends than ever, just wait and see." He reassures me. I lay my head onto his shoulder, as he strokes my hair; just like old times.
"Katniss?" He begins. I lift my head off his shoulder as he puts me down. "Do you have anything to eat? I'm starving." As if on cue, his stomach lets out a low growl sending us both into a fit of laughter.
"I'll see if I can whip up something." I reply with a hint of sarcasm. Gale walks over to the island in the kitchen, pulls out a chair, and then plants himself upon it while I go to the pantry to scrounge for food. Luckily, I find some bread and peanut butter. I make my way over to the island, and begin to make us peanut butter sandwiches. Once I'm finished I hand him one triumphantly.
"Impressive. I didn't know you even knew how to cook!" Gale mocks. I stick my tongue out at him, and then proceed to eat my sandwich. After a few bites, I lay my sandwich down, and cut to the chase. The anxiety is killing me.
"So Gale," I begin. "Although I'm glad you're here, why exactly did you come?" Gale reaches into his bag and pulls out a green file.
"Precisely for this reason. This," he says as he points to the file, "is a capitol file on Madge. And before you ask, this is the same Madge whom was the governor's daughter. Remember how she 'died' after they blew up her house? Well apparently those bodies were fake. I don't mean they were someone else's, I mean not bodies at all. However, they are exact replications, and would never have been identified had we not found the real Madge." I look at him in astonishment.
"Do you mean to tell me Madge is alive?" I ask.
"Exactly." He replies. Madge is still…alive? That can't be possible.
"Wait, if she's alive, where has she been?" I inquire. So many questions continue to fill my head about Madge. What on earth is going on here?
"She's at a recovery hospital in the Capitol. My guess is she'll be there for a while. You asked where she's been? Truthfully, we're not entirely sure. I found her wandering around district two with a man; both were bruised badly and had many gashes. They were brutally hurt. Of course I called for and ambulance right away, and got them safely to the hospital. Madge and this man, Blake as she calls him, both had major memory loss. She remembered everything up until the day before her house was blown up. Yet, bits and pieces she can recall. Madge remembered a bit about these 'fake bodies'. It's very advanced technology, Katniss. I'm not even sure I understand it all myself. The basic gist of it is that they gave Madge a bracelet. She could never take off the bracelet because it's attached to her skin. This bracelet took blood and skin tissue from Madge's wrist, and held it inside of itself. As I understand it, the 'clone' body has a computer chip on the inside of its wrist. The DNA from Madge's bracelet is transferred to this chip in order to make a solid hologram. Should Madge take her bracelet off, all that would be left of the "body" is the chip. The chip can make a fake identical body, yet the body is limp. It cannot move. Makes a pretty good dead person don't you think? Sure had me fooled."
"But, but...how does Madge know all that? Who told her? How did she find out?" I don't ask the question lingering in the back of my mind. Does anybody else have a bracelet? Like Prim maybe?
"She doesn't remember. I've been talking to her a lot lately. I'm familiar to her, and she's willing to tell me what she remembers. Blake is in intensive care and can't speak; mostly because of shock. No information has been taken from him yet. In Madge's dreams the images are the most vivid. She told me she keep seeing needles, and blood, and fresh white rooms with an artificial, eerie glow. It sounds to me like she was a lab rat for this process. It's hard for her to talk about what she doesn't know though. The two clearest things in her mind from over the past few months are the replication thing, and Blake. He's her boyfriend apparently."
"And to think I always thought Madge was going to end up with you. Are you okay with her and Blake?" I ask thoughtfully. Gale burst out laughing, leaving me to nervously giggle.
"After everything I've talked to you about, you want to know if I'm okay with Madge and Blake? You definitely are still the same, Katniss Everdeen." He adds playfully. "And of course I'm okay with it. Oh! That reminds me, I have other news to tell you about." He reaches into his bag and pulls out his wallet. He opens it up and inside is a picture of him and Johanna with their arms around each other.
"No way," I gasp. "You and Johanna. Who would have thought?"
"Yep, Me and Jo." He says lovingly. "Nobody would have guessed it. Not even me. After the war, she came to district two too. She didn't have a reason to go back to district seven, and I offered to help her get a job in two. She stayed with me for a week, and I guess you could say we hit it off right away. It's a whole new world living with Johanna, I'll tell you that. She's crazy, and wild, and amazing all at the same time. I think I might love her, Katniss." I can't suppress my giggles or the smile crossing my face.
"Oh Gale, I never thought I'd hear you say love and her in the same sentence. This is fantastic! Wait until Peeta finds out…he'll…he'll…he'll be…" I stop my sentence as a feeling of sorrow washes over me. "He'll probably be happy." I finish meekly. Gale looks at me with concern in his eyes.
"Katniss, is something wrong?" He asks. My eyes meet his, and I shrug.
"I don't know. It's just, Peeta has been gone for hours, not even a day, and look at me! I'm a mess. I can't even talk about him without losing it." A tear trickles down my cheek. Gale lifts his hand and pushes it away gently.
"Looks like I'm not the only one in love." He whispers. I just nod and laugh.
"The problem is he deserves someone much better than me." A look of horror and shock appears on Gale's face.
"How could you say such a thing, Katniss? You're beautiful! Not to mention, smart, cunning, and an amazing hunter. Stop hiding your pretty face from the world. You want to know your best asset? Your smile. And you know who makes you smile the most? Peeta. If you give him up, you'd be throwing away all your potential. He makes you powerful, and enhances everything you have to offer. If you think you're unworthy of him, then I don't know who is worthy!" Gale exclaims. "Besides, if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Peeta loves you. He would do anything for you. There isn't any other person on this planet that he would like to be with, other than you. Your his perfect match, Katniss."
"You really think so?" I question.
"I know so." I smile at his words, and realize just how much having Gale in my life means to me.
"I for one am glad you came. It's good to be talking to you again, Gale."
"Me too, Catnip. Besides, if I don't have you, who am I going to tease? Not Johanna, that's for sure!" I break out into laughter, and throw the remains of my peanut butter sandwich at him. It hits him dead in the center of his face, causing him to laugh with me. And just for this moment, I'm sure of one thing too:
The good times are back.