I literally poured my heart and soul into this chapter. Words cannot explain how much emotion it took to do what I did. I'm sorry if you experience extreme fangirling or ship induced heart attacks.
We sat on the plush brown couch, facing Haymitch, who was in the matching arm chair opposite us, while Effie hovered behind him. From the expression on his face, I could tell we were in trouble. He was still sober, and I was actually surprised. He'd been sober two days now, and it was a shock. He looked from Gale to me, then back to Gale, his eyes narrowing.
"So." He started, reaching for the glass of water on the glass topped coffee table. My cheeks burned red hot at the thought that Haymitch knew what had almost happened between Gale and I, and I could feel my palms sweating like they always did when I felt guilty. For what, I don't know. I just felt very guilt.
"Fights with the careers, wrecking the lobby, sneaking into each others room. Is there anything else I've missed?" Haymitch ticked our indiscretions off on his fingers, the glass clenched hard in his other hand, and I worried it would smash. I bit my lip in embarrassment, fidgeting slightly, but Gale was still beside me, completely un phased by the whole ordeal.
"They let us fight-" I began, but Haymitch lifted his hand, signalling for me to shut up. I sat back, wanting to just sink into the cushions and leave this awkward conversation.
"Doesn't mean you have to fight Cato! Fleur, he's from district 1. Do you know how seriously hurt you could have got? You could have been weakened for the games, easier to kill. Do you understand that?" His voice gradually raised to a shout, and I shook my head, ashamed I hadn't thought of that. I had never thought about what would happen if Cato would have beaten me beyond repair. I just hadn't cared.
"Then I get the message that a game maker saw you two playing around in the station, and that they were enraged!" He huffed, and that made Gale bristle.
"Why? Because we were having too much fun? Because we weren't acting as if we wanted to kill each other? Well I'm sorry we didn't live up to their expectations." He spat venomously, and Haymitch threw the glass onto the floor, sending shards skittering under the couch. Neither of us jumped, but I felt Gale tense, ready for a fight.
"Do you not understand what you are doing? For gods sake you ignorant children! Only one of you comes out of there, and your acting as if both of you are going to make it! They think your rebelling, choosing to flaunt your feelings to show them up." Haymitch hissed, and everything made sense. Of course that's what it looked like. Him helping me with the snares, walking around the stations together, play fighting, it was all too friendly. As if we were deliberately shoving our unwillingness to cooperate in their faces. Effie snapped her fingers at an avox who instantly started to clean up the broken glass.
"I'm not going to pretend to hate her. I can't do that." Gale said, but there was no malice in his voice, there was a sort of pleading to it, pain, regret, even sadness. I touched his hand softly, and he turned to look at me, his eyes shining dangerously. He knew what Haymitch was saying to us, that being friends was costing us big time. I refuse to block Gale out. I refuse to lose him.
"I know, I know. Tone it down in public though, okay? I know what it's like to lose friends, I wouldn't do that to you." Haymitch sighed, retreating into some memory, a painful on by the looks of his face. He thought we were just friends, which we kind of are. But he doesn't know about what was going on behind my bedroom door. I was about to stand, ready to pull Gale after me, when Effie had to open her mouth.
"Yes, well I'd appreciate it if you at least lock the door before you start kissing." My eyes shot open wide, and Haymitch looked up, pulled out of his memory, and stared between us, shocked and a little angry.
"You what!" He shouted, and I rushed to neutralise the situation.
"We didn't kiss. We... Were going to... But it's not like that!" I tired, and Gale came to my aid.
"We aren't together, it was just..." But neither of us could finish that sentence. Haymitch threw up his hands in frustration, getting to his feet and pacing. I sat perfectly still, watching him as he thought carefully over the situation. He stopped pacing and looked to the corner of the ceiling, staring at something no one else could see.
"Well... If it's over, then it's not an issue." He seemed to chew over his own words slowly, before looking me in the eyes.
"Just... Don't discard offers too quickly. Understand?" He said directly to me, and even though I didn't know what he was talking about, I nodded. He knew something, something he couldn't tell us. It concerned me making decisions thought, I could tell that much.
"Off you go then." He gestured for us to leave, and I didn't need to be told twice. Gale and I walked back to my room, and Gale sat down on the bed, leaning back against the pillows and closing his eyes.
"Well that was awkward." He sighed, hands behind his head. I laughed a little, looking at him. He was tired, I could tell from the bags under his eyes that he still hadn't slept. He opened his eyes, looking at me sleepily, before patting the space beside him. I rolled my eyes, but laid down on my side next to him, nuzzling up to his chest, entwining one of my legs in between his. He took a deep breath, sighing softly as his arm tightened around my shoulders, pressing my cheek more firmly against his chest as he smoothed down my hair.
"Just a little." I agreed, and he barely laughed, already half asleep. I listened to his heart beat, his breathing slowing down as he drifted to sleep. I seemed to lay there in silence for ages, tracing patterns across his chest with my finger nails, smiling to myself.
"Fleur?" He asked groggily, making me jump.
"Yeah?" I replied, not moving to look up at him.
"It's all real, remember that." He whispered before falling soundly asleep. I deliberated over his sentence for a while, wondering what he meant. What was real? Wasn't everything real? Did he mean to games? Haymitchs words? I gave up, trying to make myself feel drowsy, but I felt more awake than I had in a long time. His hand still lingered partially in my hair, and I leaned into it, liking the shivers that ran down my neck when I felt his fingers graze my ear. He was so calm, so quiet in sleep, and for awhile I can enjoy it, I can enjoy the fact he's not riddled with pain and regret, and that he's my Gale again. Then it starts happening.
His hand twitches in my hair, yanking it to the side, and I hiss in a breath, ready to shout at him for pulling my hair, but when I sit up I see he isn't awake. His eyes are still shut, but I can see his eyes moving back and forward restlessly under their lids. He's dreaming. He twists suddenly, moving onto his side, frowning, feet twitching, and I want to reach out and wake him. He tosses back and forth, and I stare helplessly as his face contorts in pain. I see a tear run down his cheek, and I reach to shake his shoulders.
"Fleur!" He shouts, taking me off guard, and then he's sitting up right in bed, fully awake, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead. His hands searching the sheets before he looks up frantically and meets my eyes.
"You're okay." He exclaimed, pulling me into his arms, crushing me against him. I nod, wrapping my arms around him, hugging him tightly. He was having a night mare about me, he looked scared to death when he didn't immediately see me next to him on the sheets. How can I hurt him so much? I close my eyes to stop the tears that threaten to spill over, hugging him harder.
"What happened?" I asked, and he takes a sharp breath, refusing to let me go.
"We were in the arena." He said, pulling back, but keeping his hands on my waist.
"I saw you, walking into the trees, and I tried to follow you. I couldn't keep up with you. I lost you." He said, looking down at his lap. I leaned forward, pressing my forehead to his reassuringly, encouraging him to continue.
"I heard you screaming, crying for me to help. I ran but it was too late. You-you were laying there... Your blood- it was everywhere, and I-I-I..." A tear ran down his cheek and I shushed him, embracing him again. I wish he hadn't of told me, I wish he would have kept it a secret, but as I held him, his chest shaking as he cried into my shoulder, I knew I had to do this for him. I had to be here for him. After a while, he stopped crying, pulling away from me, looking into my eyes apologetically.
"I'm so sorry." He said, his voice uneven. I smiled, running a hand softly through his hair to comfort him.
"It's okay. I'm here for you." I smiled, then got off of the bed, pulling him after me.
"We should get ready." I said, and he nodded, walking towards the door. He stopped for a second, taking one last look at me, before leaving the room. I shook my head before walking toward the shower, undressing quickly so I could jump into the warm water, selecting different modes. The soap that sprayed onto me smelt like oranges, and as I lathered my hair, I tried to sort out my thoughts. Tonight was the individual training sessions, tomorrow we had the interview, which I was no where near ready for. I needed help. I needed someone to tell me how to do this, someone who knew what it was like to care about someone you couldn't save.
I got out of the shower, towelling myself dry before changing into fresh training clothes. Once I was ready, I slipped out of my room, going to search for Haymitch. I had to ask for more help, to see another victor who knew about this stuff. I passed Gales room on the way, and I stopped, seeing the door was open slightly. I peered inside, but he wasn't there, the sound of the shower was distant. I closed the door before walking into the living area again, the glass cleaned from the floor.
"Haymitch?" I called, before seeing him at the dinner table, pouring himself a glass of water. He turned at the sound of my voice, looking at me expectantly. I walked further into the room as he gestured for me to continue, and we both sat opposite each other on the couch.
"I need more help for the interview." I said bluntly, and Haymitch nodded.
"Okay, I'll he-" but I cut him off before he could finish.
"No, not from you, or Effie. A different victor, one who knows." I said, and he cocked an eyebrow at me.
"Knows what? What's brought this on?" He enquired, and I blushed a little. How was I suppose to explain that this was because of Gale? He'd laugh at me, mock me. Maybe I should have gone to Effie, she would at least have been sympathetic.
"Gale. It's about Gale. I need help from someone whose been through something like this." I elaborated without actually admitting that I didn't know how to handle my mounting, confusing feeling for Gale. Haymitch seemed to deliberate over this for a second or two, before nodding.
"Okay. I'll make a call, get someone to come out tomorrow." He agreed, and I smiled gratefully. He gave me a small pat on the shoulder, and I couldn't help but think I was wrong. Haymitch was sympathetic after all.
"Now go, you don't want to be late." He shooed me, and I got up, leaving him in peace. I went back to Gales room, knocking before walking in. He stood by his bed, bare chested just about to pick up his top. He turned and smiled at me, and I couldn't stop myself from checking him out. He had broad shoulders, a muscular chest and his stomach was flat, defining muscle lines carved into the skin.
"Ready?" He asked me, and I nodded, stepping forward. He raised his eyebrows, pulling his shirt on, before ruffling my hair. I wish he didn't do that, it made me feel like I was 6 years old. He smirked before grabbing me by the waist, hoisting me over his shoulder and carrying me out of the room. I squealed, giggling like a little girl, not daring to squirm incase he dropped me. He pressed the button for the elevator, still refusing to put me down, and just as Effie rounded the corner, shouting at him to leave me be and remember Haymitches conversation, the doors opened and he ran inside, pressing the button to close the door frantically.
"Put me down!" I requested, but he shook his head.
"Nope." He laughed, and I playfully smacked him on the back of the head.
"Are you crazy? People are going to see!" I reasoned, and I felt one of his hands stroke the back of my knee, a place he knows I am severely ticklish. I laughed uncontrollably, not even noticing that the elevator was coming to a stop on the district 2 floor. Before either of us could do anything, the doors slid open, and Clove and Cato stared at us in shock. Gale put me down, and I straightened my outfit, my cheeks burning red hot. Both the tributes climbed into the elevator without a word, but I could see clove fighting to keep the smile off of her face. Cato on the other hand stared at Gale like he'd just killed his brother.
"You know both of you can't win." Cato said suddenly, and I wished the elevator would hurry up, but it was tossing back and forward, going up to different floors, going to fetch other tributes, before moving down again, then up again. No one ever joined us.
"We aren't together." Gale replied coldly, and Cato scoffed.
"Yeah, right." He laughed.
"We aren't." Gale repeated, getting angry. Cato raised his eyebrows questioningly, before looking at me.
"If I did that stuff, you would assume I liked her." Cato said to Gale, but he was looking at me with a mischievous look in his eyes.
"No, I really wouldn't." Gale hissed, and Cato smiled, as if that was the perfect answer.
"Oh really?" He questioned, before grabbing me by the waist, pulling me toward him. His lips touched mine before I could protest, and when they did, there was a collective gasp from clove and Gale. There was a moment when our lips locked together and there was nothing I could do but stand there completely paralysed. Then I pulled away, looking at him in shock. Cato turned to Gale, whose fists were clenched by his sides angrily.
"What do you think now?"
so... Cato... And Fleur... Yep... Anyway so when do you think I should let Gale and Fleur kiss? I can't decide, I was going to get them to kiss in this chapter but I need your opinion. Before or during the games? I not sure. Anyway I'm bringing in another past victor! Spoiler: they were in catching fire. Have fun guessing! xx