Chapter 20: Old Friends
It's Saturday, 09:00 in the morning, when we arrive to district 2. We are welcomed by the major on the train station, there is many people, but no sign of Gale.
"Welcome to district Two!" the major shakes our hands enthusiastically and I try to seem happy, even though I'm nervous.
"Your guide should be your old friend Gale Hawthorne. Unfortunately he had to go to the factory, where was some emergency. If you want you can wait for him there, it shouldn't take him long. Also we had a little accident and the memorial was damaged. We will repair it soon, but you will have to stay here until tomorrow. I hope you don't mind. You have a free day today." he says. We are escorted in front of the factory and I start to be nervous. I start pacing in front of the main door and my hands start to shake. Peeta of course knows what I'm nervous about.
"Hey!" he says embracing me "Calm down. It'll be okay." he whispers into my ear. I want to believe it.
"I tell you what." he says and looks me in the eye. "I go and spent some time in the bakery, while you find Gale and you talk to him okay? Then come for me." he says looking at me concerned.
"Okay." I say and take a deep breath. He smiles.
"Everything will be fine, he will forgive you. You're like his sister. Do you think he could ever by unforgiving to Posy?" he smiles at me. That coaxes a smile from me too.
"See you soon." he kisses my cheek lightly and goes towards the square while I head to the factory.
I ask for Gale in the factory, but they tell me that he went away just like ten minutes ago. Then outside, when I don't know what to do, I meet Rory.
"Katniss!" he exclaims and hugs me.
"Hi Rory." I smile and hug him tight. "How are you all doing?" I ask
"Great! Finally we have enough money for not being hungry." he smiles at me.
"Do you know where Gale is?" I ask him immediately. He smiles a little.
"He's not at the factory?" he asks. "No." I say
"Than he'll be there." he says and points towards the forest on a hill in front of us.
"You see that big tree on the edge? That's his place. He often goes there." he says
"Okay thanks, I hope I will find him there." I smile. We say goodbye and he goes another direction.
So I head towards the forest. I'm surprised I haven't thought about that. Gale loves forest as much as I do. It takes me fifteen minutes to get up on the hill towards the edge of the forest. Slowly I take off my shoes and walk in the grass because I love to walk on bare feet in grass. And finally I can see him. He's sitting in the grass under a big oak and looking towards the town. There is a nice view in here. Slowly and quietly I get as close as I want and than I want to say something. But suddenly I don't know what should I say.
"Hey" is the only thing which goes out of my lips. He even doesn't turn around.
"Hey Catnip." he says and keeps staring ahead.
"May I sit down?" I ask carefully. I don't know if he's angry or not.
"Why not?" he says still not looking at me. So I sit next to him. For a while we just sit in silence. And since I'm the one who came to say sorry, I force myself to speak first.
"I wanted to say sorry Gale." I say quietly, my voice sounding sad. Finally he looks at me, with a calm expression in his face.
"For what?" he seems a little surprised.
"Well.." I start, looking down. "I was treating you badly when we saw each other last time. I was shouting at you and I was blaming you for Prim's death." I say finally with painful voice.
"You don't have to say sorry for that." he says firmly "I knew that you didn't mean it. That you were only angry and desperate." he says still looking at me. Finally I look at him too and I see that he's smiling. I smile a little too and suddenly I hug him tight and long.
"I miss you so badly Gale." I say sadly. He just laughs.
"Really? Gale Hawthorn, fierce, angry, rebelling and arguing Gale?" he says with a doubt in his voice. I just give him a smile.
"Yes."
"I miss you too Catnip." he says after a while. "Forests here are not like in 12. These are smaller and it's much harder to hunt animals in here." he says.
"So how are you?" he asks looking at me again. "You finally got over all those terrors?" now he's looking a little worried.
"Yeah." I say "First two months I was like an empty body. Only eating and sitting in a living room. When Peeta came back, it got a little better, but it took a lot of time to get back into normal live." I confess. "But when I started to go hunting again, I was feeling much better." I finish with a smile.
"That's good." Gale says "And what about Peeta? Is he all back again?" he asks.
"Mostly." I start. "It's good old Peeta again. Loving every little bit of me." I say with a smile "But he still has little flashbacks sometimes. Sometimes he's just not sure about reality, sometimes he just sees some bad memories." I explain.
"But he's not dangerous for you is he?" Gale asks, now he looks directly into my eyes to see the truth.
"No he's not" I say "He has hurt me only once and that was my fault." I say finally. He looks at me firmly. "How could it be your fault?"
"Well he told me to go away from him, but I did not. I thought that it will help him when I'll be there. I didn't want to leave him alone." than I retell the story of what happened.
One morning, I went downstairs to look for Peeta. I was sure I would find him in the kitchen. But as I was on the stairs I heard him scream a little. I run down to the kitchen to see what happened, but I stopped at the door when I saw him. There was a knife next to his hand and blood on it. He has certainly cut his finger but that is not what stopped me. He is looking weird. He's holding the chair and his grip was really firm, he looked into the floor with a faraway look and all his muscles were tense. He seemed like he was having some bad flashback about torturing by Snow.
"Peeta..?" I said calmly "are you alright?" he didn't respond and just raised his head slowly and looked at me. The look in his eyes only confirmed that he had a flashback. He looked angry at me. Like he used to in district thirteen. I hesitated a little but I decided to use love as usual.
"Peeta it'll be okay" I said and went towards him to hug him. But he went behind the table, like he was afraid of me.
"Go away from me" he said in a terrified voice.
"What? Peeta I will not leave you alone." I said firmly and took his hand. "I'll stay with you, remember? Always..." I tried to calm him, but he started to tremble.
"No!" he got his hand out of mine. "Leave me alone and go away Katniss! I don't want to hurt you!" Go away!" his words were more urgent, but I still went closer to him, but that was it, I probably broke some invisible line.
"Are you deaf Katniss?!" he shouted angrily. Now it was him who was coming to me. I was standing right in the kitchen door when he reached my wrists.
"Go away! Now!" he shouted at me.
I was still hesitating. Something in me wanted to stay with him, but my instinct was telling me run. His grip has became so firm that it hurt and I hissed a little. But he didn't care and still looked at me with those eyes which were so full of anger. Than he pulled me out of the door and let go of my hands, I tripped over something behind me and fell down. I hit my forehead into something and I felt a little bit of blood going down my face. As quickly as I could, I stood up and run away from kitchen, watched by his furious eyes. In the bathroom I grabbed some bandage and I went out of the house. I headed to the backyard to the apple tree.
I sat under it, and touched my forehead. I found the place of the hit, cleaned it and put a bandage in there. It was not a big deal. I looked at my wrists. I could see red stripes on the places where he griped me. I knew there would be bruises and I was sad about it cause I knew he would feel sorry for it so much. Than I carefully looked towards the kitchen window. I could see him. Still going around the kitchen in anger. I knew that the only thing I could do was waiting. So I reached to my pocket, pulled out a long string and started to make knots as Finnick has once taught me. Sometimes I looked up to see, if he was still in the kitchen. Finally after like ten minutes, he was sitting down by the table with his head in his hands. I wanted to go there and hug him, but I decided to wait until he comes to me. I kept knotting and for a while I got lost in memories of Finnick and what we've been through together.
Than I looked up again and it almost made me jump when I saw Peeta standing by the window and looking directly at me. I looked down again and waited what will happen. After a few minutes I heard a door open and I heard footsteps towards me. I knew it was him. I But I didn't look at him. I was afraid of that angry look. He sat next to me and didn't say anything for a while. Finally he spoke.
"Katniss.." he said and I was relieved from my fears. His voice was his again, full of regret and trembling. Finally I looked at him. He had such a terrible look in his face that I couldn't bear it. Immediately I hugged him tight and I could feel him trembling.
"It's okay Peeta. It's alright." I whispered into his ear quietly. "It was just a bad memory. Not true!" I said firmly. I realized he was really crying on my shoulder and that scared me even more. Was it that bad?
"I'm sorry Katniss." he said with a trembling voice and tears on his cheeks. "I'm sorry I didn't want to hurt you." and he hugged me as much as he can.
"I'm okay Peeta, you haven't hurt me badly. Just a little scratch on my forehead." I kept stroking his back and finally I pressed my lips to his neck which made him stop trembling. When he released me, he looked at my forehead with teary eyes. He got the bandage away and looked at my wound. I really knew it's nothing, but he had to assure himself. And he looked scared. Than he looked terrified at my wrists which were really getting some shade of purple.
"Katniss I should not be here with you." he said scared. "What if I will kill you once?" he said with a scared voice.
"Come on, you would never kill me Peeta. If you would like to, you could do it today, there was a knife right next to you." I said and smiled at him. He looked at me considering if I was right.
"You love me, real or not real?" he asked with a trembling voice and terrified look.
"Real." I said with a sad smile and hugged him again.
"And you'll stay with me? Even after this?" he asked again. I looked him in the eyes so he would be sure that I answer true.
"Always." I said firmly and finally he smiled at me.
"How do you know that he won't kill you one day?" Gale asks frowning a little.
"Come on Gale. He would never kill me. And if he would like to, he would do that, cause there was a knife on the table." I say. He still doesn't seem to be convinced by my arguments.
"Once he had a similar flashback while drying dishes, he had a knife in his hand. He was afraid he will harm me so he run the knife over his hand instead. To stay in reality." I say and give him a serious look and it seems he is finally convinced. After a while I see that he's staring at my necklace.
"Is that the pearl from the quell?" he asks with a curious smile.
"Yeah." I confirm.
"So are you two a couple, or engaged, or married already?" he asks and to my surprise his voice doesn't sound painful or jealous.
"He proposed to me, it is three months ago now. But please don't tell anyone, we want to announce our wedding when we're in Capitol." I say. He just nods. And I find out he's smiling.
"Are you laughing at me?" I ask a little confused about his smile.
"I'm happy for you Katniss." he says finally and I can't believe it. After a very very long time I hear him say my real name. That means he is serious.
"Really?" I ask surprised.
"Really." he confirms. "When you're happy it's enough for me." he says with a smile.
"We're planing to have an official wedding" I start. "And I have one request for you." I say and look at him. I have been thinking about this thing and I haven't found anyone better than Gale for this.
"What is it?" he asks.
"Would you be our best man?" I ask with a smile. For a while he stares at me astonished.
"Are you sure it should be me?" he asks
"Yeah I'm pretty sure. I don't know who else could do it. Neither me nor Peeta has brothers or very close friends." I say
"What about Haymitch?" he asks.
"He's already walking me down the Aisle." I say "He can't do everything." I smile.
For a while he's just looking at me, considering it and then he smiles "Okay, I'll be your best mad then." and I feel relieved. After a while I realize that he's not jealous any more and the reason why is obvious to me.
"Did you found some girl in here?" I ask. His smile widens so I'm sure he did and I'm quite sure he loves her by the expression on his face.
"Yeah I did."
"A girl who would be patient enough to put up with you?!" I ask again now with a smile too.
"Well if you were able to find a boy like that, why I could not find a girl." he says and we laugh together.
"What is she like?" I ask curiously.
"Well. She's the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." he says and the expression on his face is enough for me to know that she's the right one for him.
"Something more specific?" I ask giggling about his answer.
"Well. She has long curly red hair. And most beautiful green eyes." he says "She is a little taller than you I guess and she's the kindest person I have ever met. And I don't deserve her at all." he finishes and smiles at me.
"Will you introduce us?" I ask.
"She would like to meet you." he says with a smile. "But I'm afraid about you meeting her." he says with a smart smile.
"Why?" I say offensively.
"Because you used to scare away all the girls from me back in 12. They all liked me but they were afraid of you." he says with a smile.
"Were they?" I ask with a content smile "I don't see a reason why I should scare your girlfriend away. Since you look happy with her, I will be happy to meet her." I say and give him an honest smile.
For a while, we're just watching the town below us. Then we hear something at the forest and we instinctively jump up looking in there. There is a young woman standing and looking at us. She seems shy. The moment I see her I'm sure it is the girl Gale was speaking about.
"Marianne!" he says quietly. "You pretty scared us." he says and smiles. "What are you doing here?" he asks
"There is some problem in the factory, they need you there." she says and looks at me nervously. Gale just rolls his eyes annoyed.
"Okay well, I'll just introduce you." he says looking at me "Marianne this is Katniss. Katniss this is the girl I was talking about. Marianne." I smile at her and shake her hand.
"I better go back quickly." he says "Marianne could you walk Katniss back to the majors house?" he asks and she just nods with a smile.
"Thanks. Than see you later Catnip! I'll give you a walk around the district." he smiles at me and runs away. I feel a little awkward, alone with his girlfriend, who I don't know at all. We head back to the town slowly in silence for a while. Then she starts to ask me different things and we talk all the way down. By the time we reach the town square, I feel really good with her. She's quite talkative and really kind.
"Thanks for the walk" I smile at her in the end.
"It was a pleasure for me." she says with a smile. "Would you mind if I would accompany you when Gale will walk you around the district?" she asks "I would like to meet Peeta too." she adds.
"No that would be great. You surely know it here better than Gale and I'll be happy to spent time with both of you."
"Thanks." she smiles.
"So let's go and find Peeta, I bet he's still stuck in the bakery." I chuckle and she leads me to the square.
We find him there, in a conversation with the local baker. I introduce Marianne to him and they like each other just from the beginning. Then we head to the factory, where we wait for Gale. Since we know a lot about mining, they decide to take us into the factory where different weapons are invented and produced. The one where Gale works. They also show us Academy for Peacekeepers and they show us where the Hunger Games memorial will be. During the day we stop for a lunch at Hawthorns. I'm happy to see them all and little Posy almost make me fall down when she jumps into my arms and hug me tightly. I must admit she's not that little as she used to be. She's growing pretty quickly.
"I miss you so badly Katniss." she says with her cute voice and I have to smile widely.
"I miss you all too." she stays in my arms as long as she can.
I like her. She's like a little puppy. Loving everyone and everything. I'm happy to see them all. I also have one little request.
"Well we wanted to tell you, that we're going to get married with Peeta, but please keep it a secret until we announce it in the Capitol." I say. The all congratulate us and hug us, but I'm not done.
"AND we need a flower girl." I say and give an important look to Posy. Her eyes go wide.
"Could it be me? Could it be me?" she squeals and jumps up and down from joy.
"Why else do you think I ask?" I laugh. "Do you think I want Rory or Vick as a flower girl?" They all laugh and Posy jumps into my arms again hugging me tight. "I will be the best flower girl ever, I promise!" she squeals and smiles wide.
"Okay, I believe you. I would not choose you if I would not think you're the best." I smile.
We have a nice lunch together. When we have to leave, Gale and Marianne promise to come for the evening party. Gale is kind of VIP in here.
In the evening we go to the party and enjoy every moment. My dress has a grey color and looks like stone. I have a stone tiara in my hair and silver harmonized makeup. Everyone admires us as we enter to justice building ball room. It is full of people and full of tables with different food. We enjoy this party together with Gale and Marianne. I must admit, that Gale really fell head over heels in love with her. And I'm really happy for him. In the middle of the night he comes to me and extends his hand towards me in a gentleman-like manner. I have never seen him behaving like this.
"May I ask you for a dance?" he asks with a wink.
"If Peeta doesn't mind." I smile and Peeta just smiles and nods encouragingly. Gale takes that as a yes, pulls me up and leads me in the middle of the dance floor. After a moment I notice, that Peeta asked Marianne for a dance too.
"So how do you like her?" Gale asks me while we're dancing slowly.
"Marianne?" I ask and look at him.
"Yeah of course Marianne." he smiles.
"She seems nice." I say "And you seem you fell head over your heels for her." I add in a teasing way.
"I did not." he says defensively.
"Ohh, yes you did. I have never seen you acting so kind and nice." I laugh quietly. "I remember you all fierce, arguing and annoyed." I say.
"Okay, I admit she has changed me a little." he smiles and looks over at her. She's laughing probably over one of Peeta's jokes. Gale frowns a little and I have to laugh out loud too.
"Ohh come on, don't tell me you're worried." I say and he looks at me.
"I don't know. He's famous, handsome and funny." he says and looks at them again. "I'm only famous and handsome." and I have to laugh again.
"If she really loves you, she's safe. If she doesn't it'll be better if you find out as soon as possible." I say and he smiles a little.
"I believe she truly loves me." he says surly and I feel happy for him.
"Good." I say "If she's just playing with you, I would have to shoot an arrow through her eye." I say seriously and he bursts out laughing and everyone around us looks at us. Then the song ends and we come back to our table where we meet Peeta and Marianne again.
"It seemed you enjoyed the dance." Peeta says.
"Yeah we did" I smirk at Gale who chuckles a little.
We spent the other day with Hawthorns again and in the afternoon, we ceremonially reveal the memorial. In the evening we're escorted to the train station again. Gale and Marianne go with us to say their last goodbye.
"I hope to see you visiting 12." I say as Gale hugs me.
"Maybe we will come and visit you." he says "but no promises, I'm not sure when I will have some days off at work." he says.
"Okay, take care both of you." I say and we board the train. As we start to move towards district 1, we look out of the window and wave to our friends one last time.
I'm happy that we finally arrived to the last district. That means only few days in the Capitol and then we go home. We go through everything in district 1 without a problem. We are walked around, they show us how they make diamonds and other luxury goods and of course we visit the local bakery. We go through the memorial revealing and party without any problems. At midnight, we finally move towards Capitol. One more memorial to reveal, one interview with Caesar and one more party in the presidential palace. Then we go back home.
We arrive to Capitol in the morning. On the train station we are welcomed enthusiastically by crowds of crazy looking people. They haven't changed at all. I'm a little nervous. Last time I was here, I came to end the war, to kill Snow. And my sister died. We are escorted into our old rooms in the old training centre and we're told, that tonight our interview will take place in front of the training center. Tomorow, we will reveal the Hunger Games and War memorial and we will go to the president's party.
"It's almost like the old times!" Effie exclaims while we have our lunch in the training center.
"Yeah, only better, because we are not going to die." I joke and to my surprise everyone laughs, including Effie.
In the afternoon, we are left with our prep teams. They clean us, do our make ups and our hair. I will be in my mockingjay dress again. Light skirt made of black feathers and sleevs looking like a wings with white paches near the tips of the wings. My makeup is harmonized into black colors and my hair is loose and wavy again. It's only fastened by some clip on the back so it won't fall into my face.
Five minutes before three o'clock we're standing under a temporar stage and we're waiting to be called. I'm nervous and my hands are shaking. I don't know if I'm ready for Caesars questions about the war and about our relationship. But I remember how kind he has always been to me and how he always helped me and that calms me down a little. When the anthem starts to play, Peeta takes my hand firmly and gives me a reassuring smile.
"We'll be fine." he says into my ear and he kisses me lightly. Then we hear Caesar speaking on the stage.
"Hello everyone! We're here today to meet our old friends! Our star-crossed lovers from district 12!" he says and people start to scream and applaud.
"Do you want to know what are their lives now?!" Caesar calls and people start to scream in agreement again. My heartbeat is getting quicker and quicker in every second.
"Let's invinte them on the stage then! Let's welcome them in the Capitol again! Let's welcome star-crossed lovers from district 12! Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark!" he screams and the crowd screams and applauds.
My heart seems like it wants to jump out of my chest. Peeta holds my hand firmly as we step up on the stage and put on our camera smiles and wave for the crowd. Caesar kisses my hand and to my own surprise I hug him lightly. He hugs Peeta too and then we're seated into a small sofa facing Caesar's chair. He gives us a dazzling smile and a wink before he starts speaking.
"So! Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Back in the Capitol. How do you feel?" he says. I surprise everyone when I speak first.
"Excited." I smile.
"I must agree with Katniss, I'm excited and happy to be back." Peeta smiles.
Our interview goes on for a long time. Caesar is asking us about the war, about our lives after we came back to 12, about our tour around the districts. Then he asks us about our relationship and I notice, that he's looking at my hands, probably looking for an engagement ring. He realizes, that I see him looking and I slowly move my hand towards the pearl which is on my necklace. I rub it between my fingers and give Caesar a little smile and a wink. His eyes go wide in realization.
"So Katniss." he says when Peeta finishes his speaking. "I see that you have a nice necklace. May I ask, is that THE pearl? The one Peeta gave you in the quell?" he looks at me expectantly.
"Yeah it is." I smile "He didn't want me to lose it so he made a necklace of it." I smile. We share one quick look with Peeta and we both confirm, that now is the right time for our announcement.
"Well this necklace was made for one special event." Peeta says with a secretive wink towards Caesar.
"Ohh, tell us everything Peeta. What special event was it?" he asks already having the right idea.
"Well, I wanted Katniss to have this necklace, to remember my proposal for the rest of her life." he says and gives everyone one shining smile, then taking my hand and kissing me softly. I can't help then smile wide too. Not a camera smile, but a real one. The audience is excited and it takes Caesar a while to calm them down.
"Well this is not so unexpected. Katniss tell us, how he did it?" Caesar asks.
"Umm, he took me for a picnic by a lake in our forests and there he declared his love to me and I said yes." I smile and everyone cheers again.
"So you're actually already planing your wedding?" Caesar asks.
"We have not planned it a lot, we've been too bussy with the tour so the planing will start when we come back home."
Our interview takes time until the evening and then we're left in the training center again. We have a dinner together with the others and we decide to finally ask for their help with our wedding. So when we're eating the dessert, I turn to Haymitch first.
"Haymitch we have a little request for you." I say and he turns his attention to me.
"What is it sweetheart." he asks.
"Well you know we wanted to ask you, if you would walk me down the Aisle." I say. An unexpected silence falls at our table, everyone looking at Haymitch who stays staring at me with his mouth open and his fork with meat stopped halfway towards it.
"You want me what?" he asks unbelieving.
"I want you to walk me down the Aisle." I repeat clearly. "You know, my father is not here anymore and I don't know who could be more apropriate for this job than you." I say. To my surprise, Haymitch stands up, walks around the table and pulls me up into a tight hug.
"Of course I'll do it sweetheart!" he says and I can see that his eyes are wet. "It will be an honor for me." he adds and hugs me again. I smile and thank him, while he sits back down. Then I ask Tigris and my prep team for help and they eagerly agree. The only one left is Effie. Right now, she's quietly sitting next to Haymitch, picking at her food, not looking at me.
"You know we will still need someone, who will plan everything. Someone very responsible, with a good sense for schedules and planing. Someone who would be able to force me to do what is needed even though I scowl and growl." I say not looking up. By the corner of my eye I see Effie looking up in disbelief.
"I think we have just the right person in here." I say and look up at her and smile. For a second she still looks unbelieving and then she squeals in happines. She hugs both me and Peeta and she starts babbling about it all the time, which gets very annoying. Tigris promises to give me some magazines with wedding dresses and I will be supposed to choose.
We spent the rest of the evening on the roof with Peeta. Gazing at stars, enjoying the quiet around us.
"Prim would be so happy about the wedding." I say in a dreamy voice. I find the star constelation of the old healer Peeta showed me. There shines one bright start which I always link with Prim. I stare at it and imagine how happy she would be about me.
"Yeah she would." Peeta says and he pulls me closer to him "She is." he whispers and I smile.
In the morning, I find myself siting in the middle of a huge pile of magazines with wedding dresses. I'm supposed to go through it and mark the ones, which I like. I'm supposed to circle the element I like about the dress so that Tigris could make something I will like. Peeta is supposed to help me to. I find out I like the simple gowns more than the complicated ones. I find one gown which has a laced top part with short sleeves. I like the idea, because lace looks nice and it would mask my scars easily. So we spent almost the entire morning going through the magazines, circling things we like and discussing it with Tigris.
In the afternoon we reveal the Memorial, which is in the City Circle. Than at six o'clock, we entre the presidential palace and we are welcomed on one of the most important parties of the year. Again I'm mesmerized by the amount of food, number of people and by the magnificence of the presidential palace. After almost three weeks of travelling, cameras and parties, I feel really exhausted. I keep dozing off on Peeta's shoulder as they transport us to the train station at midnight. There we say goodbye to Effie, Tigris and ou prep team, promising we will call them and start the wedding preparations soon. As soon as we're in the train, I fall into the bed and imediatelly I'm asleep. And in the morning, we arrive back to District 12. No cameras, no parties... Home, sweet home.
Hey guys! Thanks for reading another chapter and thanks for your patience with my story :) I hope you liked how meeting Gale turned out. I'm not on team Gale, but I don't hate him. I think he's a good guy and he deserves to be happy too. Again thanks for your views, favs, follows and reviews, it encourages me so much. I'll try to update faster :) There will be three or four more chapters. Next one will be a christmas edition :D