Hey I just wanted to say Thank you for all the positive feedback I have been getting on this for months now, it means so much. I just did this for fun and I am really glad there are people out there at enjoy this (Almost 100k of you)! I read all your comments and suggestions and take everyone into account so thank you for following. Also I will be rewriting some of my earlier chapters to have more structure/ to fit with Catching fire a bit more but I'll let you know when that happens.
As a random thing, this story will be ending someday (not sure if it is soon... but); I would like some feedback via PMs on what I should explore next to write about. I love writing so I just enjoy seeing people read my work. That's enough ranting for me! Enjoy! :) -KO
I did not dream but when I awoke I Finnick's face, his eyes were puffy but he was smiling. I felt numb... But ok. I smile back and looked him straight in the eyes, "I'm ready."
I took his hand and we walked out of the changing room without a word and we were ok with that. The speechlessness only amplified our emotions as we neared a silver door. We opened the door. Together. I was blinded a little but noticed he let go of my hand to fade out of my eye sight fast.
And then, I saw her. My mother. Gale. Peeta. Alive. My legs had the momentum of a train and I ran until the gave out at their mere touch. The feeling of Prim's hair in my palms, Peeta's arms around me, Gale's head on mine, and my mother holding us together was bliss and overwhelming.
"Prim... Oh Prim.." I grasped her until I could feel her skin pinch, "I am so sorry," she cried as I spoke. I buried my face in her arms and gave into her hair again. After atleast fifteen minutes I reluctantly let go and give my mother a stern hug, then Gale.
"Thank god you're ok, Katnip," he sniffled. He go a glimpse of my branded palm for a moment but was too content to say anything. I am glad though, I did not want to bring it up anyways...
I chocked in a desperate trance, "No thank you, thank god you guys are ok!" And then he spoke,
"For now..." Peeta says.
I let go of Gale and turn to Peeta, eyes puffy and silent, unlike the rest of us.
"Please..." I mumbled, his head turned as if I looked like someone else to him.
"Please what? I just wanted to see you, you're everything to me Katniss," he grabbed me tight and forced me into his chest as he cried very hard. I hugged him back and tried not to break down too much. My grasp somewhat loosened when I noticed Finnick in the background kissing this small girl. My heart dropped because I felt somewhat jealous... Isn't this what we wanted? Our Family? Friends? Lovers? Peeta's grasp let go and he turned t see what I had reacted to,
"what?" he sees what I see and turns back around, "what is going on here?" I swallow my breath hard and hide it by putting face back in his chest,
"I-I just missed you so much." The room fell silent and I noticed Finnick nearing me. He grabbed my hand and caused everyone around me to turn their head in question,
"I want you to meet her." I was dragged and every thought made my heart sink a little more. I nodded and was brought over to her. She was short. Timid. Had long wavy hair, large sea like eyes and a slight tick in her body language. She analyzed me,
"Hi... I'm Kat-"
I know." he muttered, she shyly moved out her hand, "Annie." I was about to speak and she muttered something else, " Take good care of- he may not look it but he is just as broken as me," he smiled.
I looked at her in question and realized she gave up on trying to get out of the Games alive. and it hurt to know that this was the first and last time I could be seeing her face.
"You two are not broken.." I gave her a slight pat on the shoulder and she flinched a bit but then smiled back. Her eyes began to swell up and she started to cry hysterically, Finnick dropped everything and enveloped her in his arms. I left silently back toward my family.
"What happen?" Peeta said. I shook my head... They won't understand. Suddenly, the president and a group of people entered the room as if we were part of a... Party. Snow looks at Finnick and I and we run toward eachother, yarning for the grasp of our loved ones again. The act is back on... Did I just say act? No... It's just. Good business. Finnick looks toward Annie and I look toward my group... Finnick's eyes lit up with delight as he slid his arm around my waist and he kissed my cheek as we greeted the crowd of Capitol attendees. The sudden affection made all out loved ones react oddly, Gale being the most stunned. Peeta and Annie looked hurt, Prim looked hopeless like my mother but Gale... He looked angry. I turned away.
"Say Miss Everdeen, I have you and Mr. Odair booked for tonight," a Barbie like woman screeches, "Can you bring something to drink for us all? I won't have time."
"Of course, Miss." I smile back. I hear a scoff in the distance but ignore it. We have to put up with it for them. I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek as did Finnick and she nodded and walked away. Finnick laughed at some joke nearby and nuzzled his face into my skin again. Suddenly, I felt a trash push me out of his grasp. In the distance I could see Peeta crying and hear Annie making some high pitch noises. Gale is in my foregound, in front of my eyes furious with rage,
"What was that?" He yelled loudly, "What the hell was that?" He said while pointing to Finnick, "What are you doing with him? He is a slut! A capitol slut! He uses people and is an awful person Katniss! What are you doing, fucking tell me right now!" he yelled, grasping me tightly in his arms. I could not say a word, I just cried a bit. He wouldn't understand. The room was dead silent and Gale was steaming with rage and watered eyes. I'm sorry.
"Not a slut," I heard a familiar sly, honeyed voice sigh out from behind Gale, "A whore. There's a difference."
