DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: I know there's been a team Katniss vs. team Dez thing going on for a while. I encourage all to feel free to review and voice thoughts whether you prefer Katniss or Dez. Though I would think everyone should know who Gale ends up with at the end of all this. Dez won't be completely going away but she will not be in the story as much from this point on. This final part of the story really focuses on Gale and Katniss and Peeta will come back into the picture later on (but not as part of a love triangle). And I appreciate the one comment stating that Katniss and Gale are having more mature arguments because that was what I was going for. Gale's character in the book showed a lot of jealousy, so I tried to show that but also have him be more mature about it as well. And the intention wasn't for him to treat Katniss badly at the party, he was just feeling very uncomfortable and didn't want to flaunt his relationship with Katniss in Dez's face though that was what she was doing with Atticus. As always thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 84-The Graduate
Friday was a busy day for Katniss. Gale was working until 3 pm and Katniss had plans with her Mother. The two of them going to an early lunch at a café near Gale's apartment and then going shopping to help Katniss pick out a dress for tonight-her graduation ceremony.
She ends up getting a navy colored dress with navy blue shoes. The dress comes down to the top of her knees and was sleeveless but has a high neckline. Her graduation gown is a light blue color and while she would have preferred a light green dress, she agreed with her Mother's suggestion that dark blue would go better.
Once they get home Katniss takes Harper out around the block before getting ready. After she showers her Mother helps her fix her hair, curling it instead of braiding it like she used to do in the Seam. Her hair is almost as long as it was before she cut it, but with the curls her hair hung just past her shoulders.
When she comes out of the spare bedroom with her Mother, she sees Gale dressed and waiting for them, not realizing how long she had been with her Mother getting ready.
"Wow Katniss you look….." But Gale could not finish voicing his thoughts because he didn't want to say what he was really thinking in front of her Mother.
"You like the dress?" Katniss asks.
"Yeah, I like it a lot."
She smiles in response, happy to be reaffirmed that she made the right choice for there were three navy dresses she had decided on as her final choices. She chose the dress that would be cool yet covered enough skin for some of the dresses were low cut and she wasn't comfortable showing so much skin.
They leave right before 5 pm for she has to be at PES's main building by 6 pm. Katniss sits in between her Mother and Gale on the train and when her Mother gets up to use the restroom and stretch her legs Gale leans over and says softly to her, "You look so beautiful I couldn't say in front of your Mother what I wish I could do to you right now."
She blushes as he pulls her closer to him and leans up to meet his lips in a kiss. When she pulls back he rubs his hand up and down her shoulders until her Mother comes back.
Once they arrive in the Capitol, Katniss hands her Mother and Gale their tickets to get into the outside garden area where the ceremony was being held. She tells them she will see them later as she heads into the main building area and is given her gown.
At 7 pm the ceremony promptly starts. Katniss stands in line with her class waiting to be seated. Her prep class originally started off with 35, but only 30 out of that original group ended up graduating. The total class of graduates was 62. Katniss and her classmates are ushered into the center of the gardens, sitting in white chairs. In front of them is a large stage and she sees the audience sitting around them in a circle in stadium seating. Katniss looks around and finally spots her Mother and Gale sitting together near the top row off to her right. After a few minutes she finally catches Gale's glance and she smiles when he gives her a small wave and mouths the words, "Future minds" mocking the speaker who was repeating over and over how the 62 people sitting before the audience would be "Teaching the future minds of Panem".
After the different speakers were finished, each person is called to the stage to receive their official certificate. Due to her last name being at the beginning of the alphabet, Katniss is the 16th person called and when she walks across the stage, she hears louder shouting and hollering during her applause. After she shakes hands with the director of PES and her certificate is placed in her hand, she quickly scans the area Gale and her Mother are at and smiles at them. Both of them smiling back at her. For a brief moment, she envisions Prim sitting between Gale and her Mother, looking happy and waving to her. The Prim she envisions is the Prim she last saw in District 13, for she can't bear to try to imagine a 22 year old Prim. She holds back her tears and walks back to her seat. She feels a sense of comfort once seated, feeling almost as if Prim's spirit was with her in the gardens at that moment.
Once the ceremony is finished, they are ushered inside for cocktails and appetizers. Katniss mingles with some of her classmates from District 4 and the prep class before finding her Mother and Gale. Gale leans in and gives her a big hug, squeezing her tight and whispers "Congratulations Catnip" and then surprisingly, kisses her softly in front of her Mother and those around them. She tries not to look embarrassed as she sees her Mother look at them with a small smile on her face. Even though she was 27 she still felt uncomfortable showing that kind of affection in front of her so openly. She quickly leans in and gives her Mother a small hug. Her Mother congratulating her and grabs her certificate to let her get a drink.
When Katniss walks over to the refreshment table, she sees someone standing off to the side in an attempt to get her attention. After grabbing her drink she looks over and sees Plutarch Heavensbee staring at her. She approaches him slowly and sees a smile form on his face as he says, "Miss Everdeen, congratulations on your graduation, how does it feel?"
"I feel relieved" Katniss says truthfully.
"I know this was a long process for you. So tell me, what are your plans now?"
"Finding a job."
"Have you applied for jobs in a lot of the Districts?"
"No-just one. District 2."
His face shows no hint of surprise and he says, "District 2-interesting. Wanting to be closer to Mr. Hawthorne I assume?"
"I don't feel comfortable discussing that with you."
"Totally understandable. You wouldn't want Ceasar to find out about that."
"How have you been Mr. Heavensbee?" Katniss taking on the same formal tone with him as he was her.
"I have been well thank you. Keeping busy as usual. Have you seen the President yet?"
"No." Katniss had seen her sitting on the main stage and when first ushered inside she gave a brief speech, but Katniss had seen the President engaging in conversation with a lot of different people and didn't want to interfere.
"Well she's right over there, talking with Mr. Hawthorne as a matter of fact." Heavensbee pointing behind Katniss.
She turns around and sees Gale talking to Paylor, just the two of them. Both looking very serious.
She feels Heavensbee lean over and say in a softer tone in her ear, "If I had to guess, I believe they are talking about your friends-the Jay Killers."
She does not respond, only swallowing and continuing to stare forward, feeling extremely uncomfortable with Heavensbee leaning over her shoulder.
"I know they are anything but your friends, but you know the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. I know Haymitch is working on just that" he says in a tone she can't decipher.
Just then, she sees Gale glance over in her direction, seeing the look on her face he quickly ends his conversation with Paylor and walks over to them. Heavensbee quickly moving away from Katniss says, "Commander Hawthorne" and extends his hand for Gale to shake.
Once the handshake ends Gale moves in and wraps his arm around Katniss in a protective manner and says, "Everything okay here?" staring Heavensbee down.
"Oh yes. Miss Everdeen and I were just discussing her plans now that she has graduated. I was just wishing her the best of luck in her future endeavors."
"Thank you" Katniss says pointedly.
Heavensbee then excuses himself and once out of sight Gale turns to Katniss and says, "What did he say to you?"
"He was-asking about where I was looking for a job and then pointed to you and Paylor and said you two were…..talking about my friends."
"I will find out from the President how much he knows, though I imagine he knows quite a bit. She trusts him-a lot."
"Should she? After all, this is the same person who was willing to stand beside Coin and do whatever bidding she asked. I mean, I know he helped me get pardoned and helped Effie and I never held what happened that day in the Capitol against him but, the way he was leaning over me and whispering about the Jay Killers, I couldn't help but feel uneasy."
"I know I saw, I think he got the hint not to do that again."
Katniss reaches up and hugs him, trying to ease her anxiety about what Heavensbee was up to, for she couldn't shake off their odd exchange just now. With Gale's arms around her she turns her head to the side and sees Heavensbee talking with one of PES's administrators. Noticing the two of them embracing, Heavensbee gives Katniss a hard stare before curling his lips in a sly smile.
