"Seneca Crane is dead?" Peeta asks the officer who had stumbled into his house a minute ago.
"Yes. We know that Mr. Crane has worked many years with your father, and that now recently was under your services." The officer calmly tells him.
"That is correct. I suppose that man had many enemies, he would often borrow people money and the way he would charge the people would be rather violent." Peeta says, earning a nod from the officer.
"I know nothing else, but I'm willing to cooperate if needed."
"Thank you. We will contact you." the officer says and after politely giving his goodbyes leaves Peeta alone with Finnick, who had been watching the conversation all along from the side.
"It's good that you didn't tell him that he was robbing you. The police could think badly of that." Finnick sighs.
"If I didn't mention it, it's only because it is completely unimportant. Besides, I have nothing to hide."
"No of course." Finnick agrees.
"To be quite honest, I'm not at all surprised that a man like Seneca ended up like this." Peeta says, in his mind wondering who was the person responsible for the murder.
At the same time in the Everdeen's mansion Katniss walks in on a conversation happening in her living room-
"I don't understand how my son, could have owed that man so much money!" Charlie yells, angrily glaring at Marvel and Diana, who was protecting her son, as always. "And I knew nothing!" he continues.
"Calm down. I didn't want to worry you." Diana tries.
"It hurts me to see how far you can go, just to save your son from his stupid mistakes!" Charlie yells even more.
"No no no, I didn't think that the situation was going to be so serious Charlie. I already told you that the depth has been..taken care of. It was very little." Diana says.
"Either way, you should have told me."
"I was going to Charlie, but first I wanted to fix things." she says, and Katniss can't help but frowning at her mother.
"Did you really pay everything you owed that man?" Charlie asks, now a bit calmer.
"Of course he did. To the very last cent. I am his witness." Diana speaks for Marvel.
"If I would have known that he was going to be murdered I wasn't going to pay as a single penny to him." Marvel laughs.
"Your comments are not funny Marvel. Oh, but now that you will enter the marines you will change. And you will be more responsible. Wheter you liked it, or not." Charlie warns sternly.
This only causes for Marvel to walk out of the room without another word.
"Well I should rest now. Are you coming Diana?" Charlie asks.
"In a moment. I want to have a word with Katniss." Diana says.
"Very well. I'll wait you in the bedroom." Charlie says before walking upstairs.
"What do you want to talk to me about mother?" Katniss asks.
Diana watches Charlie slowly disappear and once he is completely gone, she turns around to grab Katniss. Hard.
"Who is Gale Hawthorne!" she demands.
Katniss breaks away from her mother's grip and turns around.
"Speak! Who is Gale Hawthorne?"
Katniss turns around to face her mother again. "My boyfriend mother."
"Excuse me?"
"My boyfriend, mother. You heard right." Katniss says determined.
"Who in the hell do you think you are you stupid little girl? How could you have hidden something like that from us? Of course, now I know why you left Sebastian. To be with a useless boy from the seam." Diana says in disgust.
"Gale is not some useless boy. He is the man that I love mother."
"Oh I see. And since when do you love this, Gale? Because to me you've never said anything and I am your mother!"
Katniss nods in disgust. "If I kept quiet, it's because of this. Because I am afraid that you won't support him."
"Well you are right in that." Diana nods. "I will never support him. And I will never let you marry a poor seam boy. Do you understand!"
"Gale is a good man! He is a marine just like father." Katniss insists.
"Be careful! Don't you dare compare that thing, with your father. Your father is a retired admiral with so much honor." Diana says proudly. "That Hawthorne guy is probably with you for your money anyway."
Katniss shakes her head in disbelief.
"You are so stupid Katniss, so innocent. You are the perfect victim for a guy like him. So stupid."
Katniss can't help the tear that falls down her cheek. "I won't argue with you mother. Because my father will agree with me, once he knows how much I love him. Because Gale mother, Gale is the love of my life."
"Aw how sweet but cynical it is you are Katniss! Do you not realize everyone in the District will talk about you? Is that what you want? That's what you want, for people to point at us..!" Diana yells, but gets interrupted by Charlie, who came down to see what was going on.
"Diana! Why are you two arguing?" he asks.
"Nothing is wrong Charlie. I'll be right upstairs, I told you." Diana says, and then turns around to whisper to Katniss's ear.
"I forbid you, listen to me. I forbid you from ever seeing that man again. And tomorrow we have to continue this conversation, because there are many important things you don't know about." Diana finishes, before walking away with Charlie, leaving Katniss alone, in the living room, where she after her parents are gone, breaks down to tears of sadnes and anger.
X
Of course Katniss was not going to let her mother tell her what to do, so the very next morning she meets up with Gale on their beach. How her mother could be so cold and evil towards her still amazed her. She was pretty sure Diana hated her. Things were so different with Marvel. Diana would do anything for him.
Katniss runs towards the man and kisses him before speaking.
"Where were you yesterday? I was waiting for you at the same time as always and you didn't show up! Gale we're in trouble." Katniss tells him.
"I'm sorry I got really busy at the last minute. You look worried what happened?" he asks while he wraps his arms around her to calm her down.
"Yes. My mom knows about everything and she basically forbade me from ever seeing you again!" Katniss cries.
Gale lets out an annoyed breath. "I told you, I told you not to get your hopes up. Your family will never accept me." he says defeated.
"My dad will, he will support me. He is a fair man. The only thing that matters to him is my happiness."
"No Catnip you're lying to yourself. I.." Gale tries but Katniss ignores him.
"What we need to do is tell him before my mom does, before she fills his head with lies to turn him against you!" Katniss continues. "Talk to him." She begs.
"I will do it. But now they are aware, they will watch your every move, and we won't be able to escape, I hope you know that." Gale rambles.
"Talk to him!" she repeats. "Tell him that you want to ask for my hand. If I tell him how much I love you, he will say yes."
She kisses him before he can start talking about how he won't accept it. "In half an hour Gale, I'll see you in my home." Katniss says, kisses him and then walks away. Katniss tells herself that everything will turn out well, because if she lets fear take a hold of her, she knows it will all go to hell. She spends her time thinking and thinking and the minutes feel like hours but they also feel like seconds.
And then there's a knock on the door of her house.
She gets up and clumsily trips in her own feet, as she runs to the door, knowing that if they don't do it now, she will change her mind.
But as soon as she gets to the door she can see through the glass that covers the door, that instead of the expected brown thick hair, the man behind the door is blonde. And those goddamn blue eyes.
"You have got to be kidding me not again!" she curses to herself before opening the door angrily, not bothering to give the man even a fake smile.
"Good morning."Peeta smiles as he steps inside.
Katniss chuckles angrily. "What are you doing here? What do you need?" she tries to be as polite as possible but she knew she was close to closing the door on him. It could not be possible this man would always arrive when Gale was ready to talk her father.
"I came for two reasons. The first one being that I talked with the notary and we closed the deal so that I am ready to buy the land." Peeta says smiling. "I'll wait for you there tomorrow at nine."
"At nine, good, perfect. Now I know." she says and points at the door with her head. "You can leave." she says with a small polite smile.
"No, I came for two reasons." Peeta reminds. "The second one being that I have a meeting with your father."
Katniss's smile turns into an angry frown, but before she can say anything Charlie walks in the room.
"Mr. Mellark! Come on in please, you are at home here." he says.
"Thank you Admiral." Peeta walks up to the old man for a handshake.
"Katniss, please ask Lavinia to make us some coffee?" Charlie asks, before turning around to Peeta again. "We'll go into my office, there we can speak in all peace." Charlie says. Peeta turns around to smile at Katniss, before walking after Charlie.
"In all peace." Katniss miserably whispers to herself when she is alone in the room again.
She decides to run out into the garden to see if Gale is anywhere to be seen and once again finds him standing outside.
"What are you doing, why didn't you come knock on the door?" she asks.
"I saw that guy again. That's why." Gale explains.
"Who the blonde guy? What about him. Just let's go Gale. I'll ask my dad to receive you." Katniss says but Gale stops her.
"Katniss there is no point and you know it! He won't agree with our love. Let's just leave. Let's leave the districts, and build up a life together outside." Gale pleads.
"Honestly Gale? It looks like you want to leave for different reasons, like you're running from something!" she accuses.
"Katniss you are my sole purpose in life. I want to be with you and I will give up anything for that. Let's leave." he asks again, and pulls her in for a kiss.
But the kiss is interrupted by the voice of an angry woman.
"Katniss Everdeen!" Diana yells, watching the two with murderous eyes.
"Mother." Katniss whispers in fear.
"Get inside the house Katniss. Now!" Diana screams but Katniss stands still.
"This is Gale Haw.." Katniss tries but Diana walks past the man without giving him a second look.
"I said go inside now." Diana warns.
"Just go Catnip please." Gale whispers to her, so she slowly walks away, but she manages to hear her mothers words.
"Stay away from my daughter, or it will cost you." Diana says and then leaves the man standing outside.
"How dare you bring that man into our home! You are acting like a slut!" Diana barges after Katniss, who doesn't have a chance to answer as Peeta and Charlie walk out of the office.
Instantly Diana turns her angry face into a smile. "Oh Mr. Mellark what a pleasure to see you. Would you like some coffee?" she asks but Effie enters the room with Lavinia holding a tray with coffee and some sweets.
"The coffee is already ready!" Effie says cheerfully. She then sits next to Peeta on a small couch.
"Katniss, serve the coffee to Peeta." Diana commands.
Katniss lets out an angry breath as Peeta is the whole reason everything got ruined for her, once again. But she didn't want to make a scene so she moves to pour some coffee on a cup for the horrible man anyway.
"I heard that the man who administrated your company got shot. Mr. Seneca Crane?" Charlie asks.
"Yes. It's very unfortunate. Although I do have to say that that man.." Peeta takes the coffee from Katniss and thanks her before continuing. "..that man was a thief. He had been robbing money from my father for years, and he dedicated his life in borrowing money to others." as Peeta says this, Diana swallows nervously.
"If I understood correctly I think the police have a suspect." Effie says.
"Yes they do. A marine called Gale Hawthorne." Charlie says displeased.
From across the room Katniss drops her cup of coffee to the ground, causing it to break into pieces.