We're dead at the restaurant again, as usual. Thank God for the handful of regulars we have that actually leave good tips. I'm wiping off a table for probably the fifteenth time when Annie, Johanna, Delly, and Rue come in and sit at the biggest table we have in front of the window. They have been to the bakery, they each have small bag with them. They probably got one of Peeta's amazing cupcakes, he's at work right now too.
"Hey guys!" I approach smiling. "What will you all be drinking this fine evening?"
"Are you guys still out of Angry Orchard?" Rue asks hoping that we aren't. We've been out for a week. Wiress, the owner of the place, kept forgetting to reorder it – so I ordered it for us two days ago.
"Nope. We just got some more in today." I roll my eyes slightly
"Then I'll take one of those please," Rue says smiling.
"Me too!" Annie adds.
"The usual," Delly says playfully.
"And what about you Jo?" I ask. She always gets something different, it always depends on her mood.
"Whiskey."
Oh, so it's that good. "Straight up? On the rocks? Neat? Double? How do you want it?"
"Oh, sorry man, can I get a double in a tall glass with coke?"
"Yea man, I'll be right back guys."
I return in a couple of minutes with the two Angry Orchards, Johanna's whiskey and coke, and Delly's Dr. Pepper. "Are you guys getting food tonight or just drinks?"
"We might get food, I don't know." Johanna says
"Yeah man, we just came to hang out with you," chimes Rue.
"So, what did you guys get at the bakery?" I inquire.
"I knew she would ask." Johanna rolls her eyes chuckling slightly.
"Peeta gave us all a cupcake when we went in. I went to the bakery to talk to him about a wedding cake," Annie gushes. When she talks about Finnick or the wedding her entire face lights up. You can tell she really loves him and she's so excited about the wedding. It's so adorable and so genuine. "I scheduled a tasting but he said that he would bring the cakes to your place so it would be more comfortable. Ya know, less formal. Is that ok?"
"Of course! If that's what you and Peeta want to do then it's totally fine."
"Speaking of Peeta, how did it go with him meeting your family?" Delly questions.
I tell them about how Prim took to him right away and my mom was apprehensive at first but she loved him when we left. How he cooked our entire Thanksgiving Day meal, and lastly I tell them how I realized I love him.
"What?" Johanna nearly chokes on her drink. "Did I hear that right, Everdeen? You love him."
Everyone is staring at me awestruck. They are, no doubt, remembering the state I was in not even four months ago. I never thought I would be with anyone again, let alone love anyone again, and I think they sensed that. That's probably why they are so surprised right now. "Guys, I'm just as shocked as you are. But Peeta, he's different, he's the best man I've ever met."
"That must be why he and Finnick are friends," Annie chimes.
"Jesus! You guys are fucking disgusting," Johanna spits rolling her eyes and taking another chug from her whiskey. "I'll take another one of these when you get a chance."
"Alright, anyone else want another?" I ask. Everyone nods and I disappear to get everyone's drinks. My phone buzzes while I'm behind the bar, it's Peeta:
Sorry I didn't stop by when I got off. Haymitch needs my help with something. I'll see you when you get home. I love you, Katniss.
I grin like the Cheshire cat before telling him that I love him too. I return to the table of my friends, unable to wipe the large grin off my face.
"What did Peeta want?" Rue asks. "You've obviously talked to him."
Johanna rolls her eyes when I tell them what he said. "Guys, I'm really nervous about meeting his family. His mom sounds really mean."
"Well if she doesn't like you, she's fucking dumb," Johanna says nonchalantly. Everyone at the table agrees with her, nodding their heads. As strange as it sounds, that actually makes me feel better.
"So, what's with you tonight Jo? You seem off," I comment.
"Ugh! Fucking Glimmer!" Johanna growls loudly. "She's driving me crazy, I'm seriously contemplating murder. I look good in orange too, so that's not a deterrent." We all laugh at her but she shakes her head, "I'm being totally serious, that bitch is crazy. She brings guys into our room all the time and then gets psycho possessive and cries when they don't text her back within three minutes the next day."
"She sounds legit crazy." Delly comments pointing at Johanna before taking a sip from her Dr. Pepper.
We keep talking and laughing until close because I have no other customers and they have nowhere else to be. As I lock up I start to think that things really are looking up, everything is going to be ok. Everything that I thought by that pond on Thanksgiving is true. I allow myself to get even happier, to think even more positive thoughts about Peeta and myself. Maybe meeting his family won't be so bad after all, though I hate his mom for what she's done to him. Peeta deserves so much better than that, so much more. He deserves to be loved by every ounce of every being that is close to him. I am captivated by this thought throwing it around in my head when it happens.
I am nearly home, only three buildings down from mine when he grabs my arm. Hard. Every thought I had about Peeta dancing around in my head stops abruptly. My head snaps in his direction.
"Hey Catnip."
"Gale, what the fuck. Let go of me." I snap. His eyes are glassed over and bloodshot. I yank my arm out of his grip and he stumbles. He's fucked up. I'm not sure of what caused it. I don't care either. This is life for him.
"Jus' listen to me for a secon'. Please." He's swaying where he stands.
"No." I retort flatly continuing to walk toward my place.
"But Catnip, baby, I love you. I need you," He grabs my wrist, his grip like a vice. I see that familiar fire in his eyes, he's getting angry.
"Gale. I. Don't. Care." I spit the words like venom – I hope the words feel like poison when they slap him in the face. "Your words mean nothing to me, I've heard them all before and I don't care to hear them anymore. I'm done. With you. With all of this." I try to pry my wrist from his grip but it's too strong.
He pulls me closer to him, bearing his teeth, "Listen to me!"
I try to pull away again but this makes him even angrier. He shoves me away with force that I find surprising given his current state. I stumble backward a few steps and land roughly on the steps going up to my apartment. Within an instant Peeta is out there helping me up. He wheels around to face Gale his fists clenched tight. Gale smirks at him. Big mistake. Peeta punches Gale in the jaw. Gale stumbles back and falls. Peeta is on him hitting him again and again. Haymitch pulls Peeta off of Gale murmuring inaudible things to him to calm him down. Peeta looks down at Gale once more, "If you ever come near her, let alone touch her again, I swear it will be the last thing you do." Gale chuckles. He thinks he's invincible, though clearly, he's not. He spits blood on the sidewalk before looking back at me. "Fine. You can have her. She's a fucking ugly ass bitch anyway."
Peeta jets over to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders he steers me into Haymitch's shop. I hear Haymitch warn Gale to stay away but he offers to call him a cab to take him somewhere given his current state. Gale scoffs and turns away.
Peeta looks at me, his thumb gently wipes a tear off my cheek. "I – I didn't realize I was crying. I'm sorry, Peeta." He pulls me into him and strokes my braid gently.
"Don't apologize to me Katniss. I'm sorry I wasn't out there sooner," he presses his lips to my forehead. Peeta takes my face in his hands and states matter of factly, "He, will never come near you again, I promise." His thumb gently strokes my temple, I pull away slightly and wince in pain. He examines the side of my face, anger flashes in his eyes. I must have scraped it on the steps when I fell.
Haymitch comes to us with a damp rag for my head, "He's gone and he won't be coming back." Peeta nods at him. Haymitch makes his way behind the counter, "I need a drink, you guys?" I nod and Peeta tells him that a drink would be very much appreciated.
Haymitch pours three glasses of bourbon for us and Peeta picks me up and places me on the counter. He situates himself between my legs with one arm around my back. None of us say anything for a while, we just sit there drinking our Bourbon, Peeta never taking his hand off of me. A breaking news story catches our attention, Haymitch turns it up. There has been a fatal single car accident. The driver was pronounced dead on impact. The driver was 23 year old Gale Hawthorne. Peeta and Haymitch look at me hesitantly, gauging my reaction. I feel like I should feel something but I don't. It's like I just heard someone I didn't even know died, maybe that's cold but it's the truth. I take a sip of my bourbon, shrug and say blandly, "I told him that would happen one day."
Neither Peeta nor Haymitch say anything to me about it. I think they're trying to figure out how I really feel about it without having to ask. Honestly though, I have actually expressed how I really feel about it. I feel nothing. After sitting there for about thirty minutes I express my desire for sleep. Peeta helps me slide off the counter. As we make our way to the door Haymitch tells Peeta, "Take care of her, son."
Peeta nods, "Yes sir."
Peeta guides me up the stairs and into my apartment. He's being a little weird, I think he's still trying to figure out how I feel.
"Peeta, I'm fine, I promise. My head and my feelings. Please don't worry about me. I really did always know this was coming."
Peeta looks at me, weighing what I've just said. "Katniss, I believe you. But I'm still worried about you. That's a lot to happen to a person in one night."
"I know it is, but I promise I'm fine. I appreciate your concern but he's not worth being upset over anymore. He used all of that up, I legitimately have nothing left to give him – physically or emotionally. I'm just glad it's all over. For good. Now can we please go to bed?" I'm so tired I could nearly fall asleep standing here talking to Peeta.
"Of course we can, baby." He wraps his arms around my waist and presses his lips briefly to the top of my head. I kiss his shoulder and then slide out of his embrace so I can kick my pants off and crawl into bed. Peeta laughs at me, "You really are tired." I nod my head slowly. Peeta slips his shirt off and steps out of his jeans and climbs into bed behind me. He wraps his arms around me and nuzzles into my neck. "Goodnight, Katniss. I love you."
"Mmmm." I mumble as my eyes close and I drift off to sleep.