The Road to District 12- Mason
The next afternoon found us on the road with a party of almost a hundred from Corundum, some on horseback, some in carriages, there was even a kart dedicated to wardrobe for all that would be attending the feast that evening . Peeta and I were out ahead of the rest of the party on horseback. "You look happy", Peeta says with a smile in my direction. "It feels good to be outside, and we will get to see Gale soon!" I replied. It was hard to hide my excitement at seeing my friend. Gale met a girl soon after moving permanently to District 2 named Clara, and after that it was much easier for him to talk to me, see me, and even ask me about Peeta. We all became fast friends when they visited District 12 last fall, and I couldn't wait to spend more time with the girl that had captured my best friend's heart. I look back at Peeta, "You look good on that horse, how are you legs?" I ask, always concerned. Peeta is a slower since he lost his leg, but he never complains. "I am fine, Katniss, we should find Effie at the next rest stop though, she will want to go over tonight's schedule."
For the second half of the trip Peeta and I road in a carriage with Eiffe and Julia, a girl about my age who was appointed to be Effie's assistant for the rest of the tour. She had long blond hair that hung in curls and the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen. She kept batting those big eyes in Peeta's direction. Luckily he seemed oblivious, he was currently planning on making a phone call once we got to District 2 to talk to everyone back home about the change of plans. The rest of the trip went on in this fashion. Peeta being his cheerful and charismatic shelf, Effie complaining about how long the trip was taking, and Julia staring at Peeta with her big doe eyes.
The evening went by in a blur of interviews and photographers flashing away. District 2 is now named Mason after the masonry work that is done there. Peeta and I ate, danced, and laughed with Gale and Clara all night. I could tell Gale was truly happy with his life in District two, and that happiness was contagious. At one point Clara gets up to talk to someone and Gale turns to me, "I am really happy Katniss" he says with a goofy smile on his face. "I can tell" I reply, "She is perfect Gale, you deserve it." He looks at me for a moment like he is was concentrating on something, "I am going to ask her to marry me." It takes it a moment to sink in, but my first emotion upon processing is pure joy, "Gale! That is amazing! When? How? Does she know?" I look over my shoulder to where Peeta was sitting earlier and noticed he must have gotten up for another drink. I look back toward Gale, "She doesn't know, but we have talked about it. I haven't bought her a ring or anything yet, I will have to go to the capitol to get one, but I was just thinking the other day, that it is time." He says this all in a rush like he couldn't wait to tell someone. I smile and look up, searching the room for Peeta. I find him on the dancefloor, and for a full minute I am confused until he turns slightly and I see Julia holding on to his broad shoulders, dressed in a strapless white gown, looking like some kind of angel. She tosses her head back and laughs at something Peeta says.
Jealousy. It feels like I have swallowed hot coals and my vision actually blurs. I look back at Gale and throw a fake smile on my face. At that moment Clara sits back down at the table and gives me a look like she just watched a puppy die. She knows. She knows in an instant, just by a look on my face, what it took me so long to figure out. At that moment it is all too much, the photographers, Gale and Clara's happiness, all of the sudden I need to leave. I stand up so quickly my chair hits the ground. "It is getting late, I should head back to the hotel and get some rest, I will see you tomorrow morning before we leave for District 3!" I say this all in a high pitched rush as I am already heading for the exit. Effie catches up with me as I open the door. "Katniss, I wanted to let you know that we got you and Peeta separate rooms tonight, Julia didn't realize you live together, and" I cut in instantly, "That isn't a problem! It was an honest mistake I am sure" I say too quickly and too loudly. My voice is all wrong and Effie looks at me with concern, "OK Katniss, thanks for understanding… goodnight.." I leave her standing by the door with a confused look on her face.
I'm crying before my head hits the pillow. I look around this strange room, my pink ballgown is in a heap on the floor, I bury my head into the pillow and try to get a grip. I can only blame myself, really, he didn't do anything wrong. He had no idea it would upset me, how could he? I always push him away. I stare at the ceiling knowing I won't be getting sleep without him here, and for the first time since the day we met, I was OK with that.