Sorry for the delay, I was busy with work...To answer some questions, and some private messages I've received. I'm afraid that I don't think I'll be writing another story...I'm sorry, this story was in tribute to a very close someone of mine who died of cancer not long ago. I have tons of folders with ideas and prompts, but I'm not sure if I'll have the inspiration.
Next, for the not so nice private messages I've received by some certain people. I understand if you think that this is not a very good fan fiction, etc, but please then, just don't read it. Leave quietly, and don't send me hate messages. Thank you.
Sorry for the lengthy authors note guys...:) Same as always, this story is dedicated to Courtney and Holly, my cherished sister. Enjoy!
Katniss and Finnick had a concert scheduled two days' away, so the whole group decided to go to there, two days' early in preparation, tour a museum, and hang out at their hotel. It was a six hours' drive away, so they decided to carpool. Katniss and Gale rode in the front row, Cato, Thresh, Rue and Darius in the middle, and Peeta, Johanna, Foxface and Clove rode in the back seat.
"So," Johanna yelled over the radio. "Brainless, when are you leaving this hell hole of a world?"
While Peeta and other passengers shot Johanna a reproachful look, Katniss didn't miss a beat, "Less than a month…In a week or so probably," she shrugged.
Johanna raised her coca cola bottle, "Cheers."
"Yup, it's gonna be the talk of the town," Katniss prophesied, while screaming to Gale, "I said turn left not right, you idiot!"
"I'll be there, just for you Brainless." Johanna blushed, unused to showing feeling. "But, it's only to see if you really have a brain." she quickly added.
"Gee, thanks." Katniss rolled her eyes. "I want you to make a speech or toast or whatever there though. Everyone else is gonna be crying and sobbing all over my dead body, but I can trust you to say something like, 'So what?' and laugh when someone says something like, 'She was such a saint', or something equally silly."
"You can count on me," Johanna saluted Katniss, although it took great restraint for her not to end up sobbing then.
Suddenly, Finnick perked up. "Hey, Kat, this is one of our songs, you know, the ones that Plutarch released early to get the publicity excited about our last album."
"Hey, it is!" Katniss grinned. "I was thinking of Gale throughout this WHOLE song!"
Katniss Finnick
Better in stereo,
B-better in stereo
I'm up with the sunshine (let's go!)
I lace up my high-tops (oh, no!)
Slam dunk, ready or not
Yeah, show me what you got
I'm under the spotlight (holler)
I dare you, come on and follow
You dance to your own beat
I'll sing the melody!
When you say, "Yeah, " I say, "No."
When you say, "Stop, " all I wanna do is go, go, go!
You, the other half of me
The half I'll never be
The half that drives me crazy!
You, the better half of me
The half I'll always need!
We both know
We're better in stereo!
B, b-better in stereo
Oh, oh, oh
B, b-better in stereo
Oh, oh, oh
And when we're together,
A sweet harmony or solo,
If we could just agree,
We would go major league
When you say, "Yeah, " I say, "No."
When you say, "Stop, " all I wanna do is go, go, go!
You, the other half of me
The half I'll never be
The half that drives me crazy!
You, the better half of me
The half I'll always need!
We both know
We're better in stereo!
You say, "It's wrong, " I say, "It's right."
You say, "It's black, " I say, "It's white."
You take left, and I take right
But at the end of the day we both know
We're better...
You, the other half of me
The half I'll never be
The half that drives me crazy!
You the better half of me
The half I'll always need!
We both know
We're better in stereo!
We're better in stereo!
Better in stereo
Better in stereo
Better in stereo
Better in stereo
Better in stereo
"Aww, thanks, Catnip," Gale smiled as he pulled into a gas station. "We certainly are better in stereo. This should be our theme song or something."
"Yeah, it would be-" Katniss started, only to get cut off by her phone ringing. Her eyebrows furrowed, but then she said, "I need to take this call, but I'm gonna take it outside."
Gale raised his eyebrows, but didn't interfere, however…the group found themselves having to take restroom breaks, a snack, or whatever…when really they just wanted to listen in. It was the group dynamics.
"What do you want?" Katniss sighed into the phone. "…Yes, it's true…Why wouldn't I tell you? What do you think?…I don't want to say goodbye?…"
Cato observed her carefully, and wondered who she was talking to. She was obviously distressed, which she shouldn't be right now…Should he intervene?
"Romulus," a ton of faces hardened at the mention of whosever name was upsetting Katniss, and in this case, Romulus. "while I really don't want to say goodbye, your wife is eight months pregnant, and you need to take care of her!…I don't care if she wants you to come here, you are staying over there in New Mexico!…" suddenly her voice turned ice cold. "What did you just call me?…You have no right to call me that!…Shut up!"
Cato pursed his lips and walked forward quickly, stopping just behind Katniss. He placed his hands on her hips, and whispered in her ear, "Hey, you don't deserve anything that bastard is saying to you…Do you want me to take it?"
"I can handle it," Katniss whispered. However, Cato heard everything that was being spoken on the phone, now that he was closer and his face hardened.
"No, you don't need to hear any of that," and Cato wrenched the phone away from her, and ended the call, blocked Romulus, and only then would he give it back to her.
"Thanks," Katniss whispered, and climbed back into the front seat of the car, wiping away any last minute tears.
When she got in, the car was just silent. Cato leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her. Katniss faintly smiled, and leaned her head on them. "I miss you," she said quietly.
"He's right behind you, brainless," Johanna said.
"Yeah, but I still miss him."
"Whatever."
"And whatever means?" Peeta asked.
"Means you're my best friend, and I love you as a brother or sister and would give the whole world for you." Johanna told him sarcastically.
Gale grinned at Katniss. "Whatever."
"You too."
"So, tell us some stories of your childhood, Katniss," Annie requested. She mused, "After spending so much time with each other at school, I know a lot about the other people in this car, excepting you...Oh, and Gale," she added. "For some reason, I can't recollect him telling us anything much about it."
"Well, that's probably because most of my childhood connects with HIS childhood," Katniss smiled. "Ooh, I could spill all sorts of dirty secrets about Gale!"
"Don't you dare," Gale slapped her arm.
"ABUSER!" Katniss whisper yelled, not wanting to disturb Darius who was driving in the front. The car had switched up, and Peeta was sitting in front with Dari, Katniss, Gale, Cato and Clove were in the middle, and Johanna, Foxface, Rue and Thresh were in the back.
Gale rolled his eyes at her, and said, "If you say anything, I have full liability to slap your arm again."
Katniss hid behind Cato's arm, "Save me, Cato!" she cried dramatically. "Save me from the horrible villain!"
Cato rolled his eyes at Katniss, much like Gale and sighed heavily, "Sweetheart, how many times must I tell you? I'm here to love you not protect you!"
"What am I gonna do without you, Catnip?" Gale suddenly sighed.
Katniss hugged him, and avoided his question. "Don't be sad."
"Why ever not?" Gale teased her.
"Cause I'm here. You don't need to be sad when I'm here."
"Then what am I gonna do when you're not here?"
"Clove's gonna take my place. I hate to admit it," Katniss acted playfully. "but it's true. She's gonna be your crutch."
Katniss leaned so she could see Clove clearly, and make eye contact. "Take good care of Gale, Clove. I'm counting on you, so if you don't...I'll have to haunt you on Earth...Got it?"
"Got it."
It was nighttime when they finally got to their destination. They decided to drop by at the hotel for the night, and the museum the next day as they were so tired of driving so that's where they went. They had booked five rooms, one for each couple.
Katniss and Cato were unpacking, as they were staying three days' there. Suddenly, Katniss yelled, "WHAT?"
"What's wrong?"
"Annie didn't pack MY clothes, she packed FINNICK'S clothes, and they're all like the concert outfits that were planned and all of that!" Katniss opened the door, connecting their room to Annie and Finnick's rooms.
She lugged the suitcase in, "Hey Finnick, take your clothes."
"Oh, that's where they were! I only had half of my clothes!"
"Yeah, well, I don't have ANY of my clothes!"
"Sorry Katniss. But that's ok," Annie peeped in. "I could lend you some of my clothes!"
"Umm, no offense Annie, but I don't think your clothes would exactly….fit my style."
"Chillax Brainless," Johanna butted into the converstation. "You could have some of my clothes, we wear practically the same clothes."
"Yeah, but you're gonna need some too, right?" Katniss asked.
"Well, I could lend you something for the concert, and something for tomorrow, and you can just rewear your outfit for the last day."
"Ok. I can just borrow something from Cato to sleep in," Katniss looked at Cato for confirmation.
He shrugged, wrapping his arms around her, "Sure."
Since the problem was solved, Katniss and Cato headed back to their room. "So, can I borrow some clothes from you?"
"Yeah," Cato walked over to the dresser, and tossed Katniss a faded blue dress shirt and a pair of boxers. "Will those fit?"
"Yup," Katniss went to change in the bathroom. "They're still a bit big, but they work." She came out. The shirt reached to her mid thighs, she had rolled up the sleeves, and the boxers just peeked out underneath it.
Cato whistled appreciatively, "You look good in my clothes."
Katniss playfully slapped his arm. "Shut up."
"Will do," Cato kissed her. Soon, somehow Katniss was lying on the bed, the dress shirts buttons were undone, and Cato's shirt was completely off, Cato hovering on top of her.
Then Cato groaned and flopped down on the bed next to her. "If I don't stop now," he explained. "I won't be able to stop."
Katniss smiled softly, and wrapped her arms around his shirtless torso. "I love you." she whispered.
"I love you too." The star-crossed lovers fell asleep, their arms wrapped tightly around one another, holding on as much as they could.
Dear Gale,
My best friend. My secret holder. My other half. The half I'll always need. That's you. I'm dead by now, and you've got to accept it. Don't go into denial Gale...Don't become like my mum...Gale,I'm dead to the world, but I'll always be with you. Don't worry, if you can't find me in you, I'll come down to haunt you on earth.
Treat Clove like a princess. Remember me Gale, but not with sorrow. Visit all the places where we've made our mark...Here's one: Where we engraved our names (the park bench)...
Do you remember when we made that silly promise? That if one of us never fell in love, then we would just marry each other? Well, I guess that one didn't work out. I love you, as the very best friend ever.
You remember how we used to love to quote things, and guess who said it? Well, here's one. 'Don't cry because it's over, sm:)e because it happened.' Got it, Gale? Can you tell me who said it?
And Gale...Just one more thing...Whatever.
Katniss