Gale's POV:
This week has been worse than a ride on an elevator in a mine shaft, each high and low bringing me closer to the brink of insanity. I doubt being injected with tracker-jacker venom could affect my neurotic thoughts and emotions more than the last several days have.
My pull to Ember is no less than the first day I laid eyes on her. I had hoped there would be relief in the constant exposure, but there is none unless you consider that I'm becoming accustomed to my addiction. I am painfully aware of the intense withdrawal and distraction each evening alone brings.
Said distraction is the excuse I give myself for prompting an offer to escort her around town today. How else will I survive the weekend?
I wake up an hour before my alarm is set to go off, instantly alert, barely able to contain the enthusiasm that has smoldered within me, threatening to erupt, since the moment she accepted my suggestion. I take a quick shower, get dressed and grab some fruit from the main kitchen before heading out. I opt to walk instead of taking the shuttle since she lives nearby.
It's amazing how many people actually choose to be up and out this early on a Saturday. Rarely do I leave the comforts of bed before the crack of noon on days my presence is not required elsewhere. I am surprised at how pleasant it is outside, the air brisk and fresh, but I know it will be warmer later this morning. PIIA has today's forecast and I can't ask for better weather – lots of sunshine, a cloudless sky, and a light breeze.
The day would be perfect if not for the troubles Beetee informed me about at work. His details about Finn's dead fish and Haymitch's trees are enough to be concerned about in and of themselves. Add that to my phone call last night from Katniss telling me about the rapidly increasing number of ill patients her mother is treating at the hospital and dread threatens to overshadow my euphoria. I can't make heads or tails out of the facts, but I don't have to. That's Beetee's problem. If I know him, he's in his lab right this moment trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. Hell, he probably stayed there all night.
Shoving my concerns to the back of my mind, I am determined to make the best of today. I finally have a chance to show Ember who I am, the real Gale. I'm nervous and relieved at the same time. I vow to relax and set aside the self-imposed restrictions I've erected all week. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this may be the only chance I get to make a good impression and convince her to give me, us, a chance- if she wants it.
Arriving at her door, I knock and wait, shove my hands into my pockets and try to remember to breathe. She opens the door and I feel the flames of my high begin to flicker underneath my skin. My heart is pounding so hard I fear she can hear it. In this moment I realize she is not merely my drug of choice, she may be the drug that provides the cure for my lonely heart, my empty life.
"Hi." She smiles and my heart skips a beat. "Come in. I just need to slip on some shoes and grab a jacket, and then I'll be ready to go."
"Sure. Not a problem." I answer, smiling back at her. I follow her to the living room.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back." She gestures me towards the sofa while proceeding down the hallway.
Rays of sunlight flood the room. Her flat looks smaller than mine, but that could be because she has real furniture, not the fold away chairs and end tables made of crates that are scattered throughout mine. I take a deep breath, sit down on the sofa and try to relax.
Ember walks back into the room with a sweater draped over her arm, bends down to pull the straps of her shoe over her heel, and looks up at me.
"I'm ready. We can go now." She straightens up, running her fingers through her hair, which hangs down her back in soft curls.
I don't think I'll survive today if I can't touch her. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. She's breathtaking and the reaction my body has towards her is intense. Taking a deep breath, trying to maintain the thin thread of control I possess, I stand and smile at her.
"You look beautiful." It slips out before my mind recognizes the command to close my mouth. "I mean, I've never seen you with your hair down and I like it. It's pretty." Shit! I'm reverting back to day one.
Ember doesn't seem to pick up on my nervousness and smiles at me. "Thank you."
I open the door and allow her to walk out ahead of me. She locks the door, tossing her bag over her shoulder as we walk to the shuttle.
"I hope I don't sound ridiculous but I'm so excited about today. I haven't had a chance to do any real shopping since I moved here. Thank you for offering to take me. I know most men detest shopping in general."
"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to go." If she only knew how afraid I'd been that she wouldn't be interested. "I actually don't get to the Market very often and it is a very unique experience. I hope you like it."
Watching her face light up in anticipation of something as simple as a day at the Market made my heart feel knotted, an ache that was almost painful. I know practically nothing about her, but even I can tell her life has not been fulfilling if something this basic brings such joy. I determine to make it my business to fill this day with lots of fun and happiness for her.
"I'm sure I will. We had a farmers market in District 5, but it was small, just the basics. Tell me what this one's like."
The shuttle pulls up, opening its doors as we climb aboard. It starts with a jerk causing her to fall back against me and I grab her waist to keep us from falling. A flash of white heat sears me where her body contacts mine inundating me with scorching rivers of fire. I force myself to release her as soon as we are balanced. I feel like I've been branded. I am rigid with desire and want nothing more than to press up against her again. I take several deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself.
It doesn't go unnoticed that she seems just as shell-shocked as I am. She nervously runs her fingers through her hair and the soft scent of vanilla invades my senses. It takes every ounce of self-control I have to keep from burying my face in her hair.
We take seats next to each other near the front so that I can point out the different sites as we pass by. I hope she doesn't notice my discomfort from the lust fueled swelling in my jeans. I begin to describe the Market in minute detail, trying to appear polite while I fight the impulse to touch myself for relief.
"The Market is like nothing else I've ever seen. There's abundant produce and meat, fresh breads, all reasonably priced. There are textiles, candies and delicacies from every district. Pleasures and all kinds of entertainment abound for all five senses. If you can think it up, you can probably find it at the Market."
"It sounds absolutely amazing." Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm when she speaks. "I'm glad I wore comfortable shoes. It sounds as though we'll be doing a lot of walking."
"We will, for sure." I can't help the grin spreading across my face. Her zeal is contagious. All of my nervousness from earlier is gone and I am beginning to relax. I am optimistically looking forward to the rest of the day.
We arrive at the Market and join the throng of people flooding through the gates. It's still early and some vendors are just opening up their booths. For several minutes we are both overwhelmed by the variety of worldly goods laid out before us. We stroll from booth to booth, delighting over each new discovery. I take her hand in mine to keep us from becoming separated by the masses. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
We each make a few small purchases before realizing we are famished.
"I'm hungry, are you?" She asked.
"Hell, yeah! I can always eat." I laughed. "What are you hungry for?"
"I'm feeling rather adventurous today, so I'd like to try something new, something I've never had before. Since you know your way around better than I do, you pick."
"Okay. I know just the place."
Pushing my way through the crush of bodies, I make sure to keep her hand firmly secured within my own. We pass the building filled with exotic animals, past the ticket booths and the merchants attempting to entice us to purchase their goods or to ride their rides. It is quite comical how each one thinks theirs is the biggest, the best, the most unique or original.
I slow down when we get to the tables surrounded by portable buildings advertising every imaginable culinary delight in the known world. Chef's bustle behind barbeque pits, vats filled with hot oils and magnificent stoves, their aprons splattered with the residue of their trade.
I stop in front of the building that contains the most delectable item my taste buds have ever encountered. It's called a corn dog. I never heard of it before moving to District 14, but apparently it's been around since the beginning of time. A flavorful sausage dipped in a cake like batter and fried to a crisp, golden brown. I discovered it's even better dipped in any variety of sauces – ketchup, barbeque sauce, mustard, honey…. The memory makes my stomach growl and my mouth salivate in anticipation.
Ember closes her eyes and inhales. She looks at me, smiling and nodding her approval at my choice. Hell, I want to kiss her so bad. Instead, I squeeze her hand and pull her with me towards the window and order 2 corn dogs with fries and sodas.
We find an empty table nearby and sit across from each other while we wait for our food.
"So, how are you enjoying the Market?" I ask her.
"I love it. I can see myself spending many Saturday's here. There's no way to see everything in one day."
"Hopefully you'll invite me along for some of those Saturdays!" I shamelessly reply.
"Of course! How could I not invite the man who so selflessly dedicated an entire Saturday to show me around?" She was smiling at me, teasing me, and the urge to reach across the table and kiss the smile off of her face almost wins before reason kicks back in.
A young boy brings the food to our table and we begin to eat. I admit that this is the most pleasurable meal I've ever partaken of. Between bites of utter deliciousness, I am witness to the borderline erotic expressions and sounds coming from Ember. Eyes closed, chewing and moaning in utter satisfaction, a drop of honey in the corner of her mouth. I want to lick her mouth. Hello, hard on! She opens her eyes and catches me staring at her mouth just as her tongue sneaks out and nabs the errant honey. Fuck. Me. Now. I have to have this woman. Please God, tell me I get to taste this woman. If not today, then soon. Please. Tell me I have been good enough to deserve this. Or bad enough. I don't care, just give her to me. Shit, this woman is breaking me down. I never dreamed something as innocent as food can elicit such carnality in me, but the visions in my mind at this precise moment are anything other than innocent.
I am saved by PIIA as both of us receive a message at the same time. It's from Beetee and he is calling an emergency meeting immediately. He is giving everyone an hour to meet in his lab. It is urgent and no one has been excluded from this meeting.
We briefly glance at each other before gathering up our purchases and tossing the rest of our lunch in the trash. I grab her hand and we walk as fast as we can without running to get back to the gates and the shuttle.