"Oh my goodness, Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay! I am such a big fan. It's so very nice to meet you," she says. Her voice is so sweet. She reminds me of Delly and I find her impossible to dislike. It seems Gale has went and found himself a girl, who like Peeta, has little to no flame and rage. I avoid eye contact and conversation with Gale while we walk to his house.
Gale's home is more beautiful than what I could have imagined. Plush carpets, a large dining area and four bedrooms. One would have thought he was the Mockingjay. I want to believe that I don't know why I was shipped back to live on the ashes of my old life, but it's hard. To create a free world and then be tucked away while the ones around me live like kings. It's seems Peeta and I, the ones who suffered the most, are treated the worst. Perhaps it's Gale's job that has him living high on the hog.
Gale has someone preparing dinner for us while we have tea and cookies in his living room. He offered me coffee, but I don't want to relive that anxious feeling that I got the last time. Drania is so lovely. Her hair is curly and is in an attempted pony tail, but tendrils fall everywhere. She looks at Gale with such adoration.
"So where are you from?" I ask her.
"District Four," she says between sips. Four, Finnick! That's it, she looks just like Finnick.
"Are you related to-"
"Finnick Odair? No, but I get that often," she says.
"You are a spitting image," says Peeta. Drania giggles and nibbles on her cookie. Before we know it, the food is ready. At the table, Gale and I discuss the things we miss most about the old times. We make sure to avoid bringing up Prim though. Peeta is even able to join the conversation when we talk about people from school. Drania sits, eyes full of amusement as she looks back and forth between us.
"How long are you guys staying?" Drania asks. What? I think. Does she live with Gale or something? Why is that any of her business? I pretend not to hear her and bury my face in my plate of onion soup with bread. An awkward silence falls over us and Drania looks nervous.
"Only for two days," says Peeta. I'm happy he answered her because I wasn't going to. Gale collects the dishes and Peeta helps him take them to the kitchen. Drania looks at me, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. We stare at each other for a long time before either of us speaks. The tension is building and negativity spreads through the atmosphere.
"So," she says, "You killed Coin, which indirectly kills Snow, and become the creator of the 'free-world'. How does it feel?"
"Excuse me?" I ask. I can't believe what this girl is saying to me. Did Gale leave us alone on purpose?
"You heard me, Katniss" she hisses. I stand up and walk over to her. She is sitting and I am standing directly over her.
"What's it to you?" I ask.
"I just don't want you thinking you are so big that you can trot in here with Peeta and leave with both of them," she says.
"As you know, Gale has been my friend and always will be. I suppose you're jealous because he talks about me? Because you think he's thinking of me? Well you're just going to have to get over that, Drania," I say.
"You can't have him," she snaps.
"I don't want him, I'm in love with Peeta, so just get over yourself."
"You have no idea what you want. Peeta and Gale both need to watch their backs around you. If you could, you would trade one for the other every week. The whole world knows it. You thought you were fooling us? You would have one big happy family with the both of them if you could. You're just a slut," Drania says. The word "slut" stings, but I don't know how to defend myself. I've always been one to come up short in arguments. She's wrong, I know she's wrong, but in my heart, I feel there's something right about what she said. Perhaps I would trade one for the other. Peeta's sensitivity versus Gale's fight, there is no wrong decision. If she thinks these things, does Gale? More importantly, does Peeta?
"That's what I thought, now sit down and act like we're friends because they're coming."
I want to reach down her throat and snatch her esophagus out, but the guys were returning. I sit and give her a look that says "This isn't over" and we greet Gale and Peeta with smiles.
Peeta rubs my back when he walks past me and I grab his hand and press it against my cheek. Drania smiles and winks at me. She's lucky I didn't bring my bow and arrow or else she would have a new head accessory. After two more hours, we all retire to bed. While Peeta is fast asleep, snoring even, sleep evades me.
At about four in the morning, I hear footsteps tipping along the hall outside of our door. At first, I thought it was Gale going to the bathroom, but the steps seem to be carefully placed, only a bit heavy. Gales would never walk so heavy. I untangle myself from Peeta's arms and lift my head just a little. Perhaps I have disturbed him because he has stopped snoring. The door pushes open and I slam my head back down and pretend to be sleeping.
The clumsy steps are approaching my side of the bed. I open my eyes to find Drania standing over me.