Galeniss- Always Meant for Each Other Chapter 2, a hunger games fanfic

I look at the calendar again. It's been two weeks since I joined my mother. My days go by both, quickly and slowly.

Quickly, because when my mother goes to work in the hospital, I try to keep the house clean and do whatever it takes to be not free. I even went to the local school once, as a guest musician to try to teach them a few of District 12's songs. And slowly, because when I'm alone with nothing to do and take my mind off, all I can do is think of Peeta and have to stop myself from catching the first train to District 12 and going back to Peeta.

Ring! Ring!

I look up from my work. I was going to go back to the school tomorrow to again teach them songs and I was readying some notes.

The phone ringing surprised me. Not because I hadn't heard it before but because I hadn't heard it ringing before in my mother's house in the two weeks I had been here.

I pick up the cell phone and just as I'm about to say Hello, I hear Effie's voice saying, "Is Katniss here?"

"This is Katniss, Effie."

"Oh, you recognize me."

"Of course, I do."

"Glad to know. I thought you'd forgotten about me."

I felt a little guilty at that. I hadn't talked to Effie in months.

"I'm sorry. Just busy."

"Yeah, breaking up with Peeta does tend to take up a lot of time."

"We are taking a break, not breaking up, Effie. We are married. We don't just break up."

"Peeta said the same thing."

"That's because it is true."

"Alright, alright."

"By the way, how did you get this number?"

"I called your home and Peeta said you weren't there. When I asked when you will be back, he said something about four months. I called Haymitch to know what's going on, since no married couple is apart for four months without any reason and he told me all about it and I got your mother's number from him." Effie said this all in one go without any break.

"Oh."

"Four months is really too long, you know."

At that, I really considered hanging up the phone or yelling at Effie that I knew that and that four months was not my idea. That if I could, I would have had reduced it.

Instead, I just said, "It's long enough for us to have our space and work out whatever is the problem."

"Right." Effie didn't sound convinced.

"I have to go, Effie. I have a lot of work." And then I hang up.

That wasn't true about me having a lot of work. I just didn't want to go on talking to Effie convincing her we were doing the right thing when I wasn't convinced myself.

"So how did it go?" my mother asked me at dinner. I had gone to the school again.

"It was good. The kids are all so eager to learn about music."

"Nice to hear that."

There is silence as we both eat our food.

"What?" I ask because I notice her expression which says she wants to say something but dare not.

"It's about you and Peeta."

"What about us?"

"How is it going?"

"Good."

"Have you talked to him?"

"Kinda misses the point if I talk to him."

"Katniss, when you're in love, love doesn't have to make a point. It's just doing whatever your heart wants to do. It is never necessarily the reasonable thing."

"So what are you saying? That just because we don't talk, we're not in love? Maybe even our hearts are telling us to take a break, have you ever thought that?"

"That's not what I meant, Katniss. I meant, that if your heart tells you to call him, call him. Don't be reasonable. That's the obvious interpretation. Notice how you interpreted it like that, not how normal people would have."

"Now, what are you trying to say?"

"This time I'm sure you know exactly what I'm saying." Saying this, my mother got up and picked up her empty plate and went away. Probably to the kitchen to put her dish in and wash it or do something else.

I didn't care. I was angry at what she had just implied. I wanted to go up to her and shout at her that I still loved Peeta and she really was stupid if that's what she thought.

I heard a door being opened and closed upstairs. She had went to her bedroom, to have a good night's sleep most probably after destroying mine.

...***...***...

Two days since my mother's little talk, I was still angry at her. I could hardly talk to her without remembering what she had said.

And she didn't make it any easy. She refused to acknowledge she had said anything wrong.

This is it. I'm calling Peeta to prove her wrong. That we are still very much in love.

But when I dial his number, our number, I correct myself. It's still very much my home. When I dial our number, I get nervous thinking what would I say. Today it's Saturday and I know he will be home because he always closes his bakery on Saturday.

Just as I'm thinking it's a bad idea and am going to hang up, Peeta picks it up.

"Mellark residence." I hear him saying.

"Hey, it's Katniss."

"Katniss? I thought we were on a break."

"I know. I just wanted to talk to you."

"About?"

"I don't know."

"Okay."

An awkward silence follows.

"I miss you." I finally say.

"I miss you too."

Again, silence.

"Katniss…" he says like he wants to ask something.

"This break thing. Do you think it's a good idea?" he finally asks.

I'm tempted to say it's the worst idea ever. But I think about it. Sure, I missed him and I wanted to be back with him, these few weeks away from him was good for me.

"Well, we are not fighting anymore. And this must be the longest conversation we have had in months without us trying or feeling the need to tear each other apart."

"Hmm. Well it was my idea so of course it will be good." He jokes.

And I smile to finally get a glimpse of the old Peeta who could make me smile.

"Getting a big-head, are we?"

"Well, you're not around and someone has to have a big head here."

I chuckle and I can hear him chuckling over the phone as well. Who knew that this could have been such a really good idea. Thanks, mom.

"I'm glad you called."

"Me too. I should have called you sooner."

"Well, it was good talking to you." He says and I know he's going to say goodbye and hang up.

And surprisingly, I don't try to talk more with him. I'm glad to say goodbye.

This isn't good, right? I should be sad and trying to keep him talking and not want to hang up ever.

I tell myself it's because I know there will be an awkward silence if we keep trying to talk. But instead of pushing my worry aside, it increases it. When did Peeta and I stopped having things to talk about?

Hiding the storm of worry that was building inside me, all I say is "Same here. Till next time. Bye." And I hang up.

...***...***...

"I called Peeta today." I tell my mother over dinner.

"How did it go?" my mother asks.

"It went great." I omit the fact that it was short and that we really didn't talk that long.

"Good." is all she says.

"Good? That's all you can say?"

"What else do you want me to say?"

"That you were wrong. That Peeta and I are still in love and you shouldn't have ever doubted it."

"I never doubted it. And did you just call Peeta to prove me wrong? Or was it because you wanted to?"

"I wanted to. But it still proves you wrong."

"Katniss, why do you care whether I think you're in love with Peeta or not? Shouldn't the only person who should be convinced is you? And of course, Peeta?"

"I care because you're my mother. And I do believe it we're still in love. I just wanted to tell you you're wrong."