(3)
At first, the rest of the world is a blur. There is nothing but my father and me in this world. I run into his arms just like I did when I was a little girl. I haven't seen him for 6 years, but he looks almost the same. His firm hands hold me as I hug him and memories of our lives together replace all other thoughts and feelings. I keep asking, "How?" like a child. "How, daddy, how?" This reunion with him has given me the illusion all my troubles have gone away. My father is alive.
Reunion. Haymitch's words ring in my head. "You can socialize and have reunions later."
"Katniss…" he coos into my left ear.
I break apart from him and say, "I've got to go back." My father gives me an understanding glance as I leave him. I tell myself we'll have plenty of time to catch up later.
I see Gale is now talking with the man he ran to. That's when it hits me. This must be Gale's father. I've never met him, but over the years I've known Gale, I've thought many times if I knew Mr. Hawthorne, I'd probably like him a lot.
I walk up to Gale and pull him away, reminding him softly in his ear about what Haymitch had said. Gale looks ecstatic to be with his father again.
As we start walking, Gale calls back to his father, "Where's mom? Rory, Vick, Posy? Where are they?"
Gale's father stops smiling and shook his head.
"What?" Gale's face goes blank. He furrows his brow and drops his bottom lip just so you could see his top teeth.
"Gale…" I tug on his arm and he doesn't respond. "Gale!" I slap his face back into reality. Maybe I wasn't just trying to get him to come with me. There was some real hatred in that slap. How could he choose Madge over me? There is a fiery, red mark on his check.
"But, Katniss…" Gale doesn't look angry. He looks very upset. He extends his arm out in his father's direction, but I yank his shoulder really hard to release some pain and he follows me.
Haymitch is obviously quite disheartened that we didn't listen to him. I explain about how we say our fathers and how we thought they were dead, but he cuts me off.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Now come with me," he says in a huff.
Madge rejoins Gale and Finnick appears to be wildly surveying the crowd. He is looking for someone. Then, I realize that my whole family should already be here. District 12 should have arrived a few days ago. At least, that's the impression I got from what Gale had said. So, I too look around for my mother and Prim. But I don't see anyone from District 12.
Haymitch leads us into town and the throng follows. We enter a building and no one is permitted to come in. The people of District 13 wait patiently outside, staring up at us through the windows. It's eerie how silent they are. Barely a noise is made by anyone in the crowd.
I now recognize what building we are in. It seems to be a town hall. It isn't very fancy, but I'm impressed with what they've done without being noticed by the Capitol.
The mayor of the town introduces himself to us as Bauer. We shake hands. My question slips out immediately, "Where is District 12?"
Mayor Bauer sighs, "You better all sit down."
We take our seats in a small conference room. It is silent. Haymitch crosses his legs and his face shows no emotion. Finnick is very jittery. He can't sit very still in his seat. Gale still has the same expression as when his father shook his head at him. Madge is looking around at the pictures on the wall. Maybe they remind of her of her father.
"Look, I won't beat around the bush," Mayor Bauer says. "Your hovercraft was the first to arrive in weeks. The District 12 hovercraft's connection was lost. It never landed here."
Haymitch gets up and slams his fists against the wall, screaming lots of curses. One picture Madge was particularly interesting drops to the ground and glass shatters. He asks through clenched teeth, "When did you lose connection?"
Mayor Bauer is unmoved by Haymitch's tantrum, "Within hours of take-off."
Finnick is hunched over with his head in his hands. Gale still looks the same. Madge is perplexed. I wonder what I come across as. Haymitch sits back down.
Madge is the brave one who speaks up, "What does this mean?"
"It means," Haymitch says with steam coming out of his ears, "your mommy and daddy were captured by the Capitol along with everyone else we were trying to get out of District 12. Why didn't you tell us, Bauer?"
"We thought you wouldn't come," he answers under his breath.
"Well, fantastic. They should be here any day now." Leave it to Haymitch for tense sarcasm.
"Not necessarily," Finnick says, arising from his sulking state. "They could have just been getting tributes for the Quell."
Mayor Bauer raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Katniss' friends and family. It would have made sense that they were fleeing. They were trying to get away from the firebombs. So they just took them back to the Capitol," Finnick explains.
Is Finnick in on this? How much more does he know than me?
"Good point," Haymitch addresses Finnick.
All of a sudden, there is a pang in my stomach and it hurts like I've been shot. I cry out, "Ahhh!"
Gale snaps out of his nonresponsive state and touches my shoulder. "You ok Katniss?"
"Yeah. Fine," I manage. Gale isn't to know about my pregnancy pains yet.
Madge shoots Gale a glance and he takes his hand off me.
Finnick asks, "Did District 4 come in?"
"No," Bauer answers.
Finnick curses and storms out of the room.
Gale questions, "So my mother and siblings are in the hands of the Capitol?" He turns to face Haymitch, "You said they'd be fine for another week! And what about Katniss' family? Good as dead if you ask me!" Gale follows suit with Finnick.
"Alright, who's next?" Mayor Bauer looks at Haymitch, Madge and me. This comment infuriates Haymitch for some reason. He clenches his fist and deliberately stays rooted to his chair. Madge and I stay put as well. "No one? Good," he says with a weird smile.
"Where's my sister?" I blurt out.
Mayor Bauer shrugs, "The only thing I know is that she was taken by the Capitol."
I'd already guessed this, but the confirmation that it has really happened, that Primrose Everdeen has been captured just for being associated with me, hurts in a new way. She could, no, she will die because of my actions.
"Ok." That is all I can mutter as I'm overcome with memories of my sister. She's so young. Now, she'll never get to live the life she deserves. But I guess it wouldn't matter either way, because she wouldn't have the opportunity even if things were still the same with her life in District 12. I can't help but think of what a special person Prim is.
"Excuse me," I say as I get up to go to the bathroom. I leave the office and head for the lady's room. After I wash my hands, I hear yelling coming across from the other bathroom. The men's room.
"Finnick! I love her!" It's Gale and he's probably talking about Madge. Yet, I listen to him.
"Well, then, do something about it!" Finnick lowers his voice, "Come on, these walls aren't sound proof. Keep your voice down."
Gale listens to him, but I can still hear faintly, "How? How am I supposed to proclaim my love for someone who doesn't really care about me. It's frustrating! She probably thinks there is something going on between Madge and me."
My heart stops. He isn't talking about Madge.
"Finnick, Madge says she's getting upset about all this practicing. She just wants me to get out there and tell Katniss the truth," Gale exhales.
Gale still loves me. I've think I nearly fainted then. My head gets all woozy and I fall down. Propping my head up against the wall, I listen to more of their conversation.
"Gale, I think the best thing for you to do is just tell her. Forget Peeta. He is, like you said, good as gone. You need to get closer to her. You need to comfort her," Finnick curses, "You need to..."
That's when I pass out.
Madge finds me. I'm sprawled all over the floor. Giving my shoulder a light touch she says, "What happened?"
I make something up about feeling sick from what's going on. Madge believes me though. She helps me up off the ground and I walk out of the bathroom by leaning on her. Gale and Finnick are waiting outside. Gale rushes to my side and helps Madge support me. Finnick observes us as he leans against the wall with his arms crossed. He has a smug look on his face. He probably figures I heard what Gale had said.
Haymitch comes storming down the hall, "You alright?" he asks without much concern.
"Yeah. Fine," I say. How stupid. That's exactly what I said earlier when I yelled out in pain.
Finnick snickers. He obviously doesn't believe a word of what I say. But come on, who would? Passing out in the bathroom does not translate to "feeling fine."
"Can I go see my father now?" I question Haymitch.
"Sure. Knock yourself out," Haymitch narrows his eyes and the corner of his upper lip curves in a smile. Ha. Knock yourself out. I can hardly contain my laughter.
I practically run out of the town hall. I don't know how I manage, (considering I was just having trouble standing by myself) but I do. Gale is right on my heels. He takes this opportunity to follow some of Finnick's advice. He calls after me, "Slow down Catnip!" Then, he grabs me from behind and locks his arms around me. Gale is holding me. I can't help but laugh. His firm hands have wrapped around my stomach tightly. It hurts, but I try not to show it. We keep walking and laughing as I try to pry away his hands.
Finally, I call out, still laughing and joking, "Gale Hawthorne! You're hurting me!"
He releases his grip around me. "Sorry," he murmurs as he lets me go. I can imagine Finnick hitting himself in the head.
We walk out the door and our fathers are right in the front of the mass of people. I run to mine and Gale walks slowly and confidently towards his.
The moment I wrap my arms around my father, I feel safe. His warmth reminds me of Peeta. Because I just can't wait another second to know, I ask, "How can you still be alive?"
My father brushes the hair out of my eyes and says, "Katniss. I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" I'm confused.
"The miners of District 12, all those years ago, had decided they wanted to rebel against the Capitol. I didn't want to tell your mother, or anyone else for the matter, about our plan. It would be too dangerous. We were going to escape to District 13. There, we would come up with plans with other rebels to overthrow the Capitol. So, we staged an explosion. Everyone believes we were dead, when really, we had escaped. Understand, Katniss?" he tries to explain.
"Yes," I bury myself in his shirt.
"I didn't want to leave you, your mother and your sister. But, the miners needed me and I knew that you'd be able to take care of the family for me," he continues.
I know it's stupid, but I'm angry with him. He just left, expecting me to step in his place. How could he do that to a child?
"You could imagine how terrible I felt when Prim was chosen for the Games. But you… you were so brave to step in for her, just as you did for me. Katniss…." he holds me close, "Katniss, you're a fighter. Don't stop fighting."
How could I be angry with the man I love so much, who I haven't seen for 6 years, about something that is now the past? I push those feelings aside and say, "I won't."
He pats me on the back and lets me go. I turn to see Gale is talking to his father and pointing to me. So I do the same. "Dad, you see that boy over there?"
Dad looks at Gale, "Oh, Peyton's son. Your cousin, right?" He gives me an amusing smile.
"Yeah…" I smile, "Peyton Hawthorne. Is that his father's name?"
"Yes," my father answers.
"Well, if he asks you if he can marry me, say yes." The words are out of my mouth before I can even explain why I've said them. Firstly, it makes no sense. My father knows I'm officially engaged/ unofficially married to Peeta. Secondly, why would I want to marry Gale? It's not like it would make much of a difference. My life will probably be over within the year. And thirdly… Gale? I guess that's the same as my second reason for objection. Why would that be the first thing I say to my father about him? Why not start out with, "Gale can make some really good snares?" But no. I asked my father to let me marry him. What's wrong with me today?
My father smiles at me, "Alright, I'll keep your opinion in mind."
What an idiot thing to say! Not my father's response (it was actually pretty kind compared to some other things he could say), but my silly first impression to give my father. He will probably now think I'm desperately in love with Gale when I'm not. I think.
While I'm hitting myself in the head, Gale and his father come over.
Gale's father speaks first, "Mason, my boy was telling me all about your daughter."
"Yes. Katniss was doing the same," my father replies with another smile at Gale.
That's when the gong sounds. Bells ring and the once peaceful, quiet and observant crowd becomes chaos. People are running into their homes and I follow my father. Gale and Mr. Hawthorne follow closely behind. We arrive at my father's home. He unlocks the door with a small key and tells me to go to the living room. I find it quickly. He calls out from the kitchen for me to turn on the television. I do so. There on the screen is President Snow. He is reaching into the Victor Reaping Ball. Pulling out a slip of paper, he reads the name big and clear so that the whole world can hear.
"Katniss Everdeen."