Katniss-
I've not had any other run in's with the butcher's boys since the incident a few weeks ago. Although, one of them was sporting a busted lip and a broken nose for a week or so after and the other had the side of his face patched up. Rye swears he has nothing to do with it, but he also refused to show me his knuckles after the fact.
Peeta and I have a routine, he wakes up early and helps with prep in the bakery. He makes breakfast and our lunch, then wakes me up. We walk to school together and then home as well, sometimes Prim comes to visit and other times we help in the bakery. Almost every night we have family dinner with Rye and Mr. Mellark then help with evening cleanup. Rye has really grown on me; I can see how much they all mean to each other. What really surprised me is that he actually started wearing clean-er clothes and combing his hair when Madge would walk home with us. She ignores him and doesn't seem to give him the time of day, but he is really smitten with her and I think it makes him want her more. He's stopped taking other girls out to the slag heap. She even invited him to her 'Sweetheart's Party' in mid-February.
Some nights we all play cards, sit by the fire, try Mr. Mellark's new recipes or play some board games that the Mellark family had from the Dark Days. We've become a true family. I love being here, I don't really even miss being at home since I see Prim almost every day and my mom comes to dinner every weekend. Mr. Mellark still excuses himself on Sunday afternoons to 'make deliveries' in the Seam. Spring comes quickly and the snow is starting to melt, which means the animals will start to come out soon. I can barely contain myself with excitement for being able to go out and hunt again. I have more food than I could imagine at the bakery, but hunting is my lifeline and I like being able to contribute to the family.
Late March, Peeta finally agreed that I could go outside the fence. On the last Sunday of the month, Peeta packed me a lunch of cheese buns and preserved meat. I slip under the fence and retrieve my bow from the hollowed out tree that has been its home for years. Snares were never my specialty, Gale always set those up. But, I'd be out here alone from now on so I set a few of my own basic traps and go deeper into the forest. I gathered some berries and herbs along the way, Mr. Mellark would love these. The air is still cool, but the squirrels are out. I snag 5 fat squirrels and a couple of rabbits early in the morning. I decide to head back around to check my snares and go back into town.
The first snare is empty, the second got me another rabbit, at the third there's no animal- but Gale, waiting. I assured Peeta that he wouldn't be out here, he never liked to come out until the snow was completely gone. He's thinner than before, surely they haven't had enough to eat over the winter. I know my mom had been sharing with the Hawthorne's but with so many of them, the food only goes so far.
"Hi Catnip, you- uh, you look great." After being at the bakery full time for almost three months, I've filled out completely. All my pants are snug and my shirts are tighter. Peeta was ecstatic when I told him that I'd need bigger undergarments because my chest had grown several sizes. At this point, it's actually necessary that I wear a bra every day. He was happy that none of my ribs were showing and my thighs were thicker. I don't even recognize myself sometimes. When I catch myself in the mirror or the reflection of the window, I truly look like a woman.
Gale is shuffling from foot to foot, fingers twitching, eyes flitting around; all signs of nervous prey. I haven't seen him since Madge's party, I've only heard the normal information from Prim when she's visiting. She knows what happened, so she keeps it quiet and light. His eyes are sunken in, a light dusting of coal dust on his clothes and the beard that he normally grows during the winter months. His arm is out of the sling that I know he was sporting for a couple of months, my mom had mentioned it in passing. He's just as handsome as ever, but he looks different- weak? Scared? Uncomfortable? Things that he and I have never been towards each other.
"Gale." I don't have much to say, I've not forgiven him for what he did. I know he wasn't himself, but it was still inexcusable. If he was really that angry about Peeta, he could have talked to me. It wouldn't have changed anything, but I still would have listened.
"Cat, listen- I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. You know that wasn't me- you know how I feel about you." He's pleading and desperate.
"Gale- Just because you kiss me all of a sudden, then show up fucking drunk at a party, then wait for everyone to leave and all but stick your dick in me- how does that make me know how you feel about me? How dare you, Gale!" His eyes are wide; he's walking backwards as I push my finger into his chest. "You were supposed to be there for me, you promised to take care of me and my family when we needed you. You're sorry for busting my face, for almost raping me? Fuck you." He's backed up into a tree. The only sounds are the mockingjays singing and Gale's heart beating rapidly.
"Please know that I'm sorry." It's only a whisper, "I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just angry and hurt that you chose him over me." I know he's sorry and being truthful, he doesn't apologize often so when he does it's truly authentic.
"Listen, thanks for the apology. You're my oldest friend, I couldn't give you up that easy. But, now that I'm Peeta's- it's not just me that you need to apologize to. I'm gonna tell him that I saw you out here…I can only imagine how he'll feel about it, but I still have to tell him." He looks defeated and annoyed at my choice of words, but he shakes his head in understanding. "I was going to take the rest of these down to the Hob, but I don't have time to go…so ahead and take them or they'll go to waste." I fish out a couple of squirrels, a rabbit and the berries to take home to Mr. Mellark and toss the rest over by his game bag.
We were in the same position, we came from the same place- neither of us take a hand out, but he knows that I'm giving him food and extra money. I don't need it really and with spring being here, the next few months will be great for hunting anyway. He murmurs a 'thanks' but doesn't move or try to stop me when I turn and go.
Peeta-
It's not that I'm worried about her being in the woods, I know she's been out there a million times. I'm just so much more invested. Now that I actually have her, I worry about her being caught or someone else being out there with her. I know that she needs to be out there, to feel more like herself. But it at least eases my mind to know that that she doesn't have to be out there to survive. She has food to eat and money if she needs it, her family is taken care of and she seems happier than ever. I like to think I have something to do with that. Glancing out the backdoor of the bakery, I see her coming through the meadow. She looks like a fucking goddess. Her game bag satchel on her back with the strap between her breasts. Her braid blowing in the wind. Her hips are wider and she has an hourglass figure. I was almost giddy when she told me I needed to order her new underwear and bras because she was too nervous to do it. The way her shirt sticks to her body with sweat and the curve of her boobs makes my dick flinch.
Even though we make love almost every night, I can't get enough of her. We haven't strayed past the normal positions, although my curiosity is getting the better of me. I want her in every possible way. I've tried keeping my tongue under control in the things that I say in bed, I know she isn't fully ready for everything that I want to do and say to her. She'll get there, I know when I push her- it turns her on, she's just too shy to say. We're still working on her using her words.
I step outside to meet her, wrapping my arms around her and running my tongue up her sweaty neck as soon as she's close enough. I earn a bit of a giggle from her, the absolute sweetest sound. She tastes salty and smells like pine. When her hands wrap around my back and grip my ass, she tips her head to the side and gives me more of her neck – which she knows I love – I'm a fucking goner. I bite into her earlobe and she lets out a small groan, rubbing her thigh on my ever growing dick.
A cough from inside breaks us apart. "C'mon kids, get inside or the whole neighborhood will be talking. Kat, how was it out there?" My dad, my biggest supporter and my biggest cock-blocker. Katniss just laughs and walks past me…her laughter only grows when I stomp into the bakery, almost pouting. She empties out her bag for my dad and he thanks her profusely for the berries and herbs that she found. He heads off to wash them, already yelling out ideas for tonight's family dessert.
"How was everything?" It's more of a formality, I don't really care at this point. I'm pulling her back towards my chest, snaking my arms around her front side and nuzzling my nose in her hair.
"Gale was there." She blurts it out, I can tell by the way her body relaxes after she says it that she's been almost ready to explode from holding it in. My roaming hands go still, and I turn her to face me.
"Did he touch you? I swear I'll fucki-" she places a kiss to my lips and spreads her fingers into my hair, fisting slightly.
"I love when you're possessive and demanding." Fuck, she gets me every time with that. "No, he didn't touch me, I didn't really let him speak other than to apologize. He looked terrible so I can only imagine what Posey and the boys look like. I gave him a few a few squirrels for his family." I hate that she can be nice to him, but I know how deeply she cares for his mom, brothers and little sister. A goddamn apology isn't going to make up for what he did and I'm sure he didn't mean it.
"Kat, I don't want him out there with you. I know you wanted to go out today, but maybe Rye could come out with you next time." Her and Rye had really gotten close. Especially since he bombards her with questions about Madge every day. They tease each other almost as much as he and I do. She's absolutely brutal to him, I love it.
"I know; I really think he was sorry. I promised Rye that he could come out with me next time. But, I warned him if he makes too much noise, I'm going to shoot him." Her eyes start to blacken and she runs a finger under my apron and pinches my nipple through my shirt. That's new, and so fucking hot. "I told Gale that since I'm yours now, that I would have to tell you about it." Shit. This girl is going to be the death of me.
"You're mine, heh?" I grip my fingers into her sides and pull her close to me. "I'll show you that you're mine tonight after dinner." She makes a sound of approval and kisses me deeply.
I don't even hear Rye come in from the front until he lets out a catcalling whistle, Katniss doesn't even pull away when she tells him to fuck off. That's my girl.
"Peet, can you come up front please?" My brother is definitely not one to say please so I know something is up, Kat and I look between each other. I kiss her on the cheek then follow Rye up to the front.
I immediately know it's him as I walk around the counter. Rye and I exchange looks and silently agree that he'll give us some space but stay close. "Mellark – ah, Peeta, can you just hear me out for a second." I weigh his words; I could listen…it's in my normal character to see what he has to say. For Katniss, at least.
"Sure, I'll hear you out… but first…" My knuckles scrape across his lip. Ah, that feels better. "Now, Gale- what can I do for you today?"