You would be extremely proud of me. EXTREMELY. You'll never guess what I did today. I called Katniss…and then I hung up when I heard Blondie's voice. And then I called again, because Johanna threatened to castrate me. Yeah…not very pleasant. She answered. Katniss, my Catnip…well not anymore. My old hunting pal. But when I told her who it was, she hung up. I slouched on the kitchen counter, and pressed end. I ran fingers threw my hair and I shook my head at Johanna.
She looked at me. Looked at the phone. Then looked at me again. She sighed, frowned and put the pick axe down, standing next to me. She told me that Katniss wasn't ready yet, and that I could only begin to imagine the things going through her head. That her mother moved in with Annie in District 4, that all she had was Peeta. She reminded me that her sister was killed and I know that I was responsible. I didn't mean too, I wouldn't deliberately hurt Prim. She was so innocent, so beautiful. How could anybody possibly hurt her? But I managed. The bombs, the snares, all my doing, I set it all up. Not to harm her. But it all happened so quickly. I would have saved her; costing my own life I would have spared hers. In know Katniss blames me for that, and Katniss is a person who has a hard time forgiving. Especially a person who killed her sister.
I told Johanna this much and she stayed quiet. I continued to talk, I continued because I couldn't stop talking. I told her of how she haunts my dreams, Primrose does. And the dead faces of everyone in the war. I know she's been through Hell and back and so has Johanna, but maybe I've had just a glimpse of it as well. I told Johanna how I didn't know how to apologize. I mean what was I going to say, "Hey Katniss! I've been ignoring you for the past five years and I murdered the only thing in the entire nation of Panem that mattered to you, but it's okay now because I'm sorry! Let's be best friends again!"
Um, no. Not going to happen never was going to happen.
I think I was speaking way too much because then and there Johanna tugged on my ear and I stopped. "Look Hawthorne," she said, still fiercely pulling on my ear. "I don't know how Katniss' brain works, but I do know that over time, it might get better. She might never forgive you for what you did even if it was accidental, but you'll both feel better." With that she let go, planted a small kiss on my cheek and smiled up at me. Not sweetly but that Johanna Mason smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go pack for the Wedding, good bye Hawthorne." I gave her a simple kiss back, on the lips this time. "Thanks Johanna." She walked to the door, her hips swaying back and forth back and forth…..Hell's Freaking Teeth…so sexy.
She yelled, "That's what I'm here for."
Then she slammed the door, leaving me in the kitchen dumbstruck thinking about her hips and with an axe. I wondered how good she could have become with these, even with them around her al her life. I picked up thinking I was Mr. Wise guy and attempted to throw it at the ugly pot of flowers I've always hated that my mom has always loved.
Instead I chucked it at the floor…on my foot…at least it was pretty dull. So now, here I am next to a giggling Posy, in hospital bed, and the Wedding is in three days.
Life is great.
Gale