Have patience, Matainer. There will Everlark moments in the next chapter.
Chapter 16: Breakeven
I step inside our new home. I hate it immediately. Don't get me wrong it is very nice, but it is too Capitol generalized. Gale says, "Well it's nice." I don't respond to his comment. He then says, "Well, let's go back to my home our parents our waiting to celebrate our wedding." I frown, I don't want to celebrate something I didn't want. He takes my hand and we exit our home and head to the Seam, towards Gale's house.
We reach his home where his mother and my mother are already waiting. I stop at the door and Gale turns to me stunned. "Katniss, are you okay?" he asks. I want to break down, I take a step back to collect myself. I take a deep breath, Gale approaches me holding my arms in his hands, "Honey, what's wrong?" I flinch at his choice of words. He sees the action and says what shocks me the most, "Look Katniss, were married now, so deal with it. I know you didn't want this but I saved your life. So why don't you actually agree on something with me, and come and celebrate our wedding because that is what our families expect of us." I say defiantly, "I didn't want this. I will not be what you expect me to be. And you have no right to tell me what to do." What surprises me the most are the next words that come out of his mouth. He comes up so close to me, "You are my wife now. You will do as I say. So know now that every decision you make has to pass through me, or I swear you will know the real me, Katniss." I back down, I've never seen this side of Gale.
He smiles, "Good now you understand. Now smile and let's enjoy the rest of our night, Love." He takes my hand and opens the door where all our family is waiting. They greet us all, "There they are!" Our mothers come close and look at me first, "Katniss, you look like you've seen a ghost." Mrs. Hawthorne says. I'm still in shock I compose myself. "Oh sorry I just wasn't expecting all of us!" I say to her with a smile. They cheer for us and we head over to the kitchen where our dinner is ready. Gale opens a seat for me and I sit quietly. He whispers in my ear for only me to hear, "Start acting better please. Smile." I smile fakely, and he takes a seat next to me.
Our dinner is served in front of us. Everyone digs in at once, I try not to eat so much. My sadness leaves me with no appetite. My mother sees me and gives me a sympathetic look. She says, "I think it is time to cut the cake." I ask diligently, "Cake?" She nods and comes in with a small, good looking cake with a masterpiece that I know it was made by Peeta truly. My eyes begin to water, and I try holding it in. Mrs. Hawthorne exclaims, "Oh what a beautiful cake! How were you able to buy it?" Prim comes to my help, "I went over to the bakery early, and Mr. Mellark gave me the cake for Katniss' wedding. He said she was a very helpful girl." Mrs. Hawthorne eats it up, and says, "Of course she is."
She begins parting the cake, she hands a piece to Gale first in which he gives to me, and he takes the second piece. He doesn't eat it immediately but stares at it knowing exactly who made it. He takes his fork and turns to me, "Eat Katniss." I look at him afraid of a small outburst he might have. He just looks at me, and I take a bite of the delicious cake.
As our celebration begins to end, I realize that me and Gale have to conceive a child in a month. I can't do that. I won't and with Gale, I really don't want too. We greet everyone a goodbye, and my mother stays behind to tell me in private, "Katniss, you need to conceive a child as soon as possible dear. Tell him to be gentle with you." I roll my eyes and answer, "Mother, I can't do this." she looks at me sympathetically, "You have too." Gale interrupts, "Mrs. Everdeen may I take Katniss home?" She nods and I turn to him, as he takes my hand.
We begin walking home and reach our destination. Entering the house, Gale lets me enter first and closes the door as he comes in. I start to walk towards a bedroom in the house but Gale grabs my arm, "You come over here." I gasp and turn to him surprised. He pulls me to the couch the Capitol provided us in our new house. He forcibly makes me sit, and takes a seat on the single couch in front. "You don't get to be selfish, Katniss. Do you know how much I wanted us to get married!? No because you don't care, but it's going to be different now. You will act like my wife and we will live happily together, because we love each other right?" I respond, "I can't love you Gale." He yells, "Yes you can!" I shake my head and stand up steadily, "I will not sit here and let you yell at me." He gets up immediately which causes me to sit down afraid. I've never been like this. He has a smug smile, "Good, now you know what is good for you, Catnip. Please at least care for me a little. I was your best friend. Now your husband. Now if you excuse me because we are going to bed." He leaves the room and I sigh.
How could this happen to me? All I wanted was to live a life where I was not jeopardized and could actually have a chance with Peeta. Now Gale is deciding my life for me. What has become of my life? Gale comes back and asks, "Are you not going to change Katniss?" I stand up and go to change into my nightgown, with the clothes my mother left me.
Coming into our bedroom, Gale is already in bed waiting for me. I unbraid my hair and he asks for my hand to join him in bed. I shakily take his hand. He chuckles, "Why are you shaking Catnip?" I blurt it out, "I can't Gale." He shushes me, "It doesn't have to be tonight Katniss, but we will have to soon. You do understand?" I nod and say, "Thank you." He turns off the light from the candle and I turn my back to him, so I don't have to watch him. That is the least I can do to respect my love for Peeta Mellark.
So this was chapter 16. A sad chapter for Katniss. Now thank your for reviewing Matainer, but don't worry the next chapter is all Everlark. And thank you to guest Jules, I hope you read this chapter. Follow! Review! Favorite! "What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you? And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're OK? I'm falling to pieces, yeah, I'm falling to pieces." -Breakeven by The Script.