This chapter is a little shorter. Not all chapters are going to have at least 2000 words, and I don't want to rush the exciting stuff. Short chapters can be good.
Chapter 14
It's the next day and I have to admit that I was a little nervous at first for the trip to District Twelve with Annie. I didn't know much about her. All I knew is that Finnick was in love with her, and that she is supposed to be mad. If he's in love with her, then I'm going to try to be a friend to her. She seems nice. I conversed with her a little. She sometimes would just look into the distance, and it looks as if she's staring intently at something. I would look in her eyes' direction, but not see anything. She also covers her ears with her hands. I guess to block out bad sounds.
We go into my house in Victors Village. In my room, I take out all the dresses and show each one, one at a time, to Annie. She shakes her head at the ones she doesn't like. I hold out a dark blue one with a sweet-heart neckline and short sleeves that drop a little from the shoulders. She nods her head and excitedly tries it on. When she comes to show us, she looks beautiful. Fulvia is telling her how lovely she looks, and Annie smiles with delight. She looks at herself in a long mirror.
"It sort of reminds me of home." She says.
When we get back to Thirteen, I try to find Gale. He's not in the hospital anymore and I feel like going outside. So, I want to ask him to come hunting with me. I'm walking through the hospital, and I catch a short glimpse in the window to Peeta's room. He's asleep. I hope he doesn't have any nightmares. I wish he could sleep forever with nothing but good dreams. Heck, I wish that for everybody, but it's completely unrealistic. Oh well.
"Sweet dreams." I say softly.
I eventually I find Gale in the armory with Beetee. Gale leans on a chair. They're busily looking at parts on a counter.
"What are you guys up to?" I ask.
"Hello, Katniss. We're just putting some designs together. They're based on Gale's traps, except for people." He says.
I'm a little worried at what kind of traps they're making. Beetee further explains.
"We've designed a trap where bait, like something needed is put in a trap. The trap activates and will catch the prey. The bait could be something like medical supplies or the wounded."
"We also have a trap, which was my design, that holds the children to lure in the parents. A bomb will go off, then the parents will go to help the wounded, but only to be trapped and another bomb with detonate." Gale says.
I try to act comfortable with it in front of Beetee. This seems so wrong. The Capitol is the enemy and it needs to be stopped, but are these traps are making it seem like we're the ones. No, I assure myself; The Capitol has done much, much worse. They deserve it.
Gale looks at me suspiciously. He knows what's up. I look for a way to change the subject.
"So Gale, you miss hunting?" I say lightly.
"Well, yeah, but I'm pretty into this. I'm really working to get these designs a reality, and over to the Capitol." He says.
Like hunting people, do you? No, he's just helping the cause. I'm still worried how far Gale will go.
"We'll at least you're busy doing something. I'm not needed that much anymore. I just go through a regular schedule, visit in the hospital, and sleep. Oh, and tie knots. Can't forget that."
"I'm sorry I can go hunting with you. I've just been busy here." Gale says.
"No, don't worry about it."
"I've got actual "Training" after this. You could come." He says.
"Sounds good." I say.
I watch Beetee and Gale work. It's not that entertaining, but it's something to gain a little knowledge from. I try to ignore the thought, though; I wonder how many people that one will kill? I help a little, so I'm doing something. Beetee explains more traps to me and I try to follow every word, but it's just a little too much. Gale announces it's time to leave. We say good-bye to Beetee, who will continue to work. We go to the Training Center.
Since I'm pregnant, Gale reminds me to stay away from doing heavy lifting and any extraneous exercises. I feel left out. Gale is with other young adults lifting weights and shooting guns, when I'm on the other side of the room, jumping rope and lifting five pounders. When the trainer calls for the soldiers for jogging, I get up instantly and follow them. Gale looks at me.
"I can run." I say.
"Yes, okay, but don't push yourself too hard." He says in a low voice. He doesn't want to get the whole attention of the training soldiers.
I begin to jog behind everyone. I'm not supposed to push myself, but I don't want to be last. I'm just going to go a little faster. I pass most of the trainees and get beside Gale, almost in the front.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" he says between breaths.
"Oh, I'm fine." I say a little fed up with being babied. I start to run faster. I can feel the endorphins. It feels great. Soon enough I'm in front. I don't mean to brag, but I was one of the fastest girls in my school. I had a lot of endurance too, which was good when I went hunting. I was never on any teams, but if I were, I'd probably be pretty good.
I've gained some distance from the other trainees. Then I notice a guy, about eighteen, run next to me. He's brown eyes are determined. Challenge eh? Gale is behind me, and I can tell he's about to say something, but I start running faster before I hear what he says. Brown Eyes start running faster as well. He passes me by a foot and I can see him smile. Not for long. I speed up, and continue to move my arms, so that I go faster. I'm winning! I'm a few feet in front of him. I'm basking in my idiotic glory, when I feel a pain in my side. Oh shit. I have to slow down. I see the trainer looking intently at me, from across the Training Center. Oh jeeze. I slow down, and Brown Eyes passes me. Whatever, I let him go in front of me. I'm running at a steady pace while Gale comes next to me.
"You alright?" he asks concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine now. I just ran little too hard, I guess." I say calmly between breaths. I'm admitting this is getting a little exhausting. Gale is watching me earnestly, like I'm about to drop at any moment. I go through the rest of the laps in a slower jog.
I sit with Gale on a bench and he hands me a water bottle. Brown Eyes walks past us. I swear he's raising his nose at me. The other trainees are all beginning to head for the locker rooms. The trainer is on the other side of the room, studying everybody's times on the laps. Gale puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Why do you insist on straining yourself so much? You're probably doing exactly what the doctor told you not to do." He says.
"I just don't want to appear… weak." I say.
Gale laughs a little. "Katniss, you're pregnant. Pregnant girls aren't supposed to be jumping over walls and outrunning people like that guy." He says, looking over to Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes appears to be very fit and athletic. I can tell he's quite full of himself.
"Katniss, just take it easy." He says.
I sigh. "Thanks for the medical advice." I say sarcastically. "I know I'm supposed to be sitting somewhere and resting, but that's not what I want to do. I just don't want it to stop me."
"Stop you?" Gale asks questionably.
"Uh, like… keeping me from jogging with everybody." I say a little too quickly, but Gale doesn't notice it. He rubs my back with one of his hands.
"I know what you mean, but still, take precautions." He says. I nod. Gale goes to the men's room to shower. I stay sitting on the bench. I drown the rest of the water.
I start thinking about if I should go to the Capitol. Coin has probably got it all figured out how to get me on a hovercraft. Gale is probably likely to go, and maybe Finnick. They can't know I'm going so I'll probably be in a different hovercraft. That means it will be me and probably just a bunch of strangers, or maybe people like Brown Eyes. I'd like to have Gale by my side, but he can't know I'm going. I'm still very indecisive.
My thoughts are running in my head. I probably won't be able to fall asleep tonight. I decide to take a shower in the boarding cell, because I don't want see them and I don't want them to see me. And because of my bump.
I get to the boarding cell before my mother and Prim. I take a shower and get into pajamas. While I put them on, I lift my shirt to see my stomach. It's grown some. It's very noticeable in my pajamas. I take Odessa's jacket and fold into a drawer. I dry my hair as best as I can and get into bed. Tomorrow is Finnick and Annie's wedding. I expected to be up for awhile, but as soon as I laid my head on the pillow, I was out.
You are cordially invited to a wedding. In the next chapter. Mucho thanks for reading.
-cheezebuns