Okay, so I fully admit I dropped the ball yesterday. Between having a busy day, and major writer's block, I didn't start typing this chapter until 11pm last night. I'm terribly sorry everyone): Hopefully it won't happen again, but you never know. So I noticed just now, most of the viewing and reviews I get come later at night for me, like hella late. Haha! Gives me something to look forward to in the mornings, right? Thanks for all your reviews and alerts! Here is Chapter 14, and dedicated to my lovely girl DownwiththeCapitol97!
"Gale, we need to talk."I say calmly, and he turns with sadness echoing through his eyes.
"I know." He mumbles back, looking back to the valley.
"Why did you kiss me?" I cut to the chase, and he flinches slightly. After taking a deep breath, he slowly responds, well, mumbles an answer.
"I love you." His words are quiet like the wind, leaving me wondering if I heard him right.
"Why?" I ask quietly, stunned by his confession still. I needed to hear why Gale would want me. Why he thinks of me as more than a sister. The thought of ever kissing him again makes me shiver with slight disgust.
"I don't know!" He groans, and I move closer.
"Well, when did you start loving me then?" I try, wanting an answer badly.
"I guess when you started being around Peeta. I never noticed until then anyways. Seeing you with him…hurts." I get slightly annoyed at this revelation.
"Gale, you're like my brother! And you kissed me, while I'm dating Peeta. That crossed way too many lines." I snap.
"We're meant to be together! Katniss, don't you see? We met for a reason, and it's quite obvious that we met so one day we'd fall in love, get married and have kids!" He exclaims, his eyes meeting mine again.
"I will never get married nor have kids." I respond coldly, "you of all people should know that."
"But what if we lived somewhere else? You wouldn't have to worry about the games!" He shoots right back.
"But we don't!" I roar, "why dream of the unreachable? We all know that the games sure as hell won't end for a long time, possibly never! I will not get my hopes up for some silly little dream!" He stares at me with slight surprise.
"Well you sure were wrong about one thing, I don't know you." He says in a icy tone, gets up, and walks away. I huff out air, and fall onto the rock.
What happened to the days where we could hunt for hours, smiling and laughing at petty things? What happened to the days where I wasn't so stressed? More importantly, what happened to my best friend?
That certainly is the biggest question I have no answer to.
.0.0.0.
I end up with a decent haul by myself, a few rabbits, gallon of strawberries, and some squirrels. I trade the squirrels for soap and a few other necessities needed at home, and save the strawberries for Madge. I drop into home quickly, saying hi to Prim and leaving my trades for the day on the counter. Grabbing the strawberries, I start the long-ish walk to Mayor Undersee's estate.
When I arrive, the door swings open before my knuckles even graze it.
"Hi Katniss! Oh, you brought strawberries too! Great!" She says quickly, then ushers me inside.
"Let me grab the money I set aside, one moment." She whizzes out of the room, and I look around while waiting. A simple family portrait adorns the hallway's right wall, with clusters of Madge growing up around it. Shoes sit in delicate lines on a shoe rack to my left, with a coat hanger right by it. I take the chance to pull of my coat and shoes, putting them in the proper places nicely.
"Here!" Madge chirps, rushing back into the room. She plops some coins in my hand, and I fork over the strawberries. With a grin, she grabs my hand and drags me into the kitchen. "Want some tea?"
"Sure. What types do you have?" I ask, sitting at the table.
"Mint and Green."
"Mint please." She nods, pulling two packets of mint and sets them in the cups full of steaming water. Handing my cup to me, we head upstairs to her room. Madge has always had simple taste. Her walls are painted a calm green, white trim with a light brown comforter on her bed. We plop onto it and turn to each other.
"So, Peeta Mellark huh?" She asks with a giggle, and I smile back.
"Yup!"
"So, how did he ask you out? Or did you ask him?" She presses, her excitement being barely contained. This is when I decide to lie about how he did. It feels too special and private to share, so I give her a simple answer.
"We were hanging in the school courtyard, and he just asked out of the blue. It works for me." I smile slightly, and she grins back.
"Speaking of school, you excited for summer? There is only a week of school left!" She states this with fake excitement, and all my happiness drains. Nobody is excited for school to end, because it means only one thing.
The Reaping is in ten days. I shudder, thinking of how Prim is finally old enough for eligibility. I worry not only of her, but Rory also, and Peeta. Oh Peeta. I don't know what I'd do if he ever got pulled. I try to change topics in my head, so I ask Madge about Sara.
"What's with Sara Shrewman being after Peeta?" She chokes on her tea with a snicker.
"Sara is a needy girl who cannot for the life of her get over the past. Why?" She looks inquisitively at me.
"She threatened me, but don't worry, I reminded her of my archery skills." I explain to her what happened, and we both almost pee ourselves with laughter in the end.
"Like she'll get you. She's too scared to ever try anything on you, I'm sure of it." She says when we finally stop laughing.
"I highly doubt it too."
.0.0.0.
The next day at school is normal, Peeta and I glued to each other as much as possible. I admit my worry to him about the Reaping, and he assures me we'll be fine. After school, I discover Madge and I were sadly mistaken. Prim comes out of the building, completely drained of happiness. Her right leg lets off a slight limp, her ankle all bruised up and slightly swollen. When she sees me, she bursts into tears and I run to get her, Peeta right on my heels.
"What happened?" Peeta asks at the same time that I say, "who did it?"
S-S-Sara Sh-sh-rewman." She stutters between sobs, and I immediately get angry. I turn to see Sara and her little followers watching us and laughing. I straighten up, and Peeta grabs my wrist.
"It isn't worth it." He says, but for once I ignore him and march straight to her.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" I yell at her, meeting her straight in the eyes. My knuckles are white from my fists clenching.
"I warned you. Now stay away from Peeta, or poor wittle Pwim will get hurt more." She taunts back with a new found confidence.
"Well take this as your warning," is all I manage to say before punching her straight in the face. "Touch her again, and next time you meet my arrows personally." I snarl, then leaving her to cry with her little friends. Walking by Peeta who's carrying Prim, I tell him that I'm leaving, and he follows quickly.
None of us talk on the way back to my home, and when we arrive Mother gasps.
"What happened?" She quickly cleans off the couch, and grabs her medical bag.
"A girl went after Prim. Because of me." I mumble, and Prim cries out.
"It wasn't your fault Katniss!"
"It was Prim! Don't argue!" I grab Peeta by his wrist, and drag him outside with a loud door slam.
"I can't believe-" Peeta tries to say, but I cut him off.
"Peeta, we have to break up." He steps back in surprise, and my heart cracks a bit.
"Why? Katniss, you can't blame yourself!" He retorts, with his voice full of dread.
"But I can Peeta! She told me the other day that she'd get me for dating you, and I can't afford for Prim to get hurt because of some silly little relationship. I'm sorry, but we can't do this anymore." I force myself to keep my face void of emotion, and he doesn't bother.
"You can't do this. Please Katniss." He begs, his eyes gleaming with tears.
"I'm sorry Peeta." I quietly say, before turning to go inside.
"Katniss, I love you! Please, don't leave me. I loved you since we were five, even more when we were eleven. This last month has been the best month of my life. Just, please, don't leave me." His voice cracks with emotion at the last words. It takes all my willpower to not turn back, and run into his arms.
"I'm sorry." I whisper one last time, then go inside the house. Prim looks up, and I immediately go upstairs and get into bed. My eyes automatically travel to the picture of Prim and I on the wall. The picture that Peeta drew for me a while ago. Around the picture is many more sketches, like when I frosted my first flower with him, or Prim and I laughing, even Prim being licked on the cheek by Lady. They all are drawn in perfect detail, and my heart breaks. Peeta finally cracked my stone heart. Something that nobody has done since my father left us.
And for the first time in years, I let myself cry.
I know you guys are going to hate me for that last part, but just hold on with me, kay? Anyone else like the punch she threw at Sara?(; Oh, and I forgot to mention, the start of this story is a little over a month before the Reaping, but you all know they don't get picked. I stated that in the story summary if you didn't notice(; Alright, release your angry thoughts on my in yo reviews.