Chapter 3:
Thank you so much for reviewing! Keep them coming with things I need to correct and any ideas you want to suggest!
Btw= Meme is what Hope calls her Grandmother. I thought it wnot well with her southern bell persona!
Warning I do NOT own the Hunger Games or any characters. I own only my characters.
I got up early the next morning to cook Gale breakfast. I wasn't use to getting up this early. We started work in the fields after the sun came up but Gale had to be at work before the sun rose.
I heard the shower going in the bathroom. I learned yesterday to take quick showers. Our water would cut off after 10 minutes of constant use, which would take some getting use to.
I searched the refrigerator for something to cook. I decided to make him toast. We didn't have eggs or potatoes so the choices were limited. I turned the oven on a let it preheat while I cleaned up the pot I used for my soup last night. Gale walked in drying his hair with an old towel. "Morning." He said throwing the towel over his chair before sitting down. I nodded in response. I really wasn't a morning person. I put the bread in the oven but hit my forearm on the hot rack. I pulled my arm from the oven quickly screeching. I turned the water on quickly and stuck my arm under it. " What happened!" Gale said leaning over me. " I just burned my arm. It's fine." I said swatting him away. " Let me see." He said. I shook my head. " Hope Hawthorne let me see your arm." He said very seriously. My head snapped up at his words. Hawthorne. I felt butterflies in my stomach. I decided that it was to early to fight him so I showed him my arm. " Geez Hope!" He said examining it. I pulled my arm from him. " I'll get my burn cream." He said moving to a far cabinet and grabbing a bottle. I hopped onto the counter examining my arm. " I think you're just overreacting Gale." He came back over to me with the bottle of burn cream. He gentle rubbed it over my burn and covered it with a gauze. " Thanks." I mumbled. He ruffled my hair and sat back down. I rolled my eyes.
I gave him his toast when it finished and sat across from him. Then it all flooded back to me. " How did we get those squirrels yesterday?" I asked. He tensed up. " And how do I cook them? In 11 we never ate squirrel." I added resting my cheek in my palm looking at Gale.
" Why don't we talk about that tonight? I don't have time to explain right now. " He said eating fast. " Gale if it's something illegal I want no part in it." I said suddenly worried. " I'm the provider of this family and as log as I come home safe and put food on the table we are fine. I promise." He said sternly. I stared at him. " Tonight I want to know and don't think I'll forget." I warned. He rolled his eyes and smirked. " One more thing, and you may not like this, but I really want a job! I can't just be stuck in this house all day." I said.
" Oh I forgot to tell you. My mom has a laundry business but she also sells fruits during the spring and summer. I never was able to have any because they were for the towns people but in the fall and winter she makes jam from the leftovers. You will be helping her with the gardening and making jam. She didn't want you to start until you got settled in though." He said. I sighed with relief. " That sounds great! Can I start today?" I asked eagerly, suddenly wide awake. He laughed. " You just got here." He said getting up from the table. " Why don't you start in a few days?" He suggested. Like before it was too early to argue but I had a little more fight than a few moments ago. " We will talk about it later today." I said. He opened the door to leave and I met him there. I grabbed his helmet. " Stubborn little pumpkin." He said shaking his head. I
Shoved his helmet at him. He laughed and started to walk to the street. " Oh by the way you promised Posey you would come see her so I thought we could eat dinner at my mom's house!" He said. I planted my face in my palm and groaned. Mine and Gale's argument the other day made me forget I promised Posey I would come over yesterday. " Sounds great! Be safe!" I yelled after him. "Yeah, Yeah!" He yelled back waving. Arrogant he was.
By the time we got back home I was exhausted. Rory and Vic had me playing tag and Posey had me braiding and rebraiding her hair all evening. I didn't mind though. I loved spending time with Gale's family. Hazelle told me I could start work tomorrow! I was so excited to be doing something productive. I loved gardening. It was something my dad and I always did together. I immediately blocked that thought.
I flopped onto the couch and sighed. Gale put the leftovers Hazelle had us bring home in the refrigerator and then came over to the couch. He looked at me as if asking if he could sit. I nodded.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. " I need to know about the squirrels Gale." I said concerned. " I hunt for game." He said shrugging his shoulders. " They allow you to hunt here?!" I asked shocked. " Not exactly." He said again shrugging. " Gale that is illegal. Surely I can get another job and we can buy meat. Please don't do this..." I said panicking. " People buy game from me and Katniss. We've been doing this for years. Even peacekeepers buy from us." He said leaning his head back on the couch and closing his eyes. " Oh." I said puzzled. The peacekeepers were strict back in 11 and hunting would have never been allowed. It still made me nervous for some reason. " When do y'all hunt?" I asked crossing my legs indian style. He sat up and looked at me. " Every Friday and Saturday morning and some during the week when I can." He said. I just nodded and look away from him at the empty fireplace. " Is Katniss the girl you were hugging?" I asked my voice shaky. " Hope you have nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen between me and Katniss. You're my wife. " He said reassuringly but something in his voice said other wise. " It's none of my business if there is something between you two or not." I said getting up. " You're a bad liar. I know it bothers you that Katniss and I have a history." Gale said standing up, hovering over me. " So you're admitting there is something between you two?" I challenged. " There was something between us. I'm a loyal man and won't cheat on my wife. I may not have chosen you but we ended up together for a reason. " He said. " We'll see Hawthorne." I said. " I'll prove it to you Hawthorne." He shot back and those same butterflies from before started to fly in my stomach again. I turned on my heels and went to our room. I climbed into bed after changing thinking Gale had a lot to prove and so did I if we intended to earn each others trust and maybe someday even love.