Short chapter. More to come! I'm having writers block. please please review and tell me some things you would like to see! It will help me update sooner! They really do help! Will update soon!
Warning: I own nothing just my characters and storyline.
Chapter 7:
I woke up shivering. Why was it so cold? It was still dark outside and I couldn't see anything. I felt around for the covers but found nothing. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and I rolled over to find Gale wrapped in all the covers. I pushed his leg with my foot. He didn't move. I started to shake his arm. "Gale." I said. His head snapped up quickly, looking around. "What?" He said in a sleepy voice. I laughed. "You're hogging the covers." I said. He face planted into his pillow and grunted. He just laid there. "Gale Hawthorne if you don't share those covers..." I said my teeth literally chattering. Before I could finish talking he grabbed me and pulled me to him wrapping the covers around us both. My face was smashed against his chest because he had such a tight grip on me. "Gale can you like not smash my face?" I said against his shirt. I felt him chuckle and loosen his grip. I wiggled back a little. "Thank you." I sighed. It was so warm. Gale snuggled his face into my hair and sighed. His hand slid up my back. I shivered. "What are you doing?" I asked sleepy.
"Trying to sleep." He mumbled. I laid there for almost 20 minutes when I heard Gale ask "Are you asleep?"
"No." I sighed.
"Me either." He said. I laughed.
"What time do you think it is?" I asked.
"Around 5." He said. I began messing with the front of his old t-shirt and discovered a tear.
"Do you know you have a hole in this shirt?" I asked looking up at him.
"Where?" He said surprised. I pointed it out to him. "Can you sew?" He asked. I shook my head no. He smiled. He moved so he could get up. "I'm going to change so I don't tear it more." He said. I groaned knowing it would be cold. I rolled over on my stomach and realised I was in the middle of the bed. I knew I probably needed to move but had no motivation to. The weight shifted and the covers lifted. I shivered and curled into a ball. "Where are you?" Gale asked. His hand found my foot and I laughed.
The sun began peaking through the old curtains over our window. There was no way I was going to get any sleep. I climbed out of bed. The floor was freezing and I immediately wanted to jump back in bed. I took a shower and got ready. There was no way I was letting Gale go to the courthouse by himself. I decided to wear and nicer off white dress I brought from home. I began to braid my hair but decided I would leave it down. By the time Gale I both got ready it was 7:30. It took at least 20 minutes to walk there.
We walked to through the Seam and it was quiet except for the miners walking to work. All of the older men looked so worn and some coughed an awful cough that didn't sound healthy. I looked at them and then over at Gale. That would be him before I knew it. It was said that the miners only made it to about 60. I began to feel anxious and never wanted to let Gale go back underground again. I unconsciously grabbed Gale's hand. He didn't seem to mind because he gripped it tighter.
We arrived at the court house, also known as the justice building. Gale didn't let go of my hand as we entered the building. He stepped in front of me protectively. He talked to the lady at the front desk while I admired the beautiful building with tall white pillars and white marble all around us. Gale tugged on my hand and I followed him. They sent us into a small room that had an old, fat, bald man sitting at the desk. "Welcome Mr. and ." He said in a voice that made my stomach sink. Gale nodded and so I did the same. We sat in the two chairs facing his desk. "My name is Dell Wallace and you're hear to discuss further punishment for illegal hunting." He said and I got really nervous. Gale remained calm. I envied his ability to hide his emotions. "You still have 10 lashes to be given and..." Mr. Wallace said and I felt numb. "your first born son will start work at the mines 2 years earlier, at the age of sixteen." Mr. Wallace finished as if none of this bothered him. Gale tensed up.
"Sixteen? Sir I will take 30 more lashes if that pays my dues for illegal hunting. Don't punish our children for my mistake." Gale said trying to control his tone.
"I'll take some if I need to. Please don't do this. Don't you have a heart?" I said and immediately regretted it. Mr. Wallace's face turned red with anger.
"You should be grateful to me Mrs. Hope that your husband is not sentenced to death, which is always an option." He said in one quick breath. My eyes filled with tears of anger. Anger that came from him threatening Gale right in front of me. I kept my mouth shut though. "It has been decided and your whipping date is exactly a week from now at 8:00 in the town square. You are dismissed." He said and Gale glared so hard at him that Mr. Wallace shifted in his seat. "Don't make me call the peacekeepers in ." Mr. Wallace threatened. Gale stood up and waited for me to follow. We walked out into the hall.
"Gale!" A high pitched voice rang through the court house hall.
"Lily?" He said surprised. I turned around and saw a tall, blonde haired girl. She ran over and hugged Gale. I backed away from them.
"How have you been?" She said beaming up at him.
"I've been okay. How about you?" He asked.
"I'm doing great! Loving life." She said bubbly. I could tell she was from town. I was looking away when Gale grabbed my hand.
"This is my wife, Hope." He said smiling what looked like a genuine smile.
"Oh yeah. The girl from 4." She said with a fake smile. The girl from 4?
"Nice to meet you. Lily was it?" I asked. She nodded.
"Well I must run now! It was so good to see you again Gale. We will have to catch up sometime." She said grabbing his upper arm. He smiled and nodded. "Bye Holly!" She said walking away. I rolled my eyes.
"You too Lola!" I said back. I saw her stop for a second and continue walking.
"Was that necessary?" Gale asked laughing. I rested my hand on his upper arm.
"Why yes Gale it was. We'll have to catch up sometime." I said walking away like Lily did. I walked out of the court house and down the steps. Gale grabbed me by my waist and spun me around. I couldn't stop laughing. He set me down. He looked at me with a deep sadness only a few could see. "Everything will be okay Gale. One step at a time..." I said.
"One step at a time..." He repeated to himself. "Why don't we go see my family? Spend the day over there. I'm starting to miss those little rugrats." He said.
"I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day." I said smiling. He bent down in front of me. "What are you doing?" I asked confused.
"Offering you a ride." He said laughing. It had been so long since I'd been given a piggy back ride. I hopped on his back. He grabbed under my knees to make sure I didn't fall.
"Onward." I said pointing toward his old home.