A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner, I had some serious writer's block. I've noticed that we've hit 500+ reviews, and that means a lot to me. Thanks so much to you guys, the readers. Regardless of whether or not you've been with the story since chapter one, or you get to go through all the chapters in one go now, you still motivate me. Even though not everyone reviews, it doesn't even matter. Seeing that there's almost 125,000 views is incredible - I barely expected 100 when I started writing. Anyways, here's the next chapter!
I wake up early, and I realize, that my nightmare wasn't that bad today. I could sleep through it, for once. I sit up in bed, and Finnick groans a little, but he's half-asleep and falls unconscious again in a minute or two. I slip on one of his shirts and a pair of shorts. I know that I won't be able to fall asleep, so I walk the short distance barefoot to the beach. I sit in the sand, the blue-green waves occasionally grazing over the tips of my (for once) un-painted toes. A thought crosses into my mind - I'll never have to have my nails, hair or makeup done, shave my body or worse - wax ever again, unless I want to. I won't have to get dolled up in the Capitol, or for the Capitol, ever again. My life is mine to live, and I can dress the way I'd like, for the rest of my life. That feels exhilarating in some way.
I hear soft footsteps behind me. I'm on my feet instantaneously and poised to attack even though it's probably five in the morning and I'm both weaponless and defenseless. Any enemy I would have had is dead, or no longer a threat. Still, my reflexes are intact. It takes me a moment to realize I'm looking at Gale, and we both laugh, my posture becoming way more relaxed.
"I'm not gonna bite you, Catnip." He smiles, walking towards me. We both sit down, facing the water.
"You haven't called me that in at least two years." I say.
"I dunno. I feel like since everything's calmed down and all of this," he points around him, "is over, that's it's okay again. Maybe we can get better. I'm not stupid; I know the nightmares will never really be over forever, and something like the hunger games - you can't just get over it. But I have a feeling we might be able to live real lives here, ya know. Like what it would've been like had our dad's been around. We could live normal lives."
"Gale, we're parentless, and virtually friendless. Our neighbors are killers, or siblings, or love interests. Everyone is scared of us." I frown. I need to try to patch things up with him. "We can't go back to normal, we were never normal. But we might actually have our own happy endings here. This isn't gonna be perfect, but I know we can make it work." I'm surprised at how for the first time, I actually believe my words, instead of just saying them for someone else's benefit. Maybe there is hope.
"Look, Catnip. I just wanna say I'm sorry. I haven't been fair to you, at all. This hasn't been easy on any of us, and you've definitely gotten the worst of it. I know that words only mean so much, and really, I don't blame you if you don't wanna talk to me, but I just wanna know if we can try to be friends again." I turn my head and look at Gale. Like, really look at him. He's not eighteen anymore. How naive we once were. So much can change in four, almost five years.
"I'm sorry too," I smile a little, and peck his cheek. "It's gonna be hard, but we really need to patch things up. I miss having you around."
We just sit there in silence, the water washing over our feet. I watch the sun stretch it's fingers and paint the dark sky with streaks of red, orange, pinks, purples and yellows. I'm not sure how long I just stare at the ocean. It's a nice change of scenery, which is exactly what I need to get a fresh start. After a while, I turn around and notice that Gale must have left. I sigh, standing up slowly and stretching, before walking back toward the Victor's Village.
I pass people beginning their day: fishermen going out on their boats, mothers taking their children to school, people going to their jobs in town. District 4 is completely self-sufficient. The people weren't negatively affected by the rebellion what so ever (except, of course, for the victors). The schools still run, businesses boom, people have even starting growing food so they don't have to import it.
I walk down a street, just wandering. A little girl stares at me for a little, until her sibling grabs her along. Everyone here is nice, just many people are scared of me. Not that I blame them - I'm scared of myself and what I've done, to tell the truth.
I get back to the circle of houses. Grant's sitting on his porch, smoking. I didn't realize people here did that - most smokers are in Districts 1 and 2, and the Capitol, of course. Back home, nobody could afford them, and even if they could, there'd be no place to buy them, really. He smiles at me, and motions for me to come over. I sit down on the chair next to him, and he drops the cigarette on the ground, stomping it out with his foot. "Morning neighbor." He says, almost sadly. I don't know much about Grant. But I do know that what Haymitch is to me, Grant is to Finnick. He's married to Natalie, another victor, and they have two little kids. "How do ya like it here?" He asks me.
"Well, it's a lot better than District 12." I shrug. "I mean, I would kill to get out of Panem, if there is anybody else living out there. But if I had to be in here, District 4 is the best, it's warm and the people here are great. And, having you guys is what I really need. I need people who aren't terrified of me, kids who aren't scared of me, and I just can't live with myself. I'm terrified of everything, I can't sleep. I thought I'd be happy, and yeah I'm much more relieved that I'm not being whored around, but still, I just wish that I could've never experienced anything like that. I mean, -" I cut myself off, I'm being way too dramatic. It does feel kinda nice getting that off my chest, not gonna lie.
Grant chuckles to himself a little. It's a nice sound - the laugh resonates from deep in his belly. A genuine laugh. "Katniss, everyone deserves that. You're not the only one who feels that way. We're all here for you, you know that. You need to realize something. We've all been through the games, and it's horrors. We've all dealt with the other jobs in the Capitol. Well not all of us, but most. Seriously - Natalie, me, Finnick, Johanna, Gloss, and even more before them, and myself. You deserve to be happy. It's over. You're fine."
I exhale sharply, and relax my posture. That was... really nice to hear. "Thanks, Grant." He stands up, and I give him a really big hug.
"Don't tell me you're hitting on younger chicks again Grant." Finnick comes over, and teases him. He turns to me, and I smile, taking a step back from Grant. "Hey there."
"Hey, yourself." I retort, smiling. I kiss him hard. We just kinda lose track of each other in the kiss, not that it's a bad thing at all. After, what must be a few minutes, at least. Someone coughs loudly.
"Get a room you two." Grant winks at Finnick.
"Will do." He smiles back, picking me up. I let out a surprised squeak, as suddenly, I'm in Finnick's arms and being carried up the stairs, my lips never leaving contact with his.
I could get used to this.