Author's Note: To E-W-Dragon: I think she has learned her lesson too, at least she is showing some restraint now
To ASMF: I never judge on good reviews :)
To Pandora: Yes I saw that too, I think SC wanted to make them more adversaries than allies hence the segregation of Gale and Peeta, I think here they are more allies and friends (not close friends but y'know not enemies)
To Sea Otter: Fluff will always be around these too so you will be sated don't you worry :P
To Hockeylover: I always saw Gale not as a jerk just maybe misunderstood…
And finally To JB: Gale in my story is a good boy don't get any wrong ideas cheeky!
Yes I know this is not my usual kinda author note, but I felt like replying within the confines of my update this time around…
And now on with the fluff!
Chapter 19
Getting to Know You
We walk together quietly, me carrying the soup, and her the loaf of bread. I know she's seen where I live so I don't feel too self conscious. When we get in my mom is still up. She looks worried and checks me over before noticing I brought a guest.
"Miss Crane" she smiles but then it fades as she sees the red rimmed eyes, "oh my dear are you alright? What did Gale do?"
"Ma I din't do anything" I defend myself, "I found her like that"
It's gone midnight but mom still makes tea, she gets some chipped mugs from the cupboard and places three on the table, as I put the soup in the cold box and the bread on the counter.
"Sit" she tells us, I sit automatically but Ariana is wary, "it's okay sweetheart" she adds calmly and I ease a chair out with my foot for her.
As the tea steeps she looks at Ariana calmly, "so what's upset you?" she asks, "it's so late, too late to be this upset"
"I'm sorry" Ariana says softly, it make my mom chuckle
"Whatever for!" she touches Ariana's hand, "dear you help heal my son, you are teaching Peeta, Haymitch and Katniss how to survive…you have nothing to be sorry for."
"I should apologize" I say
"Knew you did something" my mom says, "what happened? You break her heart?"
"No he did nothing" Ariana says quickly, "I shouldn't have I mean I didn't…I…" she is blushing furiously and take a sip of the tea scalding hot, not even flintching.
"We were sparring down in Abernathy's place, and I finally pinned her and wanted to give her a peck on the cheek when it all went to hell" I explain.
"That's not it" my mom says, "though it might have triggered something" Ariana looks up at the comment, my mom smiles gently, "wrong time and place?" this gets a nod
"I….had a nightmare" Ariana says
A nightmare? I have them from time to time. So why is this so upsetting?
"Is it because of what happened when you were fifteen?" I ask and she looks shocked, "sorry when we left I talked with Mellark, he told me"
She nods, "they were flashes…I haven't had nightmares in so long that it shocked me" she looks shocked again, maybe because she normally doesn't talk about things that upset her, "I'm….sorry I should go" she gets up, "thank you for the tea Mrs. Hawthorne, sleep well" she is out the door before my mom could even reply.
I look at my mom who looks at me, "well don't look at me Gale go after her if you're worried"
I am out the door a moment later, "Ariana wait up!" I hiss since it's so late
"You should head to bed" she says
"And so should you but if you are having nightmares it's because something is bothering you" I tell her, "you are so strong, but you don't have to be not all the time, you saw me at my weakest with my back. I never saw you as vulnerable, not until I had you pinned"
"I don't like being bullied and every time I have been defenseless it's followed by something either unexpected or unpleasant" she replies.
"So me kissing would have been both?" I ask a small smirk playing on my lips
She smirks in return and wipes her eyes, "the first kiss I had happened the same way only I was standing"
"Damn"
"The boy got kicked in the groin" she adds
"Damn!" I wince, "sorry Ariana, if I had known I wouldn't have done that, just….I like you, and I guess it came to me to show you"
She's quiet, I guess it's not mutual, that's what I guess except she walks a bit closer and brushes her hand against mine. When I look down there is a blush on her cheeks again so I take initiative and gently take her hand in mine.
Is it girly to say that her hand fits mine perfectly? That I feel her cool fingers wrap around my hand ever so slightly and I want to warm them? I never thought like this before, I loved Katniss but it was because we both are very loud forces in our little world, we both scream defiance in one way or another, we shared a lot of things including the feeling of loosing our fathers in the mines.
Ariana is a very controlled person; I see that fire in her when she is training them and I. But she isn't one for big outbursts, if she was its probably calmed. Her small frame is always wound tight ready to spring at a given notice. I don't know her like I know Katniss, but I feel I could given time know her a lot better than I know my hunting partner.
So what brings this poetic side of me out? Is it love? Or am I infatuated with this blue eyed being? She seems so calm and thoughtful compared to me.
"Are you always this quiet?" I ask since she hasn't said a word since I uttered that I have feelings for her.
"I have a way of being overly blunt so I don't like saying anything unless I know its not going to be taken badly" she replies
"So you don't like me" I feel like letting go of her hand, yet her fingers are still around mine and aren't even loosening.
"I don't know" she says, "I like you too but I don't know how to define it in a way that doesn't go over the top or understates"
"I'll take it as mutual if it's all the same" I tell her with a smile.
She blushes deeper and smiles but looks at the ground, embarrassed or has she never had a boyfriend. It starts to click in place, what Peeta explained, being a victor.
She probably never had one…ever.
"We don't have to read anymore into this than this" I say bringing our hands to her view, "friends first?"
"And allies" she looks at me
"Thinking there will be a war do you?" I tease
Her eyes take on a steely glint, "you never know Gale" she says softly, "for all we know there could be sooner than we like"
That was cryptic.
"Well it's peaceful enough" I tell her, "let's hope it holds"
We reach Haymitch's who she is staying with in district. I decide to play it safe and ask before getting close.
"I'm going to give you a kiss alright?" I say to her
She looks at me curiously and I give her a chaste kiss on the cheek, "try and get some sleep, next time we spar I won't go easy on you"
"I won't hold back either" she says and reciprocates a kiss on my cheek, "sleep well Gale"