Author's Note: Yes they are cute aren't they (Gale and Ariana)? But I don't think the double dating will ever happen.
Thanks go to my reviewers: Sea Otter, HL, E-W-Dragon, ASMF, Pandora and JB
Chapter 20
Tête à Tête
Ari POV
I do get some sleep after. No nightmare takes me after wishing Gale a good night rest with a quick peck on his cheek. I wake before dawn however, but then again I was always an early riser. I make coffee and then some breakfast. It comes to me to wonder what people in the seam do for meals. Gale had brought food from Peeta's late last night, but surely they all have means to get what they need, surely they aren't all signing or allowing their children to sign for tesserea.
Knowing Snow, with how he hates being made a fool he has probably made that happen. Haymitch had told me the mine has closed. No income means families are starving and if it means you sign up to get food for your family that's what you do. That's what family does.
It makes me sick to my stomach. I look at the skillet of eggs with distaste now. Wondering who I could give it to, to help.
I am broken out of my thought by a rap on the door. At this hour, barely five am by the kitchen clock I have no idea who it is.
I'm changed in my track suit since I am ready to go on my solo run before coming back to get Haymitch, so I go to open the door.
Peeta is there.
"'Morning" I say, "up early"
"Yeah" he says quietly, "told you I'd be over to talk didn't I?"
We end up not talking until we get to the meadow, I had left a note for Haymitch to eat and meet us here at the regular time. Without the aid of alcohol he is usually up an hour prior to the regime.
I sit in the tall grass and my friend gets down to sit as well. It takes him a tad longer because of his prosthetic. Then again I have had experience with someone handicapped and even so I wouldn't get impatient with anyone.
We look out past the fence for a bit, just enjoying the calm of being with someone we consider family.
"So what happened" he finally asked, "are you okay?"
I nod, "just flashback really" I reply, "sorry I got you worried Peet, you don't need that right now, not with the reaping in a month"
He looks at me confused, "Ari you really don't have to apologize, if anyone Gale has to"
"He did…well in a way" I say softly, he nudges me and I explain about the nightmare that woke me up, how I had gone outside for some air and he found me crying. Then going to his place, his mother making tea and him walking me back to Haymitch's after.
"He wants to be friends" I tell him and Peeta looks guarded, "what?"
"He's had girlfriends before, he's always had some girl fauning over him" he says.
I raise a brow at him, "Peeta" I smirk, "you think I would ever be one of those bubble brains? Remember I have had Finnick O'dair around me, I'm not that easily swayed, but Gale is just…I dunno" I pull at some grass so my hands have something to do and start braiding it.
"You still crush on him don't you" he smirks, "he was worried about you last night"
"He said he talked to you about it, how you told him about Horace, and when I was fifteen" I look at him
"Well he didn't get it, he thought he was doing something wrong" my friend explains, "I had to set the record straight, otherwise he wouldn't talk to you ever"
I chuckle, "are you playin' matchmaker?"
Then he says something I wish he wouldn't.
He looks out into the forest, "well if it's the last thing I do before….I want you to be happy"
"Peeta" I look at him, "don't say that"
"Ari, Katniss has to win, besides what I feel for her isn't mutual" he doesn't look at me, I can tell something happened.
"She does Peeta, she may not realize that now, but she will" I try and reassure him
"She told me it was all an act more or less" he sighs, "at least what you and Gale have could be real, one of us deserves a happy ending don't you think?"
It makes my jaw set, "look at me" I say to him, I hate this attitude he has about himself, about accepting death, I've seen it too much, Farrow, Maverick, Seneca…not one more, and definitely not him. He looks at me and I think he sees my reaction in my eye before I say anything. "You are not giving up on yourself. I won't have it, not from you"
"Ari I love her and I don't want her to die" Peeta defends himself
"And if you die and she watches you die you will break her anyway" I snarl, "don't ever give up on yourself" I try and let my anger override my anguish but alas I can feel tears building in my eyes, "please Peeta, not you" I whisper
"You know I'm volunteering" he says
"I knew as soon as that damn card was read" I scoff, letting the tears fall, "damn it Peeta why are you dead set about dying?"
He doesn't look at me, I think I know why. "I'm the youngest of three sons, my mother is abusive, and although I love my family I know me not being there won't be a big impact, I don't have a reason, Katniss does, she has a family to take care of, and friends"
"And if you die you think that won't make an impact?" I look at him, "Peeta, I didn't think I would make an impact and yet when I 'died' it had spurred people into action, small ripples turn into tidal waves don't you know that?"
"Yeah but you're special" he says
"And you aren't? God, look at your paintings, look at your family, look at your friends and tell me you dying wouldn't make an impact" I look at him, "everyone is special Peet, even you"
He looks at the grass pulling at it, "I wish I believed you" he says
"I wish you did too Peet" I say sadly I lean against him placing my head on his shoulder, "no more talking about dying okay? Let's do something"
"Like what?" he asks
It takes me a moment or two then I realize there is something I want to learn, "let's go to the bakery."