A/N - Hello again dear readers! Chapter 2 is here! Not to much 'action' but it's still a 'set up' for the rest of the story. Hopefully you'll all understand, It's still a good Chapter though:)!
Thank you everyone who reviewed! I read all nine of the reviews for Chapter 1. EACH one means SO much to me! CookieMeister- I think it's called Everthorn!? Not sure though. Thank you for your words! I can never find good GaleXKatniss fanfiction either. That's what gave me this idea! :D Occy3- HEYYY! :D :D "Guest"- Don't worry, parts like that won't be in every Chapter. I just wanted to really put that in the first so you know how Katniss deals with that. I'll be sure to put a 'warning' so to speak if it's in a Chapter so you can skip over it if you don't want to read it. This Chapter's free of it though:).
Well, Like I said, not to much happening here in this Chapter. But.. Here's something new I'm intruding.. At the end of every so few chapters I might give a 'preview' of the next Chapter!? I saw someone else doing it and loved the idea. Hopefully you'll like it, too. Well, I'll shut up now so you can read. Chapter 3 will be up tomorrow(Friday) sometime. Enjoy lovies - Macayla (Ps, Sorry it's a bit short, they will get longer again!)
I slowly make my way to the back side of the large school. The hallways are empty and dark. There's a satisfaction I no longer will be here to learn. But I'll still be coming here, more actually. The older grades only have classes Wednesday through Friday, but the two younger grades have school Monday through Friday. Resulting in me being here more then less now. I never in a million years that I'd be teaching, especially music. I barley sing anymore, only occasionally to Prim after a nightmare, which is rare now that she's older. But I'm trying to make a new life, finally getting past my fathers death. I've let the mourning linger to long. He'd want me to move on and be happy. But I'll never forget him.
I continue, still slowly, making my way to the Principle's office near the far end of the school. It's a surprisingly large building, consisting of two floors. Almost every window is broken out though for fresh air. Because of course, no power, no air conditioning.
I'm standing in front of the door that leads to her office before I know it. I quietly knock on it and get a imitate 'come in'. I brush the sweat from my hands off on my jeans before I slowly open the door. The office is quite large, but bare. There's the large desk and besides that, book shelves line every wall except where the window is. I see the Principle, Mrs. Maddox, sitting behind the desk, and Mrs. Mildred sitting in one of the two seats in front of her.
"Hello Katniss. You can take a seat." Says Principle Maddox while gesturing to the seat next to Mrs. Mildred.
She flashes me a warm smile as I slip in the seat. Principle Maddox folds her hands together on the table and leans in before she speaks-
"Katniss, we are thrilled to have you join our team of Teachers. There's of course just a few minor things we need to go over in order for you to be able to Teach properly." She says calmly.
Mrs. Mildred flashes me another smile. I nod my head for her to continue. For the next ten minutes she doesn't shut up. She tells me everything I need to know. How to get the children to behave, how to handle a heated situation, how to look for signs of abuse, how to report it and matter containing the same subjects. I don't interrupt her once. The only thing that catches me off guard a bit is when she starts talking about a few children who have mental and health issues. She promises me they don't give trouble or cause problems, but just to be mindful of them. Next she hangs me a sheet of paper, I pick it up looking at it.
"This, Katniss is your class assignments. Monday and Tuesday you'll have the littlest grades, Wednesday and Thursday you'll have the middle grades. And on Friday you'll have the oldest grades. Got that?" She asks.
I was unaware I would be teaching teenagers my age. But I guess that makes sense. Music is a full on subject now. I nod my head in reply to her, but I've barley spoken a word, so I know I need to speak-
"Yes." I reply. It's something.
"Good. I'm going to give you some sheet music that I've had here in the office forever." She says while sliding over a large stack of papers that was sitting on the corner of her desk. "Most of the songs are just easy and not much to them. Mrs. Mildred will take you to the music room so you can get it ready for Monday." She adds while finally flashing me a another smile.
I've never been to fond of Principle Maddox. Not after she completely yelled at Prim for crying during one of her class subjects. It was about four or five weeks after fathers death, when me and Prim became the closest we've ever been. She was just simply crying for me, but Principle Maddox claimed she was being disruptive to class. That day I almost got expelled for the way I handled it. I did however get expelled for a week. But after a few months, she acted like it never happened. I still don't like her though.
She goes over a few other things, my schedule and pay before she bids me goodbye. I grab the stack of sheet music, which at least weighs a few good pounds and I follow Mrs. Mildred out the door. Once she's closed the door behind us, she leads the way down the long corridor.
"So, are you excited?" She asks while were walking, sounding a bit overjoyed herself.
"I suppose." I reply honestly. If it was anyone else, I would have lied and said yes, but I won't to her.
"Don't be nervous Katniss. You'll do wonderful. And I already know the children will love you." She says genuinely.
I just smile in reply. Her words are almost comforting. But I still can't quite shake away all the nervousness. We go down several more winding hallways before we stop in the middle of a corridor. I know exactly where I'm at though. My math (or use to be now) class is just over a room. She digs in her pockets and pulls out a single silver key. She quickly unlocks the door and leads the way in. Over the summer, instead of practicing the Piano here in this room, I practiced with the old Piano she has at her house. It was one of the hardest things to do. Not actually playing it, but being flooded with old memories of my father when he would play. Or when he would teach me. It took me several days to stop holding back tears. But once I did, the process of Piano playing quickly returned. I'm still not excellent of course, I stutter with reading the notes and sometimes press the wrong keys, or hold them down to long or not enough. But it is enough to manage. She's a pretty good Piano player and promises me she'll play in my place when she can, but she's a teacher already.
I enter the room after her and I immediately step on broken class and paper. The two sets of chairs that are set in a semi circle are completely overturned and rusted. But the rust matches everything else in District 12. There's three music stands which are overturned as well. And sheet music flown around everywhere. The three large windows are all broken out. The only thing that remains in tact is the chalk board on the wall in front of the overturned chairs and the large, black, dented Piano in the corner.
"It's going to need some fixing up." She says disappointingly while surveying the room. I come and join her in the middle of the room. "It's been so long since we've used this room, Katniss." She says turning towards me and grabbing my free hand. "You'll do great sweetheart. I believe in you." She adds.
"Thank you." I say, amazed at how much I believe those words. She replies with a smile.
"Well, I can help you clean up this mess. It's going to take more then one person." She says while bending down and taking a handful of papers from the ground. She's an older lady, and I feel bad to make her work like this.
"I can get Gale to help me." I say, in hopes she'll agree so she doesn't injure herself.
"Is he not busy today?" She asks standing up and shifting the papers in her hand to make a neat stack.
"He's helping some guys rebuild those few damaged buildings. But he shouldn't be long." I reply.
"Well, I do have a few things I need to get done today. Are you sure, Dear?" She asks. I smile.
"Yes. I'm positive." I answer. She nods her head and smiles.
"Okay. So how is that man of yours?" She asks shooting me more of a grin now then a smile. I almost laugh at her choice of words.
"He's fine. A bit tired from the mines." I reply.
"Aw, I bet. Anyone would be. So how's married life treating you?" She asks. I almost laugh, again.
"It's good. Hard, but good." I answer honestly again.
"Yes, no marriage is perfect dear. But I'm glad to hear it's good. I remember when your were just a little thing coming to school with your father." She says while gesturing with her hand at my toddler height.
I listen to her for the next five minutes recall a few stories of me and my father. I don't mean to, but I somewhat tune her out. Not because I don't want to listen, but the stories are to painful for me. When she finally finishes I let out a sigh of relief. She bids me goodbye and hangs me the key before leaving the room. I walk around the room a bit. It's acutely very large. The large (grand I think she called it) Piano sits comfortably in the corner of the room. I look down to see the sheet music that Principle Maddox gave to me. I immediately look away when I the sheet music is hand written… in my fathers hand writing. I sit one of the overturned chairs up and set the sheet music down on it before I walk out of the room, locking it behind me and putting the key into my pocket. I contemplate waiting for Gale at home, but I have no idea when he will be back, and I really need to clean the room so I can get it ready tomorrow for Monday. I quickly make my way out of the school and into the part of town where Gale's working. It's about a good ten minute walk, so I walk a little faster then my normal speed. The town isn't to large though, and as long as there's not many crowds, it's pretty easy to get around. I stop for a second, trying to remember exactly where Gale said he'd be. Once I remember I even more quickly now make my way to the businesses. I'm not really sure why Gale agreed to do this. I know he has to be utterly exhausted from working twelve hour shifts in the mines. He leaves at five in the morning and doesn't come back until five in the evening.
I arrive at the two building which are half collapsed. They look beyond saving, but I see at least thirty guys working on it. As I approach I also notice a group of five or six girls watching them. I immediately want to smack each one of them. I see Gale in plain sight, working on a wall outside the building with a few other guys. I do my best to ignore those girls, but I know their looking at me. I walk past them and stop just short of the buildings, hoping Gale will see me so I don't have to shout to him. After several seconds he turns his gaze toward my direction, but just slightly over a bit… where those girls are. He quickly see's me though and jumps off the ladder he was on and makes his way to me. As he approach's me, it takes all I can do not to slap him…
"Hey! How'd the meeting go?" He says while wiping his hands off on an old rag.
"Good." I'm pissed at him. He's married now (to me!) and he shouldn't be doing that.
"What's wrong?" He asks. Obviously reading my expression. I lean in a little closer and point my finger at him.
"You know exactly what the hell is wrong!" I quietly (in a way) shout at him. I'm loud enough though and see some of the guys working briefly glance at us.
"Katniss, I don't. I'm sorry." He says apologetically. I cross my arms and tighten my jaw. Not letting him get off easy. "Them?" He asks, gesturing with head toward the group of girls behind me.
"Yes!" I shout just as loud before.
"I was looking for you Katniss. I told you last night once the meeting was over to come see me and tell me how it was. That's why I was looking over there, and around them." He says, defensively but not harshly.
I undo my arms and sigh loudly. Should I believe him? I had completely forgotten, but he did ask me to come by afterwards. I'm struck with a memory for a few months ago when Gale asked me if I trusted him. And I answered yes.
"Sorry." I mumble while looking past him. Not wanting to meet those grey seam eyes. He chuckles before he speaks-
"It's okay, Catnip. Just got to have a little more trust in me, alright?" He says while wrapping his arms around me.
I know those girls must really be looking now, I hear a few of them talk in low voices and Gale briefly looks to them. He rolls his eyes once they meet mine. But if their going to stare, then I'm going to give them a show. I wrap my arms around Gale's neck and pull his head down so his lips meet mine. I deepen the kiss immediately. Making it linger. I start grinning against his lips and Gale quickly follows. We both pull apart gasping for a breath of air.
"Well… I think that did them in." He says, nodding his head their way.
I turn around to see them all stamping off. I start laughing and Gale just shakes his head. I'm pretty sure I hear him mutter the word 'idiots' under his breath.
"So, how was the meeting?" He asks, giving me a quick kiss.
"Whoa there now!" Says Thom walking up. A grin spread across his face.
"Hey." I say.
"So, excited for Monday?" He says while leaning on Gale. I have no idea how the news is spreading like this.
"In a way." I reply. "How did you find out?" I ask curiously. It's not something I'm particularly keeping a secrete, though.
"From your Husband right here." He says while slapping Gale's back. "He's been talking about you all morning like a proud dad." He adds and flashes me another grin. I immediately blush.
"I am proud of her." Says Gale. He gives me a wink. I smile in reply.
"Well, I got to get back over there." He says gesturing with his hand to the group of guys working. "Bye, Katniss." He says while starting to walk back, but then he turns around, walking backwards and say's something else. "Oh, and that wasn't nice what you did to him this morning." He says while pointing his finger at Gale.
Before I can reply, he's laughing and already to far for him to hear me speak. I move my glance toward Gale's who's grinning and trying to hide his laugh."Gale!" I say and give him a nice slap on the shoulder. I don't like that he's telling other people about our business.
"He's the only one I told, Catnip. So, How'd the meeting go?" He asks, trying to change the subject.
I do my best to put aside what Thom said and I tell him quickly all what Principle Maddox told me. He nods his head listening. Then I tell him what I came here for.
"…The room is a complete mess. Do you think when your done I could get your help with cleaning it?" I ask. Hoping he'll say yes. I could get Prim though?
"Yeah, sure. I might be able to go now. Hold on." He says while walking back off to the group of guys he was with.
After talking with them for several seconds I see him grab his coat off of the ground and put's it on as he makes he way to me.
"Ready?" He asks. I nod my head in reply.
We walk hand in hand to the school…
Chapter 3 Preview: What will happen when Katniss has to face hard memories of her father? What will Gale do to 'lighten' the mood? And what will happen when she finds something her father left behind for her?