A/N - Hello all, Chapter 7 is FINALLY here! I am SO SO SO SO sorry for the delay, I have been extremely busy so I hope you all understand! The chapter is long though! The longest (I think) that I've have wrote. I finished it at two am last night. There's a lot of stuff going on in this chapter and here is a note: The 'Hawthorn Sleepover' part has been postponed until the next chapter(8) since this chapter is already so long, and at the end, the conversation with the man is far from over.
CookMeister- Thank's for taking time out of your day to read my story! Means the world! Undisclosed- Thank you again for another awesome review and for answering my question in the previous A/N! I put a bit of a longer interaction but right now Peeta is hurt, the girl he's had a crush on for his whole life just married, so he try's to almost avoid her now(not in a mean way though). But you WILL see more Peeta still ;) Just maybe a little scene between Gale and him? :-O I've said enough already! Occy3- LOL! I got you some Peeta ;)
Well, Chapter 8 will not be up until Monday because of Mothers Day, I'm sure you all understand why for the delay there. Check the Facebook page for any changes or notices. For now, enjoy Chapter 7! Hope you all have a great Mothers Day tomorrow with you Mom's - Macayla
Should I be shocked that this boy stood up for me? No. He seems to be popping up in my life to often for him not to say something. I watch him as he slowly makes his way towards me, not eyeing me though. The room is completely silence and no one is moving an inch, not even myself. His expression is angered, hurt. But why would he be hurt? He doesn't really even know me. He comes and stands practically next to me, facing the crowd of silenced, shocked teenagers-
"Does this really make you happy? Messing with our own teacher? She may be no older then us, but she is our teacher! Who she marries or what she does isn't any of our damn business! Your all nothing but pathetic losers that have nothing else better to do!" He says, anger clearly in his voice. He turns toward me. "I'm Sorry."
Before I can respond, he quickly resumes his seat in the very back. He's sorry? I'm the one that needs to apologize for making him stand up for me. Will I ever stop owing him? I clearer my throat before I speak again-
"The three of you, to the Principles office." I say, chocking out the words.
The tears are still evident in my eyes. I believe their words hurt more then their actions. I guess my father was right when he use to say that to me and Prim. They three of them all heavily sigh and make their way to the door, slamming it behind them.
I make my way over to the Piano, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the room.
"Just follow along." I choke out again, doing my best to hold in the tears that wants to spill from my eyes.
They can read the music, so there's no need to sing it for them, thankfully. After I play the short introduction, they all join in with me at the exact same time. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that they know it, it's an old District 12 song. I barley sing and let their voices over power me. I never look up, keeping my eyes only on the keys in front of me. The rest of the time until lunch break is rather awkward, and the 'awkwardness' doesn't lighten up after lunch either. Thankfully though, the remaining thirty minutes go by rather quickly. Finally the bell rings meaning music is over. After I pull down the small flap that hides the keys on the piano, I sigh and rest my head in my hands against it while the they pile out and to their next class. I really shouldn't let Peeta go without saying something, a thank you? I left my head up to see the last few leaving, thankfully Peeta Mellark is still there… and already eyeing me.
"Peeta?" I call out a bit rusty.
I remove myself from the piano bench and walk towards him. He smiles immediately when I approach him. I almost laugh (which is completely surprising), in my heels I am at least few inches taller then him. But he's not extremely tall himself. I stutter for a second, trying to find the right words to say. He beats me to it though-
"I'm sorry they were so mean to you, Katniss." He says apologetically. Flashing me a sad smile rather then his usual cheery one.
"It's ok. I'm sorry." I choke the words out… again. "Thank you. For what you said." I stager the words out quickly.
Just say it, Katniss. Thank him for the bread five years ago.
"No problem. It's what any decent person should have done." He says.
He gives me a smile again and turns to leave before I can say anything else. He diffidently isn't the same person I first briefly met. He seems to avoid much eye contact, and leaves before I can answer him. I sigh with the remaining words still hanging on my tongue. Why is it so hard to thank him for that? Maybe I'm a little nervous he won't remember it and make me look like I'm a 'nut job', as Prim puts it.
The question still lingers in my head as I collect my bag and make my way out of the school, trying to be quiet with my loud heels in the hallway as other classes have just started. As soon as I'm free from the school buildings and walking in the town, towards home, I realize I'm mad, pissed.
At Gale.
Were what they were saying true? Had he really got other girls pregnant? No, I know he didn't. He would have told me and he's not that stupid, I think. But my answer to my question doesn't bring satisfaction to me the least.
I'm more mad then ever as I make my way down the Seam road. I pass my old home, the place where Prim and my mother live. Although Prim won't be there for long. She was both excited and sadden when we told her. Of course she was excited, so was I and Gale, but she was sadden at the fact that mother is slowly slipping back into her 'haze'. When my father first died, she went into this haze of sorts for nearly the first year and a half. But slowly she stated coming back to us, not fully, but she would cook sometimes, take care of people in medical need, wash laundry and so on. She never would fully return, and still hasn't but she would get better, only to get worse a few months later, staying in bed twenty four hours a day and only ate if we brought her something. It was only last year had she finally slipped out of her haze for longer then a few months, ever since, she's been good, but now…
I briefly glance over there to see my mother sitting in one of the rockers knitting. She spots me but I quickly look away, hoping she won't say anything. And gratefully she doesn't. I quickly go into the house I share with Gale, forgetting he won't be home for another four hours. Good… maybe my anger towards him with calm down so I won't completely lose my head.
I make my way upstairs, deciding to do a little hunting while I have nothing else to do. I change from my work clothes into my hunting clothes. An old pair of jeans and a long sleeve black shirt, putting on both my hunting jacket and boots and of course braiding my hair.
I return back downstairs, grabbing my game bag. I head out the door in hopes the woods will calm me of today's craziness. The good thing about the location of the home me and Gale were appointed is that it's practically next to the fence. It differs from thee at least five minute walk to less then a minute. Once there, I slip under the fence quickly, making my way across the meadow and into the woods. I spend the next three hours catching a decent amount of game. With Mr. Hawk coming for dinner tomorrow night, Gale and I agreed we needed to do extra hunting for extra food. I end up collecting four squirrels, four rabbits, six small fish and a fox that entangled itself in a snare of Gale's. I never like to watch as a helpless animal struggles to free itself, only for me to end its life with an arrow in its heart. I never take joy in actual hunting, my father use to tell me in the older days when hunting was legal, people would do it as a sport rather then survival. But I don't see the point, I only hunt because I have to, not that I choose to.
I stuff the game into my bag, as well as a few edible berries and more herbs before retreating back to the fence. I creep out underneath it just as I see a large amount of miners coming down the seam road, obviously making their way to their homes. The miners still have another hour before they should be home. I shake my head and walk back to the house, walking up the porch just as Gale is. That's the one thing I love about the woods… it calms me. I'm still mad at him of course, but I know I can control my tongue better then before.
"Hey, babe." He says, wrapping his arm around my waist and planting a kiss on the side of my head.
"Hey." I blurt out, almost whispering. "More threats?" I ask him, gesturing to why he is home early.
He shakes his head yes. The whole week they have been making threats, everyday, only for nothing to happen. I laugh sarcastically.
"I don't get why they have you leave, their not carrying out their threats." I say angrily.
Don't get me wrong, I love having Gale home more this past week, but that only results in less work time, and less work time results in less pay. He'll be lucky to make seven coins this week.
"I know, but the small explosion down there sounded pretty real." He says, wrapping the other arm around my waist.
"What?" I ask shocked.
An explosion, small or big is dangerous in the mines. Just the slightest movement can make the whole thing collapse on top of them… just like my father, just like his father.
"It was really far off, Catnip. We just evacuated for safety." He says giving me a smile of reassuring.
"Oh." Is all I say.
I decide now's the time to bring up the question that's been on my mind, the question that's made me mad at him. I take a deep breath, making sure I don't lose my temper in anyway. Gale and I haven't fought since our marriage.
"Gale, those girls you use to sleep with, did you ever get any pregnant?" I ask, keeping my voice calm. The immediate expression on his face tells me my question shocked him.
"Of course not! What would make you think that?" He says defensively. He undoes his arms from my waist, but leaves him hands resting on my hips.
"Just asking." I whisper.
I pull away from his slight grip and start towards the door, just as my hand touches the door knob he speaks again-
"Katniss, your not telling me everything?" He says though a deep sigh. I start to feel my anger rising.
"It's nothing." I say through another whisper and turning just slightly for eye contact.
I turn around again, replacing my hand on the door knob. But he speaks again, making me stop-
"Katniss!" He shouts at me, his voice loud enough to make me jump.
"It's nothing, Gale! Nothing!" I yell at him with my back still towards him.
I've decided not to tell him about those teenagers, for no apparent reason. There's just no need to. If I did, Gale would get all defensive and probably kick all of their butts. And for some reason I definitely don't want to talk to him about Peeta Mellark.
For a third time, I place my hand on the door knob. Just as I turning it, Gale's hand smacks where the door meets the frame, just above my head. The sudden noise makes me jump. He lowers his lips to my ear, his chest against my back.
"Tell me." He says sternly, but not to harsh.
"No." I reply. I sound like a whinny child. I know I'm making him mad when he presses his hand harder against the door.
"Yes. Your going to tell me right now." He says through gritted teeth. His anger only making me more angry.
I turn around, leaning against the door, our faces only inches apart. His jaw is tighten in anger.
"Not everything that happens to me is your business." I say, lowering my voice the slightly. Realizing were outside, and not inside.
"The hell it is!" He yells, obviously not realizing what I just thought. "If one of those damn girls said something to you I swear I'll kick their as-"
"Gale!" I shout over him. "I just want you to leave my alone!"
The tears threaten to spill over again. He backs up just slightly and I open the door, dropping my game bag on the counter and retreating up stairs. One I'm in the bedroom, I release the tears that I've been holding in all day. Why am I crying? Gale has never acted like that towards me, and it hurt me. He's never been so persistent.
I strip off my hunting boots and slip under the covers in the bed. Somehow, someway I find sleep immediately. A little while later, I'm awoken by Gale telling me dinner is ready. I make no effort in joining him and slip back into sleep. Later I'm in that state of sleep but still awake when I feel Gale make his way under the covers, keeping his distance but slipping an arm over my waist. I let it be, although his touch and affection is the least thing I want, and that night I find myself having the same nightmare of him being blown to bits… just like our fathers
XX
"Wake up, hon."
I feel a pair of lips against my forehead and the words whispered against it. Morning already. I roll over on my back and open my eyes to find the mid morning light shinning in. I've slept longer then I normally do. Gale smiles at me while his arm is still around my waist. Sadly I'm still wearing my hunting clothes and I probably stink from the woods yesterday. Gale doesn't seem to mind though, he's acting like our fight yesterday never happened.
"I'm not going to apologize for being protective, but I will apologize for raising my voice at you." He says while running his thumb along my jaw. I guess he hasn't forgotten about it?
"It's ok." I say, barley audible.
He leans in and gives me a kiss, after a few seconds deepening it. But I pull away, not wanting more. He only sighs when I remove myself from the bed and into the small bathroom. I quickly wash, scrubbing extra hard for my absence from bathing last night. I pat myself try, deciding to pull on the same clothes. Today Prim's moving in, and Mr. Hawk is coming over.
I sigh as I make my way downstairs. Gale's making something for breakfast and someone is just knocking on the door. I yawn and make my way over to answer it, it could only be one excited teenager at this time of the morning.
Prim.
"Hey!" I say, opening the door wider for her to enter.
She gives me a quick hug, doing the same to Gale, and we both take a seat at the table while waiting for breakfast.
"So you excited, Little Duck?" I ask.
"Yes! But I'm going to miss mom." She says frowning.
"You'll still see her everyday, Primmy." I respond. I rustle the top of her hair but she quickly swats my hand away, I forget she's thirteen now, not a small child anymore.
"I know." She says.
Gale serves us a small breakfast of stale bread and jam he must have made from some of the berries. The three of us eat up. I stay out of the conversations that take place between Gale and her. Just as were finishing and clearing the plates were joined be Rory, Vick and Posy. Gale and I are cleaning the plates at the sink when Vick comes up next to me.
"Um, Mrs. Kat, I was wondering if, uh, maybe we could all have a sleep over here? I mean, if that's ok?" He says, avoiding eye contact.
Vick is the sweetest out of the four. He is nothing like Gale or Rory or Posy. He's the absolute spit image of his mother. Appearance and attitude.
"Vick, I told you to quite calling me 'Mrs.'." I say, more teasingly then being serious, although I have told him before.
I look over at Gale for an answer to his question. I don't mind, it sounds sort of fun, but I don't make decisions like that on my own. Something I learned about marriage quickly.
"Sure. We'll have a 'moving in party' for Prim." Says Gale winking.
"Awesome! Thank you." He says.
He goes back into the living room telling the others. Gale and I both laugh. Tonight should be fun, hopefully they won't embarrass us in front of Mr. Hawk.
The rest of the morning and afternoon, Prim and Rory load her belongs in a red, rusted wagon of Posy's while, Vick and her wheel it over to our house, letting Gale and I unload it into the guest bedroom. The room already has furniture, so it's only Prim's items we have to put away. It's not much, clothes, old toys, and so on. But the wagon is extremely small, and when you have two small children wheeling it across the seam, it takes much longer then you'd expect. After we take a small lunch break and a few more loads, Gale and I are sitting against the wall, waiting for another load of items from Vick and Posy. I feel Gale shift is gaze to me-
"Please don't be mad at me." He says. I sigh, knowing he's only be protective.
"I'm not." I honestly respond. A little disappointed? Yes.
"Alright, good." He scoots closer, our hips touching.
He kisses my cheek, slowly making a trail across my jaw and to my lips, kissing me deeply when the reach. We stay like that for a few seconds before he moves his hands onto my hips, pulling me onto his lap. My hands find his hair as we continue to kiss. His lips pressed against mine feels like a spark of electricity. A feeling of pleasure runs though me. I quickly find myself being pushed backwards, onto my back, Gale falling on top of me. Just as I moan there's a voice-
"Well, not in my room please!"
We pull our lips apart and I see Prim standing in the door way. Rory is laughing while Vick is shielding Posy's eyes, as well as his own, and Prim is holding in her own laugh. I almost laugh at the sight of the four of them.
"Sorry." I mumble as Gale makes his way off of me, helping me stand.
Just as I'm flattened on my feet, I notice Prim is holding Buttercup…
"No, Prim!" I say sternly. "There is now way I'm letting that filthily cat live in my house!"
"Please, Katniss?" She says, walking towards me, Buttercup hisses just on time. "He has no where else to go!" She pleas.
"I said no, Prim. He stays with mom." I say, sternly but in a low voice.
"I say the cat stays."
I look over next to me and that voice belonged to Gale. I scowl at him which only makes him grin. After more pleading and begging from both Prim and Gale, I agree he can stay… under several conditions.
That load was the last of it, so we spend the next two hours shifting the furniture around the way she wants it, putting all her belongs into the two dressers and tacking a few pictures she's drawn onto the wall. The room definitely looks like it belongs to Prim. And it feels better, knowing the room isn't going to waste. We all take a break in the living room, sipping on some flavored water I make out of the berries and wishing the power would turn on for the TV. It seems to be coming back like it use to for a few hours less and less. Gale tells them about our dinner guest, but Hazel has dinner planned for Rory, Vick and Posy but Prim agrees to be on her best behavior.
The remaining afternoon goes by quickly and the boys and Posy head back for dinner, promising to return for the sleep over after their dinner and our guest as left. Prim retreats into her new bedroom to read and Gale and I start on dinner, skinning and deciding to try to slow cook the fox, we add in chopped rabbit and squirrel.
A few minutes later, there a knock on the door, just on time… five o'clock. I decide to open the door, considering he hasn't formally met Gale. He stands there, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He looks different for some reason, but I can't put my finger on it.
"Good evening!" He says, tipping his straw hat he's wearing. He looks happy.
I hadn't realized his southern accent until now. A lot of people sound like that here is twelve, my own mother included. Gale is really just shy of one himself.
"Hey! Come in." I say, moving to the side for him to enter.
He does and takes in the scenery around him, nodding his head and smiling.
"So this must be your lovely husband?" He asks as Gale turns around from the stove.
He defiantly seems different. Completely different from the 'crazy old man next door'. Gale shakes his out stretched hand. They don't say anything to each other, so I introduce them-
"Gale, this is Mr. Hawk. Mr. Hawk, Gale." I say. They both smile at each other and I call for Prim.
"Oh, so this must be your daughter?" He asks me, Gale laughs at his question and so does Prim.
"No, she's my sister, Prim." I say through a grin, it's pretty clearer we couldn't have a child of this age.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm over half way blind." He says with a sigh, shaking Prim's hand.
Prim and Mr. Hawk make small talk in the living room while Gale and I finish dinner. We set the table, all taking our seats, me and Gale on one side, across from him and Prim. He smiles when Prim sets a filled plate in front of him. I smile at his expression.
"I can't tell you the last time I had a nice meal like this." He says, looking at Gale and I. "Thank you." He adds.
I can't even believe he is the same guy, and by the way Gale is acting, he can't believe is either. We make small talk while eating until Gale asks him a certain question-
"So, tell us about your family?" Gale asks.
"My family." He says, more to himself then to Gale. After a few seconds he gives a hearty laugh. "Oh, my family. Their just a decent memory now."
"What happened?" Prim asks. I'm thankful for her question, I'm determined to know more about the world before Panem.
"To much stuff for your young mind to process, dear." He says, taking another bite of his food.
"What kind of stuff?" I ask, the words coming out before I can stop them. He stops chewing and looks sadden.
"I already told you, girlie." He says, not looking up from his plate.
I know I should quite asking him about it, he looks to be getting upset but I can't stop my tongue.
"But what caused all that stuff? The blood and death?" I ask, trying to keep my tone even and not to make him upset.
He leans back in his chair, wiping his mouth with his the rags we use as napkins and folding his hands in his lap. He takes a deep sigh and looks past us, not directly at us-
"Oh, it was so long ago. I'm not even sure I can remember it all. One minute I'm sitting behind a desk in New York and the next I'm standing on collapsed buildings, wandering the streets lost. With my family dead." He says, a lone tear falling down his cheek.
"New York?" Asks Prim. He gives another hearty laugh.
"Yes. It was a place that use to be a little above here."
"So what happened?" Gale asks, echoing my own question.
"A lot of stuff, oh, a lot of stuff." He says while moving his plate to one side, sitting up and folding his hands on the table now.
"But what kind of stuff?" I ask, repeating my earlier question. He takes another deep breath, starring at his hands.
"The Government. It was failing. The economy. It was failing. Thunder, tornados, earthquakes they all started to happen more. The President of the United Sates, the country before Panem, assassinated. No one knew who killed him, but the following week as his funeral, that was when the devil was dancing." He says, another tear falling down his cheek.
We all have quite eating, focusing on nothing more but this mans words.
"What do you mean?" Asks Gale. He gives yet another hearty laugh.
"Oh, my dear boy, evil. Evil broke loose on us. These men, they killed the nearly eight thousand people gathered for his funeral. Women, children. The own Presidents wife and four children. Oh, it was horrible, Oh, it was so horrible." He says, placing his head in his hands.
"So what happened afterwards?" I ask. He looks up to me.
"Those men, they created a war in our own backyard. The spread all over the country, there had to be millions of them, breaking into our own homes in the middle of night, murdering us in our own sleep. Taking us to these torture places they had set up, killing us in any gruesome way you can imagine. Oh, Oh, it was horrible!" he begins to cry. But I still have one unanswered question, and the thought of the answer makes my heart skip,
Who are these 'men'?. . . . . . . .
Chapter 8 Preview: What else will this man have to say about the world before Panem? Secrets or Lies? What funny, mischievous things will happen at a 'Hawthorn Sleepover'? And what will happen when Gale gives Katniss little... surpise?