A/N - Yay, It's here and it's on time! :D I do wish it was just a tad bit longer but it's okay, I think you all will still enjoy it! This Chapter came really easily to write and I was surprised, considering the factor of the conversation that is in it between Gale and Katniss. In the last half/quarter the story picks up just a little bit. I'm also hoping within the next few Chapters to tell the story of Rhoda a little more, I know she's been a little of a mystery for you all:/. Also, I didn't get to really fit everything into this Chapter so what's not in here that was in the preview will be in the next(Chpt. 25). Can you believe were at Chapter 24 already? Crazy!
Thank you, Firework7(as always!), finewithnotbeingateennot, "Guest" and violinlover4ever for reviewing! They mean SO much to me! "Guest"- I'm sorry but I was with my family and I have to put my family before my writing. finewithnotbeingateennot- You know I can't get rid of Gale!;)
Well, I don't personally care for how I ended this chapter but I've got BIG plans for the next one! I'll start focusing alot on the baby coming up! Chapter 25 should be up either Saturday OR Sunday again. If all goes well, Saturday or even maybe Friday?! (No promises). Anywho, PLEASE review, tell me what you think and feel free to tell me what's something you would LIKE to see ? The reviews keep me going! Much love to all and... ENJOY! - Macayla
*Some mild sensuality in this Chapter*
I unofficially call this chapter: "Love and Courage".
I'm trapped.
I'm stranded.
In the Meadow. I watch as Gale chases a little dark haired girl through the tall foliage. I call Gale's name, but he doesn't answer. I call for him again, no answer. I realize I'm trapped in a box of sorts, made of clear glass. I pound my hands hard on it, screaming at the top of my lungs. But no one hears me, no one answers my pleading helpless cry's for help. I look down to see water slowly raising from the bottom of this glass encashment. The water rises, meeting my knees, my waist, my chest. I scream, loud, breathtaking screams. But no ones hears me, no one answers.. No one comes. The water rises to my neck, causing me to float with it to the top as I still watch the little girl play with Gale. I hear her shout 'Daddy' before the water invades my ears. My head is pressed to the top, I scream one last time before the water fill's my lungs, fill's my insides until darkness invades my vision.
I'm drowning.
I sit up frantically, gasping for air like a fish out of water. I cough, expecting water and blood to fall into my lap but it doesn't. The sound of early morning birds outside fill the air where my screams of terror should be. There's the sound of light coughing coming from upstairs, signaling the brink of the morning. I don't seek out the still sleeping Gale for comfort, he'll ask questions that I'm not ready to answer.
I'll never be ready to answer.
XX
I walk through the quite, dead-like town while getting off from my shift at the school. The sound of my black flat's on the graveled ground make the only sound. I expected Principle Maddox to approach me today, about the job offer but gratefully she didn't. I don't have an answer for her either. The weight of the dream weighed heavy enough on my shoulder's to effect work. I had Mrs. Mildred play the piano as my shaky hands would not focus on the correct keys and neither my eyesight. I had to tell her of the baby, to cover up why my hands are actually shaking. My voice was pitchy and cracked, enough that one of the older, small children asked me if I was sick, Mrs. Mildred came to my rescue with an answer,
"That's not business of your own."
The child sent an apologetic smile to me, which I returned with a grateful one to Mrs. Mildred. I released the children at least ten minutes early, in fear that I would have a mental breakdown before I could finish with them.
I walk through the town and spot a Mockingjay on top of the roof of one of the shops, odd to see other then in the woods. I don't whistle the four note I normally do, whistling is by far what I want to do. I make it home to see Gale on the porch. He's sitting in the rocking chair, bent over with his hand in a small, falling apart box and Hazel's inside from the light sound coming out of the opened front door.
"What are you doing?" I ask Gale as I walk up the front steps.
I take in the sight of his healing form in front of me. Gale is remarkably better for being injured just two days ago. Most of his exposed skin is a soft baby pink and some dark red, some even a dark tan to match his normal skin color. His face is untouched expect the large, healing scar across his forehead. One of his arm's is still wrapped in a make-shift sling.
He see's me and instantly lights up at the sight of me. I tug the bottom of my pink top lower to my dress pants in nervousness. 'I shouldn't be nervous around my own husband' I hear my head say, but I am. His smile widens and eyes my unbraided, tangled hair.
"You look beautiful." He says, ignoring my question.
I'm lying, hiding things from this man who's suffering his own grief of being injured, the lose of his best friend but still has time to make sure I feel loved. The man that could barley hold out his own, burned arms for me to make me feel loved. I feel like screaming. I curse at myself in my head, asking why this isn't coming easy to me. Why I can't tell him what I'm supposed to tell him. I finally grit my teeth, letting my own anger for myself over take me-
"Gale-"
"Hello dear!" Says Hazel from the door, cutting me off from my words.
She just ruined it. The moment I found the courage to tell Gale and she ruins it. The courage quickly fades, like a butterfly flying the opposite direction of you.
"I'm just starting to pack some stuff and take it over next door." She says. "Would you mind helping? If you can, please?" She asks, smiling and shrugging her shoulders up.
"…of course." I answer, hesitating for a second in finding the right word's.
"Great! Now…" She starts, gesturing with her head for me to follow her into the home.
I don't even look at Gale before I follow her into my own home, letting her rant about what she needs help with. I start helping her with moving a few items at a time over to the home next door, there isn't much but it's a bit more then I expected. I'm bringing over some of Posy's clothes (because she won't let me take anything heavy) when I make my first trip to the new house of their's, the old home of 'Mr. Hawk'. The house is no longer filthy but indeed quite clean now, freshly cleaned. The walls are painted a soft, light green that's chipping in every room. It's bigger then it looks from the outside, with three bedrooms and a large kitchen. It's in good shape, better then Gale's and I's was. There's clutter though, obviously not anything of Hazel's but things that are left behind from the strange man that use to live within these walls. I'm approaching the kitchen table where a large stack of books and papers are when Hazel calls for me, I sigh heavily.
I spend the afternoon, helping Hazel take small things back and forth between my home and her new one. Thankfully their only next door. I pass Gale every few minutes, wishing we could be alone for five minutes but then somehow being grateful we aren't.
Courage is a hard thing to find.
XX
"…. and then he told me I was pretty!"
I sit on the porch, with Gale but not alone. Posy has woken from her nap and insist on filling me in about her latest dream. I try to relax, after helping Hazel for two hours straight and the weight that drowns me more and more. I can't relax though. I try to intently listen to Posy who's sitting in my lap but it doesn't help. The image of Darius kissing me replays over and over in my head as I sit beside my own husband. The voice of Principle Maddox offering the new job finds it's way in between the images. I zone out a few times from Posy's words, enough that Gale must notice.
"Give Katniss a break, Pos. See if mother needs help for anything." Gale says, trying to make it sound as fun as it can to her.
She quickly hops down from my lap, telling me she'll be back as she excuses herself inside the home. She accidentally slams the front door, making me jump slightly.
"God I wish we had a muzzle." Gale says, you can hear the smile in his voice. I oddly agree with him.
Alone.
I'm finally alone with Gale. No distractions, no one else to listen to our conversation. But I've lost the courage, the courage that I had for that short time. I clutch the arm rests of the rocking chair tightly enough to cause my knuckles to turn a soft white.
"Clare came by." I hear Gale say through my thoughts, eyeing me.
"What'd she want?" I ask, speaking of the town's 'news reporter'.
She's a skinny, older lady, with curly blond hair and odd shaped green eyes. She acts as the town's reporter of sorts, delivering any messages within the District to certain people or whoever she pleases. So pretty much the towns gossip.
"About the mines." Gale answers, sounding a bit discouraged. I sit up straighter.
"What about them?" I reply, raising my eyebrows in anticipation for his answer.
"Their not reopening until January." He replies, keeping a straight face.
I take in the full effect of his words. January is still months away, resulting in Gale without a job for months, resulting in no pay. Yes, we've managed without either of us working while supporting both of our families but the money helps. It buys those few extra vegetables in the Hob, or the extra linins for Hazel to sew with, or even more Iodine for sterilizing our water. Without the money, we'll have to go back trading our game more, resulting in less food. I sigh loudly.
"But that's not for another five months!" I respond, scooting to the edge of my seat. Gale's word's have temporally put my other thoughts at bay.
"I know. But we'll make it, Katniss." He says, reaching out to grab my hand. I give him my shaky hand, feeling the warmth of his own.
The slight feeling of nausea I receive at the very moment reminds me of the fetus growing inside of me. It also reminds me of needing to begin saving for items for the baby, they can usually be traded in the Hob. But now, that will be hard.
"At least you have your job right now." Gale adds after several seconds of silence.
The nausea immediately fades as the reminder of Principle Maddox's job offer resurfaces in my head. Could it be a good thing now? Would it pay more and make up for Gale's wage?
"Katniss what's wrong?" Gale asks me, throwing me off completely of my thoughts. I jump a little, enough that Gale sits up more, clutching my hand tighter. "Is it the baby?"
"No, Gale!" I respond, a bit to harshly.
This is it. This is the moment I tell Gale I've been keeping things from him, important things. 'Pull yourself together, Katniss', I say in my head. 'He's your husband', my head adds. I try desperately to find that courage I had just a few hours ago, but I can't, I've lost it. But why am I so scared of telling Gale these things? It's not as though I kissed Darius. And isn't the job offer a good thing?
"Hey!"
I drop my gaze from Gale and look to Prim, Rhoda and the boys returning from a day of school, backpacks and books in toe.
"Can we go hunting again? Please!" Rory says as Prim, Rhoda and Vick retreat inside.
"Not today, we went last night." I reply, being honest. Truthfully another hunting trip wouldn't hurt at all, but the baby seems to be dragging more and more of my energy.
Rory takes the rocking chair beside Gale and begins telling him of his day. I turn my head and grit my teeth in frustration, if I could ever be alone in my own house with my own husband. I let go of Gale's hand, making my way inside the house. Finally wishing for those five minutes.
XX
"…Yes, I've got it Mrs. Hazel." I tell her.
The house is darkened and lit by the few remaining candles. The children are all in bed and Gale's in the living room, I'm sure already sleeping. I try and convince Hazel to let me do the few dishes after she spent most, all of the day moving most of her belongings to her new home. She finally agrees, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight baby girl." She says, yawning as she makes her way to the stairs.
"Goodnight." I reply softly.
Tonight will be their last night. Hazel announced it over dinner. I'm happy for her, for the kids but I will honestly miss them, even though they will only be right next door. Rhoda was fine with accepting a shared room with Posy. I silently wish her good luck, Gale flashed her an almost apologetic smile too.
I return my attention back to the sink, quietly scrubbing the few pots and dishes, regretting I choose such a tiny nightgown on this chilly night.
I'm nearly done when I feel a my unbraided hair being pulled to one side of my shoulder, and the feeling of a warm body pressed up against my backside. It doesn't take me long to know it is Gale, especially when he begins sending light kisses down my neck.
Alone.
Maybe this time will be it. I'm finally alone, again, with Gale. Everyone's in bed, no one should bother us now. But I quickly learn that Gale's intentions are different. He wraps his good arm around my waist, pulling me back into him even further has he still works light kisses up and down my neck. I immediately feel his turn on pressed against my backside.
"Gale." I exclaim in protest.
I can't let the man I'm hiding things from please me like this, it doesn't feel right, it's not right. Do I want Gale to do this to me? Absolutely. But I'd be a bad wife if I'd let him. 'You are a bad wife Katniss', my head begins replying words again.
Gale quickly but gently spins me around, immediately and instantly crashing his lips into mine passionately. Between the warmth and feeling of our lips pressed together, I can't control the moan that escapes my lips. The kiss has an effect on me, powerful enough to put any of my past thoughts on hold, even my burdens. It's amazing, the complete and utter lasting effect Gale has on my being and soul. It's strong enough that I don't think of anything else then the pleasurable feelings he's delivering to me. I don't stop him like I should as his hand slides down my waist and hip, falling in between my legs and under my nightgown. As our lips are still locked onto each other, his hand begins rubbing me through my underwear. My eyes immediately fly open and I moan loudly, too loud. He breaks our lips and lowers his own pair to my ear-
"Quiet Catnip." He hisses, biting my earlobe afterwards.
He begins trailing kisses down my neck as my hands reach behind me, gripping the edge of the counter for support. I slump a little, throwing my head back for better access for Gale. He rubs me harder and harder, resulting in more light moans from me. I curse at myself, grit my teeth again at utter frustration that this is wrong. But the feeling and tension my body begins to build out weighs my mouth, keeping it shut tightly and preventing any words of protest to escape.
I open my eyes and look at Gale who's just begun to trail kisses over my collar bones. I realize his other arm is out of the make-shift sling and resting gently on my hip, gently enough that I didn't even realize he was touching me there. As soon as his lips come to my covered breasts he removes his hand from under my nightgown, tugging at the hem of it. I'm only edging this on more as I help him remove it off of me, leaving me in nothing but my underwear in front of him. His lips find one of my breast while his hand slips into my underwear, slipping two fingers into my slowly.
Immediately I can tell things are different, with my own body. Instead of his mouth working on my breast feeling pleasurable, it's painful. Gale instantly see's this as I yelp in pain. He stops, bringing his face to mine.
"That hurt. Didn't it?" He asks, obviously already knowing the answer. I nod my head in approval and in answer. "I'm sorry, maybe we shouldn't do this right now." He adds as he slips his two fingers out of me.
Finally.
"Yes." I say, choking on the word.
I retrieve my nightgown from the floor, pulling it quickly, very quickly over my body. Gale must notice my quick actions, he frowns his eyebrows just slightly, but seems to shrug it off the very next second.
"I need to talk to you, about some things." Gale says. I feel excitement but complete terror inside of me at the same time.
"Me too." I let out quickly, avoiding eye contact.
"You first then." He says.
For the first time in a long time I can almost hear a quiver, a waver in Gale's tone. Not a scared or terrorized voice, that I'm sure I sound like. But more of an uncertainty tone. Maybe I'm not the only one hiding things?
"No, you." I protest, willing extra stalling time.
"Katniss, I can read you like an open book, I know something's been bothering you since last night." He replies, raising his eyebrows.
I scowl at him, always cursing him for this ability he has with me. I've never been good at reading people's emotions. I wouldn't necessarily say Gale does either, but he knows me too well. I nervously twiddle my thumbs in front of me, giving me something to look at rather then Gale's intense gaze.
"Fine if you're going to be stubborn then…"
With Gale's mention of the word 'stubborn', the thought and conversation with Darius immediately replays in my head again.
"I kissed Darius!" I blurt out uncontrolling, cutting off Gale's words. "He kissed me!" I add, realizing I'm wording it completely wrong. I begin confusing my own self. "Gale I didn't mean to! He just leaned in and did it! It was wrong and I kno-"
"Katniss." Gale speaks softly and this time cutting me off. "I know about it."
With his words I become instantly, utterly and helplessly confused. Gale stands beside me, taking the pot I had just cleaned and begins filling it with water.
"What?" I say, turning around so we're both facing the counter beside each other.
"He told me, Katniss." He replies, setting the pot on the stove and lighting the coals, adding the herbs for tea.
"Rory!?" I shout just a tad too loud. I feel angered toward Rory, for not keeping his nose out of business that doesn't involve him.
"No. Darius." He answers, like I'm dumb.
I try to read his expression, his face for what he might be feeling. But it's hopeless, his straight, unmoving face and features tell me absolutely nothing about what he feels about this whole situation.
"What?" I find myself asking again, but much more quieter.
Gale finally stops mixing the herbs in the pot and looks at me. Through his heavy gaze I can finally see something in Gale, his eyes glisten just slightly with hurt. Hurt that I caused.
"He told me, Katniss." He repeats. "He came by, after you left for hunting last night. He said he came to apologize to me."
I squint just slightly, taking in his words to the maxim. He came back to apologize not to me, but instead to Gale. Gale turns his attention fully to me, placing his hand on the small of my back.
"I don't blame you Katniss." He says, almost echoing Rory's own words. "I'm not mad. Or upset."
"You're not?" I whisper, barely able to get the words past my lips.
"No." Gale answers, almost laughing. "I'm upset with Darius but not you."
"You're not mad that I didn't tell you sooner?" I ask another question in a whisper like tone.
Gale remains silent for a few seconds. I quickly realize just how quiet the house is. The absent of his answer begins to fill me with fear. This is exactly what I was scared of, that he'd be mad at me for not telling him... and he'd leave me.
"No." He replies, but no sign of laughing. He gently places his other arm on my back, forcing me to turn toward him more. "Darius said that's why he decided to tell me, because it would be some time before you told me." He answers.
"But you're not mad that I hid it fro-"
"Katniss, you didn't hide it from me." He says, cutting me off and not letting me get my question out fully.
"Then what did I do Gale? I hid it!" I shout again, feeling angered toward myself.
"You protected me." Gale replies simply.
My mouth goes to open, no doubt shout some profanity at him but no words come out. Instead I find myself yet again confused.
"You were trying to protect me Katniss," He repeats. "..protect my feelings. You didn't want to hurt me."
"But I only hurt you more Gale." I reply, shaking my head slightly. I mean my words.
"No. You showed me just how much you love me," He says. "..you loved me enough to let it burden you, so it didn't burden me."
I drop my gaze from Gale and repeat his last sentence over in my head again. Easily angered Gale, isn't mad at me, but see's it as an act of my love… something that I didn't even realize myself.
"You know me better then I do." I say seriously, whispering it again.
Gale doesn't take it quiet as serious though, he begins to laugh but I keep my straight face. Not out of anger though, he just doesn't fully understand the depth of what I had said. He doesn't know just how much I was being burdened by it.
"I love you, Katniss." He says, after a few more seconds of laughing.
"I love you, too." I reply. For the first time since this conversation, I smile.
I willingly accept his lips as they touch mine. Their not like the kisses just ten minutes ago, filled with pleasure and lust. But instead replaced with love and passion. Not driven out of 'turn on's' or lustfulness, but of true love and divine for each other.
Sometimes, courage is right under our noses.
XX
"So what was it you need to talk to me about?" I ask Gale as we part from our kiss.
He undoes his embrace from me and turns his attention back to the boiling tea on the stove. I retrieve two mugs from the cabinet on the opposite side of him.
"It's nothing really." He says, shrugging his shoulders.
"It's something." I reply. I don't bother trying to read his emotions, I'll fail.
"It's nothing!" He shouts, grinning.
"It's something!" I repeat, matching his grin and tone.
Instantly I turn my attention from Gale to something else. Hungry. I'm hungry. I begin to rade the cabinets of any 'snack's' that we might have. I find a small bowl of berries. I uncover the bowl and immediately pop a few of them into my mouth.
"You're pathetic!"
I look up, my mouth completely full, to see Gale, grinning wide at me. I swallow my large bite loudly, barely chewing the food.
"Hey, I'm feeding two so shut up!" I reply, somehow finding a small sense of humor, maybe out of pure relief.
Gale shakes his grinning, faced head a few times as he watches me pop another few berries into my mouth. It's completely unusual for me to eat these late night snack's like this, so we both silently know it's because of my pregnancy.
"You do make a point." Gale simply replies, shaking his head yet again at my frantically eating figure.
"Yep." I answer, barley getting the word out through my full mouth. I swallow my bite again loudly. "What do you need to tell me?" I ask, remembering what we were talking about before my food craving hit. Gale drops his gaze and begins filling the two mugs with the hot tea. I watch as he still keep's his grin and carefully uses his bad arm. "You're cleaning that pot again mister." I mumble through my full mouth.
"It's not important." He replies after laughing from my mumbled sentence.
"It is, if you were going to tell me before-"
"I want to visit Thom's family, Katniss!" He says, sounding a bit frustrated at my pressure to tell me. I can tell he instantly regrets his tone. My smile instantly fades and he see's it. "I'm sorry, Katniss, but I do." He adds, much softer as he slides one of the mugs over to me. "I want you to come with me."
"…Ok." I stutter for a second with finding the answer.
I don't want to face Thom's family, and by the look Gale is giving me neither does he. But we both know we have to. We are, were Thom's good friends, and we know his family well. I remember little Alec, whose now a few months shy of turning two, clinging to Thom as he would visit us, as we would visit him.
"I know we don't want to, but we need to." Gale says softly, reading my thoughts. I drop my gaze.
"Yes." I whisper, lowly enough that Gale leans in. "Yes." I say louder. "We need to."
Gale smiles and I return it, wishing the happy air and vibe would return. I pop another handful of berries into my mouth as my stomach rumbles loud. Gale's smile slowly turns into a grin again at the sight of me.
"Good?" Gale asks, his grin wider then ever.
"Yup!" I say through my mouthful of berries again. I swallow them loudly again too. "I'm gonna get fat though." I add, barley any volume to my voice, dropping my smile and dropping my gaze to my stomach.
Gale comes closer to me, inches from me and tucks a piece of my stray hair behind my ear as I eye the berries in the bowl.
"And you would be just as beautiful." He replies, almost whispering the words but not quite.
I look up to him, smiling. The effect Gale can have on me with just his words is also amazing. I know Gale means this though.
"Really?" I ask. Gale brings his gaze from my hair to my eyes.
"Really." He whispers.
I accept his warm kiss again, but I break it quickly. Popping yet another handful of berries into my mouth. Gale grins again, peeking his gaze into the halfway filled bowl of berries. He sticks his fingers in, grabbing one of the lone berries from the bowl and rubbing it between his fingers. The sly grin on his face widening even more as he looks up at me. He places his lips just inches from mine as I swallow my bite.
"I think you and I could have some fun with these." He says. He stands up straighter and takes my hand. "Come on."
As I follow him into the living room it takes me a second to fully grasp his words and what he means. I grin when I finally match the pieces together, feeling my whole body tingle in anticipation.
That night we barley sleep, but I don't complain.
XX
The week carries on rather quickly. I remember on a break from our love making to tell Gale about the job offer. He said he was proud of me and that he trust me to make the right choice, and that choice was indeed my own to make. Prim reminds me of the school meeting I must attend for her at the end of the week, I mentally put it in my 'schedule'. Hazel, the kids and Rhoda happily move in next door and for the first time I see Rhoda smile when she enters her new, shared bedroom. Gale heals even more, beginning to sit outside more, so his new skin can adjust before he resumes hunting. My food cravings and tender breasts becomes worse, but I manage. The nausea hit's a but more too. I don't talk to my mom, thankfully. I take Rory hunting several more times and begin scouting out wood to make his bow with. He catches on even faster to everything I show him, indeed being a natural.
It's finally a Friday, my last working day when I'm walking home. My skirt beginning to feel just the slightest bit tight around my waist, but I don't understand, I'm in no way showing yet of my pregnancy. Maybe I am gaining weight? I scowl at myself for it as I begin walking down the Seam road. This afternoon is Prim's meeting about the 'field trip' she has been 'honored' to go on. I try to rack my brain of what this 'field trip' could be to. The mines? I immediately cringe at just the very thought. I hated my old school visits to the mines, especially after my fathers death. I would fake being sick, or really become ill just at the mention of having another field trip to that wretched, unbearable place. But it wouldn't make sense, Prim has already been on two field trips to those mines, I highly doubt this would be another one. And for these special students. Maybe it's a tour of the Justice Building or something? The mystery will be solved soon though. The meeting is immediately after school. But I'd wish it was sooner, something rubs me the wrong way about this whole situation.
I walk up the front steps, dropping my game bag onto one of the rocking chairs and walking inside. Over the past few days it's taken time for me, to adjust to a quiet home. The only sound comes from the living room, Gale coughing lightly. I walk into the living room to be greeted with another sound-
Hiss….
Old buttercup is perched on Gale's lap, hissing at the sight of me. I scowl at Gale whose holding a grin that must stretch a mile, his hands rubbing the cats back.
"Come on, he's cute, Catnip." Gale says through his grin.
"He's hideous, dirty and the must disgus.." hiss "..ting thing I've ever laid my eyes on." I let out, letting the words slip. They're true though, every word.
"Like you." I drop my gaze from the cat and look to Gale. He begins bursting with laughter. "Kidding! Kidding!" He says in between laughs.
The cat instantly jumps down, trying to take a swipe at me. I jump on the couch, cursing loudly. It only sends Gale into more laughter.
"It's not funny!" I shout, holding back my own laughs. "Put the damn cat away. Now!" I shout again, moving to the opposite end of the couch that the cat has now followed me on to.
Gale still laughs as he removes himself from the chair, swiping the cat up by the back of his neck and throwing him into Prim's room.
"You're overly dramatic, Catnip." Gale says, signaling out the 'cat' in my nickname.
He comes to where I am still standing on the couch and wraps his good arm around me and his still healing arm. At this angle, I'm taller then him. Not much, but slightly. I lean down, letting our faces meet with only inches to spare.
"Maybe it's time for a new nickname." I joke, speaking lowly.
"Ok. Cat hater Katniss?" Gale jokes, grinning widely again.
I grin, matching his at the simple reason of Gale, being in the great mood that he is in. Since we've had our conversation at the beginning of the week, we have both been in excellent moods. It helps to have our bed back too, resulting in better nights of sleep for the both of us.
"Let's stick with Catnip." I reply, letting our lips meet.
Our lips tangle together for at least a minute before his arms move down my body and to my legs, moving them to his body and making my legs wrap around him. I break our lips.
"Gale, I need to head back to the school soon." I say, realizing we have made love nearly every night this week, so I can't say I'm much in the mood right now. Gale squints at me in confusion. "The meeting? For Prim?"
"Oh! I almost forgot about it." Gale replies, dropping his gaze to my low cutting shirt. "We still got an hour and a half." He adds.
He bends down and places his knees on the couch, letting my backside rest on the back cushions. He starts to trail kisses over my face and neck. I decide to let him be.
He's happy, and that's all that matters to me.
XX
Gale still wears his damn grin over winning the argument about coming with me to the meeting. I argued that he was still healing, and hasn't been out of the house since the accident a week ago. He countered back, saying he needed to get out for a bit.
He hand tightens to mine a little more as we approach the school. We run into the boys and Rhoda, waving to us as they leave for home. I walk inside and head for her classroom. I peek in to see all of the kids, gathering their backpacks, books and papers. Prim spots me and Gale in the doorway, rushing to squeeze all of her belongings into her small backpack.
She greets us both with hugs and we follow her to the main gymnasium. We get there as there is at least a dozen or so children with their parents, mostly mothers. Everyone is sitting on the bleachers in the front, a small wooden podium in the front. Principle Maddox is there, standing a bit away from it, talking to a parent. She spots me and waves me over to her.
"Were go find a seat. Follow your heart, Catnip." Gale says, squeezing my hand one last time and pecking a quick kiss on my lips.
I walk over to her, keeping my head low and walking in small strides. I realize that she expects me to have a final answer to the job offer. She finishes talking to the parent right as I approach.
"Katniss!" She says, a bit to cheery for her normal self.
"Hi." I reply sheepishly.
"Have you made a decision yet? It's ok if you haven't." She asks and reassures me. I feel a slight bit of relief.
"I haven't yet. Not really." I reply quickly.
"It's ok. It's fine!" She responds, again, sounding more cheerful than normal. "I did want to mention though…" She begins. "Mrs. Mildred is having to retire with being a teacher, the hours are just to long. Her last day was today." She says. I'm taken back by her words, but just slightly. "She is however willing to teach music, in your absent." She looks at me for a second. "Just keep that in mine. Well, I need to start." She sends me one last smile before I turn away.
She clearers her throat in preparation to speak just as I find where Gale and Prim are.
"Have you seen my mom and Vick?" Gale leans over Prim whose in between us, asking.
"No?" I say, almost questioningly. Then I remember, Vick was on this 'honored' list as well.
I have to temporarily put his question at bay as Principle Maddox begins speaking and the unpleasant sensation in my gut begins. . . .
Chapter 25 Preview: What will this 'meeting' hold? Will it be good for Prim and the family or only cause drama and pain? And where is Vick and Hazel? What will happen when Katniss has to face both Darius again and her own mother? What will Katniss think of her developing pregnancy as she begins preparing for the arrival and studying, also taking in the physical and emotional changes? Will the things her mother tell her scare her, Or make her braver? And what will take place when Katniss and Gale pay a visit to the grieving, broken family of Thom? Will it shock them at what they find? Find it ALL out Saturday!