To everyone who reviews and PMs me about their questions, concerns, and joys about this story: Thank you so much. Without people who enjoy my stories I would delete them or leave them unfinished forever. I didn't think this would be popular at all, I thought I would get maybe fifteen reviews and four or five favorites. I have over twice as many for both and I can't tell you how happy it makes me. Since this was published, the number of Gally fics went from six to thirteen. That is amazing. I just wanted to take this moment to thank all of you and ask that you keep reviewing and asking questions and such.
This chapter is why The Unexpected is rated M. Just a fair warning. I do think you'll enjoy it though...
And it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I my dear?
Didn't I my dear
Mumford and Sons, Little Lion Man
Chapter 19- The Unbelievable
Delly
Three days until Peeta's wedding. Two days until my parents come home. Tonight is Katniss' bachelorette party. Basically it's me, Prim, and Katniss wearing little black dresses and dining at a fancy restaurant paid for by Katniss' wonderful fiancée. Katniss orders a bottle of champagne for herself and ends up sharing it with Prim and me. Prim mixes hers in with the lemonade she ordered. I mix mine with sparkling water. Neither of us wants to be hungover tomorrow. (Even though I do end up a little tipsy) The food is excellent, and that's saying something coming from a chef who's also a picky vegan. Prim sees a few guys who look like high school seniors. I recognize them from the local prep school. They flirt with her and she blushes.
"Do I really look that old?" She asks shyly. The waitress comes by with a dessert menu. Katniss picks it up and glances over it.
"You're wearing makeup, a little black dress, and two inch heels. Plus, you're tall to begin with. I'd say yes." Katniss says smirking. "Not that it matters. Because they aren't Rory Hawthrone."
"Prim's got a boyfriend." I say. She blushes and Katniss laughs. I like her laugh. It's full and loud. It's the kind of laugh that when you're feeling uncomfortable- because you're wearing five inch heels with black eyeliner and red lipstick, things that you usually don't wear- she makes you feel like you're at your high school lunch table. Katniss keeps to quiet but underestimates herself. Peeta is friendly and knows how to talk to people. They're perfect for each other.
"He did promise to dance with me at the wedding so I think he's going to ask me out." Prim mumbles.
"You could always ask him out." Katniss says. She pauses for a moment. "I'm looking at this menu and I have no clue what to get." She says holding it up for us to see. "I was thinking the truffle strawberries or tiramisu. Peeta doesn't make either of those so I don't have to worry about comparing them to his."
"Smart." I say. I haven't broken my vegan-ness for awhile, so I figure I can splurge.
"I say strawberries, they're in season right now so it should be great." Prim says. Our waitress comes by, as if on cue and Katniss orders our final course.
"They're looking at you now." Katniss whispers me.
"Really?" I ask. She nods.
"That means they like you." Prim says. "Because they haven't seen the front of your dress."
"Prim!" I say slapping her shoulder lightly. She's referring to the plunging v-neck in the metallic silver-black fabric of my dress. I roll my eyes at her. "So where are you an Peeta going for your honeymoon?" I ask.
"We're going to Hawaii." Katniss says. "Peeta keeps talking about how the beach by the hotel we're staying at is fantastic."
"Then I'll make sure that we pack a hot swimsuit in your suitcase." Prim says smirking.
"Oh no little duck, you aren't supposed to know a about that until you're at least a junior!" Katniss says mockingly. The waitress comes by with the strawberries. For once in my life, I'm happy about eating dessert.
"Peeta should learn how to make these." I say. "Because he makes the best of everything."
"Does it even get better than this?" Prim asks as strawberry juice drips down her chin.
"Very attractive." Katniss teases wiping it with he napkin. Our waitress comes by.
"Your meal has been paid for, so you can leave at any time." She says smiling. Katniss nods her head.
"I'm going to take Prim home now. All of our embarrassing relatives are coming to brunch tomorrow." She moans.
"You're coming right?" Prim asks.
"Of course." I say. She smiles.
"Do you need a ride?" Katniss asks. I'm about to say yes when something catches my eye.
"No thanks." I say.
"Okay. See you at eleven tomorrow." She says as she and Prim get up to leave. I follow and exit the restaurant. My instincts were right. It's him.
"Gale?" I ask running out to him. He turns around. He's drunk. Very. I glance around seeing a bar with a neon-lit sign. People stand outside of it smoking.
"Delilah!" He practically shouts. "Whatterrr you doing herrr?"
"How much have you had to drink?" I ask.
"Juss like ten shos." Gale slurs. He leans against a street light.
"Of tequila?" I ask. He shrugs and leans farther to the left. I take his arm and put it over my shoulder. Dammit he's heavy. I reach into Gale's pocket.
"Thaa tickles." He mumbles. I pull out his keys and listen for his truck. After a few moments of Marco Polo between the truck and me, I find it one block away. I basically throw Gale into the seat and manage to buckle his seatbelt. I put the keys in the ignition and I drive. "Wherrrer we goin?" He asks.
"My house." I say. "I have the key my in my purse. I'll make up a lie about staying out all night with Katniss and Prim. I'm not going to let your family see you like this." I say.
Only the backyard of my house has been touched, I can see the skeleton of the wedding has been made. A small arch for the alter is there as well as the tent poles with the large white canopy. Tomorrow the dance floor is going to be put in. I drag Gale into my house and set him on the couch. I consider changing into better clothes, but the idea of Gale vomiting while I'm not around stops me. I sit across from him. After a few moments he gets up and runs to the bathroom faster than anyone I've ever seen, let alone a drunk person. I stand by the bathroom door and listen to sounds that I didn't think we're humanly possible. After sputtering and gasping Gale takes two steps out of the bathroom and collapses. I gingerly step over him in my heels and flush the toilet then spray a good amount of Febreze. Gale moans and turns his head to the side. I look in the medicine cabinet for a first aid kit and pull it out. Then I drag- literally drag him by one arm- into the living room and I manage to prop him upright on the left of the love-seat. I wipe any vomit away from Gale's mouth. It's gross, but somebody had to do it. I think about my options. I can go upstairs and grab my clothes and change. I could also steal a few things from my dad's closet for Gale since there's an unidentified stain on Gale's shirt and a splotch of vomit on his pants. Do I put myself first or Gale? Gale, once he's stable I can put on any sweats I want. That brings up the problem of my schoolgirl crush. Surely it's every girls' dream to be able to undress someone as attractive as Gale while he's unconscious. I've seen the guy without a shirt and I think it's unfair that he looks like that without being famous or photoshopped. I run upstairs and find an old black t-shirt. Then flannel pajama pants that were probably blue once, but have faded to a more gray color. I've never seen Christian wear either of them. I clack down the stairs- why haven't I taken my heels off? Gale's still sleeping and I begin my awkward journey into pure pleasure. Which would be less weird to start with pants or shirt? Pants... I think. Just get it done with Delilah. How do you expect to be a nurse if you can't get through this? So I plunge right in. I reach for Gale's belt unbuckling and removing it. I untie his old converse and pull them off. His socks go with them. I reach for his zipper when he moans and I have a heart attack. Oh God don't wake up while my hand is near your crotch. He doesn't and I unzip his pants pulling his jeans off and throwing them into what will become the pile of dirty clothes. Thank you Gale, for wearing your baggiest boxers today. I grab the flannel pants and manage to pull them halfway up before Gale shows any signs of consciousness.
"Heeeeeeey Blondie." He mumbles. I pull the pants all the way up. "So eagerrrrrr arenwe?" Gale slips back into his booze blackout. I attempt taking his shirt off from behind and manage about two thirds before the sleeves get tangled in his arms. I just pull until it comes off and I stumble back. Right. High heels. I remove my torture shoes and throw the shirt into my pile. Gale's wearing an undershirt-tank-top- thing. It looks clean. To remove or not to remove? He pukes a little more and it falls down his chin. Remove. I grab another set of tissues and wipe his face. This is how mothers feel about their babies I guess. I grab the bottom of the undershirt and pull.
...
...
...
Oh shit how long have I been staring at him? I'm still gripping the piece of white fabric in my hand. I throw that into the pile and pull the black shirt over his head. I take the pile of clothes into the laundry room and start the washer. I go back outside because I forgot to lock the truck. Not that this is the neighborhood where you need to do that, but I really need the fresh air. I walk over to the truck to lock it and find needles. Two of them are empty, one of them isn't. I know that it's morphine. I grab all three and lock the doors. I run back inside as Gale begins to stir. I unpin my hair and run my fingers through it a few times. I sit on the couch and curl my legs up. Gale smiles at me, it's his smile, but too hazy.
"Hi." He says. I hold up the needles.
"Where did you get these?" I ask. Gale reaches to them.
"Where did you get those?" He counters.
"Your truck." I snap. "Morphine is illegal as a recreational drug, which is how you are using it. I'll ask again. Where. Did. You. Get these?"
"Clara." Gale says reaching for the last full needle. I get up and take them into the kitchen. Gale falls off the couch trying to stand up. He won't be getting anywhere near his drugs tonight.
"Clara Everdeen gave you morphine?" I ask. Gale manages to pull himself back onto the couch. He nods. He's not as drunk as before. Maybe it's the puking.
"She think itsss for something ellllsse." Gale says. That's nice in sense, at least she wasn't giving it to him just because. "I got hit whileIwasoutthere nnnd they put me on that stuff. That's how I got addicted."
"You need to stop." I say walking towards him. "If it's not for yourself, for your family at least. Some people work nine to five, your mom works five to nine and then some. Vick is the shyest boy I've ever met. Both he and Rory look up to you. Posy is just a little girl. Do you want her to remember you as her drunk older brother? She sees you as a hero, don't let her down Gale Hawthorne."
"Okay." His response suggests he's sober, but I can tell he's not. Gale stands up. "Imthinking of dumping Madge."
"Why?" I ask.
"She tries so harrr to understand, but she doesn't geeeet it." He says. "But itdoesn matter." He moves closer. I can smell the alcohol and puke and alcohol-puke on his breath. Gale licks his lips. "Becausss I have you." Gale kind of falls forward and his mouth smashes into mine. It hurts, I can feel my teeth pressing into his lips. He kind of sways back and forth swirling his mouth on mine. Gale is so much bigger than me and he's practically deadweight on me right now. Trying to push him off is useless. I'm trapped between him and the wall. I can't breath and I can taste everything on his mouth. Smoke, vomit, booze.
"Gale." I moan when his mouth reclines for a moment. He goes right back at it grabbing my hands that try to push him off me. Gale's tongue pries my mouth open and then it's inside of it. I've never been French kissed and it's everything I was scared of. His tongue is warm and slimy, I bite it accidentally and he laughs into my open mouth, hot breath hitting the back of my throat. I try forcing him off me, but it's like a China doll fighting a giant. Gale's tongue touches mine, trying to get me to join in but I try forcing his out of my mouth. I manage to before he gets my mouth open and we repeat the process I've and over while he kisses me. Gale's hands force mine inside of his shirt and he presses my clenched fists flat and places my palms on his chest. This might count as seduction or rape, but God is he toned. When he lets go of my hands I pull them out from under his shirt, feeling everything as I drag them down his chest, and try pushing him off me. I step on his foot but Gale must be made of steel. He just groans into my mouth. I keep trying to fight him off. I would scream but that would waste what little breath I can salvage between each assault on my mouth. Gale's hands hold my neck to stop my attempts at turning my face away from him. After a few moments they move down to my shoulders and then to my breasts. He doesn't really grope, his hands just stay at the sides and he runs his thumb over a few times before sliding down to my waist. Gale grips my hips and pulls me into what I identify as an erection. I whimper, I'm not sure why. It hurts a little and I think he's going to leave bruises on my sides. When I gasp I make strange noises that Gale receives as moans. His hands move around to my ass and he gropes. Nobody has touched me in any of these places like this. I've had boyfriends slap my ass before or make it to second base (through my bra, not direct contact) but nothing with this much passion. Gale reaches under my ass, grabbing around my thigh trying to pull me up onto him. When I refuse he pushes me into the wall and lifts me up. He stumbles and we both fall to the floor. I fall on him and try to get up. Even when he's drunk, Gale's reflexes are quicker than mine. He grabs my waist and pushes me against the wall taking advantage of my jaw dropped in shock. You'd think he's trying to swallow my mouth the way he kisses me. Gale grabs my legs and forces one on either side of him while I sit on his lap. When an orgasm presses into a boner, it makes things wild. I feel electricity everywhere and my skin tingles. For a few moments I give in. I kiss him back once or twice and I run my hands through his hair. This makes Gale press harder and kiss longer. I attempt pushing him off again and I force his tongue out of my mouth with my own. We go back and forth and I can feel bruises forming on my wrists as Gale restrains them against the wall.
"God you're amazing." He breaths into my mouth. I feel like I'm suffocating. I keep gasping and they sound like whimpers.
"I-I-I can't..." I begin.
"You're mine." He protests. It's the sexiest thing anyone's ever said to me. Shit, it's the sexiest thing I've ever heard.
"I can't. Breathe." I manage. Gale pulls off of me immediately when I say this. He studies me as I breathe heavily, I can feel my chest heaving up and down as I attempt to get my lungs working. Gale goes for my neck. Kissing slowly, long and seductive. That was the climax, now he's going to make the fall as long as possible. There's absolute silence aside from my breathing and the sound of Gale kissing my neck repeatedly. I feel the skin of his own neck and the fabric of his shirt against my breasts, I begin to regret not changing out of the v-neck dress because I know where Gale's mouth is headed next. His warm, wet, talented, perfect mouth. He stays on my neck though. Oh my God, if I have to show up to brunch tomorrow with a hickey on my neck...
"St-st-stop. Stop." I wheeze. Gale moves to my breasts. Right between them in the cleavage-zone where the neckline ends. I feel the jolt in my crotch again and my skin feels like skin. My mind is racing. Oh my God he has a girlfriend. I can hear the sounds of his mouth on me and I press my hands into his chest weakly, not even trying to get him off anymore. Gale stops and looks at me. He holds my face and runs his thumb over my cheek and across my lower lip.
"You. Have no idea. How long. I waited. To do that." He heaves.
"Believe me, I enjoyed that." I sigh. Gale goes for my neck again. "You're still dating her though. You're cheating on her with me." Gale stops and looks at me again.
"They always say the mistress is sexier." He practically growls. I stop him before he goes at it again.
"God I want this." I breathe. "I haven't made out with anyone in awhile and damn you're a good kisser." Gale goes for my mouth, slowly and softly. Barely pressing his lips on mine to make contact. This is different from before. He's trying to make me want to stay rather than force me to. "God..." I mumble. "I am going to hell for this."
"No youarnt." Gale whispers. "Becausss you're my angel." I exhale, shivering as his mouth moves down to my neck again. "Please? I'm dumping her tomorrow."
"I can't-" I whimper. Now that I can breathe I can feel water swelling up in my eyes. Am I crying? Is he really that good that either the joy or the idea of losing him makes me cry?
"No. I want you." He growls. I think he can sense that scares me. Gale pulls back from the wall holding my legs straddled on either side of him. He leans back against the floor taking me with him. Gale takes my hair and pulls it all to one side. "Please understand," He says softly. "how much I want you."
"I can't." I say. "You're drunk and I'm four years younger than you."
"What the hell does that have to do with anything Cartwright?" Gale asks almost laughing. He thinks this is funny. I'm on the verge of tears and he's laughing. I don't care if he's drunk, it hurts my feelings. "Kiss me and tell me you don't feel anything." Gale dares.
"Why can't you be this romantic when you're sober?" I ask. He doesn't listen, he grabs my neck and pulls my face to his. I close my eyes and cut off the rest of the space. This is how I kiss someone I want. This is how I wanted our first kiss to be. This how Peeta will kiss Katniss on their wedding day, possibly on their wedding night. Gale smiles.
"See, that's wasn't so bad was it?" He whispers. I blush and turn my face away from his.
"No." I admit. I stretch my legs out behind me to lay rather than sit on top of him. Gale smiles again and kisses me. It's slower and sweeter than anything else we've done tonight. Then I feel it. The zipper of my dress going down slowly as my back becomes exposed. Oh shit am I even wearing a bra? I can't remember if this dress has one built in or not. I get off of Gale and stumble to my feet zipping my dress back up. He gets to his feet and looks at me curiously.
"Why the sudden stop?" He asks. He keeps switching between sober and drunk, it's driving me insane.
"I don't like that." I snap.
"Is it because we were on the floor?" Gale asks.
"Part of it." I admit. He leans against a wall.
"Should we take it to a bedroom?"
"No."
"The couch?"
"I am not going to have sex with you. Not while you're drunk. Not while you're still dating Madge."
"Uggggh." Even when he makes that noise he's sexy. He flops onto the couch. "This isn't fair."
"That you can lead me on, date another girl, and now you want me to hop on your dick?" I snap.
"That I haveto see somethin I can't have." Gale says. That catches me off-guard. I cross my arms and he moans loudly like he's being tortured.
"What?!" I shout.
"Dothemath." He replies. "Low cut dress, folding yourarms..." I uncross my arms and sit on the couch next to him and place my head in my hands. "Leaning forward in thadress isngoodeither." I snap back into good posture.
"It cannot be that distracting." I state.
"Imsorry." Gale says. "You just have reallygreatbreasts." I scoff. "Beautiful cleavage. AndI'maleg guy. So that's sayingsomething." I cross my legs awkwardly. How does a person respond?
"Would you like it if I changed?"
"What woul I like or whaa would makeit easier for me tofocus?" I think about it. Give the drunk man what he wants or no?
"What would you like?"
"I would lovit if you weren wearing anything."
"Where did this guy come from?"
"Imdrunk."
"That's not an excuse. You're carrying a conversation with me just fine."
"Yeah. I can control someofit. But notallofit. My mind can think but I have no filter."
"Okay..." I get what he's saying. "But does it really need to be you objectifying my body parts?"
"Just yourrack." Gale says. "Unless youwan me to talkabout yourrass."
"I'm good." I say. "And don't refer to it as 'my rack' that is so sexist."
"Sorry, theyrrreally soft." I can feel the heat in my face. Gale notices. "Sorry."
"It's fine." I sigh. He leans over and kisses me again. There's really no point in stopping him so I go along with it. It doesn't really matter anymore. He might not even remember it. Gale rises onto his knees and pulls my neck up with him. I have to do the same to stay level. He grabs my shoulders and then my arms forcing them around his neck. Gale's hands reach for the back of my dress and he pulls the zipper down fast. I reach for his hands in attempt to make him stop. I try zipping my dress back up but he's already pulling down at the sides and my shoulders are bare, then the dress is at my ankles and Gale flings it to the side without care. It turns out I am wearing a bra, it's strapless, but it's better than nothing. I reach helplessly for my dress but Gale grabs my wrists.
"Yourrrsobeautiful." He slurs. It makes me feel something inside and my girl hormones go wild.
"No. Sex." I gasp. Gale attempts to devour my lower lip.
"Okay." He says forcing my mouth open. Tongue, hot breath, the bitter taste. Didn't we do this like ten minutes ago? It seems foreign and new now that I'm half naked. Today was one of those days when I threw on a black bra and dark green underwear thinking, "Who cares if they don't match? They never do anyways." Regret regret regret. Gale starts at my hips and works his way up this time. Fingers tracing over my sides and rib cage. His hands linger on my bra, the lace patterns pressing into his palms as he glides his thumb over my skin where the bra ends and my breasts are restrained tightly against the fabric. He wants to go to second base. We're at first already how far does he want to go tonight? Home run you idiot. He made that clear awhile ago. Gale's hands snake up to my collarbone and then my neck, his fingers tangled in my hair. All the while I keep my hands locked around his neck I slide one hand under his collar and he hovers closer over me; the fabric of his shirt brushing against my stomach. The hours at the gym paid off, even if my stomach has no curve, it's flat at least. Gale reaches for the clasp on my bra fumbling with it.
"Not fair." I wheeze.
"What?" He asks smiling.
"You're fully clothed and I could be in a catalogue that boys masturbate to." I know what he's going to do and my hands beat his to the hem of his shirt. We both pull up and he tosses it over my head. Gale presses his forehead to mine. There's a thin coat of sweat everywhere on him, it makes him smell more like himself. Gale lies on me, skin to skin, nothing but silk and lace separating our chests. He arches his back up so he doesn't crush me.
"Better?" He asks taking my hand and placing it on the center of his chest.
"Better." I gasp before kissing him slowly. "But not quite." I murmur reaching for his pants and pushing them down. Gale moves backward putting me on top. My feet push down and he kicks his pants off. Now I wish his boxers weren't so damn baggy. "Now we're even." I say smirking.
"GodIwantyou." He says in one breath. I feel his boner in my pelvis and I'm sure he feels my breasts pressing into his chest. Gale kisses me in the cleavage zone again, his hot breath making me feel cold everywhere else. I tangle my legs in his. His hands rest on the small of my back. I move myself back down and his lower lip traces a straight line from my chest to my lips. I just keep my mouth there for awhile. Gale kisses me one last time and then I pull away. I place my head on his chest and my hand on his shoulder. I stare at his skin, the olive color marking him forever as a Seamster. The way it contrasts with my alabaster hand, my wrist with just a faint hint of purple from Gale's tight grip earlier. The love affair between a Capitol and Townie, not huge news. A Capitol and a Seamster, not that big of a deal since Capitol girls are constantly falling for Seamster guys. But a Townie and a Seamster, unheard of. The hatred between the two groups can be settled once in awhile and few people have crossed that dating border while they are still in high school. After that it's not as big of a deal, but still shocking. A Seamster just cheated on his Capitol girlfriend with me, and I'm still in high school not to mention a Townie. This is a full-blown scandal that might live with me as a label of anyone were to find out. It makes me think of Romeo and Juliet. Gale and I haven't known each other that long an we have the same four year age-difference. Only I don't think either of us will kill ourselves anytime soon.
"I can hear your heart beating." I say because it seems like the only appropriate thing to say.
"That must be nice." Gale says barely slurring. I can feel him brushing my hair off my shoulders. He traces patterns on my back, they feel like circles. I sigh with my mouth closed and it sounds like a hum. "You're tired."
"It's past midnight." I say glancing at the clock. Have we really been going at this for two hours?
"I've stayed up lay-err." Gale says.
"You're a soldier. Of course you have." I say yawning. "And incase you didn't notice we just had an almost-sex session for about two hours."
"I know." He says. "It was fuckingfantastic. But a workout."
"So I have a right to be tired." I sigh. Gale wraps his arms around me. My legs curl up in attempt to stay warm.
"You cold?" He asks. I shake my head. "Sleep."
Sunlight shines through the white drapes pulled shut. The house is warm. I look around. He's gone. Gale's gone. I sit up and look at the floor, his pants are still there as well as his shirt. My dress is thrown off to the side someplace. I pick up the black shirt and pull it over head so I don't feel so naked. I run into the laundry room and his clothes are gone. I run into the kitchen to find his morphine needles missing.
"Nonononono." I mumble running to the window. His truck isn't in the driveway. "Goddammit!" I scream. I curse obscenities under my breath thinking about how I almost became a one night stand. Who am I kidding? I might not have given him my virginity but he got pretty damn close. I think about all the mean names people have called Glimmer. Hump and dump. Hit and run. Whore. Hooker. God I am such a slut. Gale Hawthorne cheated on his girlfriend with me. I thought he genuinely liked me and now he's gone. How can a guy be such a dick? He was drunk you idiot. He probably ran off last night after he realized he got it on with you. I pick my dress up off the floor. I'm never talking to him again. After everything I've done for him... I need to change. I have guests in two hours.