Katniss and the Rebels
Chapter 19: Apologies
AN: Hi :) How are you guys? So the movie is less than two months away and I am...not ready for it. At all. Finnick in his boxers...hmmmmmm. And as for these new posters Liam Hemsworth is not allowed to look that gorgeous!
Thanks for all the support from the last chapter! It was great! Lets keep it up :)
Anyone else tired of being back at school? Heaven knows I am.
Right well Gale and Katniss talk in this chapter and it basically revolves around them.
DISCLAIMER: Last time I checked I didn't own the hunger games...I own a few hunger games action figures though...but not the hunger games :(
Please follow, favourite and review it means so so much and it encourages me to write and publish faster
DEDICATIONS: TheWelshWhale, Demigod-Gallagher-Selected, JWMellark, jmks0405 (Thank you! I wasn't too sure about the song so thank you! I am glad you are enjoying this story and I will certainly try my best), brasirish (Cool name), Guest (I will update today :)!), BSG75, redcar, hiimhunterrrr, Lauren1985, Guest (It is amazing isn't it! Peeta is a sweetheart he really is, where are all the real life Peetas? Thank you for reviewing and I hope this chapter meets up to your expectations), somerphoenix, D12tributes4life and Mellie26
Katniss Everdeen POV
*Bang bang*
I startle at the sudden noise and my mum's eyes widen in front of me in fright.
"It's all right." I attempt to comfort her as she begins to shake, staring at me, not blinking with fear.
"It's just the door mum. Just the front door, I'll go downstairs and see who it is now."
I stand and am about to place the tray of soup and water on the cabinet when she pulls my arm almost like a small child would and sends me a pleading look.
"I'm just going downstairs mum just to see who is at the door. It is probably Prim or-"
Mum shakes her head and points to the tray.
"You want to stay eating?" I ask as if I am talking to a baby who can't talk yet.
She nods and I place the tray on her lap again and she smiles in thanks.
I am just about to reply when,
*Bang, bang.*
Honestly can he not just knock like everybody else does?
But no Gale Hawthorne insists on causing an earthquake every time he knocks on a door!
…I am such a nice best friend…..
I leave the room leaving the door ajar so I can hear if something happens and hurry downstairs.
"Try not to wake everyone on the other side of the earth Gale." I comment sarcastically as I open the front door.
Of course it's Gale, I mean who else knocks as if they are trying to knock the whole house down with a bulldozer?
Gale smiles sheepishly (since when does Gale Hawthorne get sheepish? He doesn't even like sheep very much. Thinks they are abnormally fluffy or something)
"Sorry" He lies grinning wolfishly before turning to Prim who is chatting away aimlessly to Rory who has tagged along for the walk (what a surprise)
"Come on you, time to get inside." Gale ruffles Prim's hair and she glares up at him. Whether the glare is the show her annoyance at being treated like Posy or at being forced to leave her beloved Rory I cannot tell.
"Fine. Goodnight Gale." Prim bites out before her voice grows softer, "Night Rory." She finishes turning back to Rory and giving him a big smile (Gale and I never get that smile…I am offended)
"See you later Prim" Rory says with an equally happy grin on his face (never got that smile of him either. Well at least they haven't started on cutsie wootsie nicknames yet otherwise I might kill them).
Prim pushes past me acknowledging me with a gloomy ,"Katniss" (well gee thanks, love you too sis)
Gale's eyes are fixed on me and I hold his gaze.
He turns away before I do (obviously) "Roar why don't you head back home?"
Rory raises an eyebrow at him
"It's night time Gale"
"It is seven o' clock!" Gale protests
Oh brilliant a Hawthorne brotherly fight.
As if I don't get enough of them
(okay I lie, their fights secretly amuse me)
"It is half nine Gale" Rory argues and Gale checks his watch and realises his brother is right.
"So?" Gale splutters "You're fourteen now Rory can't you walk a few streets on your own?"
Rory shrugs off Gale's belittling comment and glares at him.
"It's dark!"
I take note of the sky then and realise Rory is right.
It is the middle of September after all, it is getting quite dark for a 14 year old to be walking home on a school night.
"It is darkening there is a difference" Gale counters "And we both know you will just be walking five steps ahead of me if we were to walk there together anyway"
Rory opens his mouth and raises his eyebrows before he shuts his mouth and glares at Gale,
"Fine. Whatever. But if I get killed, I am blaming you." Rory tells him pointing his finger at him before turning to me, "Night Katniss"
"Night Roar" I answer, grinning.
Ah fourteen year olds and their humour (sorry moodiness…meant moodiness. Mood swings, hormones, etc. I do not find their arguments humouress at all..definitely not).
Rory walks off leaving Gale and I alone in the doorway….no awkwardness at all here
Gale shuffles his feet before daring to meet my eye.
I fold my arms and stare back at him.
"How are you?" He asks softly.
"Fine" I answer indifferently "And you?" I ask leaning against the door.
"I'm…fine...well not fine...well I am fine..but" Gale admits and I can't keep the grin off my face. "It's true! Catnip please can we talk."
I want to make some smart remark like 'We r talking now' and then grin at him, we both laugh and carry on as if nothing happened.
But something did happen.
I turned out to be a terrible friend.
Something which I must apologise for before I start making stupid jokes.
"I agree" I say unfolding my arms and standing up straight "But not out here, let's go inside."
I walk into the kitchen and hear him shut the front door and follow me in.
I sit down facing the doorway and when gale enters he hesitantly sits opposite.
Gales shifts before placing his hands on the table,
Gale is about to speak but I stop him with a wave of my hand.
It takes me a moment to gather my words and while I do he stares at me with those big grey 'puppy dog eyes' that make the majority of the district twelve female population melt.
"Look...I know I was wrong"
Gale frowns, obviously as unused to hearing me admit I was wrong as me.
"I shouldn't have got mad. I shouldn't have ignored you and I...I apologise"
Gale blinks in shock.
"You had every right to ring Madge, especially after I suggested it. This is not an excuse I know but I was mad. Confused, stressed, worried and I wasn't coping as it was and then to come home to everyone so happy with" I laugh shakily "With Madge Undersee of all people it just set me off. I've had to listen to you complain about how she never works for anything, how people like her will never appreciate what we have. Then coming back to see you and her getting all...friendly it just tipped me over the edge."
I take a deep breath.
"Its...well its just you have said a million times that people like Madge will never understand people from the Seam. I'm not blaming you or anything yesterday was completely my fault. It was just you accepting her help and old things after everything you say about townies I just well I suppose I judged you. Thought you were a hypocrite. Which you aren't of course you aren't but. That's just how I felt. You know me, stupid, never gets anything right, jumps to conclusions etc etc."
I desperately hope that I don't sound like I want him to feel sorry for me
"You...you have always told me how you despise charity. And well I know Madge Undersee is not the first person to offer you, or even us clothes and toys and money over the years. But you have always refused them all, never considered accepting any of them. It took you ages to finally accept my help even though we had been friends for years. Then Madge visits once, offers you her things and you accept them. You let Posy keep them and try them on. I understand why you accepted them I mean who wouldn't? It isn't like Posy got good things from me but I have tried to give her the best I can you know? And god I must sound really shallow and selfish I am really really sorry."
Gale blinks again (well it's good to know he is still alive at least)
I continue as Gale seems incapable of speech, "You had every right to be grateful to Madge. I just, when I walked in on you two I was just so focused on the fact that she is the mayor's daughter I never even thought of asking you what was going on. I wasn't thinking clearly enough to know that you had every right to spend time with her and be grateful to her after everything she did for you because of course what she did was amazing and kind and well that's Madge all over isn't it? And of course I will be apologising profusely to her tomorrow as I have treated her badly as well. I am also sorry for ignoring you both today. I just, I just needed time to think you know? I was so stressed over everything that has been happening lately and I needed to get my head straight."
Gale stares at me in silence, gob-smacked.
Ten minutes tick by and Gale still hasn't said anything so I speak up again,
"Look I'm sorry for everything and I really hope we can get past this. I probably acted like one of your pathetic, possessive, love-sick ex girlfriends yesterday which was out of order I know. I know I have no right over what you accept and what you don't especially when it comes to the ki- to your siblings. I just, well I thought you didn't like her and so it was such a shock to walk in on you all...well cosy like that. I mean Gale I do notice the glares you shoot at her almost every day at lunch, I can tell when you are clenching your fists in anger to stop yourself yelling at her. Or...well that is what I thought you were doing anyway..."
I don't even want to think of what else he was doing if not that.
Neither of us speak for a few moments before Gale's raspy voice says, "I understand why you acted that way. I-I really do. I mean if anything, well you under-reacted I mean Katniss just imagine what I would have been like if I walked in on you and oh I don't know Peeta Mellark getting all cosy on the sofa! I would have reacted FAR worse than you did yesterday and we all know it. Probably would have beaten him up and god forbid if he brought anything over for the kids I would have knocked him unconscious!"
Gale smiles softly and I return it.
"You have no idea how grateful I am for helping me out over the years. And I know you feel the same way about Prim." I nod "I wasn't going to accept Madge's gifts, or at least I was going to consult you but then Posy ran in all excited and I couldn't say no to her! I mean you have seen her when she is over the moon about something"
I know exactly what Gale is talking about.
When Posy is happy her face lights up and it is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
And the hardest thing in the world to say no to along with her puppy dog face (which she inherited from her eldest brother of course)
"When you walked in on us I was just fixing up her ankle. I mean I had to! Not only because I am an extremely nice person as you know but also because I couldn't have her suing us for having a broken ankle"
"Wait what!?" I interrupt "She has a broken ankle!? Thom said she was fine!"
"No, no she is!" Gale tells me hastily and I calm instantly "Fine I mean! She's fine! I just didn't know what had happened to her at first I mean for all I knew she had a broken ankle! She wasn't keen on going to hospital and well I couldn't leave the kids alone anyway. Well Prim and Rory were all over each other so they wouldn't have noticed if anything had happened to Vick or Posy if we had left. But no Madge is fine it wasn't even sprained, just got a bad bang. We were probably a bit dramatic over the whole thing I'm sure if it happened to you or I we would have just brushed it off and moved on."
Gale and I would brush off a broken leg and move in.
"I am really glad that Madge has given Posy her old stuff." I tell him "But Madge shouldn't feel she has to give us her old stuff because she thinks we can't afford any better than what we have. I guess I don't want people assuming we don't treat the kids well. I mean I know my things are old and raggedy while hers are practically new and glowing but I suppose it felt like she was pointing it out. I know everyone knows we aren't well off but its when they make it obvious that they know is when it bothers me"
"I'm the same" Gale says grinning
I hesitate before I begin my next sentence "Gale there is something you should know."
Gale visibly freezes and is anxiously anticipating my continuation
"Posy, well part of the reason why I am glad Madge gave Posy her old things is because she has been having, well a hard time fitting into school and that."
Gale's face darkens
"Its nothing serious." I insist "I mean they are just 5 after all! But you know how hurtful a bit of teasing is at that age. I mean admittedly its nowhere near as much teasing as me and you got when we were growing up but well she's not as strong as us and well she is five. Hopefully she can fit in better now with Madge's old stuff. I'm sure she will be fine you know Posy..."
"Should we go talk to her teacher or principal or something?" Gale asks and I give him a look
"Gale. When have we EVER gone to a principal or anyone in authority about our problems?" I almost want to laugh "No honestly I think we should wait a small bit longer see if she fits in better with the new clothes and toys. The first few weeks into school are all ways the hardest anyway no matter what grade your in."
Gale smiled "Yeah and like you said we had it a lot worse"
"Let's not go into that"
Gale smirks and I glare at him
"Right! Sorry! Sorry!" He raises his hands up in innocence
We smile and let the conversation revert to normal.
"We have to figure out how to pay the school fees as well you know." I remind him cautiously and a glimpse of worry flickers across his face.
"I'll get more shifts don't worry about it Katniss"
"Of course I worry about it" I hear my voice wobble and I swallow "Gale, if we cant afford to pay them then we will have to pull Vick out of his dance classes which will devastate him or we would have to quit the Rebels to get more shifts at work."
Gale sighs "Look I'll work something out, I promise. Mum is feeling better now...maybe she could work again or something..."
Gale and I sit in a comfortable silence for a good few minutes until Gale speaks again.
"I went looking for you after school."
He isn't angry just uncertain and worried.
He stares intensely at me and I can barely meet his gaze.
"I wasn't feeling well." I begin
"What was wrong with you?" Gale inquires gently
"Light-headed i suppose. Almost fainted but luckily Peeta caught me. He brought me back to his house to recover."
"And he couldn't bring you back to yours? Or to a doctors!?"
I can read Gale Hawthorne like a book and today is no different. I can tell he is angry. That he is trying desperately to hide it and focus on his worry for me but he can't. He assumes Peeta was trying to take advantage of me, that Peeta didn't care I was ill and was just pretending to help me to get me into bed. But at the same time Gale can see I am better than I was earlier and is struggling to realise that Peeta Mellark would help me for something that wasn't for his own personal gain.
"I asked him not to take me to a doctor. My head was throbbing Gale, I could barely think let alone see a doctor the last thing I needed was a loud, crowded doctor's waiting room."
Gale is about to interrupt but I cut him off "And we couldn't go back to mine because I would have had to deal with my mum and Prim and possibly the kids as well and that was the last thing I could cope with."
The worry in his eyes doesn't leave so I place my hands over his and smile at him,
"Gale, he was just being nice. I swear to god he never and has never tried anything with me in that way. He just wanted to help and could see I needed it. He couldn't just leave me there after I almost collapsed it would ruin his nice-guy reputation!" I joke smiling and Gale relaxes a small bit
"I know you're worried but there is nothing to worry about I swear. I can handle myself around guys. I've been doing it for years. Peeta isn't a bad person and he is nothing like his brothers. And you know maybe you could be right. Perhaps he is actually an absolute jerk but it will still have been my decision to be friends with him. I will all ways prefer, me getting hurt over you making my choices for me. I know you are only trying to look out for me but please just let me figure this out for myself all right?"
Gale stares at me for a few minutes and i am beginning to question whether or not he is breathing when he says slowly
"You're right. I know you are. Its just he seems...and please don't bite my head of for saying this but just the way Mellark acts around you. Its obvious that he likes you. Like he, likes likes you." I smile "I mean he cant like you! Its impossible!"
"Wow way to increase a girls self esteem Galey" I say gritting my teeth
"NO! That's not what I-sorry, sorry poor choice of words. Look, of course its not impossible for guys to like you. Obviously. But its just less likely for townies to like you. Especially a Mellark I mean, well you know the history between your two families as much as I do. Its just...weird"
"History between our two families?" I question "what is this Romeo and Juliet?"
Gale smiles, "Hey you know I didn't study that play"
"You watched the movie though" I counter
"Did I?" Gale asks confused
"Yeah there was some 'hot girl' in it and Darius forced us to watch it" well i say forced it was really only me who was forced. Once Darius mentioned there was a hot girl playing the lead Gale was on board and Thom didn't take much (if any) persuading either.
What were we talking about again
Oh right yes, Peeta and I.
I contemplate telling Gale about Peeta asking me to that game and I decide to tell him on the day.
If I did tell him I would only have to put up with him giving out to me until the day. And then he will probably come along and sit behind us...actually forget the probably that is exactly what he would do.
"Anyway point is he is an all right guy. And I need to talk to him for this project in Home Ec. I'll most likely never speak to him again afterwards"
Gale looks doubtful
"Seriously! Come on he is a townie do you seriously think he wants to hang around with someone like me?"
Gale shrugs
"Exactly" I say and he looks at me as if to say 'Yeah I get it, you are all ways right but you don't have to rub it in' and I smirk.
"Did you hear how Paul got on?" Gale asks after a while and I shake my head
"No they will probably want to stick together as a family and keep to themselves for a while no matter what the outcome was"
Gale nods.
I check the clock behind me and see that just over an hour has passed since Gale arrived.
"You should get going" I say quietly "Make sure Rory got back all right."
Gale looks up from where he had been carefully studying his knotted fingers.
"Yeah you're right, knowing him he was too 'drunk with like' to see where he was going"
I raise my eyebrows, "Drunk with like?"
Gale and I stand, "Yeah well I cannot bear the thought of saying 'love' so I'm sticking with 'like' for now. Hopefully it will stay that way."
I laugh as I push my chair under the table.
"I'm sure one of them will make the first move eventually"
"Maybe. I don't know why they don't just kiss all really I mean they spend all that time gazing into each others eyes I don't know why one of them hasn't jumped on the other yet." Gale sighs
"Well perhaps they have and are just keeping it a secret from us" I suggest but Gale shakes his head
"Nah, if that were the case. Rory would be walking around on cloud nine. Plus neither of them are good at acting."
"Yeah, look you better be off. I need to check on mum and you should be making sure Posy is in bed."
We move to the front door which Gale opens before facing me.
"Are we...are we good now?" Gale asks nervously
I nod, "Of course, Gale I would love if we would just forget this ever happened."
"Sounds like a plan" Gale smiles, he heads out the door but before he leaves he says,
"Don't blame yourself for this Catnip, we were both in the wrong and we should both just move on."
I nod, agree, bid farewell to him and shut the door.
It takes me a moment to realise why I am so shocked.
We are both growing up.
Acting mature, making responsible decisions after we make bad ones.
This is weird.
But strangely likeable at the same time.
AN: I don't know about the last bit it just sort of...happened.
So what do you think?
I really wanted to show that Katniss was sorry and in the wrong but that also Gale would have acted far worse if it had been him walking in on someone from town and Katniss. Because I think we all know he would have probably acted the way he said earlier.
Wow telling Gale about this date will be great fun for Katniss...maybe someone else tells him...or perhaps nobody does and he finds out for himself who knows?
So that is it, I hope you liked it. Please tell me what you think.
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xTeam Mockingjayx