Katniss and the Rebels

Chapter 40: Graduation

AN: One more to go...

Katniss POV

I take a deep breath and look around at the swarm of people. The sun is beaming down on us, summer has finally arrived and today is the day we have all been waiting for since we first entered this horrific high school.

It's Graduation Day, the day that marks a momentous end to our high school experience.

It honestly hasn't hit me yet.

I suppose for everyone else here, they're struggling with their newfound freedom. The independence of moving out and away from this treacherous small town without their parents' guiding them or watching their every movement.

But that's not how it is for me.

I had to grow up years ago. And I'm not complaining; if anything it's benefited me in the long run.

And I won't be going to college after this; I'll be working on recording an album instead.

I did get the usual parent lecture on that though. My mum was reluctant for a few days but she came around eventually.

Hazelle took months before finally agreeing, Thom's are still slightly wary and I'm not sure whether Darius's parents have actually fully agreed yet or not but they will.

The sweltering heat swirls all around us and my animosity towards my soon-to-be-former principal only grows because he's the one who insisted that since the weather is so lovely, we should have the graduation ceremony outside.

I take off my ceremonial hat and fan myself with it; nobody ever tells you just how heavy these graduation robes are and you've your own clothes on under it as well and add that to the hundred degree heat it's just not a good combination.

Hopefully I don't faint when they call my name.

"You know I don't think that's what those hats are supposed to be used for" A teasing, familiar voice taunts from nearby.

I keep my eyes fixed on the people setting up the stage but I smile as I hear loud steps come to stand next to me and the scent of cinnamon and fresh bread fills the stale, dry, humid air.

"It's really, really warm okay?" I groan

Peeta sniggers, "Yeah, yeah I get it, don't worry."

We lean against the wall and watch our peers and their families rush around, trying to get the best seats, attempting to console sobbing parents and even a few students are crying though I can't imagine why.

"Hey" Peeta whispers "Your mum's over there talking to my dad."

I whirl around and follow his pointing finger; sure enough there my mum is seated next to Mr. Mellark. They're grinning and chatting happily, Mrs. Mellark is nowhere in sight and Peeta's brothers sitting next to them, lost in their own world.

Thankfully my mother was able to come to the ceremony. She was pretty enthusiastic about it too, fussing all week and calling Hazelle so they could both cry about how 'grown up' Gale and I have gotten.

This morning when she saw me in my cap and gown she stopped short. Tears glazed over her eyes as she took a step towards me, cupping my cheek softly and whispering,

"Your father would be so proud."

And honestly that's just what I needed to hear today.

As I watch her with Peeta's dad, my expression turns into a confused frown,

"Hang on, do you see Prim anywhere?"

Peeta frowns and we scan the crowds, he finds her before me though.

"There" Peeta points over to the left corner "She's sitting up near the front beside Rory and his family."

I see her now, huddled close together with Rory; they're probably looking at something on their phones. I settle against the wall, content in knowing that she's safe and not alone.

"So" Peeta continues "When are you going to tell Prim and Rory that you and Gale know they're dating?"

I snort.

Prim and Rory have been pining after one another for years but there's been a distinct difference in them over the past few months.

They seem to be trying extra hard to make it seem like nothing's going on which of course made it all the more obvious.

Gale and I figured it out a while back but we're not telling them yet. It's much more fun this way so we can 'accidentally' crash their dates or 'accidentally' make it so they don't have a lot of time together.

It might be a little cruel but hey, what are older siblings for?

I smile as two people at the end of their row catch my eye,

"Probably when Gale and I let Thom and Darius know that we're aware that they're dating."

Peeta whirls around to face me, his eyes and mouth open wide in shock,

"Wait, what?"

I raise my eyebrows at him because honestly he's supposed to be the smart one.

"Thom and Darius, they're dating but haven't told us yet." I point to them and Peeta looks over at them.

They're talking to Darius's parents at the end of the aisle beside where the Hawthornes and Prim are sitting. Thom and Darius stand close together and every few seconds their fingers 'accidentally' brush against each other's.

Peeta takes them in, pauses for a minute and then nods,

"I can see it" He admits, a small smile of surprise but joy on his face. I can tell that he's happy for them.

My smile widens, "Yeah. They're good for each other I think. They balance each other out."

Kinda like Peeta and I, I can't help but acknowledge.

"How long have they been together?" Peeta asks

I shrug, "Hard to say. I think a few years. Neither of them has really dated anyone else. There's been chemistry between them for as long as I can remember. I'd say a year or two but I doubt they made it official until recently. They can be quite clueless and stubborn at times."

Peeta smirks at me, "Thank God you aren't like that."

I elbow him in the ribs playfully, "Shut up."

He responds with a laugh and throws his arm around my shoulder as I settle my head into his neck.

"I can't believe we're here." Peeta whispers

I nod, "Neither can I…but…if I had to be here, I'm glad I'm here with you."

I don't have to see his face to know that he's smiling

"This isn't the end Kat. You and me, we're not some high school romance that'll drift apart once September comes. We're different; we're…more than that. What we have, it's real."

If it were anyone else spinning these words, it would sound cliché and sickening to me but when it's coming from Peeta and he's talking about us, it just feels so right.

"So you'll stay with me?" I murmur

"Always" He responds, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head, "Always, Kat."

…

Gale POV

Clutching my graduation cap in my hand, I turn the corner and begin to walk back to the stage. I didn't even realise I had forgotten my cap inside the school until Posey asked why I was the only one not wearing one of the hats with the soft tassels on them.

On my way back, I spot a familiar face sitting beneath the large oak tree.

It's Madge.

Stopping in my path, I make a detour and slowly walk over to her.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Madge looks up and her stiffened body relaxes when she sees that it's only me.

"No…no of course not."

She shuffles over and I sit on the grass beside her, taking her small, soft hand in mine.

The sound of the chirping birds above us breaks the tender silence. I patiently wait until her shoulders slacken and her fingers interlock with mine to ask the important question that I have to ask.

"Is everything alright?"

Madge leans her head back against the bark and closes her eyes,

"I got accepted." She confesses "The college in New York, the Academy…I got accepted."

"Madge…" The whisper is all I can get out.

I know it does little to display the pride, shock and sheer happiness that I'm feeling right now but it's the best I got.

She turns and her eyes slowly blink open,

"I'm not sure whether I should go Gale."

"What? But you were so excited about New York. Especially after the amazing performance you gave a few months ago! No wonder you got in. Madge, you deserve this."

"But what if I can't handle it Gale?" Her voice is quiet and it kills me to see her so lost and fragile like this, "I'd have to move all the way across the country. Would I be able to move away from my parents, from my friends, from…from you?"

"Yes." I answer with utmost certainty.

She looks away unsure, "I don't know-"

I use a finger to tilt her head back towards me gently,

"Hey well I do know." I reassure her "I know that this is the perfect course for you. I know that this is what you love and what you're talented in. I know that it'll be hard for you to move away but you'll be able for it because that's how strong and brave you are. I know you, Madge and I know that this is what's right for you. I won't pressure you to go but Madge…I honestly believe that you should. This is your dream M."

"But what about us?" A singe tear falls down her face and I hurry to wipe it away, ignoring the stab of pain in my chest at the sight of it, "What if we can't handle long distance or if I'm too busy to come home or-"

I cut her off by kissing her lovingly.

With my forehead pressed against hers and our lips barely touching, I tell her all the things I've been thinking and dreaming of ever since she first mentioned New York.

"We will work out. I've planned this all out in my head okay?" I inform her "We're going to skype every week. We'll text all the time; I'm going to rant about how annoying James is during your lectures so you can giggle at the messages afterwards. You're going to complain about the drunken frat boys and I'm going to threaten to come up and fight them off for you. You're going to have first dibs on all my concert tickets when 'Katniss and the Rebels' become famous and when your finals roll around I'll travel to New York and make sure you aren't working too hard. I'll make the coffee and offer cuddles and highlighters whenever they're needed."

Madge is the one who interrupts this time but it's not with a kiss.

"I love you" She hurriedly reveals.

I open my mouth to respond but the words catch in my throat. Time seems to halt for a second. The birds still chirp and the sound of the distant crowd is still there but they're only background noise. All there is now that I can focus on is Madge.

A bright grin takes over my face before I can stop it.

"I love you too"

And I do, I really, really do.

Madge stretches out her legs and snuggles into my side and somehow I just know that we're going to be alright.

Everything is going to be alright.

AN: I thought about writing more but this just seemed to fit so I left it at that. So just imagine Peeta's brothers teasing him and Katniss and the boys laughing and being so relieved to be leaving high school.

Epilogue is up next! Like Katniss, I can't quite believe we're here already.

Let me know what you thought!

Thanks for reading!

- xTeam Mockingjayx