Chapter 15 – Confrontations
AN: I want to say thank you for your patience. It's been pretty hectic coming back to work to discover the pile of assignments left on my desk. It was buried. Lol. For those who waited patiently and sent comments, you have my eternal gratitude. You're remarks and reviews are always appreciated. Keep 'em coming. Much thanks to Lord-of Oceans-Poseidon, pistonsfans5, Kpfan72491, hstrywlk, IcyPinkLemonade, MaidenAlice, wonderishome, pumpkinking5, J, Shellibug, Nai987, Tea4e, Chloe, Wrigley17, jmjames, B Dizzy and several guests. This chapter will have Gale, Haymitch and Katniss POVs and is rated PG. For your patience this is a long chapter for your reading pleasure. Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins. I just hijacked the characters for a little while.
Gale POV ––
Even before opening my eyes I knew pain would radiate from the back of my head to my forehead and down to my eyes. "Wake up, Gale," Darius' voice pierced my foggy brain. "You need to leave before the sun goes up." My body felt heavy and numb as I tried to sit up from the bunk.
"Oh God, my head hurts," I winced as I opened my eyes. I was right as an explosion imploded inside my head. The pain felt like a hot towel encasing my whole head burning my eyes and rattling my teeth. "Turn off the damn lights, Darius." I shut my eyes closed. I wanted to throw up as I struggled to breath through my nose while there was a ringing in ears that sent needles into my eyeballs.
"The lights are off, asshole," he wheezed between clenched teeth. "And keep your voice down, you'll wake up the guys." I opened my eyes one by one. Darius' face focused to recognition. He wore his uniform minus the headgear as he hovered beside me.
"How did I get here?" I asked as noticed that I was lying on his bunk inside the peacekeeper's bungalows. Darius was he was second in command had his own quarters next to a large room where the rest of the peacekeepers slept.
"I dragged your sorry ass here," he explained. "You don't remember me carrying your drunken, pathetic ass from the hob?" I shook my head. I couldn't remember what transpired the night before. No, I did remembered but I chose to drink the memory away.
Flashback – the night before
"Gale, we need to stop. It almost close to curfew" Sadie hissed as she tried to pry her hand from my gasp.
"We have 45 minutes before curfew," I leered at her. With the knowledge that Katniss was not interested in relationship with me, I was determined to wait her out. I had already wasted years waiting for her then to discover that she was attracted to Peeta Mellark. The rejection hurt more than I realized. To make matters worse, she chose the youngest Mellark for a boyfriend. Had she been attracted to Rye, I would have understood, but Peeta? I just couldn't understand the attraction.
He was shorter, weaker and…boyish. Yes, I understood the appeal with his blond hair, dimpled cheeks and blue eyes. He was…attractive I guess if you were attracted to little boys. He didn't look old enough to shave let alone grow a beard. He was sixteen years old for crying out loud. Two years younger than her. Once time passes she would realize her mistake so I planned to wait. But in the meantime…
"Gale, I don't want to go the slagheap with you," she said as she wrapped her arms around her waist.
"I missed you," I tried to charm her. Even if I chose to wait for Katniss, I'm a man that still had needs. If she was passing time with Peeta then why should I suffer waiting for her?
"Well, I haven't seen you in two weeks let alone talk to me," she bit back in anger and resentment. "Did you think I would be waiting for you while you tried to seduce your best friend Katniss Everdeen?" My mouth fell opened and closed.
"You didn't think I know about her? How you've been trying to make her jealous when we're together? I know I'm not the only one you've taken to the heap. I may like you, Gale, but I'm not that stupid or oblivious."
"Listen, I––"
"Don't, Gale," she interrupted me. "Just don't try to explain yourself. You're not a very convincing liar."
"Sadie, I'm sorry," I apologized. I was sincere in my apology for I didn't mean to hurt her. "It's not like we promised each other anything."
"I know, Gale," she returned. "I went to you willingly. I mean, I hoped that maybe in time you'd forget about Katniss and realize that she doesn't want you. She's your friend, Gale. Every one can see that but you."
"What do you mean?" She could tell that Katniss didn't want me as a boyfriend? Was that some woman's intuition? "You're so thick headed that can't see what's in front of you. Katniss has always been truthful of her feelings whether she wanted you to be her friend or not."
That was true with Katniss. If she wanted you as a friend she was upfront about it. Her friendship with Madge Undersee puzzled me. But she was also direct if she disliked you as well. "She never looked at you like she was attracted to you. She looked up to you that was obvious, but anything more than that? That was obvious too." I blinked couple of times confused by her observation. "She looked up to you like a big brother, Gale. She wanted nothing more than that from you."
The revelation angered me. "You know nothing of Katniss. What we've been through together. What kind of relationship we have. She just needs time." Once she got over her silly crush with Peeta, she would realize that we belonged together and not with some weak Merchant boy.
"I'm a girl, Gale," she sneered back. "I'm pretty sure I can tell when a girl is flirting with you because she's attracted to you. Tell me with all the girls who flirted with you, has Katniss given or even hinted that kind of attention to you?"
I thought back to my time with Katniss whether it was hunting or just hanging out together, she never looked at me the way others girls did. She never complimented me with any flirtatious gesture. I just thought she was above that kind of behavior or just didn't know how.
"And no amount of time is going to make her change her mind. If she says you're her friend, you're her friend and nothing more. I thought you knew Katniss better than that. I may not be her friend but even I knew that about her," Sadie continued her rant of my best friend.
"You're wrong," I spat back in denial. She was projecting her jealousy.
"Maybe I'm wrong," she retorted. "And if that's the case, what are you doing with me? We're not in serious relationship I know that, but you can't come to me and expect me to jump at your beck and call whenever you feel like it. I'm not your whore." I flinched at her accusation. She wasn't…she wasn't that to me.
"I didn't…I thought we were having fun," I backtracked. How did I get this all-wrong with Sadie? I was upfront with her from the start.
"Just like you, I thought that maybe in time you'd realize that you want to be with me," Sadie admitted. "That was my mistake. I really like you Gale, and had you given me…given us a chance maybe we would have been something more." I sighed in resignation. She tiptoed on her feet and kissed my cheek.
"You're a great guy. You can be sweet sometimes," she added. "But I'm not going to waste anymore time waiting for you." She turned to walk away. "You should also stop wasting time hoping for Katniss to change her mind. If you don't, you'll find yourself waiting for something that will never happen. Goodbye, Gale."
End of flashback ––
The memory of last night flashed in my mind. "How did I get here?" I said to myself not directing it to anyone in particular.
"You don't remember?" Darius spoke his voice low but firm.
"I remember going to the hob, but…after that everything is fuzzy to me," I admitted. I remembered walking to the hob angry, disappointed and horny as hell. I needed a release.
"I found you passed out in the alley between the bakery and shoe shop," he narrated. "It was close to curfew and there wasn't any time to get you home."
"So why am I here?" He could have left me at the hob and fend myself.
"I thought about leaving you there but…" He stopped and took a deep breath. "You're my friend, Gale or at least I think you are. But I also couldn't be seen walking you home when you were obviously drunk. So I took a big risk and had two of my guys help me bring you here."
"Thanks," I said as I sat up. My body ached once my limbs caught up to my wakeful state. Any movement I made caused my head to explode further. The ringing in my ears continued sending spikes of pain to my eyes.
"Don't thank me," he said. "You owe two of my men game the next time you go hunting. They want rabbit in return for helping me out."
"Well, they'll have to wait until the fence is turned off."
"The fence is off," he stated matter of fact. "I was ordered by Cray to turn it off early this morning." So that was why he was in uniform.
"Why?" That was unexpected. I thought it would remain on until he discovered who killed his nephew. He was still investigating his murder. His frustration and anger grew at each passing day.
"He was ordered by Snow this morning," he sighed. "Listen, there's rumors going around that the MockingJay is in District 12. You don't happen to know anything about that?"
Air left my lungs as the news permeated my post alcohol drenched brain. It was hard to concentrate as the pain in my head worsened. I kept quiet not uttering a word. All the revelations and news was hard to handle. Sadie, Katniss, and the MockingJay were topics too early in the morning for me to concentrate and talk about. I wanted to be home in my own bed.
"I guess it was stupid of me to ask," he stated as he took my silence as an answer.
"Darius, you are my friend even if you are a peacekeeper," I smiled at him. I winced as the gesture made my face hurt. "I really don't know if he is here in 12, but you're right I wouldn't tell you if he was."
"That's fair." He walked over to a window. The sun peeped through the horizon. "Anyway, Cray was in conference with Snow early this morning. His order to turn off the fence shocked me." Me, too. "You need to careful for the next two weeks. I think that a lot is going to happen until then."
"What do you mean?" He was being mysterious and evasive.
"I'm a peacekeeper, Gale," he said in a stern manner. He stood there not as my friend but a soldier for the Capitol and Snow. "I too have my loyalty to my unit and the Capitol." It was odd that he didn't mentioned Snow. "I don't have to tell you anything. As a matter of fact, I don't have to tell you anything at all." His veneer changed from friendly to combative within seconds. Sometimes I tend to forget that he wasn't from 12 and was a peacekeeper.
The room was quiet and heavy. The dynamics between us changed rapidly. I felt like a prisoner all of a sudden. "How are you feeling? Are you well enough to walk on your steam and make it back home without getting caught?"
His question irritated me like as if he felt as though he had to hold my hand and walked me home. I wasn't his responsibility. "I've had a hangover before, Darius. Worse than this as a matter of fact." I stood up and tried not to wince as the gesture shot pain inside my head. 'Focus, focus, don't show him any weakness,' I told myself.
"Gale," he said my name in an authoritative manner. He was definitely Peacekeeper Darius mode again. "Watch your back. Be careful to whom you talk to, who you hang around with and what you do. I'm just warning you as a friend." I nodded my head as best I could since suddenly my mouth felt dry and parched. "Because out there, if I catch you doing something illegal, I won't hesitate to turn you in, understand?"
My whole body from my legs to my arms felt heavy and cumbersome. The walk home took longer than I anticipated as I stopped by a nearby tree and leaned on it. Darius' words echoed in my head. It wasn't just a warning but a threat reminding me he was Peacekeeper through and through. I needed to be careful as I reminded myself of the mission that I volunteered for was still going to happen.
"Gale?" A soft voice startled me from my thoughts. The voice belonged to Madge Undersee, Katniss' classmate and friend. Her appearance surprised me since was it was bright and early in the morning. Too early for any Merchant to be awake.
"Hey," I said as I was lost for words. Her long blond wavy hair was in a ponytail. Not that the detail mattered since I didn't notice things like that about her in general. She was attractive I could admit that. She wore dark slacks with a pale yellow blouse. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you, Gale," she snickered. "Not that it's any of your business but I just came from the hospital to be up some medicine for my mother." It was a well-known fact that Madge's mother was a drug addict and hypochondriac. She had miscarried three times before Toby, Madge's ten-year old brother. It was the reason why there was an age gap between them. The miscarriages traumatized her that she became addicted to morphling. Since then Madge had been her caretaker while her father drowned himself with the district's politics. It was a sad and tragic story for them.
"What are you doing walking around this time in the morning?" she retaliated. She had an excuse I didn't. She caught me. "By the way, you look horrible. Are you okay?" Her concern grated me. Why would she care about me?
"I had a little too much to drink last night," I explained. Why did I answer back? I didn't know what compelled me to explain it to her.
"Where did you sleep? You were lucky that the peacekeepers didn't find you passed out somewhere after curfew."
"Why do you care?" I spat back. The pain in my head tripled. Being angry and hung over didn't mix well.
"Excuse me for caring about another human being," she sneered back. She was feisty and independent just like Katniss. I could see why Katniss befriended her.
"I'm Seam and you're Merchant," I said matter of fact like as if it explained everything wrong between us. "We were not friends. Why should I even be talking to you?"
"You know, I never thought you were a bigot and a bully," she started. She looked sad and…disappointed.
"Yeah, name calling you Merchants think you're better than us Seam," I retorted. Then she shook her head.
"No, I don't think I'm better than you, but I know that I've had advantages over you. That doesn't make me a bad person." What? Did that even make sense? "Tell me Gale, if I was dark hair and gray eyes, would we be friends?" She waited for a response. The answer was automatic. "Or if my dad wasn't the mayor of this district?"
"Yes."
"Then, you're a bigot. You don't like me because of my looks. I'm blond, fair skin and blue eyes. This alone is enough to dislike me to even hate me." Well, since she put that way, it did seem petty and childish but I wasn't about to admit that.
"No you live in town, the Merchant part of town."
"So you hate me because of my location? Mrs. Everdeen is blond, blue eyed and if I remember correctly she is Merchant by blood even when she married Mr. Everdeen."
"Well, she's different," I stated my case. I flinched as I heard my argument in my head. It sounded logical at the time when I said. I was grasping on anything to hold to my belief that Merchants were arrogant and self-absorbed people who looked down on us.
"How different? She didn't change her hair or her eyes to live there? Is it because she's Katniss' mother? That doesn't make any sense." She was confusing me. I was still hung over and my mind couldn't process anything clearly. "And Katniss is half Merchant, you don't hate her or Prim who is obviously blond hair and blue eyes like me. By your argument, you should hate her too."
"Keep Katniss out of this," I returned. "She despises Merchant just as much as I do." She giggled at my remark. I didn't find it amusing. "What's so funny?" Her laughter hung in the air. It was sweet and melodious sound. 'Fuck, what am I saying? I'm not attracted to Madge.'
"You really must be living under a rock for the past few weeks," Madge chortled. She looked…beautiful as smiled back at me. Her eyes crinkled and cheeks turned pink. 'Nope, can't focus on that.' I had to remind myself that I hated all Merchants. "Did you forget who her boyfriend is?"
"I know who he is," I roared back. Anger and frustrated bubbled in my stomach. "I don't get it. I don't understand the attraction." I was muttering to myself not really asking her a question.
"Why not? He is gorgeous, sweet and kind––"
"He's Merchant!"
"You really need to get over yourself," she said in a calm manner. "Peeta Mellark is a great guy. Any girl would be lucky to have him for a boyfriend."
"He's not good enough for her," I argued. What did I expect from a Merchant? "Of course, you would defend him. He's one of you guys."
"One of you guys? What does that mean? You mean that he is nice, sweet and kind to everyone even Seam. That he shows more compassion and kindness to everyone despite the fact his own mother…That girls from both sides of the Seam and Merchant adore and lust after him. Do you know why? Not only because he's gorgeous, well built and he would make a wonderful husband and father." I winced at her description of Peeta. Is that what girls saw in him?
"He doesn't go out of his way to be nice to people, Gale. He just is whether you're blond or dark hair. To him, he doesn't see a divide between us, he sees people for who and what they are."
"Well isn't he a prince, he's so perfect––"
"Oh, he's not perfect far from it. He can get mad like everyone else. But don't think because of his size and his good nature that you can bully and pick on him. He can and will defend himself if he needed to." I never seen Peeta fight anyone. I usually thought he shied away from confrontation because he was a coward. "I've never admitted this to anyone, but do you remember Damien Ritter?" I nodded my head. Damien was a Merchant bully in Peeta's class. I've had a couple of altercations with him before he was reaped a year ago. He was tall and stocky guy that everyone was afraid of. No one messed with him. Seam stayed away from him while Merchants avoided contact.
"A weak before he was reaped, he was harassing me. Wouldn't leave me alone until I went out with him. One day as I was walking home from school, he cornered me. He dragged me to an empty alley. He wouldn't let me leave until I agreed to go out with him. I was so scared that I almost said yes when Peeta and Rye Mellark found us. To cut a long story short, Rye walked me home and Peeta dealt with Damien. After that day, he never bothered me ever again."
"What did Peeta do to leave you alone?" My curiosity was peaked as Peeta was at least four inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than Damien.
"Do you remember on reaping day, Damien showed up with a black eye and scratches all over his face like he was dragged on the ground?" The Mellark boys were known as champion wrestlers at my former school. I didn't put much worth in wrestling since all I saw was a bunch of guys in singlets groping each other on the ground. How hard can it be to wrestle anyone to the floor?
"We never spoke about it but the only thing I knew was that Damien never bothered me ever again."
"And the moral of the story is?" I said sarcastically.
"Peeta defended me not because I was Merchant but because he saw a bully harassing me. The same way Peeta defended a Seam girl from Ivan that day behind the bakery. That's the reason why girls adore him. He doesn't see the color of your hair or eyes. He sees people."
I scoffed at Peeta's heroics and noble character. He wasn't a saint that people made him to be. "You don't like Peeta because he's Merchant. The fact that he is Merchant only compounds your hatred for him. You really hate him because Katniss likes him and likes being with him. She chose him over you."
"Stop saying that." I hated people telling me that Katniss chose him over me. The rejection stung like no other. And to make matters worse he was Merchant and a baker. A baker. Katniss chose a baker.
"And I would chose him over you too not because we're blond and Merchant because I'd rather be with someone who's not angry all the time, hating the world and the people in it. If Katniss wasn't attracted to him or wasn't with him, I would want Peeta to be my boyfriend too. But she's my friend and I wouldn't do anything to break up our friendship because I want her to be happy. And you know what? Peeta makes her happy."
"She was mine first," I started.
"She was never yours or anyone to begin with. You need to get over the fact that she's with Peeta now. You need to open your eyes, Gale."
"I can see fine, thank you very much." She was preaching to me. How dare she speak to me and tell me what to do and how to feel?
"No, you don't. You see a very narrow vision of the world. You're not seeing the bigger picture."
"And what is the bigger picture?" I asked.
"We are not your enemy. We were born into our circumstances. We didn't choose it. I got lucky." She stopped for a second. "We have to stick together if we want to survive. Granted, yes there are not a lot of Merchants who like the Seam. It will take both sides to overcome the social divide and prejudice we were taught as children, but we're not kids anymore." She sighed. "Aren't you tired of being angry all the time?" I was tired, but not out of anger and lack of sleep. I was angry and tired because in one afternoon, Peeta and Katniss took everything away from me.
The sun rose from behind the mountains. There were signs that the town was coming alive as the smell of bread filtered the air, birds chirped and flew around us. The bell from the clock in the Justice building rang signaling a brand new day.
"You're not a bad guy, Gale," she said. "You're angry at the world, I don't blame you, but life is short in Panem. You, Katniss and I survived the reaping, but my little brother, Katniss' sister and your siblings still have years to stand there and wait for their names to be called. Don't waste your time hating on what doesn't really exist between us. There is so much hate and misery around us while the Capitol thrives on butchering us for entertainment. You really need to figure out whom you hate more. Us blond hair, blue eyed Merchants who get reaped like the rest of the Seam or Snow and the Capitol."
She turned and left as quickly as she appeared. For a few seconds I thought our whole conversation was just a dream that bore into my hung over mind like as if I had imagined it. However, the pain behind my eyes and sounds emanating from my stomach crystallized the reality of our encounter. It happened.
During my walk back to my home, my mind was jumbled with thoughts of what I wanted in my life. I wanted Katniss but she didn't want me. I hated the Merchants yet Madge was nice and easy to talk to. It was obvious that she adored and was attracted to Peeta as well. I just refused to see the good in him what everyone saw in him. It made me wonder what people saw in me.
Haymitch and Garrett were right when they told me to figure out the priorities in my life. I wanted what everyone else wanted––love and family. I was adamant in believing that I would have that with Katniss. It was what I focused on. The one thing that kept me going––she was my reward so to speak. I had made her the center of my world not realizing I wasn't hers. What do I do now that my purpose didn't exist anymore?
Haymitch POV ––
"Okay, now that everything is in order. We need to figure out which day to blow up the mine," I asked the people around me. All the details and instructions were discussed, looked over and over until it was branded in our minds. We couldn't afford to make a mistake. Not only was Gale's life was at stake, everyone involved in the operation had a lot to lose. I would have invited Gale to this meeting but since he's still on my shit list. I couldn't trust him to keep his mouth shut up until the last minute. We were all in agreement of letting him be aware of the date and time since was trustworthy. We believed that he was capable to fulfill his end on the mission, but that was it. The rest of the rebel's identities were still a secret except with myself.
"I think soon before the reaping ceremony," Jimmy suggested. "Gale needs enough time to reach District 13." Even though District 13 contacted Jay, we still needed Gale to find their location. It was imperative to have someone know their hideout incase we needed to evacuate District 12. We couldn't afford to be lost looking for them. And since Gale is hunter and tracker, he was the perfect candidate.
Wayne, Heath, Jimmy, Nate and Garrett were in attendance at my home. "I have to get back soon," Jimmy stated. Since his arrival, he was fidgety and inattentive. "Rye and Delly are alone so can we get this moving along?" We met after lunch as they discreetly crept to the Victor's Village hoping to avoid any peacekeepers patrolling the area. They hardly ever patrolled around the Victor's Village since I was the only one living here.
"Where's Peeta?" I asked. A pit in stomach formed. Did something happen to him? "Why isn't he in the bakery?"
"Peeta is on a picnic with his girlfriend, Katniss," Jimmy laughed as he side glanced Garrett.
"What, when?" I uttered. "Since when did that happened? Because we all know that Peeta and Katniss are––"
"On a date, Haymitch," Garrett interrupted. I flinched as I almost revealed the true nature of their relationship––it was a ruse to protect Peeta from Cray. Wayne, Nate and Heath were not aware of the fake relationship. Once Katniss started the lie, they had to keep it up.
"Well, now that's out in the open why wouldn't they be dating," Heath asked. "Why do you sound surprised?"
"I'm not surprised just…curious since you know…" I looked at Jimmy.
"Well, his mother was not exactly thrilled when she found out," Jimmy reminded them. "I'm just glad they're not sneaking around anymore."
"Speaking of Evelyn," Heath started. "She's been visiting Lorraine a lot and…Evelyn told her of…your situation. I'm really sorry, Jimmy."
Jimmy sighed as if he lost energy from his posture. "I signed the papers a week ago, Heath," he said. "It won't be official until––"
"What the hell are you two talking about," Nate started. "I'm getting confused here. I thought you guys are talking about Peeta and Katniss. Now you're talking about Evelyn. What's going on?"
"I…signed the petition to dissolve my marriage to Evelyn," he stated. "She's putting off signing it demanding that I pay her for the years she worked at the bakery. She claims that I owe for working there without any compensation or salary."
"Putting a roof over her head and being married isn't a compensation?" Wayne spoke for the first time. He was widower who lost his wife years before but hadn't remarried. There wasn't a gaggle of single 40ish women available for him to marry.
"So you're divorce is on a standstill," I said.
"It's ridiculous. If I had the money I would gladly hand it to her," he uttered. "I just don't her getting near Peeta.'
"She's still his mother, Jimmy," Heath reminded him. "She can talk and get in contact with Peeta any time she wants to."
"She's basically is extorting money from you," Garrett supplied. "It's extortion plain and simple."
"I don't know what to do," Jimmy uttered. "I don't know how to make her sign the paper. I swear if she…if she lays another hand on him. I…I…swear I'll––" I've never seen Jimmy this distraught or angry at Evelyn.
"I'm sorry, Jimmy," Heath added. "And unless there's some legal way for her to sign it, she can put it off for a really long time."
"I can live with that," he said. "I just want to make sure that she also doesn't have any legal or binding way to take the bakery from me."
"She doesn't legally," Heath stated.
"It's more than that," Jimmy admitted. "I'm really worried about something else all together. Evelyn is adamant on marrying off Peeta to Agatha. I know it takes two signatures but if something happens to me and Peeta is still sixteen. I'm really scared that she'll force him into marry her." Jimmy's situation was sad and frustrating.
The mood around the room was somber. "This is one of the reason why we're rebelling against the Capitol, guys. I know that some of you are having seconds thoughts," Garrett stated. "Once we remove Snow from power, we take our lives back and abolish these archaic laws that can not only force children into the arena but get rid of these laws that can force parents to marrying off their children to people they don't love or want. Marriage should be entered willingly and wholeheartedly."
"I would never force my Madge to anyone she doesn't want," Heath said. "I love Lorraine but you guys know that my parents convinced me that we were a suitable match. I mean, what I did know about love and marriage at 17." It was common among Merchants to marry off their children by contract to ensure financially stability. "I was lucky to had fallen in love with my wife."
"I was lucky that Augusta and I found each other," Nate added.
"You guys are depressing," I snickered. "What were we talking about before you guys got morbid of marriage talk and contracts? Oh, we were talking about Peeta and Katniss."
"That's a match I never thought would happen," Nate teased Jimmy. "Who knew Peeta was that sneaky and clever dating Garrett's daughter behind your back."
"I wouldn't of have any qualms if they told upfront," Garrett continued the ruse. "Peeta is good for Katniss." I couldn't agree since I really didn't know Katniss well with the exception that she was a brooding and strong-will individual. Poor Peeta.
"And you guys known for a long time that Peeta had a crush on Katniss since he was five," Jimmy cackled. We all laughed at the hilarity and irony of the situation.
"Anyway, we need to set a date and not talk about my daughter's relationship with the baker's son," Garrett teased. "I think a week before the Reaping."
"Just a second," Nate interjected. "Hold on a minute. For years now we've been teasing Jimmy's boy for having a crush on your girl, Garrett. Why is it that they kept it a secret?"
"Hello, Seam and Merchant. Does that at all sound familiar?" Wayne said. "Not that I'm against Peeta and Katniss dating."
"Like I said, Evelyn would have…everyone knows how she feels about the Seam," Jimmy stated. It was true that Evelyn was against anyone who was Seam. She was very vocal about it.
"Yes, it's been a few weeks and all the womenfolk talk about is Peeta and Katniss and the broadcast of his whipping."
"It's the distraction that we need. It's the perfect diversion," Garrett informed. "Since Peeta's incident. Cray is too busy looking for his nephew's killer. It's the perfect time."
"How about the day during the school's dance? That would be perfect. All the shops and store will be closed and everyone will be in town?" Wayne suggested.
"That won't work. The mine will be closed too," I explained. "How can anyone explain what Gale was doing there by himself?"
"I know. Rye's wedding is the day after. His appointment to sign his marriage papers is set at noon. Then the toasting right after," Jimmy stated. "Everyone here is invited and we can use his reception as alibi incase the peacekeepers have questions after we set blow up the mine."
"It's a great idea, but wouldn't that ruin Rye and Delly's day?" I asked. "I mean, I'd hate to think that they're going to remember their wedding day was also marked with tragedy."
"It's not really a tragedy," Garrett said.
"I'm going to tell Rye and Delly so that it won't ruin their day completely," Jimmy remarked. "In fact, I'm also going to tell Peeta. They deserve to know."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Heath inquired. "I thought we were trying to minimize the people involved."
"My son is involved," Jimmy retorted. "He deserves to know."
"Heath is right, Jimmy," Garrett agreed. "The less people know, the better. It's bad enough that Snow is threatening him." Heath and Wayne were informed of Peeta's meeting with Snow. I didn't want to have any secrets between us––my conspirators as well as myself were a handful of people who knew Jay's true identity and our plans. "What if Snow asks him if he knew about the mine explosion? I know as well as anyone that he's good in keeping secrets but…I don't want to add another burden or secret on him."
"What about Katniss?" Jimmy uttered. "You're not going to tell her that her childhood friend will be dead in a week? How is that remotely right to do that to her?"
"Katniss and Gale's relationship right now is…shaky," Garrett mentioned. "At this point, she wants nothing to do with him so…telling her about his demise will surely sadden her. She'll mourn for him. I'm against telling her because it would also mean revealing that all of us are rebelling against the Capitol. That we are all involved. I'm not sure she's ready to hear that."
"Yeah, I bet she's not crazy about the rebellion or about the MockingJay," I scoffed.
"Yeah, she's pissed at him for the video," Garrett added. "She really upset at him for involving Peeta in the broadcast so…" He winced. "So telling her about our plans would only upset her more." He laughed. "She threatened to put an arrow through Jay's head if she ever found out who he is." Everyone laughed. There were only three people who knew his true identity and they were present in the room. It was going to be ugly when everyone found out who he was and the damaged he's about to cause.
"Listen, there a long list of reasons why we cannot let anyone know what we're doing," I reasoned with them. "It's to protect your families from any retribution if we are found out. I have nothing to lose but you guys have families and loved ones to protect. We cannot tell anyone nor can we afford to be caught."
"I guess you're right," Jimmy agreed. "Only my eldest son, Graham knows my involvement but that was a decision I made to make sure that my family stays safe from harm in case something happens to me. Unfortunately, now that Peeta is involved though indirectly, he's at risk. My whole family is at risk."
"Only Lily knows my involvement with the upcoming rebellion," Garrett said. "She doesn't know anything else but that and I want to keep it that way."
"Me too," Nate and Heath said.
"I haven't involved Delly or my wife what I've been up to," Nate added. "It's a good thing Augusta is too busy preparing for our daughter's wedding to Rye. It's all she's concentrating on."
"I think my daughter Madge is…she's a smart girl and I think she suspects something," Heath stated. "As for my wife, well…"
"So are we in agreement that the mining explosion will happen after Rye and Delly's wedding," Jimmy asked.
Everyone nodded their head. It was a somber moment knowing that we were soon committing ourselves to the rebellion. "This is it. There was no backing out," Garrett reiterated. "Once we set this in motion. We're committed to the revolution. MockingJay will make an appearance and no one can turn back."
"Just give our selves a moment. I want you to really think about this. I know we've been planning and talking about this for…weeks…no for years now. Make sure this is what you want. Speak now if you have any doubts or fears." I looked at the men before me. Men I grew up with as classmates in school. When I was reaped I never thought I would survive the arena, but here I was twenty-four years later. After Snow had killed the remaining members of my family, I had stayed away from the general populace, keeping myself detached with the people in district 12. I only interacted with a handful of people. I've led a lonely and destructive life by nursing my fears, guilt and nightmares with alcohol as my companion. Now I have friends who I care about. I shouldn't but I do care what happens to them.
Suddenly the music from the Capitol monitor activated. "Shit, every one keep quiet and stay out of sight," I hissed as I walked over to my monitoring room. Snow never communicated or interacted with me in a personal level. This transmission was personal since the music and call in sign was only designated for Victors' viewing only.
I sat down on my chair and waited as his signature white logo was displayed on the screen. "Hello, Mr. Abernathy," he greeted me. My mouth was parched and dry, I needed a drink to calm my nerves. My hands shook and sweat beaded my forehead.
"President Snow," I greeted him back. "To what do I owe this honor, President Snow?"
"I'm giving you a warning in advance of the changes I will be making in the next couple of weeks," he said. Snow was a man who went right to the point. He never vacillated between rudeness and politeness. If he wanted you dead he told you right at your face with no fancy word or ceremony. "It seems that you're district is causing me problems. So changes must be made to avoid further incidents."
"Changes? What changes are you referring to?" I inquired. I didn't like what he was insinuating. Changes from Snow usually meant to keep everyone in place and under his scrutiny. He directly threatened Peeta and his family. That meant that Peeta was being watched with every move he made.
"For starters, I will be removing Cray from your district." Wow, that was unexpected. "I have other plans for him, closer to home so to speak." It was his way of making sure that Cray didn't make any more trouble for him. I assumed he was not pleased with the way he had handled his nephew's murder investigation. Nor did I anticipated Jay recording Peeta's whipping or using him in his propo. For every action there was a reaction. Now poor Peeta was subjected with threats to his life and the people he loved.
"Also the curfew has been lifted and the fence turned off." My brows lifted in surprised that he caught my expression. "The reaping like I said is in two weeks. I am not that cruel to keep District 12 in such a rigid and strict quarantine. They should enjoy their 'freedom' from any more retribution from Cray and my peacekeepers." I mentally snickered to myself. He was allowing us his version of freedom under his rules and supervision.
"You are very kind, sir," I flattered his ego. "My district thanks you for your 'gift.' " This was a game to Snow. He played us like we were pieces on a chess board.
"See to it that it is not taken for granted or abused." I understood the underlying message he was giving me.
"And will you sending a replacement? For Cray?" I was not pleased with his decision. At least with Cray we were used to dealing with him. The next Head Peacekeeper could be troublesome.
"Not right now since the next reaping is two weeks away," he said. "I assume that you will do your best to keep District 12 in line." That decision made me wary. He was up to something.
"There isn't much I can do, sir," I told him.
"Oh, I think that you can manage especially keeping an eye on young Mellark," he said. A chill went up my spine.
"What about him, sir?" He mentioned Peeta. He was his focus.
"Since the broadcast it seems that young Peeta Mellark has made an impact with the Capitol," he explained. "The video has made him a celebrity."
"I don't understand how?"
"Peeta is looked upon as a hero to the masses who consider him as the tragic romantic figure to the young and old. His story has reached such a level of admiration and sentimentality." I could tell he wasn't pleased with the outcome from the video. "His love for his girl is sought after as a love story. He bore pain and suffering in the name of love."
Peeta was being hailed a hero and tragic romantic figure throughout Panem not just the Capitol. In other words Peeta and Katniss had a following ––a large group looking up to them. They were becoming a threat to Snow. Jimmy spoke about the threat to Peeta's life, that I knew but his celebrity status was something new.
"What is it you need me to do?" I said. Jay's video was a strategic move for the rebellion. It wasn't meant to elevate Peeta or Katniss in any way. This was a disaster as now Snow has Katniss in his line of sight besides Peeta.
"There is nothing to be done," Snow said. "The damage is done. You, Abernathy must make sure that Mellark and Everdeen are not in anyway to cause me any more problems or trouble."
"I don't understand," I lied.
"Please let us not lie to each other, Mr. Abernathy," he quipped. "You and I know that there are dissidents and riots that are being quietly suppressed by my Peacekeepers. I need order and equanimity in the districts. Young Mellark and Everdeen cannot become figures to be admired and elevated to a level that I cannot control. Their popularity must be tempered."
"I think your making their 'popularity' more than what it really is."
"And that is?"
"They are just two young kids in love. Two kids caught in Cray's obsession to find his nephew's killer. Their love affair is by no means any more special for anyone to admire." I tried to convince him. I needed to find a way to draw attention away from them.
"Oh, Mr. Abernathy you are wrong. Who can resist a young man being tortured in the name of young love? They have become quite popular here." I swallowed a pocket of saliva that was stuck in my throat. "The story of Star Crossed lovers in District 12 is quite popular throughout Panem. See to it that they do not cause any more problems. We understand each other don't w e, Mr. Abernathy."
The story of the Star Crossed Lovers of District 12 were separated by social divide based on their physical looks. It was an underhand and deviant plan to set unrest within the district. So the real issues like poverty, inequality and injustice would not be questioned and demanded as rights for any person to have. It was a smoke screen. If we were too busy hating each other why would we rebel against Snow and the Capitol?
"Crystal clear, sir. Crystal clear," I repeated to him. I could see why Peeta and Katniss were a threat to him and everything that the Capitol stood for. Repression and suppression to the weak while they lavished themselves with every comfort afforded to them were the only way to keep us in line.
"Good, I am glad that we understand each other." He signed of with not so much as a good bye.
"Shit," Garrett said from behind me as the rest of the guys stood next to him. The look on Jimmy's face was of fear and anger.
"You took the word out of my mouth," I cringed for affect.
"Are we done here?" Jimmy said his voice hard and terse. "I need to go back to my family." I nodded my head.
"Jimmy––" Garrett started after him as he watched him leave my home.
"Just give him some space, Garrett," I said. "You have Katniss to worry about. Everyone go home. We're done here." Heath, Nate and Wayne walked out the door leaving Garrett as he lingered after them. I was tired physically and mentally.
"We have to figure out a way to distract Snow from Peeta and Katniss, Haymitch," Garrett started. "I never expected that Snow would single them out, especially Peeta."
"I know, Garrett. I know." I sighed.
"That goddamn video––" Garrett started. "I––"
"Are we going to argue about this now when it's a moot point?" Garrett sighed and shook his head. "Okay, listen. I know we need to lay low but since the fence is down why don't we explode the mine sooner than later."
"Because there is a reason why Snow lifted the curfew and turned off the fence," I said in an impatient manner.
"You think he suspects something?" he asked.
"The timing and not sending a new Head Peacekeeper is too coincidental. I believe he's watching every move we make from now to reaping day."
"You're probably right," he admitted.
"Go home, Garrett," I said. "Go home to your family." He had family people to protect and love. I envied him of that.
Katniss POV ––
Whatever I expected from our trip to the park was not this––an intruder who I've yet to confront for making Peeta's life miserable. I carefully placed Peeta's head on the blanket making sure not to alarm and disturb his sleep. Lord knows he needed it. It was cowardly of me to not press what I wanted from him––to forge a real relationship, an honest one. But I knew that I hurt, really hurt him so bad that anything I say now would be taken with caution to protect his already bruised heart. I did that to him and it's up to me to mend what I broke with time and patience. At least he was willing to be my friend.
So my only obstacle is the person headed our way determined to completely damage the fragile and shaky bond he entrusted upon me. I wouldn't let it happen.
"What are you doing with my son?" Mrs. Mellark screamed as I met her half way before she reached our picnic spot. I turned my head quick to see if Peeta woke from her scream. She edged around me to get to him but I blocked her path.
"Keep your voice down," I seethed in anger containing my fury. As Peeta's pretend girlfriend this was not how I wanted to meet my boyfriend's mother. She was diminutive woman in size but her anger and character was large and strong as she mentally and physically abused her husband and sons. She was truly lucky considering the strength and size of her husband and sons, how they never struck back in anger was testament of their gentle and kind character and nature. I just wished she didn't focus her anger on her youngest for it was obvious that Peeta was the center of her wrath and resentment. How could a mother treat her own son like that since Peeta was kindest, easy natured and gentlest person I have ever met? "He's sleeping. Leave him alone."
"Huh, lazy boy. What I did expect?" she retorted. "He always was a dreamer takes after his father and doesn't amount to anything. He should be at the bakery instead of wasting his time with a Seam brat."
"Shut up," I said my teeth clenched from anger. "He's not lazy. You can call me all the nasty names you want, but don't you dare tell me that Peeta is lazy and isn't worth anything. He deserves to be happy and loved."
"I just don't understand what he sees in you. I mean you should stick to your own. Don't think I know about you and the Hawthorne boy in the Slagheap." I gasped. "Yeah, I heard all about him and the girls he takes there. You're just some left over that my son is so enamored with. I know what you're doing?"
"And what is it you think I'm doing?" I could tell where this was leading but I needed to hear it. Her opinion didn't matter to me, only Peeta did.
"You know you can do better by getting involved with a Merchant boy. And Peeta has had a crush on you for so long, you took advantage of him. He's easy to seduce with your big eyes and ways." Me, a seducer? I laughed to myself. If she only knew how many times I broke Peeta's heart. If only I knew how to seduce him, he would be mine now.
"Peeta didn't have to seduce me," I stated. "I want to be with Peeta because he's kind and good. He doesn't see the world with ugly eyes and a nasty mind."
"If he's so good then why isn't here with you. Why is he over there sleeping when he should be defending his slut Seam girlfriend?"
"He's sleeping because he's still recovering from the whipping or have you forgotten about that?" I accused her. She had the decency to look guilty but it was fleeting. "How did you know we were here?"
"Hmph, I don't have to answer to you," she stated, as she looked me up and down appraising my appearance. The gesture caused me to straighten my posture.
"I'm his girlfriend. I have every right to protect him, especially from you."
"I'm his mother––"
"Who has done nothing but berate and treat him horribly," I reminded her.
"I have never––"
"Yes, you have. I've seen the scars on his legs and arms. I know what you've done to him. He told me everything." I really didn't but since I'm his girlfriend who knew Peeta intimately I had to bluff.
"He's lying. Move aside," she said as she took a step forward. There a bit of height difference between us, not a lot but enough for me to look down on her. I'm underweight for my height due to lack of proper nutrition but I'm strong.
Eye to eye, I looked deep into her eyes. "If you ever lay your hands on Peeta again, I'll hunt you down with my bow and arrow." She gasped in horror and fright. "I don't think anyone will stop me. In fact, I think they would in line behind me. So from now on you will stay away from Peeta."
"You have no right to tell me to stay away from my own son."
"The same son you didn't see fit to visit after the whipping. The same son you only want to control and force him to marry a girl he doesn't want or love."
"He's too young to know what he wants or what's good for him."
"If you had any sense you should know what's good for you. You stay away from Peeta and leave him alone or I will bodily remove you myself."
"How dare you threaten me?"
"I'm not threatening you," I said. "It's a promise. Now leave." She stood in her place for a second her eyes moving between Peeta's sleeping form and me. My anger grew as she lingered debating if my threat was real. My hands clenched on my sides as I lost patience. I took a step forward, she stepped back. "Leave."
"Katniss?" A soft voice jolted me from my angry haze as his voice calmed me. I turned around to Peeta rising from the ground rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "What's going on?"
"Peeta," his mother yelled at him as she took a step forward. With both hands I shoved her back causing her to stumble.
"Mom?" He looked puzzled and confused. "Katniss, what is she––"
"You're mother was just leaving," I stated.
"The hell I am," she retorted. "You get over here at once." I blocked her way as she tried to pass me. "You're going to do as I say or else––"
"Peeta doesn't have to do anything," I said. "He doesn't need you to be telling him what to do anymore."
"Jus…just leave mo…mother," Peeta stated as walked over to us. I noticed that his hands were clenched together. In the presence of his mother, Peeta's stutter returned. It was automatic as his fear and anxiety resurfaced but I also something else. There was anger.
"You heard him, leave," I ordered her as I took Peeta's clenched hand into mine.
"I will not stand by and permit this…this harlot to ruin your life," she added. "Your father may agree and condone this relationship but I will let it go any further."
"That is not for you to decide," I interrupted her. "Peeta and I are together there is nothing you can do about it."
"Peeta, you can do better than this," she seethed in anger. "A Seam slut who's probably knows her way around the Slagheap. She's Hawthorne's sloppy second––"
"No, you're wr…wrong," Peeta said. "Katniss is nothing like that. She's good, kind and sweet. I'm…I'm lucky to have her for…for a girlfriend."
"You will break off this ridiculous relationship," she uttered. "There are other girls better suited for you." Peeta remained quiet as if he was contemplating his next words.
"Did you love dad when you married him?" Peeta inquired. The question startled me. It was a question I should not be privy to. It was personal.
"What does that have to do with anything?" she squeaked back.
"Just tell me did you love dad when you married him?''
"Of course, I did. How can you even––"
"So what happened to make you hate him now?"
"I don't hate him," she answered back. There was sorrow and bitterness in her reply.
"So you just resent him." She gasped. "I want to know what he did to make you so hateful and bitter. Do you resent the life you have with him, the sons that you bore for him? He has got to have done something to make you so….mean and angry all the time."
"My relationship with your father is none of your business," she retaliated.
"But it is," Peeta's voice grew strong and loud his posture rigid. He was angry as his complexion grew red. I have never seen such control of ones' emotions. I would have lashed out. "I've watched you berate and belittle him. I've never seen any affection or love between you."
"I love your father," she shouted. "Don't you dare accuse me of not loving him?" Peeta's hand trembled against mine. I held onto him for comfort and support. "I stood by him through the worse times in our lives, I bore him children, I worked myself to the bone in order for our bakery to succeed."
"Well, your brand of love is nothing to inspire or emulate," he said. "When was the last time you told my father that you loved him?"
"I..I…" she stumbled.
"Do you remember the last time you told me you loved me?" I flinched. "Do you remember? Because I do clearly yet it so was long ago but I remembered that moment because…I waited. I waited for you to say it again because you haven't since then."
"Peeta, why are you trying to embarrass me in front of your Seam girlfriend?" she voiced her tone shaky but angry.
"It's a simple question, mom," he told her. "Do you remember telling a me when I was four years old that you loved me? I haven't heard you tell me since then. I want to know what I did for you stop telling me that you loved me? I want to know what I must do to say it again and mean it."
"I will not humiliate myself in front of you or her," she spat back. There's guilt and fury behind her red eyes. "You were always so dramatic whining about things and crying like a baby."
"I wanted my mother to love me, was that too hard to ask?" Peeta said so low I almost didn't catch it. "But I guess I'll have to live with what I have or rather don't have."
"Stop with all this nonsense," she said. "I will not be disrespected in front of her."
"Respect is a two way street, lady," I reminded her. "If you can't respect Peeta, don't expect him to respect you in return. If Peeta deserves one thing and that is to be respected and loved by his family and friends. You're just his mother on paper and through biology and nothing else."
"Shut up. I can't believe you let her talk to him that way. I'm your mother. You will leave with me this instant."
"No," he said. "You lost your right to tell me what to do with my life the moment you laid a hand on me."
"I never laid a hand on you," she started.
Peeta laughed. Then he pointed to his left brow revealing the two-inch scar. "No, you didn't lay a hand on me since I was 7, but you were very handy with a rolling pin since then. Remember giving me this?" My stomach lurched at the image of Mr. Mellark striking young Peeta with the rolling pin. The memory left the scar on his handsome face.
"You ungrateful and spoiled––" She attempted to slap him but he caught her wrist. She gasped in pain as he held onto her long and hard as I his knuckles turned white from his grasp. "Peeta, let go. You're hurting me."
"I'm hurting you? You've been hurting me my whole life and now you expect me to blindly do as you say because it's for my own good?"
"I'm your mother," she argued again.
"No you're not," he retorted. "A mother wouldn't use her anger on her child. A mother wouldn't punish her child by sending him to bed with no supper because he accidentally broke something she valued over him. A mother wouldn't leave scars on her child that she placed intentionally." I held my breath as he confirmed my suspicions. He was cryptic with his accusation but one can read between the lines. I didn't need validation as I remembered the scars on his legs and arms were the proof of her physical abuse. It wasn't enough to scream and yell at him berating his self worth. "I don't have a mother." He said with finality and resignation.
He left go of her wrist. "Go, leave me alone. Leave Katniss alone."
"I…I…I'm still your mother," she spat back nursing her red wrist. "I have every right––"
"You don't have any right to treat and talk to Peeta the way you do," I argued. "Leave him alone. He doesn't want anything to do with you. You've hurt him enough."
"You shut up, you bitch," she returned. "I lost everything because of you." I wanted to laugh. "Ever since that night I lost everything, my home and my family."
"No, you lost everything on your own. You did this to yourself," Peeta stated. "You may not have loved dad, but he was good to you. We all were. You had a good husband, a life that wasn't perfect but it was good, but you ruined it. You did. Not dad or me or Katniss. You. So if you want to blame someone or point a finger, just look at a mirror. "
She gasped in horror and anger. "Just one more thing, you tell Agatha to leave me alone, to leave Katniss alone. There is nothing you can do to make me want to marry her let alone be with her." I smiled as I didn't realize that Peeta knew about the arrangement since he was bedridden for a couple of weeks. "Rye told me what you been up to while I was recovering."
"I did that for your own good––"
"Shut up and stay away from me," he said with finality. "I'm done. You will never make another decision for me ever. This is my life, not yours." He grabbed my hand and led us back to our spot under the tree. One there he picked up all of the containers and shoved it back in the basket. I sighed. There went my idea for spending uninterrupted time with him. Foiled by the presence of his mother. What else could go wrong?
He was headed back to the bakery when an idea struck me. "Peeta, do you have to go back to work?" I asked. It would be rude of me to ruin his afternoon if he made other plans. I wanted to spend the day with him but…
"No, actually Dad said I had the rest of the day off," he said in nonchalant manner. We walked beside each other a lot closer than before. His proximity sent a chill down my spine. I never felt or experienced this kind of feeling before or had I just been denying it?
"Did you want to go someplace else? I mean, if you want to back home I understand," I said in a wistful manner. I wasn't above groveling if it meant spending time just to be with him. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Where could we go?" he said. "It's not like there's a lot of places we can hang out." I hid the smile that threatened to surface on my face. He didn't want to go home yet. The prospect of spending time with him thrilled me. Peeta's posture suddenly went rigid. In front of us were four Peacekeepers on patrol. Their presence wasn't what startled or alarm me; it was because all four of them were looking directly at him.
Instinctively, I grabbed Peeta's hand and pulled him towards me. He resisted at first but I was adamant as I yanked him to my side placing an arm around his lean waist. He stiffened in surprise as his stared face forward. Was he angry I couldn't tell?
We both sighed in relief as they passed us but didn't say a single word. "Where are we going?" he asked as we ambled forward going nowhere. I thought about it for a second. Where could we go?
"Come on, there some place I want to show you," I said as I kept my arm around him hoping he wouldn't dislodge himself from my grasp. A few minutes later we arrived at a destination. I led him to the electrical fence. Everyday I would check to see if the line was charged. Every single day since it was turned off I checked.
But for some reason, the fence electricity was turned off. "Katniss, why are we here? The fence is on."
"No it isn't, not today it isn't," I told him. I picked up a rock and threw at the barrier. It didn't sizzle as it was a sign that it would be on. "Come on." I pulled at the corner of the fence and the mesh peel off the pole easily. The fence itself was magnetic that it would adhere to the post automatically.
Peeta looked behind him. "I don't think that we should––"
"Come on. I promise we won't take too long or go too far." I smiled as I noticed how nervous he was. He stepped forward and ducked beneath the barrier. His shirt snagged around his waist. "Ouch," he wheezed. Part of the link was broken as it tore into his shirt and waist. A thin line of blood appeared.
"Peeta, you're bleeding," I said as he looked down.
"It's okay. It stings a little," he stated.
"We should take you home," I said worry tingeing my voice. He shook his head.
"I'm all right, Katniss. Come on, let's go. You got me curious now." He smiled. I haven't seen him smile in weeks. It was open and relaxed. How could resist him when he looked at me like that.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Someplace very special to me," I said. "I don't go there often." I stopped by a tree and removed my bow and quiver from a hiding place.
"Why not?" I extended a knife sheathed in leather. He grabbed it strapped it around his pant leg. I didn't like giving it to him since it looked odd on him, but I wanted to make sure he could defend himself incase we encountered a wild dog or boar.
"I only go hunting. Prim gets worried if I stay out too long."
"Makes sense."
We walked for about thirty minutes with Peeta looking around. There was look of caution and something else––fear. He looked afraid. For weeks I had wondered about something that he showed me back in school. I hoped once we reached the destination I would finally get some answers. Once we reached the destination, I stopped and I pointed to the landscape before us.
"Katniss?" he said his eyes wide filled with worry as he looked around the meadow. The tract of land was peppered with array of wildflowers and patches of bluegrass. It was my sanctuary away from home. The meadow he painted a few ago that he showed me and Prim.
"Peeta?"
"What?" he returned as he bit his bottom lip.
"Do you remember few weeks ago you showed your painting to Prim and me?" He gasped as horror etched his face.
"Oh, shit," he cringed. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that this was your place that you…I didn't mean to intrude––"
"Peeta, stop," I interrupted him.
"I promise I won't come back here anymore," he rambled as his eyes grew wide. "That's why you ran. I'm sorry."
"Peeta, be quiet," I snapped. He turned his head hurt and embarrassed. I reached out and grabbed his hand. He pulled back stuffing both hands in his pockets so I couldn't touch him. It stung knowing that he didn't want me touching him.
I sighed. "I'm sorry, Peeta," I said calm and soft. "I didn't mean to snap at you." His face was turned away but I could tell there was hurt there behind it. "What I wanted to say was…I really loved the painting."
"Didn't seem like it since you just ran away without saying anything," he reminded me.
"I…I was in shock," I admitted. "I didn't think anyone knew that this place existed. So, when I saw your painting, I was…mad that you found it." He looked down on the ground. "It was really stupid of me to react like that since, you know. I don't own the place and I kinda possessive and jealous."
"Jealous?" He side glanced at my direction but his face remained downward as his bangs hovered over his brows.
"I was jealous that you have a piece of this place with you," I tried to explain. "I wish that I had something to remind me of this place to take home with me and you…you painted it. Every detail was accurate and beautiful. I felt like you stole the meadow from me." I smiled. "It's silly and stupid, right."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I would have given you the painting had you asked me," he said. "I was…I was thinking of you when I painted it."
"Oh, really?" My heart burst with hope. He painted the meadow with me in mind. "Why?"
"I knew that you hunt," he started as he kicked a pebble in front of him. "I've been coming here early morning because I was hoping…" He stopped. His face turned a bright pink. "It was a stupid idea now that I think about it."
"What Peeta, tell me," I insisted.
"I had this idea. That I would drawing here and…hoping that one day. You'll find me here and we would…"
"We would what?" He planned to accidentally meet him here? Why?
"Never mind," he said with resignation. "I'm so stupid. You wouldn't have been receptive me being here at your place." How would I have reacted had I found him here a few weeks ago. I turned my head in shame and guilt. He knew me so well.
"I would have been mad and angry at you," I admitted. "You're right." I would have been mean and resented him for invading my sanctuary. He was retreating inward again as he continued to look away. I had to figure out a way to fix this.
"I really love the painting. You were going to give it to me?" He nodded his head. "When?"
"For your next birthday," he sighed. "I was going to have Prim help me give it to you without making it feel like I was giving it to you out of charity." I flinched. "I just wanted to give you a present. I wouldn't have been asking anything from you. That's why I showed it to you in the first place."
"Peeta, I know," I said as I walked over and pulled a hand out of a pocket. He was malleable and nonresistant. "Thank you."
"Will you allow me to give it to you without…without asking anything in return. No talk about obligation and owing people?" He looked pensive waiting for my rejection. He was so accustomed to my harsh treatment of him, but he asked anyway.
"Yes," I said without any hesitation. "You can even wrap it and I'll act surprise when I open it." I chuckled.
"Really?" His blue eyes turned to mine. The corner of his eyes crinkled.
"Really. I'll allow it."
He laid out the blanket underneath a copse of trees. "I just wish…" he started as he sat down next to me.
"What?" My heart skipped a beat at his proximity shoulder to shoulder with our hands clasped on our lap.
"I wished that I had my drawing stuff with me," he confessed. "It feels like forever since I've been back here."
"You can bring it next time," I sighed in relief and joy. I was making progress with him.
"Next time?" He looked puzzled. "What if there isn't a next time?"
"What do you mean?" I didn't like his assumption that there wasn't a next time, like as if this was the only time we were going to be here.
"Nothing, it just that we don't know if or when we can come back here anytime soon," he backtracked. "Since the reaping is in two weeks. We should be careful until then." Well, that made sense.
"We can come back here any time you want," I told him. It was true. I would take him here anytime he wanted. It was our place now. I hoped he knew the significance of my gesture to him. This belonged to us. I couldn't wait to have the painting. His gesture marked a momentous point in our relationship.
"Do you…?"
"Do I what?" I asked him as I opened a canteen filled with tea. I was parched and overheated feeling the heat in the air. I poured the tea onto the cap of the canteen and extended it to him.
"Thanks." He polished the tea in one gulp and extended the cup back to me. I poured myself a cup. "Did you take Gale here? Does he know about this place?" he inquired. His face was unreadable. Gale was a topic I knew I had to broach one day. Just not today.
"No, I've never taken anyone here. As a matter of fact, not even my dad knows about this place," I admitted as I sipped the tea then scrunched my nose. It wasn't sweetened. Peeta never took his tea with sugar I noticed. He smiled at my reaction.
"It's so peaceful and beautiful here." I agreed. It was one of my favorite places in District 12.
For the first time, he lay on the blanket relaxed and at peace. He wasn't nervous or fidgeted like every time he was around me. This time, it was me that was anxious around him. We sat there for several minutes not talking. Ordinarily, I welcomed the silence but today, I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted him to talk to me about…anything. I didn't realize how the timber of his voice calmed me.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he placed his hands underneath his head. The movement caused his shirt to ride up revealing his lean waist. I tore my eyes away from him not wanting him to catch me staring at his muscled and lean stomach. There was a line of hair that disappeared into the waistline of his slacks. I cleared my throat and my mind as I tried not to imagine the bulge that was prominent from underneath his pants. When did I become fascinated with the male anatomy? Not just any male form but Peeta's?
"You're really lucky that you have a place like this to go to," he said as he interrupted my musing. "I wish I had someplace like this to go. To get away for awhile." He did. Did he not know that this is our place now?
"I don't come here to often since it is illegal to roam beyond the fence but we can come here anytime you want."
"I don't blame you for coming here. This is actually a great spot to build a house," he said as I raised himself up and propped his elbows underneath him.
"Oh, I thought about that too," I said. He thought like I did.
"There." He pointed to a flat area surrounded by tall trees and bushes. "That would be a great spot. Just a few feet away from the trees; the house facing west so you can watch the sun set at the back of the house. I would have an engineer figure out the plumbing system. I'd install a shower with a bathtub…" He rattled ideas for how many rooms, where the kitchen would face and how big he wanted an art studio." He stopped and blushed. "Sorry, forgot that this wasn't…got carried away I guess."
"No, I like our ideas," I persisted. "I just never gave myself the chance of thinking about living here. I mean with Snow and games, thinking about beyond the fence is not realistic."
"I know, but I guess I do daydream to much like my mom said."
"No, don't do that, Peeta. She was wrong to make you feel bad about wanting things, better things in the future." He kept quiet. Peeta envision a better life before him as me all I thought about was just surviving. He made me want and yearn for things I never dare to dream about. He made me see a future, a positive and happy one.
"Anyway, this place is special to you," he returned. "I wouldn't want to assume. I can see why you want to keep this place to yourself. It so peace and beautiful." That was the one thing I liked about him. He appreciated things and people around him. Gale never enjoyed his surrounding, taking for granted the beautiful landscape or beauty around him. Peeta wanted to soak himself in it. He saw beauty in things and in people. Me, I saw nothing but ugliness. Prim and my parents were the only light in my eyes.
He took a deep breath. "What is that I'm smelling?" he pondered as he sat up. His blue orbs memorized me for a second that I stumbled to answer back.
"Uh…it's honeysuckle," I informed him pointing to a row of plants behind us. He stood up and walked over to a bush and plucked a few flowers from the hedge. He was meticulous as he examined each flower smelling each stem before creating a handful of plants into a bouquet.
"I want to take some home so I can draw them," he explained as he sat back offering me a couple of stems. "For you."
I hid the joy behind my smile as I accepted his gift to me. It was my first gift from him. "Thank you." I held it against my chest memorizing this moment in my head.
He took another deep breath as he lay back onto to blanket. "I wish…I wish that I could live in this moment forever." I smiled and wondered how I avoided and denied my feelings for him. His hair drooped over his forehead and his cheeks pink from the sun. I too wanted to capture this moment forever. This moment felt as if we were the only people in the world. I felt at ease with myself for the first time in life as I didn't worry about my family, starvation or the social divide that separated Peeta and me.
I didn't know how much time passed as we sat there basking in the beauty and the peace around us. The next thing I knew I woke up with Peeta's face close to mine. We were so close that I could count his eyelashes and feel his breath grazing my skin. I could get used to this waking up beside him. The thought thrilled me. He looked at peace lying next to me.
Suddenly, Peeta's facial expression changed from peaceful to unhappy. Was he having a nightmare? And if he was, who or what was he dreaming about that caused him to moan in his sleep?
"Peeta, wake up," I whispered to him. "Hey, you're dreaming." He continued to moan and thrash in his sleep. "Peeta, you're okay. You're having a bad dream."
"Help me," he said under his breath. His eyes crinkled in fear as his lips parted.
"Come on, sweetie. Wake up." Seeing him like this scared me. All I wanted to do was comfort him. I nudged his shoulder softly as not to alarm him. I lay on my stomach using my elbows to prop my body over him. He smelled of flour, grass and honeysuckle.
"Peeta?" I leaned down and kissed his warm forehead my lip lingering and savoring the moment. His eyes opened as my lips left his skin. I wanted to caress the two-inch scar near his left eyebrow.
"Hey," I said low and raspy. "Are you okay?" I blushed realizing that he caught me kissing him.
"Real or not real," he whispered as he blinked his eyes for a few seconds.
"What?" I was confused by his question. His body went stiff and rigid. "You were having a bad dream."
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I forgot where we were for a second. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's okay, I fell asleep too," I admitted. He yawned and opened his eyes again.
"What time is it anyway?" he asked as he sat up and stretched his arms upward. I looked at the sun above us.
"A little past 3, I think," I answered him.
"How can you tell? You don't have a watch," he observed.
"My dad taught me to tell time by the location of the sun in the sky," I explained.
"That's neat." I chuckled at his response. Neat? Who says neat these days? Only Peeta. I forgot sometimes that he was two years younger than me, but didn't matter. Despite his mother's cruelty and the harshness in the district, Peeta saw the world with the eyes of child whose mind was filled with wonder and awe. The ugliness and harsh conditions around him didn't embitter or harden him.
"Your dad and Rye told me that you're the only one that can make vanilla cream frosting without using a measuring cup. That you somehow you manage to make the right portion without having it to go to waste." He shrugged his shoulders. "And you also make the best cheese buns."
"Yeah, because making the right portion for a cake is a highly sought after survival skill. When…I mean if I get reaped I can always defend myself by just making the right portion of vanilla frosting and flinging the concoction at them in hopes they'd die of sugar overload," he snickered to himself. I hated that he looked down on his skills and abilities. He was self-deprecating and had low self-esteem due to his mother's barrage of putdowns and insults of his self-worth. He was so wonderful that he couldn't see it.
I laughed at first at the imagery but stopped as I noticed his downtrodden demeanor.
"Peeta," I started. Just as I was about to elevate his self-esteem, two wild dogs appeared in the meadow ten yards away from us. They were looking directly at us eyes focused and teeth bared in an angry snarl. "Don't make any sudden move." I reached over to my bow and quiver. I drew an arrow on my bow and pointed at the feral canines.
"Shit," Peeta said under his breath as he reached for the knife on his leg drawing it off the sheath. We stood there for a few seconds or minutes. I couldn't tell. All I knew was that we were in danger and I couldn't' let anything happen to Peeta. Now that we had made strides in our relationship, I couldn't lose him now and I wanted him to give me my painting so I could thank him accordingly.
The two dogs stepped forward snarling at us. I held my breath and waited for the moment when they would strike.
AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for my Weary readers. You're comments and reviews were appreciated. I love that story myself and had a difficult time letting go. Have a great rest of the weekend.