Katniss is slowly coming onto her own as a Mellark. But Gale hasn't let go and is stubbornly holding on to a fate that will never come to be and it is causing Katniss problems.
I do not Own The Hunger Games
***Trigger Warning*** Violence, Non-Consensual Advances, Aggressive Behavior, Assult
Monday morning it rained and Katniss was glad she didn't have to go into the woods. But she did have to speak to Gale before he went into the mines. She wanted to make Gale see that he was wrong and that her marriage to Peeta was real. In his twisted mind, Gale thought he was trying to help her see the truth.
The truth, however complicated, was simple. She'd chosen this path to repay a debt but was finding that the rewards were so much greater. If she didn't have this necessity she would have stayed in bed. The sun wasn't even out yet, it was around four in the morning.
It was drizzling when she left the bakery.
Katniss left Peeta fast asleep on the bed, making sure the pillow barrier was in place. For some reason, they were still using it even though each morning she found herself wrapped in Peeta's delicious arms.
Wistfully she looked back at her brick and mortar home. It was strange that she thought of the bakery as home in such a short period of time.
A home was not a building, a home was the people who dwelled in it, and the Mellarks were part of her family.
Hastening her steps Katniss made her way to the Seam and to the home of the man she once considered her hunting partner.
Katniss lifted her hand to knock, but the door swung open.
"You come to apologize?" Gale asked. He wore his mining suit and held a cup of tea in his hand.
"No," Katniss said wondering in what world she would apologize to him after he manhandled her.
Gale put the cup down and came outside to speak to her. The only lights on in the Seam were from the houses of the miners who were getting ready to get to the mines by five.
"I'm not here to apologize to you, I'm here-" Katniss didn't get to finish her sentence Gale cut her off.
"Look Catnip, if you can't see that he's using you.."
"Peeta's not using me," she said, interrupting him.
"Really? He's getting the best of both worlds. And he has the right to throw you out on the street when this farce is over with."
"Gale," Katniss began. It was true Peeta could throw her out, but she was sure he wouldn't. "Peeta wouldn't do that.
"Come on Catnip, you're making him the good guy and me the bad guy."
"I'm making you the bad guy?" Katniss was incredulous that Gale couldn't see what he did wrong.
"Yeah, you're choosing his side."
"You hurt me," Katniss said.
"I did not," Gale replied.
"I have bruises on my arm."
"I didn't even touch-"
"NO!" Katniss didn't let him finish. She was done with playing this game with him. He needed to hear her. Her voice rose, "You did, and it hurt. You know what Gale, you don't get to touch me. You don't get to make me feel uncomfortable. I'm a woman, and you never, ever, have the right to touch a woman if she doesn't want your touch." Katniss began advancing on him.
Gale took a step back.
"When you place your hand on a woman when she's told you no, you're violating her rights."
Gale's back was now at the door.
"Yesterday, you weren't listening to me." Katniss stood akimbo feeling like if he didn't understand what she was saying, one day he was going to do something worse.
Gale snickered.
"See, that is what I'm talking about."
"Catnip…"
Katniss cut him off. "No, you don't get to speak to me again. Until you understand that I'm My Own Woman. I'm to be respected. You owe me an apology, not the other way around!"
Gale growled right before he lunged forward to grab her by the arms. However, Katniss in an effort to get away slipped and fell. Under his own inertia Gale also slipped and fell. Katniss landed on the bit of grass in front of Gale's home. Gale landed a few feet away.
"Katniss, you okay?" River called.
Katniss turned around to see Peeta's brother only a few feet away. He jogged to where she was.
"River, what are you doing here?" Katniss asked, surprised. She knew it was far too early for River to be up.
"Followed you to make sure you were alright," River said, extending his hand to help her stand up.
"You didn't have to," Katniss said.
"I know. But, I also know you want a resolution, and I want to make sure your friend here listens to you."
"What are you doing here, you drunk," Gale growled as he got up.
"Making sure my sister-in-law is all right," River said.
"She'd have to have a real marriage for you to be related to her," Gale smirked.
"Is he always like this?" River asked Katniss.
Katniss sighed. She just didn't want to be in the middle of another altercation.
"Look, I suggest-" Gale began but was stopped short by River.
River stepped up to Gale, "Suggest what, that you treat women with respect? That you treat your friend that you care about, with the same esteem she's shown you? She came here to give you an opportunity to be a man and apologize for yesterday. And instead, I find you trying to make a grab at her."
"Why are you here, and not your brother? Unless you're thinking of picking up your brother's sloppy seconds. Or are you doing the deed your brother can't?"
Katniss gaped at Gale, she wanted to punch him for his insult. She pulled River back.
The curtain of the window moved and they could hear Mrs. Hawthorne calling her son. "Gale get your arse in here!"
"You're on private property," Gale said menacingly. "I suggest you leave."
"So I am, and I'm leaving, but if you do something to her like you did this weekend." River's face was hard, his eyes darkened, and his voice became soft, "You better watch your back Hawthorne."
Katniss saw Gale scowl at River, but he didn't make a move.
"Come on sis," River said gently.
Katniss noded in response. She walked by River's side as they headed toward town. They were quiet. Katniss was processing everything that happened. She couldn't believe Gale tried another stunt with his mother just a few feet away in the house.
"I'm kind of glad I had to be up early and I saw you heading into the Seam," River answered.
"If you hadn't come his maw was watching us," Katniss shrugged, "Gale has a healthy fear of his mother. He'd never cross her."
"Huh, never figured he'd be a mama's boy."
"He sure is," Katniss smirked.
"Are you going to be alright?" River asked as they neared the bakery.
"Yes." Katniss turned to ask him where he was headed but River spoke before she could ask him.
"I'm headed toward Carlton's."
"River, you're not going to start something, I don't want you to get hurt."
"To be honest Carlton asked yesterday to help him out with some yard work."
"Oh, that's good. Will we see you later for dinner?"
"Maybe," River said. "My mother's been complaining that I haven't visited her since she moved out of the bakery."
"If she starts any trouble let me know, I know my mother has a nasty right hook."
River laughed.
"Do you think Gale-"
"Katniss, I'd stay clear of him. I don't like the way he treats you." River sighed, "You know what, don't worry. Head to the bakery, dad and Peeta need you."
"Okay," Katniss said. She watched River head deeper into town. She was glad he didn't head toward Rippers. She wondered if River understood that he too was needed. Inside of River existed a little boy who wanted to be accepted.
When she returned to the bakery Katniss washed up, made breakfast, and proceeded to make the store ready for Peeta and his father. When Lionel arrived the ovens were ready and the ingredients they needed to make the batches were ready.
Katniss handed her father-in-law a steaming cup of tea. "Good morning."
"You've been a busy bee," Lionel sang, grinning from ear to ear.
"I was up early and decided to help prep. Are you hungry? I made breakfast as well."
They went upstairs and Lionel sat down to eat. "My son is lucky to have you, Katniss." Lionel sighed, "He waited for you, for a long time."
Katniss didn't understand what her father-in-law meant but she smiled and said, "I'll go see what's keeping Peeta."
The week passed by in a blur. A few Peacekeepers celebrated their birthdays, and several cakes and treats were special ordered. Katniss got to witness Peeta decorate cakes. She was captivated by his genius, but it meant he wasn't free to do all of the things he normally did. They were busy getting ready for the festival that was around the corner.
Katniss pitched in as much as she could in the bakery. She made sure they were all fed and took breaks. Her favorite time of day was when they all sat down to eat. They laughed and traded funny stories. They also plotted what they were going to serve at the festival. She enlisted her sister to help decorate the booth.
It was good to see Prim interacting with Peeta, River, and Lionel. Katniss was walking with Prim back on Saturday.
"They like you," Prim said.
"Sorry?" Katniss didn't know what her sister was going on about. Her mind was preoccupied with the order of a bushel of apples they were supposed to receive for the harvest festival.
"River and Mr. Mellark."
Katniss smiled.
"I've never seen you so happy. At home, you helped, but I could see you weren't really happy. And today I saw you talk animatedly about the goat cheese apple tarts, the mini pretzels, and the assortment of cookies you planned on selling at the festival. Peeta looks at you like you hung the stars. River looks like he wants to stuff you in his pocket for safekeeping, and Mr. Mellark looks prouder than an expectant father."
Katniss blushed. "I try to be useful."
"It's hope," Prim said. "You gave them hope."
Katniss carried that message with her that night.
On Sunday she reluctantly left Peeta's side in the warm bed. It was the first time since the incident with Gale, that she was going into the woods. She adhered to River's advice.
Katniss decided to go out before the blue hour, not wanting to have another encounter with Gale. She counted on Gale's predictability. On Sunday's he always slept in since his shift in the mines was so early. So she knew he wasn't going to be up before twilight.
The soft cooing of the birds greeted her ears as she stepped foot in her beloved woods. It felt good to be outside on a crisp fall day. Invigorated, she set to her task. She avoided the area's Gale set his traps. He was territorial. Instead, she went to the lake. Caught fish. Sought out the areas where the rabbits had their burrows. In the end, Katniss had a good haul, even managing to catch two turkeys. She crossed the fence just as dawn broke over the horizon.
Katniss was captivated by the colors that surrounded her as she walked through the meadow. She took a moment to stand in the middle of the meadow to appreciate the rich colors. She loved nature, loved the turn of the seasons. A richly decorated tapestry woven by the trees, the air, and the ground she walked upon greeted her eyes.
During the week Peeta told Katniss how he loved the sunrises and the sunsets. He looked for that shade of soft orange that made him happy. Ever since then, she took a moment to watch the sun when it rose or set in the sky.
Katniss shared with him how much she loved the spring. She felt spring was her New Year's. Because just like New Years' everything started over and had the fresh promise of a new and better tomorrow.
Peeta shared with her that the fall was his favorite time of the year, because of the mix of deep rich colors. For Peeta, the colors of the fall were tied to his father and brothers.
The fall was when a lot of his best memories happened.
The rich brown of the fall was associated with the color of the crisp crust of warm bread when it came out of the oven. With fondness, Peeta recalled the first time he was allowed downstairs in the bakery as a little boy. It was the first time he saw his father make a batch of dough and how rich and buttery the bread smelled.
Peeta correlated the deep hues of red found in the fall with the brick ovens in the bakery. As a child, Peeta dreamed of being able to use the ovens the way his brothers and his father did. Carlton took his time to show Peeta how to use the brick oven. He taught him how to temper the fire, and most importantly how to extinguish a fire. Safety was important in a bakery. Peeta learned how to gauge when the bread was done. He learned the different zones within the oven, some spots were hotter than others. His older brother was patient with him despite Peeta's inexperience. By twelve, Peeta was an expert with the brick oven.
Orange was special. Peeta related the russet orange of the fall with the color of the sun rising and falling. He also associated the color with his brother River. When younger, River had put together all of the family recipes in an orange book. It was a school project that became a present for their dad. Their mother was dismissive of River's efforts. But Peeta learned almost all of his recipes by following River's neatly written directions.
The orange notebook looked so cheerful amongst the rich browns of the work tables and cubbies on the wall, the brick and stone colors of the ovens. His great grandfather at one point pinned the recipes at eye level near the workstations. Peeta said they were no longer there as they became yellowed with time. Nonetheless, as a child, he wasn't tall enough to see the recipes but thanks to River's efforts Peeta could take the orange notebook upstairs and study the recipes.
When Katniss asked him about yellow, Peeta blushed. From his side of the pillow barrier, he quietly told her that he loved the color, because of the dandelion she held out to him all of those years ago. He said he'd been bullied at school that day and was feeling down about himself.
Katniss recalled the moment she had seen him across the way and wanted to show him how much the bread meant to her. She remembered looking down at her feet and discovering a single dandelion on a patch of green grass. She'd plucked the small weed as a thank you for those loves of bread. It was done with childish innocence. After all, how did one say thank you to the person that saved your life?
His confession left Katniss speechless. She had no idea it meant that much to him. It was amazing that they each favored the little yellow flower and that Peeta associated the dandelion with her. At that moment Katniss hadn't been able to say that in her heart she believed he was her dandelion.
Katniss had so many words to say but she couldn't express them. The words were like peanut butter in her mouth. Instead, she was a woman of action. Providing food was an expression of what she felt. She wanted him to see just how much she cared.
"You've always been so beautiful."
Katniss jumped and saw Gale standing in the shadows of the tree in the meadow. Her day was instantly ruined.
She hiked the strap of her hunting bag over her shoulder and quickly formulated an exit. Not wanting another confrontation Katniss began to head into town.
"Morning," she greeted as she passed him.
"Catnip."
"Gale, unless you're going to apologize for laying hands on me last Sunday and trying to lunge on me on Monday I've got no words for you."
"Look okay, I'm sorry."
Stunned by his apology, Katniss stopped walking making sure there was more than an arm's length separation between them.
"I shouldn't have tried to lunge at you," Gale said.
Katniss raised her eyebrow wondering where this was going.
"My mom saw the entire thing from the window, and if River hadn't shown up she would have walked outside and slapped me upside the head."
Katniss sighed. It now made sense why Gale was apologizing. It wasn't because he was sorry for his actions. He'd been caught by the only person who made his knees tremble with fear. His mother Hazelle was formidable and she had quite the temper.
"But you know that I'm right. What you and Mellark have isn't real."
"Gale, that's where you're wrong."
"Has he even kissed you since the day he announced you two aren't having a Toasting?"
Katniss opened her mouth to speak. She looked down for a moment and when she looked up Gale was standing right in front of her.
"He hasn't and he's not going to," Gale argued. "Peeta isn't the right man for you. Mark my words, you're going to get your heartbroken."
"It's my heart, Gale. If Peeta breaks it, it'll be because I gave it to him to break."
Gale's hand lifted as if he was going to run them through his hair, instead, he grasped her by her shoulders and in a fell swoop rudely pressed his dry lips on hers. Katniss's shock lasted a few seconds before she realized what was going on.
Katniss was trapped, his long thin hands locked her shoulders in place. She tried to twist her head away from the bruising kiss, but Gale pushed her against him.
This was a nightmare.
Katniss didn't even realize tears were streaming down her face. She managed to get his mouth off her. However, it didn't relinquish his hold on her. He tried to kiss her again. Katniss wasn't going to allow him to press his revolting lips on hers. The more she struggled, the harder he gripped her, at one point he shook her. Gate's ash and citrus smell permeated her nostrils and she felt nauseous.
Katniss struck him between his legs and as he crumbled she shook from rage having been attacked by him.
Not waiting for him to recover, she ran. Her heart, mind, and soul were damaged. Katniss felt that the sanctity of her peace was stolen. When she reached the bakery she felt like a fraud. Her entire body wanted to remove the scent of ash and citrus.
"Katniss," Peeta said, standing at the door. The smile fell from his face as he looked at her. "Did you encounter a bear?
Katniss felt like she betrayed Peeta. The game bag fell from her hand, she stood before him, not noticing that tears were falling from her face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she whispered over and over again.
"What happened?" Peeta said walking toward her, worry etched on his face. "You're hurt," he said as his eyes searched her face, hands, and body looking for bruises.
"Gale," she gasped. "He kiss...m-" Katniss couldn't finish the sentence. Her stomach turned, she felt nauseous. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"
Peeta's arms went around her.
Katniss heard the back of the bakery door open.
"I'll kill him," Peeta muttered.
Katniss dry heaved, she fell on the ground and began throwing up.
"Peeta, what's going on?" River asked concern laced in his tone of voice.
"Gale did something…I'm not sure what, River." Peeta's tone changed from a harsh one to a tender caring one when he whispered to her, "You're okay, you're safe."
Katniss could feel his hands making soothing concentric circles on her back.
Katniss tried to take deep breaths but she began to dry heave once more. The memory of Gale's dry cracked lips on top of her unwilling ones caused her to retch once more.
It was as if her system was trying to remove Gale like an exorcist trying to remove a curse.
"Oh, my Katniss?" Lionel's voice sounded worried. "What can I do to help?"
"Go, go get her mother," Peeta said.
"I'll get her mother," Lionel repeated. Katniss could hear Lionel's heavy tread as he briskly walked away.
"That monster attacked her," Peeta growled. His hands softly pushed her braid away as she shook from retching. "I'm going to rip him to shreds."
Katniss trembled; she couldn't even stay on her knees. She desperately wanted to tell Peeta not to go after Gale. She knew Peeta was strong enough and had the necessary skill to do it because of his wrestling days.
"No, you stay here. I'm going to go after him," River said.
"River she's my…"
"I know, but we don't know what Gale did to her," River said. "Peeta, she needs you. Let's get her inside, and wait for Mrs. Everdeen to show up."
"Okay," Peeta muttered something under his breath.
Katniss was glad River convinced Peeta to stay away from Gale. She held onto his hand as she weakly. She felt herself being lifted up. Things were beginning to blur and cave in.
"Peeta, Carlton, and I will handle this. She's what you've always wanted and no good son of a…" River's voice faded away as Katniss fainted.
This topic is close to my heart. A beloved family member went through something worse and I want anyone who has gone through this or any type of assault or violent crime to get help.
Below is the link to Ofice of Victims of Crimes it has all sorts of toll-free numbers, websites, and chats.
For help please go to: : / / ovc .ojp .gov/help-for-victims/toll-free-and-online-hotlines
Hugs and stay safe.