I woke up with a start. My breath was ragged and deep. A gentle pair of hands softly stoked back my hair. "Another nightmare?" Peeta asked. I turn and stare into his beautiful blue eyes. I nod slowly still breathing hard. "It's ok, just a nightmare." he said leaning in and then pressing his lips gently on mine. I kiss him back. "I..I..." I start not sure what else to say. "You what?" Peeta asks me.
"I have to go.." I say biting my cheeks. "Delly is making try on dresses." I say frowning
He laughs. "Have fun."
I roll my eyes. "Haha."
He grins before climbing out of the bed. I sigh and swing my legs over the side of the bed. I grabbed some cloths from my dresser and walked into the bathroom. I don't care if I'm marrying Peeta I just didn't want him to see me getting dressed. I quickly change into a pair of jeans and a faded blue shirt. I grab a brush and quickly run it through my hair. I open the bathroom door and step into the bedroom. Peeta sat at the end of the bed in a pair of jeans and a slightly baggy shirt. "Hey." he says to me in a smile
"Hey." I say. I look at the time. 11: 46. "Sorry have to go." I say and walk towards the door.
"Bye." he shouts after me. I don't reply.
As I walk out the warm wind hits my face. I smile. I keep walking to Delly's house. When I reach it I knock on the door. "Katniss!" Delly exclaims as she opens the door.
"Hi Delly." I sigh as she ignores it and wraps me in a hug.
"Ohhhh! I'm SO excited about today! Come in won't you. I have to help my mother with the dishes but make yourself at home." Delly said opening the door wider and stepping back inside. I step into the house. "Dad, move over and let Katniss sit on the couch with you." Delly said as she advanced to the kitchen. "I'm good.." I started until Delly interrupted me. "Oh just down and watch TV." She sighed from where she was by the kitchen door. I nod and sit down on the other end of the couch. Delly's dad switches throw the channels until he finds the news. A girl with pretty long silky black hair and beautiful green eyes is on the screen talking about weapons or something like that their making in district 2. The girl looks around 22 years old.
"At this time we are not sure if they will open for public buying or only for government use." The girl says. Then the screen switches to a view of the same girl but with a man about 22 now. My heartbeats increase as I look at the familiar face, the straight black hair, grey eyes, the seam look that is trade mark of district 12. I hadn't seen him for 2 years now but I had missed him dearly even though I had hid it. Gale Hawthorn.
"Hello Gale." The woman greets his with a smile. "Hello Della." Gale greets her.
Wait he knows her name? She never said it. Well she does look like she's from district 2. Maybe their together. I mean I know Gale could easily get a girl and she is just plain beautiful.
"So can you tell us about these weapons you have been helping to make." Della asked Gale as they walked down some steps. "Well, they're not like regular weapons, their more advanced." He said as the reach the end of the steps that leads to an elevator. "How so?" Della asks as Gale puts in a code into a small box by the elevator. When he finishes the elevator opens. "Well, let me show you." he said as he steps into the elevator. Della follows him into the elevator. The ride starts mostly in silent until Della asks him a question. "Are you going to Katniss and Peeta's wedding?" Gale's jaw tightens slightly. "No I think I'll stay here in 2." Gale said. "But why? You and Katniss are consents and were close before you moved to district 2 ." Della exclaimed. "Well..." Gale says looking like he's thinking before saying. "We're not consents, we were just hunting partners and friends but those days are over." he sighed the last part. "Oh." Della said seeming not sure what to say. Gale nodded as the elevator doors opened into a large lab that had people walking about and weapons everywhere. Gale walked around the people until he found a door. Next to the door was a box which he opened the door to the box and typed in a code. The door to the room swung open. Gale shut the door to the box and walked into the room. Della followed him. "So how are these weapons advanced?" Della asked looking at the guns, the bows, the tridents, the spears, and the daggers. "Well like this one." He paused grabbing a bow and handing it to Della. "Is the exact same kind as Katniss had used during the attack on the capital." Gale said. Della held the bow. "Why is it vibrating? "Della asked holding the bow. Gale smiled. "It's saying hi." He said. "And Katniss used this?" Della asked. "Not that exact bow but one like it." Gale said. Della nodded,
"Hate to blow your fun but we have to go look at dresses Katniss." Delly said. I sigh and stand up. "Ok." Delly smiles and walks to the door. I follow her slowly think about what Gale had said. At lease now people know where not consents. "So who all did you invite to the wedding?" Delly asked. I sigh. "I'm inviting you, Octavia, Venia, Flavius, Beetee, Annie, Plutarch, Mom, Haymitch, Cressida, Pollux, Messaslla, Greasy Sae, Tella, Noah, Posy, Rory, Vick, Hazelle, and Efiie." I say. "But no Gale!" Delly exclaims. "I don't know if Peeta would want him there…." I sigh biting my lip. "Oh that makes since." Delly said. I nod. "Here we are!" Delly said excitedly pointing at a little wedding shop. We walk into the store and right away Delly is fitting me into dresses.
3 hours later
"Delly, I have to go home and start sending out invitations." I sigh as I walk to the dressing room. "But we haven't bought a dress yet!" Delly points out as I reach the dressing room and strip out of the dress and put it back on the hanger and quickly slip my cloths back on. "Katniss!" Delly says. "Sorry Delly maybe another time." I sigh as I run my hand over the white fabric. It was a pretty dress but not…me. I walk out of the dressing room and put the dress back on its hanger. I look at Delly who has a frown on her face. "Another time I promise." I laugh. She pauses before nodding.
I walk back to the house.
"Hi how was it?" Peeta asks me.
"Torcher." I reply.
He laughs and kisses me. "Hey Peeta…" I start.
"Yes?" Peeta says.
"Would it be ok if I invited Gale?" I say
. Peeta sighs and pauses. "Why would you want him there?" He asks me.
"Cause he's still my best friend." I say.
"No he's not he haven't seen him for 2 years now or even talked to him." Peeta points out.
"I know but I just want him there ok?" I say.
"Well I don't want him there." Peeta said.
"But…I DO." I say my anger raising.
"I don't care he's not coming." Peeta says and leans in to kiss me but I shove him hard in the chest. "Don't touch me!" I say and storm away. "KATNISS!" He calls after me.
"What do you want!" I yell turning back.
"For you to calm down to talk about his!" he says.
"Talk about what? When ever we talk about stuff now days it mean you throw a and get what you want!
He grabs me by the arm harshly and trys dragging me into his house but I push away and run as fast as I can to my house.
I lock all the doors and windows and run to my room. I sink to my knees as soon as I get into the room. Buttercup runs into the room and starts rubbing against me trying to comfort me but it doesn't work. "JUST GO AWAY!" I screamed at him angrily. Buttercup hissed and ran out of the room. Sob after sob rocks through my body. "All I wanted was Gale, my best friend to be at my wedding but I guess that won't happen because of Peeta!" I get in between my sobs. I can hear Peeta pounding on the door, begging me to open it up but I don't. "KATNISS!" He screams at me but I just put my hands over my hears until he gives up and leaves. Maybe an hour or two had past but I get up and look at the clock. 6:02. I get up on shaky knees at a soft knocking on the door. I creep downstairs and look at who it is. Haymitch. I open the door and he steps inside. "What's wrong sweetheart?" he asks as I lock the door. "Peeta." I reply. "Boy trouble again?" He sighs. "More like I just Peeta trouble." I sigh sitting down and he sits across from me. "What happened?" Haymitch asked putting a bag carefully on the table. "I asked him if it would be all right if I could invite Gale and he throw a big fit and said he didn't care about what I wanted." I sigh. "He's changing all of a sudden." Haymitch sighs. "I know, he grabbed my arm." I say lifting it up showing him the purple bruise from where he grabbed me. Haymitch frowned. "Word is he's been looking around at other girls." Haymitch whispers. Tear come to my eyes and I nod. "He's been acting really different and at times he's sweet and then he's horrible." I start crying as Haymitch sighs and holds me. "He leaves every Thursday night, says he's going to the train station but I don't believe
him because when he gets back he smells…different." I sigh as I sob into Haymitch's arms. "I heard every Thursday some guy sells some drugs…." Haymitch swollowed. "What!" I turn around facing Haymitch as tears cloud my vision. Haymitch nods saddly. "Sorry but it would explain the way he's acting." Haymitch sighs. I nod agreeing. "Have you read any of Gale's letters?" Haymitch asks me. I shake my head but get up and grab the weaved basket that Greasy Sae had put all my letters in. I had read all of the letters but Gale's so all of his letters were the only ones in the basket. I organize the letters which was hard to do because their were so many but Haymitch helped me. Soon we had all the letter in order and opened the first one he sent to me.
Dear Katniss
It's been so long since I seen you. I know your probably mad at me which I don't blame you. I know we made that promise and I broke it but I tried to get to you only to be stopped by three guards who I guess know about our little deal. District 2 isn't that bad but I would give anything to go back to 12. Well have to go now, seems this jobs is too important to write long letters but I'll try to make them longer.
Love you always
Gale
I bite my lip at the Catnip part and a few tears squeezed out of my eyes at the love you always part. I sighed and gave the letter to Haymitch and picked up another letter while he read the first letter
Dear Katniss
Sorry about the first letter being short, I work in the military so they don't give me much time to write but today I get a day off. You'd be surprised how much the family misses you. Mom misses you, Posy misses you, Vick misses you and even Rory misses you. I even miss you but I mostly miss hunting with you, seems like it was the only time we were both happy, seems like it was the only time you would smile. Two days ago I had to go into the old hospital in four, the one you visited during the fight, well they have a picture of Prim and a little board that explains how she died, who she was, and why she was killed. A lot of people had left flowers underneith it, even I did. I know it must still hurt to think about her, it even hurts me, she was like a little sister, your family was like family to me…Mom wants to know if Haymitch's house is still clean. Well have to go, I told Rory I would teach him to hunt and now he's begging me so have to go.
Love you always
Gale
I sigh as I finish reading the letter. Short but sweet. I hand the letter to Haymitch and pick up the next one. It was a deal we made. He helps me organize them, he gets to read them. I start reading the next letter.
Dear Katniss
I know it's been two weeks since the last letter. Nothing really new is happening here. Just the same things over and over again. Eat, breath, work, sleep. But at lease there is a safe home for my family. No worry about our next meal at lease. Not much more to say… well I guess this is the end of the letter. I know real long but at lease I'm trying to write.
Love you always
Gale
I sigh closing my eyes and that's when the rush of nightmare floods over me.