Return to the Sea (Gale Hawthorne x OC)

Chapter 32

I look up from the book I was reading to see Katniss walk in my room and shut the door behind her.

"Please, come in." I sarcastically said.

She nodded slightly and walk towards a chair near where I'm sitting.

It was awkward for a few seconds before she spoke up. "What're you reading?"

"'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Ironic, isn't it?"

A slight smile made its way across her face, then she turned serious. "Did you over hear me and Gale talking?"

I sat up straighter and nodded.

"When was the last time you talked to Gale?"

I looked into her eyes and saw hesitance in them. Her hands began to twitch. She looked nervous.

"You're stalling." I said.

Katniss looked towards the door as if someone would break it down any second. Then she looked back at me.

"We both lost someone important to us from the same thing." I nodded, curious to what she has to say. "I'm not going to kill Snow."
                                      ***
I make my way through the halls, on my way to where the chariot rides would have been located.

"Ceto." A voice made me stop in my tracks.

I slowly turned around to see Gale with a broken look on his face.

"Yes?"

"Don't be like that. Don't...shut me out. Please." He voice cracked on the last word.

His broken expression made me want to go and hug him, but I stayed strong.

"Gale, you killed my brother-"

"We don't know that for sure though."

"But you could have. Just like you could have killed Primrose. Just like you could have killed dozens of innocent children and medics. Sure we don't know what the cause was. But the effect..." I started to get choked up on my words. "The effect was permanent."

He looked away from eyes as a single tear fell from his eye. I silently cursed myself as a began walking towards him. I leaned up and lightly pressed my lips to his cheek.

"The wound will heal with time." I whispered. "I don't fully forgive you, but I understand you didn't want it to happen."

I gave him a small smile before turning away and wiping off a stray tear. I walk out the doors and head to stand next to Peeta. We give each other nods as a hello. Then, drums start to play.

I look behind me and see Katniss all suited up, walking down towards us. She looked beautiful. As she walked past the rebels, they join in on walking behind her. Katniss soon reaches the Victors. We make eye contact for a second, me giving a slight nod before turning to Coin.

"Welcome to the new Panem. Today, on the Avenue of the Tributes, all of Panem, a free Panem, will watch more than a mere spectacle. We are gathered to witness an historic moment of justice. Today, the greatest friend to the revolution will fire the shot to end all wars. May her arrow signify the end of tyranny and the beginning of a new era. Mockingjay, may your aim be as true as your heart is pure." I rolled my eyes at her speech.

Snow looked at Katniss mockingly. Katniss reached back and unsheathed an arrow. She put it in its place on her bow and pulled back, aiming at Snow. A smirk came across my face, knowing what was going to happen. Then, Katniss aimed up and let the arrow fly, hitting Alma in the heart, making her fall from the balcony.

Rebels started to yell "Kill him" as Snow started laughing. Peeta ran to Katniss as the rebels ran past. Before I got dragged out into the current, I saw Katniss getting taken away. Bodies kept pushing past me, making me stumble. The yelling from everyone began giving me a headache. Someone grabbed my arm and dragged me away.

"You alright?" Johanna asked.

I nodded and looked back to where Katniss once stood.

"Were you apart of that?"

I looked at Johanna. "No. It was her idea. But I didn't disagree with it."

I pushed past her and made my way back inside, a smile on my face.
                                      ***
I wait next to Effie as Katniss and Hamitch walk down the stairs.

"I couldn't let you go without a proper goodbye." Effie said to Katniss.

Effie pulled Katniss into a hug.

When they pulled back, Effie said, "It's your job to take care of yourself now, Katniss. Promise me you'll find it."

"Find what?"

"The life of a Victor."

"Goodbye, Effie."

"Goodbye, my girl."

They hugged once more before Katniss turned to me.

"You know, you were one of the only true friends I had, Kit Kat. We may not be the closest, but on some level, we're a like. I'll miss you." I pull her into a hug.

"Goodbye, Ceto." Katniss whispered.

"Goodbye."

She pulled away and continued her path. Hamitch and Effie said their goodbyes. I sighed and I walked back up to the mansion.
~~~
A few days had past. Peeta went back to 12 to be with Katniss. Johanna decided to go back to her District. Annie had soon found out she was pregnant and wanted to return to District 4.

"Ceto," Annie walked up to me, her bag in her hand. "Would you like to come to District 4 with me?"

I wanted to say yes. Being home again, back to where the waves met the sand. The soft ocean breeze bringing in the salty smell. Home. But it brought back memories too. How Finnick would collect random things with me on the seashore. How Mags would calmly comb through my hair after a nightmare. How Triton would splash water on me when he was fishing and had to take me with him.

But I found myself thinking about Gale. My heart still longed for him. I didn't want it too, but it did. And the nights that I couldn't sleep and wanted him to comfort me didn't help either.

Seeming to read my mind, Annie nodded. "I understand. Visit though."

Annie hugged me and left for the train. But Gale came up to me later that day.

"I'm moving to 2. But...I know we aren't on good terms right now, but I still want you in my life. I still love you. And I'll understand if you don't want to. But...

"Come home with me?"