Unthinkable

Chapter 19~ A Walk

A/N
So I know you all hate me right now considering how long its been since I've updated. And this chapter doesn't have anything all that special which is why it was hard to make because I really had nothing planned. But at the end I thought of a conversation that could happen between Katniss and Gale in the place where they're at that's kind of deep but cute at the same time. However, the chapter was already beginning to get pretty long so I wanted to wait until the next one so I could make their conversation really detailed instead of really limited. Anyways, hope you enjoy :)
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I flinch, releasing a whimper that I tried so hard to restrain. Gale removes the tweezers from my hand and examines the splinter the tool holds. It's the longest yet, two inches at least. He frowns and places it carefully in a glass bowl where the other ones lye. He cups my face in his large, rough hands and kisses me shortly. When he pulls away he tells me that I'm doing good and moves to work on the other hand.

"Well, I've been through worse pain," I reassure both him and myself. This is very much true. Other pains both him and I have suffered would not compare.

He doesn't reply, just continues to concentrate on removing an obstinate piece of wood. When he pulls it out right where it was buried deeply down the side of my fingernail, a flow of blood follows. Gale, not having anything to wipe it with since the blood from most splinters is mild, uses his shirt to wipe it without a second thought.

"Thank you," I say. He nods, progressing to the next finger.

I sigh, he'd been brushing me off with a nod like this ever since we woke up from our nap after arriving home from the woods. The most I've had from him is that short kiss that didn't even feel that great. It must be fatigue and concentration, I tell myself.

I shift my head toward the lamp hovering over my hand and then back down to Gale's tedious work on my fingers. The splinters, however, are not what I'm staring at. The ring on my finger is what I grin at foolishly instead as I try to forget his seemingly short temper. Here he is, taking good care of me just like he'd promised he would the day we were married. I lean my head on his shoulder, hoping this will ease him up a little.

"I'm sorry about everything that's happened lately," I whisper. "You don't deserve it. You deserve a family," I say, hoping that if this is why he seems so upset and exasperated it'll help. He waits until he's pulled the rest of my splinters out before replying.

"You know, Katniss . . . I don't really wanna talk about it, but thanks," he snaps with a grievous face. I frown at his harsh reply, backing my chair out from underneath the table, standing up, and falling onto our bed.

"Well, sorry then. I didn't intend on upsetting you," I explain, rolling my eyes although he can't see. He's silent. I hear a faint whisper coming from where he sits that sounds like numbers.

"Katniss?" he addresses me and I tilt my head so that he's in sight. "I want to know, how in the world did you manage to get fifteen splinters in your hands?"

I shift my eyes downward as I remember clawing the tree branch, releasing my anger onto the bark. I bite my lip until it bleeds the slightest bit. I stand up, looking him straight in the eye as I say,

"You know, Gale . . . I don't really wanna talk about it."

I hear him huff as I walk away, letting me know he understands that I'm mocking him. I don't know why he's making his remarks so cutthroat and how he was only nodding at me each time I said something. I thought it was only concentration, but thinking back at how his jaw tightened, it must be something more. How could he be so cruel to me after the great day we had? It's as if his mood shifted with the arrival of nighttime.