Begin Again [Wattys 2013 Finalist]

Chapter 46

We both agreed right away that there was to be no big wedding party. We both want a simple, traditional, District 12 wedding. We also both want a summer wedding and, because we don't really have to prepare anything, we decide to have it in one week. However, we plan on inviting a few people. We agreed easily on Haymitch, Effie, Johanna, Annie and her son, and Delly and her new boyfriend. Then there's my mother and Gale. Peeta wants me to invite my mom, while I really have no interest in having her at the wedding.

"Katniss we really should invite her. She's your mother!"

"She probably won't even come, Peeta."

"That's silly, of course she'll come."

"She doesn't care, she left me." I say this very matter-of-factly. 

"We have to at least invite her!" He persists.

"Please invite her," he says as he gives me his best pleading puppy dog eyes. He bats his eyelashes, failing miserably at playing the flirty boy role. But it makes me laugh. As I let out the chuckles, I also let out the rage I hold towards my mother. That's the thing about Peeta. Not only is he undyingly nice to everyone, but there's something about him that turns me soft. He just makes me realize that I want to be nice to everyone too. That's exactly what I need. I need him because he reminds me to be compassionate, not hostile. So I agree, adding my mother to the small guest list in my mind. Then my mind shifts back to Gale. The last time I saw him didn't go over well. I know that he won't be happy that Peeta and I are getting married. Would he even want to be invited? As if reading my mind, Peeta clears his throat and says, "We should invite Gale too."

"I was just thinking about that. I'm not sure if he would want to be invited. He won't be happy."

"He's your best friend. He'll be happy for you."

"Used to be my best friend," I correct.

Peeta shakes his head.

"He still is. You guys just need to talk. You'll see. We're inviting him."

Peeta and Gale don't even get along. I wonder why he wants me to invite him. I don't wonder for long. It's obvious. There was one reason he told me to invite Gale. He knows that I want to at least try to fix my friendship with him. He's doing this for me.

"Thanks," I mumble as I drop my head to his shoulder. 

"I guess we should make the calls," I say.

He passes me the phone. We put it on speaker and dial Annie first, then Johanna, then Delly, then Effie. Everyone seemed so happy for us that I actually found the experience of telling them all more enjoyable as I continued to do it. Peeta and I even smiled as Effie squealed through the receiver for a solid two minutes. I save my mom and Gale for last and convince Peeta that we should walk over and tell Haymitch before calling them. We walk to his house and find him sitting on the porch. He's awake, which is surprising because it's before noon. As I wave my hand to say hello, the midday sun catches the small diamond on my ring and Haymitch notices it right away.

"Come on now Peeta, we all know you can afford more than that."

I pull my hand down and Peeta says defensively, "I didn't..."

But he doesn't finish because I cut him off by saying, "I love it" in a voice that was meant to be strong but actually comes out soft and sweet. And I really do love it, though now I wonder about its size. I make a mental note to ask Peeta why he picked this one later, because I'm sure there's a reason.

"So you two are finally getting married?"

"What do you mean finally? We're nineteen!" I say.

"Well, I mean, it was bound to happen soon. Everyone knew it would," Haymitch says.

"Whatever," I shoot back.

Peeta puts his hand on my back and immediately I feel warmth course through me, melting the iciness I just felt towards Haymitch.

"Of course, we'd really love if you came to the wedding. It's not gonna be anything big, just traditional with a few friends," I tell him.

"May 20th," Peeta adds.

Haymitch gets up and pulls us both into a hug, saying, "Congratulations. I'll be there."