The Return of the Hunger Games [FALLEN ASHES] Book II

(10)

The room immedietly heats up. Katniss stands up and looks at me.  

"What do you mean, engaged!?" She's furious.  

I swallow. "Yes. Rayla and I are, engaged."  

Eyes are bulging out of everybody's eye sockets. Katniss is shaking her head and can't keep her eyes off me. I see they're burning with anger.  

"So my daughter, is in a life or death situation right now because you, the man she LOVES is marrying you!" She turns to Rayla. "Her best friend." She accuses. Peeta grabs her shoulders. "I want an explination." He says. 

Rayla walks over to me, and looks me deep in my eyes. She finally stopped crying, and now the tears were replaced by a haunting stare. They all sit on the chairs across the living room and Rayla and I remain standing.  

"Two months ago, we were celebrating Rayla's birthday. You remember, you were there." Both Peeta and Katniss nod, and I continue. "I was, really upset at the fact that Elissa didn't want anything to do with me. After everybody left, I stayed with Rayla. Her parents were passed out on the couch and....." My voice trails off. I can't bare the thought. It's too much.  

"We went to my room." Rayla says. "We began drinking. And next thing I know," She takes a breath, "Next thing I know I wake up with Trey freaking out and our clothes scattered all over the place." She says.  

I close my eyes, another stupid mistake that is now costing me Elissa's love.  

"What are you two trying to tell us by this?" Haymitch asks.  

Rayla and I look at eachother, and I take in a deep breath.  

"Rayla is pregnant." I say, and I feel the echo.  

Effie is the first to gasp, Haymitch's mouth plops open, And Katniss and Peeta stand with fire in their eyes.  

"So you proposed?" Peeta asks.  

"My parents, they found out. And they're forcing us into marriage." She says, disapointment in her voice.  

"This, is not right!" Katniss says. "I'll talk to your parents, whatever I have to do but no! You two can't do this, not to yourselves, not to Elissa!"  

"There is no use Katniss." My mother tells her. "I've said and done the impossible just to make them consider to not get them to marry eachother, but in the end they still insist on them getting married." 

"My parents think its best for the child." Rayla says.  

"This is ridiculouse!" Effie says.  

Kal begins to move his arms and Gale is right beside him. I had forgotten they were still here. Soon Kal's eyes are slowly opening and my mother is by his side.  

"Kal? How are you?" She asks him.  

"Elissa." He whispers, before his eyes slowly close and he passes out again.  

Gale looks at me, and I can already tell what he wants to say.  

"What?" I ask him, a bit harshly but I don't care.  

"I just don't understand how you can love Elissa, but hurt her so much." He tells me.  

I'm immediatly mad. Who is he to tell me this? 

"Coming from the man who cheated on his wife with another woman?" I say.  

He stands up, Peeta comes between us before Gale reaches me. He points his finger at me, all mad. "Listen! That was only once! Unlike you! And my wife had cheated on me first!" He yells.