I'll carry you home (Everlark)

Chapter 22: Dinner

Chapter 22

Katniss P.O.V.

"Hey Catnip".

Gale Hawthorne. The son of my parents friends. Med-student. Jackpot for my mom. I know that she's always hoped that I would go to med-school with Gale and be together with him and have cute babies after med-school. But that's her dream not mine.

Gale and I grew up together yeah, but I've never felt anything for him, to my mother's big disappointment. I knew Gale had a crush on me when we were little but he's also the one who's had plenty of girlfriends, while I've had two boyfriends.

I turn around to my dad, my eyes wide. He looks at me with an apologetic look.

I look at Peeta, who's looking slightly shocked, but is waiting for an explanation. I turn towards my mom again. Behind her I see that the table is already set. I look at Prim who's still looking angry and annoyed. Elijah is sitting beside her, I didn't see him until now. He's looking pretty confused as to why Prim is so angry.

Now after the shock has settled, I feel my rage flow to the surface. I dig my fingers deeply into my palms, surely making it bleed. I start to shake with rage. I see red.

She had to do this. My stupid mother had to do this. I'm sure she sees this as her last change to change me. My fists are shaking.

Peeta puts a hand onto my shoulder and I look back at him. He gives me a reassuring smile.

"Let's sit down and eat", my mom says before I can say anything.

And before I can protest I'm being shoved towards the table by both Peeta and my father. My father is still looking nervous and strained when he sits down opposite me. Clearly he does not like what my mom just did.

Peeta sits down beside me of course and I take his hand, holding it onto the table so my mom will see. But then Gale sits down on the other side of me.

"Catnip it's really good to see you", Gale says and pulls me into a hug, pulling my hand away from Peeta's.

Well I wish I could say the same to you. Not really though, I'd really like to smack you right now.

I pull away from Gale.

"You too", I mumble.

I take Peeta's hand again, marking that I don't want any physical contact with Gale at all.

"Gale, some salat?" My mom ask, not even acknowledging Peeta at all.

"Yes thanks", Gale says and my mom put some salat on his plate.

I feel disgusted. I'm not hungry, and it doesn't really look like Peeta is hungry either. Not my father either for that matter. He's starting to look angry.

"Katniss, Peeta salat?" Dad asks.

I just nod my head in a very short nod.

"Yes please mr Everdeen", Peeta says, being the well mannered good boy he is.

"Oh Peeta please, just call me Will", my dad says with a genuine smile towards Peeta and I feel so grateful that this man is my father.