Run Away With Me (Hunger Games)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20:

'Well I'm sorry that I love you
It's a phase that I'm going through'

When I wake, I find myself with someone. Peeta. I remove his arm around me and it woke him.

“Sorry” I say

“Morning” he replies groggily.

I leave the bed to open my drawer of clothes, pulling out a pair of jeans and a shirt and entering the bathroom.

When I got out, Peeta is still there. He was watching the sun from the window.

“My dorm’s got a great view right?” I say.

His head turns to me and smiles “Definitely. I might just ask for a transfer” he jokes.

I pull on my boots. “Let’s go?” I ask and he nods.

He heads for my door first with me behind him. I stop in my tracks after I lock my door. Peeta notices and takes my wrist, drawing circles with his thumb.

“What’s bothering you?” he asks.

“It’s nothing” I shake my head and lean on my doorframe.

“Impossible” he says with a frown.

“Tell me” he says softly this time.

“I-“ I looked up at him.

Our faces were mere inches apart.

“Katniss” he sighs.

I close my eyes and feel his lips press to mine. I breathed in anticipation. His hand goes to my hip and my fingers are useless on his shoulders. It was soft, comforting, lingering.  

When it ends, something dawns on me.

“Gale” I say.

His head snaps up. “What?”

“Gale, that’s what’s bothering me”

~

“How are you?” I ask Gale once he sits down next to me for our Literature class.

“I’m alright. I’m sorry for leaving like that” he apologizes.

I nod in understanding “I understand”

The professor, who called our attention, saved me from having to talk about it more than I wanted to.

The next time we talk, we’re at The Hob. He doesn’t know that I asked Peeta to stay. He doesn’t know what happened earlier this morning. I pray that I won’t have to mention it.

“Peeta’s inviting us to Cali” he says.

“I heard. Are you up for it?” I ask.

“Definitely” he answers, sipping his coffee.

“Are you?” he asks. 

I nodded “Yeah”

We fall silent after that, just enjoying the each other’s company. I lean on his arm as I read a novel and he reads his school books.

“I want to make it up to you” Gale says.

I don’t move “How?”

“Are you up for lunch today?” he asks.

“I’m free. Where do you want to meet up?”

“The field. I’ll bring the food” he says, looking down at me.

“Sure” I say.

He shifts in his seat and puts an arm around me, pulling me close.

~

Lunch time. I wait in the field sitting cross legged whilst playing with the blades of grass around me.

“Hey” Gale says and sits downs next to me. He opens a few containers and sets them down. We had bread and fruits, simple yet satisfactory.

The whole time, I forgot about last night. I was focused on now and how I enjoyed it.

"-And then he fell in front of her”

I laugh lightly after he says that. He was recalling an event when Cato was intoxicated and was asking out a girl.

“Does he remember?” I couldn’t help but ask

“Nope” Gale grins. “We plan on keeping it that way”

“What happened to you guys last night?” I ask.

“Marvel says we were camping by the road and Cato says we went to a Gap store” he shrugs “Both confuse me”

I smile and relax. Nothing happened to them.

“How’d you get back here?” he asks.

I feel the blood slowly leaving my face. “I caught a ride with Peeta” I reply.

“Speaking of him, Finnick mentioned that he was locked out of the dorms. I’m wondering where he stayed” Gales says.

I felt my breath hitch. It took me a few seconds to answer. “I let him occupy the other bed”

His eyes snap to mine. “You did?”

I nodded. I couldn’t meet his eyes. I was afraid of what I’d see.

“Did anything happen?” he asks.

I shook my head “Nothing happened. We were just talking”

He nods and an easy smile crosses his face and I accept his embrace, taking in the warmth. He tilts my head up and leans down to kiss me. I respond by moving against his mouth and he just responses fiercely. Soon, I end up laying on the ground with him smiling down at me.

I don’t want to change this.

“You’ll be with me right?” he smiles that winning smile of his “All the time?”

I nodded. “I’m not going anywhere Gale”

He gets off me, allowing me to sit up like him.

“Me too” he sighs.

I can’t do anything but smile. I’m still confused. Once I was alone in class, I bury my head in my hands.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I used to love the idea of Gale and I together. I still do but now there’s Peeta.

Now, regret fills me. My problem is, I can’t pinpoint what this regret is for. Lying to Gale or for not being with Peeta.