Run Away With Me (Hunger Games)

Chapter 26

'(I know) that a love like this won't last forever. But I, I don't really mind, I don't really mind at all'

Chapter 26:

The following day, I met Gale after my last class for the day. He’s silent and it’s scaring me.

“So” he starts. “I don’t think it’s your fault you know? I doubt you can control it”

A sigh of relief escapes me. My chest lightens at his words.

“So are you mad at me?” I ask

“I’m mad yes, but not at you” he replies while looking at the ground.

“I’m still sorry” I say

“I told you, I don’t think it’s your fault” his reply follows mine almost immediately.

“I’m glad that we’re on better terms now, but-“ I look at him “-I think I need to clear my head”

“You mean-?”

“Yeah” I nodded

“I need space, or a break of some sort. I don’t think it’s healthy to be with you right now if I’m still conflicted” I say.

His face turns sad “I’m still willing for us to be together” he takes my hand in his.

For a minute, I let my hand rest in his and slowly pulled it away “No Gale. I just really can’t” I plead“Just try to understand”

“I know, I know” he sighs “I’m just being selfish”

“No you’re not” I smile “I’ve known you all my life. I know every bit of you and selfish isn’t part of you”

“Thanks” he smiles back.

“So what now?”

“Now…” I trailed off

“For now, it’s back to being friends?”

“Definitely” he replies.

I’m relieved, it’s starting to get better.

The week went as I hoped it would. I talked to Peeta after seeing that Gale was fine. I told him that I broke it off with Gale, for now. And that I’d like things with us to get better as well. Naturally, he agreed saying that it was the best option we had now.

Days later, they finally could be in the same room and not put everyone in worry. After a weekend, they are talking civilly. I remember smiling across the room as I sipped my tea. And a few more weeks later, they were back to before.

Honestly, I’m happy that they managed to get past whatever this was. As for me, I’ve gone back to focusing on my studies. I managed to get myself in advanced classes and somehow bended the schedule to my liking. I was back at working in the Bookstore. Seeder and I usually have afternoon tea during work. And I’m just exhausted but in a good way.

Now, I’m a month away from finishing my third year in The Capitol. After that, it’s one more year left for me.

“Morning Catnip” Gale says as he enters The Hob. I wave at him seeing that my mouth was full of muffin.

He sits across me and takes a muffin from my plate. I roll my eyes and swallow. I reached for my lemonade and sipped, letting the juice wash down the muffin.

“Thanks for the muffin” he says with his mouth full. I nod and resume my reading. His hand reaches for the last muffin on the plate and I slapped it away

“It’s for Peeta” I tell him.

“What’s for me?” Peeta says behind me.

“Here” I give him the muffin. “Take it before Gale devours it”

“Thanks” he grins and takes a seat.

“So, what’s new?” Peeta asks

“Nothing really” Gale says “Same old”

I nodded in agreement

“Do you guys wanna hang in my room later? It’s Friday” Peeta says, gobbling up the last piece of muffin and taking my lemonade. I send him a scowl which disappears after he shoots me a smile. “Sure. I’m done with all my stuff anyway”

“Yeah, we barely saw you then” he agreed

“I can’t today. I have loads of work to do. I swear Crane hates his students” Gale says rather disappointedly.

“Good luck then” I tell him.

“Right. I better get going. I’ll be late” Gale says and gathers his things

“Bye” I wave to him.

After he leaves, Peeta and I go back to talking “So it’s just us tonight?” I ask

“Yeah. What movie?” he asks

“You pick, I picked last week’s” I tell him.

We gather our things and walk out. It was sunny and warm out today, a perfect day for a stroll. “Okay then. You’ll bring the food?” he asks

“Sure” I say “Well this is me, bye Peeta” I send him a smile and walk in the classroom.

Later on, I bought a bag of cookies and two hot chocolates from The Hob and headed to Peeta’s dorm. I called out “Peeta? Can you open the door? My hands are full”

I hear shuffling and the doorknob being twisted.

“Oh hey” he says. I walk in and put the food on his table.

“For you” I hand him his chocolate.

“Put the movie on” I said and plopped on his bed.

He presses the remote and the movie plays. I lay on my back, watching upside down. Peeta is beside me, laying on his stomach. I lean to my right, near his head.

“It’s nice here” I say

“Where?” he asks.

“Here. Just laying down, especially now that it’s unusually cold outside. I’m really tired from staying up for weeks so just laying down next to something warm is nice” I say

“Oh so I’m a something now?” he scoffs.

“Yes, you’re something” I roll my eyes. He feigns offense and I roll my eyes again.

“No silly. You’re someone” I finally tell him, and he breaks into a massive grin.

“I’m alright now” he says.

I shift and lay on my stomach and continue to lean on him “Of course you are” I say.

Like I said, it was cold and I rejected Peeta’s earlier offer of a blanket which I now deeply regret. I tug on his and unfolded it so that it would cover us both.

“Now you’re cold?” he teases

“Whatever” I reply and scoot closer to him, the only warmth I feel now. I’ve been drifting in and out of sleep when the movie ends.

I should leave now, I thought. But I really felt the exhaustion fused with drowsiness hit me.

“I should probably leave” I voice my thoughts out.“But I don’t want to”

“Then don’t” he replies, voice lined with sleep like mine.

“Yeah I won’t leave” I say for now.

So I let irrational thoughts consume me for the first time in a long time. Peeta, now asleep, unconsciously wraps an arm around me, enveloping me into more warmth. I have tried avoiding situations like these but now I’m more comfortable with him than ever.

A lot has changed the past month. Does he still feel for me? Do I? Questions again flood my head. Again, I push them away and let myself enjoy what I have right now. I predict that it won’t last long before we are all back to problems. This comfortable, relaxed night is all I’m thinking about right now and for now it’s all fine.