For Rich Or For Poor: Sequel

Chapter Twelve: What Happened

I sit in the woods, waiting for Gale.
As soon as I got home, I was still crying. I didn't tell my parents I was coming home, or what happened. They seemed so worried when I came home, for the first time in their lives, but I ignored them as I ran up to my old room and got dressed. I did my make up again, between the pool and the tears it was very smudged. I dress in one of the few dresses I left at home. I will have to keep up my image here. 
So I wait for Gale, who has not yet shown up. But after a few minutes, I begin to hear the rustle of someone stepping on fallen leaves. 
"Hey Catnip." He says with a smile on his face. I stand from where I was sitting, walking in his direction, and giving him the largest hug I can manage. "What's wrong?" 
"Um, let's sit down." I pull away from the hug and we both sit. I begin to explain what happened earlier today. Wow, was it only today? 
"So, Peeta's Grandfather came.... 

***FLASHBACK***

I can hear them inside, talking. I cannot make out their words, But I try desperately. it's been probably 20 minutes since I have come out here. I sneak a look inside, they all seem to be laughing about something. What kind of laugh is that? When they begin to walk towards the sliding doors, I lean back against the house. I'm nervous, I won't lie. I'm not sure what he will think of me being here. Did they tell him already? I hear the door open, but I'm still not in sight. their voices are so much more clear now. 
"She is right over here." Peeta says and I freeze. They all look over at me, and I don't know what to do. Do I smile? Do I say something. 
"Katniss Everdeen, hello." His grandpa says with a smile. I look at Peeta, not really believing he is taking this so well. 
"Hello Mr. Mellark, how are you?" I say in a shaky voice. 
"Are you nervous?" He asks. 
"Um, maybe a little." I look at Peeta who has a smile on his face. 
"Well there is no need to be, they have told me a lot about you." 
"So, you are okay with Peeta and I being together?" 
"Who am I to stand in the way of my grandson's happiness? If he loves you, that's all there is to it." I look at Peeta and I smile widely, and then I look to his grandfather and smile just as wide. 
"Are you serious?" I ask, walking over to them. 
"Absolutely." He opens his arms and I give him a hug, still completely shocked. Peeta made it sound like he would be acting like a little kid, freaking out at the news and throwing a temper tantrum. 
"Um, everyone? With that said, I have something I need to say." Peeta speaks up, looking at everyone. Especially me. He walks to me, standing in front of me, and taking my left hand. 
"Peeta?" I say in a whisper. 
"Now that everything is solved, I want to ask you something important. I would like to know, um..." He is stuttering, which only really happens when he is nervous. Finally, after figuring out in my mind what he is doing, he continues.
"Will you marry me?" A smile grows on my face, embarrassment of his entire family around us settles with a deep blush on my cheeks. I'm shaky with my answer, so I nod. He slips the ring onto my finger, and before he can hug me, a voice stops us.
"No." Peeta's grandfather says.
"Wait, what?" I question. Didn't he just say he was okay? That he didn't want to interfere with his grandsons happiness?
"Katniss, you seem like a lovely young lady, but not to marry Peeta. I mean, that would make your family part of his and we can't have tat."
"But you said-" I begin but am cut off.
"I know what I said, but I didn't mean he should marry you. I figured sooner or later you two would brea up and then he would find someone better." I'm shocked by what he is saying, does he actually mean this?
"Grandfather, That's not how it works. I truly love Katniss, enough to make her my wife." Peeta says, holding my hand.
"And if it was just her it would be different, but it's her family that's the problem."
"What's wrong with my family?" I snap at him.
"Well, your father is very greedy first off. He keeps so much money to himself when he could increase the pay for your maids. Secondly, your mother. Oh my, she is just like the mayors assistant Effie. Completely a nut about appearance and manners and could care less about anything other than being part of the top ten. Prim, oh your sister, don't get me started on her..." He trails off.
"No, go ahead, talk about Prim. Might as well since you've talked about everyone else." I become extremely defensive, almost wanting to smack him. I can't hit an old man, can i?
"Why don't we leave her out of this. Your grandmother, a lazy drunk who takes part of your parents pay every month, lord knows where your grandfather is. I haven't heard of him in ages." He is going further into my family, and of course I care about those people, but I care the most about Prim.
"What's wrong with Prim?" I say slowly, trying not to blow my temper.
"Well, if I must say it, she's a slut." I gasp at his false accusation towards my sister.
"How dare you, the only person she's ever dated was Rory Hawthorne, and that's an understatement because it was very short." I snap at him.
"To your knowledge, though words travels around pretty quickly. The Everdeens have a way of dealing with stress, anger, or sadness correct? Paper roses?"
"How do you know about those?" I growl.
"They go back at least 5 generations, you aren't the first to discover it. Anyways, I'm sure she has a whole bucket full of them. Because she just looooves all the boys she has dated. Pretty much the entire town."
"How dare you!" I hiss at him, releasing my hand from Peeta's and taking steps towards him. "My sister is no where near a slut, and I could say some things about your family as well." A smirk spreads across his face, almost amused.
"Go ahead, make my day." This pulls me up short. I can't say anything because one, Peeta and his whole family are here. Secondly, there isn't anything to say about them. They are all so amazing. So I say the only thing I can.
"You are all related to Ernest Mellark, Who killed my however many greats grandmother, and made away like a bandit because we had more money than you!"
'"Have you forgotten the part when the Everdeen's murdered and entire Mellark family in the woods? Out of anger?"
"The way I was told you all murdered our family."
Of course that's how you heard it, it came from your parents."
"I heard your version as well, from Peeta! Who got it from your wife when she died!" I believe bringing up the death of his wife crossed some sort of line because his face lowers into grief, and then anger.
"Don't you ever mention my wife, especially not in this case!" He hisses and for the first time I hear true hatred behind his voice.
"Your wife, had been with more guys than my sister." Am I seriously calling a dead lady a slut?
"Katniss stop." Peeta says behind me and I see the tears in his eyes. I didn't mean to make him cry. I knew he was very close to his grandmother.
"You're right, that was too far. Your grandma has nothing to do with this Peeta." I say with true remorse circling my words.
"Grandfather? I think maybe you and everyone else should go inside for awhile." Nobody moves at first, but at some point they all mentally agree to leave. When they have all gotten inside, Peeta turns to me. I can see the fire behind his usual comforting blue eyes. I know he isn't happy.
"What was that!?" He spits at me.
"Um, an argument."
"Why would you argue with him? He's like a child, you're an adult."
"Because if I didn't, we couldn't have gotten married." Peeta begins to walk towards me, until I back up far to the edge of the pool.
In the end, it is still our decision. You didn't have to do that, especially with my grandmother. Her death has effected my entire family so much. And I thought this feud was over? Why did you bring it up?"
"Excuse me!" I snap. "I didn't see you standing up for my family when he was insulting them. You just stood there, I had to do something."
"None of those things about your family are true though."
"Oh, and everything I said about your family is?"
"Yes! My grandma got around with many guys before she met my grandfather! It's a very touchy subject for him."
"How was I supposed to know!?" I yell.
"You should have just kept your mouth shut." He takes another step towards me, and I forget I'm at the edge of the pool. I step back and fall in, completely soaking myself from head to toe. I resurface to see Peeta walking towards the house again.
"Fine! I didn't want to be your wife anyways!" I keep my voice steady while the tears blend in with the water. I look down at my hand to see my engagement ring is gone. Wow, my engagement lasted shorter than Kim Kardashians first marriage. I get out of the pool, grab my phone and purse off the outside table, and I call for a cab to take me to the airport.

***END OF FLASHBACK***

"Katniss, you weren't in the wrong. You were defending your family." Gale says. I've done a good job of not crying through my story.
"I know, but I shouldn't have brought up his wife. Peeta was devastated when she died, I knew it was risky.
"It's the first thing that came into your mind."
"I know, but-"
"No, no buts. You did what you should have done, and if Peeta couldn't defend you against his family, he is not someone you need your life." Now I begin crying.
"But he is Gale, he is what I need. He is my rock, I can't get through a day without him. I don't know what I'm going to do now." He puts his arms around me and I cry into his chest. "What am I going to tell Prim? She was so happy for me. The whole town will know the fued is back on, I ruined it." I sob.
"You didn't ruin anything; it's his fault."
"I need to talk to him, I need to figure this out."
"Give it some time. You both need to calm your emotions or things could end badly again." Gale's advice is always great, and I agree with him.
"How long?"
"At least two weeks, but if you still are upset or crying over what happened, you need to wait even longer. If it helps to talk to someone, or get your mind off of things, I'm always here, Finnick and Annie are, you have a lot of people that care about you Katniss."
"Yeah, a lot. But not Peeta."
"I think he still cares about you, he was just emotional. If he was close to his grandmother, I can understand why. But when we are angry or stressed, we all say things we don't mean." I hug Gale tighter, soaking in his warmth.
"Thank you." I say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okayyy! 2,000 words yay!! :D
Um, I know it's been a long wait, I'm sorry. I haven't really wanted to write lately. But now I'm back in the mood! 
Again, I'm really sorry it took so long!
I LOVE YOU ALL! <3 and thank you so much for the prayers! I've been thinking of my aunt very recently, even cried tonight when I heard a song I included in her eulogy! But your prayers really are effective! So thanks!
Please share your thoughts!