Finding the Missing Piece: Book 2

Chapter Twenty

Katniss POV-

I have to leave Bristol.

She is going to be here all alone.

Brandon is deployed and I am breaking my promise to her, I promised her I would help her cope and if I leave, I can't do that.

"Peeta, what about Bristol?" I ask him guiltily.

He knows about my promise to her and knows how much it's going to hurt us to leave.

Peeta sighs, "She's going to understand." He says softly.

"Can I have a little while to talk to her?" I ask him.

"Of course. I'll go pack my stuff." Peeta says and kisses my cheek.

A walk into the dorm room and see Bristol is asleep on her bed where she's been spending an awful long time since she came back.

I walk over and sit at her desk and think about what to say.

'Hey, Bristol. I know I promised to be there for you but me and my fiancé are leaving so you're kind of going to have to deal with your problems yourself.' I say in my head.

Anyway that I put it sounds as if I am saying that exactly if not worse.

"Bristol?" I say softly.

She doesn't budge so I nudge her gently on the arm, "Hey, wake up." I say.

A stirs and opens her eyes. "Oh. Hey, Kat." Bristol says, sitting up.

I sit back down on the seat next to her bed and look at the ground awkwardly.

"Is everything okay?"

"I need to talk to you and it's kind of important." I tell her, trying not to cry.

"What's up?" Bristol asks.

"So, you know how Delly and that other guy have been reporting me?"

She nods and her expression dulls, knowing where I'm heading with it.

"Well, they did it again-" I stop to take a breath.

I feel so bad for doing this to her but I'm sure she'll understand.

I pause and begin again, "Peeta and I decided we miss home too much. Besides that, Snow just kicked us both out." I say.

Her face drops.

"We have to go back to Twelve." I say as hot tears fall down my face.

Bristol's tears begin to flow too.

"Katniss, I am so sorry." Bristol whispers softly.

I go over and sit on her bed next to her.

She wraps her arms around me in a comforting way.

I swear this girl is one of the nicest people I've ever met and leaving her is going to be harder than I imagined.

It hasn't even been an entire year and it's hard.

"When will you both leave?" She asks softly.

"We are hoping tonight or to at least be off campus by tonight." I admit.

"Wow."

"We even talked about it before he called me to his office a second time for the day. We were gonna try to stay until Christmas. I wasn't sure I would make it but I wanted Peeta to. Then Snow called and that all changed."

"It's not fair to either of you." Bristol says angrily.

I swallow hard, knowing she's right but also knowing there's not much I can do.

"You know, I'll really miss you, right?" She frowns.

"I'll miss you too." I start.

"Yeah, it may have only been a few months but you have become my best friend." Bristol chokes out.

That's when I completely loose it.

No one has ever called me their best friend before and meant it.

I mean Finnick and Gale but it's still different.

And then Peeta but it's different than them saying it, I don't know why but it is.

Hot tears flow down our cheeks and we hug each other right.

"I just want you to know how grateful I am for everything you've done for me. I mean, you planned my wedding and you became my best friend all in a matter of three months and that's so special."

"Thank you for everything. You made being away from Peeta a lot of fun. These past few months haven't been the best but I don't regret a thing because without them, I wouldn't have met you." I say truthfully.

"Katniss?"

"Yeah?"

"Actually, didn't just make one friend. You made two new friends."

I nod my head, "Brandon is great too. Peeta and I are really happy for you both." I say, feeling bad for not mentioning Brandon who Peeta seemed to hit it off with.

"That's sweet but it's not what I meant. So I guess what I'm trying to say now is you made three new friends." Bristol says, looking down.

"Wait, what?" I look up at her, very confused.