Finding the Missing Piece: Book 2

Chapter Ninety-Seven

Peeta POV-(Three days later)

I haven't seen Katniss or heard from her in days and I don't know why.

Did she leave me?

Is she okay?

She came to see me but I hit her.

I didn't mean to hit her.

I need her and I needed her to stay with me but now she's gone.

And I don't blame her.

But I'm not sure if she'll come back this time around.

Katniss POV- (Three days ago)

I drive to the only place I know.

The woods.

The point of impact on my arm is whelped over  and red.

Though he just swept my hand away, it still hurt.

When Peeta hit my arm, I could see all the anger in his eyes.

They were cloudy, just as they were awhile back when was upset.

A side effect of his mothers beatings and verbal abuse.

How can someone who's suffered that not lash out all the time?

How can someone who lived that be so kind hearted?

I pull over and go to the same place Peeta and I visited awhile back.

When I broke my leg.

Another hurtful event we've suffered.

I go to my fathers and I's lake.

The spring will be here soon and it looks so much better than it did in the beginning of winter. Though, it was nicer having Peeta here next to me.

Keeping me both safe and warm.

I was actually genuinely happy.

Then it turned.

Since that day, things have been okay but not perfect.

Things just started going down hill then they'll be fine for awhile, then they turn again.

It's a vicious cycle.

I make my way to the edge of the lake where Peeta and I sat so many months ago.

And I imagine him sitting there next to me, smiling widely.

That's the last time I think he was genuinely happy with me too.

I imagine him talking to me, but I guess I'm trying to relive that day.

I can't even imagine living without him though, and we made a promise.

Many, many promises.

I have to go back to him, partly because I want to and partly because I have to.

I could never leave him, especially when no one else will be there for him.

I remember Peeta and I picking the Katniss roots together.

Laughing and smiling widely, joking about my name.

"Dad? How'd I get here, huh?" I speak out loud as I stare at my reflection in the water.

I take a stick from the ground and start beating the water with it, like a mad woman.

Not wanting to see my ugly reflection.

"What are you doing?" I hear someone holler.

I gasp and turn around.

Gale.

"What's up?" He asks, plopping down next to me.

"Nothing. What are you doing out here?" I say softly.

He nudges my arm playfully, I wince.

"What? Did I hurt you?" He asks, confused, ignoring my question.

"Yeah, well, not you." I say, pulling up my sleeve to reveal the hint of a bruise Peeta made with the little slapping action he made.

I just want to tattle on him it seems.

"Peeta?" He asks, unbelieving.

I nod softly, he's going to be pissed.

"Why?" Gale asks, his gray eyes narrowing at mine.

"He lashed out. He's in the hospital, they were making me leave and he was mad. I touched him and he swung my arm back and slapped it. He wasn't my Peeta though, he didn't mean it." I say softly, forgiving him.

There's another thing I'll have to explain to him. Why Peeta is in the hospital and his past that caused him to easily lash out.

I'm the only one who knows about Peeta's past.

"What do you mean?" He asks, staring down at a shred of yellow grass.

"Nothing. I can't tell you, um, I just, never mind." I mumble.

"Catnip, tell me. You know you can tell me anything." He says.

I know that but it doesn't necessarily mean I want to tell him.

"I know, Gale. I just need to keep this in, it's okay. You can go now. I already know what you're going to say and I decided I'm not leaving him." I tell him, hoping Gale will the one to leave.

"I wasn't going to say that this time." Gale says, slightly rude.

"Then what were you gonna say?" I ask him back, just as rude.

"I was gonna say maybe you need to leave him. He hit you, Katniss. You don't need to marry someone who does that." Gale says angrily.

"Gale, stop. You don't know what is going on so just stop. I'm not leaving Peeta and I'm going to still marry him. I promised." I say tearing up again.

Gale frowns.

"Gale, why do you even care?" I ask honestly.

"Because I care about you a lot. Maybe more than a friend or sister." He says angrily, slamming his fist against the frozen ground.

"What?"

"I like you, Katniss. I always have." Gale admits to me.

"Gale, what about Madge?"

I feel like screaming.

"I love her." He mumbles under his breath.

"And I love Peeta. Gale, I don't know what the hell has gotten into you but you need to go. I can't deal with this right now." I tell him angrily.

And with that, he gets up and walks away from me.

Leaving me all alone, just the way I like it.

How the hell can Gale even say that?

Especially now.

When he knows I love Peeta and even more importantly, when he's still with Madge.

It makes me want to punch him right in the face.

Madge is his girlfriend and has been for years and years.

I'm his friend.

Just. His. Friend.

And I love Peeta and he knows that.

I get up from the dirt and make my way back to the fence.

I walk through the gate and go back to the car.

I get in and just drive.

I have to get away from here.