Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Four

Peeta POV- (In the car with Gale. Marvel, Cato and Thresh following behind. 10:30pm-ish)

"So, how's everything with Katniss?" Gale asks me out of nowhere.

"Uh, it's been great." I say nonchalantly.

"I meant since your fight, when you were in the hospital." Gale says.

I nod, "It's been better. I am so glad she came back. Everything has been great since."

He stays quiet for a few minutes as I continue driving, not thinking about anything at all.

"I can't believe she went back to you, honestly." Gale murmurs after awhile, with a scoff to follow.

I look over, taking my eyes off the empty road for a quick second.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confusing myself further.

Gale shakes his head, "Nothing. It's about when I saw Katniss at the lake. Did she tell you?"

My heart sinks, "Tell me what?"

Gale looks down, "Nothing. It's nothing, don't worry about it." He says.

"Gale, tell me." I say sternly.

After a second Gale gathers the courage to tell me, "I like Katniss. A lot." He finally blurts out.

"What?" I ask to make sure I heard him right.

Gale groans, "I love Katniss. I have forever. Then you showed up."

So many questions begin rushing through my mind that I begin to not function properly.

I pull over to the side of the road.

I stop the car in a ditch and turn to face Gale.

I take a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts and figure out my words.

I come to the conclusion that I am speechless.

"I don't know what to say to that." I admit.

I mean, what do you say to someone who tells you he's in love with your fiancée?

He shrugs, "Well, neither did she. I told her that she should've left you. I wouldn't hit her at least." He shoots harshly.

I close my eyes before I explode at him, "I didn't mean to hit her. I wasn't in my right mind with that sickness." I mumble guiltily.

I'm forced to face the fact that it is true.

Gale wouldn't hit her.

At least, I don't think he would but I never thought I would either.

"I know about everything you've done to her. You've hit her and scared her multiple times."

I clench my fist, that feeling of anger rages throughout my body as he continues to tell me these things.

Then, the person that has hurt Katniss comes out in me.

All these visions of my mother repeatedly swinging her hand or even rolling pins at me reply in my mind. Her words that still, to this day burn in my mind.

'Worthless'

'Ungrateful'

'Stupid'

'Ugly'

'Idiot'

That is when I can't take it any longer.

That's when I punch the side of the steering wheel as hard as I possibly could, sending jolts of pain to shoot through my now fully healed hand.