#galerose

The conversation was a little stilted. Rory mostly talked about his job in corporate law. Finally, after they had been there nearly an hour, he asked, “And what is it you do?”

“I’m a nurse practitioner at the free clinic.” She said with a smile, scooting forward to talk more about her passion.

“Oh. That’s very commendable.” He said with a little bit of a snooty air. He took out his phone. “I didn’t realize the hour. I have another meeting in thirty minutes.” He finished his coffee and sat the cup on the table. “Can we have dinner on Friday?”

“Sure.” Prim stood and gathered her things. Maybe he was just nervous.

“I’ll call you with a time and a place.” Rory offered as they walked toward the door together. “What do you like?”

“I’m vegetarian, so my only request is a place with good vegetarian options.” She walked toward her car and he politely followed.

“I’ll have to do some research.” He said. “I never considered it.” He held her door as she climbed in. “I’ll text you later?”

“Sure.”

Prim tried to like Rory. She really did. But three dates later she was still struggling. There was no chemistry. Rory was a nice guy, but she wasn’t feeling it.

She lamented it to her sister Katniss over the phone after every date.

“So just break it off.” Katniss said. “You aren’t obligated to date anyone. Especially a guy Mom set you up with. What does she know? Just because you live together doesn’t mean she knows what kind of man will be good for you.”

“He’s a lawyer. And he went to Yale. He’s handsome.” Prim groaned. “And he’s a little arrogant.”

“Drop him, Prim.”

“Well, he invited me to this family thing and I don’t want him to be sad.”

Katniss laughed. “You’re way too nice. I would have stopped answering calls after the first disaster.”

“I know.” Prim sighed.

“You’ll do what you think is right.” Katniss said. “Just don’t take forever. Life’s too short to date someone you don’t even like.”

Rory had a hand on Prim’s lower back as he guided her around the back of his parents’ house. There were so many people and Rory made sure to introduce her to every single one. She would never remember everyone.

The last person they met was a very stoic man. He watched the rest of the gathering from the porch with his back straight and his arms at his side. He was like a statue standing at attention.

“This is my brother Gale.” Rory said. “He just got back from a tour in the Middle East.”

Prim smiled kindly at him and held out her hand. “Thank you for your service. My dad was in the army.”

Gale shook her hand. “I’m a Marine.” He said in greeting.

Prim nodded. “Right on. Very brave of you.”

“Just doing what I need to do.” He said softly.

Rory finally dropped his hand from Prim’s back. “You want a coke?”

“Sure. Sprite?” Prim asked.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Rory went to step away, but he turned back. “I made sure Dad got you some veggie burgers. I’ll make sure to ask him not to cook them on the dirty grill.”

“Thanks.” Prim appreciated Rory’s attention to detail. Maybe she could figure out something.

“So you’re the reason we have to have that rabbit food.” Gale commented.

Prim shrugged. “Not a whole lot different.”

“Why anyone would give up meat is beyond me.”

With a laugh, Prim leaned back against the railing. “Well, I used to like bacon when I was a kid. Ate it as often as I could get my parents to make it. Then I started asking how it was made and my dad took me to a farm and a butcher. I saw the whole process. And it made me really sad.”

“It’s what they’re for.” Gale took a step closer. “We’re the top of the food chain.”

“Not when you consider bears and lions. Elephants even.”

Gale shook his head. “But you need protein.”

Prim laughed. “Protein comes from more than just meat. I do still eat cheese and yogurt and eggs. I just don’t want animals to die for my meal if I can help it. You can eat my share.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” She saw a ghost of a smile pulling at his lips.

“Is 7Up okay, Primrose?” Rory asked, holding out a can.

“That works.” She took the can and opened it. “Thanks, Rory.”

“I got you a Dr. Pepper, Gale.” Rory handed over the can.

“Thanks.” Gale gave his brother more of a smile, but then his lips went straight again.

“My mom is going to grill your burgers inside so there isn’t any cross-contamination with the meat.” Rory said as he popped open his own soda.

“I’ll have to thank her.” Prim said. “They didn’t have to go to so much trouble for some girl they’ve never met before.”

“Well, when Rory brings home a girl, we know it’s getting serious.” Gale commented with another slight smile. A look of pride was on his face for his little brother.

Serious? Prim thought. No, it’s the complete opposite of serious! But how to I get out of this?

She followed Rory around for a while until she started feeling more comfortable in the crowd. She was okay with him wandering away to talk to some friends from school who had shown up late. She stayed with his sister and her friends for a few more minutes until Gale caught her eye again.

He still stood in the same spot overlooking the crowd. One hand held the can of coke his brother had brought him earlier while the other gripped the railing of the deck.

Prim was drawn to him.

Gale looked over as she stepped close.

“So you just got back?” She folded her arms on the railing.

“Been home a week.” His fingers loosened a little on the railing, but he still held on like he would float away if he lifted his hand.

She traced a bit of the grain. “I bet it was scary.” She glanced up to see if she could catch a smile.

But if anything, the comment made his face go darker. “Yeah.”

She looked back down. “My dad was killed over there, so…”

“I’m sorry.” He said. “A lot of good people died. Are dying.”

“I guess your family is glad you weren’t one of them.”

She looked up just in time to see him nod. “Yeah. But I’m not.” A look crossed Gale’s face that was a little surprised he’d admitted something like that to a stranger. “You, uh, like Rory?”

Prim smiled and stood a little straighter. “He’s a good guy. Really likes his job.”

“He’s a little obsessed with being the best.” That phantom smile was back. “He was top of his class.”

“You’re proud of him.” Prim observed. It was really sweet to see. Katniss was the same with her.

“I’m proud of all of them.” Gale said, his lips lifting just a bit more.

She talked with Gale for quite a while longer. She noticed the way he started to relax. Eventually, he lifted his hand off the railing. And slowly, the smile became completely fleshed out.

Prim couldn’t believe it when she saw it. His whole face lit up. He was like a different person. His grey eyes turned silver in the late afternoon sun and he looked ten years younger.

A warmth began in Prim’s chest and spread to the rest of her body. She mumbled an excuse about needing the bathroom and wandered inside.

She spent the rest of the time avoiding Gale, though she noticed him watching her more than once.

As he drove her home, Rory said, “So, I think we should just be friends.”

“Oh, thank god!” Prim blurted. “I mean… I didn’t mean…”

“I know what you mean.” He said, a kind smile on his lips. “You’ve been a great companion these last few weeks. But I know you and I haven’t clicked.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He stopped at a red light and turned to look at her. “I happened to glance over when you were talking with Gale and I saw something on your face that I never saw when we talked.”

“He just looked so lonely.” She said softly.

“He is.” Rory continued down the road when the light changed.

“I haven’t hated spending time with you.” Prim said. It wasn’t entirely a lie.

He chuckled. “I guess your mom had a bit of an idea of what was best for you. It just wasn’t me.” He pulled into her driveway and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “Look, I’m not cool with you doing this right away. It would be a bit of a blow to my ego.” He held out the paper. “But my brother deserves a chance. Most of the people he was friends with were with him over there and a lot of them didn’t make it back. So if you can figure out how to make him smile and relax a bit, he needs that.”

“Thank you, Rory.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you around.”

Inside the house, she was met by Iris, Katniss, and Peeta. They gave her questioning looks.

“We broke up.” Prim said. She could feel the smile huge on her face, which caused her mother to give her a hard look. “There wasn’t a spark.” Prim argued. “And he’s the one that broke it off. It’s fine.” She headed toward the back of the house. “I need to wash all the bug spray off.”

She stepped into her bedroom, but couldn’t close the door because Katniss was standing there. Her sister stepped inside and plopped down on the bed. “Spill it, Prim. Tell me everything.”

“There’s not much to tell.” Prim sat beside her. “Except that I talked to his older brother more than him. And I think I like his brother more.”

Katniss laughed and shook her head. “You’re something else, Prim.”

Prim shrugged. “Rory gave me his number. Gale just got back from overseas. He’s a Marine. Lost a lot of friends, apparently.” She swallowed and stood. “I really do need to shower. I feel gross. And I smell like grilled hamburgers.”

“Delicious.” Katniss pressed a kiss to her sister’s cheek before she left the room.

“Gale, I hate this stupid movie.” Prim complained from the couch. “I’ve seen it like 6 times already.”

Gale pressed a hand to his chest. “Primrose, I am shocked.” he said, sitting heavily on the couch. “Shaun of the Dead is not stupid.”

“It’s about a 30 year old retail manager dude bro that fights zombies.” Prim shot back. “Stupid.”

“You said I could pick the movie this time.” Gale said righteously.

Prim poked him in the ribs. “Yeah, I’ll never make that mistake again.” she said.

“Shhh” Gale said dramatically, pressing a finger to her lips. “It’s starting.”

Nearly 20 minutes in, Gale heard a muffled giggle coming from Prim. He smiled to himself but said nothing. It happened several more times throughout the movie. When it was over Gale turned to Prim with a grin of triumph.

“You laughed!” he said pointing a finger in her face.

“I d-did not!” Prim stammered, blushing prettily.

“You’re awfully red for someone who didn’t laugh, Primrose.” he said.

“Just like your eyes were awfully watery for someone who didn’t cry when we went to see Inside Out?” Prim said with a knowing gleam in her eye. “I have my secrets and you have yours Gale Hawthorne.”

“So what you’re saying is that you won’t tell Katniss I like disney movies if I don’t tell her you like screwball comedies?” Gale said.

Prim beamed. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.” She said, then her eyes widened and her hand flew to cover her mouth.

“You...you love me?” Gale asked stunned.

Prim, who had yet to drop her hands from her mouth nodded vigorously.

Gale blinked. “I love you too.” he said. “It didn’t hit me until you said it but--”