It's been seven years since the rebellion, which means President Snow's gone, so why am I so worried about Rosanna and Alexander. I watch them play in the garden with Peeta and I see the same look in his eyes. Do you think it's because of our past? Rosanna looks so much like Prim did when she was a child. Peeta looks up and calls me to come outside. As I walk outside I see Gale across the road. Wasn't he supposed to be in one of the other districts. Maybe I'm hallucinating. As I walk over to Peeta he speaks. "That isn't is it?" He looks slightly concerned. I hadn't seen Gale in seven years so I don't know if his feelings have changed about me.
"Mommy, who's that?" Alexander asks tugging my arm slightly.
"I think you're right Peeta. Take the kids inside." I see the worried look on his face. "I'm just being cautious." He still doesn't take the look off his face. "Come on Peeta it's me we're talking about!" I say laughing.
"Ok, see you in a sec." He picks up Alexander and swerves around in a swift quick motion. "Come on Rosie." Peeta says taking her hand.
Once they're gone I go out the gate and across the road to where my old victor's house is. I left that house to live with Peeta, there were too many memories of my family, of Prim. As I get closer to the man I call, "Gale?" The man swivels around at the name and there I see the boy who had been my friend since I was ten, the brown hair, and grey seam eyes.
"Hey Katnip." His face brightens when he sees me. It's been so long since I've been called 'Katnip' Gale was the only one who called me it. "It's been so long!" He walks up to me and gives me a hug. I wrap my arms around him. "How are you? The last time I saw you, you'd just killed Coin." I smile slightly at the thought of the satisfactory I felt getting rid of her and then the dreadful loneliness in the empty and cold room and my smile disappears.
"What about Prim?" He asks. I freeze.
"Prim is dead, gone and I do miss her but I've moved on." I say sharply.
"Ok sorry. You definitely haven't changed." He laughs softly.
"You'd be surprised." I say. "I'll see you around." He hugs me again and a question comes into my mind. "Gale, do you still like me?" I ask nervously.
"Yes." He says quietly. "I came back for you." He smiles slightly but I don't return it.
"Gale you've got to understand I don't love you, I can't." Wow when did I change? I think to myself.
"And why not." Gale has a scowl on his face.
"I can't Gale." I say and turn back around to go to the house but he catches my arm. "Gale let go." I sigh. And he does I walk away and don't look back. I'm probably about ten metres away from him now when I hear quick footsteps behind me.
"Can't you give me a proper answer?" He calls.
"Gale, please." I start to beg but I don't look back.
"No please you answer me?" He shouts. We're at my house gate, I go through it and up to the front door. "Katniss!" I open the door and go inside.
"Katniss, what's wrong?" Peeta asks as I rush into the house forgetting to close the door. I walk into the kitchen and sit down at the table, Peeta sits opposite me and takes my hand in his.
"Hello!" I hear Alexander's bright voice echoing through the halls.
"Um... hello." I hear Gale answer uncertainly.
"What's your name?" Alexander asks.
"Gale Hawthorne!" I shout.
"Uh oh, she sounds cross." I hear Alexander say as I meander through the hall.
"Well I'm afraid kid but she isn't the only one who's angry." He says as I turn the corner.
"Alex go upstairs please." I tell him. Alex silently backs away as Peeta walks into the hall. Gale's face is contorted into a angry look when he sees Peeta. Peeta like always stays calm and just stares at Gale.
"So who was that?" Gale spits the words out.
"My son Alex." I scowl at him. There's a thump upstairs and a scream of frustration.
"Rosie stop being so annoying." I hear Alex shriek.
"Mommy!" Rosanna shouts. "Alex is being mean!"
I feel a hand rest on my shoulder and hear Peeta say, "I'll go deal with it." And he goes upstairs.
"Explain for me will you?" Gale shouts.
"Explain? What, do I need permission from you to choose who I like and who I don't?" I shout back.
"Obviously you do." He has scornful look on his face. "You chose him. The boy with the bread. Katniss you deserves better."
"No he deserves better than me." I scream at him.
"And why's that." He asks me.
"Because he's better than most people. Most people in the games who won, won from killing. Peeta found a way to survive without killing."
"By acting."
"No some of that wasn't acting. There was one time in the cave that I really did love him and for the rest of the games." I yell.
"You know what, you really have changed." He says softer this time.
"I did tell you that." I murmur.
"You know coming back here was a mistake. I came to see you and find I'm not wanted so goodbye Katniss." And he walks away.