THE RETURN
There she was, stepping out of the train and into the crowd of cameras. She smiled broadly, while clutching Mellark's hand, showing me that it was true, all of it.
Katniss was back, she had one the Hunger Games. She was in love with Peeta Mellark, not me.
Somehow I couldn't get this through my head. I was her best friend, no more, no less. I didn't understand how I actually had that feeling towards Katniss and him, I was jealous, but I couldn't let Katniss know.
What's so great about him anyway? I, unlike him, have more things in relation with Katniss. We spent four years hunting together, well he never talked to her, just sat in his cozy little merchant's home, having enough money to survive while we were left to starve. It wasn't right. He never did anything to help either of us.
Although, I don't see why it would of even crossed his mind. People die in the Seam from hunger every day. He must have thought that a couple more wouldn't make much difference.
Then why the sudden change of heart? I tried to answer this on my way home. If he loved her for so long, why didn't he help her? Wait, if he helped her, she wouldn't be my friend at all, and she would be his.
Then who would I be? A simple kid who loves her but is too shy to talk to her? Or would I even notice her through our age difference? My mind is spinning right now with all these questions. I know I love Katniss, but how much do I really?
Because I am now 19, I'm officially out of the reaping. I became a coal miner to help feed my family, so when will I be able to see Katniss alone? Sunday, When I don't have to pull rocks out of the earth? Most likely.
SUNDAY…
I wait for her at our meeting spot. Maybe she won't come, because I never gave her any clue to meet me. I wait for almost ten more agonizing minutes when she is standing there, next to the fence, staring at me. I start to walk over to her with my arms outstretched and she runs into them. We don't say anything for some time, but then I break the silence.
"Hey Catnip." I say into her ear. We don't move an inch out of our hug, and she finally says, "Hey Gale." We then break from our hug, go grab our bows and hunt while we catch up with each others lives.
We got a good haul, five squirrels, three rabbits, and a wild turkey. After we reset the snares, we go back to the meeting space, hug goodbye, and out of nowhere, I kiss her. She looks taken aback. "I had to do that, at least once." I say, before leaving rather quickly, with her frozen in her position.