First Chapter of Keeping Up With The Flames! Here we go again!

Enjoy,

HungerGamesLoverMM

Back To Normal, Sort of?

Gale

Months had passed since Madge and I returned home, and today was the much anticipated kick off of the victory tour. A day I wish wouldn't have arrived so soon. A lot has happened over the past couple of months, and after the citizens of District Twelve thoroughly exhausted themselves with excessive celebrating, life went back to normal, sort of.

After packing a few boxes, my family and I moved into Victor's Village. Madge was now my neighbour, and my girlfriend of sorts. We never went back to the caring relationship we had towards the end of the games. I had sort of wrecked that with my declaration of love for Katniss. I guess I had hit a nerve, and Madge had been distant ever since, unless of course there was a camera around because she was all over me then.

I assumed that as soon as I returned to District Twelve, Katniss and I would automatically resume our relationship. Perhaps even taking it to the next level, however that's not exactly how it went. When I returned from the Capitol and found her in Peeta's arms I was confused. When she called me her cousin the confusion only intensified. Her cousin? Since when?

When Peeta pecked her on the cheek and her eyes lit up, that's when it hit me. He was what was keeping her from me, and that was not okay.

Madge

As soon as the cameras left Gale and I had resumed the icy relationship we have today, however that would have to change and soon because today was the day of the Victory Tour. My prep team would be arriving around noon to remake me for the cameras. Although I had been told I was pretty for my whole life, I guess I just didn't adhere to the Capitol's standards of beauty, you know because my hair wasn't blue or anything.

I moved into my house in Victor's Village alone, being seventeen my parent's felt that I was old enough to live alone. They do visit me often though, and I usually eat dinner at Gale's house thanks to Hazelle's constant badgering. It was actually kind of fun, and I liked Gale's family. They were funny and spontaneous, unlike the stuffy, boring dinners that were the norm at my house.

Katniss joined us sometimes, and the gleam he got in his eyes whenever she was around made me sick. I was only the girl who had saved his life, but he still preferred her? At first I couldn't stand Gale, but after all we had been through I couldn't imagine my life without him. I decided to give him space, because he said he hadn't yet decided how he felt about me. I assumed he would fall madly in love with me leaving Katniss behind, however here we were six months later barely speaking.

I heard a knock on the door, and checked through the peep hole before opening it. Sure enough my prep team was here. I took a deep breath before opening the door. Here We Go.

Katniss

I was up before the crack of dawn to hunt. Although Gale had offered repeatedly to buy my family the expensive butcher meat from town, I refused. I was not a charity case, and I did not need his help. I skulked silently through the woods that were already teeming with early morning life. The fall air was cold and biting, so I pulled my hunting jacket tighter around my neck.

I heard a noise to my left, and I immediately posed with my bow at the ready. A figure emerged from the woods, and I drew back my bow.

"Hey, Hey" I heard a very familiar voice say, "Don't shoot"

Gale appeared with his hands over his head, and I dropped my bow laughing.

"Hey" I said giving him a casual hug, h held me longer than really necessary though, "Why are you here?"

Now that Gale had all the money in the world I assumed that he wouldn't be slumming it up with turkey meat when he could buy beef and pork.

"Needed to clear my head" He answered.

"Why?" I asked.

"Never Mind" He said dismissively and I let it drop. Ever since Gale returned he had been different, although Gale had never exactly been cheery all the time, those moments had all but dropped out of existence. Maybe that's what drove me into Peeta's arms. In a world where there as so much hate and despair I needed Peeta's sunny disposition. That only made it worse between Gale and me though, and I needed my best friend back.