Katniss couldn't help but frown at their haul today. Two messily birds; there wasn't any point in going to the hub with these.
"This is pathetic" she sighed, blowing her bangs from her face as she and Gale headed back to the fence.
Gale chuckled, "We'll get 'em next time." He paused wondering if now he should bring up his idea about Peeta.
"Hey," he started grabbing Katniss' attention. "What do you think of Peeta?"
Her face flinched in recognition but she played it cool. "The baker's son? What about him?"
Gale stopped, wondering how to word this. "I want to invite him out, for one of our hunts maybe? To see the sunset."
Katniss stopped in her tracks, not looking at Gale behind her. "Peeta? He's too loud to take hunting he'd scare off all of the game." She snorted. Gale was interested now.
"Oh so you've taken him?" He asked.
"Just…" she paused, as if embarrassed. "Just once, when he couldn't even afford bread for his family never mind for trading I tried to teach him how to hunt. But all he did was stomp around like he weighed 300 pounds, broke every branch and tree in his path."
Gale wasn't sure why but this new information bothered him. Was it because of Katniss or that he wanted to be the first to take Peeta into the woods? "Well maybe we wont take him to hunt but for the sunset." He said, hiding his irritation.
"Why the sudden interest in him anyway." Katniss asked, finally turning to face Gale. The two had a stand off watching the others movements before Gale spoke.
"A few days ago he gave me a cupcake." He said simply.
Katniss had to hold down the laugh in her throat. "A cupcake?" she choked.
"Yes, and extra bread, I want to repay his kindness, you know how we hunters hate being in debt." He replied.
Oh how Katniss hated being in a persons debt. She still owed the Baker for what he did for her, and since learning to hunt failed she had no other ideas on how to pay him back.
"I see" she said and continued towards the fence. "I suppose you could take him out for the sunset, just let me know when and Ill keep my distance."
"Why do you feel so awkward around him still, its not like getting to know the boy who saved you would hurt?" Gale began probing for answers.
"Just drop it Gale." Katniss pleaded.
"Like I get it but I don't. He's so nice and..." Gale started before being interrupted.
"I said drop it!" She screamed, before rushing off towards town, leaving a stunned Gale.
What did Katniss have against the Baker? He saved her and her family from starvation. He was a kind person and not hard to get along with. Sure he was heavy footed but he wasn't a hunter. Did Katniss like the boy? Or was she just embarrassed because he saved her? These questions plagued Gales mind and the emotions that came with it were unfamiliar. Was he jealous of Katniss' feelings for the boy? And if so what was he jealous about?
