I forgot to put this at the beginning of the story, and I'm only going to write this once. So read it carefully!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. All the characters belong to Suzanne Collins. The only thing I own is the story.
Also, the length of chapters is definitely not going to be consistent. So good luck with that. Okay, now on with the story!Gay Probs
Chapter 2
PEETA'S POV
I stepped out from behind the bush. Gale dropped the bow in shock. You know, the one that he had been aiming at my head the second before. In almost no time, his expression had changed from one of shock, to sadness. I ran over and wrapped my arms around him in a hug. For a second he just stood there, too shocked to respond, but then returned the loving gesture. We stood like that for a second, neither one making a sound. Then Gale broke the silence.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" He asked, pulling back, grey eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Oh buddy, don't cry. Why are you so sad?" He immediately composed himself, dropping his arms to his side and looking into the distance. All evidence that we had been hugging and almost in tears the minute before, suddenly vanished, leaving me with a cold empty feeling. It was like nothing had even happened.
"Oh, no reason. I just saw you holding hands with Katniss, and it was a bit upsetting to me." They shouldn't have, but these words hurt. For some reason, I had thought that he liked me, not Katniss, but I guess I was wrong.
GALE'S POV
I could feel my heart pounding. I had just told him the truth, everything, in that one little sentence. So why did he look so hurt? Just then, my stomach growled. Reminding me of how little I had eaten for the last few weeks. It's hard to eat when your best friend and the person you've had a crush on for years are fighting to the death on live television with 22 other people. Peeta reached into his pocket and pulled out some bread, the good kind, not that standardized tesserae grainy crap. "Here," he said, holding out the delicious looking loaf, "I was saving it for lunch, but you probably need it more than I do." He smiled to me, but the smile looked forced. He stood there, waiting for me to take the bread sitting in his outstretched hand. I took it and bit a good sized chunk off the warm, dry, goodness. Why was he being so nice to me? I wondered, but I felt hurt. I had just poured my heart out to him, and he ignored it. I didn't understand why he was acting so kind but at the same time being a total jerk. He fidgeted nervously and looked off into the woods.
PEETA'S POV
I looked off into the distance, his words from before still stinging. If only he wasn't so straight and attracted to Katniss. Katniss! That's who I'll talk to! I'll let her know that I was never really interested and that I liked Gale and that he liked her, and then I'll ask her what I should do to get him to like me! Yes, this plan was good. We stood there for five more minutes while he finished off his bread, and then headed back. Making small talk along the way, but I wasn't really listening, I was too focused on the talk I would have with Katniss.
Once we got back to the fence, I noticed how dark it was getting. The sun was going down, making the mountains look like they would make an amazing painting. Gale, being the gentleman he was, held the wire up for me to slip under. I got to the other side and in turn held the wire up for him. We said goodbye, and parted ways. Me heading into town and him making his way to the Seam.
