Author's Note: Shorter chapter this time. I have trouble with that. Anyhoo, I own nothing. And just to be clear, I also regret nothing.
One thing is clear
I wear a halo; I wear a halo when you look at me
But standing from here, you wouldn't say so
You wouldn't say so if you were me
And I, I just wanna love you
Katniss smiled at the applause and waved to the crowd. She smiled at Gale and let out a short giggle as he gave her a thumbs-up. She turned back to the mic in front of her. "Thanks guys," she said, grinning at the crowd. "We'll be back for a second set in a few minutes."
She set her guitar back on its stand and grabbed her water bottle as Gale gestured to the bar. She nodded briefly and made her way through the crowd.
"That was awesome Kat!"
Katniss sat down on a bar stool and grinned at Madge. "Why thank you, Miss Undersee," she said, teasing. "Your crush slash eventual lover slash future husband is on his way, I believe."
Madge punched her lightly on the arm. "Shut up, Catnip!" she hissed, flipping her wavy blonde hair as she eyed Gale on his way over to them. "You didn't tell him, did you? I swear if you did…" She mock glared at Katniss and ran her thumb across her neck, making the universal gesture for I'm Going To Kill You.
The brown haired girl laughed. "Of course not, Margaret," she said, grinning and waving Gale over. "Give me some credit. But I think it would be good for both of you if I did. I think he likes you."
Madge looked at Katniss, trying to see if she was joking. She raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "Are you just teasing or did he say something?" she asked with a straight face. "You know how much I like—Hey Gale!"
"What do you like, Madge?" Gale asked as he sat down next to her. He glared at Katniss, who was now trying to suppress laughter. Gale had told Katniss that he liked Madge that way the previous year and she never let him forget it. He knew she would never tell Madge because he made her swear. He even made her pinky promise, for crying out loud. Then again, Katniss had trouble keeping a straight face around the two of them. If Madge noticed, she might figure it out.
Madge started fidgeting, looking at Katniss with a panicked face. "Oh, um, strawberry martinis," she said hesitantly. "I really like those." She smiled tentatively at Gale. I sound like such an idiot, she thought. Kat was just teasing me, I know it.
Gale nodded, smiling widely at her. "Those are good," he said knowingly. "I like them but Katniss teases the crap out of me when I try to order those. She says they're too girly for me."
"Well, Katniss is mean," Madge replied, grinning as Gale let out a loud laugh.
"Hey!" Katniss frowned at both of them. "I'm right here, I can hear you."
Gale and Madge grinned at each other. "We know," they said in unison.
I know plenty of people
With eyes closed
But they don't see you like I do
Darling I do
Darling I do see you
"Thanks everyone," Katniss breathed into the mic, waving to the thinning crowd. "We are The Mockingjays and we're here every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday." She turned off the mic and approached Gale. He was already unplugging his guitar and putting it into a hard case. "Great set tonight, Gale. I bet Madge was really impressed."
Gale feigned hitting her with the guitar case. "Shut up, Catnip," he said, pretending to be angry but trying to hide a smile. He put his guitar case down and started putting her guitar in its case. Without looking at her, he asked, "You think she likes me?"
Katniss looked over her shoulder at the bar where Madge was sipping a strawberry martini, courtesy of Gale. "I know she does."
Gale stood up and handed the smaller guitar case to her. He smiled and nodded, staring out at Madge who was now waving at him. "What about you, Kat?" he asked as they got off the stage. "You ever think about that?"
"By that you mean…?"
Gale rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue at his clueless best friend. "Falling in like. Or in love. That."
Katniss winced as a blonde haired, blue eyed boy popped into her head. She blushed as she remembered the delicious lamb stew Prim was probably having for dinner tonight. "No."
"You do!" Madge exclaimed as they reached her. Clearly, she had overheard their conversation. "You're blushing."
"I am not!" Katniss exclaimed, punching her lightly on the arm. "I do not blush. Ever."
Gale grinned at Madge. Time for revenge. "Yeah, you are," he said, teasing. "Who is it, Kat?"
"Nobody."
"Tell us," Madge said, poking her shoulder.
"No one."
"Are you keeping secrets from me now, Kat?" Gale asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Shut up, male Gale," she said snarkily. "There is no one. I don't think about that, okay? Who am I supposed to think about? I don't date. I don't go anywhere except home, here and the restaurant."
Gale and Madge looked at each other, grinning widely.
"It's someone from the restaurant, isn't it?"
Shit.
Author's Note: The songs I used are Halo by Bethany Joy Galeotti and Darling, I Do by Landon Pigg and Lucy Schwartz.
