Authors Note:

In the last chapter, I stated that Gale and Katniss have not talked for three years. However, I need to change that for two reasons.

1. Since Katniss kids are around the age of 7-8 years old in this story, it doesn't add up.

2. It isn't convincing enough for Gale to 'forget' about Katniss within the span of three years.

3. I have no idea what their currency is in THG. But I know its based on America, right? So dollars is what I used.

I laugh uncertainly "Very funny, Gale..." I tell him but he doesn't reply and has a clueless look on his face.

I'm sure everyone in the room can hear my heart crush right now; if not then it's the most unbearable noise anyone could hear, as if your insides had just exploded and you have to carry on normally.

"You don't mean to say…?" I can barely whisper, the pain is too much. This isn't real. This is a nightmare. I will wake up and Peeta will laugh at my face once he hears at how stupid this dream was.

Except this isn't a dream. This is reality. I could pinch myself so many times but I'll still be here. And Gale still doesn't remember me. Or maybe I just look different? I mean, how can he forget me? His best friend for so many years… no. It's not possible. It can't be. My eyes are probably playing tricks on me. Or my ears. Or both. But I know for a fact that Gale has not forgotten about me, it's only been eight years…

"Gale! It's me! Katniss!" I desperately try to convince him without disturbing the costumers.

He still stands there dumbfounded, "Look, I'm sorry… but really, all I'm here is for a book and-"

"No!" I hiss at him "No no no! How can you forget me, Gale? How can you…" I try to stop the tears from falling as much as I can. I can do this. I'm strong.

I touch my cheeks, expecting to touch something wet. But, surprisingly there is nothing.

I'm not crying.

If only my heart wasn't, that would've been progress…

"Umm…" He doesn't say anything… "Did you save my life or something for me to remember you or? ..."

What?

He has the nerve?

"Why? I need to save your life for you to remember me or something? Is that how it is? Huh?" I ask him, I was so mad. How could he do this to me?

"No! I didn't mean it to sound like that, but er, Catnip… I don't uh know you… uh, you don't look familiar."

"Katniss! I said my name was Katniss!" I correct him "Oh uh, sorry?"

I was about to tell him who I was, you know. I really wanted to. Nothing was going to stop me until that blonde bitch girl came in.

"Gale! Come ooooon, we're in a hurry! Look if they don't have it then-"

She pauses for a while and looks at me and then back at Gale "Oh, did I interrupt something?"

Gale is the one to shake his head, "No, I was about to leave…"

"No!" I protest, I will do anything for him to remember me.

"I mean… please, let me find the book you wanted…"

Gale looks back at the blonde girl as if they were sending mind messages to each other. She sighs and nods, "Okay, but only five minutes tops! I'll be outside" Gale nods back at her "Okay, Katrina."

I freeze for a minute. And I could I've sworn that Gale did too.

It's just a coincidence that both of your name starts with Kat, okay Katniss? You're not the only girl in the world. Get over yourself. I remind myself.

"Well, I don't really know the title… or the author." He scratches the back of his neck; well this is going to be difficult.

I nod slowly… "And how exactly am I going to find this book?"

"Well, I remember one line. If that helps." He continues on. "I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world…"

I feel my heart stop just for a millisecond because I know that poem. In fact I have learned it off by heart and that was my favorite part. But I continue on normally. I call Storm over and he approaches me slowly, "Okay Storm, look for a book under the section O, called "Having a Coke with You" If it's not there, look for it under H. Okay?"

Storm sighs and takes in the information before walking towards the O section.

There would've been an awkward silence if it weren't for everyone inside the shop, Gale taps his foot and looks around before asking "Storm, huh? Nice name…" He comments. For a minute, I thought that he made a connection, but he obviously just wanted to pass the time it took for Storm to get the book.

"Yeah… I named it after y- uh, a friend. A close friend actually, he moved away for a couple of years and came back… however it's like talking to a stranger…"

Gale nods and I hear Storm make an oomph sound behind me. I immediately walked over and laugh at the state he was in. He was probably trying to reach up to it but was too small. I carried him up and picked up the book. "Here you go" I handed it to him, "you see that man over there?" I ask, pointing to Gale and look at him to see him nod "Give it to him and tells him it costs 7 dollars okay?"

Storm nods at me and hurries off to Gale "Here you go, sir. That would be 17 dollars please." Storm smiles.

Gale laughs "17 dollars?" He questions and I laugh with him, "Noo! Sorry, just 7 dollars please," I correct Storm and send him a dirty glare.

He smiles back to me innocently and I hand Gale the book, a second, just a second. Our hands touch. Physical contact for the first time in eight years. It surprises me and makes jump a little. But he quickly grabbed the book, handed me the money and head for the door and turned back at me.

"Well, I'll see you around Catnip, okay?"

Katniss! I wanted to shout. But it was too late, he was already gone.

I slump back onto a chair and sigh and close my eyes.

This is stupid, this is so so stupid.

I want to blame Gale. Just once, I want someone else to take the blame. But I know it would be wrong if he did. Gale didn't purposely forget me.

Because, logically. Who drove him away? Who rejected him? Who never appreciated him? Who took advantage of him? Who hurt him? Me.

I made him want to forget me. Who wouldn't? Who doesn't want to forget?

This is my entire fault. No one else's.

And I feel like a complete idiot for letting him go. My companion. Someone who would look out for me. Someone who had my back. Someone who I could be myself without being pressured.

Gone.

All because of me.

"Mummy, what's wrong?" Storm asks, as he notices me, I turn around at the customers; no one seems to paying attention. So really, what does it matter to tell an 8 year old boy? He won't understand. "Well… let's say… you have a dog, right…" He interrupts me "But we're not allowed dogs, you said so yourself" "well, let's just pretend okay?" I reply to him and continue on, "And you uh, had a new dog…" I say, thinking of ways my life related to a dogs "so you kind of paid more attention to your new dog than to your old dog because the new dog was well new, different. Exciting. So you neglected the old dog… nearly forgot about it. But he was still there in the back of your mind. Then suddenly, the old dog is sick of it. He wants someone else, someone who notices him, someone who loves him much more, who will treat him right, fair and just. But, you don't want the old dog to leave, because you just realized how much that old dog is so important to you. You just realized that the old dog has shared so many memories with you that without him, there will be a big hole in your life. You love him but you don't want him to go, you want to see him happy and the only want to see that is to let him go.

So, you do what's best. Because you can't have two dogs in your life. Well you can, except… imagine how hard that would be! The two dogs didn't really go along with each other so you couldn't play with them together. So, what do you do? You let go the old dog, because that's what best for both of you.

And after years and years, you finally meet the old dog again! But he has a new owner, this owner is better than you, in so many ways. And you want the old dog back; you want to make it up for him. You'll do anything, but it's too late. He's moved on. He's happier without you. You can't take him away because he'll be unhappy again… and you don't want that do you? So what do you do?"

I ask him. Even though Storm couldn't possibly have a rational answer, he did.

"Well, Mummy… if that was me, I'd get the old dog. I'd tell him how much I missed him, how it was unfair of me to treat him like that, that it was all my fault, but I'll do better next time. I'll treat him how he wants to be treated and besides Mummy" he explains "you'll never know if you don't try. You need that hole back or else you'll never be the same again… right mummy?"

I have no words to answer him.

How can an eight year old know so much? Who taught him this?

I am looking at him awe.

And then when my brain finally functions and thought about what Storm had just said. I don't even control what I did next. It's my legs and mind had a new controller.

Because before I knew it, I ran out the door and started shouting Gale's name.