Katniss POV


The first thing I feel is rage. Pure hot, vision going red rage. All I want to do is punch that triumphant smirk right off his face. But I don't. Not yet at least.

"What did you just call him" I ask, my voice deadly calm. Out of the corner of my eye I see Prim seething her small hands curled into fists giving Gale a death glare. It's quite scary honestly. Gale smirks smugly.

"You heard me I called it a deranged Capitol mutt that's trying to kill you." He says. This time I do smack him-hard across the face, making sure to leave a mark. Then my sweet sister who wouldn't hurt a fly does something
that shocks me.

"Hey Gale guess what?" she says sweetly. Gale kneels down to her height and smiles at her.

"What Prim?" He asks. Her expression goes from sweet little girl to deadly vicious in a second.

"Never call Peeta a deranged Capitol mutt or it!" She hisses then smacks him with so much strength I'm surprised he wasn't knocked into a wall. She then immediately goes back to her normal sweet self.

"Now we don't wanna keep Plutarch and Haymitch waiting do we?" She says then proceeds to skip down the hall singing a sweet tune to herself. I laugh then walk after her while Gale just stares in shock then runs to keep up with us.


When he catches up to us he matches his pace with mine. Still slightly shocked about Prim he says

"I still can't believe that came out of Prim's mouth."

"I can't believe that came out of your mouth" I retaliate still slightly angry.

"Okay look I'm sorry. It was wrong, but I still have a question." He says. I sigh deciding to forgive him for now. Although I'm still miffed about him referring to Peeta as It.

"Okay shoot." I say. He takes a deep breath as if preparing to get smacked for the third time.

"What if this doesn't work." He asks. I feel a pang in my heart that I've grown way too accustomed to that seems to be connected to all things Peeta these days.

"It will work." I say sharply but firmly "It has to work." I add. He sighs.

"Yeah but what if it doesn't?" He says.

"Then I keep trying until we find something that does work. I'm not giving up on him Gale. I can't give up on him. I-"

"Why Katniss! Why can't you just give up except that he's gone and he's never coming back?" He shouts.

"He's NOT gone Gale he's not. I'm sure of it." I shout back. By now we're right outside Peeta's room.

"Why? Why are you so sure of it?" He shouts.

"Because he wouldn't leave me here. He promised me he'd never leave me!" My voice sounds broken even to me as I'm jolted back in time to the night before the Quarter Quell.


We're lying in my bed, my arms wrapped around him my face in his neck crying brokenly as he holds me tightly.

"Shh... you're okay it was just a dream. Your alive and safe and with me. Nothing bad's going to happen to you I won't let it." Peeta whispers not knowing that I wasn't the one to die in the nightmare he was.

"You don't understand, I didn't die in my nightmare you did." I weep. His hold tightens as he realizes what I meant. He kisses my forehead soothingly and I'm suddenly overcome with the need to kiss him-a real one. So I decide I will but first want him to promise me something. I sit up.

"Peeta?" I say hating how broken I sound.

"Yes Katniss?"

"Promise me you'll never leave me." I say. He sighs looking as defeated and broken as I sound.

"Katniss," He starts sadly.

"Promise me Peeta, please? it's just... I can't lose you and...just promise me?" There must have been something in my expression because suddenly he pulls me to him and says

"I promise Katniss, I promise I'll never leave you." That's when I kiss him.


"Why Katniss why can't you just let him go? What's holding you back?" Gale shouts. It's than that I finally say what I've wanted to say since God know's when.

"Because I love him!" I shout meaning every word. He looks at me hurt and in shock.

"You what?" Gale says as if daring me not to say it. But It's true and I'm not gonna lie. So I shout back

"I'm in love with Peeta Mellark and have been since the first Games!"


So that's the second chapter. What do you think? :) By the way the thing Prim did to Gale my best friend did the exact thing to her ex boyfriend when he broke up with her over text the next day at school. Best part was she didn't even get obviously she didn't call him a deranged mutt although it would've added a nice touch... And the song will probably be the next chapter. Speaking of I wonder if Peeta heard her