Enjoy! Sorry my chapters are short :(
Chapter 3
I stand in the crowd as the victors step out. There she is, making it out like I believed she could. I gave a small smile, I could tell it's forced; Peeta's smile is like that too. But no one else notices. We're all overjoyed to finally have a new victor in Twelve, two at that. I try to hide in the crowd, but it's not easy with Prim on my shoulders. I bet Katniss is looking for me, looking for my expression. Looking for how I feel after all this. Katniss finds us. Her mom, Prim, and me. Her mom smiles at her while Prim blows kisses. I just try to give a genuine smile. She can tell the awkwardness, her own smile falters for a moment, but quickly returns, even brighter than before. And then, Peeta notices that, and her holds her hand and raises it up. It brings on a roar of applause. Everyone loves our district's star-crossed lovers, don't they?
As the crowd leaves, Katniss and Peeta are allowed to go to their family and friends for a while. Peeta goes to his family, while Katniss comes to us. Prim runs up to her before she even steps off the stage. Her mom follows, with me not far behind. Katniss gives her mom a hug, a long hug. They seem to have made up… Then she turns to me. There's that awkwardness between us, I have to be the first one to step forward and hug her.
"I knew you could do it." I whisper, trying not to make my voice crack.
She doesn't say anything back, but I know she heard.
Later, they're whisked away by the Peacekeepers.
"We'll see her soon, right?" Prim asks.
Her mom nods.
"I should be leaving, get back to my family."
I give them a small nod and walk away.
***A few days later***
I'm hunting in the woods, making a few snares. Then she comes. Silently. I was so focused on my snare I didn't notice until she was right behind me.
"Gale…?" she murmurs.
I jump a little, surprised.
"Hey Catnip, surprised me."
I wonder how long she's been there. We haven't seen each other in private yet. I've been trying to avoid this moment, knowing that the first chance she gets, we'll be having the Talk.
"Gale, can we ta-"
"I see you got your arrows. Wanna hunt?"
She seems taken aback but shrugs, "That's what I came here to do."
For a moment, it seems like everything is back to normal. But Katniss just has to ask again, "Gale, can we-"
"Your aim has gotten better, if that's possi-"
"Gale," she said, her voice deadly calm, "Can. We. Talk."
"Everything was back to normal, I'd prefer not to talk and ruin it."
Katniss looks up at the sky as if saying, God, help me. But she simply says to me, "Gale, it was an act."
"And I must say, you and Peeta are amazing actors."
"That's because Peeta wasn't acting."
"And maybe you weren't too. Maybe you truly loved him. Or maybe you broke his heart after you told him it was an act."
I know my arrow hit the bull's eye. Katniss froze, because that was exactly what happened.
"And why do you care?" Katniss said, her voice rising in anger.
"Because I-" I cup her face and kiss her, and hopefully that can explain what I could never have explained with words. I break away when I need air again. Katniss just stands there. She tries to look into my eyes but I refuse to make any eye contact.
"Go figure." I tell her, and leave. I manage to walk a few steps before she snaps out of her stance and calls me.
"Gale!"
I don't turn back, despite the temptation. Just keep walking as if no one's there…
"Gale!"
She grabs my arm tightly. I don't turn around, "What do you want?"
She hears the sadness and hurt in my voice and loosens her grip, but doesn't let go, as if I might run off the moment the does.
I turn around and look into her eyes. I see she has her own problems, and I just added to that load.
"Look…" I started, unsure of what to say, but she starts talking.
"I never thought you thought of me that way. I truly never did."
I give a soft smile, "I didn't know either. I notice I care when you're with someone else. I notice I care, when I'm not the one next to you making you smile and laugh."
Katniss looks up at me with a hopeful face. I look at her in the eye.
"Gale, there's a lot of things going on. I can't worry about this stuff now."
I look away so she won't see the emotions running through my eyes, "I understand, but…if we can't be more, than I'd wish we can go back to the old times, as best friends."
I walk away and she doesn't call me back. And for once, I'm glad I work in the mines on weekdays. Because I don't know how I can face Katniss everyday like this.
