I thank you all for your reviews and helpful criticism! Looking back at the chapter, I decided that I did jump right into it with Katniss and Gale way too soon so I decided to change a few things. Please read the new updated Chapter 4 and tell me what you think! Thanks again for reading!

Katniss' POV

Tonight everything will be on the line. The barriers will be broken. Peeta and I will finally talk to each one on one.

He's all I'm able to think about all day. I can't seem to get him off of my mind. It's strange how the moments after the bloodbath I can usually only think about the blood that was shed. This year it is different. This year all I can think about is Peeta.

But in the very back of my mind there's someone else I've been thinking about too, no matter how hard I try not to. It's Gale. I just keep wondering why he would kiss me after all the time that he and I have spent together alone. Why now?

The kissed that we shared was so awkward and uncomfortable I can't help but wonder what it would be like if I was ready for it. Maybe it would have been different? Maybe it would have been like the one I shared with Peeta? But then again Peeta wasn't ready for it either or at least not at first. Once he realized what was going on he kissed me back with such ferocity that I couldn't help but get a sensation of pure lust.

I need to find out what it would be like to kiss Gale with both of us wanting it. I don't know how I feel about him. Yes, I know I love him but what kind of love is that? Is it the love my mother and Rye share or the love that I have towards Evan and Reid? I know what I must do. I have to go to Gale and find out.

After we have finished eating dinner, I get up and tell everyone that I'm going to Gale's house to watch the recap lying that my reason being is to comfort him while he watches his best friend quite possibly be torn to pieces. For some reason, I feel like Peeta knows what I am up to. I quickly leave before he has a chance to stop me.

I knock on the Hawthorne house and Hazelle answers it smiling from check to check, "Oh Katniss! Thank you so much for coming! Gale hasn't left his room all day. I think it has to do with Jake. Maybe you could go up there and talk to him?"

I'm thankful that she is clueless of what happened this morning. It's not like I thought that Gale would have told her I'm just glad that no one knows what happened this morning and I would like to keep it that way.

I nod and make my way to Gale's bedroom. I try to open it but of course he has it locked, "Gale, it's me. Let me in."

I hear some fumbles and curses as he quickly makes his way to get the door, "Katniss… what are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if you would like to go on a walk to get some fresh air before the recap starts."

"Um, sure I don't see why not," he speaks with confusion but a hint of happiness in his voice.

I punch him in the arm, "Come on then, tough guy!"

We walk outside into the warm spring air. It's mid-April and it's already starting to feel like summer. I didn't notice how long we've been walking until we're out of the Seam and almost in town. We haven't said a word.

"Gale, why did you kiss me this morning?"

"Katniss I don't understand how you can be so oblivious…"

"I know you love me, Gale. You know I love you. I just don't know if this is right you know? For us to be kissing. I'm not going to lie to you, Gale, I didn't feel anything in that kiss."

His face drops into a depression immediately. I quickly gather what I was going to say and begin again, "I didn't feel anything but maybe it's because I wasn't ready for it. I … um…wanted to know…uh… what it would feel like if I was…"

His face doesn't shoot up in a big smile or show any kind of emotion. He just grabs me and kisses me. This time I kiss him back. I truly feel the warmth of his lips for the first time. It feels amazing. It feels different from Peeta's kiss. I don't know if it feels better or worse all I know is that it feels good.

I collect myself and pull away realizing where we are and that anyone could see us and just my luck the last person that I'd want to see us did.

Peeta.

He looks at me with those big beautiful blue eyes of his. They're not warm and welcoming like they usually are. This time all I can see in them is the tears that are starting to form. He's out of there before I can say a single word.

Peeta's POV

Peeta how could you be so stupid? How could you honestly think Gale and her had nothing? How could you have possibly thought that the girl who makes the birds still when she sings could ever like you?

My mind is in a haze just like my vision is, blurred because of the tears pouring out of my eyes and streaming down my face. I don't even remember why I was there in the first place. Now I remember I was going to get a bowl from the pottery shop. I careless broke it after dinner while I was busy thinking about why Katniss would go see Gale and now I know why. I should probably go get it now before the recap begins.

The shop is empty except for the old woman who runs the shop. I hurriedly grab the bowl and head over to the counter. I just wanted to get out of here and go to bed.

"You look like you've been crying honey?"

I'm humiliated even more, "Oh um it's nothing…"

"Aw you can tell me sweetie," she says with a kind smile.

Maybe I should tell her all that's happened. I know I can't tell anyone else without being made fun of. It's not like I even see this woman that much anyway so I decide to tell her everything that happened.

Once I'm finished I wait for her to say something, "Sweetie, trusts me this girl is just confused. To me it seems like she may like both of you. You just got to win her over."

"I'm not sure I even want to win her," I lie.

"Hush! You love this little girl. You always will I can tell by the way your eyes glazed over when you told me about the time she kissed you."

My face lightens up with a smile just to be darkened by the red rising in my cheeks.

This old woman is right. I don't know how I can win Katniss. I mean Gale is strong, good-looking, caring, and has known Katniss forever.

"I have something for you. You give this to her once she's come around. I know she will."

She then hands me a little gold pin of a mockingjay. It's beautiful, just like Katniss.

"Thank you Miss. I promise I will."

"Oh please call me Sarah. Come back and talk whenever you feel like it! Now you better get home before your parents start to worry!"

I rush home feeling a little bit better, still heartbroken but Sarah has given me hope.

I make it home just in time for the showing. Katniss hasn't arrived which I find to be a good thing since I have no idea what to say to her yet.

The recap starts at 8 o'clock sharp. Never earlier, never later. It's horrible just like it is every night of the recaps of The Games. You have to sit there and watch the tributes as they try to survive from each other's deadly grasp. Usually on the first day there are some more kills besides the bloodbath and then after that it becomes pretty calm until the gamemakers force the remaining tributes together.

This year it is just the same. There are three more deaths. The girl from 7 just as I predicted was going to be one of the next to die. She built a fire at night. Rule 1 of The Hunger Games: never build a fire at night. The careers immediately get up and are on the hunt for the poor girl. Since it's Clove's birthday, Cato being the leader told everyone that Clove gets to kill the girl. I feel like there's more to it than it just being her birthday. They almost seem like they have more than a little district relationship, almost like they were a couple at home but that would just be unlucky and unlikely.

They finally find the girl sleeping. The boy from District 3 jumps on top of her and prepares to slaughter her with his unnecessarily large sword while the girl is pleading for mercy. Just when he's about to break skin, a knife is sent directly into his back killing him on the impact. It's obviously one of Clove's; she's the only one who can throw like that. The girl throws the boy's body off of her as the cannon blast. She's so thankful to Clove for saving her, "Oh thank you so much! Does this mean I'm part of your alliance? I'm not bad with an axe if any of you got one from the cornucopia!"

Clove looks at her and starts to laugh then throws another knife directly into her heart, "Wait were you being serious? I only saved you because I wanted to kill you myself, hahaha!"

Another cannon blast but all you can really hear is the joined demonical laughter of the careers. None of them even minded that she killed their ally. They all just congratulated her and thanked her for getting rid of two more tributes.

The next death is quite unexpected. The pair from District 5 finally found shelter in a cave. The boy is rummaging through the backpack. He looks scared and weak with his limp that would make him an easy target. The girl however looks to be smart and able to live off the land. She paces around the cave seeming to be extremely nervous while the boy stares at the useless backpacks that they picked up. It's like she's waiting for something, then she gets what she's been waiting for: a parachute from the sponsors. I think she was expecting it ever since they got to the cave.

"I'll go get that…" she meekly says as she's running to get the gift.

She opens it and finds a knife. She takes a deep breath and walks back to the cave. The boy has her back turned to her.

"I'm so sorry! They told me I had to do this! They said you would just be a dead weight!" she quickly gets it all out before she stabs him in the back, literally. Her mentors must have told her if he followed her once they left the cornucopia that she had to kill him.

"They told me to finish you off quickly before someone else could slowly and painfully kill you! I'm so sorry Jay! Please forgive me!"

She begins to cry as Jay takes his last breath and whispers to her, "It's okay. Win this thing for me, Foxface, for our district."

Hmm, Foxface must be a nickname or something.

She smiles a little at the nickname and when the cannon sounds his death, she pulls his eyelids down and drags him outside to be taken away by the hoovercrafts. She gives him a kiss on the cheek before she walks back into the cave.

That's it for the deaths. As for Jake and Mona, they just walked as far away as they possibly could with District 11's tributes into the field of what looks to be a grand supply of crops which Thresh and Rue point out that some of it is poisonous. They look to be in good hands with these two. I feel like District 12 might actually have a chance this year.

The TV clicks off and I remember that I need to get to bed before Katniss gets home. I can't see her right now. I don't want to cry in front of her.

I head upstairs, crack the window open, and prepare for bed. Just as I'm about to fall asleep, there's a knock at the door. I'm sure it's Katniss. I can't open it. I need more time. I just walk over and listen to wait for her to leave.

I hear what sounds to be crying. Is Katniss Everdeen crying because of me? She couldn't be.

She gets closer to the door and whispers to it, "Goodnight, Peeta. I love you."

Hearing her voice say those words makes me go numb. We still need to talk but not tonight. I need sleep as does Katniss.

Tomorrow we will talk.