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authors note: soon ill start on the changing the chapters around

so if you read this story before stay with me please

Chapter 4

Katniss POV

Previously

"Thanks Katniss, when do I start training?" He asked.

"Tomorrow. As soon as you get back from the mines, come to my house. Right away" I told him. We just sat there in silence.

"Gale, do you know how to swim?"

Present:

"No.. why do you ask?"

"Because thats what were going to do now"I said and stood up. I motioned for him to stand up and he did.

"Well thats going to be the first thing you learn" I replied. We started heading toward the lake

"Katniss, why would swimming even be important?" Gale questioned.

"Why it would be important? Annie Cresta, won the 70th Hunger Games by being able to swim! And in the arena, you never know what they might throw at you. So its better to be prepared" I said reaching the lake. "Now take off your clothes" I commanded him.

"Catnip, if you really wanted to see me naked, all you had to do is ask" Gale said and laughed while I playfully punched him. I stripped down to my tank top and my underwear. I looked at Gale and saw him wearing only his underpants.

"Now get in the water" I told him.

"You have got to be kidding me, the water is probably freezing" Gale said. " There is no way Im getting into the water before you". A plan popped into my mind.

"Gale look its a dear!" I exclaimed pointing to any direction.

"huh.. wha?" He said before turning around. This was my chance, with all the force I had, I pushed Gale into the lake.

"Ugh Katniss, you are so going to pay for this" Gale groaned as he shivered. I burst into a fit of laughter.

"Katniss, Katniss, Im sinking Katniss, Help me!" Gale exclaimed. I looked at him and panic. I reached down to help him but he grabbed me in and pulled me down with him into the water. Gale wasn't lying, the water was actually cold!

"Galeee, I hate you for this" I said splashing him in the face.

"Suree, say what you want to say Catnip" He said before splashing me back. For the next 20 minutes Gale and I had a splash fight. I turned around for a second and turned back to splash Gale, but he wasn't there. I panicked, did he drown? Did a peacekeeper get to him? I walked around the lake, frantically searching for him. I took another step forward before I felt someone grabbing my legs and throwing me up into the air. I screamed and laughed. We continued playing like this for a while. I missed when things were this easy.

"Okay Gale, now we need to teach you how to swim" I said. For the next couple hours we worked on teaching him how to swim. By the time we decided it was time to head back, it was pitch black. It must have been late. I got out of the water and shivered. Gale and I walked to my house together. We speeded from the forest to my house because we were wet and it was really cold. We ran inside the house to get warm. I decided to shower first because I take shorter showers than Gale. When I got out I saw Gale looking around.

"Gale go ahead and shower. I need to go see Peeta, feel free to stay here for the night. It's late so I don't think you should walk back alone. If you get hungry, go ahead and grab something from the fridge. Be careful" I said.

"OK mom" Gale said and chuckled. "By the way Katniss, Thanks, for helping me. I know I don't really… express myself that ugh, but Thanks. And I dont regret being your friend" Gale said.

"I would hug you right now but your still wet and smell like the pond. But no problem. Its what Im here for. Im gonna go now. Bye Gale" I said and shut the door. I looked at Peeta's house. The lights were on so Peeta must be awake? I decided to go check. The door wasn't opened so I had to knock. I knocked twice and waited. I waited for about a minute before I concluded that Peeta was probably asleep. I turned around to leave before I heard the door open.

"Katniss" Peeta breathed.

"Peeta, Im sorry I snapped. I didn't mean it. I was just frustrated" I said looking at the floor while I apologized.

"No Katniss, It's my fault. You were right, it wasn't the right time" Peeta said. "Do you want to come in" He asked and I nodded. He hesitated for a bit before putting his arms to hug me. I didn't push him away this time.

"It's just, I was mad. Mad at everyone. How can they do this? How are you so calm about it? Were going to be sending kids two their death, one who will most likely be Gale and somebody else we know! Ughh this is all my fault" I said as I pushed my face into Peeta's broad shoulders. He rubbed soothing circles into my back.

"No Katniss, its not your fault. It none of our faults. And even if it was somebody's fault, it would be mine. I should have just died and let you come" Peeta said. He did it again, always making it his fault. It isn't his fault, why would he even think that?

"No Peeta. You listen to me" I said. I looked up and put his face in between my hands. I slowly traced his jaw with my hand, I looked into his eyes before speaking again."This is not your fault. It will never be your fault. Stop thinking like that" I said to him.

"No Katniss, it is my fault. If I had died in the arena, you wouldn't have to deal with any of this. You would be happily married to Gale living in Victors Village without any worries. Im going to make it all right Katniss, I swear to you i will. I will make sure that Gale doesn't step foot in the arena. I know how important Gale is to you and it will be harder for you to cope without Gale. If Gale is reaped, Ill volunteer"

I took my hand and slapped him in the face. I pointed my finger at him. "Don't you dare volunteer for Gale or I swear Peeta I will kill myself. So you will have died in vain! And its not your fault, when are you going to get it out of your head. And you know yourself that Gale has a bigger chance of coming out of the games"

"It doenst matter Katniss, if he makes you happy then I will volunteer. I know you don't want to lose him" Peeta said. Ughh why is he making this so hard? Is he waiting for a confession from me?

"Peeta, I don't want to lose you too! And if you go in, you might not come out alive! Your not going to do it. Im not going to let you" I is he making this difficult?

Peeta POV

After I suggested I volunteer I felt something sting my cheek. Katniss just slapped me. Before I could say anything, she began talking. "Don't you dare volunteer for Gale or I swear Peeta I will kill myself. So you will have died in vain! And its not your fault, when are you going to get it out of your head. And you know yourself that Gale has a bigger chance of coming out of the games" Even though it was probably true, it hurt to hear her say that. Does she think I can't protect myself? If she thinks I can't protect myself? How is she going to think I can protect her?

"It doenst matter Katniss, if he makes you happy then I will volunteer. I know you don't want to lose him" I said.

"Peeta, I don't want to lose you too! And if you go in, you might not come out alive! Your not going to do it. Im not going to let you" I said. She doesn't want to lose me? That has to count for something, right? I thought.

"Katniss-" I began before I felt her lips crash onto mine. I was so happy! Two times in one day! We kissed with passion. It was almost like deja vu to our prior kiss except this time, she had the upper hand. She pushed me onto the couch and I fell back onto it. She straddled my lap and kissed me with force. After another make out session, we both broke away from each other.

"Your not going, okay? I prohibit you" She said and I nodded. If I died right now, I would die a happy man. What does this make us then? Does that mean that she wants to be more than friends with me? Just the idea made me smile.

"Katniss, what do you say we are?" I asked, hoping my question made sense. "As in, do you consider us like…" I said, hoping to clarify the question. I watched as she thought about it.

"What would you want us to be" She said. Is she serious? She knows I love her.

"Katniss… you know I want to be more than friends. You know I wish you were my girlfriend. Thats why I am asking you" I said, waiting for her response. I was waiting for my heart to be crushed again. Why would she like me? Im nothing in comparison to her, all I can do is paint and bake.

"Okay" She said.

"Okay what…?" I replied confused.

"Okay, I'll be your girlfriend" She said. Did I hear her correctly? Or is my mind playing some kind of a sick joke on me? I hoped I heard her correctly.

"What?" I said astonished. Even though it could be a dream, I wanted to hear it again.

"Okay, I want to be your girlfriend?" This day was getting even better, she wants to be my girlfriend. I picked her up and spun her around before giving her a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Katniss, I would love it if you were my girlfriend"

Katniss POV

For a while later,we cuddled on the couch and watched TV. I looked at the time and saw that it was nearly 2 in the morning. It was time for me to go home. I got up to leave but Peeta pulled me back down onto his lap. He started kissing my jaw going down to my neck. He started sucking a spot on my neck making me feel like I was on fire. He was making this a lot harder to leave.

"Peeta… I have to" He sucked harder on the sport causing me to moan.

"Peeta" I said sternly "Stop." He stopped, my voice might have intimidated him.

"Im sorry if that was too fast, I just got carried away" He said.

"No, no Peeta its fine, I enjoyed that. Its just that Gale is at home and its really late" I told him

"Please, just stay with me tonight" Peeta said.

"Peeta, I have to get home. Gale is there and I need to be there when he wakes up" I said.

"Of course Gale wants you there when he wakes up. Because Gale can't do anything without his precious Catnip" Peeta said saying Gale's name with disgust. Peeta was jealous of Gale. He turned around to go to his room but I grabbed his hand.

"Peeta, how about you come and stay with me for the night?" I suggest hoping he would take me up on my offer.

"No Katniss its ok, if you want to spend your time with Gale Im fine with that, Im sorry I let my jealousy take over" Peeta apologized.

"No Peeta really, I like when you stay with me. You take my nightmares away" I said.

"Okay" He said. He went to grab a couple stuff and we headed back to my house, hand in hand. I opened the door to see Gale sleeping on the couch. We quickly and quietly walked to my room.

"Turn around so I can change" I said.

"Always so innocent" Peeta said as he turned around. I changed and told him to change while I go check on Gale. I left the room and walked to the living room Gale was sleeping in.

"Gale, Gale wake up. Your going to be sore if you wake up here" He didn't wake up but so I decided to have some fun. I went and took a pot and filled it with ice cold water. I lifted the water bucket over his head before spilling it all over him. Gale bolted forward with his eyes popping.

"Katnisss, I am so getting you back for this" He said.

"That was only revenge for the river! " I say before laughing. I laughed so hard that I had to clutch my sides because they hurt.

"Gale, you should have seen your face!" I said before collapsing to another fit of laughter.

"If I didn't have to wake up early for the mines I would plot on how I would get you back. Why did you wake me up?" He said.

"You were sleeping on the couch, you would have woken up with a neck cramp or something. Go to the spare room across mine, you can keep any clothes you find in the dresser. I don't need the mens clothes so its okay" I said. I turned around and he followed me up into the room.

"G'night Catnip" He mumbled before collapsing on the bed, not even bothering to change.

"Night Gale" I said before joining Peeta in my room. I went to accompany him on the bed. I slipped under the blanket and felt him put his arms around me. Once again, he started nipping at my neck except this time I didn't protest. He started sucking the same spot as he was earlier. I started thrashing around underneath him bucking my hips into his. I could hear him grunt. I flipped us around so I was on top and started sucking his collarbone. When I pulled away I felt accomplished when I saw a hickey on his collarbone. At least now the other girls will know that he is taken. After another intense make out sesion we deicde to sleep. I lay back next to him and he holds me close.

"I love you katniss"

I look at him and see him smiling. "I know you do peeta." I shut my eyes I wish I knew if I truly love him back maybe I do... I know that anwser made him sad because he was hopping for something better but I dont want to lie to hin if I dont truly love him...