A/N: Hi guys, sorry for the long time between drinks!
Here's another lovely chapter for you to read.
Don't forget to review!
When Katniss was fifteen and Gale was seventeen, Katniss' family was making preparations to move away from the Eastern Suburbs.
They had been on a waiting list for public housing since before Lucas Everdeen had died, and at last had received confirmation that a new house was ready and waiting for them. Violet Everdeen, much to her daughters' relief, had managed – thanks to extensive therapy – to pull herself out of her grim depression. She was even hunting for work. Things seemed to be looking up at last after years of hardship and deprivation.
The only problem was that the house was in Balmain – a world away from everything Katniss knew, and a world away from Gale. Katniss knew that Balmain was only a short drive away from Gale's place in Bondi – and she could see him regularly - but even so, she was dreading saying goodbye. How could she find the words to say how much he had meant to her over the two years they had known each other? How could she even start?
The day before the big move, Katniss gathered her courage and went to visit Gale.
She had barely even rung the front doorbell when the door swung open and a pair of arms enthusiastically grabbed her waist. "Katniss!"
"Hey, Posy," said Katniss, returning the hug. After a few seconds, she gently tried to pull herself free, but Gale's little sister's grip was a lot stronger than she remembered.
"Let the poor girl breathe, Posy," a calm voice gently scolded, and Katniss saw the slim, slightly rounded figure of Gale's mother, Hazelle.
After Posy had reluctantly let Katniss go, the older woman embraced her son's best friend.
"How are you, love? All packed up yet?"
"Almost," said Katniss. "Is Gale home?"
"Up in his room, studying," answered Hazelle, barely stopping for breath before she kept talking. "He's been extremely stressed lately, it'd do him good to see a friendly face. Shall I make you two a cuppa? I'll bring it up to you both when it's ready, if you like."
"Thanks, Hazelle," said Katniss gratefully.
"Come on, Posy," said Hazelle to her youngest child. "You can help me make the tea. Rory! Vick!" she said, raising her voice over the angry shouts that suddenly emanated from the living room. "If you two can't agree on what program you want to watch, I'm going to turn off the TV and you won't be allowed to watch anything until after school tomorrow."
The angry voices subsided instantly. As Hazelle and Posy headed for the tiny kitchen, Katniss crossed into the living room, where Gale's two brothers – who were very close to each other in age – greeted her sullenly.
She climbed the stairs to her best friend's room and knocked on the door.
"Mum, I told you for the last time, I'm trying to study!"
"Gale, it's me, it's Katniss."
"Oh." Gale paused, before he flung open the door and engulfed Katniss in a hug. "Hey, sorry about that. Mum's been up twice already to try and get me to take a break, I thought she was coming up here to nag me again."
"Nah, it's just me," said Katniss off-handedly, as they pulled apart. "But she is right, you know – you can't keep studying for hours on end, it'll drive you mad!"
"Yeah, I s'pose," said Gale, reluctantly, running his fingers through his hair, which was almost as dark as Katniss's. "Come in and welcome to my prison – self-imposed, of course," he joked.
Katniss entered the room and plopped herself down on Gale's bed. Gale pulled the swivel chair out from his desk and seated himself opposite her.
"So, how're things going?" he asked.
"Oh, you know," said Katniss vaguely. "Packing stuff up. The removal guys are coming really early tomorrow, so Mum's been running round like mad trying to make sure everything's ready to go."
"How's Prim?" inquired Gale. He had a soft spot for Katniss' sister, as did nearly everyone the blonde girl came into contact with.
"She's fine," answered Katniss. "A little stressed about the move, but otherwise she's OK."
The pair of them made small talk for a few minutes, both of them avoiding the real reason that Katniss had come to visit – saying goodbye.
An awkward silence fell when they ran out of things to talk about, and someone knocked on the door.
"I'll get it," said Katniss after a moment, needing to do something to try and break the tension.
She politely accepted the cups of hot tea that Posy had brought up, and placed one on Gale's desk before she settled herself on the bed again.
Both of them were silent for a few moments as they sipped at their tea, glad to have something to do with their hands.
Katniss placed her mug on Gale's bedside table, and returned her hands to her lap, twisting them nervously as she spoke. "Listen, Gale, I just wanted to say – "
She didn't get to finish her sentence, though, for suddenly Gale leapt out of his chair, crossed to the bed and kissed her. On the mouth.
The kiss was so brief that she barely had time to register how it felt before he pulled away. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I had to do that. Just to see what it felt like."
Katniss stayed silent for several long seconds.
"Catnip," Gale said, using her pet name, "you're beginning to scare me. Please say something."
Katniss said nothing. Instead, she got up off the bed and headed for the door.
"Hey, stop! Where are you going?"
Katniss didn't answer. She didn't want to. She had suddenly realised what the kiss had meant, and she couldn't allow it to go any further . She didn't want to hurt Gale by lying to him about her feelings – or lack of them – whatever, it was too confusing. She hurtled down the stairs, tears blurring her vision as she struggled with her muddled thoughts.
"Katniss, please, I'm sorry!" said Gale desperately, hot on her heels. "I swear, I don't know what came over me. Can we at least talk about this?"
He grabbed her hand. She pulled away and practically ran for the front door, ignoring Gale's pleas for her to stay, and Posy and Hazelle's shocked utterances as their guest left much earlier than was expected.
As she reached the front door, she turned to Gale, looking him straight in the eye for the first time since he had kissed her.
"Goodbye, Gale," she said, touching his face, which now bore a look of shocked confusion. "I'm sorry I can't be what you want me to be."
"Katniss, wait - !"
But it was too late, she was already gone.
Two years later, Katniss Everdeen sat on her bed, holding her mobile with shaking hands as she dialled Gale's number.
A/N: So, now you know what happened between Katniss and Gale! What do you think he'll say to her when they talk on the phone?
Sorry for those of you who aren't great fans of Gale, I promise there'll be lots of Katniss/Peeta goodies for you in future chapters.
Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season to you all.
Please please please review, I really do value your opinions, good or bad - don't be shy!
