Author's Note: Gahh! I feel like I'm messing this story up! Sometimes I can't take my own cheesiness. But at the same time, I feel like I'm working towards something. Not too much Peeta in this chapter but there is some serious Peeniss coming up in the next one. I'll try to post it later today or early tomorrow.

"You're not working tonight, Kat?"

Katniss looked up from her guitar and saw Prim carrying her heavy books to the kitchen table. She had a scholarship to keep so Prim studied every night. Katniss knew she would still do it even if she didn't have a scholarship and she always teased Prim about it, calling her a nerd and a dork but Prim knew that Katniss loved her dearly and was very proud of her determination to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor. She felt guilty that Katniss was focusing on working to make her medical dreams come true but forgetting about her own.

"I'm just waiting for Gale," she said, smiling at her sister. She sighed and started to pack up her guitar. "Don't study too hard, okay Prim? It's a Tuesday, you have class tomorrow."

"I know, Kat," she said, opening her book and looking up a page. "I'll just read for an hour or so." She looked up at her sister who was now rebraiding her hair in front of their cracked mirror. "Hey, Kat? How's your demo coming along?"

Katniss froze in the middle of fixing her hair, staring past her own reflection and into Prim's eyes behind her. "Oh—um—we're working on something to, uh, add to the demo," she stammered out. She didn't have the heart to tell Prim that because of her working two jobs, she and Gale had to take a break from recording. She knew her sister would feel guilty and she didn't want that for Prim.

Prim smiled sadly at her. "You're a terrible liar, Kat," she said softly. She looked back down at her book, not saying anything for a while. Without looking up, she said, "I really think you should finish your demo."

Katniss sighed as she finished her braid. She turned around to face Prim. "Maybe we will, Prim," she said, smiling at her sister. "Just—just not right now, okay?"

"But you guys are really good, Kat," Prim said, still not looking at her sister. "I know Gale wants to finish the demo. I know you want to too." She looked up at Katniss, tears in her beautiful blue eyes. "Please don't forget your dreams because of mine. I know we can make it work, we always do. Just promise me you'll try to make your dreams come true too."

Katniss nodded. Those blue eyes always tugged at her heartstrings and she could never resist Prim when she pulled that face. "I promise."

Katniss leaned over the backseat to look at Gale as they waited outside Madge's house. "Hey Gale," she started. "I think we should finish our demo."

Gale stopped staring at Madge's window for a few minutes to look back at her. He grinned. "I was wondering when you were going to say that." He glanced back at the window, which was now dark. "I guess Prim talked to you?"

Katniss nodded as the gate opened to reveal Madge walking towards them, smiling and waving. "Yeah. I figured she was right," she said, waving back at Madge. "Besides, if we really are that good, we can probably get signed and we can make more money, right?"

"Yeah, then I can finally stop worrying about how I'm going to pay for my dates with Madge," Gale said, as he leaned over the passenger side to open the door for his brand new girlfriend. "Hey Madge," he greeted her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

Katniss smiled to herself as she leaned back. She almost did a huge I Told You So dance when Madge told her that she and Gale were officially dating. She also had to resist the urge to call Gale right then and start teasing the crap out of him. As she predicted, it really didn't take much time for the two to get together. According to Madge, they were sharing a nice first kiss, ten minutes into their first official date. According to Gale, ten minutes and boom, tongue. She punched him hard on the shoulder for that.

"So what were you guys talking about?" Madge asked as they made their way to the Capitol.

"Katniss was just asking if we could finish the demo we were working on," Gale replied as turned a corner. "We stopped recording for a while because we both became so busy."

"That's so cool," Madge said admiringly. She smiled wider as she seemed to remember something. "You know, my dad knows someone from D13 Records," she said, excitedly. "They were old hunting buddies, I think. When you guys finish, I think I might be able to get the demo to him!"

Gale glanced at the rearview mirror where he could see Katniss listening eagerly. "That sounds great, babe," he said as he parked the truck. "Maybe we should finish soon, Kat."

"We will, male Gale," Katniss said, grinning. She turned to Madge. "Thanks Margaret. I knew being friends with you would come in handy someday," she said teasing.

"Shut up, Kat," Madge said as she got out of the car. She leaned on the side of the truck, watching Gale and Katniss unload their instruments from the back. "Hey, when are we gonna meet this Peeta, Kat?"

Katniss almost dropped her guitar at the mention of his name. She closed the door of the truck before she answered. "Well, today is Tuesday—so, let's see—um—how about…never?" she said, scowling at both her friends. "Hey, I thought you guys swore you would stop teasing me if I told you?"

"You never told us, Kat," Gale said as he nodded to the bouncer signalling that Madge was with them. "We found out. So it doesn't count. We can still tease you all we want."

Katniss scowled and stuck her tongue out at her best friend. "I knew being friends with you would come back to bite me in the ass someday," she said, punching Gale on the shoulder. She grinned at Madge. "Well Margaret, and you can blame your boyfriend for this, the answer is still never. Besides, we aren't even together. I just have a minuscule, tiny, diminutive speck of a crush on the guy, okay?"

Madge and Gale grinned at each other. "Whatever you say, Kat," Gale said. "But if he's giving you food all the time, I can safely say that Peeta also has a miniscule, tiny, diminutive speck of a crush on you." Madge stood up on her tiptoes to kiss Gale on the cheek before waving at Kat and heading to the bar. Gale watched her go before climbing up the stage with Katniss.

"He's just a nice guy," Katniss said as they set up their instruments. "He gives us leftovers from the restaurant. That doesn't mean anything."

"It does when the food isn't even on the menu."

"I have got to stop telling Prim everything," Katniss said, scowling. "And she has got to stop telling you!"

Gale laughed as he did a quick sound check. He nodded to Katniss to signal that they could start. Katniss nodded back and looked out at the crowd. She waved to Madge and turned on the mic. "Hey guys, welcome to the Capitol," she said softly, as Gale strummed a couple of low notes. "And if you've been here before, welcome back. We're starting things off tonight with something to get you guys on your feet!"

So don't love me discontent

Like your love is spent

When I'm lying alone,

baby where's your home?

You're looking for me, it's all for free

I got love to kill for my man of steel

"Thanks everyone," Katniss announced as Gale stood up to take a bow. He flashed a rock on sign to the audience as she laughed. "We are The Mockingjays and we're here on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays." She turned to see Gale grinning at her. Oh my god,he mouthed at her as he started packing up. She nodded and started packing up her own guitar. They both knew this was one of the best nights they had ever played. The crowd responded to all the songs and right after their first set, some people were shouting for an encore. Granted, Madge started the chant, but still, someone picked it up and it rolled on. She and Gale were making their way to the bar as the crowd thinned when they noticed that Madge was talking to someone. Someone very blonde and very familiar to Katniss.

"Who is that?" Gale asked quietly, nudging Katniss with his elbow. Katniss shrugged, not saying anything, even though deep in her heart she knew. She was very familiar with that head of wavy blonde hair.

"You think blondie's hitting on her?"

Katniss couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy. She brushed it off and tried to reassure her friend. "Even if he was, you know how Madge feels about you," she said as they approached the pair. "She'd never respond to that."

Gale nodded and tried to smile as they reached the bar. "Hey baby," he said, giving Madge a peck on the cheek. Katniss couldn't help but notice that he tried to angle his body to block Madge as subtly as possible. "Who's your friend?"

Madge grinned at Katniss. "Maybe you should ask our friend, Gale," she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. "I'm pretty sure she knows who he is."

Katniss cleared her throat and kept her eyes on Gale and Madge. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Of course, he came to her rescue. Typical. "I'm Peeta Mellark," he said, holding out his hand. "I work with Katniss at the restaurant. She told me you guys played here on Tuesdays and luckily, that's my day off. You must be Gale?"

Gale glanced from Katniss's red face to Peeta's earnest smiling one. He tried to suppress the teasing that was about to spout from his mouth. He shook Peeta's hand. "Nice to meet you, Peeta," he said politely. "Katniss has told us…almost nothing about you."

Katniss glared at Gale before turning to Peeta. "It was really nice of you to come," she said softly.

"No problem," he said, grinning at her. "I really wanted to see you—hear you sing. You guys were really good." Peeta stood up from his perch on the bar. "Do you guys have to go home?" he asked, looking pointedly at Katniss. "Can I interest you in a cup of coffee?"

Madge stood up too. "I think I have to get home soon," she said sweetly, grinning at Katniss who was staring daggers at her. She turned to Gale. "Can you take me home, sweetie?"

"Of course," Gale said nodding. "Kat?"

"I can take her home," Peeta piped up. "If you two want to be alone."

She was trapped now. She didn't want to intrude on Gale and Madge (and she really didn't want to watch them play tonsil hockey) but she also didn't really want to be alone with Peeta. Especially not if Gale and Madge knew about it.

"Thanks Peeta," Gale said, putting his arm around Madge. "See you tomorrow, Kat. Call me when you get home."

"Yeah, see you Gale," Katniss said, gritting her teeth. She would beat him up tomorrow. Maybe she'd also play a prank on Madge. Oh, she was totally getting back at them for this. "Bye Madge," she called to their retreating backs. "Use a condom, Gale!" She laughed as Gale made a rude finger gesture without looking back at her.

Peeta was also laughing behind her. He tried to keep a straight face when she looked back at him. "So…coffee or home?"

Author's Note: The song I used for this chapter is Got Love to Kill by Juliette and the Licks.