During dinner, where my plate is piled high, I am conscious of eyes on me. I can't ignore them, they make me feel uncomfortable. Never was I the one who got all of the attention, and it is beginning to freak me out a bit.

As I slurp my soup from the bowl, I feel a hand slap against my back. It makes me sputter and cough, dribbling soup down my chin as I place the bowl onto the steady table. I wipe my face with the back of my hand as the hand leaves my back and slides around my shoulders.

When I look beside me, Finnick is straddling the bench and his face is only inches away from mine. Out of the corner of my eye I see Gale shift in his seat and make a coughing noise.

Either he didn't hear or was ignoring Gale, because Finnick's face brakes out in a grin. "Lookie at who finally decided to take action," his face falls into an expression of sadness. "Too bad it's for your own selfish reasons."

My eyes focus on his and I know that he knows. I shrug off his arm and stand up, ignoring that he follows suit. Gale begins to stand, so I glance at him with a look that should clearly read 'don't.' All I need now is another fight between the two of them.

My hands reach for my dishes, but Finnick beats me to it. I snatch my roll off the plate and pick up my glass of water. Biting into the roll, I walk toward the exit.

When someone falls into step beside me I expect it to be Finnick, but by the footfalls I know that it is Gale. It is not as if I truly expected him to stay behind. Peeta was the kind of guy to respect one's wishes; Gale would go out of his way to defy anything.

I stop mid-stride and turn toward him. "Please," I meet his eyes and push away the pang in my chest at the hurt I see there. After a moment of internal battling, I place a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. Remember that he protected me in the arena."

By the pain that crosses his face, for barely a second, I know that is why he does not like Finnick. Gale had not been the one protecting me in the arena, so he feels he has to be with me all the time now that he can. It all makes sense now that I have worked it out in my own mind.

The pain is gone as quick as it came, and a blank expression takes its place. Hiding his emotions from me and closing off was something he only started to do after he kissed me the first time.

I turn and start to move toward the exit, but something stops me. Going off with Finnick without him will be like rejecting him in some way.

"Gale," he had started to go back towards the table. Upon hearing my words he pauses and swivels to face me with such slowness that I cannot stop the guilt from rising in my chest. I close the short distance between us and place a kiss on his warm cheek. The forced smile I get in return is reassurance enough that everything between us will be fine. If it has ever been fine to begin with.

I leave then, without glancing back.

"So," Finnick stretches his arms in front of himself as we navigate the dirt tunnels. "Making friends with the guys that control the hovercrafts, are you?"

I sigh because now I know that he knows what I was planning. Exactly what I was planning. "How did you know?"

"As much of a surprise as this may be to you, Katniss, Haymitch does trust me. And he has every reason to, considering that I saved your ass in the arena."

"I didn't ask you to do that. You should have saved Peeta, not me."

"No, Haymitch asked me to do that. The revolution has begun, and you are the leader."

I stop all movements and it takes him a moment to realize I am not with him anymore. He looks back with a small look of puzzlement on his face. For once I caught his vigilant self off-guard, which makes me feel oddly accomplished.

"Peeta would make a better leader."

He huffed, a motion that was bizarre for the guy who got so many sponsors from his good looks and charm. "So what is your idea, exactly? Let's say you do get a hovercraft and you are able to make it all the way to the Capitol. Then what? Where would you begin to look for him at? Everyone is searching for you, Katniss. Any sign of you and anyone living there will snatch you up and hand you over to Snow. What good will you be to Peeta, or anyone else, when you are dead?"

"I don't have all of it worked out yet, maybe, but at least I am trying to rescue him. If I get myself hurt in the process, that is a price I am willing to pay."

He shakes his head and remains silent as a few people pass us, slowing to stare at me. When they turn the corner and we can hear them talking again, Finnick speaks. "You need so much help with this plan, Katniss," in the dim lighting I watch his face turn as serious as I have ever seen it. "Which is why I'm going to help you."

Author's Note;

Really? My Beta for this story is just fabulous. Erica; you rock.

There are two other chapters already written and sure to be posted soon.

This time I mean it.

I haven't had much time to write, but when I have been it's been on my two chaptered stories. [:

Looook out. Those reviews are good for the soul. ^^