AHHH! Okay, I'm freaking out. Over 50 reviews! I feel like such a dork, but I don't care! This is my first fanfiction, so this is very exciting! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I love you guys so much! Please, continuing reviewing! I love the feedback and I appreciate the suggestions(: Hehe, enjoy!

Chapter Seven

When I wake and begin getting ready, I'm extremely happy, just like yesterday.

Just like yesterday…

That's when everything about the previous day floats back to me. I smile, remembering spending nearly the entire day with Peeta. I giggle when I remember him dancing around. Then blush when I think about him being so close, and that awfully amazing feeling I felt when his lips nearly touched mine. A version of the feeling comes back at the memory, but quickly fades when I realize what I have to deal with today.

Gale.

I still don't understand why he made it seem like it's a big deal. I'm making friends… so what? I sigh as I slip on my hunting boots and head out the door. I quickly make it to the woods, sliding under the fence separating the known and the unknown before reaching my bow and arrows. After arming myself, I make my way to Gale and I's meeting spot. I hear Gale way before he hears me. He's slumped on a log by our hangout, his back to me; I only catch every other word.

He mumbles things like, "What? No!" and, "Her?" and, "Him?" he sighs, "Really?"

What no her him really. What kind of sentence is that?

I try to get closer in order to hear him better, but he senses my presence.

"Really?" he whispers. He slowly turns to me, "The baker's son?"

I sigh, "What's so bad about Peeta?"

He rolls his eyes, "He's a merchant, Katniss."

Katniss? Ugh, he isn't using my nickname; this is serious…

"So?" I say out of irritation.

"He's a merchant!" he groans. "A merchant, Katniss! A merchant!"

"So your merchant friends are different than mine?" I growl. I cross my arms and continue before he can reply, "You said nothing about Madge when we started getting closer. Why is Peeta any different?" He opens his mouth, but quickly shuts it. "Hmm? Is it because Peeta's a boy?" He rubs his temple as I continue, "Am I not allowed to have friends of the opposite sex?" He moves his head slightly; I can't tell if it's a yes or a no. "That doesn't even make any sense!" I shout as I throw my hands in the air. "I'm friends with you, aren't I? I mean, you're a guy! So is Ansel! What's the difference? And don't give me that 'He's a merchant' crap!"

"Katniss," he sighs. "Do you know who he is?" He looks up at me. "Do you know who his brothers are?" I nod my head; I have had a conversation with all but the eldest Mellark brother. For goodness sakes, I've been in their house! "Julian, Rye, and Peeta Mellark," he whispers. "That's who they are." He shakes his head, "They're at the top of the top, Katniss. You don't mess with them." He runs his hand through his hair, trying to figure out what to say next.

"He's not bad," I whisper. "He's nice. So is his brother. They're-they're… I really like them."

"Katniss," he groans. "They're… he's…"

"He's great," I finish for him. "I like him."

"A merchant," he mumbles.

I roll my eyes, "So you're merchant friends are different from mine?"

"No," he whispers. "But…"

"But they're girls… at least most of them. Tell me. What's the difference between you making friends with merchant girls, and me making friends with Peeta?" We sit in silence for a full minute. "Exactly," I hiss.

"It's just, Katniss," he sighs. "He's… he's…" He groans, "What's so good about him, anyway?"

Well, this should take a while…

"Why do you like him so much?"

I smile, "He's funny," I whisper. "I like how he can make me laugh without putting much effort into it." It's strange telling Gale these things, but if this is the only way to convince him that Peeta's a good guy, I'm willing to say anything right now. "He's so easy to be around; he makes everything fun. I-I…I like how I can smile so much around him; he makes me feel carefree and…"

Gale cuts my trailing sentence off, "I don't think I've ever seen you smile that much outside of the woods," he whispers. "Hell, I haven't seen you smile that much in one day let alone two minutes!"

I nod my head, "Add that to the list," I mumble.

"You're so friendly with him," he says, confusion relevant in both his face and voice.

"I know," I nod. "It's strange," I shake my head. "I've been talking to him for only a few days… and I feel like we've been friends since we were five."

He frowns, "Really?" I nod my head, just as confused as him. "I-I don't get it."

"Neither do I," I sigh as I sit next to him.

"I still don't think you should be hanging out with him," he mumbles.

"Well," I slightly smile. "It doesn't matter what you think." He furrows his eyebrows at me, still frowning. "Whether you or I like it or not, I have to go to his house." He raises his eyebrows as I continue, "Unless I want to repeat a year, I'll be with Peeta a lot more." He begins shaking his head, unsure what the meaning behind my words is. "My science teacher assigned Peeta as my tutor. I have to go to his house to study every day after school."

He slowly nods his head, beginning to process it, "So… what you're really saying is that you're only hanging out with Mellark because you have to?"

I roll my eyes, "Is that all you got out of this?" He nods and I frown, "No, that's not the only reason I'm hanging out with him." He's the one to frown now. "I'm hanging out with him because I like him."

"You… like him?" he gives me a bewildered face.

I slightly smile, "Yeah…I-I… I like him."

He sighs, "He hurts you," he grits his teeth, "And I'll beat him so hard he'll wish he wasn't even born."

I laugh, "And that is why you're my best friend."

He slightly laughs, putting his arm over my shoulder, "I'm serious. I'd like to see baker boy try and get past this," he says gesturing to his arm muscles. I laugh and he fakes a gasp, "Are you saying I'm not strong enough to take bread boy?"

I pull back from him and shake my head, "It's amazing how you can never manage to say Peeta's name."

He rolls his eyes, "I'd rather not insult the boy."

I raise my eyebrows, "So calling him bread boy and baker boy isn't offensive?"

He raises an eyebrow, "Have you heard the kid's name? I'm doing him a favor by not saying it. He's named after freaking bread; addressing him by his real name is an insult in itself."

I laugh, "Why am I friends with you again?"

He opens his mouth, but quickly shuts it. He grins, "That's a really good question."

I stand up, "C'mon," I say through fits of laughter. "We have to get some hunting done."

He smiles, and we don't say much after that. We don't need to. Having each other by our side, and the woods around us, is enough.

They're something that's different. I long for the feeling in my stomach that makes me want to run and hide. Run and hide into Peeta's arms. I don't understand why I can't get him out of my mind. It's rather distracting. I don't let it mess with my hunting, but I like to ponder the thought of him and me together again… in the bakery… alone. I smile as I remember Peeta and me singing together. I'd actually really enjoy having another day like that with him; it's the most fun I've had in years.

I've only had three interactions with Peeta before this week. I'd rather not dwell on those today. I'd like to focus on whatever Peeta and I will have; not what we have had. No matter how much I want to forget all three, I know I can't forget one in particular.

I still owe my boy with the bread.

It's a bit shorter than usual, but nothing too dramatic is going on in this chapter. I promise the next will be longer! But I'd like some reviews first! ;)