CHAPTER 8

SEPTEMBER

Gale Hawthorne. Best friend of Katniss. A guy who'd known her since he was fourteen years old. Four years he'd been friends with her and up till now, Peeta hadn't really spoken to the guy, which made sense because if he hadn't been talking with Katniss, why would he have run into Gale at any point? He was all but a stranger to him and the only times Peeta ever saw him was when he and Katniss were spending time together at school.

But he was now standing in front of Peeta and staring him down with a look that made him wonder if the guy thought of himself as some kind of massive giant...or saw Peeta as some tiny and worthless creature that could be stomped on with all but one single crushing step. The guy might have towered over him a good five or six inches, easily standing over six feet tall while Peeta was of medium height, but there was something Peeta noticed about him. One glance at him and he could tell right then that the guy wasn't as built and most likely not as physically strong as he'd become over the years. Peeta had all the time he'd spent helping out at his family's bakery to thank for that. All those times he'd spent lifting bags of flour with each of them weighing at least a hundred pounds had definitely contributed to his muscular shape.

This didn't mean though that he'd exactly welcome a fight with Gale because he absolutely wouldn't. Despite the fact that he felt pretty sure he could take the guy, he wasn't fond of the idea of learning just how good or bad of a fighter Hawthorne was. And besides, he'd never been a violent, physical sort of guy growing up, especially not towards other people and couldn't imagine himself getting enjoyment or pleasure out of a brawl with him. He wasn't one that just went around hurting and beating on people, even if he wasn't particularly fond of the individual. That wasn't who he was and he wasn't going to start now. He wouldn't even want to beat up on a guy as horrid as his brother, Rye. He just wasn't that kind of person, and nothing would ever change him into becoming the violent and aggressive guy that so many others envisioned themselves to be.

What stood out most about Gale though wasn't his notably dark hair, striking features or impressive height. No, as Peeta sat there observing the guy there was only one thing that got him thinking it was something he'd always remember about him – and that was his eyes. Like Katniss, they were a deep grey but where Katniss's were a mysterious and pleasant vast sea of grey he could gladly lose himself in for hours, Gale's were not. His were more like ominous shadows that told Peeta they weren't a place he'd ever want himself getting somehow trapped in. He feared that if he stared too long and too hard into these eyes, he'd find himself a victim to whatever horrors might lie in that world of grey. There was no telling what was lurking inside them. He figured he was just overacting and that they were only eyes and nothing more, but it still felt eerily uncomfortable gazing into them. All he could conclude was that it gave him the worst feeling possible and he wasn't exactly sure what kind of feeling it was. He just knew that it wasn't good.

For a minute, Gale simply stood there with his eyes on Peeta as if sizing him up like he was a slab of meat. Then, as if he'd gotten his answer, he took a seat opposite him where Katniss had been sitting previously.

All Peeta could think right then was, He heard the whole thing and now he's after me. And it's all thanks to Rye. Rye, next chance I get, I'm so getting back at you for this. This time you went way too far. Don't think you're getting away with this because you're not. What goes around comes around...and it's coming right back to you.

"So," said Gale casually, stretching his arms out along the length of the table. "You know Katniss?"

This took Peeta by surprise. He'd been expecting Gale to start off by saying something along the lines of, "Heard the whole thing. You love Katniss Everdeen and have so for years and now you're trying to win her heart and steal her from me." But he hadn't. Maybe that was because he hadn't heard a word of what Rye had said after all and was instead hanging with friends and doing whatever he did every day? So then how did he know to find Peeta here? He figured it was just a lucky guess, or maybe he knew that Katniss came here often and that was who he'd been looking for originally. Whatever it was, it didn't really matter because Gale was now sitting across from him and by the look on his face, he looked all too interested in a conversation.

"I saw you with her, Peeta," said Gale flatly. "By the lockers before lunch. You asked her if she'd like to hang out, spend some time with you, have some lunch, chat for a bit...remember that? And don't act stupid because I heard it all. I got ears you know, and they work just fine."

Busted. It wasn't a shocker though that Gale had caught sight of them but it was starting to make Peeta feel like he was being...watched. That, he didn't like. Not that he was scared or worried at what Gale might say or do to him, because it wasn't that. It was more that it angered him thinking that he and Katniss couldn't even enjoy an hour together – eat, laugh and talk a bit about themselves – without the eyes of Gale following their every move. Peeta's every move. He and Katniss shouldn't have had to know that eyes were constantly on them and were observing everything they did and every word that came out of their mouths.

There was only one thing Peeta could think of to truly describe what Gale was to him – and that was a hawk. Even if his image was nothing like the mighty creature, it was the traits and behaviour of eighteen-year-old Gale Hawthorne that resembled that of a hawk. One look into his eyes and Peeta knew instantly that Gale watched and guarded his best friend like a mother would with their child. And when a mother's child was in danger of getting snatched by a lurking predator, then the fury and rage of that mother at the fear of losing her young one was brought out like a vicious storm. Gale was like the mother and Katniss was the child and he wouldn't have her getting close to any guy that crossed her path. He'd make sure of that. As long as Gale knew that Peeta was spending time with her and trying to get 'cozy' with her, then the eyes of Hawthorne would forever be on him.

"Yeah, I remember," said Peeta, answering his question. He then told him, "But we're not even close. I wouldn't even say we're really friends yet. We just talk in art and work on stuff."

Gale kept his eyes on him, his mind taking in what he'd said. It seemed like he was taking an awfully long time to figure out whatever it was he was debating about in his head. He must have had about a hundred different thoughts all racing about in his mind and Peeta felt sure that more than half of them dealt with he and Katniss and what Gale was so far observing in regards to their relationship.

He shouldn't really be worrying though, thought Peeta in silence. It's not like Katniss is ever gonna wanna talk to me again. Not after what Rye said. I'll be lucky if she even talks to me in art again; odds are she'll want to sit by somebody else. I still can't believe he said all that!

"Right," he said. "So you like that she's in your class then?"

Peeta shrugged and said, his voice relaxed, "I guess. She's not all that into art though, so she doesn't really like the class as much as I do. She told me art's not her thing so it's not one of her favourite classes."

"Oh, yeah?" said Gale doubtingly, as if he didn't believe a word he was hearing. "So you guys don't talk much?"

"Not really," Peeta admitted.

Why's he asking so many questions? thought Peeta suspiciously, but kept calm and in control. "Does he think I'm trying to steal Katniss from him? Is he scared she might want to be with me? I wish she'd want to be with me but there's no way she'll look at me the same way again after having been told that I've been crushing on for the past eleven years. That's a bit much to take in.

Hearing this, Gale's mind went on repeating the same thing over and over, as if on replay. Doubt it. You think I'm gonna believe that? What do you think I am? An idiot?

Just tell him what he wants to hear Mellark, thought Peeta, hoping his ability with words would shine through to this hawk. He's not a threat if you know how to handle him. Act innocent and non- threatening. If he doesn't think you're trying to steal her, then maybe he'll leave you alone and stop questioning you.

Gale gave a little smirk and said, sounding boastful, "Well, she's known me for years. Seems you've known her for what, a few days? Maybe a week? Two weeks? But we've been friends for so long sometimes I forget just how long it's been. Funny, isn't it? She's kind of like my sister and I'm sort of like her older brother. We'd do anything and everything for each other. I've always been there for her; always will be. And I know she'll always be there for me. We got each other's back and if ever we need each other, we're there. That's how it's always been with us. We've been inseparable for years and it's going to stay like that for years to come."

What did he expect Peeta to say to this? That's great Gale, love to hear that! So it was natural that Peeta simply sat there and listened while pretending it didn't bother him. He never interrupted, scoffed or argued against him since that wasn't part of the plan. It was the smartest and best thing he could do to present himself as least threatening as possible to Gale's friendship with Katniss. If he wanted to keep the hawk calm and under control, then he had to play it right and use just the right words when the time came for him to speak. The key to pulling it all off was confidence and though he'd just been as humiliated as one could get by his menace of a brother, he wasn't giving up. No way was he crawling in a hole and admitting defeat or allowing surrender. He couldn't. He'd been through too much and whatever it took, he'd stop at nothing to win Katniss back. But first he had to focus on Gale. So long as Gale was around, he'd have to push any thoughts about Katniss aside and focus onlyon Hawthorne.

He nodded and said, "She talks about you a lot. She keeps saying in class how much she can't wait to see and hang out with you on free. You're pretty much all she talks about actually."

He added a light chuckle at this last statement, hoping to keep up what act he had going on and not have Gale become suspicious. But what kept coming back to him like a punch to the gut was the fact that she and Gale shared the same free, which meant it was guaranteed that they'd be together at least one hour of every day. Yes, he and Katniss shared the same art class but that wasn't the same as free. People did whatever they wanted on free and that meant she and Gale could talk, hang out, go out to eat and do whatever they pleased. Peeta hated to think about what other, unmentioned things they might possibly be doing. But he tried shoving that out of his thoughts because if he really was going to try and talk to Katniss again, then the image of her and Gale acting romantic together wasn't exactly going to be a comforting one for him.

"Well, yeah, no kidding," he laughed, still boasting. "I'd be shocked if she didn't. Why wouldn't she talk about a guy she's known for four years? No offense, Peeta, but she's only known you for a few weeks. You can't really compare that with how long I've known her. Hate to sound so harsh, but it's true."

Peeta nodded, going along with it and keeping his face perfectly calm.

Just nod and don't say anything unless he asks a question, thought Peeta. Keep your voice calm and don't let him think you're up to something. If I can just handle him now, maybe he'll leave us alone and figure there's no reason to bug us if I'm in love with her. Then again, I guess the biggest factor is how Katniss feels about me. If Gale knows that she cares about me and likes me in that way, then maybe he'd think it was a waste of time to try and break us apart. But I doubt Katniss will have feelings for me, and if that's true...then there's nothing stopping Gale from winning her over. And if they do end up together, then it's not in my place to try and change that.

"So anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" asked Peeta after a long pause.

"Nah, not really," he shot back. "I didn't have much to say anyway. Just wanted to see how you and Katniss were making out."

"Shouldn't you be heading to class then?"

"Uh, no," said Gale quickly, chuckling under his breath as if Peeta amused him. "I got free next. I'll probably see if Katniss wants to drive down to The Hob, get something to eat. If not, we'll just hang here. Doesn't matter to me. As long as we're hanging out doing something, then I'm cool with that."

Peeta fought to keep from picturing it: the two sitting together, eating, chatting, laughing and having a much better time with Gale than she had been with him. Like Rye, he just wanted Gale out of his sight so he could focus on what clearly needed fixing right then, and that was his friendship with Katniss. He didn't have to sit there and feel stressed about the possibility that Gale might be extremely close to winning Katniss over. After having heard that Peeta had been crushing on her since they were kids, her mind was probably a mess and if ever she needed a friend by her side, it was now. And what better person to have by her side then her best friend, Gale?

"Okay," said Peeta, getting to his feet. He felt he'd spent far too long sitting in this cafeteria and badly wanted out of there. It was starting to feel claustrophobic and he felt if he stayed there just a few seconds longer, the walls would start closing in on him and would eventually smother him. "Guess I'll go then."

"Oh, one more thing, Peeta," Gale said, grabbing his arm. Peeta turned and looked at Gale, waiting for whatever it was he wanted to say. All he wanted was to leave and not have to think of Rye or Gale anymore, but there was no breaking free of the grasp that Hawthorne now had on his arm.

"Yeah?"

Gale gave an amused laugh, but just as quickly the smile dropped from his face. In that moment, his eyes turned razor sharp and Peeta swore the greyness in his hawk-like eyes grew twice as dark, as if he had his prey right where he wanted it –which was in his clutches.

With dead seriousness, he snarled, "Just back off, Mellark."

He spoke the words 'back off' with an obvious hiss, as if all he wanted was to emphasize the point of his threat. It caught Peeta by surprise, but he was able to keep his eyes from widening or his mouth from opening. He hadn't quite known how serious Gale had been about Katniss up till now. It was clear that he loved her strongly enough that even the thought of another guy entering her life was too much for him to bear. If that was indeed true, then Peeta had the grim feeling that if Katniss didn't want to speak with him again and would rather keep her distance, then there was every chance that in a short period of time, she and Gale Hawthorne would be together.

"Look," said Peeta firmly, but still keeping his cool. He wasn't sure if arguing with Gale was a bright idea, but there was no way he was going to sit there and think Gale was in total control. He had to at least let him know what he was thinking, even if that meant facing the risk of getting clobbered. "I'm not after a fight with you, Gale. I'm not trying to do anything to Katniss that might—"

"Shut up!" he barked, clenching his teeth. "You don't have to babble like an idiot, Peeta. I'm just giving you a warning. Back off from Katniss. That's it. Just back off...or I'll step in and you'll no longer be Peeta Mellark anymore. Got it? I'm not gonna let you steal her from me. I've waited too long to be with her to just let her suddenly get swept off her feet by some guy she hardly knows."

"Alright," said Peeta, putting his hands up in surrender. "Got it. Back off from Katniss."

"You don't get it, do ya?" snapped Gale in anger. "I've been in love with her since the minute I laid eyes on her. As soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one and I've been crazy about her ever since." Meh, not really the truth. I wasn't even sure if we'd end up as friends but what the hell? It's not like this freak's ever gonna prove me wrong. Just back him into a corner and go from there.

So have I, thought Peeta.

"I care more about her then I can even begin to explain," he went on, still clenching his teeth. "I'd give my whole life for her. I'd do anything to make her happy because that's all I care about – making her happy."

So do I, thought Peeta again.

"So just do what I say and back off," warned Gale with a venomous tone. "I'm not gonna let the girl I love get swept off her feet by some guy she hardly knows. Put yourself in my shoes, Peeta. You think that's fair to me? I've been crazy about her for years and I've always been asking for us to be together, yet she's said no every time. But I'm not giving up on her and there's no way I'm letting you get all over her. You really think it's fair that a guy who's been her best friend for years gets rejected but a guy she's just started talking to gets to win her heart? I know if you were me, you wouldn't think it was fair and I guarantee you'd feel the same. Sucks I'm the one getting treated like she barely knows me, but not much I can do about it. But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try and show her how much she means to me. I've been trying for years and guess what, Peeta? That's not gonna change now. Just because you're here and wanting to win her over doesn't mean I'm stepping down and letting you do that...because I'm not. So as long as you stay away from her, there'll be no trouble between us, got it?"

"Got it," was Peeta's response.

"Not bad. You listen well, Bread Boy." Without a word, he then turned and stalked off and though he wasn't even staring in Peeta's direction, Peeta could still feel the dark, haunting eyes inspecting his every move.

Sorry Gale, but there's no way I can just back off, thought Peeta, as he was watching Gale make his way out of the cafeteria. I've loved this girl for eleven years and maybe you don't know that but I'm not standing on the sidelines anymore. I might have been silent for eleven years, but that's in the past. I am going to keep talking to Katniss and work things out with her. If you want to put a hurt on me, fine. But she means enough to me that I'm willing to put up with whatever you can throw at me. Maybe Katniss won't want to see me anymore, and if that's the case, then I really can't stop you from going after her. But just know that as long as she's okay with talking to me and spending time with me, there's no way I'll stay away from her. I've been waiting for too long to bring her into my life to let you try and convince me I'm better off leaving her alone. I'll dowhatever it takes to work things out with her. If there's anyone in the world I'll never give up on – it's Katniss Everdeen.