Heeelllooo everybody! Good weekend? Alright, well heres Chapter 9. I'm hope you're excited! Anyway as usual:

I am not the amazing Suzanne Collins; I do not own The Hunger Games, or any of its characters.

Gales POV

When I woke up this morning I did the usual, but today was different. Today we had a day off while Commander Shene works out the kinks in this little plan of his. He actually was ready to send us down to the minds and just expected it to go smoothly, but now he's taking safety precautions. Even though I still am not looking forward to going down there.

I think my squad was more excited about having the day off then I am. I would actually rather prepare for going down into those mines instead of going to Katniss' party and watch her be In love with Peeta; while completely ignoring the fact that she just kissed me yesterday.

"How do I look?" Kent acts walking into the room after he gets done changing. He's just wearing a long sleeved black shirt and jeans.

"Don't be such a girl," Mexin says, and Kent just rolls his eyes.

"It's just a small party. I don't understand why you're so excited," I say.

"Because we never get days off, and what's a better way to spend it then to go to the mockingjays party? Besides I've only seen Katniss Everdeen once." Levin says; Levin was from district 13. He grew up there and was in 13 when we were. Unfortunately he didn't get put on the same squad as Katniss and I.

I just roll my eyes and get up and simply say,

"Ready to go?" they all get up and just head for the door, well that must be a yes, I think to myself.

As we near the Victors Village (where they apparently stayed) I wonder which house they live in, well that is assuming they even live together. My guess is they do. I decide to check Peetas house first, because it's the only house with cars in the driveway. Before knocking I check the time to make sure we weren't early. 3:28 no were on time.

As I knock I really hope Katniss answers and not Peeta, I don't need this to be any more awkward then it needs to be. I already kissed his girlfriend.

And to my great relief Katniss answers,

"Hey Catnip," I say before pulling her into a hug.

"Hi Gale," she says before noticing my squad and pulling out of the hug.

"Is it ok if I brought some more company?" I ask, but she just simply says,

"Sure, we have a lot of food anyway." She says with a smile, and she doesn't mention anything about yesterday. In fact she doesn't even act like it happened. I excepted this to be way more awkward, but she's acting like we just hunted yesterday. Figures, but I still want to talk about it. She has to stop playing with my head.

"Well look who it is," Johanna says with a smirk on her face, "what, no hug for me?" I just say,

"Hey Johanna." And pull her into a hug, I also see Beetee and his son so i decide to wander over to say hi.

"Hello Beetee, how have you been?" I ask pleasantly, even though he helped designed all my weapons it seems Katniss forgave him.

"Oh well hello Gale, didn't expect to see you here. Anyway, this is my son P.T." He says gesturing to a tall, thin boy who looks about seven-teen. He pushes up his glasses and brushes his auburn hair out of his eyes before shaking my hand and saying,

"Pleasure meeting you," he says with a smile.

I talk with P.T. and Beetee before wandering over and talking to my family who just arrived. My mother seems pleased enough that I'm there and I end up listening to Posy talk about her new imaginary friend, Bailey, before I see Annie come down the stairs with her baby in her arms.

"Hi Annie," I say after I can finally get away from Posy talking about how Vick told her Bailey isn't real.

"Hello Gale, nice to see you. This is Finnick Jr."

"Well hello Finnick Jr. He's a beautiful baby Annie." She lights up at this. Obviously a proud mother, we talk about Finnick Jr. and how where're both doing, I even get to play with Finnick for a little bit. He seems to like me, but then again I've always been good with them. Growing up with three younger siblings and all.

Annie goes to help in the kitchen so I continue floating around saying hello, and such. I find Mexin, Biggins, and Levin talking to Johanna obviously trying to flirt with her, and she only laughs noticing it when I raise my eyebrows at her, and she just laughs and shrugs.

When I head outside I see Bradford, Creed, Kent, Swarm, Rory, and Vick outside, and by the looks of it Vick and Rory are in a tag team against Swarm and Kent. Brothers against brothers, and by the looks of it Kent and Swarm are winning.

I join in with Bradford and Creed and laugh at watching them fight. Swarm and Levin know how to fight, but their going extremely easy on Rory and Vick.

"Hey make sure you don't break anything," a voice says, and when I turn around I see Peeta.

Figures he had to be here around somewhere, because I haven't seen him all night. He just glares at me at first and all I say is "Hi Peeta." His expression softens and he simply says,

"Hello Gale, mind if we have a word?" Great, just great. This can't be good, I think to myself. Kent looks back for a second obviously surprised, but before he knows what hit him he gets tackled by Rory then Vick. "TAG IN! TAG IN!" he yells at Swarm, but Swarm drops to the ground laughing with Bradford and Creed, but then I remember Peeta so I go follow him upstairs to a room that must be their bedroom.

Did Katniss tell him about the kiss? What does he want from me? I can't help wondering what dough boy could possibly need or want from me.

"Are you still in love with Katniss?" He asks apparently getting straight to the point, and I answer a little too quickly,

"Yes," Why lie, there's no point in lying right now. Peeta just sighs and says,

"I knew you would say that. But she picked me, so don't try chasing after her just because she forgave you. I'm sorry, but I'm just trying to speak the cold truth and protect her."

"Protect her from what? From me? I would never hurt her," I say in my defense.

"You already hurt her, you killed her sister. Or do you not remember that?" Ouch, that hurt.

"Do you really believe I could do that on purpose Mellark?" I ask trying to keep my anger low; he just scoffs at this and says,

"Just don't try and make her love you, because it won't work."

"Are you trying to convince me of this, or yourself?" I ask and he glares before leaving.

I wasn't even going to try and pull anything. Even though I still love her, right now her friendship is enough.

Even though it kills me to think of her with Peeta.


Katniss, Johanna, and Annie really out did themselves on the food. Everything looks amazing, and I'm sure I told them that a thousand times already.

After everybody stuffs themselves to the point of Swarm being full (We call him the bottomless pit because he's always hungry) we all just sit in the living room and talk.

When Katniss goes to wash dishes by herself I take the opportunity to go talk to her about yesterday.

"I'm going to help Katniss with washing the dishes." I say getting up and earning a suspicious glare from Peeta.

When I walk into the kitchen Katniss doesn't even know I'm there until I pick up a towel and start drying dishes. She doesn't look at me, just smiles saying,

"You always could sneak up on me,"

"It's a talent, what can I say," I reply with a grin.

"Don't be so cocky," she replies, and I decide to get straight to the point after a moment of silence.

"Catnip, what happened yesterday?" I ask, and she just sighs,

"Can't we just forget about it? I shouldn't have done that, and I'm sorry that I did."

"You regret it?"

"Yes! I'm dating Peeta; you don't understand how guilty I feel."

"Then why did you kiss me?" I ask wanting to get to the big question here.

"Because Gale, you just said those things about…"

"About Prim?" I ask and she just nods and says,

"Yes…I'm wearing my braid today, or didn't you notice?"

"I noticed. Katniss…I still… what happened to your arm?" I ask noticing the edge of a bruise on the top of her arm and I push up the sleeve to see a huge bruise; i throw the drying rag to the floor before examining the other arm, and see the same bruise. It looks like someone was grabbing her arm to hard… Oh no.

"Did he do this to you?" I say barely loud enough for her to hear, but I'm afraid that if I talk any louder I'll start yelling.

"Gale…please… it was an accident. He had a hijacked moment and just held on to hard…" she says waving it off like it's no big deal. I didn't notice them before because she was wearing long sleeves…in the summer. I'm such an idiot, I think.

"I would never do this to you. Does this seem ok to you?" I say brushing my fingers lightly over the bruises and she winces so I pull back immediately.

"No it doesn't seem ok, but I love him, and he apologized and he won't do it again, because I won't let him." She says pulling her sleeves down, while she glares at me. I take her face in my hands and look her in the eyes before saying,

"Katniss, I would never do this to you." And I bend down and kiss her.

She doesn't resist, and in fact this kiss lasts longer than before, well that is until a voice interrupts us.

"What the hell is going on here?" We jump apart and look to see who it is. This is just my freaking luck, is just one thing I can think of when I see who just caught us.

Peeta.

I bet you're thinking "WHAT!" right now, or probably not…Yeah probably not, but I'm thinking you should make my day and review this chapter. Also, do you have a favorite on Gale's squad? I'm just curious, because if you do tell me in your review and I'll add them more in the story. Next chapter will be out soon! LOVE YOU ALL!