Johanna

It was disgusting. How could anything be so sickly sweet? Yet I smiled along, playing the part of the doting friend as Peeta repeatedly kissed Katniss. How I despise public displays of affection, but it was good to see them after all. Yes they bought back painful memories but they were my friends. Katniss had invited me to stay with her. She said Peeta could sleep in the bakery (she whispered "again" to me, meaning Peeta has been in the dog house more than once… or maybe he'd banish himself there if he turned… I didn't want to read into it.) I accepted. As much as I loved staying with Gale, the house was a little small and I didn't want to impose on these kind people. This was family time, and I wasn't family.

I glanced over at Gale occasionally, and it was clear he wasn't enjoying this. He was making no effort whatsoever to hide his contempt. I wanted to tell him off, tell him it was Posy's day and he shouldn't ruin it. I was about to get up and tell him so, when he abruptly got up and walked out. Silence fell over the room. Hazelle went to follow him, but I told her to sit back down. I grabbed my crutches and limped out after him, following him to the porch. "Gale! Wait up!" He sat down on the step.

"Go back inside Jo." He said, his voice monotone and heartless.

"I'm not going anywhere Gale." I made a point of saying his name.

"It's cold out here, and you're tired. Go inside Johanna." I dropped my crutches and sat next to him on the step. It was cold, but I wasn't going to go back inside without him.

"I thought you were over that."

"Me too… It's just strange Jo… I can't describe what I'm feeling." He looked at me, his eyes glassy.

"Let me guess… you thought you'd moved on, but there was always something inside of you clinging on, and now it's like that final rope has been cut. You're free… but it's a sad kind of free, a lonely kind of free" I looked away trying to hold back the tears that came with these words. The tears that came with the memories. The corner of his mouth twitched up.

"You hit the nail on the head there" He didn't notice me welling up thank goodness "- but you missed something out… there's a good part of it too…" And for once, I didn't recognise the look on his face. The look in his eyes, cheeky, a smirk, cocky, arrogant- I didn't know what it meant! And then he kissed me.

Warmth spread through me, though the kiss only lasted for seconds I could still feel the warmth radiating through me. I wanted to kiss him again. He smirked at me. "The good part is that I'm free. Free to feel how I want to feel, without feeling guilty." And with that he pulled me up on my feet and we walked back inside like nothing had ever happened.

I was awake now and I didn't feel like going back to sleep.