Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! I do not own Mockingjay.

Ch. 12

The memory came just as Delly left. She said goodbye, carefully gave me a hug, picked up the painting, and the memory came flooding in.

Katniss sat outside in the rain; her head hung low, her body more sickly than anybody I had ever seen. She was starving. I remember feeling remorse for her and wanting to run out there and invite her in and keep her warm and our future could start right then and there. I remember thinking those things. I also remember not having the guts to do it.

I remember working out a plan in my head, so my mom wouldn't suspect a thing. I remember burning the bread, the slap across my face, the second of hesitation, and the sound the bread made as it hit the ground. I remember watching her run away, a new determination coming into her as she left.

But most of all, what stuck out the most, was the next day. I remember seeing her, feeling her stare boring into me. My friends were being obnoxious and calling for my attention and I knew they would follow my gaze if I looked over, so I just stared straight ahead. Then it was too much to handle, because she still stood there staring at me, waiting for me to be brave enough to just look at her.

When I finally did her eyes dropped and she bent down to pick up a dandelion. After that day I don't think I ever looked at her the same again. I think maybe, though I hate to admit it, I feel even more in love with her then.

"Can I speak to someone?" I call out into the emptiness knowing that someone will crackle over the speaker in a matter of seconds. I needed to talk to someone, anyone really.

"Of course, Peeta. You're doctor can come in a second, unless you want someone else?" I did want someone else; I just didn't quite know whom. I scramble in my head for a name, any name.

"Gale." Drops out of my mouth before I even think about it. The only memories I had of him were of me envying him, but I didn't need to anymore.

"Soldier Hawthorne will be here in a couple seconds." The voices crackles off and I'm left on my own as I wait for him to walk through. I wonder what he'll say. If he'll even come, after all I tried to kill his girlfriend. If that's what they were now.

It takes a while before I finally hear the knock on my door and he shuffles in reluctantly.

"What do you want?" He's mad at me even though I never said anything. And really I don't blame him, if we were fighting for the girl I was in the lead, before. But now, she was his, I don't see why he would still be mad at me.

"I wanted someone to talk to." I say. He looks confused after I say this. He has his hand on the doorknob, ready to leave as fast as he could.

"Now isn't a great time. We just got back for District Two." In the way he says this I know that something bad happened in Two, but I didn't really care about their war affairs. I did have some things I wanted to talk to him about.

"So." I say and wait for him to walk nearer towards me, but he doesn't.

"Things aren't great. And you won't make them any better." He begins to open the door and leave, but I don't want him to.

"Stop!" I call out, which grabs his attention. He turns around and walks to my bedside. He sits down, but I know he's ready to bolt when he can.

"What do you want? You won! Is that what you want? She's not mine, she's yours. Are you happy?" He looks really mad.

"I don't want her. You can have her. I wanted to say I was sorry. She never was mine to have and I don't want her at all any ways. She broke me." With that he's gone not another word. Something I said upset him and I realize the one person I should have talked to in the first place was Haymitch.

I ask them if he could come and they tell me that he'll be here soon. Sure enough he comes striding into my room, he looks much better than the last time I saw him.

"I want to paint again." It's the first thing I say to him, before he can even mutter a hello. I figured that if I asked the doctors they wouldn't let me, but if I asked Haymitch he would find a way.

"Okay." He answers as if he knew it was coming.

"Well, can I?" I ask waiting for him to answer.

"How do you feel about wedding cakes?" He asks.

Wow. Sorry this is such a short chapter. I really wanted to give one to you guys today, but I didn't have a bunch of inspiration. This probably isn't my best chapter, but how did you guys feel about the bit with Gale? Did you think it was unnecessary? Or did you like it?

Don't forget to REVIEW on the way out! Thanks! ~boywithbreadlover