Chapter 5

I'm so psyched that so many people are reading my story! I'm surprised, though, at the numbers of reviews (hint, hint). Seriously, please PM or review with ideas, because I'm stuck. ENJOY!

Knock, knock. I quickly dry my eyes and try to compose myself.

"Who is it?" I call.

"Peeta." a voice says sheepishly.

I answer suspiciously. "Are you going to try to murder me again?"

Peeta sighs. "No, and I'm really sorry."

"Well," I say sarcastically, "you only tried to kill me. It's all fine, attempting to kill a person is totally normal, so you're forgiven."

I open the door. "Have you tried to kill me before?"

"Yes." Peeta says ashamedly. "It's not like I want to hurt you. The Capitol- when it was evil- did something to my head that made me think you were a horrible person."

Suddenly, we hear the front door open, and see Gale coming up the stairs.

"Catnip!" he says, embracing me in an unwelcome hug.

I push him off. "Okay, there are some rules we need to set. Peeta, you're good, just be more open and don't try to kill me. Gale, stop forcing your love at me. You're always like 'I love you so much Katniss'. Just lay off!" With that, I storm downstairs.

Peeta comes downstairs. "I'm sorry I've been so weird. I'll answer any questions you have."

Gale trots after him. "Yeah, Catnip."

"Please stop calling me Catnip. I feel like a cat toy." I say.

A yellow cat with a mashed-up face comes and hisses at me. When did we get a cat?

"Maybe a better nickname would be Cat Repellent." I joke. "So did I know a little girl name Rue?"

I can see the shock register on Peeta's face; Gale is kind of indifferent.

Peeta speaks first. "During the Hunger Games, you were allies with Rue, but she was killed."

"With a spear through her stomach." I say.

Peeta nods.

"Oh," is all I can manage to say.

If Rue is real, does that mean that everyone else in my nightmares is, too? What horrible ways to die! Attacked by white creatures, mine accident, odd-looking dogs.

"How did we win the Games?" I ask Peeta.

"Only one person was supposed to win, but the announcer said that that year, two could win. So we allied, you saved my life by risking your own, and finally, it was just you, me, and Cato. He was attacked by our former tributes in dog form. Then, they announced that only one person could win. You offered me nightlock- a poisonous berry- and they let us both win." Peeta said tersely.

"Okay, I can see how that would be hard to tell." I say. Then I turn to Gale. "What did we like to do?"

Gale begins. "We loved to hunt together. You had the best aim, hitting every squirrel through the eye. We were partners since you were 12 and I was 14."

"I appreciate you both for telling me these things." I say. "I'm going to go talk to Haymitch now. Thanks!"

I leave to go speak with Haymitch, or so I think. I find him passed out in a pile of soiled clothes. I know he saved my life and all, but could he drink a little less. Or a lot less; I really don't care as long as he cuts down.

So instead, I decide to take a walk around the village. I pass a market, and an old, haggard woman comes out to talk to me.

"Hey Katniss!" she exclaims.

"Hey… you." I say.

"How have you been?" she asks.

Wait a second. I traded meat with this woman for years.

"Pretty good. Sorry about the meat. I haven't really been out and about much lately." I tell her.

She shrugs at me. "Goodbye, Katniss!

"Goodbye!" I call.

What I would give to really remember her. Obviously, I'm more than just a meat supplier to her. Maybe a niece, or I saved her life or something. It's really killing me!

I head back to the house, where Peeta and Gale are waiting.

Peeta looks surprised. "That was quick."

"Yeah, well, I couldn't talk to Haymitch. He was sleeping off a hangover. But I did meet this lady at the market. I sold meat to her. And I can't remember her name!" I say in frustration.

"Greasy Sae." Gale tells me.

"Why did we call her greasy? That's not very nice." I point out.

Gale snorts. "Since when have you cared about nice?"

A look of hurt shows on my face. Maybe I didn't used to be so sensitive?

"Let me just ask one question. It's burning in the back off my mind."

"Shoot." says Peeta.

"How did Prim die?" I ask.

Peeta is about to speak, but Gale shoots him a look. "Mellark, if you tell her, I will rip your head off."

"Tell me!" I whine.

Gale shakes his head no at me. Peeta mouths, "later".