The Hob is already bustling when I walk in, despite it being so early. When is it not? People are setting up and vendors appreciate the fresh bread, and the hand to hold things up or carry things. We each chat for a while, things going on around and about, did you hear that so and so is pregnant? or that so and so—her husband is sick and her son can't pull so many extra shifts being so young. My heart aches and I make notes to see what arrangements I might be able to pull off. Though I'm told it would have been worse if we hadn't won, the extra tickets they would have had to put in to make it through.

I haven't been in the Hob much before. I would drop things off only on occasion so I find out what each of them trade and sell. I'd heard about Sae from Katniss before and her tasty soups which I let her know. I'm told to come back later once she has things properly on the go and get a sample and then some. I'll come back with coin then too and buy some things.

"What are you doing slumming down here?" Gale's voice sounds behind me breaking away from his co-workers on the way to mine to talk at me, "Didn't think this was your scene."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," I point out.

I have two loaves of bread left. I can perhaps take some to Haymitch—I doubt Gale wants anything from me even though his family would appreciate it. Perhaps it would be better to take to the Everdeens, Haymitch might still be pissed, plus odds are he drank himself to sleep and is nowhere near awake yet.

"I probably won't see you again before you leave so watch yourself on the tour, okay?"

"What?"

"On the tour, with Katniss, watch yourself-"

"You really don't know me, Gale, if you think-"

There's conflict on his face as he looks at me and I'm annoyed I can't read what it means.

"Besides," I tell him, "I'm more afraid of her than you."

That gets a laugh from him and my release from the conversation so I can go.