Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or its characters. All credit goes to Suzanne Collins.
Katniss's POV
"Peeta?" I say in disbelief.
His eyes are just as blue as I remember...
No, stop! He left you and broke your heart you idiot!
"Do you two know each other?" Finnick asks.
Before Peeta can say anything, I say," Yeah, we went to the same high school."
"Oh, so you two were friends?" Gale asks.
"No, we just had a couple of classes together, we never talked to each other much" I reply.
Peeta looks shocked but doesn't say a thing.
"Well this is perfect! Now you two can get to know each other and become friends!" Annie squeals.
"How about that Katniss?" Gale nudges my side." A guy friend for once."
"For once?" Finnick asks in amusement.
"This one only hangs out with a bunch of girls," Gale rolls his eyes jokingly." I thought she was secretly into women."
I glare at Gale and step on his foot.
"Agh! I was joking!" He yells in pain.
I turn to the hostess and say," We'd like to be seated please."
"I like her," I hear Finnick say.
...
Annie is talking up a storm about how Finnick and her met. Finnick and Gale listen to her intently while I try to pay attention but I can't seem to.
"Katniss..." Peeta says under his breath, clearly trying to get my attention.
I scowl and pretend I didn't heart him.
He lightly taps my shoe with his and I kick him hard in the shins.
"Agh!" He cries out in pain causing everyone to look at him. Hell, I even look at him .
"What's wrong?" Annie asks.
"Are you alright?" Gale asks.
"Yeah, I just... I... need another drink!" Peeta says and stands up.
He gives me a sad look before making his way to the bar.
"Hey, I need one too," Gale lifts up his empty glass." Catnip, can you do me a favor and get me a refill."
I glance at Peeta and see that he's at the bar already.
I take in a deep breath and nod.
"Scotch?" I ask Gale.
"You got it baby," He smiles.
...
"What can I get for you?" The bartender asks.
"Scotch please," I answer and awkwardly await Gale's drink.
Peeta is right beside me but I do my best to ignore him.
Just give him his damn drink so he can go away!
"Katniss..." Peeta says but I don't look at him.
"Katniss," He says in a desperate tone." Can we please talk?"
I pretend I don't hear him and tap my foot.
"Hey, Kat-" He places a hand on my arm but I snatch it away.
"Don't you dare touch me!" I hiss at him with tears in my eyes." How dare you come back after all these years and ask that I speak to you?!"
"Hey-" He begins with a sad look in his eye.
"No, don't!" I hiss.
"I just want to talk, please, I need to explain-" He pleads.
"Explain what?!" I raise my tone in anger and feel tears fall down my face." How you promised you'd be back after college and you weren't?! How you barely had time for us?! How you broke my fucking heart and you didn't care because you were hundreds of miles away?! Why did you have to come back?! Things were good before you got here! I finally got over you!"
"Katniss, I'm so sorry, I-" He places a hand on my arm.
"-don't touch me!" I yell and push him away.
"Hey!" Gale's voice is now prominent.
In an instant he's in front of me and towers over Peeta.
"What the hell is your problem?!" He yells at Peeta.
"Gale-" I begin and step beside him, trying to calm him down.
"No, stay out of it Katniss!" He yells at me then looks at Peeta. "I ignored the way you were looking at her man but this is too fucking far! The next time you lay a hand on my fiancé, I will beat the shit out of you!"
"Fiancé?" Peeta asks in a devastated tone.
"Yes, my fiancé!" Gale yells.
"Katniss, is this true?" Peeta asks me with all sorts of emotions on his face.
I blink away my tears and hesitantly nod.
He lets out a sad sigh and runs a hand through his hair.
"Congratulations," He says in a fake tone before he walks out the restaurant.
I can't help but feel the same emotions I felt when I broke up with Peeta a long time ago.
"Peeta!" Annie runs after him.
"I'll pay for dinner, don't worry, just go," Finnick says in a sad tone.
"Thanks you," I whisper and walk out the restaurant.
...
As Gale drives to the house in silence, I can't help but continue to fight my tears away.
"Who was he Katniss?" Gale asks.
I sniff and say," Just someone I used to go to-"
"-don't lie to me," He says." I'm not going to get mad, I just... I don't want there to be lies between us."
"I...Peeta and I...It was a long time ago, Gale... long story short, we dated in high school... and after we graduated he went off to college in new york and we broke up years after that," I say in a whisper, remembering how broken hearted I was after the break-up.
"That's all?" Gale asks.
"That's all," I agree.
"Good," He says.
...
After I'm showered and in my PJ's I lay on my side of the bed.
Moments later, Gale joins me and wraps his arms around me.
"I love you," He says in a sleepy tone.
"I love you too," I reply in a small voice.
He goes to sleep in an instant but I don't.
I just lay awake and silently cry.
I silently cry over another man.
Peeta.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! See you all next update!