A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reading this, and especially for the review! It's nice to know someone likes the story! :) Btw, I haven't decided who Katniss will end up with, because I do see how both guys appeal to her in different ways. I hated how it ended in Mockingjay though, with Peeta losing his sweet idealism and Gale practically turning into a heartless killer. I know who I would personally pick, but let's see how Katniss feels as the story develops!

Chapter 3 - In the Woods

I woke up the next morning feeling a little better. I resolved to start dealing with problems one day at a time. Or in my case, one boy at a time. After breakfast with my family I ventured out into town. I went to the Hob, armed with countless coins, to buy from the vendors I used to trade with. I was very generous in my buys, giving them twice as much as they charged. I found out Greasy Sae had collected a sponsorship fund for Peeta and me, and I could not be more thankful. To think that these merchants gave up their hard earned money for us... it's infinitely more than I could ever expect. I went to each stall, buying whatever they sold.

"Hey Darius," I greeted one of our Peacekeepers. "How have you been?"

"Hey girl on fire, good to see you," he replied. "When did you get home?"

"Just yesterday. It feels good to be here, I really missed it."

"Really? Why?" Darius joked. "Who would miss this place when they're the star of the Capitol?"

"Believe me, it's not as great as you think. I honestly would not trade being back here for all the food in the Capitol."

"Wow, that's a loaded statement! Don't let them hear you say that."

I didn't know if Darius was joking or not, but I changed the subject. "So uhh.. have you seen Gale lately?"

Darius laughed. "You mean your cousin? Yeah I see him from time to time, trading his game here or out on the town with a girl or two."

I inhaled loudly. "A girl or two? What do you mean? Gale goes out with girls?"

"Sometimes... I don't know Katniss. Shouldn't matter to you though, should it? Aren't you with Peeta anyways?"

"Well I'm just curious is all. Gale didn't tell me about all the girls he's dating."

"Oh I don't know if he's dating them, I think he just needed company since you were gone so long."

I didn't know if he was telling the truth or the best way to respond so I just laughed and went on my way.

I really wanted to see Gale. He was the best friend I've ever had, the only person who truly knew me and whom I trusted completely. I had to see him and know how he felt. I walked the steps to his house when I realized it was Sunday, and if I knew Gale at all he wouldn't be home, but out in the woods trying to find prey. I started running. I was elated to be on my way to the woods, to my previous sanctuary, where I could always find peace for a few hours a day. In the woods I wasn't Katniss the starving teenager, I was Katniss the hunter, feared and respected by all woodland creatures.

I walked slowly, looking for Gale's snares. I thought I might have seen one up ahead when I heard an arrow fly by. It hit a squirrel right between the eyes about 30 feet to my right. I spotted Gale in the distance with a bow. I went to pick up the squirrel and walked over to Gale.

"Nice shot. Someone's been practicing," I said.

Gale shrugged. "I guess."

I wish I knew the perfect words to say that would erase the last couple months and this awkwardness between us. "Gale, I... I bet you can't hit that tree limb over there," was what came out instead.

Gale rolled his eyes but gave a little chuckle. "I bet your mother and Prim were overjoyed when you came back."

"Yeah, Prim wouldn't let go of my hand for hours! Oh and thank you for taking care of them while I was gone. I knew I didn't have to worry about them because they had you here."

"It was nothing. I had too much stuff anyway since I'm the best hunter ever," he said, joking to keep me from getting too serious in my gratitude. "Hey, congrats on winning the Games by the way."

"Thanks... everything is still so surreal."

"Tell your boyfriend congrats as well."

"He's not my boyfriend."

Gale raised an eyebrow. "That's not what it looked like on TV."

"Couldn't you tell I was just going along with it? I mean, of course I care about Peeta and wanted to keep him alive during the Games, but I don't have romantic feelings for him." Even as I said it I felt uneasy, like maybe I wasn't telling the whole truth. But I couldn't think about that right now. I just wanted my old Gale back. "I even told Peeta afterwards that I didn't have those kind of feelings for him." Ok, so that wasn't the complete truth either, Haymitch was the one who spilled the beans.

"Really? So you guys aren't together?"

"Of course not!"

Gale finally gave me one of his famous grins, the one that made all the girls at school blush. "Ok good, 'cause I just don't want to have to put up with the baker kid whenever we hang out."

I laughed, "Hey at least he'll keep us stuffed with bread."

"Good point. But anyways, tell me everything, about the Capitol, the Games, the other contestants - are Cato and Thresh as big as they looked on TV?"

I proceeded to fill him in as we walked around the woods. He listened as I described everything from the crazy fashions of the Capitol citizens to how horrified I felt as I watched Rue die. I had to stop a couple times as I got choked up, but I felt safe being near Gale. I knew we would eventually have the conversation about our relationship and how we felt about each other, but for now it felt amazing having my best friend back. I finally felt like I was home.