Chapter 3-

I didn't know what to make of this. So much was going on. Was this supposed to be a threat? Will Gale somehow try to get rid of Peeta? One thing that I still didn't understand was how Gale got the Peacekeepers to obey him. Things were changing. Fast.

The cool breeze relaxed, ending it's trip through the district. I was walking home. Scratch that. Walking was and understatement. I trudged through the hustle and bustle of the plaza. I didn't pay any recognition to the look on my face, but by the way others stared at me, I could comprehend that it wasn't the usual smug I showed. I didn't care. I never really cared what others thought of me. My mind was too caught up in the mess I made of my life that caring about my image was as far away as I could push it.

Warm.

Submerged in the depths of my mind, I was oblivious. Oblivious to the crowd around me. Oblivious to the pervert that put there greasy arms around my waist. Oblivious to my actions; hitting the hand, shoving it off, and backing away. And oblivious to the fact that the "perv" was Peeta. Sudden guilt shadowed the rest of my thoughts.

"Oh, Peeta. Sorry. I thought you were-"

"Never mind. Are you alright?" He always seemed to care for me. Sometimes a little too much. Sometimes it seemed as though all he did in life was sit around examining me and thinking of me.

And as I think about it, isn't that what we're supposed to do? I mean, we are so in love.

"Nothing. Well, something. Just nothing for you to understand."

"Come on Katniss." I was relieved to hear that he used my real name. "Tell me something for once."

I sighed. "Fine."

I told him all that I could; informing him on the what had happened between Gale and I. I purposely left out many details that tortured my thoughts by day and poisoned my dreams by night. He followed me to my house, arm now securely around my waist. The breeze still bare.

We reached my front porch and he stopped me. I was still trying to explain the situation and he cut me off mid-sentence.

"Wait. He kissed you?" His sudden interest in Gale's kiss scared me. Was he getting jealous? Probably. That's the way boys acted. And knowing that frightened me even more.

"Yeah, but it was nothing," I tried stalling. I wanted him to know that it really honestly didn't mean a thing. Just a simple...goodbye kiss from my past best friend.

Past. I was already thinking of Gale as my past. Not my present or even my future. Had I already given up on him that quickly? Was this a smart thing to think? Or something to add to the trouble? My mind was running wild, unable to be tamed or controlled.

"Katniss, it's never nothing when a guy kisses a girl. Well, in some cases it might, but when it comes to Gale, it's never nothing."

He was right. Gale was too chaste and savored romance when he needed to. He wasn't one to manipulate a girl into love. Or use a girl for selfish cravings. He had strong morals.

Peeta turned away from me, heading down front yard without saying another word.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To show Gale his place." This wasn't like Peeta. Violence was the last I expected from him. Though, earlier he wasn't himself either. Something was up. Something was wrong. And what exactly did he plan on doing to Gale?

"Peeta, no!" I yelled after him, but just I did so, the breeze picked up. My scream was pushed away from existence by the wind itself, never reaching Peeta's ears. He continued down my lawn, down the street, and through the plaza. My view of him was gone. He was gone.

I stood on my porch, mouth ajar. The breeze stopped once Peeta was nothing in sight, as though it's main purpose was to push Peeta towards the trouble. As though it was aiming to muffle my voice.

I went inside, hoping to calm my nerves. Relax, I told myself. He's not going to do anything stupid. I knew right when I thought it that it was anything but the truth. It wasn't false enough to be a lie. But experiencing the changes Peeta seemed to being undergoing, he might do something we will all regret.

I sat on the sofa in our living room. It's burgundy color inviting. I stared at the bland fireplace for what seemed like hours, but, like many times before, time was proven to be a sly existence.

After a while I couldn't take it anymore. The silence, the anticipation, the anxiety. I couldn't just sit here waiting for what's bound to come. I needed to stop it. That feeling inside me egging me on to be the hero once more. The heroine. This feeling never left. And I had a bad feeling that it never will leave. I was sworn to play the one to save everyone.

I stood. The place I sat in the couch left a lumpy indention. My mind was set on finding Gale and Peeta. I walked across the living area and out the front door. Once I stepped in the breeze less outdoors, something, or someone, struck my body. It was Prim.

Her fragile body was shaking. She was panting, visibly unable to conjure enough oxygen. When she slammed into me, she let out a yelp and a sniffle. Her heard was just at the height of my hips. I petted her head, attempting to comfort her.

"Prim, what's the matter?" I chocked out. My voice was shaky and unsure. It always effected me to see Prim in such a state of shock, of horror.

She let out a few huffs and puffs. She was obviously still incapable of getting her words clear. I gave her time. After about five minutes, she was able to pull together her words.

"Okay, Prim, tell me what's the matter."

"Gale and Peeta...mine...," -pant- "Boom...fight," -pant- .

The message was still unclear. Though from what I understood, what she was trying to say sounded anything but good.

"Prim, honey, tell me again. Try to be more clear," I encouraged.

"Gale and Peeta were in the Mine and then it went BOOM! and then no one knows what happened but people are saying that there was a fight and-"

I took off, leaving Prim's words hanging in the air, just like Peeta did me. I ran with all force towards the Mine. I fooled myself. Peeta did do something stupid. Even though I there was a hint in my mind that he would do so, I still had a bit of hope he wouldn't. Hope that didn't seem like hope. It was something else. It was love.

People in the plaza were going a muck. Women tried to get their children safe. Men eager to help. Store owners closing off their products. Signs that something tragic happened.

I followed the crowd of anxious men. I quickly reached the Mine, outrunning many of the helpers. There were bits and pieces of could and rock all about. A roaring fire blazed over the entrance of the Mine. Men here and there attempting to put it out with small water hoses. The place had definitely exploded.

My heart picked up its pace. I found it hard to breath. There was soot falling from above. The sky was a dismal gray. There was no sign of the sun.

I didn't know what to do to be honest. I stood there like an idiot, looking around to any sign of Peeta or Gale or both. But my search failed. There came nothing familiar.

There were Peacekeepers all around, which surprisingly didn't bother me. All that mattered at the moment was finding my two guys.

Mine. They were mine. They belonged to me. And no one was going to take them away. Not even God. Especially him.

About two minutes passes, still left with no luck. My heart sank. I had the sudden feeling wash over me that the two people that caused everything to go wrong in my life, yet caused everything to go right, might be gone. Forever.

Someone called my name. It was Peeta's father. I walked over. We embraced.

"Peeta?" His face was solemn. He gestured his hand to reveal Peeta sitting on the edge of a rusted ambulance trunk. Arm rested in a sling. Bandaged. I was relieved. Tears swelled. But I was still empty.

"Gale?" Peeta looked away. Mr. Mellark looked over my should. I followed his gaze to find two Peacekeepers pushing a gurney holding a body covered in what seemed like a black trash bag.

Gale.