A/N: Thank you to HappyBlossom, IwouldKillForaCheeseBun, Kari(I'm sorry, I really wanted to update yesterday, but everyone wanted something from me and the chapter wasn't done, so the short time I had I used to write, but didn't finish. But now it's done:D) and Percabeth4711 for reviewing.
The four of you really made my day.

Every time I see how many people out there are actually reading this, I'm so happy, I could squeal.
And when I get a review, I actually do, I squeal and am almost crying because I'm so happy.

So please, to make me SUPER happy, read, enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does.

Chapter 3:

"Ok, If you really want to pay me back that bad, then take me out into the woods!"

What ever I expected, I don't know. But not that. My jaw drops:
"What?"
He looks at me and repeats it slowly:
"I want to see the woods. I want to go outside the fence." And then he says something that surprises me.
"I want to feel free."

Of course that's what I think, too. When I'm out in the woods. It's the only time I can feel free. The only time I can smile a true, careless smile.
But Peeta has never been out there. He can't know how it feels. He can't think it's worth it. I mean, his life has always been better than mine.
He's never gone hungry, he's always gotten food on the table. Bread. Good bread, I might add.

So why would he want to risk his life? Because that's what he does if he goes behind the fence.
I have a reason. I have to feed my family. And the only way to do this is hunting. And since there isn't much to hunt in our district, I have to go into the woods. Have to slip under the fence.

Have to defeat the Capitol.

Because this it what we, Gale and I, do by going behind this fence. By leaving the district, even if only for a few hours. But Peeta doesn't have to.

"But why?", I ask.
"Why? I already answered this. Didn't you listen? I want to feel free.", he says again, giving me a strange look.
I shake my head. "No, that's not what I mean. I mean, why would you want to risk getting caught?"

He locks our eyes. "I…I feel trapped. I know you go out there, hunting. And I want to know what it feels like. I mean, I've never been in the woods. But I always wanted to. I wanted to see them. I want to know what it looks like when the light falls through the leaves and how it sounds when millions of them rustle. How the earth out there crumbles in my hands. And so many other questions would be answered. Is a lake out there? What do living animals look like? Is there a clearing or are there only trees?

But how am I supposed to know if I've never been out there? I want to…I don't know if you understand that, but I want to hold the beauty. I want to paint it. I want to show it to persons who can use some beauty in their lives. Do you understand?"

Wow. I've never thought like this. And certainly never spoken like this. I immediately look around, making sure no one heard him. Because what he said was a crime. But no one seems to have hear it. So, it's ok and we won't get arrested.

Though what he said was dangerous, I guess I can follow him. Not completely, of course. I understand why he would be curious. And I do understand the wish for freedom. But…beauty? I've never seen the forest as beautiful. Wonderful and to escape reality for a few hours, yes. But beauty?
I don't care about beauty, usually. But now that I think of it, the forest is beautiful. But still, to risk his life for beauty and curiosity? Isn't that a bit…crazy?

"A bit. But…still, your life's at risk. I don't know. Would it really be worth it?"
Even more important, do I want him out there? I barely know him. But then again, who would be hurt? No one. It's not like I own the forest anyway.

He shrugs. "I don't think we'd get caught. And even if, old Cray is far to keen on his turkey to arrest you. It'd would be like not…using one of this women for him. You know, the one that stand in line in front of his house every winter. He couldn't live without his turkey or his 'fun' for that matter." he shudders at the last words.

No one likes how he is treating the women of this district only because they have no money. How Peeta phrased it…that was a nice way to describe that Cray, the head peacekeeper, practically rapes the poorest women of the district.
The women that aren't like me. The ones who can't sell meat. The ones who have to sell their bodies for some money.

"So he won't arrest, let alone kill you. And since I'd only be out there with you, he won't kill me either." At the end he has a content look on his face.

I see how that makes sense. But still, I do have some doubts.
"What about your parents? Wouldn't your mother kill me? If she knew about me making you break the law?"
He is grinning now.
"What?"
"We could tell her you seduced me."
Now I don't have an answer. My mouth must hang open again. Does he really mean that?

"Oh Katniss, I was only joking. But seriously, you worry to much. We don't have to tell her. You don't even have to take me out there. But it's the only thing I want that you could give me. I mean, I can't ask you to stop the Hunger Games now, can I?"

Of course he was joking. Gale's like that, too sometimes. Teenage boys, I suppose.

But what really makes me prick up my ears is that I don't have to take him there. Yeah, that's how this conversation started.
I wanted, still do, to pay him back. And since this seems to be the only way to do so, he's right of course, I can't stop the Hunger Games, I decide then and there I will take him. I've never done that before. Well, I took Prim once or twice, but that was different. She's my sister.

"Peeta.", I say slowly. There's no going back now. I'm going to take him. I'm not going to feel this guilt forever. "I…I will. Take you into the woods, I mean. If you want it so badly."

My words have an immediate effect. His eyes lighten up and he beams at me.
Great. He's got the same expression Prim gets when she's happy. It's like I just told him Snow is dead and the Hunger Games have stopped forever.

But I only told him I would take him out into the woods. Something I do every day.

Nevertheless, I get this look. And something inside me wants him to always look like that.
So carefree, so happy, like nothing bad is going on. Like we live in a world without Hunger Games, without hunger, without a sickness worse than a fever. Without dying before you are at least eighty, without anything bad.

A smile like the one my father smiled.

"Thank you Katniss. So much! This is…you have no idea how happy I am."

He looks like he is about to hug me, but he doesn't. That's better, I guess. I'm not like Prim, I don't hug just any person. I'm not used to being touched by anyone but my family.

"But you have to wait a bit. I still have to hunt. Next week our Easter break will start. Then I'll have a bit more time."

His smile doesn't fade. "Of course. Believe it or not, I have to work. So Easter break sounds good. I think I can take a few days of then."

"You have to work?", I ask, stupidly. I should have figured it, but I didn't. Until now, it never occurred on me that town children have to work, too. But now that I think about it, it makes sense. I'm not at the bakery to often, but even I have seen Peeta or one of his brothers behind the counter. I just never thought about it.

"Yes, of course.", he answers. He doesn't say anything else, but I can see he thinks about something. Just as I'm about to ask him he says.
"It's getting late. And Prim is waiting. You should go now. I'll check my schedule for the break and tell you when I have time on Monday. So…till Monday?" He makes it sound like a question, but we both know he's going to talk to me then.

"Yeah, bye", I say and, because I don't know what else to do, wave him goodbye.
He smiles back.

Then I make my way to Prim, ignoring the curious glance of Peeta's brother. He can ask Peeta if he wants to know. Though I don't think Peeta will answer him.

"What happened?" Prim wants to know the second the door of the bakery closes. I roll my eyes. That's just so Prim. She doesn't even let me time to catch my breath.
"Nothing", I say. Well, that's not a lie. "I just wanted to thank him for letting you help."

Prim doesn't know about the bread incident and for some reason, I don't want her to. This moment five years ago is only Peeta and I's moment. No one else needs to know.

And with that she drops the topic and chatters about cakes and frosting the whole way home.

A/N: I could have left it with this, but because I found this so short and am sick anyway, so I can't do anything else. I decided to write more. So, that's the next day and Katniss will talk to Gale, because I can't not let him take part in the story. It wouldn't be interesting.

When I awake the next morning it's really early. Today is Sunday. I almost smile at the thought. Almost, because I never smile.
Today I'm seeing Gale again. Since he started working in the mines I only get to see him once a week.
I have to hunt alone during the week. So of course I was looking forward to today, finally hunting with my hunting partner again.

I dress in my hunting clothes, boots and jacket, put my hair in it's usual braid, take my bag and make my way outside.

The moment I do I feel the wind blowing. Not very strongly, but I can feel it. It's just a cold breeze.

As I slip under the fence I find myself smiling. It's early spring and I can not only see, but feel it. It's one of my favorite days. This time is the time of the year where it isn't cold anymore when I wear my hunting jacket. In the winter it's so cold with it. The jacket is made of leather, so it is windproof, but it's unlined.
In the summer, it's almost to warm to wear it. I often sweat in it. But that's not the only reason I like the early spring.

It's because now the snow has almost completely molten. And it's like President Snow's regime is melting a bit, too, now. Because right now we at least don't have to be reminded of the Games. Don't have to worry about them.

It's because the first flowers are blooming. And that reminds me of this day five years ago, when I picked the first dandelion in the spring.
And that makes me think of Peeta.

And suddenly, there's so much more I notice. I hear the birds are singing again. Once I'm fully hidden behind the trees I see the sun shine through the leaves and I hear the leaves rustling.
All those things he talked about yesterday.

My tensed muscles automatically relax and I walk faster. I feel the smile on my face.

Then my and Gale's meeting place, a nook in the rocks, comes into view. And, sure enough, Gale does, too.
He smiles. "Hey Catnip. Long time not seen, huh?"
I smile back. Gale is one of the only persons I smile at. I'm not a very trusting person. It took month for me to trust Gale. But he's my best friend now.

"Yep, seems so. How was the work at the mines?"
Gale makes a face. Like me, he doesn't like the mines. They killed both our fathers. We are very alike, in many points.
We both had to become the head of our families and to feed them since we were young. I was eleven, he was fourteen. By the time we met I was twelve.

We look very alike, too. Same black hair, same olive skin, same gray eyes. Seam look. He is handsome though. I know the girls at school talk about him a lot. But somehow, Gale is oblivious to them.

Not that I mind. Girls only distract him from working and hunting.
I don't know why he is like this, though. He told me he wanted to have children someday. And I may not be experienced with this kind of things, but even I know to have children, he needs a woman. A wife, most likely.

Somehow, I don't like the thought of Gale marrying. But it's not the kind of jealousy everyone would think if I told them, I don't think.
I just don't want to loose my hunting partner and best friend.

"Ah, it was awful. I'd rather not talk about it. How was your week? Did you miss me?", he teases.
"Ha, ha. My week was okay.", I tell him. "Nothing much happened."

He frowns slightly, as if he expected me to talk to him about something, or tell him something and lifts a brow.

"Really?", he asks.
Now I'm confused. I mean, this was a week like every other week, too. Besides the fact that I finally thanked Peeta for the bread and made a promise, but Gale doesn't have to know that. He, too, doesn't know about the bread thing and I don't want him to. Just like with Prim.
"Really.", I say.

He gives me a confused look. Confused and…angry?

"You sure? Because I heard this week wasn't like others for you?"

What? What is he referring to? He can't know about the bakery visit, can he? And even if, what would it matter? To him, I mean? Why would he care?

"What are you talking about? What did you hear? And who told you…whatever is the reason for this…interrogation?", I decide to ask him. I don't want to play this stupid game.

Now he gets angry. Why? What have I done? And why won't he tell me? I get angry, too.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!", he hisses. "I.."

He's about to continue when I interrupt him. I'm getting impatient.
"No. No I don't! Would I ask you if I did? Would you finally tell me? What is your problem?

"My problem?", he shouts. "Well, since you don't find it necessary to talk to me, I don't think I'm going to answer you!"

"What? What didn't I tell you? And even if, do I have to tell you everything? Do you tell me everything?", I am shouting now, too. I'm frustrated. How can one person be this stubborn?

"Yes, usually I do. At least you know my "friends" first hand. And don't get a complete shock when suddenly someone asks you what your best friend is doing in the bakery! For hours!", he hisses the last part again.

Okay, now I'm utterly confused. Who would ask Gale that? And why? To who would it matter?

And, that's what he's upset about? That I didn't tell him Prim and I are going there to help decorate the cake? Well, Prim, I was there to thank Peeta, but that's not important at this point.
But that's it?

"I didn't know I have to tell you everything I do. But fine, yes I was there with Prim. We helped to decorate the cake for the wedding today. Okay?"

His face seems to relax the slightest bit. "Nothing more? But why? I didn't know you can decorate?"

I can't. Not that I ever tried. But I decide to play along and pretend I was frosting. It's not really lying, is it?

"Yeah, Prim dragged me there", I explain.

"Since when does Prim know the baker's son?", Gale asks.

Oh, is it this important? Why does he care? And why does he call Peeta "the baker's son"?

"He's got a name, you know? Anyway, that's not important. I have no idea.", I realize this is true. Maybe they've met before. I mean, Prim does trust everyone and is nice to everyone, but she didn't say anything about not knowing Peeta. And now that I think of it, she didn't seem surprised when he commented her picture on Thursday.

"Why do you even care? I mean, it's not like I keep track of who you visit, do I? And by the way, who asked you that?"

Yeah, now I'm interested in his answers. And I am even more because he starts blushing. And Gale Hawthrone never blushes.

"Well…er…", he stutters.
"Well?", I press.

"Mellark's brother did. He asked me. I don't know. He said you had been in there with him while your sister had been waiting outside. And he wanted to know…what was going on between, the two of you. Well, I want to know, too." He says this all in a rush.

I don't fail to notice how he still doesn't use Peeta's name. But what really draws my attention is the "what's going on" thing. Why would anyone think so?

And then I notice: What else should Peeta's brother think? Most likely, he doesn't know about the bread, either. So, if I stay in there with Peeta for about…how long has it been? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? I don't know. What I know is that someone who doesn't know about the bread…could get the wrong idea.

But Gale does know me! He knows I don't want this kind of relationship with anyone. That I don't want children. So why should he think like that?

"What? Gale, you know perfectly fine I don't want a boyfriend! There's nothing going on of course! I only went there because Prim brought me there."

"But what were you doing while Prim was waiting outside?"

Of course he would ask that. But I can't tell him the truth. But again…is that really a lie?

"I…we were talking!". Great Katniss! Stutter! Now he's going to believe you!

"Aha, talking. For fifteen minutes? Come on Katniss, don't lie to me!"

Now I get angry again. Why does he think I can't be in a room with someone for fifteen minutes just talking?

"What do you think we've done, huh? Come on, we did talk. But…I don't want to tell you about what. Is that okay with you? I promise it wasn't about you!", I say as calm as possible.

I don't want to talk about this. It's none of his business and I'm tired of arguing with him. I just want to hunt.

But Gale doesn't drop it. "Since when do you have secrets with anyone?"

"Oh Gale, it's not important. I just don't want to tell you!"

"But why? You don't even know him! What could you talk about with him that you don't want to tell me, your best friend?"

I sigh. "It's complicated, okay? He helped me once and I wanted to thank him. Can we drop it now?"

Gale seems to notice that he won't get any more answers, so he nods, even if it seems a bit reluctant.

"Come on, let's hunt.", I say.

And with that I grab my bow and my quiver and start looking for animals. After a few minutes he follows me.
He gives me a strange look though. But he doesn't say anything about it. Not today, but I have a feeling this wasn't the last time we talked about it.

Nope, I don't think it was. Anyway, what do you think?
I hope Gale wasn't OOC, but I don't really think so.

By the way, tell me if you think anyone is OOC, because I don't want them to. I want this to be realistic.

Anything else…yes. I don't think you'll have to wait too long for the next chapter. I'm sick, so I have plenty of time to write.

And while you wait, you could…let me think…oh yeah!

Review! Please