Author's Note: It's been so long! And I know there isn't anything that I can say to make up for the long wait, sooo I'm just going to start the chapter now and address comments at the end of the chapter. Just wanna say, it's good to be back. :)

Disclaimer: Do I even need these things anymore? Yeah…didn't think so.

"What's the capitol of Panem?"

"I don't know…what is it?"

"THE CAPITOL!

Crickets.

Chapter 6:

Gale

Now let's set some things straight with Gale.

Contrary to popular belief, Gale has never taken a girl to the slagheaps.

For those of you who don't know, the slagheaps is considered the optimal place for teenagers to practice the "Wham, Bam, Thank-you mam" type of interactions.

Anyways, he has never taken a girl to the slagheaps.

Now, women, on the other hand…

He took a bunch of those.

There was only one girl who held his heart, though.

"Here ya go, Madge!" Katniss handed the basket of strawberries over. Stare.

Madge. Her beautiful blonde hair, her luscious lips, her perfect body—oh, and her personality, too. He didn't like her only for her looks, you know!

"Thanks!" She took the basket. Stare.

"So how are you feeling about today?" Katniss asked. Stare.

"I'm pretty nervous! I only have my name in there once, but the guys…" (Translation: Peeta)

Stare.

"You'll be fine! Are you still into that girl from the bakery?" Strained smile. Stare.

"He's not a girl! He just has a very delicate face! And I'll have you know that I've checked for myself and—" Stare.

"Wait—what?"

"Um, nothing!" Nervous laugh. "I just meant that every other Tuesday morning is laundry day and sometimes he doesn't bother putting a shirt on, sooo…" Madge blushed.

"…Oh."

Gale growled to himself. What did Peeta have that he didn't? Heaven knows it wasn't looks. Now Gale wasn't the prideful sort, but he considered himself very built and essentially any girl's dream guy. And Peeta? Gale hadn't even known that the girl wasn't a girl until he walked into the guys bathroom at school two years ago!

Well, that, and the incident that shall not be named.

Ever.

All readers need to know is that it involved the slagheap and the realization that Peeta does indeed go both ways.

Gale shivered violently at the memory.

Madge looked over at Gale to ask him what was wrong, but then froze.

And why did she freeze?

Gale thought himself an expert at hiding his emotions, you see. Unfortunately for Gale, he is not. So instead of the admiring stare he thought that he was giving, it instead looked like a fierce glare that held the power of a thousand suns.

Mixed in with a little disgust from the turn his previous thoughts were taking.

Stare. Stare.

Katniss, wondering what made Madge stop talking (and hoping to get some tips), turned to look at Gale. And stared.

Stare. Stare. Stare.

Katniss, Madge, and Gale stood there for a good five minutes, just staring at each other.

Until Peeta came into view carrying a package of bread.

"Peeta" Madge whispered softly.

Suddenly she whipped out an invisible cloak, threw it over her head, and disappeared.

Katniss and Gale stared after her.

Her shoes were making imprints in the streets, so all they could see were boot marks magically appearing, following after Peeta.

"Katniss?" Gale gave her a look.

"No. Just no."

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End.

Happy New Year's! This year I'm going to try to get back into this! Tell me what you think! Review~