My mother's gentle voice guides me out of my slumber.

"Katniss, hunny, wake up."

My eyes slowly open and the sunlight coming through the window burns them.

"Gale is here. He wants to see you".

That quickly brings me out of my drowsy state. Although, I'm a bit confused. Usually no body is awake when I get up, and the sun is never out.

"What time is it?"

"Just about noon," my mother replies.

I cannot believe I slept this late. I guess getting up before the sun rises in the Capitol caught up with me. I don't want to keep Gale waiting so I quickly braid my hair, brush my teeth, and change clothes. I trot down the stairs and leap into Gale's arms. I didn't think I was this excited to see him until I actually saw him standing there.

"Hey Catnip," he laughs.

I pull away from him and blurt out the question that's been on my mind since yesterday.

"Why have you been spending so much time with Madge Undersee?"

The look on his face changes from a happy smile, to a nervous smile almost instantly.

"Getting right to the point, huh?"

He rubs the back of his neck and looks down.

"Come on let's go for a walk," he suggests.

I stand there with my arms crossed until he says what I want to hear.

"I'll tell you all about it, now come on".

We leave the house and walk the streets of our District for a few minutes before he speaks.

"Look, when you were gone I brought her dad strawberries like we usually do. She kept meeting me at the door, and since I knew you two are friends I decided to be nice to her."

Gale, nice, who know?
"One day she invited me in, we talked and I guess I grew to like her. I've been going over to her house almost every day after work since."

This whole thing is a shock to me. I guess I never really saw Gale as the type to like a girl. I mean all the girls like him, but he's never been the type to actually spend time with one or even show interest. I guess I'm not really thinking about what I say, because what comes out of my mouth was intended to stay in my head.

"Have you kissed her yet?"

He only laughs. I guess he thought I was kidding, which is good because I'm not sure I want to know the answer. It's weird, my only two friends liking each other like that. We walk for a little longer. I tell him about my time in the Capitol, excluding the parts about Cato. He tells me how Noah and Louisa's families are taking their deaths. After about an hour, we end up back in front of my house and decide to wrap it up. We hug, and then he tells me that he will to stop by tomorrow. I can't help but think he is really saying, "I'll stop by tomorrow after I see Madge". I know it's only been one day, but I can't help but already feeling like second best. I make my way back into the house and the smell of dinner seeps into my nostrils.

"We made your favorite, lamb stew with dried plums, in honor of your being home."

I smile. My mother has come a long way since I won the Games. Before she would barely talk, now she cooks and actually seems to enjoy life. I hate thinking that all the money made her happy, but I'm pretty sure that's what did it. After all, this is how she grew up.

I know that dinner won't be ready for a while, so I find Prim and sit down with her.

"You seem different since you've been back,"

I knew she would be able to tell.

"Look, there's something I need to tell you but you have to promise to keep it a secret."

She nods anxiously with a huge smile on her face and scoots closer.

Her eyes widen as I tell her all about Cato and me. She gasps when I get to the part where I yell at him in public. She swoons when I tell her about the roof, and she almost cries when I tell her what he said to me before I left. With tears in her eyes, she crawls into my lap and hugs me tightly. We stay hugging for a long time, and eventually she muffles something into my hair.

"Don't give up on him. You two are perfect for each other."

I don't know how Prim does it, but she is always able to look on the bright side of things. She is already rooting for Cato after only hearing about him. Somehow she can tell that Cato is a good person just by me telling her our short story. I wish I were able to do that.

"Dinner's ready, girls".

I look to Prim before getting up,

"Remember, secret."

She nods and we sit down for dinner. Like usual, not much is said at the dinner table. Mostly it consists of Prim telling us about her time at school, and how she is helping mom with patients. We end up talking about my dresses for a bit, Prim loves everything Cinna designs.

"I wish he would makes something for me!"

"I bet he would if you asked him, little duck."

We talk awhile more, until mom shuffles her off to bed. We hug goodnight, and I clean up the kitchen. Since I'm not tired, due to the fact I slept all day, I decide to go see Haymitch.

It only takes about 50 steps to get from his house to mine. I knock on the door, and it squeaks open.

"Haymitch?" I yell stepping inside.

I hear a grunt from the kitchen, and make my way there. His house is so dirty, I am constantly stepping over things and holding my breathe because of the smell.

"What'dya want, sweetheart?"

"Just coming to make sure you're still alive."

"Unfortunately, I am."

It makes me so sad hearing that Haymitch thinks living is unfortunate. I bet if Effie were here, he'd be thinking differently. Since there really isn't much to talk about, I decide to try and clean a little. As I pick up empty liquor bottles off the ground and put dirty dishes in the sink, Haymitch just watches me. I almost have the floor completely cleared off before he speaks.

"Have you talked to District Two, yet?"

This catches me so off guard, I drop the bottle that was in my hand and it shatters on the ground.

"Touchy subject, huh?"

I ignore him and sweep up the mess. He is persistent, though.

"So, have you talked to him?"

"Can't you just leave it alone, Haymitch?"

"No! I can't!"

I've never heard him get this angry before.

"You were you happy when you were with him! One of us should be happy," he trails off.

I didn't think my happiness meant that much to him. Instead of arguing, I sit down at the table with him.

"No, I haven't heard from him."

He only groans, I guess the yelling took a lot out of him. He lays his head down on the table and begins to snore. Before leaving, I tell him my plan,

"Tomorrow, I'm calling Effie to help you clean up your house. I know you will say you hate it, but I know you will love it."

I know I said I would update sooner, I'm sorry! Okay, so I know you're probably getting bored with these non-Cato chapters, but stay with me! I promise things will get very good very soon! I love Prim so much, and I can't help but admire the character Collins built. She has such a big heart, and I really feel like this is how she would react. Haymitch's sober thoughts seeped out through his drunken state. He would never admit that he wants Katniss to be happy even if it means being with a Career when he is sober. Also, I know I'm putting a lot of Hayffie in here, just tell me if you want me to cut it out. Like always, I love you and review!