The next chapter has arrived! Made this one a bit longer even though it probably doesn't look like it, it is... anyway hope you like it :)

Katniss POV

Walking home was even more horrible than walking through the school hallway with Peeta's arm wrapped around me. People have started whispering again. Probably about him sweeping me off my feet and kissing me in front of everyone. Great prepare for more rumours Katniss. I wish Gale was here to scare their stares off, but I doubt he will even talk to me again after what happened. He would probably blame me for the rumour starting. If it wasn't for me becoming friends with Peeta none of this would have happened, but I don't regret my friendship with him.

"Where's Gale?" says Prim giving me a confused look.

"He couldn't walk with us today."

"Why not? He always walks with us."

"Well, I don't think he ever will again."

"Why?"

"Nothing, just something bad happened at school between us. Don't worry about it."

"Well I'm going to worry about it now. What happened?"

"Oh just some kids made up a rumour in school about me and him, and it's not true so he went home during school. That's why he's not here."

"Oh… what was the rumour about?"

"Um that Gale cheated on Madge with me, by kissing me in the school shed." I say not wanting to bring up the rumour about having sex with Gale in the woods.

"Oh no, well did you tell Madge it wasn't true?"

"I did but she didn't believe me so now I have no friends."

"What about Peeta?"

"How did you know his name?"

"Everyone knows who Peeta is." my heart drops. Does she know about Peeta's past? I hope she didn't see me the other week kissing Peeta outside my house, and told my mother about him but I'm sure my mother would have confronted me by now.

"What do you know about him?"

"Well, I know that he really likes girls and that he is always getting caught kissing girls, that's what all my friends tell me."

"Oh, ok well he used the do that, but he is different now."

"Why because you are kissing him and you don't let him kiss anyone else?"

"Uh… no, I'm not kissing him why would you say that?"

"Because I saw you kiss him out the window when I went home."

"What! Did mom see?"

"No, she didn't see and don't worry I didn't tell her. It can be our sister secret."

"Alright our sister secret, do you pinkie swear?" I say holding out my pinkie finger to her.

"Pinkie swear." she says linking her pinkie finger with mine.

When we get home, I help out Prim with her homework and I put on my hunting attire so I'm ready to go hunting after I talk to Gale. I tell my mother that I'm going to the woods and will be back before dinner and head out the door towards Gale's house. Gale's mother Hazelle answers when I knock on the door.

"Oh hey Katniss, what brings you here?" she says with little Posy in her arms, she must have her hands full at the moment.

"Oh, I was wondering if Gale was home?"

"No, he's not at the moment. I think he went into the woods to setup some snares."

"Oh alright, I was just about to head out there myself so I'll go and see him there."

"You guys, be safe ok?"

"Don't worry Hazelle we always are." I say giving her and Posy a hug to reassure her. She knows we are always careful, but she likes to remind us every time we head out into the woods. I don't blame her, it can be dangerous.

I set off toward the woods, going under the fence and walking along my usual path towards my bow and arrows. Just as I'm about to give up on my search for Gale I see him in the distance. I walk over to him setting up one of his snares and I know he can see me, but he continues to ignore me.

"Gale?"

"What?"

"Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm not alright." he says standing up.

"Hey don't get angry with me. I'm not the one to be blamed."

"No, but I am blaming your boyfriend. You know if it wasn't for him coming into your life, this wouldn't have happened."

"He is not my boyfriend."

"Well then what is he? I knew he was bad news from the day he started talking to you, and now look what he's done, he's messed up my love life." he says walking past me to gather his things on the grass patch. Possibly to leave so he doesn't have to continue talking to me.

"It's none of your business and you shouldn't be blaming him. He wasn't the one who started the rumour. Why are you so angry all of a sudden?"

"Why do you think I'm angry? I just lost the girl I've been in love with forever. We only just started dating for god's sake." He says and sits down next to his things and puts his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry Gale; I know you will get her back. I know you will." I say sitting down next to him and giving him a hug.

"How can you be sure of that?"

"Well I can't be sur-"

"I know I'll never get her back now, after what she said to me." he says holding his head up and looking out into the woods.

"What did she say to you?"

"Well right after she found out about the rumour, she asked me if it was true. Of course I said no and I said it to her hundreds of times but she just wouldn't believe me. She just kept yelling at me how I was a cheater and I wouldn't blame her for doing it if it was true. She just wouldn't let me get a word in so I just walked off and came straight here and I've just been thinking to myself and setting up snares this whole time."

"Oh I'm so sorry this happened to you Gale, you two were so cute together. Maybe she didn't want you to have a word in because if it was true she didn't want to hear about it. Oh and she told me that Silver Overwill saw us kissing in the school shed just after you and her started dating. So she believed her because she had evidence with her own eyes, but it wasn't true."

"I have to prove to her it never happened. It's the only way to get her back, but how? Maybe I should ask Silver why she made that up." he says standing up and pacing in front of me.

"I'll try and find out who made the rumour up."

"Ok I'm not trying to be rude, but I think we should keep our distance from each other for a while. That might make things better between Madge and I, so she doesn't see us together to suspect we could be doing things."

"I agree. I'll help with anything you need to get her back Gale, trust me. I promise you two will get back together." I say standing up beside him.

"Thanks Katniss, I really appreciate it." he says giving me a hug and he gets back to setting up his snares while I set off into the woods to hunt some game.

Gale does not deserve this. Why does he have to get hurt because of me? Even though I'm not the one to blame I still blame myself a tiny bit for having a role in this rumour. The more I think about them, the more I feel that these rumours may have a purpose behind them. Like the person who is making these things up about me wants me to have no one around me so I'm friendless. Like the first rumour making me keep my distance from Peeta so no more rumours come up about us again, was that what they were aiming for? Then the second rumour making my friends like Madge not want to be friends with me anymore because she thinks I slept with her boyfriend, and Gale wanting to stay away from me so Madge doesn't suspect we are doing things. Well I'm one step in front of them, if they think they can ruin me with these rumours. I'll show them that two can play at this game.

The next day at school I find out that Peeta is away today, possibly helping out his parents at the bakery. So that makes me friendless for the day and I have to sit by myself at lunch. During lunch people are still whispering and looking at me like they were yesterday after school, making me feel even more uncomfortable that no one is here to support me. I guess I'll just have to live with it. Just as I am about to get up from my table to get to my next class early, Orchid Whishart, Peeta's old whore, sits on the opposite side of the table from me.

"Hey… Kat-niss, is it?"

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Oh I just wanted to know how our new school slut was doing over here all by herself, and how yours and Peeta's relationship is going."

"I'm fine and we aren't in a relationship. There's nothing between us, but I was just about to leave sorry no time for a conversation." I say getting up from my seat and Orchid walks around the table and stands in front of me.

"Well I want to talk to you just for a second, ok?" she says in her stupid, fake sweet voice.

"Sure." I say crossing my arms.

"I wanted to tell you to stay away from my man. Peeta is mine." She says putting her hands on her hips.

"What! You can't be serious. Peeta isn't even mine."

"Everyone saw what he did to you yesterday. Picking you up and then kissing you in front of everyone. So before you two do anymore of the sick romantic stuff in this school, Think again because he is mine. You will not take him away from me so stay out of my way, ok?" she says through her teeth.

"Look, I don't want any problems between us but I'm not staying away from him." I say creating a shocked look on her face as I walk away and before she can say anything in her defence.

What did you think? Do you think Orchid has something to do with the rumour? Look out for the next chapter which will be up in 3-4 days :)