"What? Why?" I did my best to comfort him, but I don't think my sadness from seeing Peeta so sad helped him feel any better.
"We are all safe. No one can reach us here and no one here would do us any harm if we didn't feel what the Capitol thought we felt." Peeta said slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"I'm not sure I get it." I was pretty confused why exactly Peeta was so sad about this.
"Peacekeepers or the president can't hurt us or our loved ones here. If we don't keep up our false relationship anymore, no one is going to care. You-" Peeta's face was painted with disappointment and hurt. "You don't have to pretend to love me anymore."
The room tilted slightly underneath me. The star-crossed lovers theme had been our life rope. It is broke, we would die. Now we didn't have to pretend anything, and there was no chance anyone I loved would be hurt because of it. I did love Peeta, but I am stuck between Gale and Peeta. I love them both so much, but I can't have one without hurting the other.
"Err… Katniss? Are you okay? You look kind of green." Peeta didn't even look at my hand, which had slid off his cheek.
"I-I need a second," I said in a hoarse whisper. Without noticing it much, I slid off of the bed, walked out the door-
-And ran straight into Gale. His body was rigid and his eyes were wide. It was obvious he had heard everything Peeta had said. Stupid eavesdropper.
"Katniss…" He whispered in a tone that wasn't accusing or questioning, but wondering.
"Not now, Gale," I put my hand on his chest and lightly pushed him away. With only a curious glance back at me, Gale obliged to my wish and left me alone.
I sank down onto the floor and put my head in my hands. It wasn't relief or disappointment I was feeling, just confusion.
I don't know how long I was sitting there but I suspect it was about an hour.
"Katniss, we are going to breakfast. Are you coming, too?" My mother and Prim appeared in front of me, in their normal day clothes. I was still in my nightgown.
"No thank you, mother," My voice sounded shocked and hoarse. I should at least try for a more normal tone. "I'm not hungry."
Peeking quickly in my room, it appeared that Peeta had snuck past me. Without much care for what I put on, I dressed slowly, hoping to pass some time.
To my disappointment, dressing didn't take too long; only ten minutes. I slumped out of my room and dully counted the rooms on my right to myself.
"No clue… Someone… Prim… Mother… Someone else… Gale—"I stopped at Gale's door. It was thrown open, and Gale was leaning against the doorframe.
"Hello Katniss." His voice didn't sound formal, exactly, but it had an edge. Like he was pleased about something, trying to hide it, and had something sneaky up his sleeve. "I know you know that I heard what Peeta said. There is no point in hiding it. I know how you feel. There isn't really a point in hiding that either." A small bead of sweat appeared at Gale's temple. I wonder what is making him so nervous.
"Where is this going Gale?"
"Well, can you…um… join me in here real quick?" Gale's voice sounded no longer pleased, but still sneaky and nervous.
I shrugged. "Yeah. Okay." I followed Gale into his room and he shut the door behind us.