For the next few weeks, Katniss still helped Peeta in the bakery most days, but once in a while she went out to the woods... sometimes to hunt, sometimes just to walk. She had to admit, it felt invigorating to get outdoors again. She still had not sought Gale out yet though. She wasn't sure if she was ready to see him just yet.

One morning that dawned sunny and hot, Peeta had told her to take the day off.

"Go walking, or go swimming or something!" he told her. "There's no sense in you being cooped up inside all day when its so warm outside. Go enjoy yourself!"

Swimming did sound like a good idea, she thought. She knew of a few nice little ponds and lakes out in the woods where she could be alone. She put on her swimsuit under her clothes and set off for the woods.

She ended up at a spring fed lake, not far from her hunting area. The water was clean and cold, and it would feel refreshing after the long walk in the hot weather.

She started easing her way into the water, which felt cold because of the spring that fed it. She was in about thigh deep, facing out towards the middle of the lake. She closed her eyes, put her face up to the sun, fingers skimming the surface of the water. She felt so free when she was out here, far away from the capitol, from the Hunger Games.

Suddenly, she felt herself get tackled from behind, as someone launched from the shoreline and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into the cold water.

She popped her head up out of the water and gasped sharply, in shock from the cold of the water and the surprise attack. She raised her fist to defend herself against her attacker.

But when she opened her eyes, there was Gale, sitting on his ass in the shallow water near her, laughing so hard he could hardly catch his breath.

"You should have seen your face, Katniss!" he laughed.

She slapped the water hard, sending a big splash into his face.

"God damn it, Gale, don't scare me like that!" she yelled at him.

"Sorry, sorry," he said. "I just couldn't resist!"

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Same thing you are. It's hot out, and I wanted to swim. I didn't know you'd be here."

"I ought to kick your ass for sneaking up on me!" she said.

"Oh really?" he teased. "Well first you'd have to catch me!" Gale said as he dove under the water and came up behind her and splashed her.

She couldn't help smiling. She dove under the water to catch him, but every time she got close, he would swim out of her reach. For a while, it felt just like old times, like this was her and Gale without complications. They swam and jumped around and splashed each other for a long time, horsing around like children. It made her realize how much she had missed her friend.

Then one time Katniss dove under the water, and when she popped her head up, Gale was right in front of her, so close that her nose nearly bumped into his chest.

"You caught me, Catnip." he said. Then he scooped her up under her bottom, so that her legs had nowhere to go but around his waist.

She didn't like that.

"Gale Hawthorne, you put me down right this min-"

Gale cut her off by quickly clamping his hand over her mouth.

"Shhh!" he whispered. "Do you hear that?"

He took his hand off of her mouth, set her down gently in the water, and they both stood there listening. They both quickly recognized the sound as the whirr of an approaching hovercraft.

"Peacekeepers!" they both whispered in unison.

Gale grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the water and into a thicket of shrubs where they crouched down together hiding. Gale was still holding her hand, and when he noticed that she was wearing a ring on her finger, he lifted her hand up to his face to look at it.

"What's that?" he asked.

She was quiet for a moment before she answered him.

"Engagement ring," she said softly. "Peeta proposed to me."

"I see." Gale said, turning her hand in the light, making the ruby sparkle with brilliant flashes of red and orange and pink. "It's pretty."

"Thanks," Katniss replied, not knowing what else to say.

There was a quiet pause between them. Gale was still holding her hand, looking at her ring.

"Does he make you happy, Katniss?" Gale asked.

"Yes, Gale. He really does." she answered.

Gale sighed. "Well then, I guess I will be your friend and be happy for you." he said gently, as he brought her hand to his lips and ever so lightly, kissed her knuckles, just above her ruby ring, then let go of her hand.

She could hear the note of sadness in his voice.

"Thank you, Gale. That means a lot to me. Really."

They sat there quietly for a minute, until the hovercraft went overhead and passed out of sight.

"Why do you think that hovercraft was here?" Gale asked.

Katniss knew right away.

"Reaping day is coming in a couple of weeks Gale. They are getting all the districts ready for the reaping."

"Oh." was all he could say about that. "Well, I think we are safe to come out now."

They stood up and walked out of the bushes.

"I probably should get going..." Katniss said.

Gale just nodded at her, not knowing what else to say.

"I miss you Gale. I hope we can hang out again sometime." she said softly.

"Yeah, me too. I'll see you at the reaping, huh?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, yes, I will be there." Katniss said bitterly. She quickly put her clothes back on over her swim suit and headed for home.