AN: Interestingly enough (to me) option two got the most votes. So here goes nothing and like I said there's going to be some filler chapters, that's both true and false (now that I've planned a little) there will be a lot of fillers in the area Katniss is involved in but not really with the area Gale is involved in. Hope I don't disappoint! 3
Friendship
Gale's POV
Prim, Miss Everdeen, Peeta's father, his two older brothers, his one younger and myself all stood at the train platform waiting. It was almost unbearable as we stood waiting just staring down the tracks for Katniss to appear.
"Remy," I heard Peeta's father say quietly as he approached her. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing alright Kain, how are you?" her voice was soft as well.
"I'm relieved that both of us have living children coming back to us. It's a miracle."
"Indeed," Miss Everdeen agreed smiling softly at him.
"So what have you been doing?" he said nervously.
I looked back at the two questioningly, was he flirting with her? I shook my head, probably not, after all his son was dating her daughter. I clenched my teeth hard thinking about his hands on her. She was supposed to be mine, I didn't even think I'd have to try, I figured one day we'd just end up together. Dumb little Peeta Mellark got in the way of that though.
The train finally came into view and Prim squealed with excitement. I took her into my arms so she wouldn't fall out onto the track or something.
Prim was vibrating in my arms from excitement. I chuckled at her smiling happily. The train pulled in and Prim jumped against the restraints of my arms. "Wait for her," I said stroking her hair gently. Prim whined and struggled against my grasp.
Soon the door opened and Katniss and Peeta emerged holding hands and looking around nervously. "Katniss!" Prim yelled and ran to her as I allowed the child to escape my grasp.
"Hey Catnip," I said after she had released Prim and I hugged her too.
I gave her an odd look as I thought I heard her whisper "wow."
"Anything surprising?" I asked her tilting her chin up. Her cheeks flared, I gave her a curious look as I dropped her chin and backed away so her mother could hug her.
"Hi mom," she said softly. Something was wrong with her. I knew Katniss better than I knew myself and this wasn't her. My mind started working hard trying to think about what might be causing this change in my friend. I shook my head, of course she would be different, the games changed people, Haymitch was a prime example. I breathed a little easier as I realized that was probably it and smiled as I walked back to her house with her and her family.
I found it odd that Peeta and Katniss didn't even say goodbye to each other. I mean of course they weren't really lovers, right? But still shouldn't they keep up the act?
Katniss continued to worry me as she wandered around the streets like she'd never been to District 12 before. She took a lot of wrong turns and didn't greet people that we'd grown up with. She didn't even say hi to Madge who gave her the beloved Mockingjay pin she wore. My head spun and I searched her person for the pin she kept with her. It was nowhere to be seen. Maybe my instincts weren't as off as I had thought.
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Katniss's POV
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I yawned as I woke up next to Peeta once again. I smiled and stroked his hair gently not wanting to wake him up. I sat up and quietly grabbed my bow and arrow exiting the house after peaking in on Rue too. She was cuddling the silk fabric that Cato had brought her that we had yet to turn into a stuffed toy for her. I pushed the wicker fabric door out of my way and went over to Cato's house. I would love to be going over to see Cato but today I had a different mindset.
I knocked on the door and Clove came to the door "oh I'll go get Cato," she said turning around.
"Actually I came here to see you," I said.
"What?" she looked at me clearly not amused.
"I thought that since Cato and I are friends and you and Peeta are friends we should try and be friends."
She looked at me kind of blank "please be joking."
I sighed "no I'm not joking, but I'm also not going to force you to go."
"I will," Cato said appearing at the door. "Here," he shoved her knife belt into her hand. "Go out with Katniss have fun, play in the river, have a naked pillow fight, just do something, make nice," he kissed her cheek and pushed her by her butt through the door.
Clove rolled her eyes and headed into the woods. I followed her nervously. "You're not going to use one of those on me right?"
She looked back at me and rolled her eyes "as tempting as that is Cato is found of you and he is my boyfriend so no I won't be killing you."
"So it's official then?" I asked jogging up to join her.
"What is?"
"You two dating," I smiled.
"Oh ya," she rolled her eyes like it was old news.
"How did he ask you out?" I pried.
She looked over at me with annoyed eyes "like any guy does, he said, will you go out with me?"
"That's it?" I felt disappointed.
"Well Peeta didn't even really ask you ever did he?" she raised an accusing eyebrow at me.
"Huh I guess he didn't," I frowned thinking.
"See at least Cato asked me," she turned her head up in distaste.
"I'm not out to get you," I whispered as we hiked up the mountain area towards the waterfall.
"What?" she looked at me like I was crazy.
"You always keep me at arms distance, you treat me like at any second I'm going to make a lunge for your throat. I'm not out to get you Clove, I think you're really talented and I admire you and I'd love the chance to be your friend."
She looked at me. It took her a while to answer "I don't trust well. I was better in the beginning because well I was scared and I knew Peeta, him I trust. You tried to kill us."
"It was the game Clove. You guys tried to kill me too I just got a better shot at you."
"That's true," she muttered. "Look I'm on a stupid hike with you take this 'friendship' thing one step at a time got it?"
"Got it," I smiled pulling myself up the steeper part of the mountain.
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Peeta's POV
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"Hey," Cato's voice called.
"Oh hey welcome home," I called.
"No I wasn't out with Katniss, her and Clove went out."
"What?" I asked rushing out of the bedroom still pulling a shirt on.
"Ya she won't kill her," Cato said walking over to our refrigerator. "You got any beer?"
"How would we have beer?" I looked at him oddly.
"I don't know when guys hang out they always drink beer. I just thought it would fit."
"No there is no beer," I gave him a weird look.
"Bummer, were did Rue go?"
"She went out with Thresh to the grain fields to that I can make bread again, we were really low."
"Well good to know there's going to be cheesy bread again," Cato drooled.
"You know there isn't much food left from the cornucopia the next batch of cheesy bread I make will probably be the last I can make."
Cato's eyes snapped up to me wide and in horror. "No more cheesy bread?"
I really wished I had a picture so I could show Katniss his face she'd never believe me. "Sorry cheese isn't really easily accessible out here."
Cato pouted and started to grumble plopping down onto the couch Thresh had made everyone. "What are we going to do when we run out of cornucopia food?"
I sat beside him trying to think "well we always have meat for you and Katniss hunting."
"Ya but what about I don't know vegetables and fruit and that kind of stuff?"
"I really don't know," I pulled a hand through my hair. "Maybe Katniss and Clove will be able to think of something when they get back."
"Perhaps," Cato looked around. "These houses are sad, there's nothing in them," he frowned.
"It's not like there's a furniture store just down the street," I replied.
"I know it's just depressing," Cato said. "I mean if we're stuck out here forever then we're gonna need to spruce these up a little."
"Well Clove said a while ago she thought she might have seen District 13?"
"Oh ya," Cato said thinking back. "I remember her saying that. You think things like pictures and furniture survived?"
"It's worth checking don't you think?"
"Ok let's go," Cato jumped up.