Chapter 7

Wednesday

Glimmer is in a really good mood after the tennis tournament. Much to my relief she ignores Peeta and I for the remainder of the afternoon. It's nice not having her bombard us with questions and I relax as I talk with other guests.

A lot of the talk among the younger guests is about the bachelor and bachelorette parties that take place this evening. This, being Glimmer, means it is of course themed. It is an excuse for her to dress up as a complete slut and get away with it. All the girls are going out dressed as playboy bunnies. Feminism i definitely taking a hit tonight. The boys don't have it much better and will probably look like a bunch of male strippers as they all dress up as cops and firemen.

Glimmer leaves a good 2 hours before we are due to leave in order to get ready. I hate to think how much time she wastes in front of a mirror. After Glimmer a steady stream of people leave to get ready. Peeta and I are some of the last ones to leave and we make our way back to our room contentedly. It is getting easier to be around him. I am definitely more affectionate around him and the small kisses are getting more frequent. I think people are definitely convinced we are a couple.

Once he closes the door behind us he stuffs his hands in his jeans pocket and looks at me a little nervously. I give him a confused look. What is he worrying about?

"I hope I didn't overstep the mark today with all the kisses. I know we said we'd limit the ones we do on the lips," he says chewing his bottom lip. He looks nervous.

I stop and think about this for a second. Yes there were a lot of kisses today but none of them were quite as deep as that one on the first night. Those are the types of kisses we are trying to avoid. I haven't minded any of the other kisses and today I accepted them all readily.

"Not at all. At least your breath doesn't stink," I joke.

Peeta pulls a small smile and then looks at the ground.

"We know they don't mean anything," I add.

Peeta looks back up at me with a strange look.

"Right," he states sadly.

A flash of disappointment crosses his face which only confuses me. What have I said that could disappoint him?

Whatever it is, he doesn't let it bother him for long and he plants a smile on his face.

"Come on. We need to get ready. I can't wait to see you in your bunny outfit," he says cheekily wriggling his eyebrows at me.

I groan. I hate fancy dress and Playboy bunny is at the bottom of my list of appropriate costumes. Every aspect of this wedding seems to be another form of torture.

"Don't say anything smart about it. I've seen your costume and it's not much better," I reply.

Peeta grins. He has chosen to go as a fireman but his costume does not include a shirt.

"If you've got it flaunt it!" Peeta declares as he tenses his arm muscles.

I shake my head at him, grab my costume from out my suitcase and head to the bathroom to get changed.

"You're just as bad as her!" I exclaim as I pass him on the way to the bathroom.

Peeta just grins again before searching through his bag for his own costume. I close the bathroom door and stare in disgust at my costume. I am most ashamed at the fact I actually owned one before this wedding. In junior year of college the archery club had had a bunny and hunter party. I dressed as a Playboy bunny while Gale dressed as Robin Hood. The aim was for the "hunters" to catch the "bunnies". Thankfully Gale caught me. It was one of those nights that could only have happened in college. Just any excuse for people to dress up and get drunk. You were seen as a bad sport if you didn't.

I pull off my jeans and t-shirt and slip on the black corset and matching hot pants. I had tried it on just before I came up for the wedding and was proud that it still fitted. Fitness is important to me and I have always enjoyed running and other sports. Whenever work is not too busy I find opportunities to get my endorphins flowing. And it has paid off now. My body, thankfully, hasn't changed much since I was 20.

I stare back at my reflection in the mirror. It has always baffled me why girls enjoy dressing up in this way. It is like wearing a big sign declaring that I am easy, take me home tonight! Madge and Prim say that it is just a bit of fun and I take it too seriously. I just wish fun didn't make me feel so uncomfortable.

I dab on a bit of makeup and then head back out to Peeta.

He has his back turned to me and he is only just pulling his fireman pants up as I enter. I catch a glimpse of his very pert behind.

"Oh god! I'm sorry! I thought you would be changed!" I apologise as I jump to turn to face the wall flushed. I can't believe I just walked in on him changing.

I hear Peeta chuckle behind me.

"You can turn round now. I'm semi decent," he replies.

Slowly I turn round to face him, my cheeks red and my eyes looking at the floor. Eventually I pull my head up and look him in the eye. He stands in front of me, the yellow pants now on and being held up by a pair of orange suspenders. He wears no shirt and has crossed his arms across his chest wearing an amused look on his face.

My eyes linger for longer than they probably should on his toned torso. I have seen his naked chest many times before. He has no problem wondering around our apartment in only a towel but this is the first time it has had any effect on me.

I take him all in; the defined abs and deep v that leads down into his pants. My eyes follow the trail of light blonde hairs that run down from his naval and past his waist band. I am suddenly curious to know what that trail leads to.

Peeta clears his throat and I snap back to look at his face embarrassed. My cheeks burn with the blush that has risen there. He looks back at me a little smugly but doesn't provide any comment at my blatant appraisal of his body.

"Well aren't we a pair," Peeta says while pulling on his fireman jacket. He doesn't wear a t-shirt so his defined abs are still on display. "There should be a law against people over 22 dressing like this."

This helps me forget my earlier embarrassment as I laugh at his comment.

"I can't decide if you look more like a male stripper or a member of The Village People," I tease.

"Well I do rock YMCA," Peeta replies with a grin. He then spots my Playboy ears lying on the dresser and goes to pick them up. He walks over to me and places them gently on top of my head. His hand drops to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear after her has straightened my ears out.

"I think you pull this look off better than I do though," he says softly his fingers lightly tracing my cheek.

The atmosphere has suddenly changed. No longer joking but more intense. I stare up at him momentarily locked onto the spot. His face is so close to mine and my heart begins to beat faster. The air in the room seems to get hotter and I find it more difficult to breathe. I can smell the musky scent of his cologne and instantly realise I have always associated this smell with him. He stares at me intently as if searching for something in my features. I can only stare back at him noticing that there are tiny specks of purple in his blue irises.

Suddenly he steps back breaking the tension in the room. He runs his hand down my arm to reach for my hand.

"Come on. I have fires to put out and kittens to rescue from trees!" Peeta jokes as he places his fireman hat on his head.

I've lost the ability to speak so I just nod my head as I let him lead me out the room.

As we make our way down I feel something vibrating at my side. Peeta immediately lets go of my hand and fumbles for the cell phone in his pocket. He reads the caller ID and grimaces.

"I have to take this. It's my mom. Probably phoning to check up on how you are doing. She definitely likes you more than me. Might as well answer while I am still sober," he explains.

I tell him that's fine and he goes off to somewhere more private. I carry on to the meeting place downstairs but I as turn the corner I bump in to Gale. He looks me up and down in my costume with a cheeky grin on his face. I cross my arms across my chest to try and shield myself from him.

"My time machine worked! It's junior year of college again!" he declares jokingly.

I let out a snort and relax a little at his comment.

"If I'm right in thinking you were Robin Hood back then and not a cop," I reply with a grin, flicking his replica police badge.

Gale has on the stereotypical cop outfit complete with hat and bludgeoning baton. His muscular body fills out the uniform well.

"Tights just don't do it for me anymore. But you on the other hand look hotter than you did back then," he states.

"Hardly," I blush looking down.

"You don't give yourself enough credit. Though I can't believe you still have this outfit. I thought you wanted to burn it after that night," he replies.

"Madge wouldn't let me. Said I'd never know when I might need it again. I suppose subconsciously I always knew Glimmer would make me wear this. This whole wedding is a bunch of clichés and this theme is the ultimate female night out cliché."

"Well someone has to do them for them to become clichés."

"So I suppose you didn't have a theme for your bachelor party?"

"Coal miners," he replies with a grin.

"What?" I snort surprised.

"What? I was going through a phase where I was fascinated by coal. Plus I really wanted to wear the hat," he explains.

I shake my head.

"Well at least it was original," I say.

Gale smiles and nods his head in agreement.

"Seems a lifetime ago," he says suddenly solemn.

I become confused in his sudden change of mood. He looks despondent as he looks down at his shoes, scuffing a spot on the carpet.

"It was only 3 years ago," I point out.

He raises his head as he answers me.

"I know. It's just… have you ever woken up one morning and thought how did I get here?" he asks me earnestly.

I shake my head. He takes a deep breath before proceeding.

"It just seems like one minute I was in college having fun and the next thing I know I am married with 2 kids on the way. It feels like I have missed out on the last 6 years of my life," he declares.

"But being married with kids are good things to have," I say trying to comfort him. I move closer and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"So everyone keeps telling me. But at times I think you have it right. I envy you being so free and unattached. You can do whatever you want. Nothing is holding you back. I'm stuck and I am scared that I won't be good enough for my family."

I don't tell him that being unattached is not as great as it seems. I have spent my single years immersed in my work. I have hardly been making the most of being young, free and single. I do understand it must be scary becoming a new parent. It's the fear of the unknown but I know Gale will be a good father. He practically raised his brother and sisters after his dad left.

"You'll be great. You've practically did the father thing with your younger siblings," I reassure him now rubbing circles on his back.

"That's the thing! I spent my whole youth being a parent. Going to college was suppose to allow me to be finally free but the first chance I got I tied myself down. There are so many things I want to do but I won't have the time to do anymore!" he exclaims.

He then pauses and looks down at me seriously, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Sometimes I think I made a mistake letting you go. We could have down all those things together. Seen the world," he says softly.

I am now made aware of how close we have got, our bodies almost touching and my arm wrapped around his shoulder. My head screams at me to move away but my body seems to have forgotten how to function. I just stand there motionless as he stares at me expectedly. Slowly his lips make their way down to mine and he presses them against me.

Instantly I am hit with the familiarity of his kisses; the peppermint taste of his tooth paste, the slightly chapped feeling of his lips. My lips must have muscle memory as they move to kiss him back in just the way I know he likes. He pulls me closer as he feels me respond and groans into the kiss as he tries to make it deeper. As he does Peeta's face pops up in my head.

The surprise of this thought is enough to pull me to my senses and I spring away from Gale putting a good few feet between us.

"We shouldn't have done that," I say ashamed. "It was wrong."

"No. Don't you see, maybe this is a sign," Gale answers as he takes a step towards me, reaching out for me.

I take another step back from him shaking my head. The kiss was all wrong. It felt wrong.

"You have a wife and twins on the way and I… oh god… I have Peeta," I stutter my hand flying to my mouth as I remember Peeta. Gale goes to speak again but I cut him off.

"We were over a long time ago. You're just scared about becoming a dad. Go back to your wife and leave me alone," I say determinedly before dashing off to get as far away from him as possible.

I have been so stupid. I shouldn't have got myself in that position. I may have never liked Leevy but I wouldn't wish what I have just done to her.

The kiss itself felt all wrong. It was not like when we were dating and I would get lost in his kisses. Our kisses back then were so fiery, both of us fighting for dominance. It was always hot and passionate but that kiss just then was nothing like that. I just went through the motions. It didn't stir anything up in me. It was robotic.

I am not looking where I am going and soon bump into a solid figure.

"Katniss, why are you going this way? Everyone is meeting downstairs," Peeta asks confused.

I look up at him relieved he is here before flinging my arms around his neck. Peeta immediately senses I am upset and wraps his arms around me to comfort me.

"What's wrong? Has something happened?" he asks concerned.

"I'm a horrible person," I admit.

"Why?"

I don't know how to tell him. For some reason I feel like I have betrayed him.

"Gale kissed me," I mumble into his jacket.

I feel his arms tense around me.

"He what?" Peeta asks angrily.

I look up at Peeta now and see the rage in his brilliant blue eyes.

"We were just talking and then he was saying all this stuff about how he feels trapped and he can't do all these things he wants to. He said he thought he made a mistake breaking up me," I say trying to prevent the tears that threaten to fall.

"And then he kissed you," Peeta says sternly.

I nod my head.

"And I kissed him back. I'm such a horrible person. Who's kisses someone else's husband?" I say.

Peeta grabs hold of my shoulders and looks me straight in the eye.

"Were you the one who stopped it?" he asks seriously. I nod. He blows a sigh of relief before proceeding. "Then you have nothing to be ashamed of. Gale is the bad guy. He is the one that kissed someone other than his wife. He is the one that took advantage of your lingering feelings for him."

I turn over what Peeta has just said. It is now I realise that he is wrong, I don't have any lingering feelings for Gale anymore. I am just not attracted to him. The kiss proved he doesn't have the same effect on me as he did back in college. This realisation is freeing and I can feel the fog that had surrounded me ever since college being lifted off. I have spent too many years exhausting myself in my attempts to forget about him. Now I am finally free to live my life how I want to.

I look up at the kind man who has always looked out for me. I nod my head at him and burrow myself back against his chest. I let myself relax into his embrace as he rubs soothing circles on my back. Here I feel content.

I don't know how long we stand there but eventually I pry myself off him and recompose myself for the people waiting downstairs. I lace my fingers with Peeta's, let him know I am fine now and we make our way downstairs.

Everyone is waiting in the entrance way, an array of bunny ears, fireman hats and police batons. Glimmer stands by Cato, twirling her hair as he squeaks her bunny tail. I spy Gale across the room talking to some of his work buddies. Leevy can't come out tonight because she is pregnant. He stares at me as I enter but I avoid his gaze. Peeta gives Gale an angry glare as we walk past and go over to Madge and Thom. Madge smiles at me when we arrive.

"I am so jealous that you can still fit in that thing! And I see what you eat!" Madge declares.

Thom wraps his arm around her waist.

"You look just as smoking hot, babe," Thom tells her placing a kiss on her temple.

"Just as?" Madge questions.

"Well… I mean… Katniss looks good… and you… ah…look good too," Thom bumbles trying to dig himself out a hole.

Peeta and I both laugh and Madge gives Thom a playful nudge.

"Compliments are not your strong point," Madge grins before placing a small kiss on his lips.

Thom relaxes and deepens the kiss a little. Peeta and I watch on contentedly standing in each other's arms.

Soon the larger hummer limo Glimmer has ordered arrives and the girls get ready to depart. Many of the girls say goodbye to their boyfriends and husbands before they leave. Gale is still looking over at me and I can tell it bothers Peeta.

Peeta stops me from following Madge and pulls my lips up for a deep kiss. This kiss is more like the one at the cocktail reception and not the small ones we have been sharing ever since. All my nerves begin to tingle as Peeta tangles his tongue with mine. I pull him closer desperate to feel the heat that seems to be radiating off him.

Peeta is the one to break the kiss and he rests his forehead against mine.

"Remember that when the strippers are gyrating all around you," he says huskily.

I nod my head as I inhale his musky scent. He lets go of me and walks me to the door. I see him give Gale another angry stare as we leave.

A/N: I hope you don't all hate me too much for Katniss's kiss with Gale. I felt it was important for her to move on. With Gale out the way there will be more time dedicated to Peeta.

This marks the half way stage of the story. The next chapter will be the rest of bachelorette party, but there will still be room for some Katniss and Peeta moments.

Thanks again for everyone who continues to enjoy and support this story. It really means a lot. I hope the rest of the story meets your expectations.