Author's Note: Lovin' the reviews people! Ariana is in virgin territory right now, remember like Gale said in an earlier chapter…she never had a boyfriend so the whole relationship thing is new to her. Yes Buck is an ass, but then again there is method behind my madness remember that ;)

Thanks go to my three reviewers: E-W-Dragon, HL and Pandora (who went under a different alias last time)

Chapter 24

Protection

He's quiet, so I start to talk but he interrupts before I can get a word edgewise.

"Buck had a thing for you, but he's a lot like his mother" he starts, "he has an uncanny way to put his foot in his mouth. I hope you don't judge him on this"

"You know I won't" I say softly, "I just-"

"You did nothing wrong Ariana" Harry says warningly, "before Gale left I had had some words with him"

I look at him quizzically, he chuckles.

"I always wanted a daughter, and you are as close as I will get" he stalls as I do, "don't worry I made sure his intentions were honorable"

I blush.

"Buck, well he should know you probably see him more like a brother than a romantic interest, not to mention he was using you to get back at my wife" he looks at me as I nod, "he understands now, but don't be surprised if he's a little cool to you for a bit alright?"

"I never meant to hurt him" I say sadly, "honest Mr. Mellark"

"I believe you" he reassures, "Ariana he's crushed on you since you first mentioned him in your letters to Peeta, but he should have realized it was infatuation he felt. Now about Gale"

I blush deeper and he chuckles, "same reaction he had when I talked to him, he cares about you darlin' just maybe keep him clear of Buck okay?"

"Why do they hate each other?" I ask

"Seam people work hard their whole life, with little to show. Merchants usually see them as dirty and poor, which they are literally, covered in coal dust from the mines and very small wages, but no other way. It's not their fault, Peeta doesn't see them that way, neither do you, Rye or I…but Buck and my wife…"

"Buck hates Gale, and Gale has done nothing to deserve it" I reply kicking a stone

"I know" Harry replies.

I'm quiet and Harry realizes it's because I'm crying softly. I can't help it, it's bullying all over again and it's not fair, and I can't fix it and it hurts to know this. We stop just outside the village and he wraps me in his arms, protectively.

"He shouldn't have hurt you, I told him as much, and he won't hurt you again" he shushes me and rocks a bit on the balls of his feet. I'm eighteen, I shouldn't want this coddling but I need it right now.

I need a father to protect me.

"Ariana?" I hear and Haymitch is on his porch and he sees Harry holding me.

"Mitch" Harry walks me over as I wipe my eyes.

"What happened?" Haymitch asks, I go up the steps to the porch, he sees I am cradling my wrist; Buck was strong despite my previous guess of no damage I do think he might have done some.

"Buck got a little hot under the collar" Harry says, "didn't quite understand that your girl didn't see him as a boyfriend"

This makes Haymitch raise an eyebrow, "my girl?" he pauses and looks at me, "well I never thought of being a father figure but I guess I have been lately" he comes over and examines my wrist, "let's get you in and get that iced"

As we enter he clears a spot on the table and gets me to sit handing me cloth full of ice.

Harry sits across from us.

"I don't want Gale knowing okay?" I ask

Harry and Haymitch share a glance.

"Kid if he cares about you he will find out whether you want him to or not, how are you gonna explain not doing push ups?" Haymitch explains, "besides when have you ever backed down? We are talking about training tributes since day one of your arrival; this shouldn't even be an issue. If Buck starts up again you throw him down next time."

He has a point, unfortunately.

"Gale will probably fight anyway" Harry says, "I know you don't want him to but if he cares about you he will want to"

We talk a while about preparations for the party that will happen the day before the reaping. Ryen is doing most of the baking with his father. Buck and I were supposed to rally the different parts of the districts but we finally decided Gale could take the seam and I the market quarter with Harry.

Towards the end of the night they realize my wrist is not improving with ice and despite my refusal we end up at Katniss' to see her mother.

Mrs. Everdeen is an accomplished healer, much like Makenzie only she is more into natural remedies.

"She's sprained it" she says with just a glance, "how did it happen?" she looks at me, I'm not talking, "Ariana?"

"Buck got angry" Harry said, "grasped her wrist too hard and way too rough, you know he was a wrestling champ in school"

They are explaining things to Mrs. Everdeen when Katniss comes in with Gale. They are quiet until Katniss sees her mom is checking me.

"Mom?" she comes over followed by Gale, "what happened?"

"Nothin'" I say softly, "I was doing a night run and fell, nothing serious"

"Last I saw you were at the bakery" Gale says, "you went for a run? At night?" he takes a look as the icepack is removed, "Ariana that is not what falling during a run looks like!"

Harry steers Gale out as Haymitch looks at me, his gaze is penetrating. "tell her or I will" he warns.

I sigh, "Buck saw Gale walk me to the bakery, he got angry" I reply as Mrs. Everdeen wraps a bandage around my wrist.

Katniss seems to be at war with herself. She looks at me then to where Harry has left with Gale and storms out shouldering Gale as she passes.

Great now I have two people who hate me, and one of them I really don't need it from right now.

Gale comes back in as Harry had to leave to get home. He doesn't say anything but we head back to Haymitch's gone midnight.

"We still on for doing this whole party thing?" he finally asks and I nod almost imperceptively

"Ariana, if this happens again you come find me okay?" he gets me to look at him, "you shouldn't have this happen because of me"

"It wasn't" I say and he gives me a 'like hell it wasn't' look, "okay it was but not in the sense that it was you, it was because Buck is like his mom"

"Do you care that I'm from the seam?" he asks

I shake my head vehemently, "no! Of course not!"

He smiles, "that's all that matters right?"

"He should know better" I say softly, "Ryen understands, Peeta does"

"Let's show him then" Gale says

We end up outside the bakery; I don't want to be here, as much as the bakery is like my own home Buck is probably inside fuming.

"Ari" Gale says as I am caught in my own head, I look at him and he take me in arm, then bends down and kisses me gently, the first two times were brief, chaste, this is purposeful and it deepens and actually… it's kinda nice.

It feels right, I don't know how else to describe it.

Damn my pragmatic mind, why can't I be a romantic?! Buck could be watching us right now! Why aren't I scared?!

The bakery takes a back seat. I think of Gale, I thing of Buck seeing us and as much as my imagination tries to say Buck would kill Gale for this, I see Gale protecting me and I feel safe. Despite knowing I could very well take Buck on myself, knowing Gale would step in if I can't...it's a positive feeling for certain.

I like Gale a lot. I think I might even love him.

If Buck didn't understand that; if he sees us now.

Well, he should get the hint.