Gale POV:
I don't think I have ever been more confused in my life, I mutter under my breath "women" before trying to figure out in my head what had just happened. All I could think about was the kiss, that kiss was what I have spent years dreaming about and only seconds enjoying. They say behind your eyes you should see fireworks and all that but to be honest there was none of that. It felt wrong and empty. Don't get me wrong I have kissed girls before but with Catnip I always assumed that there would be more than that.
I start to wonder why she ran away; I quickly whip my head round to check that I can't see any other tributes that could be a threat before I pack my stuff up. I cram as much as I can in the back pack, collect up my spears and walk off. I head in the same direction as Catnip did, desperate to see her again before I die. As I walk all I can think is why run? But as time passes I come up with no answers until it hits me, Peeta. She really does love him and I never saw it, I thought she liked him but never would I say love. I think back through all the times I have seen Catnip and Peeta together and everything falls into place. She smiles more near him, she laughs a little louder, her face relaxes from her usual expression and her eyes sparkle that bit more. There is no other way to put it other than that he makes her... happier.
When I think about it, ever since I knew her she was like this, I remember what she told me in the woods about two years ago.
(Flash back)
"Hey Gale," Catnip says as she spots me in the woods, I can see her face glowing and wonder what has made her so happy.
"Hey Catnip, what are you smiling about?"
"Oh you know, just thinking about how lucky I am that my dad taught me to hunt," She is still smiling.
"Is that it, just that?"
She looks at me as if to say back off but I pretend to ignore her. "No, not really. Have I ever told you about when I went to the bakery after my dad died?" I shake my head, I don't really understand what she is on about, and after her dad died she had no money so why would she go to the bakery.
"Oh... It isn't that important so you probably won't care," I raise my eyebrow as if to say 'try me'. "Okay well, it had got really bad and we had no food and even though I had tried to sell some of Prim's old clothes no one wanted them. I was starving so in the end I had to go to the merchant part of town to see if there was anything in the bins. I went to the bakery and as I was looking, the baker's wife came out and started yelling at me so I ran. I hid behind a tree because I had no energy left. Then I heard her scream again, I thought she had seen me but suddenly she pushed her son out the door." Peeta is the bakers son, I had to stop myself rolling my eyes because all of a sudden Catnip was talking about him alot.
"Anyway he was holding two loaves of bread that were burnt on one end. The wife was yelling at him saying he was stupid and even from where I was sat I could see a red scorch mark on his cheek. After about a minute of yelling she told him to feed the bread to the pigs because no one would want it now. But as soon as she left the bread came soaring towards me and landed right next to me. I thought he had sent it to me by accident but then the other landed next to the other. I came out my hiding place to get it. I looked up before I touched it towards the boy and he nodded. I bent down to grab the bread but when I looked up again he was gone. I ran home that night and for once we filled our stomachs and it was all because he gave me the bread."
"And your point is..."I asked because why she was telling me this I did not know.
"My point is, "She said glaring at me, "that it is something that makes me happy.
(End of flashback)
I never understood why that memory made her so happy until now. The only way I could understand her was to put myself up to die for her. I doubt she even has a memory of me that makes her happy. I sigh and silently scold myself for being so blind since the moment I met her. Why did I never realise that she would never love someone like me? But there is still a small voice in my head,
"But why did she kiss you if she loves Peeta, why would she tell you he loves you?"
I don't think I will ever answer this because I don't trust myself enough not to come up with a crazy explanation that means I conclude she does love me.
I decide that I have to make it known that I feel bad for what I have done to Peeta because if I die then I will never but right my wrongs. "I am sorry Peeta." I pause and decide for effect and possibly to gain sponsors "But I still love Katniss."