Hey, everyone! I feel like it has been forever since I posted. It has only been a week right? I will warn you that this chapter is short, but I will be posting the next chapter sooner than I normally would. I could push it, but the original end of this chapter just wasn't right. It felt wrong to post it when I wasn't ready. I hope you all understand. Just a couple more days and you will have it, I promise! If you have any questions/concerns, feel free to PM me. Thanks for following and reviewing!

Lacey

"Katniss, to your left."

I look to my left and see a few turkeys. I carefully pull an arrow from my quiver and place it on my bow. I pull back and take aim. I let it fly.

And miss.

"Damn, Everdeen. Where's your head?" Gale says as the turkeys scuttle away from the arrow.

I put my hand on my head and sigh. "I don't know." This is the first time I've been hunting since school started three weeks ago. We should have gone out sooner, but both Gale and I were having difficulty finding the time. Apparently, senior year wasn't as carefree as Gale claimed it would be.

"You're getting rusty."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe we should have come out on the first day of school like I asked. It was a tradition. You broke it, and now you're cursed."

"Ha. Yeah, okay."

I should have come out here with him. We've done it every year since I was thirteen. I came across mine and Gale's place pretty soon after I turned thirteen. I went on a walk to get away from my mother. I was frustrated with her for not doing her job and being a goddamn mom. I don't remember what she did exactly. Not because I have forgiven her, but because she has done worse things than whatever she did that particular time.

I found this spot. It was covered with grass and surrounded by trees, almost blocking it from the view of the path. I walked out to it and saw the mountains across the way. I've never felt more at home. I sat there until it was dark and my anger had mostly subsided.

I walked out there the next day and found Gale. I aimed my bow at him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said.

"Get out of here."

"Hey, that's not fair. I've been coming here for years. This is where I come before I hunt."

"Well if you were any kind of hunter, you would have heard me coming."

He laughed. "What's your name?"

I barely whispered, "Katniss."

"Catnip? Huh. That's different."

"KAT-NISS," I said louder, getting agitated. I was about to graze his ear or his leg with my arrow to scare him off.

"Okay, Catnip. What do you say you give me a chance to show you what I can do with a bow, and maybe we can share."

Despite my agitation, I was interested to see. I made a split decision and shot my arrow at his left foot. It wouldn't have hit him, but it was enough to scare him and make him jump away. He looked at me in shock. "Show me what you've got."

The rest is history. We've met at the spot countless times. I liked having Gale around. He was quiet and never made small talk. We started hunting after the first day of school, just in case we got too busy and had to hold off for a while. We didn't want the animals thinking they owned the woods or anything.

"Well, lets call it a day, shall we? It's starting to get dark, and we're sucking today," Gale said. I nod, and we start toward town.

"So, Catnip, were you thinking about going to the school bonfire on Friday?"

"Gale, when was the last time I thought about going to any school event?"

"Oh, Katniss, come on. It would be good for you, you know? Socializing, making friends…and being my wingman."

"Uhhh, excuse me?" I look at him with my eyebrows raised.

"Please, Katniss. Please! I've decided that I am going to ask Madge to homecoming, and what better place? I have to do it quick before one of those asshole jocks. I need you there as a distraction so I can pull her aside."

"What makes you think that I would be able to pull anyone aside? I've never spoken to those people. Why would they even pay attention?"

"Damn it. Please, just come. If you are not going to do what I ask, then come to support me. Come so that if she says no, I can come talk to you afterwards so I won't look like a total reject."

"Why can't you ask Thom? He would make a much better wingman considering he is, in fact, male."

"Because he's working. Please?"

"Uuuugh."

"Pleeeeeeease?"

"Fine! Fine. Shut up." This will make up for ditching him on the first day of school, I guess.

"Thank you! Thank you so much. You won't regret it. I'll buy you a coffee or something."

"Yeah, yeah."

Why, in the name of all that is holy, did I agree to go to this? I can't stop pacing and biting my fingernails.

"Katniss, what are you doing?" Prim asks.

"Just waiting for Gale."

"Is pacing in front of the television how you get him here?" I stop and realize she is right.

"Sorry." I move toward the couch and plop down close to her. I pull her toward me for a hug. It eases my anxiety a bit.

After a few seconds, she pulls away and says, "I don't know why you're so nervous. I can't wait to go to the bonfires!"

Of course she couldn't. There's a knock on the door. I jump up, and walk slowly to the doorway. I don't want him to know that I am nervous. Deep breath. I open the door.

"Hey, Catnip. Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I guess," I croak.

"Katniss!"

I turn and see my mother hustling down the stairs. I roll my eyes and look at Gale. He is smiling.

"Hi, Ms. Everdeen. How are you?"

"Hello, Gale. I'm fine, thank you. I just wanted to catch you before you left. Can you please have Katniss home by eleven?" I roll my eyes again. Seriously? Since when do I have a curfew?

She puts her hand on my shoulder. "Yes, ma'am, I will."

"Thank you, Gale. Have a good time." I shrug her hand off my shoulder, push past Gale, and go out the door. Gale says goodbye to my mother as I open the passenger's side door of Gale's truck. I climb in and slam the door. Gale slides into the truck a few moments later.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asks.

"Nope."