Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

"Wait out here," Madge tells Peeta as they reach the shoe shop. "I just need to run in and give something to Delly really quick." Peeta opens his mouth to protest but the mayor's daughter shoots him a look. "I know how you get when you talk to Delly," Madge scolds him. "We'd be in there an hour."

Peeta laughs because she's right, and then agrees to wait outside. He drops himself down to the bench by the Cartwright's shoe shop and fiddles with his fake leg. It's been bothering him lately. Not physically, just the fact that he still doesn't have a real leg.

He sighs, extending his limb out a bit. When Peeta lifts his gaze back to the square he finds a brooding Gale Hawthorne staring down at him.

"Gale," Peeta blurts out. The blonde has won the Hunger Games and yet he's still overly intimidated by Katniss' old friend. "Can I help you?" He probably wants to talk about Katniss, even though Peeta hasn't really been speaking with her lately. Maybe he'll give him that 'treat her right' talk.

"Leave her alone," Gale grunts. "She doesn't need to be pulled into your crap."

Peeta lifts an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Undersee," Gale says. "Leave her be." Peeta, extremely confused, lifts his hand and scratches at his forehead. "You two are together all the time," Gale continues. "I don't know if you knew this or not but you and Katniss are sort of in a relationship. So leave Undersee alone."

"What are you—" Peeta tries to get in a word but of course Gale won't allow that.

"She's too fragile and she doesn't need the likes of you breaking her heart."

The baker laughs before he can help himself. It spills out of him in very unmanly giggles, filling the air immediately. "What are you talking about?" Peeta chuckles. "Madge and I are just friends."

Gale narrows his eyes. "That why you're waiting out here like her lapdog?"

Again Peeta laughs. More giggles. "She's dropping something off to Delly," Peeta tells him. "She'll be out in a second." Gale doesn't seem to believe this answer, bouncing on heels a bit. "Are you jealous?" he asks.

"No," Gale snaps. "You've just got enough in your life going on that—"

"Peeta," Madge's voice rings from the door of the shoe shop. "Delly says hello and that—oh!" Madge flushes when she spots Gale. "Hello Gale," she says softly. Madge tips her head at Gale and drops her gaze down to Peeta. "If I had known you were in the middle of a conversation I would've stayed in longer," she announces.

"Don't worry about it Undersee," Gale grumbles. "I was just leaving." He goes to walk away but pauses, spinning back around. "Strawberries are in season," he tells her. "You want some?"

Peeta smirks to himself as Madge blinks, completely dumbfounded by the miner in front of her. "Yes, sure," she nods. "They're my favorite."

"I know," Gale says. He might even smile a bit. Peeta can't really tell. "See you Sunday."

"Sunday," Madge nods, shuffling uncomfortably on her feet as Gale strolls away. She turns to Peeta and lets out a deep breath. "Good God," she whispers. "You could'vewarned me he was here!"

Peeta chuckles as she lowers herself to the spot next to him. He throws his arm over her shoulder and gives her a light squeeze. "You like him, don't you?"

Again Madge flushes. "I do not."

"You do," Peeta concludes. Madge shoves him away as his laugh radiates through the square. "Aw, Madge. Just be sure to look pretty on Sunday."