Over the years the two girls grew into young women who were closer than two people could possibly be. They always shared a bed, dozing off with their arms wrapped around each other. They often had the exact same dreams and there were times when they could complete each other's sentences. They certainly each could close their eyes and guess what the other most desired for dessert on any given day.

Despite their closeness the two sisters continued to look entirely different in appearance aside from the beautiful gray eyes the Viktor women were known for. No one would have had reason to guess the sisters were related. Prim, at 20, was slim and fair with a heart shaped face, shoulder length blonde hair and a sweet disposition. While Katniss, at 24, was curvy yet athletic with high cheekbones and waist length wavy hair as black as a raven and an intimidating glare.

By the time Prim was in 3rd grade, Katniss was the one who cooked them healthy dinners. Meatloaf and fresh green beans and barley soup using recipes from a copy of joy of cooking she had managed to smuggle into the house. She fixed their lunch boxes each morning packing up Turkey and tomato sandwiches on whole wheat bread adding carrot sticks and iced oatmeal cookies. All which Prim dumped in her classroom trash since she preferred the sloppy joes and brownies sold in the school cafeteria. She often swiped enough quarters and Dimes from the aunt's coat pockets to buy herself whatever she liked.

Still, they kept each other's secrets well, cross their hearts and hope to die, even if the secret was only a cat's tail pull or some foxgloves stolen from the garden. They loved each other deeply, hoping to make up for the love they would never again receive from a mother or father.

The instant Prim began high school the boys who had avoided them for all those years suddenly couldn't keep away. She was beautiful yet approachable in a way Katniss was not. Prim could go to the market for a can of pea soup and come back in a relationship with the boy who stocked the frozen food case. The black soap the aunts made them wash with made their skin glow. The Aunts also spoiled them with clothing. On any given day they might walk in with fabrics in lace, silks, velvets, and tulle. Men who had been happily married and were old enough to be her father suddenly took it into their heads to propose and offered her the world or at least their version of it.

Prim was currently taken with Romulus Thread. He was the head chief of police and currently in town overseeing training of new recruits. Despite being in his forties, he took one look at twenty-year-old Prim and decided he had to have her. Prim was immediately mystified by the older handsome man who had traveled the world and lavished her with expensive gifts and trips.

Katniss sat at the long wooden table, setting down a bowl of roasted vegetables in front of, Prim. The firelight flickered against the dark wood-paneled walls, casting dancing shadows across the room. The Aunts sat at either end of the table, watching the sisters with their usual knowing gazes, that always looked just a bit too loose, as if they might unravel at any moment.

"You're too good, you know," Aunt Joe said, breaking the silence as she reached for a piece of bread. Her voice was low, almost a purr. "All this cooking and cleaning. It'll make you crazy, Katniss."

Katniss barely glanced up from her plate, her dark braid hanging over her shoulder. "Someone has to do it," she replied quietly, her voice steady as she scooped a spoonful of stew onto her plate.

Prim, sitting across from her, had a smirk playing on her lips. Her golden hair gleamed in the candlelight, and her blue eyes sparkled with the kind of wild energy the aunts adored. "Katniss likes playing house. Leave her to it," Prim teased, admiration coming through in her cheeky smile.

"I like making sure things run smoothly, that's all," Katniss pushed on, taking a bite of roasted duck.

Prim smiled mischievously, "are they running smoothly with Gale Hawthorne?"

Aunt Effie covered her mouth trying not to let her smile show, Aunt Joe laughed aloud shamelessly, "God knows you need a good fuck Kitty Kat."

Katniss cringed at her aunts vulgar language, though she was used to it by now, "he is just a friend, and you know that."

Aunt Joe leaned back in her chair, "A hot handsome friend. If I were into men, I would climb up that pole as much as possible."

Prim nodded along feet propped up on the dining table indecently, "Gale is sooo hot and he only got hotter the past couple years."

Katniss rolled her eye's knowing Prim was only trying to get under her skin. Gale was handsome with his olive complexion, dark cropped hair, and five o'clock shadow. At 6'3 he was tall and while slim, he was muscular from hunting and working construction. He looked like he stepped out of a classic romance novel but him and Katniss had never been romantic with each-other in any way. "well his doppelgänger Rory is basically in love with you. If he asks me about you one more time, I'm going to shoot him with one of my arrows."

Prim scoffed and chuckled nonchalantly, "Rory is such a sweetheart but he's just a scrawny kid."

It was no secret that Prim had a way with people—especially boys. She broke hearts the way some people broke kindling for firewood, with quick efficiency and little remorse. By now, she was an expert at it, and Katniss couldn't help but feel a small pang of fear whenever she saw Prim light up a room with a glance or a careless smile.

"You are the same age and just a kid yourself Prim," Katniss said forcefully thinking of Prims current suitor who was way to old in Katniss opinion.

Prim immediately got defensive, tired of this conversation being used against her, "I'm not a kid! I haven't been in a long time."

"Ok Primmy," Katniss said not in the mood to have this argument again.

Aunt Effie leaned forward slightly, her gray eyes narrowing in on Katniss. "You don't have to be so... Good all the time. It won't get you anywhere in this world. Look at your mother. She never cared for chores or rules, and she lived freely—like a real Viktor woman."

Katniss bit her lip, fighting the urge to snap back. She knew better than to argue with the Aunts. They revered her mother, Carine, who had lived wildly and foolishly, the way the Viktor women were meant to. But Carine was gone, and Katniss was left with the burden of being practical, of keeping things together. Someone had to.

Katniss said, her voice light but dripping with something like sadness, "I probably have granite where my heart should be."

The Aunts exchanged a glance, their sharp features softening into knowing smiles. "Leave her be, everyone," Aunt Effie said, her voice teasing. "Katniss is who she is, just like you're who you are."

But Prim wasn't finished. She slammed her fork down, looking fidgety, the sound loud in the quiet room. "I'm getting married," she announced, her voice cutting through the warmth of the fire. "And you can't stop me."

The room fell silent. Even the fire seemed to pause, crackling hesitantly. Katniss stared at her sister, her heart sinking. She knew this day would come, but not so soon. Not like this.

The Aunts didn't flinch. Aunt Joe raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sardonic smile. "And what makes you think we care? Go ahead. Ruin your life. Run off and get yourself pregnant. It'll be a miserable, ordinary existence."

Prim's face flushed with anger her eyes blazing. "You don't understand. I love him."

Aunt Joe laughed softly, a sound like the wind through dead leaves. "Love," she scoffed. "How quaint. How utterly foolish. You think love will save you from the misery of everyday life? You'll be bored out of your mind within a year."

Katniss finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "Prim, don't do this."

But Prim was already standing, her chair scraping against the floor. "I'm not listening to you. Any of you!" she shouted, storming out of the room, her footsteps echoing up the stairs.

The Aunts exchanged a look, one of amusement, as if they had seen this all before. Katniss sat frozen at the table, her heart heavy with dread. She could hear Prim upstairs in the attic, throwing clothes into a suitcase, her anger radiating through the walls.

"Let her go," Aunt Effie said, pouring herself a glass of wine. "She'll be back when she realizes love isn't enough."

Katniss stared at her now cold dinner, the warmth of the fire doing little to ease the freezing knot forming in her chest. She wanted to believe the aunts were right, that Prim would come back, but something in her gut told her this time was different.

The night air was heavy with the scent of blooming wisteria as Katniss and Prim stood by the open window of their attic bedroom. The cool breeze tugged at the white sheets they had tied together in a makeshift rope. Outside, the full moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow on the garden below. The house felt unusually still, almost as if it knew it was losing one of its own.

Prim, dressed in her short white dress, kept tugging at the hem, her nervous fingers betraying the confidence she was trying so hard to project. She looked younger than she ever had, her blonde hair catching the moonlight, her blue eyes wide with both fear and excitement.

"Are you sure about this?" Katniss asked, her voice thick with emotion as she wiped away the tears that had begun to spill down her cheeks.

Prim bit her lip, rummaging through her purse until she pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. She lit one, and the orange glow briefly illuminated her face. "I have to go, Kat. You know that," she whispered, exhaling a plume of smoke. "I need to be somewhere no one's ever heard of the Viktor witches."

They stood in silence for a moment, the smoke curling between them. Katniss didn't say a word about the hot ashes falling onto the floor she had swept earlier that day. It didn't matter. Nothing did.

"I wish you were coming with us," Prim said softly, her voice trembling. She took another drag of her cigarette, her eyes avoiding her sister's. "Like it was during thunderstorms... you and me, together."

Katniss swallowed hard, her chest tight with the weight of everything she couldn't say. "We don't have to do this," she murmured, though she knew the words were useless. Prim had made up her mind long ago.

"I want to, Kat. I need to." Prim's voice was barely above a whisper. She flicked the cigarette out the window, watching as it disappeared into the darkness. "I hate it here. I want to go somewhere, anywhere, where no one knows us. Where no one knows who I am."

Katniss felt her heart breaking, slowly, like the crackling of embers in a dying fire. She had always been the one to stay, the one to care for the house, the Aunts, the life they had built together. But now, as she looked at her sister, standing there with her wild eyes and nervous hands, she realized that Prim had always been the one to leave.

"Do you love him?" Katniss asked, her voice tight. "Do you love him enough to marry him?"

Prim laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "Kat, what's enough?" she said, shaking her head. "I just want to get away. I want to feel like something other than... this." She waved her hands around the room, at the old furniture and the ancient wallpaper, the relics of their lives.

Katniss didn't argue. She couldn't. She understood too well. She had felt the same pull once, a long time ago. But she had stayed.

"Promise me you won't stay here forever," Prim said suddenly, turning to face her sister with a seriousness that cut through the room. "You'll ruin your life if you do."

The wind rattled the old windows and the room was filled with the smell of rain and the soft creak of the house settling around them.

Katniss turned toward her sister, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'll never see you again."

Prim's heart clenched, but she forced a smile. "Of course you will," she replied, her voice gentle but firm. "We'll grow old together, just you wait. It'll be you and me, living in some big house, two old biddies with a dozen cats running around."

Katniss lips quirked into a small smile, but her eyes were still filled with doubt. "You swear?"

Katniss reached for the pocketknife she always kept with her. She handed it to Prim.

Prim flicked the blade open, and without hesitation, she drew it across her palm. A thin line of blood welled up. Katniss did the same, the sting of the cut barely registering over the ache in her heart.

"My blood," Prim whispered, holding out her hand.

"Your blood," Katniss replied, pressing her palm against her sister's. "Our blood."

They stood there for a moment, their hands joined, the bond between them feeling stronger than ever. Then, without warning, Prim threw her arms around Katniss, pulling her into a fierce hug. Katniss clung to her, tears streaming down her face.

"I love you, Primmy," Katniss whispered, her voice cracking.

"I love you too," Prim whispered back.

And then, just like that, Prim was gone, disappearing out the window, the white sheets swaying behind her like the tail of a ghost. Katniss stood frozen, her hand still outstretched, her heart breaking in a way she hadn't thought possible.

She could hear Prim's footsteps on the bluestone path below, faint at first, then fading into the night. The aunts were asleep downstairs, their whiskey-laced soup having done its job. They hadn't heard a thing.

Katniss waited until the house was completely silent before she moved. She walked to the window and looked down. The white sheets Prim had used to escape were now in a crumpled heap beside the wisteria and the sight of them filled her with an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Why was she always the one left behind? Why was it always her who had to clean up, who had to care for everything and everyone? She knelt down beside the sheets, rubbing the fabric between her fingers, noticing the dirt stains that would need extra bleaching.

A sob escaped her throat before she could stop it. She wept, all alone, her tears falling onto the laundry she would have to wash in the morning. She imagined she could still hear Prim's footsteps, but when she looked up, there was nothing. Only the garden, silent and still.

As she stood there, the weight of her life pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket, she realized with a terrible clarity that nothing would change. She would keep cooking meals the aunts didn't want, cleaning a house that never seemed to need it. She would stay.

Katniss lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was dim, the curtains pulled tightly shut, and the familiar scent of pine and lavender that usually brought her comfort only made her feel suffocated. It had been a week since Prim left, and Katniss had done little more than drag herself out of bed for basic needs before crawling back under the covers. The house felt empty without her sister, and the ache in her chest wouldn't go away.

"Katniss!" Aunt Effie's high-pitched voice broke the silence as she burst into the room, her colorful dress swishing around her ankles. "Darling, you cannot stay holed up in here any longer. You look dreadful. Really, this isn't healthy!"

"I'm fine," Katniss muttered, pulling the covers over her head. "Just leave me alone."

"Leave you alone?" Aunt Joe's voice was calm but firm as she stepped in behind Effie, carrying a tray with tea and biscuits. Her short hair in its usual disarray , her gray eyes sharp but not unkind. "Now, you know better than to waste away like this, Katniss. You've been wallowing for days."

Katniss peeked out from beneath the blanket, her voice thick with frustration. "I'm not wallowing."

Effie perched on the edge of the bed, her bright eyes full of determination. "Of course you are, sweetheart. Look at you! You haven't even set foot in the woods, and we're running low on supplies. Besides, what good does lying here do? It's time to get back out there, and the world won't wait for you."

Katniss groaned, but she knew they were right. As much as she wanted to ignore everything and pretend her world hadn't fallen apart, life had to go on. "Fine," she muttered. "What do you want me to do?"

Joe exchanged a quick glance with Effie before speaking, her tone casual but purposeful. "How about you start with something simple? Go foraging in the woods—nothing too strenuous. We're running low on herbs and berries, and you know the forest better than anyone. And while you're at it, why not stop by the bakery? They've prepared our order for the week."

Katniss raised an eyebrow. "The bakery? Why don't you go yourself?"

Effie waved a hand, as if dismissing the notion entirely. "Oh, darling, you know I can't bear the smell of flour on my clothes! And besides, it's important for you to get some fresh air."

Katniss sighed, knowing they wouldn't relent until she agreed. "Alright, I'll go. But this isn't about fresh air, is it? You're just trying to keep me busy."

Joe gave her a sly smile. "Is it so wrong to want you out of bed and back to your usual self? You'll feel better once you're up and moving."

Katniss sat up, reluctantly swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "Fine, but this better not be another one of your schemes."

Effie's eyes widened innocently. "Schemes? Why, Katniss, I would never!" She patted Katniss on the arm. "Now, do be a dear and wear that nice braid in your hair. It suits you."

Katniss narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Why do you care what my hair looks like?"

Effie grinned mischievously. "Oh, no reason, darling. No reason at all."

Katniss didn't believe that for a second, but she was too tired to argue. She dressed quickly, pulling her hair into a simple braid as Effie had suggested, then grabbed her basket for foraging. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her face pale and drawn. She did look awful, she realized.

When she made her way downstairs, Aunt Joe was waiting by the door, her eyes twinkling. "Take your time, dear. No rush. And if you happen to run into anyone while you're out, well... all the better, wouldn't you say?"

Katniss frowned, her suspicion growing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Joe just shrugged, her expression far too innocent for her usual no-nonsense demeanor. "Oh, nothing. Just thought you could use some company. You know, someone like Gale."

At the mention of his name, Katniss froze. Her heart skipped a beat, a familiar warmth creeping into her chest. "Gale?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why would I run into Gale?"

Effie exchanged a glance with Joe, both of them trying to suppress their smiles. "Well," Effie said airily, "he's been in the woods often lately. Hunting. It wouldn't be unusual for you to see him, now would it?"

Katniss bit her lip, suddenly feeling more self-conscious than she'd like to admit. "I guess not," she muttered, grabbing her basket and heading for the door. "I'll be back soon."

As she walked down the path toward the woods, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her aunts had been acting strange, even for them. And the way they mentioned Gale... What were they up to?

She sighed, shaking her head. It didn't matter. They were just trying to help, in their own odd way. And Gale was her friend—nothing more. She wouldn't let her aunts' strange behavior get to her.

But as she entered the familiar quiet of the forest, the trees towering above her like silent guardians, her thoughts kept circling back to him. To Gale. The warmth in his eyes when he smiled at her, the way he teased her, the way they moved so easily together through the woods, understanding each other without words.

Unbeknownst to Katniss, her aunts had woven a spell—one of longing, connection, and love. They had watched her retreat into herself after Prim's departure, and they couldn't bear to see her so lonely. They knew Gale cared for her deeply, though he had never said it out loud. And so they had decided to give fate a little nudge.

The woods felt different today. The air seemed heavier, charged with something she couldn't name. And as she made her way toward the clearing where she and Gale often met, her heart began to race.

The love spell had already begun to work its magic.

As if on cue, Gale appeared from between the trees, his bow slung over his shoulder and a crooked grin on his face. "Well, if it isn't Catnip," he teased. "Haven't seen you out here in a while."

Katniss felt her cheeks warm, and she cursed herself for it. "Yeah, well... I've been busy."

Gale's smile softened as he stepped closer. "I missed you out here," he said quietly, his eyes locking on hers. "It's not the same without you."

Katniss looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something in his voice, something she hadn't heard before.

Katniss walked alongside Gale, their boots crunching through fallen leaves, their breaths misting in the cool autumn air. They had been hunting together since childhood, and this was no different—at least, it shouldn't have been.

But lately, everything felt different.

Katniss couldn't quite place when it started. Maybe it was the night Prim left, when everything in her world shifted. After Prim eloped, the house had grown quieter, emptier. The aunts tried to fill the silence with their usual banter, but Katniss felt the ache of her sister's absence like a wound that wouldn't heal. And then there was Gale.

He had been her constant—her hunting partner, her confidant, her best friend. But now, when he looked at her, something stirred deep within her. It was a pull, a heat that rose to the surface whenever their eyes met, whenever his hand brushed hers as they set traps in the underbrush. She tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. It was as though the forest itself conspired to draw them together.

They stopped by the stream, where they always paused for water before heading back to town. Gale knelt by the water's edge, his hands cupping the cool liquid, and Katniss watched him, her breath catching in her throat. His dark hair had grown longer, tousled from the wind, and his sharp jawline was rough with stubble. He was handsome—she had always known that—but now, something about him was different. More magnetic.

Gale glanced up, catching her staring, and grinned in that easy, teasing way of his. "You alright, Catnip? Or are you just admiring the view?"

Katniss rolled her eyes, trying to hide her sudden nervousness. "Please, don't flatter yourself, Hawthorne."

He stood, shaking the water off his hands, his grin widening. "Come on, admit it. You were looking at me."

Katniss snorted, turning away to mask the heat rising to her cheeks. "I was checking to see if you finally learned how to drink without getting water all over yourself."

Gale stepped closer, the teasing light in his eyes replaced by something more intense. "You sure that's all, Catnip? Because it feels like there's something else going on between us."

Her heart skipped a beat. She could feel him now, standing so close behind her that the warmth of his body radiated through the cool air. She didn't turn around, didn't trust herself to face him. "You're imagining things," she muttered, but her voice wavered, betraying her.

Gale's hand brushed against her arm, the touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Am I?"

Katniss swallowed hard, her mind racing. She should move, pull away, laugh it off. But she didn't. Instead, she turned around, and there he was, closer than she expected, his dark eyes locked on hers.

"I don't understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Why now? Why is this happening now?"

Gale's gaze softened, his expression turning serious. He raised a hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "it's always been there," he said quietly. "Maybe you just never let yourself feel it until now."

Katniss felt her heart pounding in her chest, the space between them charged with something electric. "And what exactly am I feeling, Gale?" she asked, her voice breathless.

He smiled then, that crooked grin that always made her insides flutter, but this time there was something new in his eyes—something hungry. "I think you know, Catnip," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "I've always known."

Before she could reply, he leaned in, his lips brushing hers in the softest of kisses. It was tentative, testing, as if giving her a chance to pull away. But Katniss didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, her hands finding their way to his chest, fisting the fabric of his jacket as she kissed him back.

The kiss deepened, turning from tentative to desperate in an instant. Gale's arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him, and Katniss felt like she was melting, like the ground was falling away beneath her feet. She had kissed boys before, but none of them had made her feel like this—like she was on fire from the inside out.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Gale rested his forehead against hers, his hands still gripping her waist as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

"That's what we're feeling," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin. "And I don't want to ignore it anymore."

Katniss closed her eyes, her heart still racing. She should be scared—of how fast this was all happening, of how much she suddenly wanted him. But instead, all she felt was relief. Like something inside her had clicked into place, something she hadn't even realized was missing.

"I don't either," she admitted, her voice soft but sure.

Gale smiled again, that teasing light returning to his eyes. "So does this mean you've finally given in to my irresistible charm?"

Katniss laughed, the sound light and breathless. "Don't push your luck, Hawthorne."

He chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again, slower this time, savoring it. When they pulled apart, he cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. "We're going to be alright, Catnip," he said softly. "You and me. We always are."

Katniss nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her, "Come on, I promised my aunts I would stop by the bakery and pick up their order as well."

They played, laughed, and stole kisses as they walked.

The bakery smelled of fresh bread and warm cinnamon, the scent wrapping around Katniss like a comforting blanket as she pushed the door open, a small bell jingling above her head. Gale followed closely behind, his hand brushing hers as they stepped into the warm light of the shop. Katniss glanced at him, smiling, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. The love spell had worked its quiet magic.

Gale grinned at her as they made their way to the counter. "You know, I don't mind running errands with you if it means stopping by here." He leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing. "Might even steal a loaf while you're not looking."

Katniss chuckled, nudging him playfully. "You'd better not. My aunts would have your head."

Just as they reached the counter, a voice from behind the counter startled them both.

"Katniss?"

Katniss froze, and turned slowly, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes landed on *him*—Peeta Mellark.

He was handsome, impossibly so. His sandy blonde hair fell messily over his forehead though still with that casual, tousled look she remembered. But it wasn't just the hair. Peeta had grown up. His once-soft features had sharpened with age, and his muscular frame filled out in a way that made him stand out even more. He had always been strong—years of lifting heavy sacks of flour and kneading dough had given him an athletic build—but now he looked like someone who could take on the world.

Katniss had noticed the way his shirt clung to his chest and arms, defining every muscle underneath. There was something about his presence that made her heart race in a way she hadn't expected. His blue eyes, the ones that had always reminded her of the calm before a storm, now seemed to burn with a quiet intensity as he looked at her, that made her breath catch in her throat. He was sexy and disarming the way his chiseled features and easy confidence exuded charm without even trying.

And those eyes—his eyes—they had always been striking, but now, they were impossible to look away from. She felt something stir deep inside her when they met her gaze in the bakery. He had looked at her like she was the only person in the room, his soft smile tugging at the edges of his lips, a smile that had always held a kindness she wasn't used to seeing in the world. There was a familiarity in his expression, as though no time had passed since that rainy day when he had thrown her the bread.

Gods, he's handsome, she thought, almost with a hint of disbelief.

"Peeta..." she whispered, the name feeling strange and familiar on her tongue all at once.

Peeta smiled, that shy, almost hesitant smile she remembered so well. "I didn't know you'd still be here," he said softly, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "It's been a long time."

Gale, sensing the shift in Katniss's demeanor, stiffened beside her. His arm brushed against hers, a subtle reminder of his presence. "Who's this?" Gale asked, his tone neutral, but there was an edge beneath it that only Katniss could hear.

Peeta glanced at Gale, his expression unreadable, before turning his attention back to Katniss. "Peeta Mellark," he said, offering his hand. "We went to school together. I moved away a few years ago... but now I'm back."

Gale took Peeta's hand, the handshake firm, almost too firm. "Gale Hawthorne. Katniss and I grew up together."

Katniss felt the tension rising between the two men, and she shifted uncomfortably, her mind swirling with memories. The last time she had seen Peeta was in the rain, when he had thrown her the bread that had saved her and Prim from going hungry. She had never forgotten his kindness, or those piercing blue eyes that had seemed to see right through her, even back then.

Peeta's gaze softened as he looked at her, his eyes filled with something unspoken. "I wasn't sure you'd remember me," he said quietly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Katniss felt her cheeks flush, her heart racing. "Of course I remember you," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

She felt Gale shift beside her, and for a moment, she wished she were anywhere but here. The air between them felt too thick, too charged with something she couldn't name. She glanced at Gale, then back at Peeta, her throat dry.

"You're... back in town?" she asked, trying to break the tension.

Peeta nodded, his smile fading slightly. "Yeah. I'm a detective now, working with the local police. I came back to help take care of my dad. He's not doing so well these days."

Katniss swallowed hard, the weight of his words hitting her. She knew Peeta's father, the kind baker who had always given her and Prim extra rolls when no one was looking. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said softly.

Peeta nodded, his eyes meeting hers again, and for a moment, it was as if the world around them disappeared. She felt drawn to him, the pull undeniable, like gravity.

Gale cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "We should probably get that order for your aunts, Kat," he said, his tone more clipped now.

Katniss blinked, startled back to the present. "Right, the order." She turned to the counter, but her hands trembled slightly as she placed the basket down. She could feel Peeta's gaze on her, and it was making it hard to think straight.

"I've got it," Peeta said suddenly, stepping forward. "I saw the order in the back. I'll grab it for you."

Before Katniss could protest, Peeta disappeared into the kitchen, leaving her and Gale standing in awkward silence. Gale crossed his arms, his jaw clenched. "Didn't know he was back," he muttered.

Katniss bit her lip, unsure of what to say. "Neither did I."

Gale turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He seems pretty... interested in you."

Katniss felt a blush creep up her neck. "We barely know each other, Gale."

"Doesn't seem like that to me," Gale muttered under his breath, but before he could say more, Peeta returned, carrying a box filled with fresh bread and pastries.

"Here you go," Peeta said, placing the box on the counter. "On the house, for old times' sake."

Katniss stared at the box, then back at Peeta, her heart doing strange, unsteady flips in her chest. "Peeta, you don't have to—"

"I want to," he interrupted, his voice soft but firm. "Consider it a thank you for remembering me."

Katniss opened her mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come. She felt herself nodding instead, her heart pounding in her chest. "Thank you," she whispered.

Peeta smiled again, that same warm, gentle smile that made her stomach twist in knots. "Anytime."

As she and Gale left the bakery, the box of pastries in her hands, Katniss couldn't help but glance over her shoulder. Peeta was still standing there, watching her go, his blue eyes lingering on her with a depth she couldn't ignore.

Gale's voice broke through her thoughts. "You alright, Catnip?"

Katniss nodded, but she didn't feel alright. Her mind was a mess, her heart pulling in two different directions. Gale was her constant—steady, reliable. But Peeta...

She didn't want to think about Peeta, but as they walked down the street, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Something she couldn't control.

And she wasn't sure what it meant.