Disclaimer: If I were Susan Collins I wouldn't be writing this at Disneyland.

Should I say it

Should I tell you

How I feel?

Oh, I want you to know

But then again I don't

It's so complicated.

- It's Complicated

The next few days passed by in a blur of motion. I sorted through the items in my house alongside my mother and Prim. Most of the stuff we were just going to leave behind but my mother was adamant about doing this the right way. I don't believe that there ever was a right way of doing this, although our District doesn't have much experience with anyone moving into Victor's Village. My mother seems excited about the move but I expect that's only because she hasn't yet realized that Haymitch will be our only neighbor.

Haymitch seems excited about the move also, even coming over to our house once trying to help us pack. Of course he was drunk. Prim was still at school so my mother just brought him inside until he forgot why he was there and left. It didn't take very long.

I've been over to see the new place once. I hate it. As soon as I opened the door the smell of fresh paint surrounded me and I gagged. I couldn't step inside, just sat on the steps until I got the courage to go home. Prim was there and she asked me question after question, never giving me a chance to answer. I didn't want her to believe that the new house wasn't any good so, when she paused for a breath, I just described teh few things I had seen. New furniture excited her and she forgot her other questions, running off to tell our mother.

A few days after I got home Gale showed up at our front door. I was the one who opened the door and I stood there, just looking at him quizzically. He laughed a little, just a short and quiet bark, before saying. "Your mother asked me to help you guys move. Apparently you have a lot of stuff."

He was saved from my sarcastic answer by the appearance of my mother behind me. "Oh Gale. Good, you're here. I was thinking we would start a little later. But if you and Katniss wouldn't mind walking over to the house and airing it out? I'm sure the smells must be overwhelming."

Without giving either of us a chance to answer she gave me a nudge out the door then shut it behind me. I looked at Gale and gave him a half shrug as if to say, 'What can you do?'

The walk to Victor's village was made in a companionable silence. All the times spent hunting in the woods had taught us that more could be said in a silence than in a conversation. That's not to say that I didn't feel any awkwardness. Gale was going into the mines soon, the very place where we had lost our fathers, and I was essentially a part of the merchant class.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to break the silence the entrance to Victor Village passed and I relaxed, knowing that the house was just a little ways away. Gale's eyes wandered back and forth, looking at the neatly trimmed laws and the freshly painted trims. I could tell that he was comparing this to our house's in the Seam. And finding them very lacking. All the houses are colored gray from the coal dust and nothing will grow in the areas designated as a front lawn. Not that anyone living there ever had the time to try growing anything.

Gale stopped in front of the house the Capitol had given to me. How he knew it was mine remained a mystery but I had a feeling that it had something to do with my mother. We stood outside the house, Gale staring at the building and me watching his face to gauge his reaction. He stared long enough to make me feel self-conscious. Finally he turned towards me and said, "So, I suppose there will be no more gray colored houses for you, huh?" Grateful that he had said something I shook my head then started walking towards the front door.

I opened the door and felt the smells threaten to overwhelm me again. This time however I made my way to a window and opened it, hoping that the still air outside could somehow manage to make it's way inside. Beside me Gale opened his own window before sticking his head outside and giving the backyard almost as good a scrutiny as he had given the front.

Suddenly he turned from the window and gathered me into his arms. I stiffened in surprise before slowly relaxing and returning the hug. He would say what he was thinking soon. We stood like that for a few minutes until I cleared my throat and dropped my arms. Gale hastily released me and stepped back, keeping his eyes on the ground. A red color crept onto his cheeks and I struggled to keep in my laughter. Gale and blushing just did not go together.

When he lifted his head the blush was gone but his eyes wore a guarded expression. "Sorry," he said by way of explanation, "I just missed you."

I laughed a little, grateful that some of the awkwardness was dissipating. "Gale, you just saw me yesterday."

he ran his hand through his hair and turned away. "You could have died in there. You could have died and I never..." He cleared his throat and slowly moved over to sit on the couch.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and asked, "You never what, Gale?"

He glanced at me and shook his head. "Never mind." I opened my mouth but his face hardened and he said more harshly, "Just forget it Katniss."

I shrugged and moved over to more closed windows, opening them and trying to fan some air into the house. The windows in the front room all being opened I moved into the kitchen and opened the back door, hoping that might help with the air flow. I heard a shuffling from behind me and turned to see Gale opening a window placed above the sink.

I moved out of the kitchen into the dining area, assuming that Gale could handle the only other window in the kitchen. The first window I tried to open had been stuck closed by the new layer of paint. I was struggling to separate the two, window and paint, when I felt warmth surround me and saw Gale's arms reach around to add the necessary force.

Together we managed to open the window but before I could slip out of his arms he turned me around and planted his lips against mine. Although it was my first kiss the shock stopped me from realizing what it was until it was over. Gale must not have noticed my stillness because after the kiss he rested his forehead against mine and whispered, "I love you Catnip."

Those words broke me from my motionless state and I slipped out of his arms, crossing mine over my chest. He followed my movements with his eyes and I said, "Don't. Gale you know how I feel about love."

He shook his head. "No I don't. I know how you feel about marriage and children but that has nothing to do with love Katniss."

"I know but Gale-" He put up his hand to stop me from saying anything else before moving close to me and taking my hand in his. I tried to wait patiently for him to collect his thoughts but quickly got impatient as he continued to play with my hand and not say anything. I decided to try again. "Gale-"

"Katniss, just because two people are in love it doesn't automatically mean that they will get married. Sure, most of them do but that doesn't always happen," He sighed. "Look, I just want the opportunity to love you Katniss."

I looked away from him, at the same time removing my hand from his grip. "I can't. I-" I glanced down at my hands before looking up at him. Gale had a small smile on his face and I couldn't help the embarrassment that welled up within me.

"Is someone scared of love?" He asked, the same smirk on his face.

I paused to ponder his words. Was I afraid of love? My parents had been in love and look at my mother now. But the memory of my parents from when I was younger crowds out my mother's loneliness now. No, I'm not afraid of love, just the other feelings that come with love.

Looking back at Gale I shook my head. "no, it's not love that I'm frighted of. It's just..." I stopped, not wanting Gale to know exactly how I feel about love. His expectant look spurred me on. "It's just that I'm scared I don't know how to love someone."

The grin on his face grew even bigger. "So then, you'll need a teacher. Is that it?"

I nodded and said in a half-whisper, "Will you show me?"

A/N: So I had this chapter half written for about a week until I got stuck and didn't now how to continue. Who knew that having someone reveal their feelings could be so difficult?

My friends wants me to be sure to mention that I wrote this at Disneyland. During the fireworks.

Thank you to those who reviewed or alerted/favorited this story. Next update may come sooner.