A Rash Decision

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne (all from the Hunger Games Trilogy written by the awesome Suzanne Collins. Her intelligence inspired me to write this.)

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Peeta Mellark's P.O.V.

As dawn woke me up to a start; I moved to pack my belongings. I'm leaving District 12. I'm leaving home.

And I remember her. Katniss Everdeen. The girl I've loved even before we have personally met. Her smile that lights up a room. Her laugh, like a thousand church bells ringing. But I can't love her like this. Not when I know she's got her heart for someone else.

She deserves more than the life I can give her. More than the wealth, she deserves someone who can make her happy. And I can't give her that life. Only Gale can.

After packing my things and said goodbye to the place I once called home. I got inside my car and headed to the place where I knew he would be.

I went to the mining company nearby and approached the receptionist. I asked him, "Excuse me, hey. Would you mind showing me the way to Mr. Gale Hawthorne's office?"

"Of course, this way please." the receptionist then ushered me into a brightly lit room that clearly showed Gale's interest in hunting. His office had a detailed wall paper of the greens beyond District 12.

I saw him. Clad in his business suit. He welcomed me into his office. I told Gale the reason why I was there and he just stared at me like I was speaking rubbish.

"There's nothing I can do to change your mind?" he said finally. "I mean, you just can't walk away from Katniss like this, Peeta. She'll be broken."

"Inside the arena, I've been going through a rough time. Something I can't really talk about and Katniss has been helping me through it. She's been there for me more than anyone has ever been there in my entire life. And I kinda fell for her harder. I don't know how anyone wouldn't because she's pretty incredible. But she loves you and she needs you. And to be honest, she deserves someone like you. So you be good to her. Okay?" I replied sincerely.

"But you do know the consequences of what you're doing right? You leave, Katniss will be grieving. And I can't deal with that. You know exactly how hard it is for me to see her hurt."

"Yes, Gale. I believe what I'm doing anyway is for her. She deserves someone who can make her happy and that's you. Inside the Arena, I was only filling out the spaces for you because you weren't there. You and Katniss.. You belong together. Take care of her please. It's something I haven't done for her when she needed it. "

Gale took it like a man. Stood up and shook my hand and said he'd be guarding Katniss with his life. And I trust him that much now. He's earned it. After all that they have been through, he's kept her alive and breathing. That much I owe him, for watching over the girl I love when I couldn't.

I went out the company and left the town. It's not as easy as I thought it would be. Not when Katniss clouds my thoughts. The memories haunting me. But I still kept them. Because from now on, these memories are the only things that would ever link me to her.

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Disclaimer:
1. Again, the characters are owned by Suzanne Collins from The Hunger Games Trilogy.
2. What Peeta said to Gale (I've been going through a rough time. Something I can't really talk about...), I got it from The Vampire Diaries ("Crying Wolf") said by Tyler Lockwood (Yes, it broke my heart when he said it to Matt).