I know... I know... You're thinking, "Another story!?" But I've been floating around with this idea for awhile and I promise to stay on top of this story as well as my others from here on out. I think this may be a good story. I hope so at least!
I do not own the Hunger Games.

"You know that I don't like the idea of you getting a roommate." Gale stated for the thousandth time this week.

"Yeah, I understand that." I rolled my eyes as I started taping more 'Roommate needed' posters on street poles.

"Then why are you doing it Catnip?"

"I've answered this question to you before Gale. I need help with the rent."

"Then why don't you just move in with me or vise-versa?"

"Again, like I've already told you. I'm not ready for that step in our relationship okay?" I stated exasperated.

"Yet you're perfectly okay with stating 'gender not an issue' on your flyers?" He was getting angry again. Just what I need. A hot headed Gale.

"Gale, just let it go okay? I'm doing this whether you approve or not? I'm desperate for a roommate."

"Can't you at least agree that this is sketchy?" He pointed to the current poster I was taping up.

I do have to admit that Gale had a point. Maybe I wasn't attracting the best of roommate options by going about it this way, but I needed a roommate and I needed one fast. I couldn't afford to be paying rent all on my own on top of Prim's college fees. Medical school isn't cheap. Besides, I might as well get some use out of the second room in my apartment that just collects dust. No one comes to visit except Gale and he just sleeps in my room with me. Prim never gets to leave campus because she's too consumed in work, and when she does pay a visit she insists she can't stay the night.

"That's what the interviews are for Gale. I'm not just going to live with the first person who calls me up."

"Can I at least be present for these interviews?" He begs.

"Fine, but don't think that you get to just pick my roommate for me. I'll kick you out before you end up taking control of the situation again."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He grumbles, grabbing half the papers and trekking off down the street to tape them up. Now there's a good boy.

To say that my roommate search was a huge success would be a lie. I got three offers. Three. I hung up 200 flyers and got three responses. Fan-fucking-tastic. I set up the interviews to be back to back today to just get it over with. My first offer was a horribly rude man by the name of Cato. He came waltzing into the place like he already lived there and just started shouting orders at me. Throughout the interview he kept throwing around insults about how I dress and decorate my household. The interview didn't last more than five minutes before Gale picked him up by the collar of his shirt and through him out the door.

My next offer was a girl named Glimmer. Glimmer. What the hell kind of name is that? She kept talking in this voice that was a cross between high pitch and nasally. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Gale cringing slightly with every word she spoke. Her shirt was low cut… very low cut. As in I was almost positive I caught a little glimpse of her nipple at one point when she bent over to get something out of her purse. She told me that she was usually out at late hours of the night and tended to have friends over a lot. The idea of more people like her was enough for me to ultimately decide we would just not co-habitat well. I smiled at her and said I would call her when I made my decision. With a squeal and an uncomfortable bone crushing huge, she was gone.

My last offer was going to arrive any minute and I was a bit hesitate after the last two.

"Gale, maybe you were right. Maybe this is a bad idea."

"I'm sorry, did you just say I was right?" He laughed with a half smile.

"Don't get cocky." I kissed him on the cheek and sat back on the couch, flipping through the information on my last offer.

"Who's this next one?" Gale asked, sitting next to me.

"Peeta Mellark, age 25, owns a bakery, teaches art classes at the rec center, and his current place of residence is a couple streets over it seems. Well he's the same age as me so hopefully we may get along okay." I said hopeful.

"Baker… art teacher… he sounds gay to me. I guess that means I have nothing to worry about."

"Gale, stop." I chided.

Just then there was a knock at the door. I stood up and straightened my shirt as I walked over the door. When I opened it I was met with a striking pair of blue eyes. Peeta ruffled his blonde locks with his hand before he reached down to shake my extended hand.

"Peeta Mellark." He smiled brightly at me.

"Katniss Everdeen." I smiled in return and dropped his hand. "You can come in." I gestured for him to follow me and take a seat in the chair across from Gale. After offering him a glass of water I sat down next to Gale.

"So, Peeta, why do you want to live here?" I decided to get straight to the point.

"Well I live with my brother right now about a block away from here. I need to get out of there because he just recently got married and I would rather not intrude. I need a place close to my work and when I saw your flyer, your home just seemed like the ideal spot."

"What is your schedule like?"

"Well I'm usually up pretty early, around 4:30 am. I'm at my bakery from about 5:00am-5:00pm and from there I usually just go straight home. I like to cook so I don't usually go out for dinner. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings I teach classes at the rec center. Other than that I usually tend to keep at home reading or something. I don't go out much."

That pleased me to know he wouldn't be in and out of the house all the time. Plus he was a reader so the house would be relatively quiet even with him here. Gale on the other hand looked upset about the idea.

"So basically what you're saying is that you'll pretty much be here all the time." Gale said to him.

"Well I wouldn't say all the time, but in my free time, yes." Peeta admitted with a blush.

"Great." Gale scowled and turned his head away.

"Excuse my boyfriend." I said frustrated. "Is there anything else you would like me to know, Peeta?"

"Well, I was wondering when the earliest time I would be able to move in was?"

"Damn, you're not moving in yet buddy." Gale snapped.

"Gale!" I smacked him in the ribs.

"Well, I know that, but if I do get it, I would like to know when so I can determine if I need to look elsewhere. I need to be out of my brother's house pretty fast. They're coming back from their honeymoon any day now." He said a little rattled.

"Actually Peeta, you're basically the only normal person I've interviewed to live here, and considering you're my last offer, you've got the room."

"Really?" He smiled brightly.

"Yeah sure." I smiled back. "You can move in as soon as you need. Rent is $450 a month, and I need first and last month's rent up front when you move in."

"Done." He said relieved. "Can I move in on Sunday?" He asked hesitantly.

"That's tomorrow!" Gale yelled.

"Of course you can." I said, ignoring Gale's outburst.

"Thank you so much Katniss." Peeta said while standing up.

"No, thank you Peeta. Let me walk you to the door."

When we approached the door Peeta stopped abruptly and gave me a hug. I was taken by suprise and just tapped him on the back a little awkwardly. He pulled away and looked me in the eyes. My heart stopped for a second.

"Just thought I would break the ice." His nose crinkled while he laughed at the expression on my face, and with a wave, he was out the door.

I stood still for a moment before I smiled to myself and walked back out to the living room.

"Tomorrow?!" Gale yelled. His gray eyes were suddenly black with anger.

"Gale calm down, I need the money as soon as possible." I choked out.

"I'm not comfortable with this." He admitted, his resolve breaking.

"I know baby, but you need to trust me." I pecked him on the lips and pulled him into a hug.

"I trust you, it's him I don't trust."

"Well, we'll see how it goes okay?"

"Okay." He breathed into my neck, placing soft kisses there.

It was only then that I wondered what I was getting myself into.

So, what do you think? Continue?