Goodbyes

Disclaimer--I don't own anything
Summary--"She looked down, feeling stupid for wanting to cry, but Gale had always been her best friend and part of her didn't want to see him go, despite how she felt." Katniss/Gale, but in a friendship type way.
Pairings--None.
A/N--Even though I ship Peeta/Katniss, I thought it was weird how Katniss just forgot about Gale. I mean, they were best friends! So, that's why I wrote this. My inspiration for the fic was the song "This Ain't Goodbye" by Train and I had a quote, but it was much too long, so I took it out. And I'm gonna shut up now so you can read :).

***

She hadn't wanted to know when he was leaving. She needed to distance herself. But there was so much she wanted to say and, somehow, she ended up finding him outside as he waited for the hovercraft that would take him to District 2.

"Gale," she said, walking up to him. He turned and for a moment they only looked at each other, neither knowing what to say.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," Gale said, breaking the silence.

Katniss opened her mouth to say something, anything, but the words were stuck in her throat.

"You still blame me," he said simply and her silence was all the answer he needed, so he turned away.

"Wait!" She reached out to stop him, but her hand fell short of actually touching him. "I just… I-I still blame you, but…" she took a deep breathe, fought back tears, "It's hard to see it any other way." She looked down, feeling stupid for wanting to cry, but Gale had always been her best friend and part of her didn't want to see him go, despite how she felt.

He sighed and stepped closer, hugging her. "It's okay," he whispered, before letting her go, "I guess we're not as alike as I thought."

Katniss nodded slightly, not knowing what to say and Gale leaves before she can form a response.

And, even though she knows she'll never see him again, she feels better. They hadn't fixed things, but it wasn't worse, and that was better than nothing.