As I sit silently in the oh, so familiar clearing in the forest outside my home in district 12 an even more familiar startles me by saying "Hey Catnip"

I turn around and smile at my long time friend

"Hey Gale" I say as he sits down on the grass beside me

"Look what I got" Gale says, reaching behind him

"Oh My God! Where did you get those?" I ask, staring at 2 freshly baked buns in Gale's hands. I know what you're thinking, two tiny buns isn't that much, but here in District 12 they are a rathe big deal. You see, District 12 is the poorest of each of the districts. So that means we don't get a lot of food, or obtain very much money. So these two buns are like heaven for us.

"They got tangled up in my snares" He flashes his seductive smirk as he hands me a bun. I quickly dig into it, not wanting to waste the delicacy.

"Slow down Katniss. The bread's not going anywhere!" He chuckles.

"Wha-oh..." I realize I was stuffing the bread into my mouth. I manage to swallow and mumble an inaudible "Sorry"

Apparently he heard because he says "That's alright Catnip, I know you don't have table manners like me" He says with a smirk

"As if" I playfully punch his arm "The only reason you even have manners is because of me"

It's true, before the first time Gale came over he had never really had lessons on manners. You see, my mother was from town so when she was growing up her parents taught her manners. So when Gale came over she had it in her mind that it was her responsibility to teach him proper etiquette and table manners. It was sort of embarrassing, but still a fun experience.

"Earth to Catnip" Gale's manly voice wakes me from my thoughts and I turn to look at him, only to see him with a goofy grin playing on his face and his fingers snapping

"What was that?" I asked him since he always does that when he asks something and I don't respond, or else he just walks away leaving me to my thoughts

"I just asked if you wanted to start hunting or something" He says as he stands up

"Sure, that sounds good" I reply as I gather my bow and arrows

"How 'bout we do some fishin'? I want to bring something nice home for after the reaping" He asks. Although he isn't really asking me, he's more stating that we're going fishing and it would be a good coincidence that we could bring it home for after the special event taking place at 2 pm.

I reply in my most mocking tone ever "After you, Captain"

"Ladies first" He says jokingly

"As if, I'm hardly a lady"

"Whatever you say"

We continued walking a little ways before we got to the small lake. It's located about 10-11 miles from the fence. So from our little meeting spot overlooking the valley it's about a 20 minute walk.

On the way there I managed to shoot a few measly animals with small amounts of fat.

"Oh well, they'll be good in stew" I say as I separate the skin of a Jack-Rabbit from the carcass

"Yeah, or else we could give it to Greasy Sae. You know, for her famous stews" Gale says as he leans against the tree, rubbing his fingers against his hunting knife.

"I'd rather keep it" I say as I stand up from my crouching my position.

"Whatever you say, darling" Gale teases as I walk past, kissing the top of my head lightly in the process. My back is facing him so he doesn't see the little blush that manages to creep onto my face...

"Catnip?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you nervous for the games? Never mind, that's a stupid question. Don't answer"

"That's not a stupid question, Gale. I'm sort of nervous, I have a lot of tesserae in there this year. But...with the rule change, I feel a little better. My main concern is Prim thoguh, she woke up screaming this morning"

"Yeah. Rory too"

"I wish there were a way to prevent them from even being eligible to be reaped"

"Yeah, I know the feeling. All this time, ever since I was 13, I've been the one protecting them. Looking out for my family. But now, when I am defenseless. There's absolutely nothing I can do to prevent them from being reaped and it makes me feel useless and unimportant"

"I know, and I honestly wish there was a way to help that Gale. I really do" I say as I lean my head against his chest, with his left arm around my torso holding our body's close together and his right is stroking my knees. We stay in this intimate position for a little while, enjoying each other's company.

"Come on, we need to get back to the Seam" I say breaking the ice

"Alright...Katniss?"

"What?"

"Uuhhh..."

"Gale?"

"Never mind"

"What is it Gale?"

"Nothing, Catnip"

"Gale, please talk to me about whatever it is you want to talk to me about"

"No"

"You brought this up, Gale, so we ARE going to talk about it"

What happens next I'm not prepared for. He pushes me against a tree, the he smashes his lips against mine. At first I resist, but it feels so good and so right and suddenly I feel myself kissing him back. I close my eyes just before he pulls his lips away and rests his forehead on mine.

"That's what I wanted to tell you" He says huskily

"What? You wanted to tell me that you wanted to kiss me?" I tease, but a little sincere.

"No, that I love you" He says before presses his lips to mine again. This time it's me who pulls away first.

"Okay, first off, I love you as well and have loved you since the very first day I met you, but I have been afraid that if I told you and you didn't love me back our strong friendship would break and I would have no one to confide to. And second, you actually did not tell me that you wanted to kiss me, you used your actions instead of words, which by the way I am totally okay with, but I felt the need to point that out" I finish, taking a huge breath of air

"You just can't wait to criticize me, now can you?" Gale says, his husky breath warming the skin on my cheek

"No, no I cannot" I say

"So now it's known, Katniss Everdeen is in love with me!" Gale says as he takes a few steps back, throwing his arms in the air like a pro

"Yeah, yeah. Stop making such a big deal about this" I huff

"KATNISS, JOSELLYN, EVERDEEN IS IN LOVE WITH ME, GALE, CHARLIE, HAWTHORNE!" Gale yells into the not so empty woods at the top of his lungs

"Are you crazy? What would happen if someone heard you?"

"I'd be the proudest man in the world!"

"Gale I'm serious. Do you understand what would happen if someone heard you yell that?"

"Yes, babe, I do and I'm sorry that I'm making you so upset" Gale lifts my chin up with his hand "Let Galey-poo make you feel better" He whispers seductively in my ear while at the same time, lightly biting it

"Galey-poo? Jeez, I think I'll pass. Besides I we should get home, our families would be expecting us" I say, shoving 'Galey-poo' off of me

"Fine, I'll let you pick my pet name out, since I already chose your's, Catnip" He says as we reach the fence. I crawl under first and say "I'll see you at the reaping, I have to go get ready"

"Alright, bye Katniss" He says as I begin to jog away. I look back and he blows me a kiss. I turn around and feel myself blushing.

I get home quickly, since it's on the edge of district 12. I take a bath and get changed into my Mum's old dress. Then it's time to go to the reaping. We walk in silence to the Hall of Justice where the reaping is held. I take my spot in the 16 year olds' section and take a good look around.

I spot Prim standing beside her classmates in the 12 year old area. Everyone there is nervous and who can blame them, it's their first reaping.

I recognize a few people from my classes. We all give nods to each other of encouragement and subtle notes of pity, for it could easily be any of us representing District 12 this year. Then I see him. Peeta Mellark. I don't talk to him. I never have. But once he did save my life and Prim's. I don't talk to anyone actually that isn't Prim or Gale.

Sometimes Madge Undersee, the Mayor's daughter comes and sits at my table. Most people think (including Gale) that because she's the Mayor's daughter, she's stuck up and selfish. But she's really not.

The only other person I ever socialize with is Delly Carthwright. She is the nicest, most friendly person in District 12. She always has something nice to say about anyone. Even me. Most kids avoid or ignore me and the richer teenagers make fun of me and how I'm so poor. I assume that's because I really am not friendly or funny or pretty or nice and I never smile. Gale says I never smile unless I am in the woods. That's probably a true assumption.

I turn my head to look at the 18 year old boys section, just as a video to remind us that the Hunger Games are our fault begin to play. I make eye contact with Gale. Just looking at him calms my nerves down.

Then Effie Trinket waltzes onto the stage. I tune out what she's saying and watch her move over to the girls' reaping bowl. Then she pulls out a piece of paper and reads from it.

Now I'm paying attention and listening "Primrose Everdeen" She calls out in that shrill voice of hers. I look around and see all of the kids around me giving me pitiful looks. I push my way through them, towards the middle of the Hall of Justice. I feel someone attempt to grab my arm and call my name. But I just move faster. I step out of the crowd and shout "Prim"

Then a bunch of peacekeepers come to hold me back. Frustrated I scream "Prim...I-I volunteer! I volunteer as Tribute!"

The peacekeepers move out of the way and I hear the spectators whispering to one-another. Prim is screaming trying to stop me from walking towards the stage, but the Peacekeepers haul her to the back of reaping where our mother stands. I gingerly walk up the stairs towards the fright of a women and conatin my composure. She asks my name and I give it. Then she says something that recieves a glare from district 12 and goes on to the boys. I feel a little relieved because I know that no-matter what Gale can not stand beside me. We made a pact that if one of us volunteered for someone the other could not.

I feel as though I'm going to faint when I hear Effie say the name into the microphone.

"Gale Hawthorne