HUNGER GAMES –MIND GAMES

CHAPTER ONE – A WARM WELCOME HOME

DISCLAIMER: An unfortunate event occurred in my sad life. I checked the name on my birth certificate and and and … MY NAME IS NOT SUZANNE COLLINS! I DON'T OWN THE HUNGER GAMES! MY LIFE IS A LIE! (TEAR TEAR) anyway. Here's my adaption of all her hard work on her characters and settings for my version of her sequel to hunger games. But please read her sequel trust me it's going to be A LOT better than mine! But please read mines too! It starts right where the first one ends…

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The cameras surrounded us. The bright lights of cameras flashing blinded me. But I couldn't even see the crowd of people standing right in front of me, I couldn't see anything. I just felt my heart sinking down into my stomach, it hurt so much. It almost felt like when I shoved Prim crying off my back. I felt heartless. I felt my hot tears welling up beneath my eyelids.

"Comment!"

"Comment!"

"So tell us how it feels to finally be home with the love of your life!"

The capital's voices still annoy my ears and only aggravate me more. I can't take it anymore. If I don't do something … the whole capital's going to see me crying. I'm sorry Peeta. I look at the boy standing next to me grinning and smiling shyly at the reporters. Sorry. I give his hand an extra squeeze. He looks at me. I run through the crowd pushing past the people trying to ruin my life, dragging Peeta behind me.

We end up behind the bakery. Where it's quiet. No one followed us. Peeta is staring at me with concern. For a moment I'm confused. Then I realize I'm still crying. I don't know why. What do I tell him? He reaches out to wipe the tears streaming down my face. But… I don't want him touching me… for some reason. I quickly wipe the tears away myself. "Sorry about back there. I say it's just-"

"Katniss … why are you crying?" Peeta asked so softly I felt shocked.

"It's nothing I'm just so happy to be home. And all those people getting in my way chattering! "I feel relief. This isn't just a lie it's true. I've missed district 12 so much. "Do you know how long I haven't seen Prim? Sorry about back there but I just really need to go and see my family" he nods in understanding and starts to turn towards his house. Why do I feel like I'll never see him again? "Peeta!" I call out to him. He turns. "I'll catch up with you later okay?"

"Alright." And he disappears into his house.

Alright? Why did it sound like that? I shake Peeta from my mind and run off towards the seam. Towards home.

Prim gives me the biggest hug ever as soon as I walk through the door. And never lets me go. "I knew you could do it Katniss! I just knew it!"

"I told you I'd try didn't I?

"Thank you Katniss" Prim smiled at me. And then everything suddenly got better. I don't care how horrible the district 12 is, or how beastly the capital is as long as Prim is okay and smiling. I hugged her tighter. I missed her so much. I held her until she fell asleep. Then I slipped her into bed.

The sun was still going down and I wanted to go and find Gale. I gave my mom a quick hug for the first time. We weren't't on the best terms, but she kept prim alive while I was gone, and she was still my mother. I was thankful to her and even though I don't want to admit it, I missed her. I told her I was heading out to find Gale to thank him and she understood. If it wasn't for him she and Prim probably wouldn't have had so much to eat. I owed Gale so much already.

I looked for Gale all over the Seam without any luck. So now I KNEW where he was. He was in the woods. But why did I think that he wouldn't go hunting today? Of course he would, no one would just give the meat to us. I mean he can always see me tomorrow. He already knows I lived right? So there's no big deal.

I turn towards the direction of home and start walking. Ugh! But I wanted to see Gale today! Tell him everything that happened. I turned around and started walking towards the woods. But would it really be wise for me to go against the law right now into the woods. The capitol's probably still watching me for ruining their precious "GAMES". Not wanting to put Gale in danger I turn back around and try to head for home. In the end I end up pacing right in the middle of home and the woods, not really going anywhere or doing anything but kicking up the dirt under my feet. The sun's finished going down and I should probably start to head home. I sigh and decide that finding Gale can wait till tomorrow.

"Hey Catnip!"

I turn around a Gale is standing right behind me with a huge grin on his face. I can't believe it's him. Though it's only been a couple of months it seemed like forever. I run the couple meters separating us. For a minute I thought we were both going to topple over and end up on the ground with the speed I was going. But we don't capsize my arms fit right around his neck as his pull me into him with his arms around my waist. It feels so comfortable so natural. I almost forget just how big Gale was, or has he grown since I left. His shoulders definitely got bigger. But he's still the same Gale, same black hair, same rough hands, same serious eyes, and same scent. I hugged him tighter I sure did miss him.

He breaks the hug and takes a good look at my face and smiles. "I've missed you." He lets go of me completely and take my hands down from his neck. "So show me that beautiful beauty pageant twirl that you did onstage!" I shove him and he starts laughing. I've missed his laugh too. "But seriously he says after laughing "how was the capital?"

I thought about the colors, and make up, and the way they talk, not to mention the brainless-ness of it all. I couldn't help but roll my eyes "scary" I said finally. "But… the food was amazing tons better than we get here"

Gale grins. "I know I heard from your interview."

I remember what a total twit I was on my interview and cover my face as I feel my cheeks begin to peek red. "Don't remind me!" I say

His face gets more serious, his grin less sincere, his eyes… cold. "Why?" he shrugs as if he doesn't care. But I know Gale better. "You were amazing. Not just the fact that you were on fire, or can twirl in a pretty dress, but you WON Katniss. That's amazing. Not to mention you even came out of there with a boyfriend." Gale grinned. But my stomach felt like knotting up. Why?

"Peeta?" I laughed "you've got to be kidding me. That whole I love her thing was all an act."

Gale faked shocked "you surrrre? Didn't look like that to me? What about that steamy night you guys had in the cave?"

"Come off it Gale its Peeta Mallark. Are you feeling okay? It was all just to go along with the act. For sponsors how do you think we got the food? Or the sleeping syrup?" I'm not completely lying, so it's okay right?

"And the risking your life for his blood poisoning medicine? You didn't have to do that Katniss."

Was he still not convinced? Why did he care so much? Why am I getting irritated? "I COULDN'T LET HIM DIE GALE! HE WAS MY PARTNER!"

He glared at me "only?"

I don't know why I said this I knew it would get him mad but I did. "What's it to YOU? Stop teasing me already!"I was about to storm off when he grabbed me by my shoulders.

"Katniss, only?"

Breathe katniss, no one will win if we both get angry. Just BREATHE. "Gale you have every girl at school fawning over you. What's so wrong if someone likes me for a change? Why are you so angry?"

"I don't WANT EVERY GIRL IN CLASS! I WANT YOU KATNISS!" I was dumb founded. I couldn't speak I couldn't think. What was going on this is Gale! "When I said we could do it, that we could run away I meant it Katniss. When they picked you I thought that you would at least try to win. To come back home to us. I didn't think you were focusing on getting a boyfriend to make out with inside a cave!"

"Gale STOP IT!" I shoved him and he fell to the ground. "What your saying is lies and you know it. I did try to win. And I did. I did come back home to you and Prim. But I didn't think you'd act this way." I turn around. I can't look at his face anymore. "Thanks for taking care of Prim and my mom while I was gone." I started to walk off then stopped. "Oh and I can't go hunting with you tomorrow" I say in a low voice. "The capital's still eyeing me so I have to play it safe for a while."

"Safe with lover boy?" I hear Gale mumble under his breath. I ignored him and walk away.

AN: WELL THAT'S THE FIRST CHAPTER TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OKAY. DO YOU THINK THE CHARACTERS ARE TO DIFFERENT FORM THE ORIGNAL? ANYWAY I HAD LOTS OF FUN WRITING THIS CHAPER. AND I CANT WAIT TO START WRITING THE NEXT ONE!