What would happen if Gale got reaped instead of Peeta? Story picks up right after Katniss volunteers for Prim.
Effie reaches into the clear bowl full of boy's names and trots back to the microphone, one hand planted firmly on her wig that has tilted severely to the right after Haymitch's assault. Before I can even worry for his safety, Effie calls out the last name I want to hear, "Gale Hawthorne."
I find him immediately, walking to the stage with a determined mask plastered on his face. He takes his place next to me and I avoid his gaze, my eyes burning a hole on the stage. Mayor Undersea takes Effie's place and starts to read the Treaty of Treason, but I'm not listening. Why Gale? It had to be Gale...
Before I know it, Mayor Undersea instrucks me and Gale to shake hands and the national anthem plays. For the first time I look into his eyes and he looks into mine with a fiery rage. They can't do this to us. They can't force us to fight against each other for our lives. But they can and they will. I have a bitter taste in my mouth when a group of peacekeepers comes to escort us into the Justice Building. They lead us to separate rooms.
I sit in silence, stroking the velvet couch I sit on. I only know velvet because my mother has a dress with a collar made of the fabric. As soon as I hear the doorknob turn I look up and stand. Prim comes running into the room. I hug her hard, afraid I'll never get to hold her again. And I won't. Mom comes into the room after her and we all sit on the couch, Prim still wrapped in my arms. I begin to remind them of the things they need to remember to do when I'm gone. Gale and I made a pact a year ago that if either of us went into the games, the other would still bring food and herbs to the tribute's family. Neither of us thought the odds would be so far out of reach so that we both would be entered. "You'll try to win, won't you?" Prim asks, her voice quiet and shaking. I tighten my grip around her and say, "It'll be hard, but with Gale by my side I might stand a chance." My throat tightens when I say his name.
All too soon the peacekeepers come and tear Prim from my arms. She's screaming as they pull her away. The door closes and there's a deafening silence. A few seconds later Madge strides through the door, her face wrapped in worry.
"They let you bring a token of your district in the games. Will you wear this?" she asks, her voice steady and she holds up the golden pin that was attached to her dress earlier when we sold her the berries. A token is the last thing on my mind but I nod and she attaches it to my dress without asking permission. Then she hugs me and kisses my cheek. Before I know it she turns on her heel and leaves the room. My cheek still burns when the door opens again. In walks Peeta Mellark. He has a hard look set on his face. I don't bother to hide my surprise as he strides towards me.
"I'm sorry," his voice says, shaking slightly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," I say. He looks at me for a long moment, his eyes sad. "I'm sorry I didn't walk to you and hand you the bread. I'm sorry I just threw it at you," he says softly. I try to hold back the tears that threaten to come. "Don't be sorry," I say, "that bread kept my family alive. Without it we would have starved." I look away from him, my eyes focusing on the thick carpet. "I saw you the next day. You looked away from me and at a dandelion," he continues. I nod. "Here," he says and holds something out to me. It's a bag. I take it from him and look inside. Cookies. I've never had them because I can never afford them. We sit there in silence for a few minutes until the peacekeepers come to take him away. He gets up without fighting, but he looks at me one last time and says, "I'll make sure your sister doesn't starve." My throat is dry when I say, "Thank you."
I'm left alone again. No one else comes. I sit there for a few more minutes until a group of peacekeepers comes to lead me away. We take a car to the train station, Effie yapping the whole way. We stand outside the train, letting reporters take pictures of us, before we board. Once we're out of the camera's sight Gale opens his arms and I don't hesitate to crash into them. Effie stops talking for a few seconds. We pull back and I wipe away the stray tear that falls down my cheek. Effie then leads us through the train cars, giving us a brief tour before showing us to our rooms. She tells us when we should be ready for dinner then leaves Gale and I alone. We hug again once she leaves and I struggle to hold back my tears. "How much different can it be?" Gale says into my hair. "What?" I look up at him. "How much different can it be to hunt humans instead of animals?" he says. I stay silent. Not much, if you can forget that they're people. "Are we gonna stay together?" I ask. "Always, Catnip," he says. We stay like that for a while, holding each other close. Then he pulls away and says, "I need to wash the day off." I nod and turn to my room. I decide to take a shower.
When I'm dried off I look for clothes in the closet. I pull on a green outfit, then remember the pin Madge gave me. I secure it to my shirt and notice for the first time what it is. A mockingjay. I'd smile if I hadn't been on my way to die. I leave my room and head to the dining cart. When I get there Gale and Effie are already seated. I sit down next to Gale. "Where is Haymitch?" Effie asks, eying the two of us suspiciously. "Last I saw him he raided the spirits," Gale says. I roll my eyes. Figures.
The meal comes in courses and I stuff myself at each one, despite Effie's warnings. She tries to keep up a conversation, but we discourage her with our persevering silence. When it's over Gale and I sit back and rub our stomachs. "I haven't been this full in years," I say. "I don't think I've ever been this full," he says. We look at each other and laugh until our heavy stomachs beg us to stop.
Effie leads us to another part of the train, a cart with a few couches and a large TV. Gale and I sit next to each other, our bodies pressed together and I rest my head on his shoulder. We watch the replays of the reapings of each district. A few characters stand out, but I'm too overwhelmed to remember most of them when we watch the replay of our own reapings. I feel Gale get stiff and he wraps his arm around my shoulders, probably comforting himself more than me. When it's done Effie purses her lips together and says, "Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot about televised behavior."
"He was drunk," says Gale, his face blank but I hear the ghost of a smile in his voice. Effie doesn't pick up on it. "He's always drunk," I say in the same tone. "You're going to have to find a way to get through to him. It's time for bed now," she tries to say in a cheerful tone. She exits the cart. A few seconds later Haymitch bursts in through the door on the other side. "I miss supper?" he slurs, then vomits over himself and falls in it. Gale and I exchange disgusted looks then move to help him up. We half carry him to his room then push him under the shower head and let the water cascade onto his clothed body. "Let's make one of the capital people do the rest," I say and Gale nods. We track one down then walk towards our rooms. We stop outside of mine and stand there for a few seconds before he opens his arms and I crash into them. We stand there like that a bit then break apart without a word. I go into my room and take off my clothes before crawling into bed in nothing but my underwear.
Instead of falling asleep, I lay with my eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling. After what feels like an eternity there is a knock on my door. "Wait a minute!" I call out and jump up to quickly pull on the first unfrilly nightgown I can find. Than I open the door to see Gale. I step aside to let him in. He wordlessly sits down on the bed and I sit down next to him.
"Only one of us can make it out," is the first thing he says. He looks at me and I nod. "Let's just fight together and hope we won't be the last two left," I say. "Do you mind if I stay?" he says and I shake my head. We lay under the covers, separate at first, but then he adjusts his arm so it's under my head and I turn on my side to face him. We make eye contact for a few minutes until he closes his eyes. Soon his breath starts to slow until I know he's asleep. Eventually I follow him into the darkness.
This is the first story I'm uploading to this site. I know this AU is probably over done, but I couldn't find and stories already published that I liked all that much so I decided to write my own. Sorry if this seems pretty similar to the book, I'll branch off a ton during training and the actual games.