Ch.1 Question

"You are an amazing, beautiful, and talented girl. I want to spend forever with you, no matter what anyone else says. Marry me Callalily Annabelle Montgomery." He didn't ask me to marry him, but more pleaded. In his stormy gray eyes, I could tell he never wanted anything more. And neither had I.

"Kiss me," I said repeating the words I told him the first time he ever talked to me. I remember him being nervous and shy as he asked me to the Spring Dance. I was too. But when we kissed, I knew. I knew we'd be alright, I knew we'd be together, and I knew that nothing mattered more to me than Gale Hawthorne.

His rough hands ran through my dark curls as his lips pressed against mine, passionate and true. "Of course I'll marry you," I whispered in his ear.

"Yes!" Gale said lifting me in the air and twirling. "I am the happiest man alive," he says smiling as he kisses me again and again. We laugh giddy and content, because for one moment everything is as it should be. Except for one thing; I am 17 years old and I am still in the reapings.

I pushed that thought farther and farther away as the wedding came closer and closer. My dad never liked Gale much; there was no way his little girl would end up with trash from the Seam. A florist's daughter wouldn't marry young, wouldn't marry at all. Instead she'd spend her life weeding, watering, and picking flowers. My mom didn't believe in love, only hard work and mutual needs.

So we ran away together and bought a house in the Seam. My parents disowned me and forbid my sisters from speaking to me. Gale worked hard and many shifts in the mines and I picked up jobs from Greasy Sae when I wasn't in school. In the afternoon, Gale would take me through the weak spot in the fence and taught me everything he knew about wildlife and hunting.

Things were simple, things were complicated, things worked out, things fell apart, things were easy, and things were hard. But I never regretted any decision. Hazelle did my hair beautifully and lent me her white, flowing dress on that spring day. At the altar, Gale looked handsome as always and wore a beautiful smile, the one only I can pull out of him.

Slowly, carefully, lovingly he slid the ring on my finger and promised to love me forever. On the dance floor, there was no stopping us. As Peeta Mellark wheeled in the cake, my mouth watered but I didn't even want to eat the cake and ruin its beauty. We ate it anyways.

That night, Gale and I did what we've been waiting our whole lives to do. We shared a special first for both of us, and all the time we spent waiting was worth it.

"Mrs. Cally Hawthorne," Gale says when I wake up. "How did you sleep?"

"That was the best night of my life," I say dreamily. "It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Callalily Annabelle Hawthorne, Cally Hawthorne, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne."

The small things really made a difference, like when he'd leave me a love note on the mirror or bring home a flower to put behind my ear. If Gale had a hard day at work, I'd try anything to make him smile and it made his day every time. Our time together was special, sweet, and true.

"I hate this," he yelled one day as he walked through the door. I ran to meet him as always. His face was red and his eyes were steaming as he beat his fist against the wall. "They can't keep doing this!"

"Gale," I said taking his hands in my own. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it Cal," he said storming away. He slammed our bedroom door behind him and the picture frame fell to the ground, shattering into a million pieces. Not knowing what else to do, I bent down and began picking up the glass shards.

"Ow," I squeaked when the sharp glass made a deep cut across the palm of my hand. Gale appeared in the doorway smiling sadly.

"Can't you do one thing without hurting yourself Cally?" he asked as he poured cool water over my hand. His voice was soft as he wraps it and cleans up the frame. When I finally asked why he was so mad, he answered, "I don't even remember Cally. Thank you for reminding who's more important."

Gale has a fiery temper, but with me he's patient. He was the beast who no one could love and I was the beauty who had the heart to try. Gale gave me protection and I gave him merciful forgiveness. We were equal, but opposite. We were hurt, but in love.

To impress me, Gale would fly to the moon and back. He'd break laws to get a giggle out of me.

My life is perfect.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Being Mrs. Gale Hawthorne is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Until I heard my name being announced on the stage, everything was falling into place.

My life is over.

I would do anything to change this.

Being District 12's Female Tribute is the worst thing that's ever happened to me.