all credit to suzanne collins, who created this amazing book! i just made up the storyline!:D

Chapter 1

Delly's POV

"Oh my gosh, Peeta, you piece of shit! Did you have to have that name?!" I wail, leaping into his arms. He pats my blonde hair, letting my cry onto his muscled shoulder, stifling laughter, even at a time like this. I sniffle, then pull away, knowing visiting time is short for tributes.

Tributes.

"Listen, Peeta", I say, words tumbling over each other from worry, and my tanned hands visibly shaking in shock. He pulls them into his contrasting paler ones, stroking my hands lovingly, seemingly more calmer than I am. I sit next to him on the dark purple, velvet couch, and hug him tightly.

"I'm not going to say sorry, because that's just stupid", I say, shakily, whilst he grins, "but I am going to say that you better get your ass out of that arena in 2 weeks flat, am I clear?", I say, gazing into his eyes, my voice gaining a serious tone. His smile broadens, and I honestly don't know how since he's been reaped.

Frikin' reaped, with a smile on his face, brighter than the sun.

"Yes, Mum", he says, jokily, elbowing me in the ribs. Then, monotone, "I'll try my best". But it's not the 'I'll try my best, don't worry', it's the, 'yeah, whatever, get out of my face', try my best.

And that gets me worried.

"What's wrong?" I whisper, cupping his soft, well shaven, cheek gently. I'm not the best with feeling-y things, but Peeta's, like, my brother. Well, not literal, but as close as I could get.

"Oh, I dunno, Delly", he snaps. "It's not like I'm going into the arena with the girl I love, or anything", he says off-handley, but his voice cracks and a tear which he had been fighting to keep back worms its way down his cheek. He looks slightly shocked, as if he didn't mean to tell me.

Girl he loved? Or, rather, loves? WOW! I'm never gonna let him live thias down…

I smile at him. "Hey", I say, tapping a finger under his chin. "Head up. Show them bitches who's boss".

"But- ", he starts.

"No. No, Peeta. You're my best friend. You're coming out of that arena". Another tear slides down my cheek, realising he knows nothing about weponary and the odds really are not in his favor. I give him a hug, which is in an awkward position as he's sittiing down, and hear a sharp knock on the door. It opens to a Peacekeeper.

"Times up", he says gruffly. "Next person waiting".

I shoot him a smile before squeezing Peeta's hand. "You do what I said, and you'll be fine", I whisper. "I belive in you".

The Peacekeeper grabs my upper arm, pulling me away from my best friend that's about to be slaughtered. I instantly fill with dread. I try to swallow, but my throat is dry and unmovable. I feel as if I'm going to throw up and faint at the same time, due to my light headedness.

"Take care!", he shouts, "find yourself a boyfriend by the time I get back!".

"Nah", I say, "you'd get too jelous!" I hear him chortle before I'm dumped into a seat outside Peeta's room. The Mayor's daughter walks into the room, head held high. I greet her with a warm smile.

Bitch, I think. She is the reason I got chucked out.

I rub my forehead tiredly, and look to my left, seeing a small queue for Katniss. Should I go there? I don't even know the girl. Well, she must be someone special if Peeta likes her.

I decide to see her so I can see if she is fit for my best friend.

I stand behind Gale, who I know name - only. Mainly because my friends talk about him, his manly looks and 'amazing' body, much to my disgust. He's a player, messes with girls and then diches them. I've never talked to him. Smiled, a few times, but that's it. He turns around, as if just realising I'm there. He looks down on me, as he's a head taller than me. I try to smile, but it must look more like a grimance. The tears have stopped now, but my cheeks are still dampened and my eyes are red. He studies me, then takes a deep breath, as if about to say something.

Then a Peacekeeper yells 'next', and Gale turns around, ignoring me and shoving the Peacekeeper out of the way of the door so he can talk to Katniss.

I don't blame him. Katniss is his girlfriend, and most of the girls envy her.

Yuck. Seriously, Gale Hawthorne? Standards, people. Standards.

At the sound of loud footsteps, my head pivoted to the right. Peeta walks out surrounded by Peacekeepers, head held high, although the red splodges on his cheeks make it obvious that he's been crying, his attempt to hide them worthless. From the left, I see Gale being forced out of the room, so I guess Katniss is awaiting the same fate.

Only when I see her face do I realise how high and mighty she looks. How can Peeta like this berk?, I ask myself. Her tanned face remains expressionless, wisps of hair unravelling from her tight braid. She looks unstoppable, face remaining nonchalant, but under her crumbling mask, her eyes are weak and pained. I do feel sorry for her. She looks at me, accusingly, before the Peacekeepers usher her away.

Oh, the whole, 'you're better off than us 'cous you're a merchant', façade.

Wrong. My mum's from the Seam, so I'm half/half. Long, wavy blonde hair with a tanned complection and bluey grey eyes. Meaning I'm not really accepted anywhere. Quite annoying, but I'll live. These godly looks are to die for, and, as they say, no pain no gain.

I try to follow Peeta and Katniss, as does Gale, but a Peacekeeper keeps us held back.

Today this place is swarming with Peacekeepers.

I manage to catch a last glimpse of Peeta's blonde curls before he gets lost in the crowd of extravagant Capitol photographers, who seem unaware that people at home are releying on these Games to retern their loved ones.

But all they seek is the entertainment factor of 24 kids getting massacred.

How entertaining(!)

Again, I see Gale, broken and crushed. Girls will be after him, trying to fill his loss seeing as Katniss is gone now. But, somehow, I can tell that he's in the same position as I am.

He's lucky. Katniss actually has a chance of living.

sooooo... yes, i know that there isn't many delly/gale stories out there, so i decided to write one myself, for any of you who are in the same position i am, or just felt like reading something different.

good? bad? please tell me through a review!

Love,

MizzyMarshmallow3