I sit on our rock in the woods, waiting. I know I shouldn't take this seriously, but today is the day of the reaping. And no matter how slim the chances are, either of us could end up in the arena. I would like to believe differently, but even I have forty-two names entered. That's an extremely high number, even if there are thousands of names.
If I did get reaped, I wouldn't mind being in the arena that badly. I have been hunting my whole life, and really, how different could it be? But my Katniss in the arena . . .
Just the thought of the very slim chance of seeing Katniss in the arena makes me so upset that I stab my arrow into the loaf of bread I just bought for this occasion. Why did I do that? I observe the bread. Smiling to myself, it looks kind of funny, like I shot the loaf of bread. I decide to keep it there.
I hear footsteps coming in my direction and I can't help but smile. It's Katniss, and at least for now, she's safe with me. When she see me, the cutest smile breaks across her face, and I like to think that smile is only reserved for me. It's her Gale smile, and I want to keep it that way.
"Hey Catnip," I tell her. I take in her beautiful face, her body, that adorable smile. I cannot lose her. I will not lose her. I can't afford to think this way.
"Look what I shot," I say, holding up the bread. Her eyes widen, and she laughs. It's the most beautiful thing I've heard all day. I can't help but feel special because I never hear her act this happily around anyone but me. I'm convinced that she loves me just as much as I love her, but she's afraid to admit it.
She comes over and takes the bread, pulling out the arrow. She smells it, putting it right up to her cute little face, and I can't help but smile.
"Mm, still warm," she says. "What did it cost you?"
"Just a squirrel," I lie. It actually cost me a lot more than that, but knowing Katniss, she won't eat it if she knows how valuable it really was. But I wanted today to be special. It is the reaping, after all. "Think the old man was feeling sentimental this morning. Even wished me luck," I say.
"Well, we all feel a little closer today, don't we?" she says sarcastically. "Prim left us a cheese," she says, and pulls it out of her pocket.
I can't help smiling. "Thank you, Prim. We'll have a real feast," I say. I clear my throat and mimic Effie Trinket's trademark expression in a (horrible) Capitol Accent. "I almost forgot! Happy Hunger Games!" I pull a few blackberries from the bushes surrounding us. "And may the odds –" I toss a berry in the air for Katniss, who catches it in her mouth.
"-Be ever in your favor!" She finishes, and we both break out in a smile. We know each other so well that we're even finishing each other's sentences. I take out my knife and slice the bread, staring at Katniss the whole time. I don't know why I'm so nervous. But no, it's not really that I'm nervous, it's just that I feel oddly more protective of Katniss this year. I spread Prim's cheese on the bread, and place a basil leave on each one while Katniss picks blackberries. If this isn't a grand breakfast, I don't know what is. I stuff a piece of bread in my mouth, savoring the flavor. I haven't had a meal as good as this one for weeks.
It could always be like this. Me and Katniss, Katniss and Me. Making meals for each other, laughing and hunting together. We could really be happy. But not in District 12, never in District 12. We could leave, get as far away as possible where no one would find us. The thought makes my stomach turn in excitement. But Katniss would never be up for it.
That would mean leaving her family, her precious Prim and her blank-faced mother. It would mean leaving the District, which for some reason she probably doesn't want to do. It would mean living with me for the rest of her life which . . . I hope is a good thing.
"We could do it, you know," I say quietly. Why did I say that? I just ruined everything! This was supposed to be a private fantasy of mine!
"What?" she asks. At this point, I could cover myself with a lie, but Katniss would probably see right through it. So for all it's worth, I decide to just keep going.
"Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it," I say. When I see the expression on her face, I say "If we didn't have so many kids." Unfortunately, Katniss's expression relaxes.
"I never want to have kids," she says. Of course she doesn't. Katniss Everdeen, so concerned about the welfare of others that she completely ignores her feelings and is completely against any type of romance. I figure for her, meeting up in the woods to hunt with me is about as romantic as it gets.
"I might," I say, "If I didn't live here." Of course, I wouldn't want to have a child here either, what with the dangers that the Hunger Games pose. But If I were to run off in the woods with a special girl, then that's a whole different story.
"But you do," she says, obviously irritated. I groan to myself. Good job, Katniss, yes I do live in District 12. However, I just proposed to you that we run off to the woods, or have you forgotten? I smile to myself. Katniss is still just as stubborn as always, and I wouldn't want her any other way.
"Forget it," I say. Obviously, this conversation has gotten me nowhere. I stand up, wiping my hands on my pants. "I'll see you later, okay? Wear something pretty," I tell her, and I start for home. I can see that her mouth is open as if she wants to say something, but she can't find the words.
I don't know why I got up and left so quickly. Maybe I was just irritated. Maybe I just wanted some time to think, to fantasize, away from Katniss. But that was stupid of me. Especially on the day of the reaping, I should be by Katniss every chance I get. But it's too late now, I'm already too far gone.
At least when I next see her, she'll look beautiful.
Somehow, I find myself walking towards the square for the reaping. I would have thought that by now, I would have found a way to avoid coming to this. But like always, the Capitol holds all the power. Someday, that's going to change.
Someday, Katniss will finally agree to run off with me. Then the Capitol will never be able to find us, and we'll show them who's boss around here. Maybe they won't even look for us, and we can just live in peace.
I can imagine Katniss and I living down by a creek. The area is heavily wooded, and we are in our own little clearing among the trees. I sit up against a log, Katniss snuggled in my arms. She's finally agreed to be romantic, seeing as she now can be because we're free.
"Gale," she tells me, "you know I've always loved you." She kisses my face soft and light, and I kiss her back. She takes my hand in hers and runs her fingers along it.
"I know," I tell her. "I've always loved you, too." She reaches up and kisses me more passionately, and I kiss her back. Suddenly she is on top of me, running her hands along my stomach, slowly unbuttoning my shirt and –
Effie Trinket's voice brings me back to my senses. "Ladies first!" she says. She reaches into the girl's ball and digs around for a name. Just pick one already. Just please pick one that's not Katniss Everdeen.
Sure enough, it's not Katniss Everdeen. It's Prim.
Everything happens in a blur. My Katniss is screaming Prim's name and running up on stage. My Katniss is screaming. "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"
My heart stops, and my blood runs cold. My Katniss is heading into the arena. I feel lightheaded, and suddenly the sunlight seems too bright. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, zoning out everything around me.
Katniss is in the arena. She is facing a ruthless, unnaturally large boy. His eyes are narrowed and he glares at her, and he thrusts his knife right into her skull -
My eyes fly open. I am panicked. I must do something. Prim is hanging on to Katniss, doing her best to stop her big sister from heading to her certain death. Before I know what I am doing, I run up to the stage with them, and pull Prim off Katniss.
"Up you go, Catnip," I manage to choke out. I walk Prim back to her mother, my face as expressionless as a stone. I can't even think. I can't pay attention long enough to listen to anything that's happening around me.
Suddenly, there is no one else in the world but me and Katniss. I don't care what anyone thinks anymore about anything. I can't let my Katniss into the arena.
And as they're calling Peeta Mellark's name as the boy tribute, I find myself bellowing louder than I thought possible. "I volunteer!" I yell. "I volunteer!" I get a look at Peeta. His face is sullen and disbelieving. His bright blue eyes are empty. I would have expected him to look somewhat relieved. After all, I did just save his life.
I stumble onto the stage. "How exciting," Effie Trinket says. "I bet my buttons that was your brother!" she says.
"No," I mumble, not caring enough to hide my irritation.
"Well then," she says. "Our District 12 tributes, Katniss Everdeen and . . . " she pauses. "What's your name?" she whispers harshly.
"Gale Hawthorne," I mumble back to her, almost inaudibly. I'll be surprised if she heard that correctly.
" . . . Gale Hawthorne!" she finishes. She motions for Katniss and I to shake hands. Her hand is trembling in mine, and I give it a squeeze to calm it.
Her beautiful eyes search mine as mine do hers, searching for answers.