Hello, my name is Gloria and this is my first hunger games fanfiction. I'm italian so I apologize for any english mistakes. This is gonna be a multi chapter Catching Fire AU fanfiction which means I'm going to try and make it as different as possible, even the characters a little bit. I hope you like it though and let me know what you think :)

''Today, we celebrate the third Quarter Quell! On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors!''

What does it mean? Existing pool of victors? Then, I get it. District Twelve only has three existing victors to choose from. One female, two male... A scream escapes my mouth as realization hits me.

I am going back into the arena.

Before I even know it, I've gotten up from the couch where I was sitting with my mom, her sister and that stupid cat, and I'm crying, running to the only place where I feel safe. The woods.

How could this happen?

I don't know how long I stay here for, crying my eyes out and cursing every single human alive when I hear a noise. I'm up in an instant, raising my bow and holding an arrow aimed at the direction where the noise came from, ready to shoot. It's not like I'm not going to die in a few weeks, anyway.I have to keep Peeta alive first, then die. Somehow. I know he won't kill me if I ask him to and if we're the only two victors left. I have to protect him, keep him safe, make sure he comes out of that arena and back in district twelve alive and well. Even if it means I'll have to die. That's the promise I make to myself.

''Catnip... '' I hear my best friend and hunting partner's voice for the first time in months.

He's still the same guy I saw for the last time months ago. His hair looks darker and there are bags under his eyes. Has he slept at all?

He came to visit me after I won the games. He was there hugging me, comforting me, whispering how happy he was that I was home. That is, until we had a fight later on and he disappeared. My fake love story with Peeta still annoyed him, which annoyed me even further after I tried to explain it all, about Peeta, about mine and Haymitch's messages and our strategy to survive. To play along with the Gamemakers. I've been dragged into an arena, almost starving, trying to survive the threats that the gamemakers had brought into the arena, fighting to death, killing innocent children who wanted to survive and win and go back to their families and all he could think about is Peeta? It's none of his goddamn business, anyway.

''Hi.'' I say, my tone cold and I'm sure he can feel I'm still mad. Pissed or not, he still knows me better than anybody else.

''Hey. Listen, Catnip, I want to apologize. I'm sorry. I miss you. These last months have killed me. I miss going hunting with you, I miss talking to you about everything. I want my bestfriend back. I know I've been a dick to you, after all you went through and I'm so sorry.'' He says, and for a minute I believe he's going to cry. Wow. Gale Hawthorne doesn't cry.

''Decided that because you know in a few weeks I'm going to die?'' I snap.

''You're not going to die.'' He says, firmly.

''And what makes you think that?''

''What makes youthink that. You won, and you're going to win this time too. I know it. You're stronger than they are. We could still run, you know. Leave the district, run and just go. Live in the woods. I'd protect you. I'd keep you safe. No one would find us.'' he says, never taking his eyes off of me.

''We.. we can't, you're wrong Gale. And you know it. You know how strong President Snow and the Capitol actually is. They would find us in a heartbeat and they would hang us, torture us or cut out our tongues. Or hurt our families. What then? Who protects them? That's a possibility, Gale. I would never let them hurt Prim or mother because of a stupid choice I make. And what about Peeta? I can't just run away and abandon him while he goes to die in that arena. No one will be there to protect him. I can't.''

''So is that the reason? Is it about baker boy? He's not your responsability. You don't have to protect him!'' he screams. Here we go. Of course that's the only thing his mind registers.

''Gale! Stop it!'' I yell back.

''I couldn't do that to my family! Or Peeta, they would take them, kill them for information they wouldn't have! Don't you understand? We can't. I-I'm sorry but I have Peeta to take care of now, and Prim and mother. You have Posy, Rory, what about them? Huh? I could never leave Peeta alone in that arena, Gale.''

''You love him.''

''I care about him. I don't love him. We had this conversation, Gale. I had to do that to survive! Would you rather see me dead? Gale do you understand you hurt me by saying that!''

He lowers his head ''Catnip, don't say that, please.''

I don't have time to answer because then his mouth is on mine and he's kissing me. And he's kissing me passionately and desperately. I'm completely and utterly shocked, unable to speak or move or do anything. What amI doing? He's my bestfriend! ''Katniss. I love you. Are you at least going to try and come back? I c-can't sit there and watch you die. I love you.'' He says.

''Gale... I-I.. can't. I can't do this. I have to save him thi-''

I don't have time to finish before he turns and leaves, leaving me even more confused.

I spend a little more time sitting there on my knees, crying with my head in my hands, before I make up my mind and run as fast as I can to Haymitch's house in the Victor's Village, hoping not to find Peeta there. Without having to ask I already know he went and begged him to save me in the arena, to protect me and not him, but it's not gonna be like that, not this time. I'm breathing heavily, my eyes puffy from all the crying.

I don't know why but I knock on Haymitch's door. Once, twice. The third time I give in and decide to come in. He's probably passed out from all the drinking, anyway.

His house is a mess. It's the same as mine, but his looks much darker and more dirty. Bottles are shattered all over the floor. Does he ever clean this house?

As expected, he's there. Passed out or sleeping. Holding a bottle that's already open in his hand. His stomach is on the table and his hair looks gray. He needs a bath. I think. I take a moment deciding whether I should wake him with another bucket of water but before I can make a decision, he senses my presence and wakes up. I see my puffy eyes in his. Has he been crying? I've never seen him cry.

''Oh, look who's here! The girl on fire!'' he says, loudly and clearly still drunk. Well what's new. ''To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, sweetheart?'' He says.

''I need a drink. Give me that bottle.'' I say as I take the bottle from his hand and take a sip. ''You're going to save him.'' I begin. It's not a question, it's a statement.

''Here we go, suddenly the girl on fire cares so much about lover boy that she wants to sacrifice herself. Where were you earlier, anyway? When the boy was here begging me to save you in that arena.'' I knew it.

''I was in the woods. I had to run away and calm down, Haymitch. Then I met Ga-''

''Exactly, sweetheart.'' I glare at him as I take another sip.

''We had a fight, me and Gale. He wants to escape, run away and live in the woods.''

''You know you can't.''

''I know.''

''So what do you want? Make it quick, sweetheart. You're wasting my time.''

''Haymitch! We have to save him, this time. He's better than all of us. He has to come back. He has to live. Promise me, Haymitch. You have to promise me. Peeta lives, not me. You have to do whatever it ta-'' I stop when I hear someone with loud footsteps enter the room. I don't have to turn around to know who it is.

Peeta. Shit.

''Katniss.'' he whispers. I turn around and we make eye contact for a moment, without saying anything, before I look down. How much has he heard?

''So, how much have you heard?'' I snap, still looking down.

''Most of it.'' he says calmly as I look away and move the bottle to my mouth. I'm about to take another sip when he stops me and he takes the bottle in his hand and throws it in the trash bin. Suddenly, I'm annoyed.

''What do you want?'' I ask, glaring at him.

''Katniss, what are you doing?''

''What are you doing. I'm not doing anything, not anymore. Who do you think you are?'' I say, looking at the bottle on the trash bin.

''Are you drunk, Katniss? How much have you drank?'' he says, then he glares at Haymitch who has a grin on his face. Obviously enjoying the fight.

''Am not. And it's not any of your business. Leave me alone.'' His mouth opens and I think he's about to protest again but then it closes and he moves towards me. Before I can react his hands are clamped around my waist and I'm being thrown over his shoulder.

I kick and scream and hit his back, but it's no use. He's strong and muscular so I give in and let him carry me to his house.