A loud beeping wakes me up. I check my clock. It wasn't my alarm that's beeping. The sound sounds like it's coming from the building. I go outside my door to check. Sure enough, some idiot pulled the fire alarm.
I can't focus on anything. The fire alarm is making me bat-shit insane. It's not stopping. Looks like I'll have to get up.
I hastily throw on a pair of pants, and make my way to the door, gathering up Prim and my mother. Who knows? Maybe this isn't a drill.
The apartment hallway stinks of sweat, as usual. We make our way down the crowded stairs. It's so annoying. I can't wait to find out the asshole that accidentally pulled the fire alarm. Or set the building on fire. Whatever.
I look at the dazed people in the lobby. They were sleeping too, apparently. It's so weird to see my neighbours in their pyjamas. Who would've know Rue wore a Beyoncé shirt to sleep?
I need some air. There's simply too much people here. I try to squeeze my way to the (hopefully) less crowded hallway when I bump into him.
He has dark brown eyes and hair. His eyes are so alert, you probably wouldn't have guessed it's 3 am by looking at him. His hair is messy in a cute way. He is wearing a plain white T-shirt and boxers. I really shouldn't be staring at him, but he catches my gaze and it's too late to stop.
"What are you looking at?" He asks.
I blush. I really don't know what I should say in a situation like this. I'm thinking about just walking away and hope to never run into him again when he introduces himself.
"I'm Gale Hawthorne."
"Um... I'm Katniss Everdeen?"
"Well, Catnip," he says, "didn't your mother ever tell you to look where you're going?"
"Sorry." I say lamely. I almost want to smack myself in the face. There's a super hot dude in his boxers talking to me and all I say is sorry?
"My name is Katniss." I add. He probably didn't hear me properly in this loud hallway full of people. Can this get any worse?
Gale smiles. Suddenly, being awake at 3 am because of a false fire doesn't seem so bad anymore.
I smile back at him. When was the last time I smiled? I've been so stressed out lately. It feels good to smile at him. I can't believe I'm smiling at a stranger I just met.
"Um... Do you want to go somewhere where we can talk without having to shout?"
I sort of do. The hallway is loud and crowded, but I'd like to get to know Gale.