If you haven't read my previous story, The 76th Hunger Games, don't read this until you do. It won't make any sense.

Here we go, the first chapter! I've been busy with stories for another site, so I can't guarantee how quickly you'll get each chapter, but it should never be more than a week wait. Enjoy!

Several weeks have passed, and I'm now living in the Capitol. Katniss and I were forced to announce on camera that we were ending our relationship. Everyone was crushed, but I couldn't care less. What matters is Katniss and I. Here, I'm forced to date other girls, kiss them, act like I'm falling in love. But if I don't, President Snow will care everyone I care about, though at this point, I'd think it would be better for Katniss. She's sunken into a depression, and I don't know what to do. I haven't seen her in weeks. Thanks to Haymitch, Effie, and Mom, we've been able to send letters, but it's not enough. I want her with me, want to hear her voice, feel her arms around my neck. But I never will, according to Snow. I miss the woods, miss the quietness of District 12. But most of all, I miss Katniss. I have to get back to her, have to give her the life she's always wanted. And there's only one way to do that. The Capitol must come down.

Gale Hawthorne stared at his TV screen, a dejected look on his face. It was like his life had ended. And in a way, it had. He could never see Katniss again, never see District 12 again, never get the life he dreamed of. He and Katniss had been forced to announce publicly that their relationship was over. It had just been one nightmare after the other for the past few weeks.

"Hey Gale!" Katniss called, walking into his house.

Gale sat at the kitchen table, a lost look on his face.

"Gale?" Katniss asked, hurrying to his side.

In a flat voice, he responded, "President Snow came by today. He said…he said I have to move to the Capitol. He fears I'll start a rebellion, so he's separating us. In exactly one month, they'll arrive to take me there, and that will be the last time I'll ever see you again."

Katniss had stared at him, not quite comprehending what he was saying. Then, it seemed to hit her, and she suddenly flew from the house. Gale didn't go after her, just stared off into space.

Later that night…

"Why? Why must they do this?" Katniss cried into his shirt.

"I don't know." Gale replied, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I can't lose you Gale."

"I promise, that no matter what, I'll find a way back to you. Someday Katniss, I'll end this once and for all."

They had spent the next month spending every spare second with each other, but the day of Gale's departure arrived all too soon. He had given her a Mockingjay necklace, to remind her of him. She had promised she would wear it always. They had given each other one last hug, doing their real goodbye back in the woods. With people watching, they couldn't have risked acting like they were in love.

The last view he had of Katniss was her standing in the middle of the road, slowing watching the hoverlift fade from sight, and taking the boy she loved dearly with it. Her still form, the despondent look on her face, the tears threatening to spill, had made him long even more to make her happy, to give her the life she so dreamed off. He vowed that one day, he would find a way to be with her, and end the Capitol's rule.

The doorbell rang. Sighing, Gale got to his feet, and went to answer. A bubbly girl dressed in bright clothing grinned at him.

"Gale!" She exclaimed, running into the apartment, and dropping a kiss on his cheek. He groaned inwardly. Not Silvia again.

She flounced around his apartment, dropping her bags everywhere.

"Silvia…now is really not a good time."

She didn't even glance at him, just continued removing her various jackets, and scarves.

"Come here precious." She cooed, and Gale knew what was next. Silvia wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her lips against his. He had to fight the urge not to push her away. She smelled of perfume and lipstick, both which made him gag. Katniss had always admandantly refused to wear perfume of any kind, and when she did wear lipstick, it was never in globs.

Silvia finally pulled away. "You, are going shopping with me today."

"Silvia, not again."

She stared at him. "But Gale…" He sighed. Those Capitol people weren't used to being told no. And knowing his families' lives depended on it, he pasted on a fake smile.

"What was I thinking? Of course I'll go with you." She squealed, and ran to grab her bags. He slipped his hand into his pocket, fingering Katniss' Mockingjay pin. He couldn't risk wearing it, but he always kept it with him.

Silvia pulled him out the door, and he was subjected to a long day of hurrying from store to store, watching Silvia try on endless amounts of clothes, and carrying all her bags. By the time he got back to his apartment, he was dead tired. When he opened the door, he was greeted by Effie.

"Gale, there you are! I've been waiting for hours!" She exclaimed.

"Effie…" He warned. Technically, Effie didn't really have a reason to visit him a much, and if she had been waiting for hours, she had to have a pretty good reason for it.

"Oh right. What I meant to say was I've been waiting a few minutes. You've been invited to a party on Saturday…" She began. Effie was usually the one who brought him letters from Katniss, and to avoid suspicion, she'd always arrange for him to go to another party, or social event with her as an excuse for her being at his apartment.

"Sounds great Effie." He said in a tired voice, and threw himself down on the couch. Effie removed the letter from her coat, and handed it to him. He took it, but didn't open it right away.

"I'm so tired of this Effie." He murmured. "Having to deal with all those Capitol girls, going to party after party, being followed around by crowds of people every time I leave the apartment. I can't keep doing this."

"You have to Gale. For the rest of your life. You'll get used to it."

"I don't WANT to get used to it! It's only been 6 months, and I don't know I'll face another minute, let alone another 50 years!"

"And President Snow will expect you to marry eventually." Effie sighed.

"Don't remind me." I growled, reaching for the TV remote.

"If it's any comfort, I know a rather, well, normal girl, who would like to meet you. She's sort of like Cinna, from the Capitol, but not like the Capitol."

"A rare bird."

"Oh, they're not that rare. Not everyone here likes all the fancy clothes and make-up. Anyway, I'll bring her by tomorrow."

"Whatever." I started flipping through the channels, and after a moment, Effie slipped out the door.

I glanced at Katniss' letter, picked it up, and slowly opened it.

Dear Gale,

We need to stop writing to each other. It's been 6 months, and I still miss you as much as ever. I live in a world of sadness, a world I'm desperate to get out of. I'll never fall in love with anyone else, but I need to move on from you. We'll never be together, no matter what you think. And if I'm always writing to you, I can't move on. I'll live in this state of lonliness, always longing for you. I love you Gale, but I can't think about you. Not knowing that I'll never see you again. Even if you write to me, I won't write back, and I won't read your letters. It's over Gale. The Capitol won. They've shown us once again that they can do whatever they want to us, and we are powerless to resist. President Snow will probably expect you to marry anyway, and if I keep walking around, looking like somebody died, Haymitch is going to lose it with me. I have to get on with my life, just like you have to get on with yours.

I wish we could have been together, but we can't be. We can't live the rest of our life wishing for what could have been. We could have had a happy life together. I sometimes imagine what it might have been. I like to think we would have married, maybe had a couple kids. We'd live in the Victor's Village, and have a quiet, but happy life. I long for that life, and on good nights, get to visit it in my dreams. But it'll never happen. We have to accept our life the way it is Gale. You said you'd find a way back to me, but you won't. The Capitol's too strong, and you could never beat them at their own game. We have to stop yearning for what our life could have been like. It's no way to live, and you know it. So please Gale…don't write to me. But no matter what happens, I'll always love you, till the very end of time.

Goodbye Gale.

Katniss

I stared at the letter for a moment, then whirling around, slammed my fist into the wall. Tears streaming, I leaned against it, the letter I clutched in my hand. Struggling to keep back the waterfall of tears, I wished so desperately to see my girl on fire.

Two Years Later

I walked through towards my house in the Victor Village, my bag of purchases slung over my shoulder. I had dropped some coins by with Hazelle, visited some of the shops, and was now headed back home.

When I walked in, my mother was starting dinner in the kitchen, and glanced up as I walked in.

"You got the items I asked for?"

"Yeah." I said in gloomy voice. Idropped the bag on the counter, and left the room. My mother stared after me, but didn't say anything. Two years ago, I had written my last letter to Gale, telling him we needed to stop writing, needed to move on. I hoped he had, for I sure hadn't. I just hadn't been able to. I had mentored kids in the Games, but both times, someone from the Career Districts had won. I had tried to find Gale, but President Snow had made extra sure that it was impossible.

The television beeped, alerting us a mandatory broadcasting was coming on. My mother left the kitchen, and Prim exited her room.

Caesar appeared, his hair dyed purple.

"Citizens of Panem, this is Caesar Flickermen, bringing you the latest news from Panem! And today is a very special occasion for two important Capitol citizens! The camera pulled back, and I saw Gale and another girl standing with him on a stage. My heart dropped. It couldn't be…

"Let me introduce Gale Hawthorne, and Poppy Ellling! Gale, just what is the occasion?"

Gale grinned. "Well Caesar, we're engaged." I stared at the screen, all the color draining from my face.

"That is some wonderful news Gale! Now, being a former Victor, your wedding will be quite something."

"I sure hope so Caesar. The bigger the better, right Poppy?" She nodded excitedly.

"Citizens, lets get Poppy and Gale to their wedding in style! Tune in later as their big day nears!" The screen went black. I didn't say a word, just turned, and walked quickly to my room.

"Katniss?" Prim asked worriedly, hurrying after me.

"Go away Prim." I snapped, and slammed the door to my bedroom. I crossed the room, seized Gale's hunting bow from a shelf, and threw it at the wall. It clattered to the floor, and I gave a vicious tug on my Mockingjay pin, the fabric ripping as it tore free. I hurled it at the wall, a sob chocking me. I sank to my knees, and leaned against my dresser, letting the tears flow freely.

After the public announcement with Caesar, I took Poppy back to her apartment, then hurried to my own before the wall holding back my emotions crumbled. What Katniss had to be feeling right now…I didn't want to know. She'd hate me for sure, but there was nothing I could do about it. President Snow forced me to marry somebody, and Poppy, she was nice, and a lovely girl. Nothing like Katniss, but I couldn't have her. So I took Poppy, since I could at least put up with her.

This wasn't the life I wanted. This wasn't the way things were supposed to work out. When I pictured my future, I saw myself married to Katniss, the two of us living in our own house in the Victor Village. We'd have a young child, or maybe one on the way, and we'd be happy. But never in a million years would I have pictured this.

I wanted to write a letter to Katniss, to try and explain, but even if she would bother to read it, there was no way I could get what I wanted to say down on paper. And besides, Effie would have had a hard time getting it to her, since she was being restricted at how much she could go to District 12. Guess President Snow had noticed how much time she was spending around me.

The past two years, well, they had been hard, but I had managed. I had gone to the Games, dated girls, lived as best I could, but getting married to Poppy? This would be even harder. Now, I'd not only have to put up an act in front of the cameras, I'd have to do it in private too. For the rest of my life.

I leaned against the wall, and slowly slid down it till I was sitting on the floor. How could I possibly do it? How could I pretend to be in love with someone when I was really in love with someone else?

I stood up and slowly wandered towards my desk in the corner of the room. My fingers brushing up against the chair, a small slip of paper hidden under a book caught my eye. Haymitch's phone number. I picked it up, and stared at it for a moment. I couldn't live my life with Poppy. She was a wonderful girl, but she wasn't for me. And those kids in the Games…each one's death tore me apart, knowing we had come so close to ending it all. The Games were more brutal now, harder to win, lasted longer, and often with a few twists. Like last year. Gifts hadn't been allowed. It was like a Quarter Quell every year. And life in the districts was much stricter I had heard. Especially in District 12.

I knew what I had to do. I knew what had to happen. The Capitol had to be brought down. The Panem citizens couldn't keep living like this, couldn't keep having to subject to the harsh rules and laws of the Capitol. The Capitol's rule had to end.

My eyes flickered up to the small camera in the corner of the room. It had been there for there months now. Wouldn't want me to start a rebellion, now would we? I glanced back at the piece of paper in my hand, and after a moment, slowly reached for the phone.

What do you think? Good start to the sequel? Tell me what you think in a review!