If this story looks familiar that's because I wrote it this summer but I took it down to fix it. Please tell me what you think of it so far or what I could add or fix in a comment :)

I do not own The Hunger Games.

I'm engrossed in the rain outside the window. It sounds so peaceful with the birds chirping. The dark, semi-stormy sky has some orange colors trying peak up to start the day for us. The morning setting is something I never miss. I look out to the mountainous terrene of district 2. The sight of beautiful undisturbed trees, help me try to forget about the nightmares.

"Jo?" He helps too.

I came to 2 for fresh start, also to work in the military; they said that experienced veterans like me were needed, so I went. I ran into the famous Gale Hawthorne one day and we talked for hours. Gale and I talked about the games, the rebellion, life in 13, life in 2, each other's PTSD, and each other's feelings on being alone. It felt kind of good to let all my thoughts that were bottled up inside of me free. We only know each other here, we help each other heal.

One night we were having dinner at his house when I had a complete breakdown session; the thoughts of killing my district partner in my first games consumed my mind making me think of the cold hearted bloody murderer I really am. He stayed with me till I fell asleep, but I left before he woke up. I've never let anyone see me that way but with him it felt different, damn you Gale. Now I sleep at his house every night, but nothing has happened were not like that he just holds on to me to let me know that I'm safe in this reality. The feeling between us is something I can't explain it is not love it's... Trust, protection, comfort, it's my salvation from the past.

"Hawthorne?" I reciprocate back.

"I'm... I'm going to back to 12 to see my mother, Rory, Vick, and Posy today."

"How long have you been planning this?" I had no idea.

"Well, I called her up yesterday and it reminded me I haven't seen my family in three years since the rebellion, I feel terrible she thought I was mad at her. I have to go."

"How long will you be gone?" It sets in that I will be alone with my thoughts if he goes.

"No idea, but I need you to come with me."

"What, pretty boy don't travel well."

"I'm serious Johanna. You're really important to me, you are one of the only good things in my life now, I need my family to see this," he puts his muscular arms around my small frame from the back as we gaze out the window. He only says Johanna if it's important or when I did something wrong, which me being me seems to happen a lot. Well I haven't done anything yet today, so he's really serious about me going. What does this mean about our friendship; I'm really 'important' to him?

"What do you mean by, I'm important to you?"

"I mean I care."

"I hope you care because if not then you're a mutt. So what are you trying to say?"

"I mean I care so much about you it scares the shit out of me!" He whispers into my ear from behind me, I smile because he can't see me.

My cheeks must be blushing up a storm right now. I can't think about that right now though because anyone I've ever cared about has ended up dead. I can't lose Gale like I've lost my brother and sister. I can't go with him today; I have to stay strong on my own. I'm a victor, the world is my oyster I can do anything on my own or at least that's what Finnick told me once.

"Don't you think for one moment that you're going back to a closed up, lonely, secluded, emotionless Johanna, that the world thinks you are. Jo, I'm never letting you go back to that. We live in a new world, its okay to let someone in. I promise I won't tell anyone that you're actually a human being." Gale is staring right in my eyes now and his voice is almost a whisper. I don't know who leans in first but our lips come together for a short while.

When we break apart he questioned, "So you're coming to 12?"

"When do we leave?"