Gale's POV:
The shaft of warm sunlight resting on my shoulders is heavenly. It makes me feel like I've been cold for so long and am just now finding warmth…where did this come from? How did I get here? Where am I?
Slowly, ever so slowly I begin to turn around. It's beautiful. So lush, green, even the humidity is a welcome respite. And then, like a light switch clicking, I realize where I am. My meadow. Our meadow. The meadow Katniss and I shared in District 12. It's been so long, but it's exactly the same.
A bird begins to sing a hauntingly familiar tune. "Are you, are you, coming to the tree"…. Katniss sang that song during the Hunger Games. I breathe in deep and realize the air is clean. Pure. How refreshing to not need the oxygen tank. I wonder if we can come back here – start a new District 12.
I wonder how far from the lake I am? I begin to walk in the direction I think it is. And I'm right. It wasn't as far as I remember, but there it is – beautiful, shining, crystal clear water. Is it still cool? I walk to the edge of the bank, lean down to dip my hands in the water, and
Splash. Splutter. "What?" I wake up soaking wet. Finnick is laughing at me. "Jerk. What's up with that?"
"Sounds like you were having a pretty good time there, man. I thought you needed a little cooling off!"
"Whatever – leave me alone!" It's not my favorite way to wake up, although it's not the first time he's done it. Apparently I'm a hard sleeper, and even harder to wake up. I shake my head to get rid of the tiny rivers of water running down my face.
Finnick leaves, laughing like someone's just told him the funniest joke ever. "See you at breakfast. Don't be late – again."
Life is so different now, here in District 14. It's like a little bit of each district, including the Capitol, all tied up in one. After the rebels won the victory over the Capitol and the Hunger Games became a story told in History class, President Paylor called a meeting of all those who had been vital to the cause. We had a new crisis, one Snow couldn't have dreamed of. Oxygen. Or should I say the lack thereof. Just a little something everyone takes for granted. Evidently all the radiation released during the rebellion affected this little commodity and the supply was shrinking fast. She asked us to combine our talents to find a way to manufacture this vital product. Thus – District 14 was born. We have created this new District for the sole purpose of manufacturing and supplying every district with a constant supply of Oxygen.
Sighing in frustration, I throw the covers off and decide I might as well get up – I sure can't go back to sleep now, no matter how much I wish I could.
You would too, if you were me. My life sucks right now. S.U.C.K.S. Big time. I'm tired of being alone. Lonely – very lonely. I'm sick and tired of watching Peeta and Katniss constantly touch each other as if they can't get enough. Gag. And if you think that's bad, just watch Finnick and Annie. Makes Peeta and Katniss look rated G.
Jealous? So what! It's been soooo long since I've let myself get close to a woman. I'm not talking about close as in sitting next to…I mean close, like under my skin, in my heart, between my…never mind. I tend to keep them distant. I haven't been ready. 'Til now. Now, I'm tired of waiting. Every face is a new possibility. But I want it all. She doesn't have to be a raving beauty. I don't want someone I'll have to fight over all the time. But I would appreciate a pretty face. Eyes that run from blue to green, depending on her mood. And I want to be in control of those moods – every one of them! Long honey colored hair I can run my hands through again and again. A smile that makes my heart stop beating. A voice that makes me shiver. Lips – oh god, lips. Full, luscious, soft lips. For me. Only. A body that my hands will take their time getting to know, intimately. And legs – long legs – legs that can wrap around my waist while I…never mind. Yeah, I want it all. No less than that. But women are almost as scarce of a commodity as Oxygen.
So until I find her – life is getting more and more difficult. Hard. You can't even imagine. But I can. And now – now I'm going to take a cold shower so that the part of me that woke up hard will go back to sleep and the parts of me that haven't woke up will.