DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters. They are all owned by Suzanne Collins, the only creative control I have is the plot.

AN: This story is AU (Alternate Universe) - please do not complain about something that has been clearly stated.

Is It Over Yet

Chapter One: The Reaping

Gale's POV

My heart is beating a mile a minute as I stand amongst the other eighteen-year-old males, waiting quietly as the last few minutes of allowed chatter fills my ears. I know I must look like one of the most confident people out here, but inside, I am screaming. Inside I am ripping my hair out and tearing-apart everything in sight. All I want to do is find Katniss, pull her into my arms, tell her I love her and run away forever and never look back. It would be harder with all of the kids – our younger siblings – and Mom's, but if she said she'd do it, if she said she'd run away with me, nothing would hold me back.

I turn my head back and look into the girl's grouping and spot her within seconds. She is looking at me with fearful eyes, but as I hold my gaze on her all the fear diminishes and she smiles. "Are you okay?" I mouth, and she nods. I hold my gaze on her, smiling, but though to others she would appear just as confident and full of bravery as I, I can see otherwise. She is terrified.

I am unable to take my eyes off of her as the mayor opens the Reaping Ceremony with the traditional speech – empty words – all I want to do is say fuck you to the whole thing and go to her, but I know I can't. I suffice to holding my gaze.

I hear the familiar click-clacking of Effie Trinket's shoes and know I have to look ahead now, it is time to begin, and I need to look attentive. Though my mind is still back with her…

"Happy Hunger Games!" she sings out happily in her ridiculous Capitol accent. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" we all watch as she gives us one last bright smile, and, "Ladies first!" before making her way to the right side of the stage and reaching her hand into the big glass bowl of the girls' names. She hovers her hand around the little slips of paper, contemplating which slip to pull, before waving her hand around and finally diving her hand halfway down and coming back out with the chosen slip of paper. Smiling, she heads back to the podium and holds the slip of paper as if it was gold.

She clears her throat. "Katniss Everdeen," she chimes out with a painted smile across her lips. I feel my heart drop to the ground. It takes every bit of strength I have to not call out, "NO! NO! NO!" and rush up to the stage myself and give that bubbly freak Effie Trinket just what is coming to her, knocking the glass bowls over and shattering them across the stage. Actually, that seems like a pretty reasonable response. The only problem is I can't seem to make my feet move, let alone raise my voice.

I watch silently as Katniss makes her way onto the stage, where Effie wraps her arms harshly around her and walks her to her designated area. Katniss is no longer smiling, no longer blinking. All she can do is stand there and look out at the crowd of people, not really seeing anything but the air in front of her – blind to what is happening.

"Now," Effie trills as she focuses her smile back to the crowd. "It's time to choose our boy tribute!" she walks over to the glass bowl opposite the girls, to the left, and reaches her hand into the bowl. She takes longer, swaying her hand back and forth for a few extra seconds before finally deciding she is hovering over the perfect one, and pulls it forth. She clears her throat once more before unfolding the piece of paper and singing out: "Gale Hawthorne."

As I make my way through the crowd of boys and onto the stage I am overcome with emotion; anger, loss, regret, resentment… I can't say I am surprised, really. There are no words, however, to describe what I feel as I look over and see Katniss looking at me with tear-clouded eyes. I have never seen her cry, not even close, and the sight sends me into a whole new attitude all together.

Effie Trinket drags me across the stage and places me on the opposite side of the podium of Katniss, and all I want to do is rip off her stupid pink wig and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Something tells me she senses this as she distances her body from mine and lets out a nervous giggle.

"Now," she sighs as she reaches the podium once more - most likely from being farther away from me than having the limelight – and clasps her hands together and sighs once more. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, let's all give a round of applause for this years tributes!" Nobody claps, and Haymitch lets out a drunken laugh before falling from his chair once more. "Alright then," she continues, acting as if everything had gone accordingly to plan as she turns to face Katniss and me with that stupidly-wide smile on her face. "Don't be shy you two, shake hands!" she tells us, and we step towards each other, both trembling from what this all means.

As her hand lands into mine I can't control myself any longer, and pull her into my arms, hugging her with every ounce of love I have. Effie trinket lets out a loud gasp, but I don't care to look to see what her expression holds. Instead, I lean away from Katniss just enough to see her face, and she is crying. My hearts breaks all over again. I pull one of my arms away from her back and cup the side of her face, wiping at a fresh tear with my thumb before bringing my lips to hers. A small sob which I am sure only I can hear escapes up her throat as I pull my lips from hers, and as I do so she opens her eyes and runs her fingers into my hair, pulling her lips back up to mine.

My arms are around her again, lifting her from the ground and holding her fast to me as we kiss again and again. I go to tell her that I love her, but am stopped as Effie Trinket rips us apart and lets out a joyous giggle – holding us apart at arms length. If it wasn't for the paralyzing agony of what was going on Effie Trinket would be on her face and Katniss would be in my arms. "Well!" she sings happily as she glances between the two of us. "Won't this year's Games be exciting? I am just ripping at the seams to see what happens!"

"I love you," I mouth.

TBC