A/N: Hey guys ! So this is my first Hunger Games fanfiction and I hope you guys like it ! Yes , I ship Gale and Katniss :)
We Can Make It
My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am sixteen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. The Capitol hates me. I should be dead. Why aren't I dead?
"Hey Catnip," says a quiet voice. Although it's dark and I don't quite know what's going on, I'd recognize that voice anywhere. Gale. As I try to jump off the hard surface that I'm lying on, I feel a sharp pain in my side and I'm jolted back. Gale takes note and says, "Easy there, we don't want you getting hurt again." Gale walks over to me and places a gentle hand on my cheek, and looks down at me with those remarkable gray eyes that make all the girls at school go crazy. I push my face against his palm, embracing the comfort no one else can ever give me.
"What happened?" I ask, uneasy.
A slight sigh escapes from Gale's mouth. "Your mother thinks you passed out; hit the table pretty hard on your way down." He rubs his thumb under my eye, making me aware of a scar I must've got when I passed out. I think about my day today. I don't really remember anything except talking to Haymitch. Talking to Haymitch about the Quarter Quell. Suddenly everything hits me at once. Before I can stop the flashbacks from taking over, I let out, based on Gale's expression, a horrible scream. He carries me from the kitchen table to my mother's rocking chair. I sit on his lap just as Prim sat on my mother's when she was a baby. "Shhh," he speaks softly, his strong hands tenderly caressing my hair. I can't help myself from crying, something I never, ever do. Gale doesn't force me to talk. We wait in silence until I can bring myself together to tell him why I'm so distraught.
"The Quarter Quell," I say between sniffles, "I'm going back to the arena."
"But, you were just there, they can't make you-"
"The battle is going to be between victors only," I tell him. "Since I'm the only girl eligible from 12, I have no choice but to go back in and fight for my life." I feel Gale's muscles tense up.
"Peeta," he says. "Will he be going in too?" I nod my head.
"I don't want to go," I barely whisper.
"I know," he responds. The tone of his voice changes, almost as if he's going to start crying, too. I burry my face in the crook of his neck and wrapped my arms tighter around him, never wanting this moment to end.
I wake up to people talking in my kitchen. They stop when they see me. I carefully try to leave Gale's lap. I had so many nightmares my screams must've kept him up for hours; the least I can do is let him sleep. "How are you feeling?" my mother asks.
"Fine," I reply, noticing Peeta's eyes glancing at Gale.
"Hope you had a good rest, princess. You're off to the Capitol in two days," Haymitch tells me. When I don't respond, Haymitch continues, "Which is exactly what I came here to talk about. Based on what Snow said to you when he came for a visit, the two of you are going to really have to pick up the whole fiancée act. Don't worry, I have a plan. But you guys have to promise me one thing, you'll not only keep each other alive, but you'll keep yourself alive as well. If the two of you don't make it to at least the top twelve tributes, this plan goes down the drain, along with your life." What plan? Does Peeta know the plan? Does anyone know the plan? Before I have time to process all of this Haymitch exits my house with Peeta following.
"Peeta, wait," I say. "What's this plan that Haymitch is talking about?"
"Your guess is about as god as mine," he says flatly. "Don't stress about it too much Katniss, the only reason I'm going to the games is to protect you, so I'm sure whatever Haymitch has in mind for us to do will turn out fine," he gently places a kiss on my forehead and goes.
After breakfast, Gale wakes up. "So?" he says when we meet in the kitchen.
"What?" I ask.
"Since you're leaving in two days, this will be our last Sunday together until who knows how long," he replies with a grin. Without hesitation I get my hunting gear and run out the door with Gale.
We don't stop running until we reach our rock ledge that overlooks the valley. Gale comes from behind and tackles me to the ground. I begin to laugh. Gale tells me the only time I ever look happy is in the woods. It's true, the woods is my escape from the world and everyone in it, except Gale. He's the only person I can ever be myself around. "So, ready to go?" Gale gets up and extends a hand to help me. His hands are like ice, a nice change from my warm hands. When I rise I interlock our fingers, not wanting to release his cool grip.
After we catch some game Gale decides we take a break at a nearby tree. "Beautiful day," he says.
"I wish it didn't have to end," I respond, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Maybe it doesn't have to," he says.
"What do you mean?" I look at him, considering what it would be like if the rest of my days were like this. Not doing anything but explore the woods with Gale. Such a thought is impossible to come true.
"We could do it you know, leave the district. Run off and live in the woods. You and me Katniss, we could make it." I remember the last time Gale suggested we should run away together, right before the reaping. I almost regret not going, only no one would be there to take little Prim's spot. But now, if we took Prim, my mother, Hazel, Rory, Posy, and Vick, maybe we could in fact make it. It's as if Gale is reading my thoughts when he says, "If we took some supplies from your new home, get a lot of game before we left, the eight of us could really make it." I consider it for a moment, thinking how eight of us could survive. Where would we go? I think of how President Snow said he knew Gale and I have been hunting. Knew that Gale kissed me the first time we came to the woods when I returned from the victory tour. Knew about the red headed girl and her friend, and captured them immediately with one of the Capitol's hovercrafts. That girl is now an avox. I don't think I could live with myself if someone from my family or Gales were turned into an avox because of me.
"But Peeta, and his family, they'd be the first one targeted if Snow finds out we escaped," I say.
"Snow doesn't have to find out, I mean with the rebellion going on in 8 I'm sure he has more important things to worry about. If 12 had an uprising, we might just make it, and Peeta's family, if they knew about an uprising they could get out of here too."
"I'd have to talk to Haymitch about it, but if there is an uprising here, then maybe-"before I can even finish Gale picks me up off the ground and spins me around. Although I can't see his face I know he's smiling. And I do more than smile, I laugh, for a long time actually. Before he puts me down he releases a happy sigh and speaks in my ear.
"I love you," he says. I didn't know what to say. I've never really even talked to a boy until I met Gale. And Peeta, well, I don't think I can really compare what we had in the arena to what I've had with Gale for four years. Before I can stop myself I do something I never thought I would.
"I love you too," I respond, still giggling. Gale puts me down and engulfs my face in his hands. We stare at each other briefly, but it feels like hours. But the next thing that happened really did feel like hours. He pulled my face toward his and pushed his lips against mine, holding them there until we both ran out of air. I never really thought me and Gale had anything romantic, I was so young when we met, Gale probably thought I was annoying. But we've grown a lot since then. I see how all the girls ogle at him in the hallways. If he ever wanted to get married he would never have a problem. Even after knowing my thoughts on marriage, Gale still choses to hang around me. Maybe it would be different with Gale. Gale always made me happy and I can tell by the look in his eye the feeling is mutual. Once he pulls away I realize I want another kiss. I stand on my tip toes because he is much taller than I am. And this time, I kiss him. I feel Gale's grip on me tighten, and the small space that was between us now vanishes. I run my fingers through Gale's hair, something I've always wanted to do. Our kisses became hot and heavy now, filled with desire and lust. Gale slams my back against a tree and presses his body against mine. This feeling was so thrilling and new to us both, that we couldn't stop even if we tried. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. Next thing I knew we were both on the ground. This needed to stop though. I opened my eyes to see it was getting dark out and my mother would be worried if I didn't come home soon. As much as I loved this I had to pull away. I looked at Gale, hoping he wouldn't be upset. But all he did was smile and stare at me. "What?" I question.
"You're just so beautiful," he responded giving me a kiss on the cheek. "C'mon," he says, getting up and stretching a hand to me. "If we want to make it out of here, we have to start thinking of a plan." He grins.
So the Hawthrones and Everdeens are going to escape ! Oh no ! Will the Mellarks make it out in time too? What was Haymitch's plan? Will Gales plan work? Let me know in your REVIEW ! Also let me know if you want me to add because I might just end it here :)
