Hi, everyone! I'm Cami, and welcome to my fourth fanfiction. (Just so u know, fanfics 1-3 aren't complete).

I hope you'll like this. It's an idea I might not like myself, so . . .

Okay, so I know this idea has been done a hundred times, but this is basically just Gale volunteers instead of Peeta. This is interesting because I believe that Katniss didn't just choose Peeta from their experiences together. She chose him because they were perfect for each other. So let's see what would happen if Katniss and Gale were the star-crossed lovers of District Twelve.

Just so you know, I ship Everlark, not . . . Kale(?). But we'll have to see where this goes.

SPOILER ALERT! Read the Hunger Games. Now! Or, read this. Whichever.

Welcome, my new readers, to Panem!

Effie reads out the next name.

"Peeta Mellark!" She says, and I barely have time to register the name, recognize it, before Gale steps forward.

"I volunteer!" He says. I gasp. No, no, he can't, he can't volunteer! Prim needs him! And his family, what will they do?

He steps up bravely, and I glare at him, holding back tears. We shake hands, and I whisper "Gale, how could you?" to him and then he's biting his lip and we are taken away before I even register that the mayor has read his speech.

I wait in the fancy room. I can't believe Gale would betray me like that. We agreed long ago that should one of us get reaped, the other is to take care of their family. That's the deal. But now Gale's gone and volunteered for a boy he didn't know.

I know him, I think. It happened long ago. I was starving, he threw me bread. But now I can't help feeling guilty every time I see him, for not thanking him, or returning the favor.

Prim and my mother come in and I'm hugging them and reassuring them, but then I start talking very fast, because we don't have much time. I'm telling them how to get food. Gale and I won't be there to bring meat. I've showed Prim how to hunt a few times, but it didn't work out. She can gather, though, so I tell her the plants she will need to get from the woods, the ones she can get from around the Meadow. I tell my mother not to sign Prim up for tesserae more than once a year. They can survive, if they're careful. All I can hope is that people love Prim enough to keep her alive.

I turn to my mother. "You have to get a job." I tell her firmly. She looks up at me in shock. "Do you understand?" I ask her. She nods.

"If you don't, Prim will be sent away." My mother nods and hugs me.

I stroke Prim's hair, reciting "I love you" to both of them until the Peacekeepers come.

"Katniss!" Prim calls out. "You have to try to win!" But I don't answer because Gale will be there with me and if I win, that means he will die.

The baker comes in next. I wasn't expecting him. He is Peeta Mellark's father.

He wordlessly hands me a bag. I look inside. It is full of cookies. I wish I could give them to Prim. She needs them much more than me.

When the baker promises to keep Prim alive, feed her, I finally relax. Then he leaves.

Madge comes in.

"Hi, Katniss," she says. I nod to her.

"Where's your pin?" I wonder, noting the absence on her dress.

She shrugs. "Gave it to Gale." She says. I raise my eyebrows. I didn't realize Madge and Gale were close.

Madge is the second to promise to keep Prim eating. I'm grateful, because dandelions and blackberries aren't much to live off of. She rises, ready to leave, then stops. She pulls off her white hairband.

"Will you wear this as your district token?" She asks. "I just want you to have something." I smile, something I haven't done since the reaping.

"Of course," I say. "Thanks." I slide on the hairband. Madge leaves.

My final surprise is when Peeta comes. I barely know his name, but he comes to me to say goodbye?

"Hi Katniss." He says. "I'm Peeta. Peeta Mellark. I just wanted to thank you. Your friend ... He likely just saved my life. So, thanks." I nod. Before he leaves, I struggle with the words on my tongue.

"Peeta, you saved my life that day. With the bread. I- um, thank you. Too." He nods, grins sadly, and leaves.

I wipe away a stray tear and prepare to go to the train station.

So . . . .what did you think?

If I get one review, follow, or favorite on this, I will post Chapter 2. Thanks for reading this sentence.

Bye!