Before that thought finished manifesting in my head, Katniss and Peeta were whisked away inside the justice building. The Mellark's and the Everdeen's hurried towards the building with me in hot pursuit. They let family in first, leaving me pacing a hole in the carpet while I waited. As I waited, thoughts played on repeat through my mind, "Why Prim why did this god awful thing have to happen why did it have to be Katniss who volunteered? I mean sure Prim is her sister but I mean now we may lose Katniss Everdeen, the only girl I could ever trust with all my secrets, the person I hunt with, the only person I love, and the only thing unknown to her is how much I love her. I can't lose Katniss dammit, I already lost my father and now the girl I love?! This just isn't fair, but there is nothing I can do about it, I can only pray. After what felt like a milinnium, they finally allowed me back to see her.
I practically sprinted down the hallway, and made it to the door in record time. I opened the door, and with what was almost a choked sob, Katniss flung herself into my arms holding me tightly. I tried to pour everything I felt for her into that hug, but I don't think I managed to make her feel how much I loved her. I I looked into her eyes, and saw for the first time since her father died, emotions I thought Katniss would never show again. In her eyes shone vulnerability, fear, loss, sadness, disbelief, and fury. I was only able to distiguish these emotions because of how well I know her. A complete stranger would just see the cold expressionless mask that most see. Not my Catnip, I see every emotion she tries to hide every wayward thought splaying across her face like a painting. My Catnip whom I need to let her know I will take care of her mother and Prim, and who I need to let know how much I love her, and what she would need to do to make sure she would come home.
First, I explained that she needed to do one thing and one thing only, Get. To. A. Bow. I knew deep in my gut if she got a bow, if she showed them how good she was, they would put a bow in the arena. She would give them a good show. In the end that was all this sick twisted game was about, a televized program of teens and tweens killing each other for the amusement of the weird oddly colored Capitol people who didn't give a damn about those in the districts, in the end all they wanted was for themselves to have a good show. "Remember Katniss, I lo-." The door hitting me in the nose cut me off, stopping me from saying the one thing I'd never had to balls to say in all the time I've known her. And I may never get a chance again. For all I know, once Katniss gets to the games, the gamemakers could purposely obliterate her.
Walking out of the building, I caught sight of the mayor's daughter Madge who walked up to me. "Gale I'm sorry about Katniss, but you have to believe she will come through. She's strong and she can get through it." She tapped my chest, "You believe in her here, but up here," she tapped my head, lives worry, love, anger. Don't. Let. The. Games. Control. You. Gale. You have responsibilities now man up and act on them." She shoved me hard in the chest, then walked away quickly.
I stared after her blankly, then bolted to the train station where the tributes were being boarded. I caught a glimpse of Katniss getting pulled onto the train before the door closed, blocking me of the stony soft pair of grey eyes that had captured my heart the first time I saw her. I gripped my hair in denial, then raced to my safe haven of the woods, not caring I could her my name being screamed, not caring that I was in my best clothes, not caring that I needed to go home, not even caring that from the train window a probing pair of grey eyes searched for me, burning into my back. I just ran, the only thought going through my head was, "Katniss you need to win I can't live without you. Katniss if you die who will watch my back in the woods? Katniss I need you please please please try to come home. Katniss. Katniss. Katniss…
