I freeze. I'm going to die. Somebody is going to kill me and then I'm going to die. I slowly turn around. I'm shocked to find a handsome boy, about my age, staring at me. If looks could kill, I swear I'd be dead. He lovers his bow.
"Who are you?" He asks. His voice isn't developed yet, but it's definitely not high. I'm at a loss for words. He walks towards me and thwarts me with his bow.
"Well," he says, "Are you going to tell me? Or are you going to keep standing there like an idiot?"
That hurts. I blink once, then sprint as fast I can to the fence. I climb and jump down, not looking back. I run through the Meadow where my father used to take me.
After what seems like forever, I'm home. I drop my bow and arrow and run to the bedroom, hiding under my covers. How can he scare me? I don't get scared. But here I am, trembling like Prim's ugly cat, close to tears, because of some boy! I dismiss my thoughts of him so I won't start crying.
He appears in my dreams. I dream that we're friends. He doesn't talk, no matter what I ask him, he just smiles. Wait- no. This isn't right. He kisses me on the cheek and leaves. What is going on? Is that what friends do? Why is my heart beating so fast? Why is my stomach stirring?
My dream is interrupted- thank God- by my mother, waking me up for school. In ten minutes, I'm walking in the doors to my class. My mind keeps wandering to the boy who I met. The boy who almost killed me. The week drones on, and I didn't learn a single thing in school. My mind just kept replaying what happened in the woods, over and over again, until it's finally Saturday.
I run to the woods, hoping I might find the boy and let him know I'm not a coward. I wait for hours, but don't even catch a glimpse of him. I sigh, disappointed and walk home. Dropping my bow and arrows on the floor, I crawl into bed and go to sleep, even though it's only sunset.
The same dreams creeps into my sleep. Each night, when this boy leaves, I find myself wanting him to stay more and more. He's becoming my best friend, even though I know that it's all in my head.
These dreams are the reason that I hate waking up.
This morning, on my way to the woods, I realize that I'm crying. I don't know why, but I am. I wipe the tears from my eyes and blink back the rest that threaten to spill out. I jump the fence and grab an arrow from my sheath. I shoot at some trees for a minute, before I hear his voice.
"Hey!" Hey yells. "Hey Girlie! C'mere!"
Rude. But I don't care. I'm just glad that he showed up. I turn around and run over to him. I almost hug him, but remember that I'm awake. He runs his hand through his hair nonchalantly. He looks up into my eyes. I've never notice that not only does he have the same olive skin and black hair as me, but also the same grey eyes. I wonder if he's from the Seam, like me.
"I haven't seen you around the woods before." He says, getting straight to the point.
I tug on my ear. I'm speechless again. "I'm Katniss," I say in a tiny mouse voice that's barely audible.
The boy laughs, " Your name is Catnip? Now that's something you don't hear everyday! Tell me, where did your parents get the idea to name you that?"
I feel myself flush. I must be as red as an apple. "I said Katniss," I tell him louder, putting emphasis on the "niss".
"Oh! Oh, now I get it!" he yells still smiling. He's pretty intimidating.
"What's your name?" I ask. "It's Gale, Gale Hawthorne." I like that name. "I come here every Sunday to hunt." He tells me.
"Well so do I," I lie, "You know, after I got my bow and arrow." I cross my fingers, hoping that he'll let me hunt with him on Sundays. As friends.
"So, Gale," I say, "I haven't seen you around school before."
"I'm ten," He says, "You look about twelve. Our paths don't usually cross during school."
I'm surprised. He's tall for his age, and he's pretty muscley. I blush, realizing that I've been paying attention to his biceps, then tug at my braid as a punishment.
"How do you know my age?" I ask. "I can tell people's age by looking at them and hearing how they speak." he says. I nod as if it makes sense, but I really don't understand.
I pick up my bow and arrows. Gale gets his bag and stands from where he was crouching down. "We'd better get going," he says, "It's going to be dark by the time we get home." He studies the sky. "See you next week?" He asks.
I nod.
We jump the fence and walk home, standing at and awkward distance between each other. When I'm home, I shut my door and slide down on the wall. My mind wanders to Gale- again. So this is what it's like to have a friend. Someone like you.
It feels…nice.
