Hai everyone, I have four announcements!
1. Thank you all SO MUCH for the reviews and the favorites and the alerts…especially the reviews! You can't imagine how happy I was that you guys liked it better…yes, I have to admit, even I thought Katniss was way more in character this time than last time, because I pretty much remember what she was like last time. So thank yall so much! –virtual hug-
2. OMG. So. You know the movie? Of course you do. The Hunger Games movie. A picture of Katniss and Gale during the movie is out. In fact, it's my profile picture, if you wanna good look at it. They. Look. AMAZING. I'm just mindblown. I was originally pissed off with Liam as Gale but after seeing THIS…wow. Just wow.
3. I have started a new forum for Gale lovers such as myself, because I always love meeting the rest of my family! It's called "Born A Rebel", and the link's on my profile. I'd love it if you joined my family! Gale lovers must unite!
4. I HAD A DREAM ABOUT GALE LAST NIGHT, AND IT WAS LOVELY. So the good news is, this chapter will be filled with…*sigh*…Gale and Gale and Gale.
And now on with the story.
The moment I saw the paparazzi burst through the door and aiming their cameras threateningly at me, I turned around and ran.
I ran for about an hour before I finally reached the calming atmosphere of my own house. I threw the door open and fell down into my favorite sofa. I had so much to think about, but sometimes I just didn't want to think. Sometimes I felt like lying down in my bed and screaming into my pillow. Maybe, I thought, I should just go into the woods and relax for a while.
My mind was a flurry of thoughts and waves of guilt crashed down on me as I realized that Peeta was probably still waiting in the church with his heart broken. I hoped he would realize that I really meant no harm and I just needed to wait a while longer before marrying him…
If I was even going to do that much for him.
I slapped myself mentally. Katniss, you idiot! I thought angrily to myself. Everything you say comes out the wrong way! You love Peeta Mellark – you told him that yourself!
But I knew I really wasn't in love. I wasn't in love, and I would never love anyone. I was strong and free and independent, and I would never need a man like every other girl did. I was one of a kind.
I walked to the window and looked out at the woods I'd gone to so many times before everything had turned upside-down. I could barely even see the rock I used to sit on with someone who used to be special to me. I'd pushed him away, and now I'd pushed Peeta away.
Now was definitely not the time to relive old memories that were long lost, but I decided to walk out the door with my head held high and sit on the rock that I used to. The paparazzi would be at my house in a few minutes anyway, and it would be best to remain calm and confident.
As I neared the rock, I heard a low growl which I wasn't supposed to hear. Boars weren't supposed to be roaming around in 12! I whirled around, reaching for an arrow, and then realized that I didn't have my bow or my arrows. I was empty-handed and a wild boar, obviously not indigenous to the District, was facing me with an ugly snarl on its ugly face. I would kill it with my bare hands.
"Come on, Katniss," I muttered to myself. "Use the moves that Haymitch taught you. Strangle it and have no mercy." I cracked my knuckles, rolled my head, and advanced towards the boar.
The moment it lunged, I knew I'd been foolishly brave…I now had less than a second to move out of the boar's way before it bit into my leg or did something equally gruesome.
I slid to the side of the boar, and it fell on my foot with a sickening crack, stunned. I used the few seconds I had to limp over to a tree and start clawing my way up onto a high enough branch.
I heaped the skirt part of my dress over the branch, already a muck-colored brown and streaked with dust, and looked out to see if anyone was nearby. Of course, I would have no such luck because I was one of the only people who ever came into the woods –
I heard a shot, and a yowl of rage. Looking down, I saw the boar sway and fall into a heap at the base of the tree, blood flowing out of its bullet wound.
"Katniss?" I recognized the voice, and I didn't want to turn around to look him in the eye. I was over him and I never wanted to see him again, to even hear the boy who killed my sister.
"Katniss?" he repeated. "What are you doing up there?" I finally gathered up enough courage, clenched my teeth, balled up my fists, and spun to face my enemy with a string of bad words waiting to throw themselves at him.
And there he was. Gale Hawthorne, standing there looking better than ever with his hair flopping on his forehead and his well-defined jaw and his head cocked to one side. He was dressed in a shiny new black tux and a red tie hung from his neck.
"Don't talk to me," I snarled, but was momentarily surprised by his attire. "Why the hell are you wearing that?"
He shrugged. "Well, your mom invited me to your wedding. And I guess it's a little too late now…"
"Yes, it is," I hissed. "My wedding is ruined, so you can leave now. Go all the way back to your precious District 2 in your precious limo and kiss your precious girlfriend hello."
"I didn't come in a limo, Katniss." He frowned.
"Well then, how did you get here?" I snapped. "Did you walk? Well, you're definitely not poor enough to not be able to afford a limo, so I don't see how else you'd get here."
He looked away, and I knew then that he hadn't come in a limo after all. "No. I came by train." And then I finally looked at his face, and realized that he wasn't lying. His forehead was matted with sweat and he looked sick to the stomach. I knew from experience that riding on the railroad that stretched East-West wasn't a pleasant experience.
"So what happened?" he asked casually, as if we were still best friends. Or friends, even. His words brought a scowl to my face.
"Why did you come?" I asked him coldly. "You know I don't want you here. Neither does Peeta."
His face turned completely serious, and suddenly he looked like I remembered him as a younger boy. Guilt-washed and holding so many distressing thoughts he was about to burst. "I know. But I hadn't seen you in a while, and I just wanted to see you again. And wish you luck with your new life. But I guess I don't deserve to do that. So..." he looked me in the eye - "I am really, really sorry about everything, and I hope you have great years ahead of you with Peeta. I'll miss…I'll miss talking to you. Bye…" He gave me one sincere look that seemed to say, I know what I did, Katniss.
And that was it. Gale walked off, hands in his pockets, but I knew him too well to fall for his fake nonchalance. His slouching figure and slightly hung head told me that he wasn't disinterested at all. I knew at that moment he really cared about me, and I kind of regretted being such an asshole.
I thought going home, wrapping up my foot, and talking things out with Peeta would make me feel better. But my mother's claim that she had never invited Gale to the wedding only made me feel worse.
When I went back to the forest the next day, the boar was still lying there.
Was that all right? Meh...I didn't think it was great...I hope Katniss was still in character...haha she's such a meanie! But don't worry, she'll soften up soon enough. Yess, I kind of changed the plotline because I decided I'm going to focus totally on the romance aspects and make the story a little more simple. Reviews are loved! CC is always accepted! Thanks so much! Gale