Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games Franchise, all original ideas, characters, and places are property of Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate Films. I'm just a fan who wanted to take the original story in another direction.
"They're wrong. God, why does the Capitol have to do this to us? To go off, killing innocent children… It's despicable. And how do they find entertainment from, murder? The blood of innocent children… It satisfies them! How can that be? And they think they're superior from us! It's ridiculous! There are nothing but..." I don't know what overcame me, but I kissed Gale. I have no idea why I did it; maybe it was to make him shut-up? Or because his lips looked so soft? I will never know. But I do know, that I seem to enjoy it. My lungs are burning for air, but I don't want to break off the kiss. I wonder if Gale is enjoying this too. He gets into a different position, putting his hands on my face and my hands go through his hair. He breaks off the kiss, and I have the feeling he will go away, but he doesn't. Instead, he starts kissing my neck. As he kisses my neck, I realize that I just had my first kiss! I don't know what to think, since I said I was never going to marry, have kids, I may as well never be kissed. But I was wrong. Terribly wrong. I didn't just have one kiss, but probably like ten. I feel some pain in my neck, like if a bunch were sucking on my flesh. It doesn't feel too good.
"Ow." I let out. Gale stops kissing my neck, and we get back to just kissing. We lay down, and resume our earlier activity. Suddenly, I feel my shirt being pulled. I start to panic and run off, leaving Gale behind, probably confused.
I don't even bother to hide my bow, I concentrate on running, running far away from these woods and getting home, where I can cower in embarrassment. I really don't know why I did what I did. Do I love Gale? The thought seems insane, emotions were running high, and maybe I just wanted him to shut up.
As I run I tell myself the kiss meant nothing, however deep down I know I loved that kiss, and I can't stop thinking about what would have happened if I'd let Gale pull up my shirt...
...
Prim knocks on the Hawthorne's old wooden door. Usually I like going to Gale's for dinner, but today, I'm dreading it.
"What's wrong Katniss? Usually you're so exited to go to Gale's! What's with the sad face?" Prim asks me. I need to come up with a lie, and quickly.
"I was just thinking about… How scared I was for you at the reaping! Your name and Primma's are almost identical!" I tell her. For once, I'm glad for the reaping. I would never hear the end of it if I told Prim about earlier today.
Someone answers the door, and it's Gale. Of course it was him, with my luck.
"Hey guys!" He says. "Mother! The Everdeen's are here!" Gale yells to Hazelle, who comes out to greet us, wearing a long grey dress. She looks lovely.
"Hello, hello! You guys are in for a treat tonight! We are having squirrel stew!" She says enthusiastically. Just thinking about the meal makes my mouth water.
We make our way in the house. I try not to look in Gale's eyes. I feel so dumb, after what happened today. Maybe I should talk to him? Tell him that what happened was nothing, and act as if it never happened? I won't be able to look him in the eye, knowing that kiss is all that's been on my mind. Since Gale's the only person close to my age, I'm a little bit forced to hang around him all evening.
Immediately as we step into their home, Prim is already out with Rory, Vick and Posy. For a second, I think of joining them, but I retain myself. I've seen them play before, and I do not feel like being some wizard from this book called "Harry Potter". I can't really be with mother and Hazelle, because all they do is chatter about subjects that don't interest me. I guess I'll have to face the awkwardness, and be with Gale.
"Hey Catnip." He says to me. I'm surprised of how calm he is acting with me. I can only imagine how confused and hurt he must be about me running off.
"Hey Gale, can I talk to you privately?" Gale nods and leads me to his room. Well, it's not exactly his room; it's also Vick's and Rory's. Posy sleeps with Hazelle.
"What's up?" He asks me. I can feel my legs trembling as he talks. I honestly do not know what came over me, but, I tilt my chin up to Gale's, and I kiss him. Not lightly, but passionately, rough almost.
I pull away from Gale's kiss. He seems confused, and probably annoyed by my mixed signals.
"What's wrong? Did I, did I do something wrong?" Gale says self-consciously.
"Nothing it's just, look...," I take a deep breath and continue. "Gale, we're best friends, and friends well, they don't, they don't do this kind of thing."
"We don't have to be best friends…" He says. What does he mean?
"What are you saying?"
"We could be together."
I am literally in shock. Does Gale… like me? In a romantic sort of way? I refuse to belive this. Gale can pick any girl he'd like. He's tall and handsome, all the girls at school find him attractive. Myself, I'm just plain. I'm not exactly ugly, but I'm not nearly as beautiful as the merchant girls who fawn over Gale.
Suddenly, he kisses me. I kiss him back. I don't know why I am. I don't love Gale. I don't love anybody, except for Prim and my father. And I suppose I love my mother. However, that's a different kind of love. What Gale is suggesting is romantic love, which I don't know I can give him.
Nonless, we keep kissing and I push those thoughts out of my head. I simply concentrate on Gale, and his lips locked on mine.
"Dinner is ready! Come get it while it's hot!" Hazelle says. After she calls us, we awkwardly head out to fetch dinner..
"We better go, wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to have a meal." I say, Gale just nods. We walk to the dinner table silently. The both of us grab small serving of the stew and sit on the table.
After the prayer is done, we start to dig in. The stew is delicious and hearty. I don't have a very big portion, however it still fills up my stomach nicely.
"Hazelle, this stew is delicious! Probably the best stew I have ever had!" My mother says. I silently agree, secretly wishing I had more. Of course I wont dare go back for seconds. As a general rule, the older you are, the less you get. A person Gale's size or mine could survive with simply that sized bowl, but not a small child such as Posy. Younger children fill up more quickly, however they also get hungry almost just as quick.
"Oh, well thank you Jewels!" Hazelle says to mother.
"Yes, mommy, it's very yummy!" Posy says with a big smile. I can't help but smile, Posy is such a cutie.
"Well I'm glad you liked it!" Hazelle says to Posy with a huge grin. Rory excuses himself, followed by Prim, Vick and then Posy. They're off in their own world, continuing with whatever game they were playing before dinner. The only people left at the table are Hazelle, Mother, Gale and I. Hazelle and mother a quickly start talking about 'lady stuff'. Gale and I sit awkwardly beside each other, not saying a word, not even looking at each other; I think Gale also regrets about our little, session. At least I hope he does, it would be too much for him too love me, knowing I'm almost incapable of romantic love. If anyone were to find out, I wouldn't be too surprised if the girls at school get together and burn me at the stake. I could outrun them pretty easily, being the fastest runner at school and I. My only problem would be if Marjorie Nestar were to join them, who would surely get a surge of adrenaline, and then I'd be for sure dead
Marjorie was Gale's first girlfriend; they dated for about a year. I guess things were getting serious, as I once overheard Gale's friends asking if he's slept with her, to which he confirmed.
When Gale broke-up with her, he told her he was starting to develop feelings for someone else, and she got mad. I don't k now that it is, but every time I see Marjorie, she glares at me all evil-like. Once, I heard her talk to Joan Rankine, her best friend about me, and I still remember the whole conversation. I was thirteen years old, walking too my next class, then I saw Marjorie talking to Joan. I still vaguely remember the conversation.
"You know that Katniss Everdeen girl?" Marjorie said. Joan nodded. I went and hid behind some garbage can to hear, my heart was beating like mad.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I think she's a little slut."
"What?" Joan replies, who was surely as confused as I was.
"She tried to steal Gale away from me with her illegal activities!" Marjorie cried.
"Really? Well I think she is so stupid. My brother is in her math class, and apparently, she got zero on her quiz. Nobody really likes her," she said. "only the mayor's daughter and Gale. She seems annoying too." Joan said. Starting to feel hurt from their comments, I decided I'd walk away once they changed the subject, which they did. I don't remember much, but I do know I ran away in tears from her accusations.
I can feel that my eyes about to cry, so I excuse myself from the table. I run to Gale's room to sob freely on his bed. A few seconds later, he comes in and sits beside me, comforting me with sympathy.
"It's ok Catnip, it's ok…" He says as he rubs my back. I sink my face into his shirt and I cry my eyes out, which is something I haven't done in a very long time. Gale wraps his arms around me, and gently strokes my hair. I'm happy that he is not asking me why I am crying. I never told him about the incident with Marjorie and Joan. If I did, there's no doubt he would give them a piece of his mind. Feeling worn out from crying, I get my face off of Gale's shirt and I wipe my remaining tears.
"What was that all about, Catnip? You didn't like the stew?" He says playfully. We both laugh.
"No, I loved the stew. I was just thinking about something really depressing, about the past." I say.
"What is it?" He asks me.
"It's nothing." I respond quickly.
"Come on Catnip, you can tell me anything! I won't judge you, you know that!"
"Marjorie." I tell him quickly. I look away, because I'm on the verge of tears.
"Katniss… Marjorie is a cold-hearted bully. I don't know what she said, but I'll talk to her if you want, tell her to stop being such a-"
"No, no, no! Gale please don't do that. I was thirteen when it all happened. It's in the past." I tell him. We look at each other intensely, and we begin to kiss, again.
Next thing I know, I am sleeping with Gale Hawthorne, with our mother in the other room, and our younger siblings outside.
A/N: To anyone re-reading this, I'm editing chapters 1-5, some things may be tweaked and erased, so be sure to read up! Have a nice day and please review