A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents.
—William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet.
I sleep through most of the movie they show and manage to wake up at the end with just enough time left to make it seem like I was paying attention. I look around the room and notice that most of my fellow classmates have also drifted off into dreamland.
The lights come on and I notice that the Peacekeeper is still staring at me as he explains to us to file down to the Auditorium. He says it doesn't matter where we sit, so as soon as I hit the hallway, I start looking for Katniss. It proves to be a waste of time, though, because she and Madge Undersee are waiting outside the door to my classroom.
"Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of such wonderful looking ladies?"
Madge giggles, "Maverick is in your class, Gale."
Oh, right. Madge's boyfriend. He's a nice enough guy, but he's from the merchant district, and he's one of the few merchant boys who treats me as an equal even though I'm from the Seam. I'm glad he's dating Madge; the two of them are suited for each other.
The three of us wait for him and then file down to the auditorium as instructed. We find four seats and file in, Maverick, Madge, Katniss and I in a row together. The lights dim and a spotlight comes on as District 12's head Peacekeeper Cray walks out on the stage.
He spots Katniss and me in the crowd and nods at us, so we nod back without even thinking. He then sets the microphone and begins talking.
"Children of District 12, you know that I am the Head Peacekeeper of our district, and although we have kept the streets of our fair district safe, we now have a favor that we ask of you—the citizens. The Peacekeepers Recruiting Agency has decided to change the recruitment requirements and has also decided to start campaigning to you a little earlier, while showing you some of our benefits and the ways you can all help your district."
"Here to explain these procedures and benefits is the head Peacekeeper of Panem: Donnelly Markson."
Markson was a big man, and he actually reminded me a lot of my dad: broad shoulders, dark hair, no nonsense demeanor. But he stepped to the microphone and a powerpoint flashed in the background to help influence his points.
"Firstly, I want you all to know what an honor it is to uphold the laws that govern Panem. But, you've heard this speech many times, so let me start explaining what the different requirements are as far as the PRA go."
He clicked the slide, "The first difference we've made this year is the appropriate ages that one can go into the Peacekeepers Academy. This year, we have decided to start letting 16 year olds join, rather than waiting until you are 18 years of age."
At the mention of being sixteen or older, Katniss elbowed me, "Means you can join up this year, Gale."
I snorted at her, "Protecting the Capitol? That would be a problem considering I've sworn to hate them for all eternity." Katniss started giggling so loudly that I finally had to put a hand over her mouth to make her stop.
Markson went on, "In addition to that, you would be flown to District 2 to participate in the Academy with other teenagers. As far as money and payment, you would be a recipient of the Peacekeeper Scholarship, which totals around $5,000 a year that would be sent directly to your families."
"Five thousand dollars a year?!" Katniss breathes. "Gale, do you know what our mothers would do with five thousand dollars a year?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I reply. "Too bad you aren't eligible, Catnip."
"In addition to the scholarship," Markson went on, "each Peacekeeper in training would get what we call a 'Capitol Allowance' which he or she would be free to spend during weekly trips to the Capitol or to send back to his or her family. This allowance will be given on a person-by-person basis of how well they do on each task they are given."
I glanced over at Katniss, her eyes were growing wide at the mention of all that money, up for grabs. However, she wasn't eligible—I was.
"Now, the Peacekeepers have analyzed which boys and girls ages 16 and up are the most able bodied and desired for our campaign. However, we have invited the 14 and 15 year old classes down today so they can begin preparing themselves if the life of a Peacekeeper is something they are interested in."
"Now for the most important part," Markson smiled as he clicked his slide. "Once a Peacekeeper completes his training, he will be eligible to apply to come back to his or her district of choice to do his or her duty as a Peacekeeper there."
Marson smiled at the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, I feel as if I don't have to explain the honor this would bring your families to have a Peacekeeper in the family." Katniss cut me a look, yeah right.
So I whispered, "Oh yeah, a real 'honor,'" using air quotes.
She started to giggle again, loud enough for Madge and Maverick to turn our way and give us quizzical looks.
"Any questions?"
The auditorium started buzzing with people talking in excitement. Katniss simply grabbed my hand with enough force that I began to wonder if she was going to break it. A smaller kid in the front who I didn't know raised his hand for a question, Markson pointed to him and motioned for him to speak.
"What about reaping eligibility?"
Ah, the question of the hour, I thought to myself. If going to this academy took our names out of the reapings, every Seam kid in the district would be signed up within the hour.
Markson smiled and clicked to a slide in his PowerPoint. "While you will still be eligible for reapings until you pass your 18th year, your name and number of slips will go into the bowl with all of the other district 2 children."
"What horseshit!" I yelled, before I realized what I was saying. But to my happiness, several other kids in the auditorium had the same reactions. Why should the kids in 2 get a break just because they were Capitol lapdogs?
Markson didn't really know how to handle the anger of the people around him, so he turned it back over to Cray, who simply dismissed us to our lunch.
Katniss still held my hand as we walked to the cafeteria with Madge and Maverick. I didn't mind, and I certainly wasn't going to let go. But she stopped just short of her normal table and looked up at me, "Let's go somewhere we can be alone." I nodded, and let her lead me to the school's courtyard where no one would hear our conversation. I sat down on the bench and she began pacing around me.
"Gale… This is a big deal," she said. "That's a lot of money. I'm considering joining up myself next year."
I nodded, I knew she would have something to say about this. In fact, Markson had even started to convince me too. "I know, Catnip. This is a lot of money, and I have an even better chance of not being reaped, because I'll be in with all the district 2 fucks who like to volunteer."
She smiled even bigger, "It would be nice to not have to worry about you being reaped."
"And then when I get out of the Academy, I request to come back here. I turn the other way when you want to go hunt, and in 15 years I retire with a big, fat paycheck. And the best part is I don't have to work in the mines, ever. No more worrying about collapses, no tired and weary body that breaks down at 40, I'll finally be free."
She frowned a little, "But what about me, Gale?"
I pulled her in by her hand to sit next to me, I didn't have to say anything, my eyes said it for me, What about you?
"Where am I in that? Do I just get to watch you reap the benefits?"
A laugh escaped my lips, but I couldn't help it, she really was just too funny. "Well I marry you, of course, Catnip. That way we can split everything right down the middle, just like always."
The answer seems to appease her, so she goes on, "Is this something you're really serious about, Gale?"
I nod, "It's too much money to pass up, and I'm at the top of my gym class—they're probably going to approach me about it anyway… Can you keep them fed while I'm gone?" She nods, like I knew she would. But the most antagonizing question still lingers in my mind. Since I've noticed that I do actually have feelings for Katniss, they've become impossible for me to ignore, taking up every spare inch of my brain.
"Can you wait for me, Katniss?"
She smiles, "It's basically what I do every day in the woods anyway, Hawthorne."
I shake my head, and it almost hurts that she doesn't catch my meaning, so I take her hands in mine, "No, Catnip. I mean, like really wait for me…" I can still tell she doesn't understand, so I start to stumble on my words, "Like, you-you know…as in.. w-w-without another ma-man…"
Katniss is surprised, and her mouth just turns to the shape of a small 'O' and I know I messed up. "Or, or not."
But she puts a finger to my lips and takes my hand, "Yes, Gale. I'll wait for you, no matter what you decide to do."
…
Just as I predicted, the Peacekeepers come into our gym class within the week, wanting to talk to us about joining up. The first commitment was to the Academy, and after Academy was over we could make another decision on if we wanted to commit 15 years or just go back to being a regular civilian. The head Peacekeeper made an effort to talk to me directly, "Son, you are the exact type of material we are looking for in the PRA. We'd be honored to have you."
Having already had the discussion with my mother, the only thing left to do was agree and sign the paper. She had been sad at the thought of her eldest son leaving, but all the money was something that none of us could afford to pass up. The promise of getting to come home once a year, along with a slim chance of being in the Hunger Games, and being free from the mines was just too good of a deal to pass up.
And the director told me that I had to do was make it through the Hunger Games without being picked, and the tributes left, I'd be shipped off to district two. It disappointed me to realize that I would be gone so quickly, but I knew no one was as disappointed as Katniss was. She tried to hide it from me, and I knew she was excited at the thought of so much money, but she was really depressed and I couldn't blame her. At least she would be here with her family, only missing her best friend and, whatever it was that we were. I was going to be thousands of miles away, with just my thoughts and some serious physical training to occupy me.
On the morning of the Reaping, Katniss and I snuck away to the woods once again, as has been our tradition for the last few years. We normally go out to the valley miles and miles away from where anyone could hear us. We scream our frustrations at the Capitol and feast before the big drawing, and generally comfort each other before facing our families.
Either way after the Reaping today I would be gone. I could only pray that Katniss wasn't reaped, because I wasn't very sure what we would do if she were. So instead of dwelling on the unpleasant, I just smiled and joked with her until she smiled back. When she looked at her watch and announced it was almost time to go, she started to cry.
"Hey, hey, hey," I crossed to her and held her in my arms, just comforting her while she cried, "What's wrong, Catnip?"
"I can't let you leave, Gale. I don't know what I'm going to do without you until you come back."
I took her chin in my fingers and lifted her face toward me, "You'll miss me, I'm sure. But I'm going to miss you too. You're going to wait for me, and I'm going to wait for you."
She sniffled, and I wiped a tear from her eyes, "How do you know it's going to be worth it?"
I smiled, because that was the most obvious question of all. "You're worth it, Catnip." And I reached down ever so softly, to plant a light kiss on her lips. I kissed her cheeks, only stopping when I was just a breath away from her ear and whispered, "You will always be worth it to me."
