Hey ReAdErS,

I have been out and about on vacation over the week, so i haven't been able to update, but here you guys gooo:)

P.S. PM or Review a story idea to me for what you want to see in District 2, and it may be featured in an upcoming chapter:)

Enjoy...


"No," he mumbles.

His face grows cold, the way it always does to other people. The way he shuts them out. The way he was hurt.
He grips the phone tighter. "No, that will not happen." he hisses trying to keep his cool.

His image turns to stone again. "I'm sorry, but communications in Twelve will cease if you are to do that."

There is a mumble over the line and his face falls.

I peer through the doors of his office in the corner of our house. Gale is the communications official of District two.

"That is none of your business sir." Again there is another rumble and the base of his neck turns bright red. "Thank you."

It takes all of his energy not to slam the phone into the receiver.

His hands fly to his face and he rubs his eyes.

"Gale?" I timidly call from behind the door.

He looks up. "What?" he mutters still in his angry tone of speech.

"Are you alright?"

He lies back in his chair and undoes his necktie. "Don't talk about it." he spits.

"Gale, I-" I step onto the carpet. "Just leave me alone, Rissa!" He yells.

I step back immediately. Gale never yells at me.

My hands clench and I swallow hard. "Don't yell at me."

He looks my way and stands from his chair. "Leave."

I don't move a muscle. "Gale." I whisper.

He slumps into his chair exhausted. "Just leave, Rissa." He mutters. Yet, I don't. We stand there in silence-gale in his chair, face in hands, me in the doorway. In fact, I walk up to him and kneel so we come face to face.

"Gale..." I Lightly brush his wrist with my fingertips.

He sighs.

"What happened?"

He doesn't answer. Silence is always his best defense towards me. But I always find a way to coax him out of it. I grab his hand and pull it from his face.

His eyes advert to the floor.

"Gale don't get mad me, I-"

"Just stop." He pulls away from me to swerve back to his desk and rumble through a stack of papers.

"Fine then. Don't talk to me." I stand up and walk away.

It takes a while, but finally I here a low droll, "Rissa..."

His voice is annoyed. I stop but don't turn around.

"Come here."

I look over my shoulder and he gestures me to return by his side.

I do and sit on his lap.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles, but you can tell the rage still bubbles.

"Gale, just give it up. There in no use in getting mad at people." I yawn, lowering my head to his shoulder. He wraps his arms tightly around my waist.

"Don't worry about it. Other officials are just idiots."

I look up at him and raise an eyebrow. "To say lightly?"

He kisses my forehead. "Yes, lightly."

"What about Twelve, though?"

He pauses and takes a deep breath. "District 12 is rebuilding and people think it is too useless to revive. But I am trying to defend it."

"Do you have to go to there?"

"No."

"Oh come on, I've never been there before. You could show me around and-"

His body tenses and I know why.

Katniss resides in twelve.

I bring my voice to a low whisper. "We can avoid them both, if you want." He breathes deeply and replies doubtfully, "I don't know Riss. No."

"Oh come on it-"

"I said no." he confronts firmly.

I sit up. "Would you stop cutting me off!"

"We are not going to Twelve!" he rises.

I step onto the ground.

"Why not? Because you're afraid of her? You're afraid of Katniss? Gale, she already wrote you off. Don't let her get in you're way."

"Don't bring Katniss into this." He shouts over me.

I poke him in the chest when I say, "Then stop acting hurt." and I walk out and go to bed.


Ouch.

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