Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.


Beyond the Fence

Hazelle sets dinner on the table in record breaking time, waving her hands frantically in the air signalling for everyone to find a seat. Posy finds herself a seat at the round table and places her small hands on the two seats beside her for Gale and I. We share a knowing a smile to each other as we make our way to our reserved seats.

"Whose turn is it to say grace?" Hazelle queries

Posy's hand shoots up and exclaims "Gale's turn Ma. It's Gale's turn tonight; remember the night before it was yours?"

"Right you are, Posy." Hazelle sits down into her seat and nods her head in Gale's direction. "When you're ready"

The table joins hands in preparation for prayer, before bowing our heads out of respect. Posy's small hand fits in mine like a missing puzzle piece; I lift my head slightly to glance at her. She sits with her eyes screwed shut, her legs dangling from the oversized chair she sits in.

I brush my thumb over the back of her palm which makes Posy smile in appreciation. I proceed to direct my gaze back down to the floor, but as I remove my eyes off Posy, I see Gale looking at me. I holt my actions and look at Gale.

He has clearly witnesses my interaction with Posy moments ago, and for some unknown reason I find myself glad that he saw it for himself. Gale is the first to return to bowing his head and begins tonight's grace as he wears an adoring expression.

"Father, we thank you for the people here tonight, we thank you for allowing us to come together as a family. We give thanks for the food we have to eat and pray that each day we have enough to live on. Dear Lord, we thank you for today and for tomorrow. Amen"

Hazelle serves us Everdeens first, followed by her children and lastly herself. Tonight's meal consists of squirrel with a small amount of vegetables including carrots, spinach and beans. The meal like every other is small, but when the Hawthornes and Everdeens come together, it makes do.

"How was your day everyone?" Hazelle asks.

Vick wastes no time to answer first and explains how he is creating his own personal ant farm outside in the yard. This information only makes Rory murmur "nerd" in Vick's ear but loud enough for the entire table to hear. Thankfully, Gale sits a across from Rory and kicks his younger brother's shin in disapproval the same time Prim gasps and hits Rory's arm.

"Ah man" is the only thing Rory can say for himself. Prim gives him a final warning look before turning back to Vick, smiling encouragingly for him to continue with his story. I try to stifle a laugh from the scene in front of me, this is just your typical night at the Hawthorne's house.

Once dinner is finished, Prim volunteers to do the washing up and elects Rory to dry up. From the look on Rory's face he was hoping for the complete opposite. This must be Prim's way of punishing Rory after the way he behaved at dinner.

I have noticed recently that whenever Prim is in Rory's company she can practically have him do anything she says. Maybe Rory has a little crush on Prim. If my theory is right, then Prim is completely oblivious to what is going on. She is exactly like me when I was thirteen. At that age I could not think of anything else worse than a boy coming anywhere near me He should definitely not be thinking about her like that, particularly this young.

Then again, it would make sense if he was. He is just like his brother and during high school, Gale made quite a name for himself among the ladies. I recall him being called at times the, Slag Heap King? I can still remember the way girls would gush over him when we would walk through the halls. To be perfectly honest, I think he enjoyed that kind of attention.

I mean sure, he was, is, an extremely handsome looking man, especially someone from the Seam. Gale had girls from both sides of District Twelve chasing after him. I can still remember the feeling of jealousy every time Gale would tell me he could not walk home with me because he had to "stay back" at school. I knew what that was code for.

I hate myself for it and know that it was not true, but I could not stand the thought of being replaced by another girl. Gale was mine and I was his, in a completely platonic relationship. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall to discover the time is already seven thirty.

"Posy, it's time for bed. Come on let's go." Hazelle instructs, holding her hand out for her daughter to hold on to.

Instead of complying to her mother's words, Posy latches on to my hand and insists that I read her one story before bed.

Hazelle studies me for a short time before replying "Katniss will another night. Gale take your sister to bed, I'm going to get Katniss ready for the party."

Gale wears the same confused look as I do before lifting his sister from the chair and taking her into her room for the night. Posy's chin rests on Gale's shoulder, her eyes watching me as she is carried out of the room. Before she's out of sight her hand raises and gives me a timid wave signally her departure for the night.

Hazelle pats my back and states, "Come with me dear. I think I have just the thing for you to wear."

Hazelle leads me to the bedroom she shares with Posy down the short corridor in the house. The door swings open with a slight push and the floor boards creak under her weight. The room is practically the same as my own, possessing a small bed in the corner as well as a matching wooden bed side table and wardrobe. Up against the wall closest to the door is a chest of draws with a few personal trinkets and items of jewellery on top. There is a faded full length mirror next to the draws and washing baskets and an ironing board is set up for her laundry business.

Hazelle walks in and makes a beeline to the draws, opening the second one and moving pieces of clothing in search of a suitable outfit for tonight. I stand in the doorway unsure if I should enter.

"I haven't worn this since I was about your age; I thought I would keep it for Posy when she is older, but for tonight it's yours. If I could only find it…" she speaks to me without actually making eye contact. "Oh here it is!" Hazelle lifts a dress, hands stretching it out in front of her, inspecting it. "It may be a bit big, but I'm sure with a face like yours no one will take much notice of the dress."

From where I am standing, I can see the dress perfectly clear. It is a pale yellow colour with a small white polka dot pattern. The chest section is fitted and includes a halter neck; the skirt is loose and falls just above the knee. Hazelle looks at the dress with a nostalgic expression before gazing at me. "Come on dear, try it on. I will leave and wait just outside. You tell me when you're ready".

With that Hazelle hands me the dress and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. I walk to the bed and sit down, reaching down to untie the laces on my boots. Once they are off I work at my jeans before taking off my father's hunting jacket and then my tethered shirt.

When I am down to my undergarments, I lift the dress over my head and slip my arms through the top. Surprising, the dress fits quite nice. I brush out the crinkles and make my way to the mirror barefoot.

I stare at the reflection, criticizing myself. I look exhausted, it has been a long week and the bags under my eyes are too noticeable. I don't look my age, I look older, but that might be just because of my outfit. My hair looks as if it will fall out at any second and decide that redoing it myself will take too much time.

Before I can judge my appearance any longer there is a knock at the door. It slowly opens and I notice a head peering through, its Hazelle and when she spots me she opens the door and walks in followed by my mother.

"Katniss you look beautiful" Hazelle compliments, scanning me from head to toe, her eyes stop when they reach my feet. "I will find you some shoes; you can't wear yours to a party with this dress." Hazelle scurries out, leaving me and my mother alone.

My mother looks at me and I stare back, I can see a small smile on her lips. "Let me do your hair." She walks over to where I am standing and touches my shoulder before taking my braid out of my hair. "I don't know how Hazelle managed to get you into a dress. I can only force one on you for reaping day, other that you are always in pants." I smile to myself, earning a slight laugh from my mother. She runs her hands through my now free hair and turns me around to put a small braid in the front of my hair.

By the time my mother is finished Hazelle has returned with a pair of buckle sandals. After an instruction to put them on, I am being pushed out of the room in the leather sandals. I walk nervously back to through the house into the kitchen, with Hazelle and my mother close on my heels. Rory and Prim have retreated back to their usual place on the couch and stare at me as I walk through.

"Looking good Kat. You clean up nicely" Rory says playfully. Prim for about the twentieth time tonight hits Rory after his comment.

"Katniss you look lovely. Gale said he won't be long, he's just cleaning himself up outside." Prim says, obviously trying to reassure me that I look nice. Suddenly there are too many eyes on me. Hazelle. Mom. Prim. Rory. I am not at all used to this type of attention on me all at once and quickly excuse myself. I run to the nearest door and lock myself in the bathroom.

I splash cold water on my now flustered face and stare up at to the tiny mirror on the wall in front of me. The braid my mother created lowers the oily appearance of my hair and creates an innocent appeal. I dry my face with a towel and gaze out the window which looks out into the backyard.

I do not notice until I see movement through the unclean glass that I have a direct view of Gale scrubbing his face in the sink outside. Most miners' houses have an outside sink for the boys of the family to clean themselves in after a day at the mines, it simply prevents the coal covered men walking through the house to use the inside sink.

Gale's shirt is off and I can see the taunt muscles of his back straining as he scrubs furiously at his face. He shuts of the tap and grabs the towel next to him to dry off. I move my eyes to cleaner part of the window to have a clearer sight of Gale.

He has already changed his trousers to his usual reaping ones which are a black colour. Gale turns around and gives me clear shot of the front of him. The past year working at the mines has allowed Gale to form muscle tone on his stomach. He begins walking to the close line, my eyes never leaving him. He swings his towel on to the wire and walks back to the sink to his shirt which hangs over the tap. I shuffle my feet the same direction he is moving without actually knowing exactly what I am doing.

I lose my footing on a puddle left by me and grab onto the towel rack before I fall to the ground. The rack strains under my grip and makes a horribly loud sound. I retract my hands and hope to God I did not break anything. For some unknown reason I didn't and look back to where Gale was moments before. Gale's gaze is directed to the direction of the bathroom and I duck absently worried he caught me spying.

It isn't until I realise the sound I created is most likely the reason why he looked this way, I understand just how ridiculous I was acting only moments ago. I cannot believe I was just looking at Gale that way, I never have before, but then again I have never seen him like that before.

Once I find enough courage to sneak a glance out the window, I find Gale has disappeared. I take that as my opportunity to leave the bathroom and return to everyone else. As I open the door and step outside I walk right into something solid. I take a few steps back, momentarily confused by what has just happened. It does not take me long to figure out what the unknown object I ran into is once I see Gale standing right in front of me, buttoning up a white shirt.