The Kiss

Katniss

I take a deep breath, open the heavy iron door, and step into the room where I am to say my final goodbyes. Final Goodbyes. How was I supposed to say goodbye to Gale who other than Prim is the only person I am sure I love. I love Gale like family. There has never been anything romantic between us, but maybe there would be eventually...

But, Gale and I no longer have a future. He will be dead in a few weeks, and then I will be alone. I cannot let those awful thoughts consume me. I must be strong for Gale. I am not the one going into a bloody arena where I have to fight for my life. He is. Any comfort I can provide has got to be worth it.

Gale looks up when I enter. He has just said goodbye to his family, and his eyes are distant.

"Hey Gale" I say, hoping to snap him back to reality. He doesn't speak. Instead he jumps up from the couch he was sitting on and in two giant leaps is across the room to where I stand. He embraces me.

It is unlike any embraces we have shared before. Those were purely friendly and we broke apart quickly afterwards. This time we stood in the middle of the room and just hugged, with no need of talking. He is the first to break apart. I look up to his face. It is calm, but his eyes are sad and worried.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of them" I say trying to wipe that unhappy look off his face. Then in answer instead of saying thank-you he plants a kiss on my lips. Then the peacekeepers are breaking us apart and dragging me out the door.

"Katniss, I ..." Gale shouts just as the door is closing. He wasn't able to finish, and now he never will be able to.

Gale

I kissed her. I just had to do it at least once. I have loved her ever since the day I met her. I wonder if she loves me back. Well the look on her face was shocked but not angry. Maybe she enjoyed the kiss. I hope she did because that was my first and last time kissing Katniss Everdeen.

The last person to come and see me is Prim. She takes my clammy hands in her own and looks me right in the eye.

Then she speaks, "Gale you have to win. Katniss needs you. She won't be able to go on without you." Her face is so determined, her light blue eyes cold as ice. She means what she's saying. She cares about Katniss.

"Then I must win" I say returning her determined look.

"Really try hard." She replies, gives me a hug around the waist and then flies out of the room like a little bird.

Katniss loves me. That is all the inspiration I need to win this thing and get back to her safe and sound. Maybe we do have a future together after all...

Madge

The goodbyes are painful and I am happy when they are over. I cannot get over that I may never see these people again. I try and let them go, but they are stitched so deeply into my heart that it seems impossible.

I almost start bawling all over again. As I plunge deeper and deeper into depression. Effie trinket's annoying voice tinkling in my ear is the only thing that keeps me on the edge of reality. We are ushered onto the Tribute Train and forced to stand on the back platform as the cameras get their final looks at this year's Tributes from District 12.