Author's Note: Well, here it is... The 3rd chapter of my story... Please read and review... :)) Hope you like it.. :))) I'm now working on the 4th chapter and I think that I can publish it by some time next week.. Please continue reviewing and reading! :)) THANKS!
Chapter 3: That One Kiss
After two long months since they won the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta, Katniss and the rest of the gang did nothing but visit the other Districts and attend interviews. Katniss was being tired of smiling and waving to her admirers. But Peeta seemed to be enjoying the attention. They did not know that President Snow's plan is now being processed and the informant is spying both of them…
Katniss and Peeta had a quiet agreement that they should be, well, friends again. Though they talk with formality which is very unusual…
It turns out that the electric fence is not yet fixed. Every now and then, if she gets the chance, Katniss escapes the peacemakers, sneaks into Gale's house and both of them runs into the forest. There, they built a tree house. It was quite different from the typical tree houses in District. Inside it was full of hunting weapons and other equipment like snares and of course, a bow and 2 sets of arrows. By the window, there hanged freshly caught rabbits. And there in the centre was a large pot; underneath it were freshly cut logs. Others might say that they can't live in that kind of house, but for them, it was their home…
One day, they decided to get some water (since their supply was already low) on a nearby river… They were on their way back when Gale suddenly stopped…
"Hey… What's wrong?" said Katniss as she tapped Gale on the shoulders looking slightly worried.
"Katniss, if I do something really stupid right now, will you promise that you won't get mad at me?" he asked suddenly.
"What? Gale, what's wrong?" she asked slightly confused.
"Will you promise?" he insisted.
"What the-?! Gale, you know what, your acting really weird right now... You sure you're okay?" she said…
"Is it okay…?" he asked, as he took a step towards her, making them 3 inches apart.
"Gale? Are you okay?" she asked again… She wanted to take a step backwards, but something she doesn't know glued her feet to the ground…
"Is it okay…? If… I… do… this?" he breathed as he kissed her, for the first time ever…
Katniss' P.O.V
When he spoke "If I do something stupid…" I had a hunch of what was he about to do… But I thought that he was just playing… He usually does that to me all the time. But… I was freaking wrong! Why the hell?! I can't believe that he chose this moment to do this… this thing! I don't know why he's doing it… But what's worse is that… I… don't know… why… I … like it… Does this mean I'm falling for him?! But what about Peeta, I'm still not over him… Then… then this?! And why is it that I am good in hunting but stupid when it comes to love? I wish… I just wish I'm good at both! Where are you Eiffie?! I need another miracle, a… distraction right now, again… Please…
Gale's P.O.V
As I kiss Katniss, I realize that I'm slowly letting out my love to her through this… I can feel her kissing me back, but I can also feel her doubts whether she's doing the right thing kissing me back or is it wrong… I love her… She should know that… I don't know what made me do it but suddenly, one of my hands suddenly touched her soft cheeks and the other one was caressing her braided hair… It was a blissful oblivion… I felt like no one in the world could be happy as me now. I'm the happiest guy on earth… I don't want this to end… Please don't end…
Their kiss lasted for several minutes… They just stood there, swaying and kissing… When they were suddenly interrupted by two strangers; one girl with an orange hair and one boy with a blue hair. They seemed to be running away from someone… Katniss and Gale, wanted to help but were far too scared, so they hid behind the bushes nearby…
There and then, a whirring sound filled the whole forest making the birds fly away… The wind was blowing hard suddenly making the trees shake violently… The strangers also started panicking and the girl was crying already… Then… a huge hovercraft appeared out of nowhere. The girl screamed as a fork from the hovercraft stabbed the boy on the chest, spurting blood everywhere. After stabbing the boy, a second fork went out, this time, aiming for the girl; she tried to run but too late… The fork stabbed her too, and spurting her blood everywhere… Katniss screamed but Gale covered her mouth… He, like Katniss was shocked, terrified and grossed out of what they just witnessed. They watched as the hovercraft carried the two dead bodies away. When they emerged from the bush, Katniss was shaking all over; the blood of the girl went to her face. Gale was shaking too… Together, they ran away from that place as fast as they could. When they got back on the tree house, they were panting… Katniss went to the bed, covered herself with sheets and cried… She regretted not helping both of the strangers… Gale settled down in front of the heated pot and listening to Katniss' sobs… He had no idea on how to comfort her… They were still shocked, still traumatized. So, both of them agreed that they should not speak about it ever again…
Time flies by and Katniss and Gale grew to understand each other's feelings. Katniss is now slowly forgetting her feelings for Peeta and her feelings for Gale continues to grow. Sometimes at night, she is sometimes haunted by her nightmares. But what stays on her mind was about what happened at the forest. She can't still believed her eyes when those forks stabbed those two people right in the middle of the chest. Were they an avox who escaped? But… how? If they were an avox, they would have their tongue cut so that they could no longer speak… And how did they come by District 12? The only district near District 12 was District 13 but district 13 no longer exists. It was a strong district, stronger than Capitol itself. This district created nuclear weapons that can destroy the entire City of Panem. They were bombed before when there was still war between each district. Only ruins can be found and every November 15, the Capitol broadcasts a show all about district 13 and its past ad what is it now. So far, it has not improved… But others say that district 13 was slowly growing again but this time, controlled by the Capitol.
While Katniss and Gale were showing some sign of affection towards each other, Peeta couldn't help noticing. At some point, he admits that he sometimes gets jealous, he just let go of Katniss because he thought that she didn't love him. But he still loves her and it hurts to see Gale and her together. Every now and then, he tries to visit Katniss in her house but he does not get a chance to visit her alone. Gale was always there, dawn to dusk. It's like he just sleeps there
Meanwhile, deep inside the government of Capitol, a problem rises… President Snow is now blinded by the power he has. He doesn't want anyone to steal his position, anyone who does either dies or get exiled. His cabinet and other office members notice this and want to leave Capitol already… President Snow became absorbed with the thought of Peeta and Katniss leading a rebellion and every time he hears their name, he gets mad suddenly. So, everyone, including the informant was careful not to say Katniss and Peeta's name…
The members of the cabinet are slowly getting suspicious of President Snow, can he still lead the City of Panem and its Districts? Can he handle upcoming problems? Can he solve it without affecting the other districts? He and the leaders of the 12 districts had a conflict and slowly, the districts are creating a huge rebellion, they joined forces but they still don't have a leader… President Snow's worst fear came true at last, but he knows that Katniss and Peeta are still not getting along with each other, he still has time… What will he do? Will he do this thing on time before his government falls? Or will the rebellious districts take over Panem at last?