Gale's POV

Once I part ways with Katniss, I go directly to my room on the train since she went the opposite way towards the entertainment room and the dining room. For sure she has the better side of the train, but I'm not about to budge now just because I'm bored. Instead, I take a long shower and lie on my back on the giant fluffy bed, staring at the ceiling and counting tiles. In case you were wondering, there's fifty eight. Then when that gets tedious, I go onto the balcony and watch the country fly by even though it's freezing, even more so because of the wind. But I don't really give a shit, and only go back in when I can't feel my nose anymore and my ears are stinging uncomfortably from the cold. After about twenty minutes of uncaringly going through the drawers in the room, I hear a knock on the door and Effie's voice, calling me to dinner.

I sigh, knowing this is going to be an awkward dinner but at least it's something to do. I open the door to find that Effie has already left, probably either to the dining car or to retrieve Haymitch. I really hope that I'm not at the table alone with Katniss because I don't want to get into it right now, especially since our fight isn't really a publicly known thing and Effie actually believes that we're dating. Well I guess we kind of are now since we both are going along with the plan-pretty shitty relationship thus far.

I take my time getting there, walking slowly and fake admiring some of the paintings on the way. When I finally get to the dining car I'm actually relieved to see that I'm the last person here, even with Effie's stern look of disappointment at me being late. Oh come on, it was probably only a minute. I make my way over to the table and once I sit down next to Effie, I lock eyes with Katniss where she is sitting across from me. It only takes a second for us to realize that we are both still mad at each other-well silence it is then.

Effie blabbers on excitedly through the first three courses, though what she's talking about I have no idea because I'm not really paying attention. I just nod and hum in agreement every once in a while and so does Katniss. In fact, no one at the table is really paying attention to Effie. Katniss and I are on the same page, ignoring each other while simultaneously pretending to care about whatever the hell Effie is chattering about. Haymitch on the other hand, is so wasted that I doubt he even knows what the fuck's going on. He gave up on eating after the first course and has been sipping constantly from his flask, which he refills every so often. I know Haymitch is a drunk, but I've never seen him this drunk before-he seems almost incoherent, and that's with him already being a functioning drunk. He must be taking Jullus's death harder than I thought-how close were they? Not that I would ask him now; partially because it's not public information, but mostly because I'm having doubts that he could speak anything clearly at the moment. If he said anything at all right now, I'm sure it would be slurred or not intelligible in the slightest.

Around the time the fourth course comes out is when Effie finally realizes that no one is actually listening to her. She calls my name with a hint of annoyance and I finally snap out of the angry haze I've been in all dinner and look up at her, "What?"

She huffs and replies, "I just asked you what your favorite architecture style was and you nodded in response. Were you paying attention to me at all?"

"Yes, sorry." I lie to her, "I don't know."

She shakes her head in disproval at me, and turns to Katniss, "Katniss, what is your favorite?" Katniss simply shrugs in response and Effie looks annoyed, taking one quick glance at Haymitch's half unconscious form slumped in his chair before asking frustratedly, "Honestly, what is with you three? I was having such a nice dinner and you don't seem to be even listening to a word I say."

Well no shit-that's because we weren't. Katniss and I both shrug in response this time, blatantly not looking at each other. Effie observes this and can probably feel the tension between us, because she asks, "What's wrong? Are you two fighting?"

Gee, why the fuck would you think that? Not like we're ignoring each other for no reason. I look at Effie and then take a glance at Katniss who meets my eyes. Neither of us responds to the question and we both go back to eating. Effie sighs and says, "Ah I see. Well it's only a lover's spat-you will make up soon I'm sure."

I give a soft snort at that-lover's spat. To be that it would require love on both of our parts, and that's only half true. Katniss evidently hears my snort and realizes exactly what I was thinking, because she rolls her eyes at me. Well, she can't deny it's true, no matter how pissed she is at me.

Effie sighs and leaves the table in silence for the rest of the meal, obviously seeing that we are both being stubborn and her predicted making up will not be happening anytime soon. Once the meal ends, we silently get up from the table and go to our respective rooms for the night. I change into a pair of pajama pants and climb in the large bed, allowing the sensation of silky sheets and the cool pillow to help me slip into unconsciousness. Of course it doesn't take long before the nightmares begin…

I'm in my own arena once again, the normal backdrop for my nightmares no matter who stars in them. I had just set up snares and I see Jacob and Rue come up to me, skipping happily side by side, as young and bright as the day that they died. But their laughter and lightness is short lived, because as soon as they both lock eyes with me their warm smiles turn to panicked grimaces. Soon after they both fall down to the ground choking on blood, Jacob with an ax embedded in his back and Rue with a spear. They convulse on the ground and choke on their own blood as I race over to help them though I have no idea what to do-I'm not a healer nor do I have any supplies.

As soon as I reach them and stroke their arms trying to comfort them though I feel helpless, I hear singing in the background. It has an aura of hauntedness about it, the song being The Hanging Tree, once a song that I connected with my father as he used to sing it in the woods. But the voice that it comes from is not the deep cheery sounds of my father, but one that is the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. I randomly think that I don't hear that voice singing enough, because I know who it is without turning around-Katniss. I glance back at her, still trying to comfort Jacob and Rue but I can tell that the singing is much more helpful to them than anything I can do. Katniss continues to walk over to where I'm kneeling slowly, singing the whole time and never taking her eyes off of me.

I hear two cannons go off one after the other and I know that they are for Jacob and Rue without confirming it by looking at them. Instead, I continue to gaze at Katniss in a trance, who stops once she is right in front of me, finishing the last line of her song with an air of depression before glancing at the two dead children behind me.

"This is your fault." she claims in a low accusing tone.

I shake my head violently and bring my hands up to place them above my head to show her my innocence. But when I look at them, I realize that they are covered in blood, Jacob and Rue's blood. But I'm innocent, I really am; I didn't kill them and I never would have. But that doesn't stop her from not believing me, shaking her head angrily in disappointment before I can even say anything in my defense.

But before she can say anything more, a duet of dark laughter fills the silence, one deep voice and one more high pitched, but both are equally wicked sounding. Katniss and I turn to the noise at the same time and we both go wide with shock when we see the couple coming towards us, holding hands and still laughing. They were the ones who killed Jacob and Rue, and they did it gladly, happy to kill ruthlessly anytime. Hell, they're supposed to be dead themselves, but here they are, alive and vengeful. They stop about ten yards from us, unlinking their hands and crossing their arms while smirking at us. I stand up tentatively next to Katniss, frustrated that I don't have a weapon. But strangely, neither does Audrey or Cato; they just continue to glare at us knowingly, and a moment later someone materializes behind them and places their hands on each of their shoulders.

The smell hits me immediately, and I start choking on the combination of roses and blood, knowing the scent of blood does not come from my own hands this time. Snow gives me and Katniss a menacing grin with his too full lips and I move in a defensive position in front of Katniss, never taking my gaze off of Snow. I realize that the two in front of him are the more physical threats here, but he's the real danger. Snow's the one with the power, the one who can kill whoever he likes in whatever way. He whispers something into both of their ears which makes them grin in delight and he hands them both a weapon before releasing his hands to set them free to kill us no doubt.

Realizing a second before it happens, I grab Katniss's hand and we run frantically away from the gleeful laughter coming from behind us. At some point we run into an invisible wall of some kind and we both smack hard into it, falling from the impact. I rub my head but get up immediately trying to protect her still even though it's practically helpless; I have no weapon and we're trapped here, sitting ducks for the two crazy people that Snow sent to murder us. Why would he want to kill us now, when he even admitted to me that he couldn't kill us? "Because we're less trouble dead than alive" I think with a grimace. If Audrey and Cato had won instead of us, then Snow would not feel foolish and he wouldn't have to deal with us. So now he gives them a second chance to kill us now. Great.

I see them come into view and I almost panic, frantically telling Katniss to run while I distract them. She shakes her head and replies, "Why are you protecting me? You don't have to die."

I look at her incredulously, "Because I love you."

She opens her mouth to respond but all that comes out is a panicked shriek as I am barreled to the ground by Audrey, who has me pinned with an evilly delighted expression on her face. Shit, I really am going to die. But I'm taken out of my panic for myself as I hear Katniss's screams, and I look around to see her pinned as well, by Cato to the invisible wall. Her screams pierce my heart more than my own impending death, and it kills me even more that I can't do anything at all. She gives one last final scream as Cato's sword is raised above his head. On its decent down I wake with a start.

I'm sweating and panting, disturbed by my nightmare. It doesn't even matter that I'm mad at Katniss right now and she at me-it still agony for me to see her like that. Because I really do love her and that takes priority over anything, especially in a life or death situation. It doesn't even matter if it's a dream, I still feel that way. But I half believe that I'm still in a nightmare when I hear Katniss's frantic screams again. I pinch myself momentarily and once I figure out that this is real and that she really is screaming, I bolt out of bed and run to her room.

I swing the door open with force and her screams become louder since I'm closer with nothing to block them anymore. When my eyes adjust to the darkness I see that she's tossing in her bed, alternating between moaning in panic and screaming. I walk over to the bed and shake her gently, trying to wake her up from her nightmare. When her eyes fly open, she's gasping for air and looking around disoriented. Once she sees it's me, she relaxes a little and tries to get her breathing back to normal. I don't say anything while she composes herself and soothe her by rubbing her arm gently as she continues to stare at me, biting her lip.

I chuckle lightly, "It sucks, doesn't it." She nods in response, taken aback by my laughing, "Surprised you didn't wake up the whole damn train." I muse.

"I wake up Prim and my mother all the time." She admits guiltily if not reluctantly. She probably feels really bad about that, taking away sleep from her family though she can't help it. When I don't respond other than nodding in acknowledgement that this doesn't surprise me, she asks curiously, "How…how do you deal with them? I don't see your family looking tired all the time."

I give her a rueful smile and reply honestly, "I sleep in the basement."

She looks surprised by that, and I can tell that she instantly feels a little stupid for not being able to think of that solution herself. "Oh." she replies. We sit there in silence for a minute observing each other and realizing that we're supposed to be mad at each other. But I'm tired of being mad and I hate this stupid fight we're having, so I decide to be the bigger person and end it.

"I'm sorry. About those things I said." I apologize.

She sighs but says, "I'm sorry too. I hate fighting like this."

"Me too." I agree easily. Now that we're alright again our silence isn't so weighted, but I can feel the tiredness creeping up on me again. I'm about to get up and go back to bed when Katniss questions, "How do you deal with them when you're not at home?"

I scratch my head and answer with a long exhale, "Hope I don't scream." It's obviously not that helpful, but that's really all I do. "Some Victors like Haymitch drink and others use drugs to help them, but I don't want to get into those kinds of things so I just deal with it."

She nods in agreement at that. After another silent minute my eyes are beginning to droop so I sigh and get up from the bed. But before I can leave, I feel a hand on my wrist pulling me back. I gaze back at her with a questioning look and find her almost guiltily looking back at me.

She hesitates before whispering, "Stay with me." I look at her strangely, incredulous at what she wants. But she doesn't take it back like I think she might. Instead she pleads, "Please. I don't want to be alone." looking at me so desperately that I sigh and give in.

I push back the covers as she scoots further over as I lower myself into the bed slowly, giving her time to take it back if she wants. But she doesn't and I fall into the bed and tuck the comforter and silky sheets over me. I scoot over closer to her, feeling the heat radiating from her warm body under the sheets and pull her to me so that her back is flush against my chest. I would be lying if I said that I didn't like this, but I don't comment or show it. Instead, I place my arm lightly over her waist and take in her wonderful scent in a deep breath before closing my tired eyes and drifting easily off to sleep again.

When I open my eyes again, the dull light coming from the window that still shows a flashing landscape indicates that it's morning. I don't think I had another nightmare after going back to bed. I half believe that I dreamed that I slept in the same bed as Katniss, but feeling her still sleeping form in my arms and seeing her dark braid just inches from my face indicates otherwise. She stirs awake a few minutes after I do and turns to face me. We stare at each other for a few seconds, not quite knowing what to say before she breaks the silence with an almost guilty thank you.

"No problem." I reply, but she still looks guilty for asking me to stay with her and feeling so weak as to need it in the first place.

I give her a reassuring smile. "Really, don't worry about it." I whisper to her truthfully, which relaxes her immediately and her guilt goes away. Not only did it help me sleep, but I actually quite enjoyed it. Plus we made up last night so I'm hoping things will be better between us on this tour despite how we started it. I don't know what it means for us or how we're going to go about it, but I'm certain we'll work it out together; we always did work better as a team and I doubt this is an exception to that.

I decide to push my luck and lean over to kiss her forehead before murmuring, "In case you didn't notice, it helped mine too." I pull the covers off me and walk back to my own room to change for the day without another word, but with a smile on my face.