Two weeks went incredibly slowly. I was back to serving Geoffrey again- and his new "bride-to-be". All that kept me going was Gale, and the knowledge that I would see him again soon. There were so many questions, and I was desperate to be given answers. Why did you kiss me? What did that kiss mean? Do you like me? Do you want a relationship with me, or was it just a spare of the moment deal? Is that how people in District Twelve act? I felt stupid for even considering a "relationship"; Snow would never allow it. It would end with me being killed off, and perhaps Gale would die in the aftermath too. I could risk my life happily; I didn't exactly "live the dream" as it was, and no one would even notice I was gone- except maybe Geoffrey when he realises that there's no one there to pour his morning coffee- but Gale was so much more important. I wouldn't let him risk his life; not because of me.

"Cassie," one of the higher up's called my name, and I looked up at him. A man with white-blond hair, combed back pristinely- and pale, watery blue eyes. "President Snow has ordered for you to go to your last Quarters. Gale Hawthorne, the Head Peacekeeper's Apprentice from Twelve, is coming to the Capitol for his evaluation, and he requested he have you as his Avox servant." He nodded stiffly, and then walked away. I felt a little silly for thinking him rude for giving me an order and then just walking away; I remind myself that I can't answer him, and Gale is the only person who has ever waited for a reply.

I walk silently to Gale's Quarters, keeping my eyes on the ground and not meeting the gaze of any Guests of the Capitol on my way; to look at a Guest would be improper, a violation. Inside, it is cold and quiet, and the Quarters have been empty for two weeks, since Gale left. I busy myself by cleaning the Quarters and putting fresh firewood in the fireplace; soon, the door opens, and he stumbles in. "Hey Cass," his voice is frail and weak, and he shakily makes his way to the couch, then he collapses down on it, sighing in exhaustion.

I rush to grab my notebook, and scribble down, what happened? Gale looks at the book, and I see his eyes lose and regain focus, before he finally answers, his voice smaller than I have ever heard it, "I had an evaluation. It was exhausting."

What do you mean by Evaluation? What did you have to do? I wrote quickly on the notepad, and because of that, he had to pause for a moment to read carefully; my hand writing was scruffy at the best of times- now, it was practically unreadable.

Eventually, he replied. "First I had to do some physical tests; running, weight lifting, shooting, whipping, etc. etc." he waves his hand in a careless gesture, "Then they sat me down in this weird lab and looked at my brain. I'm pretty sure they accessed my thought process, but I dunno." He shrugged and dragged one large hand down his face, and then yawned. When he continued, his voice was tired and soft from sleepiness. His eyes kept closing. "They asked me some questions. Then they let me go."

I looked at him, worried, then scrawled down another question. What kind of questions?

He yawned again, but answered, "You know," he pushed his hair back, "'An adolescent boy has stolen two loaves of bread from the Bakery; you catch him; do you punish him or let him go? And when I say punish, they ask, 'How would you punish him?'" he swept his hair away from his eyes, resting his head on the armrest and swinging his legs up to lay across the sofa. His eyes are shut, "I have to go back tomorrow for a second Evaluation. I'm really tired now. Do you mind if I just sleep for a while. We can eat dinner together later, if you want?" he sounds exhausted.

I nod, but he doesn't see because he doesn't even have the energy to open his eyes again. I hear his quiet, muffled snoring, and smile. But the smile doesn't last long. Why is he so exhausted? What did they do to him, and why? This can't be normal. Maybe he didn't respond well to it. Should I fetch a Doctor? No, I tell myself, other people would wonder how an Avox knew these things. Guests of the Capitol don't usually talk to their Avoxes. I get a blanket from his bedroom and drape it over his sleeping form; he doesn't wake.

In fact, he doesn't wake until the next morning, when I gently touched his shoulder, trying to rouse him from his sleep. I had eaten alone last night, but I had eaten in Gale's Quarters, and I had kept an eye on him all night just to make sure he didn't suddenly die from the effects of the ever-so-mysterious Evaluation. He waked up, still tired, but stands to his full height, stretching his arms out above his head. "Whoa, did I really sleep that long?" he mused to himself as I prepared his breakfast.

He sat at the table, and I placed a plate in front of him. It was piled high with toast and scrambled egg. You must be starving, I wrote on my notepad, You didn't eat any dinner last night. I sit opposite him, watching him with concern as he eats.

"I'm okay, really." Gale insists again- because I have been worrying over him ever since he woke up. "You act like my mother, Cass, or how I imagine my wife will." He laughs. "My mum used to fuss a lot. I bet she still does over my siblings."

I frown and write on my notepad. Haven't you seen her lately? I look at him, still worried. He had reacted so strangely last night; I was on edge, waiting for something to go dreadfully wrong.

"No," Gale frowns sadly, "Romulus Thread says I should not associate with any of Twelve's civilians. He says it will distract me from my job. I have to be willing to take action on any criminals." His eyes are round and earnest, as if he is talking about someone he admires. I think of what he thought of Thread last time we spoke, and frown. "I cant let people go without punishment just because they are my friends."

So who do you spend time with in Twelve? I write carefully, almost like im trying to bide my time, because I don't like the way Gale is talking about Romulus Thread- like a mentor or an idol of his.

"The other Peace Keepers." He answered simply. "I can trust them. Some people in Twelve have no respect for the law- that's what Romulus Thread always tells me." He nodded at me as he chewed. I had a bad feeling that this Gale wasn't my Gale- the one I had known two weeks ago. Something went wrong, and somehow, Gale has changed- or been changed- into one of those Peace Keepers.

I clean his plate when he's done, and he claps his hand on my shoulder as he leaves. Something is wrong, I think to myself. Whatever had done this to Gale, I had a feeling had something to do with that Evaluation- and I felt alarmed as I realised that Gale was on his way to another of the Evaluations. I wondered, with dread, who would walk into the Quarters later; my Gale, or Thread's Gale. I could only hope it would be my Gale I met tonight.