I do not own the Hunger games.


All the other tributes are completely overshadowed by our entrance. How could any amount of pretty dresses, fancy chariots, or makeup compare to a jet black chariot with two human fireballs on top? Everyone is gaping at us as we ride by. I can hear a few people who are still shouting, "They're on fire!", but most of the crowd has calmed down. Now they just stare at us in awe. Soon they are shouting our names, yelling and screaming for Gale and Katniss. I wave a bit, and I am surprised to see that everyone waves back. I blow a kiss, experimentally, and hands reach out from all sides. Everyone wants to catch a kiss from Katniss. I see Gale is having similar success although he's not blowing kisses. Gale is appealing to the women of the Capitol. He pulls his mouth into a half-smile and winks in the general direction of a group of ladies. When I see this, a pang shoots through my stomach. It takes me a minute to place it, and then I realize it's-it's jealousy? They all swoon, and I can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness. But we keep it up. If we can appeal this much to people in the parade, who knows who will sponsor us. We are the last District, and as we pull into line next to the other Districts, they all shoot us jealous looks.

President Snow steps out onto a balcony. Gale and I shudder and I press closer to him instinctively. In District 12, we've been brought up to fear Snow, since he leads Panem. 12 isn't doing so well, which leads us to blame Snow and most of the Capitol for all the terrible stuff that happens in the districts. Snow starts speaking, and I don't really hear anything, I'm tuning it all out, when he addresses the tributes.

"Tributes-consider yourself honored to be part of the 74th Annual Hunger Games!" Then, with a wave to the crowd, he turns and walks off the balcony. Everyone cheers and waves, and the chariots start to move. The chariots pull out, one after the other, starting with District 1. As our chariot starts to move, the crowd cheers us off.

"Katniss! Gale! 12-12-12-12!" Gale and I are getting caught up in all the excitement, laughing and smiling to the crowd, but neither of us is really comfortable in this situation. Both of us are the types of people who only share things about ourselves with those we really trust, and that number is few. So waving, playing up a crowd, and being charismatic doesn't come naturally to us-well, to me at least. Gale feels the same way, but somehow he can pull of reserved, yet completely charming at the same time.

When we go back through a tunnel that takes us into another large chamber, Effie, Haymitch, Portia, and Cinna are waiting for us.

"It was amazing!" Effie squeals. "You were both so stunning! Cinna and Portia did such a great job, didn't they?"

Cinna and Portia both look a little happy that they are being recognized, but also a little humble. They both turn the praise right back onto us. "You looked so fiery!" Portia says.

"You looked rebellious." Cinna says, with a glitter in his eye. "Rebellious."

This reminds me yet again of all the things going on. Madge and Haymitch's hints, places being bugged, and now Cinna too? When am I ever going to get a straight answer?


I wanted to speak to Gale after the parade, but Cinna shuffled me off to bed quickly, and I assume Portia did the same with Gale. I waited about a half-hour, then snuck across the hall to Gale's room. He was awake when I knocked, the door opened right away. I blushed when I saw him-I'd forgotten he doesn't wear a shirt to bed. He always says he likes to save Hazelle work, and so when it's warm enough, or when he sleeps, he wears as little clothing as possible. That way, Hazelle has less laundry to do, with four children and all. Although I've seen him like this before, it feels different at the Capitol. We aren't out in the forest anymore-we're in a big Capitol room, with a very large bed in the middle.

"Katniss!" Gale looks surprised to see me. "What are you doing here?"

"I-" Now that I'm here, I can't remember what I came for. I think it had to do with the Games, maybe, training strategy? But I can't remember. All sensible thoughts left my head the moment I saw Gale. I just stand there gaping for a minute, then Gale grabs my hand and pulls me inside. He sets me on the bed and sits next to me. He looks expectantly at me, waiting for me to say something. I guess my face must have looked kind-of weird, because his eyebrows pulled together into a frown.

"Are you alright, Katniss? You don't look very good. Maybe you need to get some sleep."

I mumble something to the affirmative, then get up to go. Suddenly, now that I'm with him, I don't want to go back to my room.

"Wait-Gale? Can I stay here?" Gale's eyes widen to the size of saucers. His mouth opens just the tiniest bit, and he looks like a fish out of water.

"Of-Of course, Katniss." Gale still looks a bit off balance as he pulls back the blankets on the bed. "I'm gonna think about some things. You go on to sleep."

I snuggle into the bed. For some reason, Gale's room, Gale's bed, his whole aura is already making me feel better. It feels like home. Right as I'm drifting off to sleep, Gale comes over. I think that he thinks I'm asleep, because he leans over to brush my hair out of my face. He places a feather-light kiss on my forehead, and he whispers "Good-night, Katniss." And then, I know he thinks I'm asleep because as he crawls in beside me he whispers, even softer, "I love you."


Already working on the next chapter...we finally have a confession!

~MusicIsHarmony