Chapter 5: Everything is Gale
His lips were gentle on mine, although they held the hunger of years of desire. I kissed him back with everything I had. My first kiss and it was in the Hunger Games. Tears stung in my eyes wishing that I could've experienced this in the forest, lying under a cloudy sky or maybe in the rain. Anywhere but here would have been nice actually. I didn't want it to end with this kiss. I wanted more of Gale while I could still have him.
My curious hands felt for him. Moving my lips with his, I ran my fingertips over his jawline and the stubble there, down and around his neck and on his thick hairline. His arm pulled on my waist bringing me tightly to him; I shivered with warmth and happiness. I had never felt so vulnerable yet happy. I was in hostile surroundings, looking death in the face, and kissing Gale. His tongue moved into my mouth and I gave mine back.
After a few more minutes, his lips parted from mine. It felt too soon. I wanted to know his body more, but I never would. A tear fell. He held my head to his chest.
"I love you Katniss, I really do." I buried my face in his chest so that cameras wouldn't see me falling apart. Gale held me tightly in his arms. His familiar warmth surrounded me. I nuzzled my head up so that my lips would be close to his ear and whispered,
"Gale I love you too."
I fell asleep like that. With my head rested on Gale's shoulder. I was shook awake the next morning by Gale,
"Lukah said that there's a small group of allies outside."
I stood up and took in my surroundings. Had kissing Gale been a dream? I didn't know. Lukah was positioned by the mouth of the cave. He then quickly turned so that his back was to the wall. His deep brown eyes were set on something distant; it was like he was in his thoughts. His gaze was so intense I felt the need to shake it.
"Lukah?" I whispered.
Lukah then got up and pulled Gale and I to the wall with him. He inched us into the dark corner of the cave. A girl popped her head in. I remembered her being from District 5. She began smelling the air of the cave. It was then I realized she was blind.
Lukah picked Gale's knife from his belt and with amazing quiet, stalked towards the doorway. Then the blind girl turned her head to look at him. He took a short breath then threw the knife the rest of the distance, cutting the girl's neck. She squealed and struggled to get out of the cave. Her companions panicked at the sight.
Gale and I then moved behind Lukah. Soon a guy with broad shoulders squeezed into the cave, his hands flying to Lukah's neck. Gale kneed him in the stomach and he flew against the floor, an axe slipping from his belt. I picked it up. As Lukah caught his breath, I debated what to do with the weapon.
Gale rolled on the floor with the boy. But he was bigger than Gale, "Katniss!" Gale called out as the boy placed his fingers around his neck. He struggled from underneath the monster of a teenager. Lukah's hoarse voice called out to me, breaking my daze, "Katniss do it!" Just as Gale began choking I drove the axe into the boy's back.
Then I dropped it to the side and pushed the boy's body off of Gale. I lifted his head from the ground as he gasped for breath, "Thanks." He said. It was then as the pool of blood from the dying boy reached my feet and a fist found my head. Before everything went black I saw Gale's eyes widen, such beautiful eyes….
