Author's note:

Part of this chapter breaks my heart, and I hope it does the same to you! As always, I really like reviews. Thanks to CuteBrunetteThatLovesHG192 and Safeandsound14 for submitting the most reviews... which means they're keeping up with the story! Again, I still don't own the Hunger Games. Read, enjoy, and please review!

Chapter 10: Conversations

Katniss slammed out the back exit of the convention center. She didn't know where she was going, but she had to go away.

No matter what she told Bianca, Katniss still hated her. It was just going to be that way. She had been related to that monster! It was unforgivable.

And now Gale. Of course he was Game Makers. The top Game Maker. The Last Game Maker for the last Games. He finally could use his perfected killing techniques on the group of people he hated most. But to her, he was now one of them. He was a pompous, unsympathetic Game Maker. He was what she hated, what she fought to end.

She kept running into the dull evening light, until she noticed her surroundings change. She was no longer surrounded by city, but by an open field, encircled by forest. There were bronze statues in a circle in front of her.

Katniss froze. She had found an apparent memorial. A memorial to the Hunger Games.

She silently stepped between two the statues. The 12 former seals of the districts were around a giant Mockingjay symbol, a massive replica of Katniss' token. Under each seal was a plaque with the names of every single tribute ever reaped for the Games from each district, 174 each. Some names had markings next to them. Katniss discovered one star meant the person was a Victor. A cross meant a Victor reaped and killed in the 75th Games. Two stars meant Victor and veteran of the Rebellion. She moved to District 4's plaque and traced down until she touched Finnick's name. Three stars apparently meant Victor and casualty of the Rebellion- a symbol just for Finnick Odair. However, she discovered her and Peeta had their own symbols- a small Mockingjay by their names- Veteran and the Last Victors.

She traced her own name in bronze. It was surreal, her name memorialized in stone. All these people, seemingly forgotten to Panem's history, all 2,088 names, brought back and given a place to be remembered.

Katniss moved to the Mockingjay statue, and was shocked to see the rows and rows of names, the many plaques. She discovered, slowly, that these were the names of casualties- lost Rebels. She scanned quickly until she found the name that called to her, the dainty name now stamped into the stone forever-

PRIMROSE EVERDEEN, 12

Katniss reached out and touched her sister's name. Her Prim was a causality, a recognized Rebel. The 13-year-old hero. She scanned down and saw other names she recognized, including Boggs.

"Touching, is it not?"

Katniss whipped around to face the speaker.

"It seemed appropriate, too, placing it on the site of the first arena. This whole setting screams 'In Memorial'," Gale finished, crossing his arms.

"What are you doing here, Gale?" she mimicked his position.

"I just came to talk, Katniss, I probably should have warned you. Somehow."

Katniss waved him off, "You're one of them, and you're using these children to make a point, to control…"

"This is different!" he insisted, "This is the end. It's momentous, symbolic, final…"

"It's still death, though, Gale," Katniss whispered, "Six more children are going to die. Haven't we suffered enough, seen enough death?"

"This is what the Victors voted for," Gale returned, "And I bet you voted yes."

They stood across from each other, standing off, waiting for the other to speak.

Finally, Katniss muttered, "You're using me, Gale. You're using all the Victors. None of us are okay. This is cruel to those of us healing."

This time Gale looked away, "That I did fight. I didn't think it was appropriate. I may be the head Game Maker, but I was outvoted. I tried to protect you, I really did Katnip."

She flinched at the nickname, wrapping her arms around her torso, "What about Bianca, was that you?"

"No," he snapped, "Stop blaming me Katniss, I didn't plan all of this to try and hurt you, you know. All I happen to be is Game Maker. Other than that- I'm trying not to hurt you."

Katniss glanced quickly in the direction she heard footsteps approaching.

"Katniss?" she heard Peeta call. He stumbled into the memorial, Haymitch right behind him. He glanced at Katniss, Gale, how far apart they were, and their defensive positions.

"Hey, everything okay, Kat?" Peeta walked over to her and placed a protective hand on her back.

"No worries, Mellark," Gale threw his hands up, "She picked you. She's your crazy now."

Katniss sighed, "Gale."

He turned back to face her, "I have nothing you need or want anymore," he hung his head, "May the odds be ever in your favor, Katnip. Really. I want that for you."

She watched him walk away from her, back into the light of the city.

"Hey, Katniss, c'mon sweetheart. Let's go back to our room, okay? Come on, Kat, let's go."

She let Peeta lead her away, but her eyes never left the spot Gale walked away from. She was convinced she would never see him again. She couldn't stand the hole he just punched open in her heart, the dull ache she had been working so hard to ignore now throbbing.

"Katniss," Peeta stopped and gently pulled her chin up to look at him. When she did, his blue eyes were full of love and compassion, even if masking a slight pain. He leaned down and kissed her softly.

"I love you."

She smiled briefly, the throbbing already lessening in her soul, "Love you too, Breadboy."

Katniss laughed obediently as the sponsor made a joke about previous Games. But Peeta, who was standing a distance behind her, saw her shoulders tense, and the grip on the wine glass in her hand tighten.

He admired Katniss. Despite who her tribute was, she was still trying to help her. The other Victors simply wandered around the massive conference room. The only other personal speaking to a sponsor was Annie.

And no one could tell the mad girl no.

The Games were starting in an hour. Katniss was just making sure her sponsor kept his promise.

It may seem nosy, but Peeta heard all of Katniss' conversation. From her sponsor, Bianca Snow, the Ice Princess, was going to get an ice pick as a weapon. Talk about personal killing, Peeta shuddered.

With a final shake of hands, Katniss moved towards Peeta. He gave her a reassuring grin, and pulled her into his chest.

"That man was cruel," she huffed, pulling away.

"Well, that would explain the ice pick," Peeta agreed.

"I hope these Games don't last as long. There are only seven tributes."

"That many get killed in the opening battle," Peeta finished for her.

She raised her glass to Peeta, "To a ten minute Hunger Games."

With a smirk, he clicked his against hers, "Agreed."