Chapter 10

"My father died about a two years ago, in a mining accident. My mother, well she fell into depression after that, and just when she had beaten it, she caught the flu that swept our district. Many were ill, and quite a few died, and my mother was part of that group." A lone tear slips down her face, which she wipes away. "I've lived with auntie since dad died, and I've been helping run the butchers, feeding the homeless and helping out my friends with food." She smiles.

At this point, Haymitch has a massive grin infecting him, and Charlie smirks back. I just look confused.
"I've moved on you know, of course I miss them, but I don't cry. Ever, it's called acting dear." She says sitting down next to me. Haymitch vacates and instructs us to be in our rooms showered by four o'clock.

Charlie POV
"Gale, what do we do tonight, our personal interviews are fine, but what about our love story?"
"I know what we're going to do, it's a surprise though, and it will look really good on the show." That's all he says and I nod, and we play with the ball on the roof, bouncing it, throwing it and catching it.

At half three, we're sat in a little meadow on the roof. At the back of the roof there is a grassy area, with stones leading up to a swinging seat. To our sides are assortments of flowers, all perfumed and unnaturally coloured, behind us a modest mossy brick wall, and in front the forcefield atop a metal wall, looking over the Capitol.

"I've heard you singing in the shower, you have a beautiful voice Charlie. I wanted to tell you before the arena, in private." Gale's leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, face looking shamed at the grass. He looks up at me and I laugh, I can't sing.

"I've never done it in front of people: it's more of a thing that I do when butchering the meat or walking around the district." What comes next makes the breath in my throat catch.

"Can you sing for me? Please?" He leans back into the rest and closes his eyes, waiting.

Son she said
Have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy
Was nothin' but a...

While you were sitting
Home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dyin'
Sorry you didn't see him
But I'm glad we talked,

Oh I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey I, oh, I'm still alive, well...

"I'm sorry, how are your ears? Bleeding?"

"I don't think so, I'm not sure if what I just heard is real or if I'm hallucinating."

"No need to take the mick." I joke,punching him in the arm, and we both leave the meadow for our rooms.

Katniss POV

We all stack up our plates, and Hazelle and my mother clean up. Rory, Vick and Posy go outside to play, and I talk to Prim on the sofa.

"Do you think that Gale and Charlie are together? They've been all that's on the television about the games, and everyone at school keeps talking about them. And they were my best friends, how could I not notice? They're not ones to keep secrets from me."

Prim's always been the level headed one in situations. "Katniss, they might just spend time together because they're friends, the Capitol just will make something out of it to keep their viewers interested. Also, it might just be a tactic; Charlotte said she would bring Gale home to you, this will get them sponsors in the games."

Prim, whose few short years as an assistant healer have matured her beyond her twelve years, who can so cleverly rest my worries with a few sentences of reassurance.

Hey guys! I'm not abandoning this story and I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while and that this chapter is so short, I've been super busy (I had an audition and I have performances all next week, also just general school work) and I've not been writing much. So sorry for being a lazy writer, sorry for keeping you in the dark and hopefully I can write a lot sometime this week. Please leave a review and I want to thank those who had favourited and followed this story: much love from me (also the red line under favourite right now is annoying me because my spell check is one American English and I'm British). Wow okay this last bit is getting quite long and it's just me apologising and don't worry guys, if I can get the games done and over with (just finishing it now) Everthorne will be coming I promise.

Abi :)

P.S. Song is Alive by Pearl Jam if you want to listen to it.