Big number 20! I actually have no idea where this story is going! I have a few scenes that I want to include but besides that… I'm making it up as I go! I hope you guys enjoy reading :) leave a review with your thoughts!

CH20 – Anywhere But Here

Gale POV

"Is sleeping beauty and the sea goddess ready for a kayaking trip?" Finnick asks Katniss and Annie. I snort at his stupid attempt at flirting and Katniss rolls her eyes, Annie on the other hand blushes a bright red and she giggles a little. I stifle a laugh at the sight of a flustered Annie.

"Finnick, your charm is unnecessary, I already know I look beautiful after sleep" Katniss replies sarcastically, but she doesn't seem to as casual as usual. She looks kind of confused and in thought. I wave off the thought as she begins to laugh, flashing her beautiful white teeth. I smile a little, seeing Katniss happy makes me feel better, she has been through so much and just seeing her smile makes me feel better.

"Okay then, let's go! Its 10:30 all ready" Peeta says, smiling as well. The 2 girls get up and we head back to the activity shed where the kayaking instructor will meet us. When we get there, there is a man who looks to be in his early 40's lounging on a plastic chair. He is wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that is stained and discoloured but I'm pretty sure it is meant to be white. He has long, greasy hair that goes to the collar of his shirt; it is a dirty-blonde colour. It looks like he hasn't shaved in a while because his jaw is lined with stubble and he is holding a white plastic bottle that he takes continues sips out of. The only thought my mind seems to conjure about this man is 'why is he here?' As we approach the man he sighs loudly and stumbles off his chair ungracefully.

"Hello… you people. Welcome to today's wonderful activity. We will be kayaking to a small island called district 12. A stupid name I know. The kayaks seat 2 people, so pair up" The man says in a monotone. It is obvious he would prefer to be anywhere but here.

"Hey, Catnip you want to-" I start to say but I'm quickly cut off

"Me and Finnick, Johanna and Gale and Peeta and Katniss!" Annie chirps, happily bouncing over and standing next to Finnick. I sigh, I was hoping to go with Catnip, but it doesn't look like that is happening.

"Yeah... now that you guys are partnered up with your boyfriends and girlfriends and whatever, go grab one of those things over there and a life jacket and head to the beach" The man says nodding in the direction of the kayaks and lifejackets. "I'm Haymitch by the way, the activity coordinator" He spins around, dramatically putting his leg in the air and begins to walk towards the beach.

"You mean… we are meant to carry the kayaks to the beach!" Finnick states pedantically. Haymitch grumbles and then shouts over his shoulder

"Get over it, pretty boy. You have to do some of the work" I let out a chuckle and Finnick sends me a death glare.

"Come on, pretty boy. Let's go carry the kayaks to the beach!" I say, mimicking his voice. He walks towards the overspilling pile of kayaks, shoving my shoulder as he passes.

"Come on, Kat! I'm not doing all the work" Peeta says as he begins to follow Finnick to the kayaks. Catnip laughs and then jogs to catch up with him.

"Well I don't have these!" she says jabbing his biceps and I roll my eyes, since when has Katniss been flirty. Well two can play at that game.

"Come on Johanna!" I say in a deep, husky voice and I see Katniss glace back at me, I give her a smug smirk and envelope Johanna's shoulders with my arm. Johanna nudges my arm off of her shoulders and smirks at me.

"If you think sucking up to me is going to get me to carry the kayak, you're wrong" she states and struts ahead of me. I stand there in shock. I have just had 2 girls completely ignore me. I groan and head to the kayaks. By the time I get there Annie and Finnick have got their kayak that is a red and orange colour and are heading towards the beach, Annie is giggling at something Finnick said as he has a carefree smile. Peeta and Katniss are pushing each other playfully as they approach a blue and green kayak and Johanna is standing beside a kayak with different tones of purple with one hand on her hip and is staring at me.

"Hurry up, Gale! We haven't got all day!" she says, laughing and leaning over to pick up one side of the kayak. I join her and lift the other side and we begin to head to the beach, the kayak swaying by our side; hitting my right leg continuously. Johanna bounds along the path in front of me, strides long, proud, powerful and strong. Her left arm swaying, simultaneously, back and forth as her right clutched the strap of the kayak with a grip that looks like could strangle someone. Her hips sway with each step she takes. Her short black hair sits in a high pony tails that falls to her neck. She is wearing a plain black tank top with a pair of denim shorts and thongs.

Johanna was quite different; she is confident in herself and isn't afraid to speak her mind even if the words aren't what someone wants to hear. But I see someone below that hard exterior and reputation she has built, someone that is vulnerable and has secrets. Johanna falters in her tough act though, you can see moments when her eyes flicker with emotions of sadness and neglect, along with love and longing. The emotions that she buries in the deepest part of her under lock and key, but even the things with the toughest security can slip, and as does Johanna's emotions. I find myself longing to know more about Johanna, I want to know what she is hiding behind those hard brown eyes. I stumble on a rock as my mind begins to wander towards what her lips would feel against mine pulling me to reality. I curse to myself at the stupid images and thoughts my mind had conjured, I don't even like Johanna! I like Katniss!

I look up and realise we are at the beach. Johanna drops the front of the kayak roughly onto the soft spread of sand beneath our feet. I, in suit, drop the back of the kayak into the sand and turn to face the rest of our group. Katniss, Annie and Finnick are chatting beside their kayaks while Peeta is talking to a frustrated Haymitch. Johanna walks off and joins Katniss, Annie and Finnick. I decide to go and talk to Haymitch to find out what, exactly, we are doing.

"Come to yell at me too, boy?" Haymitch asks me in a humoured voice and Peeta rolls his eyes.

"Um… I came to find out what we are doing" I say awkwardly, trying to avoid conflict. Haymitch laughs.

"Well, boy. You are going to be kayaking to that island with your friends while I sit here and hang out with my friend" Haymitch says, shaking the white, plastic bottle. Until now, I hadn't realised the putrid smell that is emitted from Haymitch. It smells of BO and liquor.

"What is your friend exactly" I ask, already guessing at the answer. I raise my eyebrow at him as he begins to chuckle.

"Well, I think you are old enough to understand that every man needs a little liquor to get through the day" He says swaying slightly as if he were on a rocking boat. Peeta sighs loudly and stomps off toward our group of friends.

"Hey, listen. We just want you to take us to the island and get us back, you can drink as much as you want as long as you act at least a little like a coordinator" I say flatly, hoping he would understand my simple request. Haymitch laughs once again.

"Do you think that I'm going to get onto one of those things and paddle all the way out to district 12 you must be crazy? I'm not one of those let's do this coordinators. So either you get going, or you put the kayaks away" Haymitch explains to me. They really need to employ a new activity coordinator. This guy is hopeless. I sigh and walk over to the group and begin to explain what the man told me.

"So he is saying we just go to district 12 by ourselves… it is like 4 kilometres out to sea! What if we get stranded or some shit?!" Johanna yells, I shrug and she rolls her eyes.

"Well I'm not doing that!" Annie pitches in.

"Yeah, that's way too dangerous!" Finnick adds, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. Peeta sighs and doesn't say anything, obviously too frustrated at our coordinator.

"Well I don't know about you guys but I'm getting to district 12 and our coordinator is coming" Katniss says spitefully and I nod. Not to my surprise Katniss begins to walk over to Haymitch, everyone and everything goes silent and you can hear the sand under her feet crunching with every step. Well I doubt this is going to end well.

"Who do you think you are!? You can't just sit here and expect us to kayak all the way out there by ourselves! Get off your drunken ass and do your job!" Katniss shouts at Hatmitch, who is now sitting in the sand sipping his liquor.

"Well, sweetheart…"