"So, one day down," Gale says to Reyna as they resurface from the depths of the District 12's coal mine, joining the rest of their crew.
"I think you've met most of the crew the last time you were here…" Gale says, trailing off as he and Reyna meet up with the rest of their crew near the mine entrance, waiting to clock out for the day.
"Yes, we all remember Gale's girlfriend," Thom says. The redness that appears on Gale's face and Reyna's barely suppressed smile cause the rest of the crew to laugh and poke fun at the would-be couple.
The crew continues laughing and cracking jokes and their expense all the way to The Hob. Some of the miners head home, leaving Gale, Reyna, Thom, and Bristel to saunter over to Ripper's bar and take a seat.
Thom and Gale call for drinks and the four quickly get to talking about everything and nothing. After a few glasses of White Lightnin', Thom and Bristel commence their new favorite after-work pastime—giving Gale and Reyna hell.
"Don't go soft on us now, Gale. Who woulda thought it, Gale Hawthorne getting cozy with a-"
Reyna stops Thom mid-sentence by leaning over and kissing Gale square on the lips. This elicits an "attagirl, Reyna!" from Bristel and shock from Thom. Much to Reyna's surprise, Gale leans in and kisses her back.
The two don't fully break apart until Thom awkwardly clears his throat.
"Bristel and I better head out, it's getting late." Thom says before playfully adding, "morning comes around early, lovebirds!" with a laugh.
"What are you talking about, Thom? Tomorrow's Sunday!" Gale calls out.
"Yeah, but I doubt you'll be getting much sleep!" Thom replies with a laugh.
Once home, Gale and Reyna quickly undress and fall asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning Gale awakes to find Reyna Ravinstill fast asleep in his arms. While wondering how he could have ended up with a Capitol heiress in his bed, Reyna stirs and sighs contentedly before nodding back off. Not wanting to wake her, Gale stays put and lets his mind wander.
He contemplates how he could be falling for a Capitolite; Gale quickly amends that; has fallen. And she's not just any Capitolite, she's among the most privileged of the privileged; a Ravinstill. Her family led the fight against the Districts during the Dark Days, and now here she is, sleeping soundly in District 12 with him, a coal miner, beside her.
A while later Reyna wakes up, asking Gale, "did last night really happen?"
'Here it comes,' Gale thinks, 'she's waking up and will remember that she's too good for a coal miner and will be back home soon.'
Gale nods and softly murmurs, "yes."
To Gale's surprise, she smiles and says, "good," before leaning in and kissing him.
He lays there for a few minutes, basking in the warmth of Reyna's affection before remembering that he needed to check his traps in the woods if they were going to have anything to eat tonight.
"I've gotta get up and, uh… take care of some things," Gale says, trying to avoid explaining exactly what he needs to go and do, partly out of fear that the house is bugged, and partly to avoid implicating Reyna if he were to get caught.
Reyna looks skeptical. "What kind of things?"
Gale sighs. "I would tell you but…" He motions to the air meaning what everyone in Panem knows, but cannot say out loud.
Reyna understands instantly, having spent a lifetime in Capitol social circles where discretion and silence were advised. "Don't you have the device?" She whispers.
Gale thinks for a second and then reaches into the pocket of his jeans that he threw off the night before and produces the jamming device. Turning it on and saying, "I'm going hunting."
Reyna laughs. "That's it! I thought you were going to bury a corpse or something."
Gale laughs, "something like that. I'll be back in a couple hours. You need anything before I go?"
"My needs are satiated," Reyna replies.
Gale returns as promised before noon, having sold most of his haul and giving the one remaining squirrel to his mother.
He finds Reyna sitting comfortably in a chair, reading a book entitled, DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.
Gale clears his throat. "Where'd you get the book?"
"It was in my bag," Reyna says, "a couple of books were in there. I think Peeta put them in there. Or maybe Dad."
Gale nods. Reyna bookmarks her page.
"Want to go for a walk?" Reyna asks.
"Sure! Why not?" Gale replies, clearly amused at the idea of tramping around the District with a Capitol girl.
They set out and meander their way around the Seam making idle chatter along the way. Before long, Reyna grabs hold of Gale's hand. Gale manages to play it cool and pretend to not be shocked. After all, it's one thing to be affectionate in the safety of a bedroom, but another entirely in public, where everyone can see.
They soon make their way to the Merchant's Quarter, passing hand in hand by the Peacekeeper Barracks and the Mayor's House, and find themselves in the Square where most of the most prosperous shops are located; all in the shadow of the Justice Building that looms over them.
Reyna stops to look at the cakes and baked goods inside the Bakery window and then takes a peek at the various assorted sweets in the General Store.
"Not a lot of variety," Reyna says to Gale as they look into the General Store window.
"Huh," Gale says, "I've never cared to look. It's not like I can afford them."
"Even with two people's pay?" Reyna asks.
"What do you mean 'two people's pay?"
"Well, you and I are two people, and I'm staying with you so I just assumed we'd pool our money together," Reyna says as if it was obvious.
"You'd be willing to do that?" Gale asks.
"Gale, come on. We're in this together." Reyna replies, hoping that he knows what she means by together.
Gale smiles and gives her hand a squeeze, even though they stopped holding hands when Reyna started ogling the General Store window. "Okay. We can buy one thing." Gale relents, trying to balance making his girl happy and the frugalness that's been beaten into him since birth. Wait! Did he just think of Reyna as 'his girl'?
He makes up his mind to talk to her about this as soon as they get home.
Reyna and Gale go into the store and buy one caramel chew, which they share while sitting on the store's stoop. Gale's never tasted anything like it. He could get used to luxuries like these, he thinks to himself.
A short while later Gale and Reyna arrive home.
"Reyna? Can we talk about this?" Gale asks.
"I'm a bit much, aren't I? I'm sorry. I've never actually liked someone like I like you before. Capitol guys are mostly stuck up snobs and…" Gale cuts her off fearing that if he doesn't she'll just continue on rambling nervously.
"Reyna, it's fine. I like you, despite all of my instincts telling me not to. I know it's stupid to get attached to someone who is going to leave me behind in 89 days, but I am, and I don't know how to handle that."
"What if that wasn't the case?" Reyna asks.
"Come on Reyna, you know that can't happen." Gale responds, "I wouldn't ask you to stay here with me and die in a coal mine."
"That's not what I meant. Look, I can't promise anything, but Peeta is looking to bring in an advisor on District Affairs. He thinks you're very insightful. Long story short, you're the frontrunner, or were as of last week, by a long shot. When it's offered to you, take it." Reyna says.
Gale is at a loss for words. "I, I…" he stammers out.
"You could do some real good, and as a bonus, we'd be colleagues. We could even share an office."
"Okay," Gale says. His mind is racing. Is this real? Surely this isn't real. But if it was, it could be fantastic. He would never have to know hunger again. He could provide his mother and siblings with anything, literally anything their hearts desired. He makes up his mind, he has to do this.