Chapter 3

A few months later.
"See you Catnip, and you Charlie." Gale says. He treads carefully back to the district with his share of today's hunt.
"Thank you for actually talking to me, I appreciate it more than you know." Charlie strokes her hair from her face, I've noticed she does it a lot.
"No problem." I begin. "It's been nice having a friend who likes hunting but is a girl. I'm also grateful about the extra food, our families haven't eaten so well in probably our whole lives."

"We often trade with the other merchants, and bargaining another loaf of bread or a bag of sweets for you isn't that hard, especially the bakers. His son: Peeta, I think his name is, keeps looking at me like a beef steak, it's a bit creepy. But on the plus side, at least I know there are more than 3 people in the district who like me." She admits, and I stifle a giggle.

"What are you talking about? Have you never seen the boys at school? They adore you. Every boy, younger or older, would jump at the chance of a date with you. I hear them gossip about you, who you're going out with, how they purposefully go to the butchers to see you." She looks a little bit unsure, but it is true.

"Speaking of the butchers, I've been thinking about Gale." Oh here it comes, I've had this at school before: 'do you think Gale likes me? Would we make a cute couple? Does he have a girlfriend?'

"I know he's reluctant to go into the mines, and auntie is getting a little old to lump heavy animals around. We could employ him as an apprentice, then take him on full time at 18, he would be able to hunt, but also get paid more than for mining and could get his brothers involved when they come of age too, you know that auntie has a soft spot for you both." She looks down as if she's suggested something totally insane.

"I would have mentioned it before, but I didn't know how he would react. I know that he doesn't like the merchant class." We get up to walk back, and we slip through the fence. Charlie turns to me.
"Can you at least mention it?" She enquires.

"It's a brilliant idea Charlie, and I'll do my best. He might be a bit reluctant tonight, but tomorrow he'll see sense." We go our separate ways, and as she walks into the town, everybody stops to look at her, and then reflect that glare to me. That's the girls, the boys? They just admire her.

74th Hunger Games Reaping

"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour! We have a special video for you today, all the way from the Capitol!" Charlie stands a few people in front of me in the 15 year old section, and Gale stands at the back with the 18 year old boys.

We all exchange reassuring glances, and I find Prim, stood at the front, praying, hoping that her name isn't called. All this time Effie was talking, and she's just about to read out the "lucky tributes" name. It's not me, and it's not Prim. It's Charlotte Prior.

Charlie fixed her head, her eyes free from tears. She walks at a steady pace, calmly up the stairs and stands next to Effie. Her clothes look amazingly plain next to Effie, a simple, modest black dress and he hair done in that same style of it falling over her face and cascading down her shoulders. She has a little make up on, her eyes looking dark and menacing and her usual bags underneath her eyes slightly erased.

"Now it's time to select our male tribute for the 74th annual Hunger Games." Effie trots over to the glass bowl, and I pray again that my luck will hold out. It doesn't.
"Gale Hawthorne!" Tears are forming in my eyes, but I won't break our promise to feed the others family if we were reaped.

"Any volunteers?" Effie chirps. Silence. I kiss the three middle fingers on my left hand and raise them to my two best friends, and the district follows, starting with the homeless whom Charlie feeds, the Hobs tradespeople who buy our game, our families, the other children who are safe for another year, and even the people who bet on the reaped tributes.

We all respect these two, and this is our way of saying thank you, we will miss you, and we value you. The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason, in his usual manner, and Charlie and Gale are escorted out off the stage.

Charlie POV

I sit twiddling my thumbs on a plush sofa in the justice building, Auntie saw me about five minutes ago, and I'm not really expecting any other visitors, so I stand looking out of the window at my last view of District 12. The doors swing open, and I expect to be taken to the train, but instead in walks Katniss. She doesn't say a word, just runs up and hugs me. When we pull apart I start to speak.

"Katniss. I'm not coming back home, I'm going to do everything I can to get Gale back to you." She begins to speak, but I cut her off. "No, Gale has a big family and you to come home too, I only have Rooba and you two. You'll be able to live a safe and rich life with Gale, and you'll just have to get over me."

Katniss' eyes have glazed over with tears. I pull her into another hug and when we pull apart, she is dragged away by peacekeepers I can hear her shouting thanks to me. I am escorted out of the room and into a car, Gale sits in the seat next to me, and I notice that the underneath of his eyes are red.
"Don't worry, you'll see them and Katniss again." I say, taking his hand in mine.

Hey there! Thanks so much to all that have read the story - I know that we have skipped a year in the story, but it's for a good reason, I promise!

SO... plot twist! Charlie and Gale are going into the games, two of our trio are facing death! If you have any suggestions for stuff to happen in the actual games, PM me or leave it in your review, also let me know who you want to make it out alive: Charlie, Gale or both (leading up to a CF/MJ like storyline).

Anyways have a great day,

Abi :)