Hey guys, I am so sorry I haven't been able to update lately, I've been pretty busy. But here is another Chapter, I am going to try and get a few chapters up within the next week.

Chapter 8

Katniss' POV

I am standing back stage watching Gale's interview and suddenly he confesses his undying love for me and that he has loved me before he and I even met. At first I was happy but then extremely upset because why would he tell everyone in the Capital? Why would he tell all of Panem before even telling me. Then, he says it, it is to protect me and to make sure he brings me home. Wasn't the plan all along for both of us to come home? He is planning on dying in there and I don't want him to die. The more I think about it, the angrier I become and then I see him walking off the stage. I don't know what to say but I do know I can't make a scene. I know he can see my face, and as soon as we make eye contact I start to open my mouth to speak them shut it fast and walk away fast.

As I am trying to get away from him Cato suddenly appears at my side.

"Katniss, I didn't know Gale felt like that for you, I just want you to know, that I am also going to be fighting for your love. I like you Katniss, and in that arena, join us, we are stronger together" Cato said

"Cato, just stop! Okay, just stop. This is not a game. We are going to die, 23 of us is going to die in there and there can only be 1 victor. Why develop feelings for someone you just met and then you may have to be the one to kill me in the end if its just the two of us. Did you ever think about that?" I yelled, thankfully there weren't many people around to hear us, but I am sure that Gale heard because he wasn't so far behind me, but I don't care.

"You can push me away all you want love, but I'm not going anywhere, and you are going to see for yourself how much I truly do care about you" he said with a smirk

How does he even know how much he truly cares about me, he hardly even knows me. I read a book in school about true love and how some people just know they are supposed to love that person, but I am definitely not it for Cato. I am from District 12, and he is from District 2. We are completely different. No matter how attractive he may think he is, I am not going to fall for it.

I am walking towards the elevator and hit the button labeled 12. I just want to go back to my room, wash all this nonsense makeup off me and go to bed because between Gale and Cato, I don't know how much more I can take of this.

"Katniss, wait" I hear Gale say as the doors are closing, but they couldn't close fast enough as he put his foot in the way to stop it and hop in the elevator with me.

"I don't want to hear it Gale, I thought we were going to come out of this together, but all along, you were lying to me and planning for me to come out and for you to die." I said

"Katniss, I am so in love with you, and for you to die, and me to come out as victor, it would be like me dying as well. I can't live in District 12 without you in my life" Gale said.

"And you think I can live without you Gale? You're my best friend. When we kissed, I felt something, it felt real, and now, I don't even know what to think except that tomorrow, we go into the games and we have no game plan to how we both are going to come out, so I guess we are just on our own" I said and walked away.

"Katniss, what are you saying?" Gale said

"I am going to join up with Cato, because he is smitten with me, and maybe, I can keep you alive long enough if I am teamed up with him." I said, not even realizing what I am saying

"What, you can't Katniss. I will keep you alive. I don't care about my own safety" he cried

"But I do Gale, I am in love with you too, and it kills me to even think about losing you" I said

That is when Gale closed the gap between us and cups my face and leans down and gives me the most passionate kiss I have ever experienced in my life.

"Gale" I said pulling away gasping. "We can't do this. Tomorrow, we are going into the games and things are going to change. You'll see. I am going to help you, and you are going to be going home. Tell Prim and my mother that I love them"

I then turn and walk into my room and shut it. I need to figure out a plan to bring us both home since Gale has no interest in it at all.

One thing I do know I need to do, is I need to make Cato believe that I am going to be a career because the longer I am with them, the safer Gale is going to be. And if I can get my hand on a bow and some arrows, I know that I will be able to manage.

I won't stay with them long, just enough so that they can kill as many of the tributes as possible and to make sure that Gale is going to be alive.

Gale's POV

I'm such an idiot for saying how madly in love I am with Katniss in front of Panem. I just thought that if I were to confess my love for her, that maybe, just maybe, she would have a better chance of coming home alive. I know that we talked about trying to figure out something so that we both can come home because there is nothing I would like more than for that to happen, but we all know that only one victor can come out of this alive.

I watched her walk away and go into her room. My heart just leaped when she told me she loved me to, and I just wish these games were never in existence.

I walked to the dining room to see Haymitch sitting there drinking, as usual.

"Haymitch, can we talk?" I ask him

"What do you want kid, can't you see that I am busy" He said

At least he's not slurring his words so he's not completely drunk yet. So this is my time to talk with him.

"It's about the games and bringing Katniss home" I said

"Ahh, Katniss, ya, that stunt you pulled in the interviews, good work kid. You made her look desirable. It will help with sponsors for the both of you" he said taking another chug of his liquor.

"Ya, well, I am not sure how we are going to make it work, because she told me she is going to pair up with Cato so that she can save me, but Haymitch, I want to bring her home. Please help me" I pleaded

"Kid, you have some balls for asking me to help her and having you risk your own life" he said looking at me in the eyes this time

"Please say you will help me" I said

"Yes, kid, I will help you, but if she is teaming up with the Careers, then she won't need my help right away, so I will send you what the sponsors give me, it will help her out in the end" said Haymitch

"No, that's the last thing I want. Do not send me anything" I said angrily

"You say that now kid, but in the games, you will be begging me to send you something" he said

I thought about it for a little bit.

"Only send me something if I start it out with "Damn it Haymitch…"" I said

"Sure kid. And how do you purpose that someone else won't kill her off first before you can stop it? Especially if you two aren't going to stick together" he said

He has a good point, I haven't thought about that yet.

"Just make sure she's okay, that she has food and water and everything" I said and start to walk away

"Gale, don't be a fool, look out for yourself too" said Haymitch in a really serious tone

That is the first time he has ever said my name. I just look at him and give him a nod and walk off to bed.

The next morning came by quickly.

We have 2 hours to eat, get dressed and head to the arena.

Katniss and I eat in silence and then Haymitch and Effie leave because they are going to the control room where they can watch us in the games. They are not allowed to be with us while we enter the arena. Cinna will be with Katniss and I will be with Portia. I am nervous at how the bloodbath at the Cornucopia will turn out.

After breakfast we are walked out to the helipad where we are then transported into a hovercraft to take us to our location of the arena. We stand at the X one at a time and are frozen in place when we are transported. I can't move, it aggravates me that they have that much control over my body. Next, I feel a sharp pain in my left arm and see that they are inserting a tracking advice into my arm. I guess they don't want their tributes to get lost.

We are all escorted to individual rooms where there is a glass tube and a landing plate that will bring us to the arena. No one knows what the arena looks like until we are in there.

"Gale, you are going to do great in there. You are strong and willing and brave" Portia said to me

"Thank you Portia, but you do know that I'm not going to come out of this right?" I replied

"Yes" Portia replied with a tear in her eye

"I love her. I can't live in this world without her. She has her sister and mother to take care of" I said to her

"I know Gale, you are very noble." She said as she embraces me into a tight hug, and that is when the countdown began

I step on the plate and watch the glass door close. I feel the plate start to rise.

I hear the countdown start and the game maker talk

"Welcome to the 74th Hunger Games"

The countdown starts at 60 seconds.

I look around to see how green it was. There is a lake and on the other side there are Woods.

I am looking desperately for Katniss and she is 6 tributes away from me looking at me.

20…

19…

I look at her and mouth "I love you" to her hoping that she understands.

18…

17…

16…

She mouths it back, I can't believe it, maybe we are going to be on the same side after all

15…

14…

13…

Then I see her mouth, I'm sorry.

12…

11…

10…

What does that mean? Why is she sorry? She chose the careers; she is still planning on teaming up with them.

9…

8…

We all are in our stance so that when the gong goes off we can take off. We cannot take off a second earlier or we will be blown to bits.

7…

6…

5…

This is it

4…

3…

2…

1…

And everyone is running.