We reached the fence after an hour of rambling through the forrest, stopping to look at plants and animals, and checking snares. We found a Dahlia plant, to which Gale laughed, and said, "It's a shame when you're name-sake's prettier than you."

I had punched his arm and dragged him onward, but not before he could pull one of the flowers from the plant and tuck it behind my ear.

"You should wear it to the Reaping." He said. "Effie'll love it."

I had laughed, and burshed a lock of blonde hair behind my ear.

The electricty was still off when we reached the fence, so I ducked under first, and Gale followed quickly. We jogged to the back of the houses,
finding the empty house that used to belong to Katniss, which she had informed Gale he could use, before she went for the Quarter Quell. He pushed open the back door, and it opened with a creak. It obviously hadn't been opened in a while.

This was a place we always checked too - if Katniss and Peeta were to return, out o the blue, they would either go to the hut by the lake or Katniss' old house. They certainly wouldn't return to the Victor's Village. But when we entered, we found no one.

I sighed again, and sat down on the sofa in the living room while Gale went to check the bedroom, but I knew it would be in vain. Sitting sideways on the sofa, with my back to the arm, I rested my head on the back of it. Gale came into the room and sat down next to me, taking hold of my hand and fiddling with it.

When Katniss and Peeta had gone away for the 74th Hunger Games, we had found comfort in eachother. He being Katniss' best friend, and me Peeta's, we both felt hurt and upset with the show they put on. I had liked Peeta for years - never admitting it to him, knowing that he loved Katniss - so it shouldn't of hurt. But it did. And it hurt for Gale too. Which is why we would escape together, to get away from the games, when we had had enough. And then when the 75th Hunger Games came, and Katniss and Peeta were sent off again, we seeked comfort and support from one another. If anything, their disappearance had brought us closer.

"What time is it?" I murmur.

"Just after eleven." Gale replies, looking over my head and out of the window behind me.

"We have to go." I say, still keeping a low tone.

He nods, but doesn't let go of my hand. I know what he's thinking.

"It's my last year." I say. "What are the chances of it being me?"

"Same as every year." He replies, also in a low tone. "More so. Did you sign up for tesserae?"

I nod. He sighs. "How many times is your name in there now?"

I think for a moment. "40."

"It shouldn't be that high." He says. "I told you not to buy for Posy. We had enough."

"No you didn't." I reply, shaking my head. "Only Rory could sign up this year, you needed it."

He looks over my head at the walls, obviously upset with me. His eyes flick down and meet mine, and he sighs. He holds his arms out to me, letting go of my hand, and I move into them.

"Hey," I say, as I rest my head on my chest, and put on my best Capitol accent. "The odds are ever in my favour, hm?"

Gale laughs for a moment, and then resumes fiddling with my hair in silence.

"I have to go." I mumble.

His grip on me tightens for a second, and then he pulls away. "I'll see you after the Reaping." he says.

I nod, and force a smile for him, but the butterflies in my stomach feel like they're turning into a swarm of bees, hitting me from every direction.
I stand up, and kiss his forehead, leaaving through the back door and making my way home.