Disclaimer: Not lucky enough to be Suzanne Collins…

Author's note: With all the comments I've been getting about Gale, I decided to write a chapter about him, well partially. I hope you enjoy the chapter! [: Now start reading!

Katniss's POV

I wake up to the sound of Haymitch knocking at my door and yelling.

"Katniss, wake up already! Do you have any idea what time it is? We're waiting to start our meeting." Haymitch says sounding very annoyed. All he cares about are these daily meetings, no one's feelings, or anything.

I really don't know what time it is though. I was up all night, once again, just thinking. Thinking about Peeta, Johanna, Cinnia, everyone in danger, and we are going to get them out. Well, if we convince everyone else to go get them. I also thought about the hug me and Gale shared. Was it really just a hug of friendship…or something more? We have such a special relationship it's so hard to tell.

"Sorry Haymitch, I over slept…Has the meeting started?" I call back.

"Well, we wanted it to, but we'll wait twenty minutes for Princess Katniss I suppose." He snickers. Typical Haymitch.

"Oh thank you kind sir. I'll be there as soon as possible for you." I mock back.

I proceed with my usual morning routine of showering and picking out my outfit. I look through the draws for something to wear until I find black, tight leggings and a bright orange zip up. Not my usual color, but today's a day to try something new. Once my braid is perfectly done, and I smell like the perfect mix of lilac and honey suckle, I leave my room for the meeting.

I walk down the long, narrow hovercraft hall, until I reach the second door on the left. As expected, I'm the last to arrive to today's daily meeting. Everyone is in their usual seats, just chatting amongst themselves. Gale is the first to notice I've arrive.

"Where've you been, Catnip?"

"Oh, um bad night of sleep, again and…"

"Enough chit chat, let's start the meeting!" Haymitch very rudely interrupts. Um, okay…that's cool, I think to myself before I take my seat.

"As Katniss brought to our attention yesterday, there is going to be televised torturing going on very soon. Although, we do not know who it is yet, I think we all have a pretty good guess. "Plutarch informs the rest of the group.

"Will we be going to save them?" asks Finnick.

"Uh, I do not know yet. I mean, it's basically just a giant death trap for the rest of us. If it comes to it we will, but I think we need to wait till their announcement tonight." Plutarch answers.

"Don't you think you owe us?" I say right back to him.

"Well yes, but…"

"But, we will see!" interrupts Haymitch once again. Jeeze, I guess he's really in the mood to interrupt people today…

"By the way, this is kind of irrelevant, but where are we?" questions Gale. That's a really good question actually. The whole time I've been on this hovercraft, I've barely even looked out of the windows, which is really unlike me.

"What do you think, Haymitch, right around District 7?" says Plutarch Heavensbee.

"Sounds about right."

Gale just nods, and Haymitch decides to end the meeting early because as usual no one wants to talk about District 13 any longer.

I start to walk back to my room when I hear Madge call my name.

"Katniss want to talk for a little bit?" she shouts. I nod, and smile, and then she follows. We begin walking to my room together when she says, "I really miss spending time with you. I know we're on this hovercraft together, but I barely see you!" You see Gale enough, I murmur to myself.

We finally arrive at my room, and I invite her in where we take our seats at the red velvet couch on the opposite side of the room to my bed.

"So, how are you dealing with everything?" I ask her.

"Alright, I mean I'm not used to all this violence and drama, but I'm holding up okay. I have good support and friends that keep me going." She replies with a smile.

"Glad I could be here for you." I say with a smile. I know she means Gale, but I was dying to see how she'd react.

"Me too, Katniss." She says without too much hesitation. I guess she might've actually meant me too.

"Can I ask you something?" I undecidedly ask, "I noticed you and Gale have seemed very close lately and…"

"Katniss, I can explain." She says slightly nervously. Man, what is up with people interrupting everyone today? I nod in response and she continues, "Me and Gale have just grown really close while you've been away. Both of us were really hurting when you were gone in the arena, and we just kept each other company. He makes me happy. I'm not sure exactly what else to say. We're not exactly together, but we're not, not a couple, you know? I think Gale wanted to tell you himself...so he can finish." She gives me a hug then begins to leave. "You'll always be more important to him Katniss. You don't see the way he looks at you, like we all do. It's absolutely incredible. I know he doesn't look at me like that…"

"It's alright, Madge." I say. She nods then leaves my room.

I sit alone in silence. This is such a shock. Gale and Madge, what a strange pairing! All this reminds me of what he said to her on the reaping day of the 74th Hunger Games. His comments about her not having to worry about being picked, only I could sense the hatred, and envy he had for her. Now he must feel different. I almost feel betrayed; I thought he'd always love me, and be there just for me. That's selfish for me to think though. He was smart to move on. He saw me with Peeta, he was forced to see me, his love, fall for another. Now I have no one, I shouldn't give up hope though. I won't. We will get Peeta back, along with the others.

I continue to just sit around in my room, until I hear another knock at the door.

"Kat, open up." He sounds a little hurt.

"Coming." I respond coolly. I slowly walk over to the door, and let him in. "Come sit." I say motioning to the spot where Madge and I talked. He nods and walks over to the couch.

"Catnip, I'm sorry. I just…I don't know. I was so lonely and so heartbroken when you were gone. So was Madge, in a different way though. I was love sick, and she just missed her best friend. We kept each other company, and watched the games together. We watched you and Peeta fall madly in love. That broke me, Katniss. You don't even know…" he confesses while holding back tears. I wrap my arms around his warm body and he does the same.

"I'm so sorry, Gale." I say while also holding back tears. We're both so strong of people, even though I've been crying quite a bit lately, it's not normal for us to openly cry.

"It's okay…" After that we sit in silence just holding one another for a while. "Maybe this was meant to be…I mean we could've been together if it weren't for the damn games, but everything has changed. I can't let go of it, even though I probably should." He whispers.

"I don't want to let go of what we could've had either, but Madge really cares about you…" I say half smiling, but teary eyed.

"I'll always love you, Catnip." He says before he leaves me in my room alone, once again.

"I'll always love you too." I say longingly. We share one last smile and stare as he shuts the door behind him. When he's gone I let my tear fall down my cheek. I'll miss what we would've had, could've had, will never have.

*****

Five o'clock Finnick frenetically knocks on my door.

"Katniss, it's almost time!" he calls. I spring off the couch and rush to the door when I hear the news.

"We're not missing anything now, right?" I ask worriedly.

"No, but we have to hurry, it's going to start any minute now." This is when I get to take a good look at Finnick's face. He has dark circle under his eyes, and his forehead is creased with lines of worry. I know exactly what Finnick is thinking because we're going through the same situation potentially. We're filled hatred, hurt, and we're heartbroken.

"It's going to be okay, we'll get them back." I say with a half smile, and he weakly smiles back to me.

We arrive at the media room on the other side of the hovercraft just in time for Snow's announcement. His ugly face is on the screen, thanking Panem for watching the upcoming announcement, like they actually had the choice.

"Are you ready to hear the names of those who you, Panem, will get to see tortured live?" Snow hisses and cheers erupt in the background. "The first of our four special guests is…Cinnia, Katniss's old stylist!" A picture of his face pops up onto the scene. He doesn't even look like himself. His usual glowing, flawless skin is pale and dark in places from multiple beatings. "Up next we have Johanna, a beautiful, spunky victor of the Hunger Games!" She also looks weak from beatings and very skinny. "And, Annie Crest, Finnick's possible love, and previous victor!" They show a picture of her with her hair all knotted, and dark circle under her eyes, as well. I look over at Finnick, who has burst into sobs.

"Please, no, take me instead!" he shouts at the TV. While Finnick is in hysterics, he announces the next name.

"Last, but certainly not least, Peeta Mellark!" He looks the worst of all. His skin is pale and bruised, with dark bags under both of his eyes. He also looks much skinnier.

"Peeta!" I shriek. Oh my God, how could anyone enjoy doing this to him? He's so innocent. By now Finnick and I are both hysterics.

"I hope you know, I'm not going to sit here and watch her be beaten! I never used to let anyone hurt her, and I'm not starting now!" Finnick screams as loud as he possibly can at Haymitch and Plutarch. I simply am just sobbing, and repeating Peeta over and over in my head as I watch the scene unfold.

"This should be very interesting." President Snow gleefully announces. "The live torturing will air in two days!"

President Snow's POV

"And cut for a commercial break!" nearly sings the overly perky lady.

"Great Job, President Snow!" Numerous people gush over my speech. It was great, wasn't it?

"After this break, remember to announce that the people of Panem may vote on who and how to torture." says the perky woman.

"I got it, Marsha."

"And we're back in 3...2...1…"

"I have one more bit of good news, Panem. You may vote on who and how to torture these prisoners! Just call in to, 800-Tor-ture, have a good night." I finish off. I exit the studio part of the hovercraft, and begin to walk towards my bedroom when Mr. Willis approaches right at my door.

"President Snow, we still have not reached District 4 to pick up Annie Crest. We should arrive tomorrow night, if not the next morning."

"Sounds excellent, Mr. Willis." I snap back at him. "Now, goodnight." I say while slamming the door right in his face. I love this power and man, I love this job!

Author's Note: So that was the chapter! I hope you liked it! Next chapter I'm thinking there is going to be some more action, rather than emotional issues. Well, actually I don't know for sure! Either way, I'm thinking it's going to be a good one. [: If you're liking or hating the story, PLEASE tell me! I'm begging youuu! NOW CLICK THAT BUTTON 3 but wait, before you do…you guys can be Panem. If you would like… you guys can submit torture ideas, because I'm not entirely sure how I want to torture these nice characters! I don't know if you guys would want to either though! Just thought I'd throw that out there.