Annalise was surprised to find the house empty when she finally got back home.
Right now, though, she couldn't care less where her father was. One snide comment from him and they would have serious problems.
Taking advantage of being alone, she sat in her room and let out all the tears she refused to let fall in the Justice Building.
She had tried to be strong for Peeta, but the heartache was overwhelming.
Her best friend was torn from her life just like that. All for these stupid Games.
She truly hated the Capitol. What a pathetic excuse for a government.
In the history books, they tell of what the other countries were like. Most were much better than Panem.
Such a shame that America was the only country to last. However, from what she can infer, not surprising.
Although the American government was nowhere near this bad. They were free.
There were no Hunger Games. Their children were not murdered for people's amusement.
Her angry thoughts and hot tears were interrupted by a knock on the front door.
"It's open, dad!" She called, not having the energy to move.
There was a pause, and then the door opened slowly.
Confused footsteps wandered until their reached her bedroom door.
He pressed the door open even slower, and looked at her almost blankly.
"Gale?" She sniffled. "What... what are you doing here?"
"I didn't get the chance to bring this by this morning." He replied, holding a squirrel towards her.
"And... I saw what happened. Trust me, I wasn't the least bit okay with it either. So I went into the woods to be alone, and I came across the strawberry bush. Thought they might ease the pain. At least a little."
He handed her a small bag.
"Oh, well, thank you." She said quietly.
Gale studied her for a few moments.
"It'll be okay." He told her softly.
She involuntarily snorted. "Sure, watching my best friend die is going to be so much fun."
"You think I have it easy? I have a mother and siblings who all love Katniss as much as I do. If something happens to her, my entire family will fall apart."
"My father will be happy with Peeta's death." Annalise's eyes watered up once more.
"If anyone is happy about any of those kids dying, then they're just as cruel and sick as the Capitol."
"Of course. He was a Capitol kid." She spat the words angrily. She'd never get over that one.
Gale seemed confused.
Annalise cursed herself. She'd said too much.
"You probably have somewhere to be..." She said.
"Just home. To wait."
"Not much else going on here either."
Gale blinked and looked down to the floor.
"I'll walk you to the door?" She offered.
"Sure."
She stood up, and walked past him, taking him to the door.
Opening it, he stepped outside.
"Thanks for the squirrel and the strawberries." She attempted to smile.
Gale only nodded.
He turned to go, but he stopped.
He looked back to Annalise and let out a small breath. "Look, I just want to tell you... we'll survive."
She stared back into his eyes, shocked and confused for only a second before he walked away.
...
"How are you taking this?" Her father asked as he sat down for dinner.
She didn't speak.
"You'll have to get over it eventually."
Her nose twitched, but still she said nothing.
With a mouth full of soup he scoffed and said, "Oh, so you're not talking anymore? All because your little boyfriend is going to die?"
Obviously he didn't understand how stupid that sounded, or how disrespectful it was.
She stood up and paced to her room.
Slamming the door, she fell on her small mattress and cried herself to sleep.
...
The following morning, Annalise left around noon to head down to the Hob.
She didn't go there often. It was always her father that went.
She felt intimidated. No one really liked the quiet, rich-side poor girl.
But today, she went. Only for Peeta.
It took her a while, but she finally found them.
It was almost all the money she'd had saved up, but she managed to get five Lilies. Peeta's favorite.
She planned on planting them in front of her bedroom window in honor and support of him, as well as for luck.
Her father disdained the idea.
They had an entire argument over it, but at this point, her only concern lied with Peeta.
He was in her thoughts all day. He creeped his way into her dreams. Seeing his face made her blood feel like ice.
Is he okay? What have they done to him? She didn't know. Did she even want to?
She let out a frustrated sigh and stopped planting to let her anger pass.
The closing of a door caught her attention.
Looking up, she saw Gale leaving the bakery.
He stopped when he saw her.
"Hey." He said quietly.
"Hi." She replied, and turned back to her flowers.
He walked closer to her and stared at the plants.
"They're Peeta's favorite."
Gale moved his eyes to hers. Her pain mirrored his.
He crouched down and sat next to her.
"We can get through this."
She looked at him, listening.
"I know we're not really much of friends, but no one in all of District 12 can even attempt to say they know how we feel." He started.
She nodded slowly.
"So the way I see it, when the Games start, we have no one except each other. We're in this together. We'll survive. Together. Deal?" He held out his hand for her to shake.
Annalise's heart was racing. She wasn't sure if it was at the thought of watching Peeta in the Games or if it was Gale's offer of partnership.
But either way, she shivered again as she shook Gale's hand.
There was silence until he spoke.
"Are you scared?"
"More than anyone can imagine." She answered as she stood up to finish planting the flowers.
Holding her hand out to him, she helped him up as well.
He watched her as he turned to leave. "So I'll see you soon?"
Raising her eyes to his, she felt a trickle of hope. She mustered up a small smile.
"Soon."