Sorry this took so long to get up, I redone this chapter like 20 times, still not happy with it, reminds me of Twilight too much, but I needed a chapter where they really got to know eachother before real romance could start blooming. Thanks for reading or reviewing or what ever :D
Where the hell am I? The closest thing I could relate it to was the woods outside District 12, but apart from the fact that I was surrounded by trees that was all that was similar; the trees weren't even the same as the ones back home. There were brightly coloured flowers surrounding me, too bright, so bright they hurt my eyes. This definitely wasn't a forest, a word comes to mind and is on the tip of my tongue but I can't quite form it, I think it begins with J maybe, I probably had a brief lesson on it at school, but we didn't really learn much except the Treaty of Treasons and coal mining at school.
Although I don't know where I am or how I got here, it doesn't particularly bother me. It should do, but it doesn't, I am meant to be here. The thought passed through my head and I accept it, I am meant to be here, I can tell I don't like this place though, but it is for me. As I walk further into the dense bush, I'm concentrating on all the sounds, there are many insect sounds that I have heard before, but there was a howling, not like a wild dog, I had heard it before but couldn't place what it belonged to, I was covered in moisture, half from sweating as it was extremely hot here, but half from a moisture that seemed to be in the air, it wasn't at tall refreshing like rain, more like it was trying to suffocate me.
A prickling feeling on the back of my neck suddenly tells me I'm being watched. I stop dead in my tracks, as if that's going to make me suddenly invisible, I don't even breathe. Then I spot her up in a tree, "Katniss, what are you doing here? Why aren't you in the Capitol?"
She started to climb down, "We left the Capitol days ago, don't play dumb, let's just get this over with, I need to go back and you don't, it's simple really." She's not the Katniss I know she moves so gracefully, not making a sound, her eyes darken until they are jet black, like bottomless. She dropped to a crouch and a shudder runs through her, then it's not Katniss crouching in front of me, it's a wild dog poised to spring at me. I still can't move until I hear someone yell my name in the distance.
Gale, he's coming to save me. But he was too far away and when I saw him running towards me, I felt relief then gut-wrenching terror, he didn't have a weapon and I could see a look of determination in his eye as he changed his course from me, to straight at the wild dog. The dog leaped in the air, just as Gale did, my scream pierced the air and I could only stare as they collided. I collapsed to the ground, but the scream continued deeper but with no less agony, only this time it wasn't me, it was Gale and the sound twisted and scraped into my brain. I saw Gale eyes one last time before the dog ripped his head clean off.
I try to jump up but I just fall flat on my face. "Ouch." I hastily get back on my feet and relax, I'm not in that strange place anymore, I'm here and I'm home and I'm safe. And so is Gale.
I sink back onto my bed and look out my window, it's still pitch black outside, and it's probably very early in the morning. I try to go back to sleep but I can't every time I close my eyes I see a still image of a part of my nightmare, Katniss staring at me from her tree, the dog staring at me, Gale staring at me before his head got ripped off. It was too much, I began pacing back and forth thinking about everything, but not remembering what I was thinking about 5 seconds before that.
Mercifully, dawn breaks and I can finally get out of my bedroom, which in about the last half hour seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. I wonder if this is what going crazy feels like, I will never know of course, if I am crazy I'm not going to realize that. I get down to the kitchen and root around the mainly bare cupboards and decide I'm not hungry anyway, if I tried to eat anything it would probably come right back up again. I sat at the table for half an hour staring into space my mid completely blank before realizing I had to get ready for school, I changed into a just above the knee skirt and a simple white blouse.
The sun was fully in the sky by the time I set out to school, you would have thought that getting up at the crack of dawn, I wouldn't be late to school but as I got to the school gates everyone was already inside, well almost everyone. I spot him lounging in a tree as if he had all the time in the world, one leg swinging lazily from a branch. He hadn't noticed me yet and I wasn't sure if I was just going to walk by and not say anything or wave or something. Then I had an idea, yesterday was just so horrendous and I could tell by the bags under his eyes he isn't feeling any better, so I decide what the heck, might make today a little more bearable if this goes to plan.
I creep quietly, as quietly as I can anyway over to the bass of the tree; I took a moment to prepare my voice, looking up to check he still hasn't noticed me, "What exactly do you think you're doing boy? You'll get a beating for this!" I'll be the first to admit it was a poor attempt, but it had the desired effect, I could see Gale jump up looking around wildly for Mr. Travers, "I'm sorry sir, sorry, I must have fallen asleep." I had keep over my mouth to stifle my laugh, he finally looked down and saw me his panicked expression relaxing before breaking into a smile.
He jumped down from his branch landing on his toes and bending his knees to brace for the impact. "That was not funny, Madge." His face was serious but I could hear a smile in his voice.
"No that wasn't funny, that was hilarious, you should have seen the look on your face." At that I burst out laughing, really loud guffaws and I can imagine just how ridiculous I looked, but I didn't care this was the first time I really laughed for a long time.
I had my eyes closed while I was laughing so it surprised me when I felt someone's rough hand gently cover my mouth, smothering my laughs, "Shh, be quiet or the whole school will be out here, and we wouldn't want that would we? I'm surprised I haven't heard your laugh before, it's so God damn loud." He slowly removed his hand, "That's better."
I snorted, "Please, who exactly am I going to be laughing with, it may have escaped your notice, but I don't have any friends, well except from…" I probably shouldn't mention Katniss, "Anyway, my laugh isn't too loud, stop exaggerating." I roll my eyes and begin to head in the direction of the school.
"Wait, you have any real reason to be in school today, I mean, we're already really late and you know you get sent to the principal's office if you're late and well you know how Mr. Travers is." He looked down at his feet, "Thought we could take another trip to the woods," He looked up at me smiling, "that is if you're not too scared." He was doing this to wind me up knowing that I wasn't going to back down now he had pretty much challenged me, I may not seem it but I am really competitive and have a lot of pride, probably too much, but who cares.
I narrow my eyes at him, "Okay, but if I get eaten by a bear, I'm blaming you." I start towards the school gate, when I turn around he's still standing in the same position, I put on an innocent girly voice and call over my shoulder, "You coming? Wouldn't want any of the teachers to catch us now do we?"
He raised his eyebrows and smirked, "Of course not, what would daddy say?" then he smiled as if this was some sort of game where we constantly tried to show the other up and he had just scored a point. Well two can play at that game. I took too long to think of something to say back though so he just snickered and brushed past me, "Keep up townie!" he broke into a jog as he reached the school gates and though I felt like an idiot, I ran off after him.
The meadow may not be that far from school, but Gales jogging was faster than my running because his legs were just so long and he was obviously used to exercise and stuff, whereas I wasn't, so by the time I got there, I was completely out of my breath and I could feel my face was bright red. At least I wasn't really the kind of person to sweat.
"Little out of breath are we? You are such a townie." He looked so smug, I was about to think up an amazing comeback when he ducked under the wires and jogged into the trees. For God's sake, the boy doesn't stop moving."
"Hey, wait up, not everyone has gigantic grass hopper legs you know!" I dipped underneath the wire being careful that my skirt didn't snag on it. I had been in so much trouble about my dress yesterday, it was brand new, mother had gone crazy when she saw, but father had come to my rescue again and told her to leave me alone, apparently I had been through a very rough time that day, he didn't know the half of it.
I made it to the trees and paused for a minute not being able to see Gale and feeling very scared of the woods without him, well, you can't just stand there, he's probably watching you thinking your exactly what he thought you were to begin with, a scared little town girl. But I'm not, I'll show him and wipe his stupid smug smile of his face.
I walked straight into the trees, I shortly paused to let my eyes adjust to the woods shadow, I hadn't seen a trace of Gale, if he jumps out on me I am going to kill him. "Gale, if you're planning on jumping out on me, don't you dare, I mean it." Still nothing, "I am not afraid to hurt you!" I didn't sound very convincing, I knew I wouldn't last five seconds in a fight with Gale, not that he would ever hit me, well I don't think he would anyway. "Fine, I'll just wander off into the woods, alone, see if I can't find another wild dog to eat, I'm sure there are plenty of them around especially with all this noise I'm making," I deliberately walk forward making my feet find the twigs and stomping on them, I hate playing the damsel in distress card, I really do, but I can tell that Gale likes playing knight in shining armour.
A crack sounded from behind me, I'm surprised I could hear it from all the noise I was making, but Gale must have not been paying attention to his footing if he stepped on a twig big enough to make that loud a crack. I could sense the silence of someone holding their breath, who's the idiot now, Gale? "Nice try, Gale, I'm obviously not as 'townie' as you thought?"
I expected a laugh or a huff of air as Gale realised I caught him out, instead a low growl thrummed from behind me and I would recognise that sound anywhere, I should be scared but only one thought enters my mind, I am NEVER coming in to the woods again.
I spin around dropping lower to the ground instinctively to either get a better defensive position or to hope the dog will see it as an act of submission. I drop my eyes to the ground remembering from some part of my mind that you shouldn't look into a dog's eyes. I look to the floor looking at the dog's paws, but they're not there. A pair of brown boots are standing there instead, oh, he has done it this time, that jerk, I am going straight home, what an idiot, does he not realise it's a bit soon to sneak up behind me pretending he's a wild dog. Has he absolutely no idea how to behave, he needs a lesson in manners, I could've had a heart attack! I stand straight up and don't even acknowledge Gale's existence and head back the way I came, I can see the meadow through the trees and pick up my pace certain that I'm going in the right direction, I could still hear his laughs bouncing off the trees, they were getting louder, which meant he was either laughing louder or he was following me, I'd guess the latter.
"Madge! Madge! Come on, it was joke, I was paying you back for earlier, don't get mad! I'm sorry okay?" I hear him laughing after, at least my joke was in good taste, I wouldn't have done it if Mr Travers had attacked him in the dark woods.
"Maybe, if you weren't laughing so hard you could barely get the stupid apology out, I might forgive you, but you obviously think you're just so God damn funny! Gale this is the second time I have ever been in the woods and the first time I almost got eaten by a wild dog, and you think it's okay to run off without me, and then ignore when I ask for you to come and then sneak up on me, pretend you're a fucking wild dog, I thought I was going to fucking die, do you still think that kind of shit is funny!" I stopped my rant chest heaving and my face red. Gale just stared at me as if I grew another head, as my anger faded I started to feel embarrassed, I had just swore for the first time in my life, other than quietly under my breath, that may sound stupid, but I'd never seen the point, but now I realised it just helped get the point across. Although I felt bad, I also felt a little proud that I had indeed wiped that smug smile off his
He took three long strides over to me and enfolded me in his arms, I stood rigid for a bit before melting into him, he was warm and he smelt almost the same as last night, woods, a little bit of darkness, but this time I didn't smell danger I smelt a safe reassuring smell, I can't really describe it reminded me of sitting in front of a warm fire as a storm raged on outside. My breathing slowed but my heart pumped harder. "Madge I am so sorry," his breath tickles my ear and warms my neck, "I didn't realise you would get so upset, I didn't think, I'm sorry for being such a jerk."
Sigh, "It's okay." My voice sounds dreamy and weak, how embarrassing, now he'll think he can get away with anything if he hugs me after. Oh who cares, just enjoy the moment, he's sorry, you forgive him and everything is just dandy.
A sigh of relief comes from gale and all I can smell is him, "Come on, we can't stay out here, people will see, we'll only go a little way into the woods okay? I know a good spot, I promise I won't run of this time." He pulls back and I try not to let the disappointment show on my face, he turns and heads towards the woods again, this time though he takes my hand and pulls me with him, a warm tingling flush spreads from my hand to the rest of my body, I'd never held hands with a boy before, ever, and I know that's really childish, but if I didn't have friends how was I supposed to have boyfriend?
Jhee, today was a day for firsts, first time bunking school, first time swearing out loud, first time holding hands. I decided to push the thoughts from my mind as I entered the woods and concentrate on trying to move as quietly as Gale seemed to be, I tried to step where he was stepping but it was hard, plus I was trying not fall flat on my face which seemed to be the sort of embarrassing thing I would do in a situation.
He led me to a small clearing where wild flowers grew and the sun could shine, it was beautiful. He let go of my hand and sat underneath the shade of a giant oak tree, he patted the ground next to him and smiled. I tried to make my way over as gracefully as possible, pausing to take the elastic out of my braids and shake my hair out, letting my blonde curls, that are almost white in the sun, frame my face. I sink down next to him and lean against the oak.
Gale turned to look at me, "So what do you do with your spare time?" and with that simple question we spent hours talking about everything but nothing of great importance and carefully steered away from yesterday's events, at some point his arm found its way over my shoulder and my head rested on his shoulder, after we ran out things to say, we sat in silence just enjoying each other's company and the feeling of peace. I was happy, I was genuinely happy for the first time in what seemed like years, though I'm sure it couldn't possibly be that long.
But it didn't last, it never does.