3: Explanation

Katniss POV

Gale volunteered to protect me. He wasn't thinking. I guess I knew this already, but hearing it from Gale's mouth seems to make it seem so much more true. And Haymitch.. Was not what I expected. He seemed a lot more sober than I've ever seen him before. And the way he looked away before saying he has a tolerance to alcohol. He was lying. I've seen the signs with Gale before, I know what to look for. Haymitch may have been drunk, but he definitely isn't stupid.

After all he did win the Hunger Games and after such effort to preserve his life, I doubt he would just drink it away. But why would he act as if he's stupid? So people underestimate him? To annoy the Capitol people? Both are good reasons, but they don't seem quite right. I decide to put the mystery of Haymitch behind me for the moment and concentrate on more important matters. Staying alive. And Gale.

Should I form an alliance? Or should we part ways early so it won't hurt so much when he or I are killed? I shake my head in frustration, I won't be able to kill Gale. Yet. The thought of the Games changing a person so much that they will kill their best friend scares me more than I would like to admit. I see Gale looking at me curiously. I must have caught his attention with my frustration.

"What's wrong Katniss?" he asks gently.

"What do you think is wrong?" I explode. "Oh, I don't know, maybe that I have to fight to my death in a few days against you while our families go hungry because you volunteered?" He recoils slightly.

"Katniss, our families won't go hungry," he insists. "Peeta Mellark will be helping to feed them. And Rory can hunt and Prim can forage. They will be fine."

I sigh. "It's not your fault. It's the Capitols fault for making us fight. You just wanted to protect me."

"I will protect you," he says firmly.

xXx-X-xXx

Gale POV

I wonder how Katniss will react to my plan. And the revelation that I love her. Though she may already know. I meant what I said though, I will protect Katniss, with my life. I just hope what Haymitch says is wrong, I don't want to live if living means that I have killed Katniss. It feels odd to have my survival instinct based on someone else's life.

I can just feel Katniss's frustration and it was confirmed when she erupted when I asked what was wrong. And to be honest, I can't blame her. How would I react, I wonder, if our roles were switched. If I volunteered for Rory, then Katniss volunteered to protect me? Probably not as well as she is coping. Maybe it is time to tell her. If I wait a few days we will be in the Games and we might die.

"Katniss, I have an idea about how to get sponsors. Something which no tribute has ever done before."

Her interest is piqued. "What is it?" she asks me.

"Love," I reply simply.

"Love?" she asks in shock. "Gale, that will just make us look weak!"

"No," I reply smiling. "Maybe if you were in love with some weak merchant kid, but we both look strong. And besides, remember that Capitol TV show they once showed at school?"

"Which one?"

"The one about the lovers. The Capitol love that sort of thing. It makes us look interesting. And it will make us stand out. Let's face it, neither of us are people people. We aren't good with crowds, or flattering the Capitol audiences."

She has to agree with me here. "But love Gale?" she asks.

"Katniss, I love you, for real. That's why I volunteered. You know, I haven't had any girlfriends, because no girl can compare to you. At least give it a chance. If it doesn't work out we can just go back to being hunting partners and friends."

"Fine," she says. "I guess we'll never get chance if we leave it after the Games. And just to help us get sponsors, I'm sorry, I just don't feel that way about you Gale."

"I know, it's OK," I reply, even though her words tear me apart inside, I am not surprised. We've had more of a brother sister relationship for two years, it does feel a bit odd to me as well. But she's giving it a chance. If only to help her to survive.

xXx-X-xXx

Katniss POV

Gale loves me. That is why he volunteered. The words feel odd in my mouth. I don't know how to feel. I've never been a feelings person, neither has Gale, he would probably have never confessed if it weren't for the Games. I mean, I love Gale, but I've always thought of him as more of a brother or a best friend. Though it was expected for us to get together sooner or later, there were even some rumours about how we already were together. I never noticed how Gale never seemed to have a girlfriend, even though most of the boys his age did and there were plenty of girls staring after him. This was because of me?

He's made this whole situation so much more complicated. Before it was just, go to the Hunger Games, survive. But no, Gale had to volunteer. And then admit that he loves me. If killing Gale would have been hard before it's impossible now. And acting as if I love him for a Capitol audience just feels wrong to me. Love is just not meant to be forced and viewed. And it definitely isn't meant to happen a few days before being thrust into a world where only one can survive. But I guess I could act like I love him. I mean, we were probably going to end up together anyway. Just later. And with less people watching.

Gale got one thing right: I am terrible with crowds and audiences. I just get so nervous and embarrassed that I say stupid things. It seems ridiculous that in a few days I am going into the Hunger Games, yet my biggest fear remains the interviews with the Capitol audiences being broadcast across Panem. And these interviews have a large effect on the amount of sponsors we will get. I begin to feel slightly grateful to Gale for coming up with this plan. If I were with Peeta I would just have to stumble my way through the interview and I would be on my own in the Games. But I still feel uncomfortable with it.

"So what are you going to do in training?" I ask, changing the subject.

xXx-X-xXx

Gale POV

I look up to Katniss' question. We had both been silent for a few minutes, mulling over the situation. I haven't thought much about training yet. Should I show off and try and join the careers or should I pretend I can't do anything and go for the element of surprise?

"I'm not sure yet," I reply honestly. "Haymitch hasn't exactly given us much advice. What are you going to do?"

She thinks for a moment. "Same," she replies.

"We're both strong," I state. "We could join the careers if we show off. Get the weapons we need. Then leave early on when they're asleep."

"Or we could keep the element of surprise."

"You don't want to join the careers, do you?" I ask knowingly. Katniss has always been more moral than I have, she probably hates the way they are doing the most killing. I on the other hand, realise that this is the Hunger Games and these kids are going to die anyway, so Katniss may as well live.

"Do you?" she challenges.

"It will definitely cut down the risk for the first few weeks," I explain. "After all, most tributes are killed by the career pack in the Bloodbath."

"I guess you're right," she says reluctantly. "But I just don't want to kill that many people."

"How about this," I suggest, "we join the career pack for the first week or so, get the weapons we need. Then we can betray, kill one or two when they're asleep and run."

"Fine," she mutters. "But I'm not killing a twelve year old."

"Alright, I'll do the killing for you."

"I don't want you killing either Gale."

"Katniss, this is the Hunger Games. Twenty three of us are going to die, whatever happens."

She is silent.

xXx-X-xXx

Authors Note:

Another chappie. If you like or have CC, please review. Thanks to Sammie0014 for reviewing the last chapter.

-MoonOfPluto