Thanks so much to all that reviewed for taking the time to do so. I know a lot of people dont bother and I just wanted to say it means a lot and it really keeps me going!

So this is the new chapter, hope you like it. Dont forget to let me know what you think!

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Chapter Three - Gale.

I retreated from the crowds quickly, hoping nobody would notice. And why would they? Who cared if I wasnt around?

Bitter thoughts swirled around in my head and I growled inwardly trying to shake them off.

The recent announcement rang in my ears, mocking me.

"In honour of Katniss's skill, cunning and, of course, for making this year the most exciting year of the Hunger Games since it first aired, the gamemakers have decided to make the Hunger Games a semi annual event!"

I kicked a stone on the dusty ground and it bounced back and hit me in the leg. Muttering furiously, I headed towards the chain link fence that seperated this world from the one I knew so well.

The one I understood.

Of course this had happened. Every action has a consequence. Did Katniss not see that?

There is no victory without sacrifice.

And this would be her sacrafice, her burden to bear.

I already had my own.

I could see the shock and pain that crossed her face run throught my mind over and over again. But she was powerless to stop it. The Capitol had made sure of that.

I slid under the loose sheet of fence and quickly entered the calming surroundings of the forest.

Memories flung themselves in front of me until I was running. Trying to run away, trying to hide from it all.


Effie calling out Prims name at the reaping. My blood freezing in my veins.

Katniss volunteering, screaming out Prims name. Pulling Prim away, sobbing and screaming.

Watching Katniss on screen, my heart in my mouth. Weeks of agonizing fear and pain.

Peeta. Holding her when I couldnt have. Protecting her when I should have.

Darkness engulfing me, clutching me in its hands.

Then the light. She had won. So had he. But she was coming home. To me.

Feeling her in my arms, safe at last. Her breath on my skin, her voice in my ear. Wanting to never let her go again...


I ran, faster and faster until I finally had to stop, out of breath. I sat on the ground and put my head in my hands. I was going insane and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Breathing heavily, I looked up and noticed that I recognised my surroundings.

My feet had brought me here, unknowing to myself.

I stood at the bottom of a steep hill. Taking another deep breath, I ran as fast as I could to the top, until I saw it. The thicket of berry bushes that protected that place from the world.

I made my way through and sat on the rock ledge that overlooked the valley. It had been our special hidden place for so long.

I dont know how long I sat there, breathing in the quiet air of the forest, letting it run through me and sooth my nerves.

And then a rustle in the bushes and she appeared by my side and sat down. Of course she found me. We knew each other too well.

She blew out a long breath and dropped her head in her hands.

"Shouldnt you be at the celebration" I asked quietly, a bitter undertone to my voice.

She sighed "Gale... Please. Just... Dont".

We stayed silent for a long time, as though we had nothing to say. But there was so much I wanted to say, wanted to ask and it hung in the air between us like a wall seperating what was once inseperable. Us.

She cleared her throat and whispered "I left just after you did".

I frowned at the sound of her voice and looked up to see her tears. It was only then I realised she was crying.

I had never before seen Katniss cry. She was always so strong. She had to be.

She never let anything get to her. She wasnt the type to cry, especially not in front of me.

"Why?" she choked out "Why did you leave?".

I grimaced. I didnt expect it to come to this already.

"Do... do you hate me?" she asked, and it almost sounded like a sob.

My heart felt like it was going to explode watching her fall apart. I was breaking her.

But I couldnt answer. My words were stuck in my throat like a silent scream.

The truth.

Would I ever be able to say it? Say it out loud, not hint at it and hope she understood the meaning.

Would I ever be able to tell her the truth?

"I hate me" she whispered and a tear drop slid off of the end of her nose.

"I will never hate you" I spoke quietly. It wasnt easy to talk about this sort of thing. It wasnt my area of expertise.

I didnt like feeling vulnerable.

She looked at me, searching my eyes for the truth that she wasnt sure she wanted to know.

It wasnt a lie. I didnt hate her. That wasnt why I left. I left... because of him.

Peeta.

When they were there, together, on the stage... I just couldnt look at them any longer. It was different when it was on screen, I could pretend it was acting, it was fake and that when she got home everything would return to normal.

It was all too real to witness it first hand.

The way he touched her, the way he kissed her, the way he looked at her...

He had everything I had ever dreamed about right there in his hands. I should be the one up there with her, I should have volunteered.

I should be the one that she loves.

As I love her.

I lifted my hand to her face and gently smoothed one of her tears away.

She looked at me uncomfortably and turned her face away, rubbing the tears away roughly.

"Good" she said, her voice clear and strong "Because I need to ask you something".

The moment of weakness, thats all it was, a moment, and then she reverted back to her old self. The cold, hard Katniss.

The Katniss that nobody crossed.

Her head snapped to the right all of sudden, scanning the area.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing" she shook her head "Its nothing. I thought I heard something. Just paranoia. It feels almost like being in the arena here".

I shook my head, furious that I hadnt picked up on that. Of course this forest would feel different to her now.

No longer an escape, now it was a cage.

"Anyway..." she hesitated. I waited, letting the words come as they may.

"You know the stories better than I do" she looked at me almost guiltly "The stories about District 13...Was it- Was it really bad?".

I felt my jaw fall slack as I realised what she was asking me. What she couldnt say out loud.

"Katniss" I didnt know what to say "That is... insane".

"Dont you think I know that" she sighed "But maybe insane enough to work? Its time, Gale. This has gone on long enough".

I met her eyes as I contemplated what this meant.

"Its time" she repeated "And... I think I have a plan".

She glanced around and continued in a hushed voice, terrified her whispers would carry on the wind to unforgiving ears.

"Katniss..." I paused "You realise if we start this, there is no going back?".

"I know".

"There is so much more to talk about, to consider" I reasoned.

"I know".

"Youre sure about this?" I made one last attempt to make her reconsider, but I could see her mind was set in stone.

"Yes" she breathed "I am".

I nodded, mulling it over. She kept her gaze on me and I could feel it boring into my thoughts.

This was epic. This could change everything forever.

"Ok" I said at last deciding, standing up "Ok. Lets do this".

She smiled thinly and stepped into my arms, wrapping her thin arms around my waist.

"If you want to fight, I'll be right behind you" I said into her hair "I'll always have your back".

"It is time" she said simply. And I finished her thought in my head. Time for a rebellion...

Then she pulled away and smoothed her hair "I have to go. But we should talk more about this".

"We will" I promised and smiled a farewell as she left for the District. I had a feeling that she needed to get out of the forest. It probably reminded her of the games too much. So much would be different between us beacause of the games.

I stood staring after her for a moment, then sighed and turned to leave myself.

Suddenly, I heard a rustle to my right and I whipped around to see a figure emerging from the bushes.

"Katniss, what-" I stopped dead.

It wasnt Katniss.

I realised with a sick certainty that Katniss hadnt been paranoid. There had been someone there all along, hiding, listening, waiting...

I frowned when I saw who it was...

"What are you doing here?".

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Who could it be? lol I wont say but I will say that this person is about to change the face of the rebellion forever!! Dun dun dun!!!

Ok, seriously. Everyone seems to be 50/50 about the Peeta vs Gale issue!!! I dont know which side I am on!!

Anyway, Please review and let me know what you think! I really appreaciate it! Thanks for reading!