(Author's note: Sorry for not posting for a while! I've been busy lately and forgot about the story. It's not my best chapter but her you go!)
Nothing interesting has happened in the Hunger Games so I go to school as usual and hunt for food. I made a mental note to never go back into that clearing again. I usually ignore all of the girls whispering about me in school, but the past few days I can't ignore them. I wish Katniss could only think that way about me but she doesn't even know how I feel about her. I'm too lost in my thoughts to notice one of the most popular girls in the grade walk up to me. Her friends are huddled together and giggling and whispering. She tugs on my sleeve and says,"Hi Gale. I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to do something with me after school." Her hair is a caramel color and her eyes are hazel. Her teeth are straight and white and she's wearing a red lipstick as usual.
I try and back up but she talks slowly as she walks closer to me. "My name is Azalea. I was named after a beautiful rare flower. It's true. I am very, very rare." She traces her finger up my arm and is too close for my liking. I can smell her perfume and I know that she's trying to seduce me. I push her back and say,"Sorry, but I'm not interested." She rolls her eyes and struts back to her friends. I walk off to my class but unfortunately, Azalea and her friends are in that class too. I hear them giggle about me and they keep blushing when I look at them. I feel relieved to finally hear the bell ring.
Our lockers are small wooden square doors that open up to a little cube to store items for each class. I finish switching textbooks and use my key to lock my locker. I feel a tap on my back and I turn around to see Azalea again. I groan and say,"Listen Azalea, I really don't-" She cuts me off by kissing me. I'm shocked that she actually did that to me but it doesn't last long. I push her away from me roughly and say,"No. I already told you. I can't do this." She laughs and says,"Gale don't be silly. I know what I want. And it's you. Don't pretend that your not interested." She puts her hands on my shoulders and tries to pull me in for another kiss but a voice next to us says,"Hey!" Azalea backs away from me and laughs nervously,"Oh um Terrence I didn't see you there." I turn around to see a large kid with jet black hair and cold grey eyes. I'm bigger and stronger than him but he obviously must not notice that because he walks up to me and pushes me,"Stay away from my girl." I shove him back and he slams his fist into my stomach. That knocks the wind out of me and I stumble backwards. Prim runs up and yells,"Leave him alone!" I cough and say wheezily,"Prim...no." But it's too late. He swings his arm t her and she slams against the wall and slides to the floor. Terrence walks up to me and kicks my stomach. What does he have against my stomach? I can barely breathe but I see Prim weeping on the floor and I clumsily stand up. I punch Terrence as hard as I can in the face. Blood gushes out of his nose and I jam my fist upwards into his jaw. He falls to the floor and starts crying like a little baby. I make sure Prim is okay and take her home since school is over. Her mother says that her ankle is sprained but she'll be fine. I wish her luck and head home.
I turn on the television to see Katniss blowing up the Career's supplies. Everything seems fine until the young girl that she's allied with gets caught in a trap. They're both screaming each other's names but it's too late. A tribute throws a spear and it lodges itself into the girl's stomach. Katniss kills the boy and sings a incredible song. I never knew what an amazing voice she had. She covers the girl in bright flowers and walks away. I know she was close to the girl and the pain she must feel. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. I open it to find Azalea. She smiles and says,"Sorry about today. Terrence thinks we're dating but I'm not really interested in him. I'm inviting a couple of people to my house and I was wondering if you wanted to come." I open my mouth to say something but my mother comes from behind me and says,"He would love to go! Gale, you've been such a loner these past few days. Go have some fun!" I unwillingly follow Azalea out the door and glare at my mother. She babbles on about how much fun it will be at her house and I pretend to listen. When we get there, I notice something. "Where are your parents?" I ask. She laughs and says,"My grandmother is sick. They're taking care of her at her house." I sit down on a chair as a bunch of kids from my grade pile in. Definitely not a couple of kids. Azalea's friends wave at me and I fake a smile. I hear kids talking about the fight today and the Hunger Games.
Azalea comes over to me and says,"Why aren't you enjoying the fun? Here, I'll help you." She bends down near my lips but I shove her. Her jaw drops and she says,"Gale! What's wrong? Terrence is gone now!" She holds on to my hand tightly but I rip it away from her and yell,"Get the hell away from me! Are you deaf? I don't like you!" Her friends were apparently eavesdropping because I hear them gasp. Azalea frowns and asks,"Why not?" I sigh and say,"One, your annoying and obnoxious. Two, you're pretty damn dumb. And three, I love Katniss not you!" A few people turn and stare at me but I walk out the door and slam it behind me. I get home to find my mother smiling but I go straight to the television.
I turn it one to find Katniss washing Peeta's clothes and them going into a cave. Everything is fine until their lips meet. He kissed her. Or did she kiss him? Was it real or fake? Questions buzz around in my head as I scream,"No!" at the screen. I run outside and by instinct I run into the forest. I stumble around blindly in the dark until I find our special meeting spot. I lay down panting with tears streaking down my face. I never imagined how much love would hurt. I wish everything that had happened since the reaping was all a dream but I know it's not true. I look up and see a full moon staring down at me. It seems to be taunting me by being so perfect, just like Peeta. Suddenly, I realize I'm not alone. I look to my left to see someone sitting on a rock. It's the last person I would ever expect to be here. Madge Undersee.