I am put into a big spacious room, which is filled with strange gadgets and makeup. I notice not all the makeup is bright, but I've never seen anyone from the Capitol without their faces painted in vibrant colours.

I don't know how long I'm supposed to be in here, so I decide to see what's around me. Before I even take a step I hear squeals behind me.

'Eugh! Look at her eyebrows! And she's so hairy!'

'Look how dirty she is! How can you live like that?'

'But her hair! It's gorgeous!' A strange lady tries to take it out of its braid, but I stop her. I don't know why it makes me feel angry.

'Well, we'd better get started!'

First I have a bath, and I am scrubbed clean. Then I am ordered to lie down on a table Venia waxes me. It's painful, but I know that this compared to a bloody fight in the games is nothing.

After this, they do my nails, sort out my hair and pluck any extra hairs that are left. I have been here for more than 3 hours. I wonder how long Gale took. I hope I can speak to him soon.

They call in a person named Cinna. I guess he's the one in charge of me. I'm prepared to meet another Capitol freak, but the person who walks in is not what I expected. For a second I'm not even sure if he's my stylist. He has a plain t-shirt and skinny jeans, with only a hint of gold eyeliner.

'Hello Katniss. I'm Cinna' He smiles. His voice isn't like most of the people here. His is calm, and gentle.

'Hello' I say.

Cinna circles me, and inspects the work my prep team have done.

'She looks good.' He says.

They leave, and we are left alone.

'You want to put this gown on?' He asks.

I nod. Not because I'm self conscious, I just feel cold.

'Thanks. Are you new? I haven't seen you before'

'Yes. My first year'

'So they gave you District 12' I say with a sigh. It's the least desirable district.

'No' He says with a smile. 'I asked for it'

I wonder if he's lying, to make me feel better, but he doesn't seem that sort of person. I decide to trust him.

'So what's the look this year?' I ask.

'We need something unforgettable. Coal related of course'

Naked with black dust.

'We're going to light you on fire' He says with a smile.

Am I going to die before I even get into the arena?

'It won't hurt. Don't worry'

'Really?' I might have said I trusted him, but this is a completely different thing. He nods, and rolls up his sleeve.

'Look'

He takes a torch and sets the fabric alight. I'm tense for a moment, expecting him to scream in pain or something, but his eyes remain calm.

'It's a little warm, but it won't do any harm'

'So, Gale will be wearing the same thing?' I ask.

'Yup' He says with a smile. I wonder how Gale's going to react.

I try on the costume, and test it out. It's perfect.

Next, Cinna moves onto my makeup. It takes a good hour, before he's done. When I look into the mirror, I don't see a plain district 12 girl, I see me. Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire.

'Cinna. It's amazing. Thank you'

He smiles at me. 'I'm glad you like it'

Then it's time to meet Gale.

_Gale's POV

I see a girl in front of me. She looks dark, mysterious, dangerous, rebellious. Then I realise, its Katniss. I was expecting to see her... I don't know... different. She looks stunning.

'Who's the stylist?' I ask.

'Me' A guy with simple clothes and barley any makeup smiles at me. He can't be from the capitol. He's too plain. Simple. He has only, gold eyeliner on, which brings out the golden flecks in his eyes. His hair is a natural brown, and I begin to wonder, if not all capitol people are bad. After all, they've been brought up this way, it's not their fault.

It's President Snow's. And I hate him. I want to kill him.

_District 1... 2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...11... then it's us.

'They save the best till last' I whisper in Katniss' ear, and we're off. The capitol is screaming, pointing at our burning costumes. Me and Katniss look straight ahead, ignoring the world, and when I look at the screen, and for the first time, I see who me and Katniss really are. Two fires, burning, waiting to rebel. I like it. I think of Snow, and smile a little. He won't like this.

Eventually, we reach the end, and Snow says his words, but I don't listen, because I know the story. I take Katniss' hand, and wait until we can finally leave. I catch Haymitch's eye in the audience, and he frowns slightly. I think we were meant to smile. Oh well.

'You should have smiled!' Effie says, as soon as we walk in.

'Smiling would have helped, but you did a good job' Haymitch says gruffly.

'Well, we can't have you looking like that in the interviews. You have to smile' Effie says.

The interviews. Then the games. I realise I've been meaning to ask Haymitch something.

'Haymitch, there needs to be a rule change. We need two victors' I say. I'm not asking.

I hear Katniss sigh beside me.

Haymitch just raises his eyebrows.

'Two victors, huh?' He chuckles 'I'm sorry kid, it's not possible'

'But there must be a way' I argue.

'You can only convince the head gamemaker. I doubt that will ever happen' Haymitch says, and reaches for a drink.

I sigh. There's no way I can give in.

'Then we'll convince the head gamemaker' Katniss says. So she hasn't given up completely. She's still fighting. It's what I love so much about her. She's always fighting.

Haymitch just laughs and we continue our meal in silence, and go to bed.

'Katniss, come here' I want to show her the roof before we go. I've been up there only once, when I couldn't sleep.

'What?' She turns around, to see me climbing up a ladder.

I see a look in her eyes. She thinks it's an escape, but she realises they would never let us get away so easily. She follows me anyway.

'Isn't the view amazing?' I say.

She nods, watching the cars go by, lights flashing. It's not what we're used to, and it almost seems like a dream.

We sit down, leaning against the wall, thinking of home. Katniss puts her head on my shoulder. I'm surprised, but happy. It's nice to have her so close.

'Gale, I miss Prim so much.' She whispers.

Of course she is. Prim is the reason why she's here.

'Well in a few months you'll be back again' I've decided if there can't be two victors, Katniss will be going home.

She lifts her head of my shoulder.

'No, Gale. You. Are. Going. To. Win'

'But Katniss-'

'Gale, you are going home. Accept it'

'But what about Prim?'

'She'll have you. And anyway, she's strong enough to cope without me.'

'But she loves you. So many people love you. People you don't expect'

'People I don't expect? Like who?'

'Um... well...' What do I say?

She looks into the distance. I know she's thinking of home.

'Look, never mind' I say.

She puts her head back on my shoulder, and closes her eyes.

'Katniss, it's going to be ok'

She doesn't respond. I put my arm around her shoulders, and we fall asleep.

When I wake, the sun is only just rising. I look down at Katniss, to see she is still asleep. She looks so at peace, in her own world. She looks beautiful. I lean down and gently kiss her, knowing it's the only chance I'll get.

'What's going on here?'

Haymitch. Why did he have to come and ruin this? I open my eyes and come away.

'I umm... well...'

Haymitch smirks.

'Look, just don't tell anyone. Especially not Katniss. It's a secret between me and you, okay?' It comes out a little more desperate than it was meant too.

I expect Haymitch to laugh and walk away. I don't care if he does, it's expected. But no, he comes and sits down next to me.

'You know... I was in a very similar situation...'

I realise I know nothing about his past, or when he was in the games.

'Do you know Madge? Madge Und-Undersee'

I nod. Of course I know her. The mayor's daughter. I think she's a snob, but Katniss tells me she's nothing like people expect her to be.

Haymitch is silent.

'What about her?'

'Nothing. Just remember, it might be too late to tell her.' His face is back into its usual expression, and he gets back up.

'See you later, kid.' And then he's gone.

I lean back, and think about what Haymitch had said. First of all, what's this got to do with Madge? Second of all, if I tell Katniss my feelings, what will she do? There's no point. She'll never know.

I sit there for another half hour, just watching Katniss sleeping. It's so calming.

'Gale?' Katniss opens her eyes.

'I'm here, Catnip'

She lifts her head up and frowns. I sigh. She's worrying too much, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

I put my hand on her cheek, to calm her, and her face softens a bit.

'Katniss, it's going to be okay. Just get the training over with and then-'And then we're thrown in to the arena to fight to the death. I can't say that.

'And then I die, and you win'

'No. I die, you win'

'Look, Gale. I've already told you that you're going to win. Nothing can stop me, and you know that' She gets up. 'I'm going to get changed. See you later'

Eventually I climb down the ladder too, and head to breakfast, wondering what will happen today.

A/N

I hope you liked it :D It wasn't too short, was it? Now I'm going to go and do homework L Please review and tell me how to improve!

~Jazz