A/N: Wow! Thank you guys! Eleven reviews for one chapter! I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it :) Here is chapter two!

Chapter 2

Gale jumps back. "What the fuck Katniss! What was that for?"

I glare at him. "You know perfectly what it is for. You volunteered, then wouldn't back down! We made a fucking promise, and you broke it!"

Gale holds up his hands. "I'm sorry Katniss. But I couldn't let you go alone." He trys to pull me into a hug.

But I refuse to give in. I push his chest away from me with all my might, and he stumbles backwards. "Why couldn't you let me go? We had a damn pact! You were supposed to honor it! Now who will take care of our families?"

I am furious, and I see Gale's eyes blaze with anger. "Katniss. Listen to me. I had to come to protect you. I couldn't just let you go!"

My temper spikes. "And why the hell not? Why couldn't you let me go?"

The fire burns within Gale's eyes. "Because you're my best friend. Maybe that's not a good enough reason, but it is for me." He turns and marches to his chamber, then slams the door.

I can't believe he broke our pact, tried to justify it, then walked away from me!

A soft whisper startles me. "Are you okay Katniss?"

I turn around, and there is Peeta, watching me with a sympathetic expression. Why does he care anyways? We are supposed to be enemies, for crying out loud. "Fine," I mutter stiffly, then walk to my room.

In my bedroom, there is a huge, glass window that allows me to see the outside world. It is amazing, because I've never been anywhere but District 12 and the forest. I stare at the world I have never known, then remember that dinner is in half an hour.

I hop into the shower, and I am confused. There are so many buttons and dials. I click some random buttons, and the shower spits out hot water and bubbles. I look up at the shower head in awe for a minute, because we never have unlimited access to hot water at home. Then I start to scrub myself ferociously, probably peeling off three layers of my skin during the process. I want to clean off this filth, the fight with Gale, the hurt the Capitol has caused me.

Once I am done showering, I touch a device that immediately drys me. I don't even have to towel off. I let out a derisive chuckle. The Capitol. Too lazy to even dry themselves off.

I start to pull open the many drawers at my disposal, and manage to find a nice, dark green shirt and pants. I quickly slip them on, then realize that it is already time for suppper. I am about to leave, but I remember the pin that Madge gave me, and I put it onto my shirt.

I exit my room, and look around, trying to locate the dining room. Effie pops out from behind a wall, and I jump back.

Effie claps her hands, then trills, "Time for supper! Follow me!"

The door to Gale's room opens, and he looks at me. Our eyes meet, then I quickly turn away. I feel my cheeks heating up.

Another door opens, and Peeta comes out. "Hi Katniss." He waves at me.

I nod at him. Why was he being so nice? We're supposed to kill each other.

Effie claps her hands again. "Come now! We haven't all day!"

The three of us silently follow her, and I am fully aware of Gale's and Peeta's eyes on me. Their gazes burn into my back, and I have no idea why both of them are staring at me.

Effie turns down a corridor here, makes a left turn there, and opens a door. At last we are in the dining room with polished paneled walls. It is a gorgeous room, but that isn't what catches my attention. What grabs my eyes is a big, shiny table filled with heaping dishes.

Haymitch is at one end of the table, chugging down a beer. He drunkenly shouts, "Suh dun, suh dun."

I interpret that as "sit down." I pull out a polished chair, and it makes a squeaking noise on the shiny wooden floor, then fall into the chair.

Effie grabs one chair at the end opposite of Haymitch and smooths out her skirt before sitting.

Peeta and Gale both move to sit next to me, and end up bumping into each other.

Effie stands back up and ushers them to the chairs opposite of me, then sits down. I see the disappointment in Gale's eyes. Why Peeta wanted to sit next to me, I have no clue.

"Now, let's start eating!" Effie delicately picks up her fork and spoon, and politely scoops some food onto her plate.

I am starving, and grab as much food as I can. I am not used to having so much food at the tips of my fingers. I spy Gale doing the same, not used to so much food. Peeta, on the other hand, takes very little portions of food. Probably used to it all, considering he's a baker's son.

Effie clears her throat. "At least you three seem to have decent manners. The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages." She shudders. "It completely upset my digestion."

The pair last year were from the Seam. They were worse off than Gale and I. At least we could go hunt. They had begged on the streets nearly everyday. Sometimes, Gale and I would spare some game out of pity, if we had enough food left over.

My mother, coming from a merchant family, taught Prim and I proper manners, so I could handle utensils. But I am so angry at Effie's statement that I drop my utensils and leave behind all my table manners. I grab things with my hands, chew noisily, and wipe my hands on the tablecloth.

I see Effie frowning, and Gale stifling a laugh. Peeta stares at me, looking a bit sick. Haymitch is still too drunk to care.

Once dinner is over, we are herded by Effie to another compartment to watch the recap of the other reapings. I sit down on the couch and focus on the TV screen. One by one, the districts are shown. I carefully study the other tributes, knowing that these people are my competition. Once the recap goes to the reaping of District 11, I see a haunting image. There is a little girl with dark brown eyes and skin, and she is chosen as a tribute. She reminds me so much of Prim, and my heart grows heavy.

They move on, and I see the recap for District 12. Prim, getting called. Me, running and volunteering. Peeta, mounting the stage. Gale, volunteering. Peeta, back on stage. All three of us, announced as tributes. Then the camera cuts to the audience saluting us. Suddenly, Haymitch falls off the stage and breaks the moment.

Effie clucks her tongue disapprovingly. "Horrible manners."

Gale lets out a harsh laugh. "He's hilarious."

Effie puts her hands on her hips, and her wig is disheveled. "How odd that you find it amusing. You know your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentation of any gifts. He could very well be the difference between your lives and your deaths!"

Haymitch stumbles into the room, right on cue. "Whatcha doin'?" He vomits dinner up, spewing it everywhere.

"Laugh away!" Effie clutches her wig in one hand, and hops out of the room on her pointy shoes.

No one moves. Then Peeta walks over to Haymitch's still body, lying in his dinner. "I'll take care of him."

Gale surprises me. He walks over and hauls up Haymitch's body. "I'll help."

They both lift his body out of the room. I am left alone. I shut off the TV and turn off the lights. I decide to head back to my chamber, and when I arrive there, it is dark. I switch on a light, marveling at the easy access to electricity. I strip off my clothes and drop them on the ground. I dig around in the closet and pull out a pair of pajamas and switch off the light, then collapse into my bed.

I lay there, exhausted, yet I cannot sleep. I roll around until I finally to decide to get up. I check the time, and it is three in the morning. I slip on a pair of soft slippers, and quietly open the door. I pace around in the corridor, trying to collect myself.

I hear a door click, and Peeta comes out. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No," I reply.

"Me neither," he says. He slowly walks towards me. "I'm so nervous about all of this."

I stop pacing. "Why did you still want to go into the games, then?"

Peeta is quiet, and he seems to be thinking about this. At last he responds, "I came because in that instant I knew I would feel so guilty if I saw Gale die on screen."

I have a feeling that he isn't telling me everything, but I don't push him. "But you never even knew him."

Peeta shrugs. "I knew about him. I knew that he would provide my father with fresh meat. I knew that many girls at school fawned over him. I knew that was a good guy."

I stare at him. "How could you know about all of this? You hang out with the rich kids."

Peeta just looks at the floor.

We both walk around, not talking, just thinking. After a while, I am ready to drop dead and bid Peeta goodbye. "Night, Peeta." I give a small wave and turn to leave.

"Night, Katniss." He opens the door to his room. I barely catch his whisper. "Sweet dreams."

I enter my room and shut the door. I rest against the door, and now I am more confused then ever.

A/N: This chapter is really long! I am not sure if this was boring or interesting, I tried my best. There is a cute Peeta moment in here because even though I love Gale, I love Peeta too. I just don't like him with Katniss. Plus Peeta is too hard to hate. This story is also going by a little slow, because I don't want to rush over anything. Review please! OH YEAH! New policy: the more reviews I get, the faster I'll update :) SO REVIEW, PLEASE?