A/N: Here it is :) And...HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is finally 2012! I stayed up all night till it was midnight :) &the Dick Clark New Year show was awesome! Plus, there was awesome fireworks and firecrackers in my neighborhood. It still feels like 2011 though. I hope this year is a lot better for me.

DISCLAIMER: The two lines that Haymitch says to Katniss aren't mine - they belong to Lionsgate & anyone else involved. I just used it for my own purposes. I don't own anything at all :(

Chapter 7

After Gale was taken away, Atala announced that the training session was over for today.

So Peeta and I left. For the rest of the day, we did nothing. Well, for me, I just mentally freaked out.

In the end, we ended up just sitting around the dinner table with Effie and Haymitch, waiting for news on Gale.

"Katniss!"

I jump up. "Huh?" I must have fallen asleep. Effie and Haymitch are gone, and I hear them whispering in the sitting room.

"Gale's back," Peeta says kindly.

"Oh!" I leap out of my chair and find Gale standing in the doorway. "Gale!"

Gale smiles. "Hey Catnip. See, I'm fine."

I scold him. "You shouldn't be so reckless!"

He grins innocently. "Whatever."

I sigh. "Come on. Sit down. Haymitch'll will pop a fuse when he sees you."

He plops into a chair when Haymitch and Effie walk through the door.

Haymitch snarls. "Finally back, Hawthorne? What in the hell did you go attack another tribute for?"

Gale argues back. "He was annoying the crap out of us all!"

Haymitch pounds a fist on the table. "I don't give a fuck. We were supposed to keep a low profile. Don't go fucking our plans up!"

Gale is about to retaliate, but Effie interrupts him. "Supper time!"

Avoxes come into the room with heaping dishes of steaming food, and the aromas fill up the air.

Gale and Haymitch slump down in their chairs.

Everyone is quiet, and the only sound is our utensils clinking against the dishes. Finally Effie speaks. "So what happened?"

Gale says, "Nothing. Cato and I were led into this room and we just sat down. The Peacekeepers mentioned something about talking to Seneca Crane, and..."

Haymitch grunts. "Well?"

Gale swallows, then says, "Cato and I have to wait one minute before we can enter the arena."

Haymitch groans. "Oh no, there it is. Our plan? Fucked up. Nice going, genius."

Gale shrugs. "What's wrong with that?"

Haymitch groans again. "You get held back, you can't get any supplies, and the other tributes will surround you, waiting for you to get out and kill you. Or, if they don't, you think Katniss can wait around for you? They'll kill her if she doesn't get away first."

I shovel food into my mouth, but it all tastes like nothing. Nothing else is said for the rest of the dinner.

Everyone excuses themselves when Effie shrieks. "I almost forgot to tell you! Tomorrow is your personal training with the Gamemakers! Be prepared! Sleep well!"

I try to drown my sorrows in the shower. I cry, I scream, I pull at my hair, I pound the walls.

"Catnip?" There is pounding at my bathroom door.

I hit a button and the shower turns off, then I grab a soft, plush towel and wrap it around myself. I carefully walk to the door, not wanting to slip.

I turn the doorknob. "Gale?"

"Hey." He stuffs his hands into his pockets. "I just wanted to apologize. I mean, I just ruined all of our plans."

I feel my heart crumble. "Gale. It's not your fault. It's not us. It's the Capitol." I hug him.

He holds on to me firmly. "Goodnight, Catnip. And good luck tomorrow. Not that you need it. Just get a bow and arrow, and you're set."

"Night, Gale." I watch him go, then shut the door. Good luck to me.

The next morning, breakfast is a hastily completed event.

"So they'll call you in one by one. Do your best," Haymitch instructs us.

I swallow hard, but my mouth is dry. I am so nervous - me, on a one-on-one session with them?

"Alright?" Haymitch claps his hands together and stands up. "Let's go."

We are led to a big, sprawling, pristine room. The walls are made of glass, and bright sunlight streams into the room, creating the illusion of a warm atmosphere. But I know better. The room is filled with circular white tables and matching chairs. Each table has a district number on it. I sit down at the District 12 table with Gale and Peeta.

Haymitch bids us goodbye. He is about to walk away, but then he turns around and motions at me to come to him.

"What?" I ask.

"Show them everything sweetheart," Haymitch commands. "Make sure they remember you."

Just then, the doors open. There stands the Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane himself. "All tributes must be at their tables. Everyone else must leave."

Haymitch nods, then departs.

Seneca Crane continues his little speech. "I will call in the first tribute right now, Marvel, and after ten minutes, a buzzer will ring. Then the next tribute will follow. You will all follow in order of your district. The males of each district will go first. That is all. Now, Marvel." He motions to Marvel, and Marvel stands up, his face fearless. They exit the room and the white doors shut with a bang.

I drum my fingers on the table restlessly. At last ten minutes pass and the buzzer sounds. The female tribute of District 1, Glimmer, rises and exits the room.

Time passes. District 3 tributes gone. District 6. District 9. District 11. Then Peeta and Gale both rise. Peeta volunteers to go first, and he leaves.

Gale and I are alone in this big room, and I feel my heart beat faster. All the other tables are empty. It is so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

I break the silence first. "So. You're next, huh?"

"I guess so." Gale looks up at me. "Are you nervous?"

I don't answer. "Are you? You're next, after all."

Gale shrugs. "Not really." The buzzer rings.

Gale walks over to the door, then turns around. "Good luck, Catnip. Not that you need it." He flashes me his heartbreaking smile, then leaves the room. I hate to admit it, but my heart flutters for a second.

Too late, I respond, "Bye, Gale." And I sit there, all alone.

While I am waiting, I pace around the room. I look out the walls, at the beauty of the Capitol. The buildings outside are shining and glittering, like jewels. I see the citizens of the Capitol walk outside with their stupid fashions, laughing without a care. But I know everything about this place is artificial, and I can't help but feel hate for everything. For the unfairness of it all.

The buzzer intrudes on my thoughts. I take a deep breath, then walk out the doors and down the corridor. As I walk, I see Gale exit. He catches my eye, then grins encouragingly. Then he walks down another path.

I watch his receding figure, then remember why I am here. I pause in front of another set of white double doors. I smooth my hair, then push through.

Immediately, I am greeted by bored Gamemakers. They are all lounging in their comfy chairs, chatting with each other.

"And Marrlinia said, 'Oh no you don't! He's my man!' and she practically pounced on Ginesse! It was scandalous! And you know what Jonia did? He said, 'Ladies, we can share!' and they both dumped him on the spot!" A lady with bright purple skin was raving.

The lady she was talking to gasped. "No! Jonia did not! And Marrlinia? I always took her as a lightweight! Ginesse was always such a minx though."

I clear my throat. "Hello, I am Katniss Everdeen."

Everyone turns to me, startled by my interruption.

Seneca Crane sits in the center, and he waves his hand. "Very well. Go on."

I quickly scan the room and grab a sheath of silver arrows along with a matching bow. I shoot around some arrows, and they watch me for three seconds and resume gossiping.

I am so angered - how dare they? I quickly think of something. I grab many sacks and head over to the camouflage station and use the paints to write the nam e of every tribute, including myself. I repeat this twenty-three more times. Then I put it on top of each dummy's head and stand them up against a wall. I write one huge message across the space above their heads. I grab an arrow and shoot.

The Gamemakers look up, surprised, but I keep shooting. Then they read the message above the dummies:

WE ARE ALL DEAD AT THE HANDS OF YOU.

One man gasps and falls off his chair. A lady shrieks maniacally. Seneca Crane's nostrils flare, and he looks like he is about to burst.

They all turn to stare at me. I bow. "Thank you for watching me."

Then, without any word from them, I turn and stride out the door.

A/N: Again, Happy New Year of 2012! :) Now I can say: THE HUNGER GAMES IS COMING OUT THIS YEAR! instead of THE HUNGER GAMES IS COMING OUT NEXT YEAR! The last day of winter break for me is TODAY D: I don't know how often I can update. So, here is a chapter. Review please :)