Author's Note: I forgot to put this earlier (ehehe, sorry) but I just need to say that I do not own any of the characters. I made up some parts of the story but pretty much everything else belongs to Suzanne Collins. Anyway, thanks for reading!

CHAPTER 2: The Train Ride

Gale's POV:

As soon as the train doors shut behind us and the train begins to move, Katniss lets go of my hand and turns to me.

"Gale, why did you volunteer?" Katniss asks with concern and alarm in her eyes, "What happened to our agreement that if one of us was reaped, the other would stay and take care of our families?"

"I-I don't know...I just couldn't bear the thought of you going into the Games on your own. I need to come with you so I can help get you out safe and alive. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't." I tell and grab both her hands. She doesn't pull them away, so I take it as a good sign, "I care about you, Catnip."

"I know you do. And I care about you, too. That's why you shouldn't have volunteered! I don't want you participating in the Games. At least one of us will have to die! And it can't be you!" Katniss screams at me and throws her arms around me.

"It has to be me, Katniss! It's either me or neither of us." I whisper to her.

She furiously shakes her head and loosens her grip on me to look at me. "We can't both win, Gale!"

"Says who?" I ask her with a slight smile.

"Says the Gamemakers. The're not going to let two tributes out of the arena." Katniss countered.

"We'll see" I tell her mischievously and pull her into another hug.

Katniss's POV:

I stand limply in Gale's arms as he pats my back. I try to keep from crying but an occasional tear drips down my face. I can't take it anymore so I bury my face in Gale'chest and let my tears fall. I'm certain that their are cameras in the train and I refuse to let anyone see my cry. Gale doesn't seem to mind that his shirt has become wet.

After a few minutes, I hear footsteps and raise my head, quickly wiping away my tears and turn my head towards the direction I heard those loud feet. Gale must have heard them too because he lets go of me and looks in the same direction as me. Effie appears a moment later with an unnecessary smile on her face.

"Hello! I just wanted to tell you that dinner is in twenty minutes. I will direct you to your rooms so you can wash up and change if you want." she says walking down the hallway. She opens a door and directs me inside.

"Everything is to your disposal." she tells me, then closes the door.

I decide to wash my face but leave my hair as it is, since it doesn't look too bad. Then I put on a dark green shirt, black pants and some boots. I am about to walk out the door when I remember the mockingjay pin from Madge. I unclip it from my dress and pin it to my shirt, then walk out the door.

It takes me a few minutes to find my way to the dining cart. When I finally do find it, I see Effie and Gale already sitting at the table. Haymitch, our always drunk mentor, is nowhere to be seen.

Gale's POV:

I watch Katniss sit down next to me and shoot her a small smile. She returns it then directs her attention to the waiter pulling a shiny silver cart full of waiter puts the food on the table and we all dig in. I haven't noticed earlier, but I'm starving.

The dinner comes in courses. There's a thick carrot soup, green salad, lamb chops and mashed potatoes, cheese and fruit and chocolate cake. Effie keeps reminding Katniss and I to save space because there's more food to come. I stuff myself because the food is so good, and there's so much, and it would help if I could put on some pounds before I enter the arena. I look over my shoulder and see Katniss is doing the same.

"At least, the two of you have decent manners. The pair last year ate everything with their hands like savages. It completely upset my digestion." Effie tells us.

The tributes last year were both from the Seam (where Katniss and I live) and they never had enough to eat. Katniss and I both have mothers who taught us to eat properly so,yes, we have table manners. I don't know why, but Effie's comment disturbs me and I have the instinct to sprinkle the fat from the lamb chops in her face. It takes a lot or restraint not to, but I see Katniss wipe her hands on the tablecloth in response to Effie's disgusting remark. This makes her purse her lips and I hold back a laugh.

When the meal is over, we go into another compartment to watch the recap of reapings from other districts.

Katniss's POV:

We walk into a compartment with two couches and a huge TV. I sit down next to Gale and the reaping recaps begin. One by one, we watch the reapings from Districts 1-12. Gale and I examine the faces of each of kid who will be our competition. A few stick out in my mind. A monstrous boy from 2 runs forward to volunteer and I moan. He looks huge on TV, but will be even bigger in person. Gale, who is pretty big and strong himself, is a half head shorter than the boy from 2 and doesn't look as strong anymore. There's a fox-faced girl with red her from 5. A boy from 10 with a crippled leg. Most hauntingly is a 12 year old girl from 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but otherwise she is much like Prim. But no one is willing to volunteer for her.

Last is District 12's reaping. I watch Prim's name being called, me running to volunteer, Gale pulling Prim away, Gale volunteering, me rushing to embrace him, Effie's bubbly excitement at two volunteers, and the salute from each citizen of 12. Then the screen goes dark and Effie moans at how her wig had looked at the reaping.

I roll my eyes and draw my knees to my chest.

Effie glared at me and walks out the door, leaving Gale and I alone. Gale grabs my hand and squeezes it and I give him a soft smile.

We sit like that for a few minutes, hand in hand, until Haymitch stumbles into the room, obviously drunk.

"I miss supper?" he asks in a slurred voice. Then he vomits and falls into his smelly mess.

Gale and I just stare at him, disgusted. The smell is horrifying and Gale jumps over Haymitch and his puddle of vomit.

"Come on. I'll get someone to clean it up. You need to get some sleep" he says, extending his hand to help me jump over Haymitch's body. I take it gratefully and we walk silently to my room.

"Good night. See you in the morning" I say to Gale.

"Good night, Catnip." he says, smiling.

Then without warning, he leans over and kisses my cheek, and walks off. I touch my cheek, stunned, then close the door. I flop onto the bed and fall into a restless sleep full of terrifying Hunger Games dreams.

Gale's POV:

I wake up early in the morning. It takes me a moment to realize I'm not home, and I'm not going hunting today. I walk to the bathroom to comb my hair and take a quick shower. Then I walk out the door to the dining cart.

Haymitch and Katniss are already eating and I sit down across from Katniss.

"So, Haymitch. Any advice?" I ask him

Haymitch looks at me and simply answers "Stay alive!" then he begins to laugh and reaches for his bottle of liquor.

Angry, I grab it first and throw it across the room. It hits the wall and shatters.

Haymitch stares at me and tries to grab a bottle of wine far away from me. Katniss takes her knife and plunges it into the table, barely missing Haymitch's fingers.

Haymitch leans back and chuckles. "See I've got a par of fighters this year. Here's some advice: don't resist. You won't like what the stylist does to you, but don't resist."

Then he walks out the door in the direction of the liquor cart.

I look out the window and see we've arrived in the Capitol. It's much more beautiful than they show on TV. But I already hate it. So many riches. So many people stuffing themselves with food when they could share with the poor people of the Districts like Katniss's family and mine.

Author's Note: Phew! Finally done! Sorry it was so long (and maybe boring?) But next chapter is better, I can promise it. Thanks for reading up to here so far! :)