Disclaimer: I own only my own words and thoughts. Suzanne Collins owns the HG and all of the characters she so wonderfully created.

Chapter 8

I've tried counting sheep, tried a few relaxation techniques but it's no use. I still can't seem to fall asleep. I've tossed back and forth more times that I can count. And I'm so tired that it's all I want right now. To sleep. To drift off into a dreamless sleep after which I can wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another day. I wish Mabel was still here. I'd have her make me some hot chamomile tea. I look over at the clock on my nightstand and it's blinking 2:45am. Mabel won't be here for several more hours. Well, I guess I could make the tea myself. Throwing back my comforter, I get out of bed and head downstairs to the kitchen.

I spend the next few minutes searching our many cabinets for the tea bags. I don't come into the kitchen much by myself. Even being here now makes me feel as if I'm invading Mabel's workspace. It's my kitchen and I should really know where things go but I don't. I'm slightly glad I'm alone in my search for the tea bags. How embarrassing it would be to have a guest watch me as I fumbled through my own house as if I've never been here before. But, it really wasn't my fault. Mabel was just so efficient that she rarely, if ever, needed my help in here. Finally, I locate the tea and begin to heat a kettle on the stove for my water. In my search for the tea, I'd luckily stumbled across the cabinet which held our tea cups. I laugh as I look around the kitchen and realize just how out of place I am in here. Geez, I'm 16 years old and I do not know the least little bit about cooking. I pity whoever decides he wants to marry me, knowing he'll be in for a few culinary disasters. Marry me? I catch my thought. Hmph. Like any boy in this district would want to marry me. I can't even get asked out on a date much less have my hand asked for in marriage. I do love the idea of dating though. And I love the idea of getting married. I often daydream about what it would be like to have a husband and children. To have a real purpose in life. I can't imagine how good it feels to have a real family. Sure I have parents. But it's different for us. My mother never leaves her room and isn't able to really communicate with me much. My father works round the clock practically. The only time we even eat dinner together is when we're hosting guests, which to me does not count as family time. If it weren't for Mabel I think I'd feel like an orphan. I'm pulled from my thoughts as the teakettle whistles. I pour the steaming water over the tea bag and realize I need lemon and sugar too. Not having the patience to search for them, I decide to skip it and just drink the tea plain. It's warm and feels soothing but is kind of bitter in comparison to what Mabel makes for me. I shrug and guess that's the difference a little lemon and sugar can make.

I take the tea back upstairs with me and decide to sit out on my balcony. My bedroom has it's own small balcony with a rocking chair. From there, you can see practically the whole town square since our house is up on a hill. I don't know if the Capitol intended this view when they built this house but that's the way it worked out. I even have a view of the meadow next to the road that leads towards the Seam. When I was a little girl I used to pretend I was a princess trapped at the top of a tower and wait for my prince to ride up on a horse to rescue me. I don't go out here much anymore because it makes me feel as if I'm on display to the rest of the town. I prefer to stay more out of sight, less noticeable usually but it's late and I doubt anyone would notice me right now. The cool night air is invigorating and I take a deep breath in. It's brighter out than I thought it would be but that's because the moon is nearly full. It's so pretty how the town looks when all is still and quiet, especially when basked in the soft glow of the moonlight.

As I rock in my chair, not wanting to think about anything to do with the events of the day, I begin to think again about my mother and her garden. It is really sad that we didn't attempt to keep the garden going in her honor after she fell so ill. We could've done it. Father could have easily hired a hand or two to prepare the garden and I could have easily tended to it. Well, maybe not at first since I was so young. But I could tend to one now. It can't be that hard, right? I bet I could do it. I could order a book on gardening tips from the Capitol and once I read it I'm certain I could be successful. Yes, that's what I'll do. It'll be a good distraction from the upcoming games. Something to keep my hands and mind busy. I'll speak to my father tomorrow and have him make the arrangements for both the book and the hiring of someone to help prepare the ground for planting.

I feel pleased with myself at my newly decided venture and think I may actually be ready to get some sleep now. As I stand to go back into my room I notice something in the meadow near the fence, laying in the grass. It catches my eye and I squint to get a better look. At first I think an animal must have gotten through the fence but as I lean over the balcony for a closer look I see that it's a person. They are not moving, laying on their back, arms resting on the ground above their head. I panic. Is someone hurt? Was someone trying to escape through the fence and electrocuted? The perimeter fence is only turned on sporadically but it is possible. I have to help whoever it is. They are so close to the edge of the fence where the grass is deeper and I doubt they'd be visible from the road. Not even stopping to slip on shoes, I fly down the stairs and out the front door. I can't imagine who it could be or what is wrong. All I know is they must need help and I have to get to them.

I'm more than knee deep in the meadow's wild grass when I get close enough to identify the person. I freeze in my tracks and a soft gasp escapes my lips. It's Gale.

What is he doing out here? I'm close enough now to realize that he isn't dead but merely asleep. That still doesn't make sense though. Why would he be out here and not asleep at home in his bed? I am debating on if I should wake him when I notice the soft, slight smile on his face. He has the best smile. I can tell he's dreaming about something but I'm not sure what, just that whatever it is seems to make him happy. His lips move a little and I strain to hear if he's sleep talking but there's no sound. As I stare, I realize he's making a little puckering motion with his lips and realize he's kissing someone in his dream. I try to stifle my laugh but I'm too late. He sits straight up as if ready to attack, eyes wide and alert, lips no longer smiling. Again I'm frozen and don't know what to do. I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.

"What the hell Undersee? You always go around sneaking up on people?" He growls at me.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I saw someone laying out here from up on my balcony and I was afraid they were injured so I came out to help. It wasn't until a moment ago that I even realized it was you and that you weren't hurt but rather sleeping. What on earth are you doing out here Gale?" I quickly explain, throwing in my question at the end in hopes that he'll actually tell me.

"I'm not injured. And I wouldn't need your help even if I was. Just couldn't sleep so I went for a walk and ended up here where I apparently dozed off." He snaps back at me.

"Oh, I couldn't sleep either. That's why I was out on my balcony in the first place." I offer up fully knowing that he hadn't asked but hoping he'll talk more with me.

" I didn't ask." He replies as if he's completely disinterested. He stands up and stretches his arms above his head, then turns and walks towards the Seam. And I'm left alone and open mouthed in the meadow.

Hot tears well up in my eyes and I turn back towards my house. I hadn't meant to upset him or even disturb him. Why does he have such distaste for me? Am I really that awful? It's only as I climb up the front steps that I realize in my haste to "rescue" the person in the meadow I have locked myself out of the house. The front door locks automatically when it's closed and I of course hadn't brought my key with me.

"Fantastic." I mutter as I head around back to the porch swing. It will have to serve as my bed for the rest of the night. It doesn't help my mood that I now feel a chill and realize I only have on a very short nightgown. I sigh and try to estimate how many hours it will be until Mabel comes. It was around 3am when I made my tea so it must be close to dawn now. I'll be fine for a couple of hours and then Mabel can let me back inside. I rest my head on one of the ruffled pillows from the swing and close my eyes. As I find my way to sleep I find myself wondering whom Gale was kissing in his dream. I wonder if he's a good kisser. I bet he is, I think and then I drift in to the dreamless sleep I'd so badly wanted earlier.