Author's Note: Yes Gale and Ari are a cute couple, and the party has a lot to do with moral than anything else. But like I said I am a big fan of gravity so with every up is a down somewhere…not here but you'll figure it out I am sure ;)

Thanks go to my reviewers: E-W-Dragon, SeaOtter, Arrow, HL, Pandora and JB

Chapter 26

The Girl I Am

Gale comes to get me and we walk home together. Buck does not stay to wave bye, as soon as there was a rap on the door he went back to the register.

I will have to talk to him but right now more pressing matters are on my mind. With the reaping two days away the party just prior to it, and still much to get done the feelings of Buck Mellark are a little down the list of priorities.

Still it's on my 'to do' list, and still on my mind.

Maybe that's why Gale is nudging me.

"Hey daydreamer" he says jokingly, he has been calling me nicknames for a week now, 'pretty girl' 'babe' 'darlin', I don't mind I know it's an endearment.

"Sorry" I reply and he laughs.

"Why do you always apologize?" he smirks, "you're off in your own world again, was just trying to get you back down to earth"

"Just thinking of what we have to do tomorrow" I reply

"Is everything set up?" he asks concerned and I nod, "and you're ready?"

"We have the baked good almost done, cake and all, its just buying out the grocer and butcher tomorrow morning" I reply but he smirks, "what? That's what's left to do"

"I said 'and you're' ready" he emphasizes, "Ari you are gonna be in the thick of everything tomorrow and I am pretty damn sure you can handle managing everything." He starts

"But…" I know he means something else is missing and again practicality doesn't play into it, maybe that's why he and I fit; he's the romantic I'm the pragmatist.

Guess Castiel was right, but I don't know if its love I feel and I don't know how to explain it yet. I stop myself from going into an internal debate by looking at Gale expectantly.

"It's a party too babe, you have to have fun as well" he smirks

I blink at that, I'm from district Five, he has to know something about my life.

"What do you guys do on the fifth of May?" I ask

"Go to school. Go to work. Why?"

"We have block parties, and music" I explain, "when a new person arrives either being born there or moved there, or if we win at the games. We celebrate it. Everything is a celebration Gale, I know how to have fun" I tease, "even if I haven't in a while, just don't expect me to dress up"

He smirks, "why is that?"

I shrug, "I don't have a dress for one, and I never feel right wearing one"

I somehow wish I hadn't said that.

He kisses me goodnight, we embrace and he says he'll pick me up at the bakery tomorrow morning then we will get started.

I head in and Haymitch is sitting on the steps, he doesn't say anything just a large goofy grin.

"Oh shut it old man" I say sarcastically getting a cup of overly strong coffee, "we still have work to do"

"I ain't doing anymore push ups" he glares at me as he enters the kitchen.

"No you're not, tomorrow is cancelled" I reply, "but I need you to promise some things"

He sighs, "with Mellark wanting me to protect Katniss and Katniss wanting me to protect him what could you possibly want me to promise?"

I kick out a chair for him, "just listen"

I explain the whole plan, Heavensbee playing his part, that we are going to try and rescue all the tributes. What his part is to play in it.

He seems to take it better than I thought; he takes a slug of coffee. Then just stares at the cup.

"This could get ugly you know" he finally says

It makes me laugh sarcastically, "trust me, ugly is a wishful thought, some districts have already gone rogue. My friends in Five are going in; Tracer has a baby son she may never see again. Yes ugly is a very light description"

He's about to say something angrily when we hear a tentative knock on the door. He gets it.

"Hazelle? What you doin' here so late?" he look a bit shocked as he answers it, "and Posy?"

"Come to see Ariana is she in?" Hazelle asks

Haymitch welcomes them in. Posy is carrying a small bag and Hazelle has a dress bag over her arm.

"There you are" she smiles as she sees me, "I have to talk to you"

We head upstairs because she didn't want a drink and she wasn't hungry.

"Gale came home babbling about the party" she says as she puts the bag and garment bag on my bed, "I think you've gotten a lot of people's hope up in the seam. Promises of a good meal lately are almost like saying we struck gold"

"I'm just trying to help" I say softly, I can speak to Haymitch no problem even bad mouth him. But Gale's mom is such a kind hearted person, not only does she raise four kids. But she still manages to clean this house and do Haymitch's laundry. She is a victor more than anyone who has won a hunger games in my eyes.

"And now I am going to help you" she says, "Gale let slip you don't have something to wear"

I blush and she chuckles.

"I was saving these for Posy when she was older, but I don't think she'd mind you having them for a while" she opens the bag to reveal a couple dresses, they are simple in style but nonetheless lovely, "they were mine for when I was in the reaping, now I tend to be more practical" she says.

I run my fingers across a dark peach colored dress.