AN: So this chapter is a little shorter but a new, longer one will be up pretty soon, at least that's the goal. At this point I have certain ways I imagine going but I'm not completely certain what's going to happen. Any reviews or suggestions are welcome, I'd love to hear from you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these character or any claim to them. All that goes to Suzanne Collins.

I toss and turn all night. At the moment, that kiss is what I thought I wanted but now that I've thought about it, it really wasn't. The passion I felt wasn't for me, it was for Katniss. It was only directed at me because I was dressed more like her than myself and because Gale was angry. Angry at Katniss and Peeta. Angry at the Capitol. He was probably going to be angry at me too once I told him that this was my plan. At that moment I can only imagine one person was angrier; Katniss. I'm absolutely certain she was furious with Peeta and Haymitch. Hopefully she didn't hurt anyone.

This all goes through my mind in circles. Peppered in is the harsh reminder that the Games start tomorrow and the worst lies ahead. Any turmoil I've felt thus far is nothing compared to what is coming. Right about there is where the guilt dashes in and sits for a while for feeling all confused and angry when I have no right. Not really. Not in comparison to the 24 kids that know what tomorrow holds for them only in terms of realizing they probably won't live.

Laying there for the first 4 hours of this is pretty wretched and then I hear the video system ringing in my father's study. It rings for about 2 minutes before I get up and see the face on the other end and no sign that my father is coming. I walk into his study, a room I've only been in a handful of time and answer the video call Haymitch is trying to make.

"My father is asleep, I don't think he's going to be up to talking right now," I tell Haymitch, trying to act like this is totally normal and not against the rules.

"I have to admit, yours is not the face I expected to see when the screen popped up. Was your father in the square for the interviews because if he wasn't, I don't really need to talk to him right now anyways." Haymitch replies, seeming shockingly sober once again.

"He wasn't. He stayed home to watch," I tell him. I can tell Haymitch is about to end the call when I pipe up, "but I was."

"Oh were you sweetheart?" He says and I cringe. "Then maybe the right person answered this call. What was the reaction of the people in the square? Did they buy the star-crossed lovers thing?"

I hesitate. I was only there for a moment before I ran after Gale. "They seemed to have," I decide. "I know Gale did enough to be furious with Katniss. Please don't tell her that. That won't be helpful."

"Ah, so Peeta was right about that."

"In general, people were shocked but it seemed believable. You're welcome by the way," I tell him, seeming to have suddenly found some courage.

"You're to thank for Peeta spilling his guts to me about Katniss? Do you have any idea how long I had to listen to him blather on about his feelings for the last 10 years? The only thing I've enjoyed less so far is coaching Katniss for the interview process."

"Yikes, that could not have been fun. Katniss is my best friend and I get less information out of her than Caesar did. Do you think that it will work, though? In the Capitol they seemed to like the idea, will it help them?"

"I think so. I've gotten at least 30 times more calls from sponsors and other victors trying to set things up than I did last year. Katniss isn't really buying it, though. She doesn't think he's being sincere but maybe that's for he best."

I shrug. There's not much to say about that one. Silence is all I hear for a moment before I begin talking again, "Is there anything else you need me to do here once the Games begin?"

Haymitch thinks for a few moments and shakes his head no. I didn't think he would have an answer. "Nah, kid. Get some sleep and try to keep your spirits up. Your friends both have a decent shot at making it out alive."

I smile and end the call. If only I could feel better about this all. I know it's not going to happen but a girl can hope, right?

Tuesday is considered a national holiday. There's no school and the elevators stay above ground for the entire day. Most people take the opportunity to celebrate. The district, which is usually buzzing, is silent and very little movement is detectable. Everything seems to be frozen in time, waiting for the Games to begin, for the damage to be done.

I never really got much sleep after I spoke with Haymitch. Wandering downstairs to see if I can put anything in my stomach I notice that the projector is already on. Between shots of the Tributes flying out to the arena are the analysts speculating on odds of Victors and highlights of the past few days.

Catching a glimpse of Katniss, I feel a twinge in my stomach. There's the guilt again. This time, though, it's not for feeling sorry for myself. I feel guilty about Gale. About wanting him, even though I know he doesn't really want me. I look in the corner of the broadcast and see that the timer is counting down to the start.

32 minutes. That's how long until the Games begin and the lives of my friends change forever. While I'm sitting, waiting because that's all that I know how to do, I hear a quiet knock on the door. When I go over to it, I find that Gale is standing there. Out of some moronic, backwards instinct, I close the door on him as soon as I realize it's him.

Why did I do that? Why am I acting like this? Please let me stop acting like some stupid child when there is so much more at stake right now.

I open the door again and smile as widely as I can muster without it looking ridiculously fake.

"I know you probably don't want to see me right now but I have a favor to ask," Gale begins, reddening and trying not to stammer over his obviously prepared statement. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. Scratch that. I do. I miss Katniss and I'm freaking out right now. Anyway, I'd like to pretend I was never such an idiot to kiss you like that and go back to being a team for Katniss… and Peeta."

I nod and purse my lips. Forgetting it might be agreeable and though part of me wants to make a joke, the other part knows this is not even close to the time for that.

"Do you want to come inside?" I ask, trying to make peace.

"Oh, uh, no thanks." He manages to get out, "I have somewhere I have to be." Goodness, could he be any more vague?

"Okay. Well I guess I'll see you around, then."

"You can't escape me now Pearl," he says with a wink as he turns to leave. I watch as he leaves and he seems to be going towards the meadow. The Capitol essentially requires that we watch the Games but my bet is that Gale won't be watching the bloodbath, he'll be out in the woods that I long for him to take me to someday.

I return to the sitting room to find my mother sitting on the couch, looking not quite as bad as I expected her too.

"I figured that you wouldn't want to watch the start of the Games alone," she disclosed as I walked in. It's times like these that I do appreciate my mother really legitimately trying her best to be a good parent, despite how hard it is for her to even function at times.

"Thanks mom," I replied, smiling and cuddling up next to her on the couch. I'm glad Gale isn't here to see this display. Sometimes, though, the warmest, safest place to be when you're confused or scared is right there, next to someone who loves you dearly. My mother comforts me simply by her presence as I watch the timer shrink to only 2 minutes. I know that in a few seconds, the Tributes will come up out of their tubes and be revealed to the arena.

Just as I am considering this, Claudius and Caesar tell us that they're ready to show us the arena for the first time. As the camera pans out I see a huge, lush green forest of pine trees and the like. They show the golden cornucopia overflowing with supplies. I see a single silver bow sitting at the mouth and I just know that it's for Katniss. The cornucopia lies in the middle of a flat, dry bed of dirt, a small lake off to the side and a cliff that leads to a field of high grasses. As I'm taking in the sight I see Katniss appear out of the tube. As she's adjusting I see Peeta come into view as well, several pedestals away. Both of them are examining what is in their reach at the cornucopia and around it. Those that take off and get away from the bloodbath have a higher chance of initial survival but have a harder time later when they need those vital supplies and weapons. I can practically see the gears turning in their heads as they look at the supplies and then glance at each other. Are they going to go off together? Fight together? I have no idea and the countdown has begun. They're down to 15 seconds. 10 seconds. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. The gong sounds and life in District 12 will never be the same again.