Chapter Three

A Month Later

Ten weeks. Ten weeks since it happened. Four weeks since I found out. You would think I'd be used to waking up every morning and having to run to the bathroom to vomit. You would think I'd be used to the idea that I am carrying a baby inside of me. Yet it still hasn't sunk in. If my mother and Prim have noticed my recent trips to the bathroom, they haven't brought it up and, hopefully, they'll continue to be completely oblivious.

With a quiet groan, I pull back the bed covers for the second time this morning and slowly stand, hoping the world doesn't spin like it did yesterday, meaning I then had to sit with my head between my legs.

I creep downstairs after changing into my hunting clothes that consist of trousers that I have to hold up with some rope, a green t-shirt and my fathers old hunting jacket. I slide my hunting boots onto my feet before I out sneak out and head towards the woods. I think about Gale as I walk.

I have to admit that I haven't thought about him much since I found out about the baby. I feel guilty that I have forgot about him, my best friend, who won the Hunger Games three weeks ago. He won after a gruesome battle with the tribute from District Two.

(Flashback)

I lay on my bed having just arrived home from school with Prim. A wave of nausea had hit me like a ton of bricks as I had been walking home so I have decided to rest for a while before I go hunting to provide both mine and Gale's family with food.

"Katniss!" I hear Prim call from downstairs. "The Games are on!"

I instantly bolt out of bed and run downstairs as fast as I possibly can, racing into the living room where the screen that is usually blank has lit up. The volume has been turned up high. I sit down next to Prim while mother sits in her old rocking chair in the corner of the room.

"What's going on?" I ask, fixing my eyes on the screen.

"We don't know yet. The volume just came on…" she starts, trailing off as Gale and Delly flash onto the screen.

They seem to be walking towards the Cornucopia. I am shocked that Delly has lasted this long. Peeta and I both said that she wouldn't win, but there is a huge possibility now that she has teamed up with Gale. A sudden thought washes over me. What happens if they are the only two left? Will they turn on each other? The many possibilities makes shivers go up my spine. All I hope is that Gale doesn't die. He has done well so far.

I wonder if Peeta is thinking the same for Delly.

"They want to end this thing, Del. So, I'm going to end it," Gale says, leading Delly to the large golden horn where Cato, the male tribute from District 2, stands, hands on hips, at the top of the enormous structure. He thinks he is going to win, you can tell by the way he holds his frame; his head high, arms crossed over his chest, sadistic smirk on his face.

"It's about time, Twelve," he yells to them. "I've been waiting for you for a while."

"Why? Did you want your death to come quicker?" Gale yells back at him.

Cato frowns at this. "Like you'd be able to kill me. I'm stronger than you," Cato growls, as Delly and Gale continue to move closer.

"And I'm faster," Gale replies.

It's true.

While Gale is strong, we don't have the same training in 12 that Cato does in District 2. There are academies to prepare for the arena in the richer Districts, while here... We have nothing. Gale's speed may give him an advantage.

"What about your girl?" Cato asks, tipping his head towards Delly.

"She's a friend, that's all," Gale replies. "Still, you lay one finger on her and I-"

"You'll what?" Cato smirks as he cuts Gale off, jumping from the highest point of the Cornucopia, and landing perfectly on the ground. He pulls a small, shiny object from his pocket and I almost scoff at his ridiculousness, before he presses a button that makes the silver object grow into a deadly knife. Cato makes his way towards the District 12 tributes. "What happens if I do die and there's only you two left? Only one can go home."

"He's right, Gale. Maybe I should just take the Nightlock and-"

"No," Gale snaps, cutting her off.

"Gale, think about this. You have a family to take care of back home. You need to go home. You need this more than I do," Delly whispers.

Gale swallows hard before stepping closer to Cato. "Just stay behind me, Del," he orders, not taking his eyes off Cato.

Cato suddenly starts towards Gale, his arm pulled back before he throws the knife in his hand. Gale drops to the floor, taking Delly down with him. As soon as the knife hits the floor, he jumps back to his feet and clenches his fists, preparing for the fight that is inevitable.

The two are both without weapons, as Gale dropped his after a run in with mutated dogs just days before.

"It looks like you're going to have to punch me to death," Gale announces.

"That'll be easy to do," Cato insists, before throwing the first punch at Gale. Gale blocks it with his own fist before throwing his own punch at Cato. His fist connects with Cato's nose and the blond stumbles backwards, but manages to keep his footing. "You have quite the punch there, Twelve," Cato hisses, before he leaps on top of Gale. This time, they both fall to the ground, a big heap of fists and elbows.

I continue to watch the screen with wide eyes, my heart racing in my chest. Prim slides her hand into mine and rests her head on my shoulder. "Gale," I whisper, a lump in my throat as I watch the screen intently.

Cato throws punch after punch at Gale and it's not long before my friend is covered in blood. Gale spits blood in Cato's face, making the blond even angrier. With a sudden surge of strength, Gale quickly flips them over and, before I even have time to blink, he is beating the boy as Cato had done to him.

The screen suddenly switches to Delly, who I have forgotten while Gale and Cato had fought. I am surprised to find the knife Cato had thrown minutes before clenched tightly in her hand.

I watch as Delly quietly tiptoes towards the two boys. Cato manages to push Gale off him. He knees my hunting partner in the stomach, making Gale groan as he falls to the side, clutching his stomach. Before Cato even has time to consider his next move, Delly lunges forward and stabs him. She then pulls the knife from Cato's body as he slumps forward. His eyes are wide open, his face pale, as he yells in pain.

"I'm sorry," Delly whispers, before she drops the knife and, with trembling hands and tears falling from her cheeks, reaches into her pocket. Gale staggers to his feet and looks up at Delly, just as she brings a handful of berries to her lips.

Gale gasps and tries to shuffle forward. "No!" he yells. "Don't!"

He's too late.

The poisonous fruit has barely past her lips before she collapses to the ground and a loud canon echoes throughout the deadly arena.

Gale drops to the ground and crawls towards Delly's lifeless body. He takes her pale body into his strong arms. "Delly," he whispers, his voice portraying his remorse. "Why?" He runs a hand through her hair like I do with Prim when she has a nightmare.

He kisses her forehead, something I have never seen Gale do to anyone, and tears fill my eyes. Gale sniffs and wipes a hand across his face. He lays Delly down and slides his tattered jacket from his shoulders before he places it over Delly's frame, covering her face. He stands, keeping his eyes on Delly for another moment.

He then turns, and it is like he is looking right at me, as he faces the camera that watches his every move. Gale brings three fingers to his mouth and then holds them up in the air. I recognise the action as the District 12 salute that is often used at funerals.

Gale drops his hand to his side and the sad expression on his face is replaced with anger. I can only imagine what he is thinking. That President Snow is evil for ever allowing the Games to occur. That the Capitol residents are sick for enjoying the Games.

My thoughts are so preoccupied, that I barely hear Prim's yelp as Cato, whose canon didn't go off, plunges the knife into Gale's back.

(End)

Despite Cato stabbing Gale, the District 2 tribute had done it with his last bit of strength, before he had fallen and his canon went off. A hovercraft flew overhead and quickly retrieved Gale as blood started to stain his shirt. My mother and sister had then reassured me that the doctors would save him without much difficulty.

Finally, I no longer have to worry about my best friend coming home. He is alive and well and will be interviewed by Caesar Flickerman in a few days to come, which is mandatory to watch.

Several days pass before I am seated on the tattered couch in the living room with both mine and Gale's family, as we wait to watch Gale's interview with Caesar. The room falls silent as the Capitol seal comes onto the screen with the anthem playing in the background.

The picture fades to black before Caesar Flickerman is shown on the screen.

"Good evening to the people of Panem!" he booms, a huge grin showing his blinding, white teeth.

He makes joke after joke for a while, wanting to make the audience anticipate Gale's appearance.

"I guess I shouldn't leave you all waiting for too long. Let's give a loud cheer to the Victor of the 74th Hunger Games, Gale Hawthorne!"

The Capitol crowds scream and cheer as Gale walks onto the stage, looking healthy and fully recovered; a big change from the battered tribute he had been not long ago.

He looks extremely handsome in a black suit, white shirt and a silk red tie. He lifts a hand to the crowd in greeting before he drops it to his side. He flashes an awkward smile before he takes a seat opposite Caesar. The two men shake hands and offer greetings before Gale sits back and waits for Caesar to start asking questions.

"How does it feel to be here?" Caesar questions, looking at Gale eagerly for his answer.

Gale shrugs. "Good, I guess," he replies, no emotion detected in his tone.

"Just good?" Caesar asks, obviously expecting a better answer.

Gale shrugs again. "How am I meant to feel, Caesar? Twenty-three innocent children had to die for me to be here."

This isn't good. He shouldn't be talking like this in front of an audience. He could get in serious trouble... but he doesn't seem to care.

"Yes. Delly Cartwright, one of the fallen tributes, was a very charming young girl and it seems you became quite close to her in the arena, don't you agree? Were you more than friends?"

Gale shakes his head. "Delly and I both come from District 12. We were reaped and, when I found her in the forest, I knew I couldn't leave her there alone. We didn't know each other before the Games... but she was from home. That's reason enough for me to care for her."

"If I remember correctly, your District partner did mention that there was more for you at home. A girl, maybe?" Caesar asks, trying to get something exciting from Gale.

"Well, there are some girls waiting for me. My mother are sister, of course. I have younger brother's, too."

"There must be somebody you have a romantic interest in?" Caesar presses.

"Maybe... But I don't think she feels the same way," Gale admits.

"Well, you've just won the Hunger Games. Any person would want you!" Caesar insists, before turning to the crowd. "Don't you think she'll want him?"

The crowd cheer and yell in agreement, while I sit wondering who this girl may be. I didn't know Gale had romantic feelings for anyone. I know that he has taken several girls to the slag heap before, like most teenage boy's do, but he has never admitted to feeling anything towards any of them. However, we do make a point of not discussing things like that.

Gale shakes his head at Caesar. "This girl… She is stubborn. She doesn't want marriage or children. I somehow don't think she'll change her mind."

"Who is this girl?" Caesar asks. "She doesn't sound particularly nice."

"I've known her for years," Gale says, staring into space with an almost dreamy expression on his face.

"It sounds like you are absolutely smitten with this girl," Caesar says with a chuckle. I was just thinking the same thing. "Tell me, please. Who is this girl?"

Yes, Gale, I think. Tell the whole of Panem who you are in love with because we are dying to know. I look around at everyone in the room, wondering if they know who this girl is. I notice Prim looking at me and I narrow my eyes at her as she quickly looks away.

I frown, feeling confused. Do they know who Gale is in love with? How can they know and not me? I'm his best friend. Surely I should know something like this.

"The girl I am in love with is my best friend. She's probably going to kill me when I get off that train for not telling her before," Gale says, prolonging the moment.

"Who is it?" I ask, staring at the screen, my curiosity heightened. "How can I not know who he is in love with when I am his best friend?"

"You're so oblivious, Katniss," Prim teases, smiling at me as Gale finally reveals who he has feelings for.

"Her name is Katniss Everdeen."