Fun Fact: I originally came up with the idea for TS almost 10 years ago, when I first read The Hunger Games. I scrapped it and picked it back up again 2 or 3 times (basically every time I reread the series) until I eventually finished it (terribly) in college. That's when I got the idea for a sequel (which you are currently 18 chapters away from) and a finale. Put that aside for another 3 years until last fall, when I reread the whole series on a road trip and I finally put pencil to paper.

You're welcome.

"No!" escapes my mouth before I can contain myself. It can't be Gale- anyone but Gale. I shove some other girls aside in exchange for a better view of the horrors. How can this be happening? Even though I understand it, why his risk was greater, it cannot be him.

I can only watch in horror as Gale steps into the aisle, towards the stage. I can only imagine what he's thinking right now. If it was just him, he'd have a chance at winning. He's better-fed than most District Twelve kids, and his years hunting in the woods with me have given him survival skills and a knack for the bow and arrow. It's Madge's presence that makes everything complicated: will he put himself in danger to protect her?

I know Gale very well, but this is a situation even I couldn't have predicted.

"Citizens of District Twelve, I give you your tributes!" Effie Trinket cries. "Madge Undersee and Gale Hawthorne!"

If this was any other district, thunderous applause would follow. But this is Twelve. A few people clap halfheartedly, and Madge bursts into tears, burying her face in Gale's shirt. He wraps an arm around her protectively.

"Oh, dear," Effie murmurs. "It's all a bit overwhelming, isn't it?"

I, too, would be overwhelmed by the knowledge that I'd be dying soon. Madge is town-raised- spoiled, by Twelve standards. Not once has she had to go hungry or work for her food. I doubt she'll last a day in the arena.

"Overwhelming," Haymitch sputters. He gestures violently towards Madge and Gale. "They're lovebirds, don't you get it?"

He staggers towards them, perhaps intending to join in the hug, but instead he falls down the stairs.

Then, it's over.

Effie Trinket shuffles Gale and Madge offstage while a group of Peacekeepers load unconscious Haymitch onto a stretcher. The crowd is released. I bolt towards the Justice Building: the tributes will hold private visitation for one hour before they leave for the Capitol. I need to talk to Gale before he goes. There are so many things I want to say to him, and this could be my last chance to see him alive.

Gale's family gets to speak to him before me. I wait at the door, impatiently twisting the hem of my dress in my hand. Their allotted time seems to drag on forever, and while I can't exactly blame them for lingering, the wait is almost more than I can bear. When the Hawthornes finally leave, tears in all of their eyes, I can't help myself. I shove the pair of armored Peacekeepers aside and rush inside.

Gale wastes no time. He scoops me up in a hug, squeezing me so tight I feel my ribs pop, but I don't complain. "I'm so sorry," I murmur into his shirt. "I just wish- if there was anything I could do-"

"There is something you can do." Gale sets me down and our eyes lock, steel to steel. "I need you to take care of my family. There's no one else I can trust to do it, and Ma works hard, but…they won't get by without me."

"Of course I'll take care of them," I say indignantly. "I promised you that years ago. You would do the same for me."

He continues as if I hadn't said anything. "I want you to teach Rory to hunt. Not right now, maybe- give it a year or so. But I think-"

"Don't talk like you're not coming back!" I order. "You'll be home by next year. You'll teach Rory how to hunt."

He looks at me with a pained expression that makes my knees weak. "Katniss, you have to at least consider…"

"I refuse to consider it," I say flatly. "I know what you're capable of, Gale. You're strong, you're smart. If you can get a bow, if there's anything to hunt…you just have to outlast the rest of them! You'll come back!"

"It's not that simple."

I know he's thinking of Madge.

"Gale!" I cry out. I'm babbling now, and the feeling of losing control is almost as unsettling as the idea of watching my closest friend get thrown into the death arena. "You have to win. Say you'll try! For me!"

He just looks away. I grab him by the arm. "For me, Gale. Win because- because I love you!"

Now he looks at me, his eyes wide with alarm. "Wait, Katniss, you-"

The door bursts open. The door guards storm in, and one grabs me by the shoulder. "Time's up," he growls, and he pulls me back towards the door.

"Hey!" I yelp, kicking at him. My leather boot doesn't do much against his armor. "Let- go!"

He doesn't. In fact, my protests seem to only tighten his grip, and the two of them drag me out of the room. I get one last glimpse of Gale, gaunt and ashen-faced, before the Peacekeepers usher the next visitor in and slam the door.

"I had time left," I growl.

"Who cares?" the Peacekeeper snarls.

I try to yank my arm away from him, but his grip is like iron. "Can you just let go of me already? You got what you wanted, didn't you?"

Even though he has a visor on, I can tell he's sneering. "I don't know. Assaulting a Peacekeeper, huh? I think that might be worth some jail time, don't you, Dalton?"

"Jail time…a caning…" Dalton muses. "She's got options; that's for sure, Ajax."

"Maybe we should even just take care of her ourselves…"

I gulp. This is not looking good. If they make a move on me, I'm completely unarmed, and no one else is in line to see Gale. For the next three minutes, they will have no witnesses.

I don't bother pleading for mercy. I know it would do no good. My only hope is to break free and bolt, hoping they won't leave their posts to chase after me. I drop my weight low and tug, hoping to throw Ajax off balance, but it's no use. He hauls me back up by the wrist. "You're making a wonderful case for this to be your last day on earth, wretch."

I do my best to stare him down, although staring at his shiny black visor really just gives me a glimpse of my own reflection. Mother's work with my hair has all been undone; the tussle has left me looking quite scrappy. And if I was a Peacekeeper, I'd see no reason to be afraid of me.

"Let's let her sit in jail for the night," Ajax decides. "She's not worth the trouble for anything else. We can haul her in when the hour's up."

Well, at least I won't be killed and dumped in an alley. A night in jail will be unpleasant, surely, and Mother will be embarrassed, but it's not the end of the world, right? Still, I keep fighting to break free, since at this point, I feel I have very little to lose.

Ajax grabs onto my free arm, so tightly I fear it might leave a bruise. "Careful, kid. Don't make us change our minds."

"Let go of her!"

I whip my head around. I know that voice. What is Peeta doing here?

Although Peeta is tall and broad-shouldered for a sixteen-year-old, the Peacekeepers sneer at him too. "Right. What are you gonna do about it?"

"Here. Take this. Just leave her alone."

Peeta shoves a pouch full of coins into Dalton's hand, and the greedy bastard lets go of me to count them. Then he nods to Ajax. "It's more than the girl's worth."

Finally, I am free, but I am no less angry. "You're both pigs, you know that?" I spit.

Peeta yanks on my arm. I pull away, but he hisses, "We need to get out of here before you get yourself killed."

"I was doing fine!" I lie.

He ignores my protests and pulls me away from the Justice Building. Although I could easily break away from Peeta- he's not armored, and also doesn't hate me- I do not. As humiliated as I am right now, he did just save me from a night in jail…or worse.

"You didn't have to do that," I say sullenly, when we're out of sight of the Peacekeepers. I rub the spot on my forearm where Ajax had gripped me.

"You're right; I should have realized you had it all under control."

It's not like Peeta to be sarcastic. "Are you upset I didn't say 'thank you' right away?"

"I didn't expect you to say it, ever."

Ah. He is mad. Do I really care about that right now? When Gale has just been reaped, I accidentally confessed my love for him, and then nearly got arrested? I guess I care a little. "Thank you, Peeta. For bribing the Peacekeepers and rescuing me. Even though I would have been fine on my own."

Peeta sighs, but I think he softens a little.

"What are you doing over here?" I ask. Now that the adrenaline has faded, it seems like an appropriate question. "You weren't…going to visit Gale, were you?"

"Of course not." Peeta visibly recoils. He and Gale have never gotten along. Peeta thinks Gale is too cold. Gale thinks Peeta is spoiled. I think they are both fine the way they are. "I was looking for you. When you didn't show up to meet Prim, I figured you might be here."

I gasp. Prim. How could I have forgotten her? "Oh no, Prim! She must be so scared- I have to-"

"I already took her to your mother," Peeta interrupts. "She's fine. You're welcome."

I pause. My heart is pounding; I am fine. This whole day has been a ridiculous dance between up and down that I truly have no idea how I'm supposed to feel, and I snap at Peeta without meaning to. "I didn't forget her on purpose. You don't have to hold it over me."

"That's not what-"

"I'm going home!" Now I do pull away from him, and I sprint down the alley, towards the Seam. My stomach churns with everything that has gone wrong.

Gale is going to the Hunger Games.

I forgot Prim after the Reaping.

I even managed to argue with Peeta.

Everything is turned upside down.

I would do anything to read my original take on TS, which included Katniss's dad being alive, at least 1 unnecessary kiss, and a completely different ending. Unfortunately I got rid of it last year, thinking I would never need or want it again. To all my fellow writers: please don't throw out the stuff you wrote in middle school. No matter how cringe it is, someday you'll want to read it again.

This chapter is basically straight from that first draft, although I can guarantee the original version was much, MUCH worse.

One of my favorite chapter titles, though. Pay attention!