Chapter 2
At least I’d be able to spend my last weeks with the only person I would want to spend it with. To say Gale is my best friend is an understatement. He is….well there is no word to explain what he is to me. We were thrown together by a need to survive, and through that, a wonderful friendship grew. He is the only person I care about besides Prim and my mother.
“Hurry up” Effie said from behind us and ushered us into a big room with a dining table that looked like it could seat about 14 people and the food looked fit to give to a king…..or President Snow.
During the meal there was a silence, still with a bit of tension. “So Haymitch. You’re our mentor?” Gale said trying to be friendly, which was unlike him. I gave him a look that said ‘what are you doing?’ he just looked back with a look that said ‘don’t worry. Trust me.’ It’s amazing really, how we don’t even need to use words to know what we’re saying. “I guess so.” Said Haymitch, not making any attempt to be nice back. “Got any advice for us?” I asked. That’s what mentors are for; advice and training. “Here’s some advice. Stay alive. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to finish this in my room.” With that, he got up, took his food and left. “I’d like to be excused to.” I said feeling suddenly nauseous. I got up, left and went into a room which I claimed as mine. Gale came in a few minutes later. “You okay Catnip?” I looked at him, almost angrily. “WHAT DO YOU THINK?! I’M IN THE HUNGER GAMES! I’M NEVER GOING TO SEE DISTRICT 12 OR PRIM OR ….ANYTHING EVER AGAIN!” By this point I was on the floor tears streaming down my face. Gale put his arms around me and I fell into him. “I’m going to die at the hands of the Capitol.” Gale tightened his grip on me and kissed the top of my head and said “No you’re not. I won’t let you die.” I looked up at him. He had a distant look in his eyes. “But….Gale…NO! YOU HAVE TO GO HOME!” There was a silence. “You have to go home. Please don’t die just to send me home. Please.” I said, sounding like a little girl asking for something. But then he did the unexpected. It caught me by surprise. One minute I was just looking up at him, pleading for him to go home and not me, next he crashed his lips into mine. His lips were soft against mine. It was like the whole world just went away and the only people left were me and Gale. He pulled me closer and I put my arms around his neck. I could have stayed like that forever, but the need for air took us both over and we pulled away at the same time. Gale then whispered something that really shouldn’t have surprised me. I mean the boy just kissed me, but it did. He said 4 simple words, they were “I love you Catnip.”
