Despite waiting for Katniss and Peeta, Gale and I still carried on as we would have done. He still came over to the house to watch the Games, with me curled up next to him. I was glad of Jasper being so understanding of his best friend and his sister, but I could see times he would get annoyed that Gale would spend time with me and not him. I promised him though, that I wasn't taking his friend away from him and I really wasn't. Gale and Jasper had been friends for a very long time. I just couldn't help it if I could offer him things Jasper wouldn't. Though when I jokingly said that to him, he replied by throwing a pillow at me and told me to get out of his room, trying not to laugh.
The day after I kissed Gale down by the meadow, was the first day of the Games. As usual, we were all watching. Gray and Nova were on the floor in front of the tv, mum and dad were downstairs, setting the shop up for tomorrow, Jasper was on the armchair, and I was on the sofa, curled up with Gale. President Snow came up on our screen first, telling us when a wonderful opportunity this was for the tributes, and good luck to them, then it cut to Caesar Flickerman, who would be giving as much commentary and highlights as possible on the Games, as usual. Then the arena came on screen. The camera's showed us different shots of the main area around the Cornicopia, where all 24 tributes were just rising out of the ground on podiums. 60, 59, 58. The dazzling sun seemed to be confusing a few of them. 47, 46, 45. Katniss was there, eyeing up the bow and arrows we could see in the pile of weapons. 41, 40, 39. The one they called Cato had a determined look on his face. 35, 34, 33. Peeta was looking around, I was sure I could see him shaking his head ever so slightly at Katniss. 28,27, 26. Rue. She looked so tiny compared to the Careers. 15, 14, 13. I gripped Gale's hand, my fingers woven with his. He didn't move away, in fact he squeezed my hand back. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The gongs rings out and it starts. Peeta runs into the woods, Katniss seems to be unsure and just stands there for a moment watching. Then she runs into the throng and grabs a backpack. All around her, kids are getting slaughtered. Knives and blood everywhere. It's a bloodbath. There's a tense moment for Gale when Katniss trips and the male from Nine stands over her, about to stab her, when he suddenly splutters warm blood and falls face first into the grass. We see a knife in his back and the girl from Two looks pleased, then she throws a knife at Katniss. I thought my fingers would break, until she blocks it with her backpack and the girl runs off. Clove they call her. Katniss is ok and she runs off into the woods behind her, with her bag on her back. I felt Gale breath a sigh of relief next to me and his fingers relaxed around mine. The screen shot back to Caesar, who was giving his own commentary on the first half an hour in the arena.
"Right Nova, it's bedtime for you." Mum came bustling in the door, making us all jump.
"Aww mum, can I at least stay up to see the list of the fallen. It's the decent thing to do." Mum nodded.
"Okay, but as soon as that's done, bed young lady," she smiled. I think she was just glad that none of us were reaped.
The list of the fallen comes up. The girl from Three is first, and then the boy from Four. It was unusual for a Career to fall on the first day, but not unheard of. Then comes the boy from Five, both tributes from Six and Seven and the boy from Eight. Both from Nine and finally the girl from Ten. Eleven of them in all. Eleven families who won't be sleeping tonight.
"Night guys." Nova stands up to go to bed, but falters. "Sorrel, that could have been me, couldn't it?" she asked, trying not to cry.
"Oh Nova, sweetheart, you can't think like that," I say, wrapping my arms around her as her tears start to flow. "I know it's hard, but we all worry about that our first year. You are safe now though. You are home with us." I give her a big reassuring squeeze and wipe her eyes dry. "Now, off to bed. I'll be in later."
"Okay, Sorrel. Thanks. Night everyone," she calls, as she makes her way to bed. Gale stands up.
"I'm going with Jasper, we have to get this homework done before tomorrow," he grimaces. "I'll see you tomorrow?" I nod and kiss him on the cheek, then pull the blanket we were sat under, up to my chin.
"Budge up, Sorrel," grins Gray, jumping onto the sofa next to me. "Don't you have homework too?" I shake my head.
"No, not yet. Gray, do you think Peeta will be ok?"
"I'm sure he will be fine," he replied. But he didn't sound too confident about his answer.
