The next day, after school, we were back in front of the screen, waiting to see the highlights from the previous 24 hours. Gale was at the tavern, he worked behind the bar, just helping out from time to time after school, so I sat with Nova, curled up under the blanket won the sofa with her. We had the windows open to let some air in, because even though it was starting to cool down at this time of day, it was still really warm. We were a bit late in tuning in this time, I think because Nova was still talking to Primrose and we both lost track of the time! Well we must have missed something important, because as we were just sitting down, we heard a scream from outside.
"What the HELL has that bloody boy gone and done now." Nova and I looked at each other. Mrs Mellark.
"Quick Sorrel, turn the tv on," whispered Nova, as I pressed the on button, and sitting on the edge of the sofa with my little sister. Caeser was on screen, recapping the last 24 hours. The Careers had formed a pack alliance, which wasn't surprising, they usually do. Katniss was still alive, not injured, but sleeping up in a tree. That was our Katniss! She should have been born a squirrel, but she was much better at shooting them with her bow and arrows. I don't know how she did it, but she hit them right in the eye every time. The girl from Five had been killed in the early hours of this morning. Apparently she had set up a fire, which attracted the Career pack, and they stabbed her. I tried to concentrate on what Caesar was saying next, but I was distracted by banging coming from downstairs, and Mrs Mellark yelling again.
"He is YOUR son, I am disowning him. I'm disgusted, speechless." And on and on and on. She didn't sound speechless to me, but then I was more curious to find out what had happened. Just as everything went quiet, I looked back at the screen, at the exact point Caesar revealed that Peeta was part of the Career pack. Peeta. No, that can't be right. He was helping them hunt for Katniss. No, there had to be another explanation. I jumped at the front room door slamming open, and Jasper and Gale flying through it.
"Have you.... have you......." Gale tried to get out. He was breathless. I must have been white because Jasper came and wrapped his arms round me. I pushed him away.
"I'm ok," I spluttered. "I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why Peeta is trying to help them kill Katniss. The girl he has just declared his love to the entire nation for." I sat back down and sighed. "Look, I know Peeta. He wouldn't do this."
"Sorrel, he IS. He is with the Careers, he has been helping them hunt her," said Jasper. "We watched it on the screen at the tavern." I shook my head.
"No, there has to be a reason. I'm staying up tonight to watch live and find out why."
"You can be so damn stubborn," smiled Jasper, shaking his head and sighing. "Ok fine, but don't let mum catch you up at 3am again, I'm not helping you out this time." I grinned at him.
"You are a wonderful big brother, you know that," I said.
"Get off," he chuckled, but his smile was warm. "You coming?" he asked Gale.
"Um, yeah I'll be there in a minute, I just need to talk to Sorrel."
"Um, Nova, can you...." I started
"Yeah, I'm going, I don't want to see you guys kissing again, it's pretty gross," she grimaced, but laughed at the same time. Once the door was shut firmly behind them, Gale turned to me.
"Sorrel," he whispered, stroking my face and looking into my eyes. I fell into his arms and for a moment, rested my head on his chest, feeling the slow and steady beating rhythm of his heart, the warmth of his arms around me. I could feel his face, buried in the top of my hair and I moved in closer to him, my arms round his waist. "I can't keep doing this," he said into my hair. I looked up to face him.
"I don't understand," I said, beginning to worry. He sighed and we sat down on the sofa together.
"What I mean is, I love you, and I know you love me. I don't want to wait anymore, I want to be with you. I want to tell everyone we are together, that you are...... you're my girlfriend." I took his cheek in my hand, stroking it with my thumb and feeling the soft skin beneath the delicate stubble on his face, indicating he hadn't shaved this morning. Our faces were just inches apart, I could feel his sweet, slightly musty breath on my face.
"Okay," I whispered, barely making a sound.
"Pardon?"
"I said okay. Truth is, I didn't want to say what I did, about waiting for what may or may not happen." I went to open my mouth to say something else, but was stopped by Gale kissing me. It wasn't one of those gentle kisses, it was full on, passionate, and urgent. I could feel the softness in his lips, his hand holding the back of my head and the other on my waist. His tongue was trying to part my lips, trying to enter my mouth, and I let him.
*****
2am. I tiptoed out of my room, with my blanket wrapped round me and crept into the front room. I turned the tv on, making sure to turn the volume down before it came up with anything. The last time mum and dad caught me watching television in the middle of the night I was grounded for a fortnight. It would have been longer if Jasper hadn't have helped me out. I just wanted to watch re-runs of the Games that year. All we ever really got on tv was Capitol propaganda, but it was better than nothing I guess. There wasn't much more on Peeta and the Careers than what we already knew, so I quietly turn the tv off, and crept back to bed. I lay there, sighing and thinking to myself. I wondered if Peeta really had turned, or was he playing some sort of game? I guess we would find out over the next few days. As I drifted off, my thoughts were conflicted between Peeta and Gale, though I was happy to be officially with Gale. I know a few girls at school who would be jealous!
