Breaking Down Bridges ▸ Hunger Games

Chapter Fourteen: Gale Hawthorne

Chapter Fourteen:

Gale's POV

I couldn't believe she was carrying his child.

He had poisoned her perfection and turned her into something she wasn't.

I couldn't bear to listen to the conversation between Cyra and the rest of the tributes, so I stormed from the room, throwing my hands into my air in exasperation.

Cyra's pregnant.

My anger was building inside of me and I could feel it rushing through my veins.

But I would do nothing.

I was going to meet with Cyra tonight. Secretly, and hopefully she wouldn't forget.

~

I stood in the basement of the training center. It had closed two hours ago, and the air conditioner had shut itself down so it was terribly hot.  I walked around the room, sitting on one of the boxes in the corner.

I tapped my foot on the cold tile floor, until I heard the door creek open from the other side of the room.

"Gale?" Cyra's voice whispered softly.

"I'm over here."

Cyra's bare feet clicked softly on the tile floor.  For the past few days, she had been refusing to wear shoes. Still trying to be a rebel, when currently, she had little to fight for.

As Cyra finally made it to me, she did something that I didn't expect. She sat on my lap, and just wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I'm sorry..." She started, her large violet eyes blinking rapidly.

I shook my head and pulled her closer to me. "You're sorry? You've been dragged into something you can't control." I paused for a moment and glanced at her sheepishly. "Congratulations, by the way."

Cyra took her hands from my neck and wrapped them around her waist. "Yeah, thanks." Her eyes glanced at the floor, and a forced smile plastered over her face.

I started at her in confusion, before I picked her up off my lap and stood up myself.

"I think I'm going to bed," I said and began to walk out of the door of the room.

"WAIT!" Cyra shouted, running behind me. She grabbed my hands and pulled me so that I was facing her, as she kissed my lips.

As I pulled away, her eyes were gleaming. "I love you."

My grin widened across my face as she squeezed my hand twice before running out of the room.

Something was still there between us.

It had just be buried underneath for a while.

~

It was finally the day we would show our skills to the Gamemakers.

I was ready, or at least I thought I was. Cyra's kiss, and fight with Shawn had given me new hope for our future. It had brought me new confidence, and hope that this wasn't the end for us. That something was coming that would change everything. For the better.

After the longest time of waiting, it was finally my turn. They told us they were having trouble with another tribute and it was taking them a long time. I went last for District Twelve, because I was the youngest one.

As I stepped into the training center, my sneakers clicked quietly on the cold floor as I walked toward the archery bows.

Picking one up in my hands, I dive-rolled and shot a bull's eye right into the target fifty feet away. Next, I gripped the bow, shooting a dummy about thirty feet away. I did yet another dive roll and swung my leg up to kick the dummy in the face. I knocked the dummy over taking my bow to stab it in the face before I jumped to another dummy. I punched that one and ducked before using my bow to pop off its head. I picked up the dummy's head and tossed it at the Gamemakers.

"Happy Birthday!" I shouted.

I tried to storm from the room but Frost shouted my name.

"MR. HAWTHORNE!"

I growled and clenched my fists as I walked back over to the table. "Yes?"

" Nice job... You may go."

I was shocked that he had complemented me, considering that fact his grandson was married to my girlfriend.

~

Later that night, I sat on the sofa and waited for the scores to be announced.

Cato and Alia did flawless with a 12.5, as expected.

I ignored the District Three scores and waited for District Four.

NAME: Finnick Odair

DISTRICT: 4

AGE: 24

HEIGHT: 6'2

SCORE: 11

NAME: Shawn Wilson

DISTRICT: 4

AGE: 17

HEIGHT: 6'1

SCORE: 12.5

NAME: Cyra Merison

DISTRICT: 4

AGE: 16

HEIGHT: 5'9

SCORE: –12.5

Negative 12.5? What had she done to earn a score THAT low?

Shaking the thought from my head, I  began waiting nervously for District Twelve's scores.

NAME: Steller Brooks

DISTRICT: 12

AGE: 36

HEIGHT: 5'5

SCORE: 7.9

NAME: Mailey Brooks

DISTRICT: 12

AGE: 36

HEIGHT: 5'4

SCORE: 8.7

NAME: Haymitch Abernathy

DISTRICT: 12

AGE: 41

HEIGHT: 6'0

SCORE: 9.9

NAME: Gale Hawthorne

DISTRICT: 12

AGE: 18

HEIGHT: 6'3

SCORE: 12