Before the Epilogue

Chapter 17

The other tributes are called up one by one (as usual.) When there are three people on front of me my legs begin to shake.

"Are you okay?" Peeta asks embarrassing me in a hug.

"Yeah, just a little nervous I guess.",

He let's go of me and rubs my shoulders. We stand like that for what seems like forever.

"Gale Hawthrone... please start making your way on stage," the voice that comes through the speaker hisses.

Gale turns around, smiles at Peeta and I, then makes his way onto the stage.

"Now, you know him as the Mockingjays cousin... but we know him as Gale Hawrthorne!" Ceaser shouts extanding his hand out to Gale.

They shake hands, sit down, talk about random topics for a while and then get the deep questions.

"So Gale," Ceaser begins. "Tell us again why you volunteered."

Gale sighs and leans back in his chair. "To try and get my best friend back... and protect her."

I don't hear the rest of his interview... I'm too busy thinking about what Gale said.

"Ma'am... it's your turn," a guard says leading me up the stage.

I turn my head and get one last look at Peeta.

His eyes are black pits.

Not again!