Fallen Flower(G.H)

Prologue

I hurry quietly through the forest, carefully avoiding the fallen leaves. I'm armed with a knife and I've been practicing throwing it without my mother finding out. I glance back and promptly collide with a tall muscular figure. I scramble away and reach for my knife.

"Hey hey it's okay." The boy holds his hands out. His eyes take my breath away and then I see the rest of him. He was tall. He was already at least a foot taller than me. That didn't mean much of course since I was extremely short for my age. I was the shortest person in both my grade and the two grades below me. "I'm Gale Hawthorne." He says quietly.

"Samantha Mellark." I answer quietly.

"What are you doing in the woods?" He asks  confused.

"My mom is bad about feeding me. My dad sent me out here so I could eat." I avoid looking at him. I hear him sigh.

"Come on. You're skin and bones." He offers me his hand and I take it. He pulls me up and gently leads me to an opening in the fence. I slide under it and stand up stepping back. He slides through and I offer him my hand. He takes it and I pull him up. He's standing right in front of me and my breath catches. His breath catches too and he's staring down into my blue eyes. A rustle of a bush startled me out of my daze and I blush stepping away from Gale. He clears his throat and leads me to his house.

"Gale?" His mom calls.

"Here." Gale calls back. "I brought someone with me."

"Who?" His mom comes into view and she scans me over. "Come here. We'll get you fattened up in no time. Gale can give you one of his shirts."

"No it's okay." I say quickly.

"No I insist." Mrs Hawthorne says. "I'm Hazel."

"I'm Sam." I answer quietly. She smiles and nods quickly handing us both a cup of soup. Gale smiles and leads me to his room gently instructing me to sit on the bed. I sip the soup carefully. I was taught not to spill anything. Gale gently took the soup and placed it on his dresser.

"Here." He hands me this shirt and I quickly change. As I pull the shirt over my head I see his face and he looks angry.

"Are you Okay?" I ask softly.

"Yeah, just who did that to you?" Gale asks quickly.

"My mother." I say softly. He nods and hands me the cup of soup again.

"Meet at the fence right after school tomorrow. I'll teach you about snares okay?" He asks.

"Okay." I quietly agree.

It's been a year since I've met Gale. It's the reaping day for the 71st hunger games. I'm standing in the fourteen year olds area silently pleading that he doesn't get picked.

"Garth Hamilton." Effie Trinket our escort announces. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. As soon as the ceremony is over I sprint over to the boys side and launch myself into Gales arms. He stumbles back a few paces and hesitates not sure what to do with his hands. He holds me tightly and buries his face into my hair resting his cheek on top of my head. I pull back and hit his chest.

"God damnit Gale." My voice cracks. I can't help it.

"What the hell Sam?" He rubs his chest slightly.

"I could've lost you idiot!" I exclaim. He stares at me and then kisses me hungrily. It stirs in my chest. I want more of this. He's holding my face between his hands and I'm gripping his arms. He pulls back and smiles.

"Hey Gale! Are you okay?" A small brunette skids to a stop in front of us.

"Yeah I'm fine." Gale assures her. "This is my girlfriend Sam."

"Oh so you finally mustered up the courage." She teases.

"Yeah yeah. This is catnip." He says.

"Hi. My real name is Katniss." She smiles and shakes her head at him mockingly.

"Nice to meet you Katniss." I smile at her. She smiles back at me.

"Meet me to hunt tomorrow morning. Both of you." She says before leaving with her little sister.

"Samantha!" My mothers sharp voice cuts through the afternoon air.

"See you tomorrow." I say gloomily.

"See you tomorrow." Gale agrees letting go of me so I can join my family. I leave and glance back at him. He smiles and waves before leaving with his family.