Fallen Flower(G.H)

Chapter Five

I wake up in Gales arms like always and I carefully extract myself. I walk into my room and change into my clothes for the day. I make sure they're easy to change so that way when Effie makes me wear a dress I can change quickly. I walk to breakfast and take a seat yawning. I grab as much carbs as I can and some protein and dig in. I eat until I'm stuffed which I do every meal. Gale joins about halfway through and eats quickly.

"I'm splitting you two up. Gale you're with me first and Sam you're with Effie. It's to make sure you both have something that will create a genuine reaction." Haymitch explains. I nod and Effie leads me to my room. She pulls out a dress and a pair of overly tall heels. I try and walk without tripping or getting tangled in my dress but it's hard. After she deems me suitable, she makes me practice smiling. It's torture. After hours of her making me answer questions while smiling, and saying things that end with a smile, I'm released to go to lunch. I kick off my heels and change back into my clothes before joining Gale and Haymitch who seem to be in good spirits. I'm in a foul mood thanks to my aching face muscles and feet. We all eat quickly and I'm sent away with Haymitch.

"You're naturally charming. You're too innocent looking for deadly but sweet, and seductive or sexy. Besides we need to keep this lovers narrative up." Haymitch muses. He makes me try a million different angles finally landing on school girl innocence who's madly in love. He smiles and sneaks me down to the training room. "Now show me what you can actually do with a bow." He instructs. I nod and the instructor hands me a bow. He starts a machine that sends out clay plates and I quickly pull out an arrow. My breathing speeds up and then falls into the steady pattern it always does during a hunt. The unnatural sense of calm washes over me and all my senses sharpen as the room fills with the dull thump of clay plates hitting the ground. Once I'm out of arrows the machine stops and Haymitch grins. "Between the two of you one of you will win." He says. I smile and nod. "Now I've seen you shoot let's see you throw."

"Let's give her a challenge." The instructor leads me to a long clear room filled with targets. He hands me a belt of knives and I step inside. I slip it on and take my place in the middle of the floor. The same hunting feeling washes over me and I flick out a knife. One of the dummies comes towards me and I nail it in the chest with a knife. I move from dummy to dummy sinking my knives into their stuffed bodies. Every time I land a kill shot it falls to the ground. After a few minutes everything stops and I'm let out. I pass him back the knives and we leave. I drop onto my bed and yawn. Gale comes and joins me quickly pulling me close. I giggle and cuddle up to him kissing him quickly. He kisses me back and pulls me on top of him. I pull away as Effie knocks to call us to dinner. I climb off him and he gets up taking my hand. We walk to the table and sit down eating until we're stuffed again. I've put on a few pounds since I was reaped and I've now got curves. Gale holds my hand tightly and once we're done eating we're set free for the night. We decide to sneak onto the roof and spend the time kissing and enjoying one of our last nights together.

I wake up on the roof and gently rouse Gale. The sun is just coming up and I watch the sunrise sitting up. Gale slips his arm around me and for half a second I'm in our woods Gale is kissing my neck sneakily while Katniss isn't looking and I'm laughing at something Katniss said. I blink furiously as the tears start to fill my eyes.

"We'll be back in the woods soon enough." He says. I nod but this could be my last real sunrise.

"We'll be back soon enough." I say nodding. He nods and kiss my cheek. The sun is over the buildings now and he stands offering me his hand. I take it and we walk back down to the living room. We take a seat on the couch and he ruffles my hair. I smile and Effie and Haymitch come out of their rooms.

"I'll go get them up." Effie says.

"Morning!" Gale calls.

"Oh morning. Is Sam up?" Haymitch asks.

"Yeah I'm up." I answer.

"Good let's eat breakfast." Haymitch says. We go and eat breakfast. Effie prattles and I just eat. Gale is also quiet and Haymitch isn't saying much. Soon enough we're whisked away to get ready for the interviews. My hair is combed through and twisted up into a complex updo and makeup is brushed onto my face. They fix my nails and take me to Cinna. He helps me into my dress and carefully fixes my hair before settling a crown on my head. He smiles and leads me to the mirror and I gasp delightedly. I look like a princess but when I twist flames like their way up my body so it looks like I'm on fire. It's time to go up for the interviews and Cinna leads me up to join Gale. His eyes widen again just like they did when I came to the chariot but this time somehow bigger. He looks amazing and I can't keep my eyes off of him. My mouth goes dry and suddenly I'm tongue-tied.

"Wow." Is all he manages.

"You're wow." I answer. He smiles and pulls me into his arms kissing me quickly. I smile and kiss him back. He pulls away looking dazed.

"My beautiful girlfriend." He murmurs. We break apart and take each other's hands. Effie takes us to join the other tributes and the careerers shoot us glares. I can't help but smile slightly. Gale held my hand while we walk on stage. We take our seats and soon Ceaser Flickerman is walking in stage. He introduces us and calls on the girl from district one. I slip in and out of paying attention as my nerves grow. The boy from eleven is moody and doesn't talk much. I could be good at that if I was his size.

"From district twelve. You know her as the girl on fire! We know her as the lovely Samantha Mellark!" He waves his hand back and I carefully descends down to join him. I stumble slightly and Ceaser helps me into the chair. "Samantha Mellark. You and your district partner have made quite a stir."

"Yes we've been close for years." I smile like Effie taught me to.

"And do you have a special person back in district twelve?" He asks. I blush without meaning to.

"No." I turn to look at Gale and he's smiling at me. "He's here with with me."

"You made quite a splash at the opening ceremonies with your flames. Does this have any surprises." He asks.

"Yes I'm wearing them tonight. Would you like to see them?" I ask.

"Is it safe?" He asks. I smile and nod.

"Yes." I agree. I stand and start to spin. The fire flies up my dress making it seem like I'm completely on fire. I stop spinning and giggle as he helps me sit down again.

"Now have you promised anyone anything?" He asks. I go quiet.

"Yes. I said I'd try to win for Gales family, my family, and our best friend Katniss's family but I'm not coming out without Gale." I answer. He nods and helps me up.

"Samantha Mellark district twelve!" He yells. I walk back to my seat as Gale passes me. His hand brushes mine and he smiles. He joins Ceaser and somehow manages to turn on a certain amount of charm I've only seen him use when he was getting to know my dad.

"How are you finding the capitol? And don't say with a map." Ceaser jokes.

"It's different here." Gale nods and smiles.

"So you and you're district partner? How long have you two been a thing?" Ceaser asks.

"We've been together for three years but the night before the reaping I proposed. Two more reapings and we would've been married." Gale says. He's playing with their heartstrings. He's making them feel bad for us.

"Why did you volunteer?" He asks.

"Because the boy reaped was her brother and she wasn't going to come home if he was in it with her. This way if it's down to us she'll win." Gale answers.

"She doesn't seem to agree." Ceaser answers.

"No she wouldn't. I promised her together or not at all and I mean it." Gale answers. Coming from him it doesn't sound at all rebellious and instead just like a boy in love trying to get home with his beloved. Ceaser nods.

"Gale Hawthorne district twelve!" He yells. Gale joins me and the ceremony ends. We walk back to our apartment and get changed. I release my hair into long waves. I wash my face off and make a mental note to shower before I go to bed. I don't know when I'll have the chance next. We join the others in the living room and watch the interviews. I'm the perfect school, giggly and in love. Gale has substance, he's the perfect example of a doting boyfriend.  I smile and rest my head on his shoulder.