Author's Note: This story takes place during Catching Fire and contains spoilers for those who have not read it.

Gale

My nightmare started when I found out Katniss was going back into the arena. She had survived once, but how could she survive twice? The day it was announced Katniss bolted out of her house and cried, I tried to comfort her, but she wasn't the same after that. I knew if she did survive the Hunger Games again, she'd be different Scarred for life.

Alright, I guess I have to confess that I didn't so much care that she was going back in the arena than I cared about the fact that she was going back in with Peeta. I hate him. He's perfect and noble and I'm not. What's more is that the last time he and Katniss were in the arena, they had pretended to be in love to gain sponsors. Only I don't think they were pretending. I admit that every time I saw her kissing him, it made me jealous and I soon became sick of their 'star-crossed lovers act'. And it didn't stop there. When they won the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games they had to keep the act up for months, and now I have to pretend I'm Katniss's cousin if I ever want to see or hang out with her again. Only, I don't think I do anymore.

She left this morning for the Capitol with Haymitch and Peeta. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to her because she was rushed off so fast. It's probably for the best. Saying goodbye would only cause me pain. Besides, there are enough things to do around District Twelve now that Romulus Thread is the head peacekeeper. He's been cracking down on us so I can't hunt without being whipped within an inch of my life. I still have the scars on my back from the last time.

I don't know what I'm going to do now that Katniss is gone, sure she has tons of money but I have to look after her family and my own. That takes up must of my spare time, since most of my day is spent working in the mines. I swear, one of these days, District Twelve will break away with from the Capitol, and I'll be leading the rebellion.

Madge

I'm going to miss Katniss. She has become my best friend this past year, and now she's gone, probably for good. There's no way she'll be able to survive the Hunger Games twice, especially since she'll be going against other victors and not children. Peeta is going too. It's sad really, he was so nice.

I wonder if Katniss is wearing my Mockingjay pin . . . I didn't get the chance to remind her of it before she was whisked away to the Capitol.

Oh, this must be terrible for Mrs. Everdeen and Prim! They must know that Katniss doesn't stand a chance of winning. Poor things. I decide to go visit them. I don't tell my father that I'm leaving. He's too busy anyways. It's a dark, cloudy, and chilly day. I rub my arms with my hands to try to make the goosebumps disappear.

I'm walking towards the Everdeen's house when I see him, just standing by the fence that borders District Twelve.

"Gale?" I ask and step towards him. "What are you doing?"

He doesn't answer me, I think he hates me because I'm the mayor's daughter and have never been hungry. I don't hate him, I never have. In fact I've always admired him and his determination. I decide that I'll try talking to him again, for Katniss' sake.

"Gale, you know there's no way around the fence so why are you staring at it?"

"Because if I don't I think I'll go crazy," he responds. His voice is horse and dry. He's probably been screaming for the past while.

I've never seen him look so . . . so frail. His grey eyes don't have their usual spark of defiance in them and his shoulders sag. I take another step towards him. "I'm sorry about Katniss . . ." I venture cautiously. He just nods, so I continue. "It's not fair that she has to go back into the arena like that. I know that it must be awful for you . . . you two have always been so close."

"We were," he corrects, somewhat hostilely, "until Peeta showed up."

"Don't talk that way. You know that Peeta could never replace you."

He snorts, but doesn't answer my comment directly. "This whole thing is wrong. They're treating Katniss like she's some sort of sick entertainment. I can't let them! I swear that one day the Capitol will pay for all they've done to us! I'll avenge Katniss, I swear it!"

"I'm personally looking forward to the games!" I say very loudly over Gale's words, and then I lean in towards him and hiss, "You know you can't talk that way about the Capitol! They have cameras everywhere. If they hear you, they'll kill you for sure!"

"Then let me become a martyr," he replies. "I don't care if I die. It's better than living as a slave to the Capitol."

"Gale! You're not helping anyone with your ranting!" I snap, "You might not care about your own life, but I'm sure you care about your family. The Capitol will kill them too just because you can't watch your tongue!"

He looks at me, and his eyes hold that flicker of anger. "You don't know what it's like to live on an empty stomach, to watch people starve to death around you. You've always lived a life of luxury, and your father's hidden you from the horrors that happen all around on a daily bases! You haven't experienced what I have! You might be able to live under the rule of the Capitol, but I can't!"

I don't have an answer to his words, so I just stand there with my hands balled into fists and my teeth clenched. It's not fair how he attacks me just because I was born into a rich family. Of course, it's not fair that he was born into a poor family either. I can feel tears threatening to reveal how much his words stung me. I've never done anything to deserve his hate. He just hates me because of who my father is. He doesn't know that when he was dieing of his lash wounds I gave Mrs. Everdeen medicine to heal him. He doesn't understand how I feel towards him, how much I care. I never would have let him and his family starve, and if I could have done something to stop his father from dieing in the mines I would have, but I couldn't. I really am powerless.

"Gale, I . . . you . . . I mean," I can't seem to form the right sentence, and now I'm really running the risk of crying, so I just turn and leave. I go straight home and cry in my room for a while.

Gale

I watch Madge leave, and I admit that a tiny bit of my heart sinks. Maybe I was a little too harsh on her. Katniss always said that I shouldn't yell at her. It isn't her fault she always has food on her plate when the rest of us have nothing. It's just that I'm so rattled right now. I've just lost Katniss, someone who I really cared about. I loved her, in fact, but she never knew that. She had always figured that I only thought of her as a friend. When I finally told her the way I felt it was too late. She was stuck with Peeta.

Katniss and Madge had become close friends when Katniss came back from the Hunger Games. At first glance they appear to be a bit of an odd pairing; Madge is rich, Katniss was poor, (although she's rich now . . . so I guess this isn't a valid point) Madge is beautiful and radiant, Katniss is just plain, Madge has fair skin and golden hair that shines like the sun, Katniss looks more like me, with black hair and olive skin, Madge is sweet and kind to everyone, Katniss is hostile and untrusting. Although the thing that seats them apart the most is that Madge lacks the inner fire that Katniss has, the fire that allowed her win.

However they do share some things in common, Madge and Katniss are both loners in school, that's what drew them together in the first place. Plus they're both determined to the point of stubbornness.

Maybe I should be friends with Madge . . . for Katniss, maybe it will help ease my pain. I consider apologizing to her, but I think better of it. Instead I go home to my family and rest, I'll need it since I work twelve hours a day . . .