From behind the stage, Gale and the others watched as the interview commenced.
An anxious tug was given as he pulled his blazer down a little, not really concerned about the hem or stitching. He peered around the wall but then he felt Katniss smack his arm and he looked to where everyone's attention now was. The screen was much easier for the rest of them to watch without causing any problems for the stage crew's set-up. Gale watched, pressing lips together in excitable curiosity as Prim talked with the grinning man who Gale figured had the stamina of a warrior. Gale figured he couldn't sit under powerful lights and talk to nearly fifty people all day but then again, Gale also figured the pay was pretty damn good and that the guy must really like to gossip since it appeared to be quite natural.
It was then that the aspect of Prim's bravery was brought up and how it must run in the family. Gale wasn't sure he could consider their mother outright brave, but he knew Prim and Katniss's father was very brave and he nodded slowly, well aware that Prim was more than a pretty girl. That she was brave and strong. Of course she claimed she had luck in getting her high score but Gale wasn't so convinced and it seemed neither was the interviewer. Caesar continued to keep the conversation going with Prim's help. Haymitch was brought up and Gale had a feeling his own name would soon also be brought into the mix, though he still wasn't sure what Prim would disclose about him, or them to be precise.
As things progress, the boy felt a forceful yank of his heart when Prim mentioned that home wasn't home without the others.
That was quite true.
Then things finally got around to Prim and whether or not she had any sort of suitor back home. Gale glanced to Katniss who looked at him. They locked eyes and much to his relief, she looked back at the tv and he did as well. Primrose seemed to carefully consider her next action as she then implied that he and her were together. Not at all to his surprise, the crowd went wild. He was sure this kind of juicy information was what Caesar often prayed for. Now he got it. Gale swallowed anxiously as he now knew his questions may center around Prim and the Games. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment but quickly swallowed his nerves. Prim was easy to talk about and it was better than how boring life was back home, compared to the gadgets at the Capitol, for instance.
Things ended soon and Gale turned to see Prim come back stage. He smiled at her, not really able to find the right words at the moment. Even if he had them, there wasn't any real time to say anything as he was being waved on by one of the crew. He headed out and put on a smile, having heard Effie's words echo in the back of his head, reminding him to be effervescent and charming. Gale gave a wave as his smile remained. Caesar welcomed him to site down where so many others had, most of which who had died or would die. As the cheering calmed down and many of the female spectators ceased their declarations of adoration, the boy looked to the older man who amazingly, still exuded endless energy and charisma. “So Gale Hawthorne, you volunteered.” Cesar started off, his smile coy and very particular.
Gale gave him a nod and the interviewer continued. “Why?" He asked. He was going to ask if it was for Katniss but everyone knew, she didn't need protecting. And now with the recent news of him and Primrose, Caesar had a new theory in mind. "Was it for Katniss or for Prim?"
The crowd held their breath and Gale leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs. "Caesar, you and I both know Katniss doesn't need protecting. If anything, I was volunteering to protect all the other poor Tributes. You do not want to be on the other end of her arrow, trust me." Gale said, thinking back to when they were younger and scrounging in the wilderness for game. That was a crazy day but not one that was really suitable for a public audience. "Anyway," Gale waved a casual hand to move on. "honestly? I was doing it for Prim." He admitted. "But not because I thought she was weak or needed my help because she really doesn't." He said as Caesar leaned in closer and Gale did the same because it seemed prompted somehow. "I wanted to spend more time with her. When Katniss and Peeta left last year, we grew close." He paused and figured Prim might not want him disclosing so much so he tried to keep it brief and vague.
"I just didn't want that time to be cut so short...so in a way, I was volunteering for myself because I didn't want to miss her yet." He glanced down at his lap, giving a sheepish expression which he knew would go over well with the crowd. A lot of 'aws' were heard and after a polite pause, the man to his right decided to keep things moving since he didn't want other viewers to get bogged down with the budding romance.
"I can't blame you, she is quite a young woman, you two are lucky to have found each other." He was ready to move on but Gale's hatred for the city couldn't contain the next comment he made.
"Not lucky enough, only one of us is supposed to survive right?" He knew as soon as the words left his mouth that Effie and Peeta were probably fuming with his outburst but Gale couldn't help it. It wasn't fair and while it wasn't really Caesar's fault, Gale couldn't pretend to be happy for their situation. For a moment, Caesar appeared taken aback but having done these things for so long, he knew how to move things along fairly nicely.
"Yes, but the time you have together right now, is even more precious." Caesar said and reached out to clasp a hand on Gale's shoulder. The boy nodded and dropped his momentary expression of agitation.
"I'm going to miss you the most, Caesar." Gale laughed softly, knowing he needed to make up for that slip up. "But I actually have a question for you, if you don't mind." He proposed. The grinning man looked back to the audience and gave a fantastic expression.
"No one's ever asked me a question before, please, go on."
"Why? You're so friendly. I actually wanted to know if you'd come visit me in District 12 after I win. My family would love to meet you, I'm sure. Peeta could make the bread and I could cook a great big stew of wild deer with my mother, it's an old family recipe." He offered and nudged the older man. "Come on, you'd love some real fresh air!"
"That's the kind of confidence we like to see!" He cheered. "That is a fine offer." Caesar replied. "I would be honored to visit you." He said. Of course Gale left out that Prim and Katniss and even Haymitch would also be around for that meal because there was no way Gale would leave without any of them. "I've never had deer, to be honest. What's it like?" He asked.
"It's amazing." Gale grinned. "How about I trade you one deer for a few of those, they're called pizzas?"
Caesar nodded and held out his hand. "It sounds like a good deal to me, Gale."
"Deal." Gale smirked and shook his hand.
"I can't wait to see you in the arena. I've heard Katniss speak very highly of you and your score just proves that you're one to watch out for." Caesar said as the interview began to wind down, back to a serious note. "Your sword and survival skills will make you one of the front-runners, let me assure you of that. I will be rooting for you." He said and looked back out to the cameras.
"That's just because of our date." Gale teased him. The man beside him let out a loud laugh and stood up and took Gale's hand and raised it upwards. Everyone clapped and cheered as Gale gave a few waves with his free hand to the people watching him. Many odd looking women seemed taken with him but he did his best to be polite enough.
"Good luck young man, we look forward to seeing more from you." Caesar nodded before sending Gale off so the next person could come up. Gale hurried back behind the stage and finally felt a bit more at ease. The tips Peeta gave him had been highly helpful and he figured he did alright, considering he didn't want to be where he was in the first place.
"You and Caesar, how cute." Katniss teased and tried to pinch one of his cheeks.
Deep down, she was proud of her friend though, he did well considering this was his first and only time in front of a big crowd.
Member
Writing Is Hard
Scout
Speckled Crow
Silent Whispers
TideTypedWrong