Can't Rid of Me (JackLex & Marree)

The little girl's eyebrow's arched inward with the insult, an angry expression though sarcasm filled her emotions more. "You wish." Gala jokes, unwilling to withdraw from the pregames. Sure fighting against Matthew and careers his age sounded terrifying, but backing down wasn't an option. She wouldn't be able to back down if her or Gwen were ever reaped. Anyways at least training began today, she still had time to pull a few things up her sleeves...as small as they are.

Learning basic survival techniques sounded horrible after there last discussion. The pregames probably didn't contain that sort of stuff. But still they made a deal and without even a sly comment Gala scurried off to grab the first aid kit...though still weary about the box since her sister stitched her up last time, and they still had to go to the hospital! Bad memories. At least there was no open wounds to heal today. As much as grabbing a weapon to prepare for the pregames sounded desirable, starting with something just as complicated but less strenuous was perfect.

After grabbing the kit and noticing this training would be performed outside, Gala hurried with her question. It was important for her to know. Gwen and her had already explored the entire district, to know their way around, and lately to search for there mom as well. So knowing about the outside of the District was kind of interesting to the young girl. The question was rejected with a stern "Don't!" Which disappointed Gala quite a bit. Secrets were especially annoying, and this one was staying between Matthew and the girl. Didn't sound fair to Gala but she knew protesting was a bad idea.

Matthew began walking out the door anyways, not interested in a comment most likely. But the way her walked, it was clear he wasn't comfortable, but actually beat or something along those lines. No wonder avoiding fighting training. Well Gala's shoulder was certainly still painful, with all of the training she was still performing, so a day off sounded nice to her to. Maybe she'd bring up beyond the fence another time...or just explore it for herself.

The sound of a fire was very nice...though they could just go inside to. Gala's mind process was different from a raised Career though. So making a fire was a great idea. Though Gala had never made one before. "No." She says with disappointment, because it's just another thing she didn't know. There was probably a lot more though. Curling up in her own winter jacket she followed Matthew for the right spot. Big pieces of firewood and small twigs were needed was all she knew of; so she began picking up anything that fit in those two categories as they walked. Eventually she was able to set down the collection once a good spot was discovered.

"Sure don't." Gala answers Matthew's rhetorical question on whether her family has a fireplace. "But how would that help?" She always figured fireplaces would be much easier then starting a fire in the damp winter.

Once again the instructions were taking immediately, though Gala was already making a little collection before hand. The note about making sure it wasn't wet was a bit obvious, but Gala made sure there was no wet spots on any of them. About one third she had to throw back. Then the search for even more. When Matthew discovers the driest place to start the fire Gala dumped her pile and went to search for dead leafs, knowing they'd be the driest.

Following instructions actually wasn't as difficult as Gala predicted, but this was the stuff that she didn't want to protest. If ever stuck in the cold, even not in the Hunger Games, making a fire would be helpful. She crumpled the dry leafs in the middle and began scrapping the bottom of a big piece of wood like pealing a potato. Then she began with the tippie of small sticks, which was quiet frustrating for the first few tries. As soon as the little sticks were up she began with the bigger ones which were much easier. And then, as if there wasn't enough surprises, Matthew brought up where he went again.

A shrug followed the question unsure what to say. The search for her mom would just be another stupid girl thing, so she had to think of something else. "Just curious." She answers not stopping from her work on the fireplace. "Me and Gwen have explored everywhere in this District, adventures are running slim." That wasn't a good one, Matthew might get angry she'd go out there. "Even to just hear about." She covers up. "How's that?" She asks attempting to balance that last large piece of wood in place.

Taking a break from the fire making Gala looks up at Matthew with one eyebrow arched upwards with confusion. He doesn't buy her curiosity as her reasoning when only trees and creek lay outside of the fence. But then again why would Matthew and someone else go running out there? And then why would he become so furious that Gala found out? Well besides the fact that it's illegal to be out there. So something cool must be out there, something to spark curiosity, if it's so bad to go out there.

"That's not what you and the girl though." Gala comments back, her voice almost like a song as if to sing the two kids kissing in a tree song. She was slightly implying that possibly Matthew had a girlfriend or something of the sort. That could be why he's acting nice all of a sudden! A smirk spread to her face, as if this was better information then finding the jacket and catching them in the first place.

Matthew claims that Gala would not like the adventures out there...which simply makes her more curious and wanting to know what lays out there. The way he explains it nearly sounds like Matthew himself had a bad experience...maybe with the dog? Still this angered Gala though she did her best to not show it. For a boring place with nothing out there, he sure makes it sound like there's secrets he'd keeping. Secrets about what's really out there. Maybe he'd understand Gala's intentions on finding her mom, but then again he probably wouldn't.

"You don't know that." Gala sort of mumbles as she places the last bit of large logs around the fireplace. The next instructions were going to be the hardest as Matthew informed, and that was starting the actual fire. Sparking the fire, which she's watched a million tributes attempt to do...she didn't enjoy watching the Hunger Games, but everyone was forced to. Taking the knife and rock she began her best to scrap near the dry wood, and hope for a fire.

After a few minutes of attempting, she paused for a second and began waving an arm in the air. "Sponsors! Matches please!" She giggles at her own joke before attempting once again to start the fire. A small spark arrives, and for a moment Gala's face is extremely happy...until a burst of wind comes through and takes out the tiny flame; Gala's face went back down to her somber expression. But still she began again, as much as it felt like her hands were turning into giant blisters with her hard grip on the knife and rock.

"You could tell me what's bad about out there." Gala asks quietly, as if saying it too loud would upset Matthew. "Then I won't sneak out there." She makes sort of a deal, though she didn't know if she'd keep up her half...finding out about another part of the world sounded great to her though. During the question she still continued her attempt at starting the flame.

Pushing for information about behind the fence was starting to annoy Matthew, that was first certain. He rhetorically asked whether Gala knew how to stop, clearly curiosity toke over in that aspect. Resisting a sarcastic comment was difficult, but she was determined to at least get through one day without pissing off her trainer. Even the threat on going out there doesn't phase him, he'd rather not talk about it at all. The comment on the only thing bad out there was the company sounded odd though. It was a bit confusing on why he'd go out there with bad company anyways; it wasn't like they ran into one another out there.

Gala titled her head to the side like a confused dog. "The company?" She repeats as a question. "Why, cause you hate girls?" She asks while keeping her eyes fixated on how to properly get a spark...took long enough for Matthew to offer.

When the materials were past back to her she started again, doing her best to mimic how her trainer did it. Still sparks didn't start as quickly as he created them, but after a few tries a few sparks finally caught onto the dry leafs...finally big enough to not get blown out with a small breeze. A small smile returned to the young girl's face.

The dry leafs caught onto the fire quickly, but the growth of it was a little slow. To help, and for a little fun, Gala brought more leafs to the fire one by one, throwing it into the middle before the flame reached her fingers. "No interesting stories or cool advice at all?" Gala asked, looking back over to Matthew as she still played around with the leafs. "Don't you wanna pass on your information to youngster careers?"

The question on whether it was obvious that Matthew hated girls sounded very rhetorical. How many times had he claimed to hate them? Or at least dislike them. So clearly Gala would predict his only problem with his company out there was the fact he was with a girl. "Well she looked nice to me." Gala kind of protests, as if she needed to stand up for other girls. And Matthew his sick of hearing questions about the outside world.

Advice on how to stay on Matthew's good side comes out; stop with all the questions. Gala looked confused for a second. "So you don't completely hate me?" She asks with a bit of doubt and hope mixed into her voice.

At least the fire finally started; something to impress Matthew. It seemed nearly impossible, and not the fire starting part. Asking for information to pass down information to younger careers didn't phase him either. It wasn't a different subject, but still didn't quit. Apparently he meant all questions in general. How would that work if he's her trainer? She was a curious child that wanted interesting stories, and exciting advice. Matthew's only advice his to follow the rules. Great, the one thing I'm terrible at is all Gala could think about. After all listening, following directions and rules were all the same.

The subject's changed to Gala and Gwen's relationship. Matthew figured that they were as close as ever, gesturing with twisting his fingers like a knot. She shrugged. They argued a lot about training, but afterwards, at home and the circus, everything was different. Still Gwen was pissed that Gala accepted Matthew back; after pulling her into the pool, and choking Gala. Yeah he wasn't on Gwen's good list.

"We are." Gala confirms, because besides this they were the closest twins in the district. "She doesn't like you though. But she doesn't control me." Of course she should mention why Gwen disliked Matthew. "The whole pulling her into the pool...choking me, and all." Gala explains in nearly a whisper, like she was scared to share this information. At least the fire began filling to the bigger pieces of wood. "But we agreed to part."

Maybe Gala should bring up her true reason for her curiosity for the outside world. Possible Matthew would even help her. "You asked about my dad when we first meet." Gala mentions, warming her hands with the fire, and staring at the flames. "Well my mother disappeared. Gwen's convinced she's still around." Still her baby blue eyes were fixated on the fire. "She could be beyond the fence. I don't want you to help me, I just want to know what it's like out there." Her voice was very hushed; she was smart enough to know not to talk about this to just anyone. So making sure a passer didn't over hear was important.

It's the clear the last straw about outside of the District was pulled away from Matthew, because he clearly had it with the conversation. He claims he doesn't completely hate Gala, but he will if she didn't drop the conversation. Should she feel special to not be completely hated? Because that sounded like dislike, which confused the young girl why Matthew would offer to train her again. Probably just to keep a close tie to make sure she didn't slip up with his and the girl's secret. Little did he know Gala had no intentions on telling anyone, but then again she'd prefer not seeing people get hurt.

The subjects finally completely shifts over to about the twins, and Gwen's dislike for Matthew. Who wouldn't have a beef with someone that pulled them into the pool and choked their sister? But to Matthew it sounded ridiculous, clearly by the sound of his voice as he claim he had no intentions for hurting either of them. His voice sounded more sarcastic then sincere though. He probably did truly mean it, but still it sounded like he was just telling a joke. It was to show Gala her place, though she only learned that her trainer had a bit of a violent side.

A suggestion, or maybe a threat, follows that it won't happen again if Gala avoids pushing Matthew's buttons. "What a deal." Gala mumbles hoping that the anger and sarcasm wouldn't be heard. It seemed impossible to know all of his buttons, but what was she to do? Hope to learn enough to give her a good chance if Gwen or herself were ever to get reaped...and before she pushed any more of Matthew's buttons. So maybe just stay mute until after a few months of training. She couldn't help her sarcastic tongue and urges to cause trouble.

The anger deepens with the conversation of Gala's mom; even saying rude things about Gwen didn't upset her more then talking about her mom. "You don't know her." Gala bluntly states, crumbling the remaining dry leafs and throwing them into the fire. Her mother had to be out there, there was no where left. All of the Thomas sisters knew the twins searched the district five teams up and down the first week she was gone...who knew how many of times since then. And hearing Matthew state she's not out there made Gala furious.

Depression had taken over their mother, and she chose the illness over her daughters, but that wasn't her fault. In all of the girls' eyes their mother was the best. She worked long hours, and still managed to make a hot meal every night. Even when she fell into a depression she still fulfilled her tasks, though her face remained blank and she stayed mute. Then one day she was gone. Gwen's convinced she's still out there, watching over her daughters, and Gala believes everything her twins says. After all Gwen's the smartest in the family.

Don't push my buttons and I won't do it again. All Gala had learned was how to make a fire. She needed to learn much more, how to fight and survive. Throwing a tantrum over Matthew's words, over her sensitivity for her mother, could very well be a button. "I built the stupid fire, can we get onto fighting, please." She'd distract herself and stay quiet about the subject, though anger was still present in her voice over the matter.

All that Matthew was talking about, how the forest was only filled with animal and old cabins, meant nothing to Gala. If anything there was more of a chance she could be out there, but that was a thirteen year old's thinking. She wanted to be optimistic for this case, even if she usually wasn't. Mentioning her disagreement would bring them no where though, so she kept her mouth shut.

"Thanks for the advice." Gala replies with when Matthew suggests taking a look for herself, and to bring a weapon for safety. "Maybe I will." She states in a monotoned voice. Going out there did not sound like a smart move; Matthew and the girl he was with were both at least three years older then Gala. And still Matthew seemed a bit beat up after his trip out there. Certainly he was smart enough to bring a weapon as well. How curious she was on what happened, but clearly Matthew wasn't going to tell her. Her mother was out there, she was determined.

At least Matthew's kind in the way to change the topic, and of course doesn't take Gala's stupid fire comment lightly. He says that the fire can save her life in the arena, and certainly in some ways it can. In other ways it could kill her though. "Yeah until a pack of careers track me down by the smoke." She couldn't help but say back, staying completely nice was too big of a task to keep a trainer. Gala looked up Matthew, still sitting on the floor, lightly kicking dirt into the fire. "I've watched the games since I was a baby just like everyone else. I'm not that bad of a career."

Gala retrieves to her feet with ease, she didn't need the help of her arms to get up, so a wounded shoulder didn't effect that. It toke a few seconds for Matthew to figure out the next training task, but he was creative enough to figure out something to do. And it was actually a very unique activity. Being blindfolded and using only her ears to spot where her trainer's coming from. That could actually be useful in a few situations; being in complete darkness, or something could damage her eyes. Who knows.

The hat on Matthew's head makes the perfect blindfold and he places it on Gala's head. With the size difference it easily went over her eyes. She looked a little concerned and questioning before finally covering her eyes. Trusting in general was a difficult task, and after a few events it was a even more to trust Matthew. But she knew he wasn't going to harm her though, she hadn't pushed any buttons that would result in violence...yet at least.

While Gala stands there blinded she could hear slight ruffling, not enough to exactly spot Matthew, but enough to know the general direction. Without warning he lunches, and the fast movements clearly give away the location. For some reason Gala's heart was pounding against her chest. Point at him was the directions. But for some reason once she could feel he was close instead she allowed her ears to direct her fist towards him. There was a lot of anger built up to say the least.