Madge POV

"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you – the tributes of District 12!"

For a second, everyone is silent in awe. But like a gun at the start of the race, everyone breaks into a wild, crazy scream. Hugs are exchanged, laughter and joy to be heard for miles. My eyes widen as I look up at the screen and tears of joy and shock slide down my flustered cheeks and join in the shrieking and laughing of everyone else of District 12, because for the first time in about twenty-four years, we not only have one victor, but two. I look at the Everdeen family, and cannot help but start crying again because Prim (Katniss' sister) literally is smiling from ear to ear, and the happiest person I think I have ever seen. I feel overwhelmed by the rush of love I have for everyone – for once, nobody questions me as the 'Mayor's daughter' or even 'Miss Undersee'. I'm just Madge. And it feels good.

We all dance and sing in the town square for which feels like years, and we're all happy and nobody cares if you're from Seam or if you're Merchant as we all talk and joke around. I mean, hasn't somebody from Seam and somebody from Town just won the Hunger Games? Surely we can all resolve our issues now? Of course, me being the Mayor's daughter means nobody will resolve theirs with me. I'm too wealthy, posh, too much of a snob. They believe I think I am better than them. I sigh, I shouldn't let my usual thoughts worry me, Katniss and Peeta have just won! My only friends who I thought I had lost are coming back, and the thought is so powerful that it blocks the rest of the pathetic little worries I have in my head.

At last, in the early hours of the morning, people are starting to leave so I decide I should probably depart too. Not that many people would miss me.

I kick the gravelly earth with my white pristine shoes, still smiling when I hear a sound. I realise its pitch black, and I've taken the narrow short cut round to my house where most people from Seam walk down too. I gulp down my fear and look straight ahead, and quicken my pace.

Suddenly, I feel a sweaty hand on my shoulder. I jerk back, only for the hand to dig deeper into my collar bone. I turn around to see none other then Fir Redwood, who is my age and lives on the streets of Seam, well known for mistreating girls.

"Get off me Fir, now!" I whisper shakily. He just laughs and says something incoherent, he's drunk.

He tries to kiss me, and I can feel his sickly warm breath on mine and it takes me all the courage I can muster to spit in his face. He doesn't like this one bit, because his facial expressions turn from leering to anger.

"You'll pay for that, Daddy's girl!" He growls, and pulls me closer. I whimper and close my eyes, wishing I was still in the town square dancing and being normal for once.

He pushes me on the cold, hard ground and my dress rips. He laughs again. I can feel hot, wet tears streaming down my face.

"Aw, don't cry princess I'll make it all better…" But just then, it's almost as if he is being lifted in the air by a crane or something, but then I see the other boy. Or man, should I say. I prop myself on my elbows to get a better view of what the hell's happening.

"Stay away from her, or I mean it I'll kill you!" The voice sounds familiar. Huh.

The man punches Fir in the face, kicks him in the groin and decides that's enough, seeing he's drunk he'll probably just end up unconscious anyway.

The man gives me his hand and I take it, gratefully.

"Thank you so much, if you hadn't came I. . . I don't know what would've happened. I cannot tell you how grateful I am."

"It's fine, Madge, or you okay?" Says Gale. Gale. Gale Hawthorne, the boy who hates me.

I look into his grey, misty eyes and give him a half-hearted smile.

"I'm sure I'll be fine. Thanks again, bye." I'm crying again and I don't want him to see.

"Hey! Madge come back!" He runs after me until I have to stop.

"Gale, I'm fine. Really." I sniffle. God, I sound pathetic.

"At least let me walk you home, then." He says, and I don't resist, because I'm afraid.

We walk in silence, but it's not awkward. Just . . . peaceful. Almost. I cannot believe that Gale Hawthorne of all the people found me pressed against the floor, about to be beaten or worse, and that he came to my rescue. It's not that I didn't expect him to help it's just. . . confusing.

"I can't believe guys like that, especially on days like today. Should have been a happy day, for everyone. I'm really sorry but glad I came in time." He says.

"Gale, don't worry about me I'm fine. Not like anybody would care if anything did happen." I mutter.

Gale frowns. "I'd care."

I laugh. "Yeah, right. I thought you hated me, Gale."

"I don't hate you, Madge. You're so beautiful that I get intimidated, I guess."

He smiles, caresses my face and leaves me, mouth open. Just like that.

I watch him walk away, still unsure of what happened. Maybe I'm dreaming, I thought to myself. Yes, that's it. A dream. But when I walk through the door of my house, the painful screams of my mother are too realistic to be a dream. Gale actually helped me. And said I was beautiful. Apart from the way that disgusting boy Fir Redwood made me feel, I feel ecstatic.

Katniss and Peeta are coming home. Gale Hawthorne saved me, said I was beautiful. And when I got in, I had another surprise.

"Because you've been working so hard this year, Margaret, I decided you deserve an award. Close your eyes." My father says kindly. I close my eyes, expecting clothes or money or something worthless. But instead, in my hands I feel soft fur and the sound of a 'bark'.

My father bought me a puppy. He was gorgeous, brown with tufts of hair sticking out, fluffy ears and a button nose. I shriek in admiration, and hug my father with the puppy still in my arms.

"I'll call him Victor, you know, because of Katniss and Peeta." I say, tears threatening in my eyes.

"That's a beautiful name given by a beautiful girl." Says father, and he kisses my head.

I fall asleep, for the first time in years, truly happy.

A/N; Thank you for reading, I'll be updating another chapter very soon! I'd appreciate reviews and any follow/favourites! Do you like the whole Gale saviour thing? I'm not sure if it worked so I'd be so grateful for your opinions! Thanks –Erin.