I own nothing of course. It took on a life of its own. I hope you enjoy it. Reviews make the author happy!
I glanced quickly over my shoulder, relieved to see that Katniss had in fact followed me through the gate that surrounded the Undersee's mansion. I slowed down my usual quick but silent gait, allowing her to catch up and lead as we approached the back door. I could hear faint music playing, it sounded like the sweet high notes of a piano and my vivid imagination automatically conjured up an image of gorgeous Madge Undersee sitting at her baby grand piano, eyes closed playing the tune by memory and the notes inside her head. When I heard her raspy strong voice charge through the soft melody of the piano I hesitating knocking on the door, and was annoyed when Katniss, not stopping to appreciate the voice reached up and knocked loudly on the light glass of the kitchen door.
The music instantly stopped, interrupted by a hard crashing of many notes as a time and a few moments later, Madge was peering through the windows and reaching to unlock and open the door.
"Hello, Katniss," she greeted Katniss with a smile. She turned to me scowling, "Hawthorne."
She eyed me quickly only contempt in her eyes and sneered a little, baring her teeth just slightly. She hated me, I didn't blame her. I'd been nothing but mean to her since I'd met her. Subconsciously I knew it wasn't because of her status, of her ties to the Capitol. I'd gotten over that the first time I'd ever heard her sing. It was because no matter what, no matter what I did she'd never ever sing for me.
"Please come in, would you like something to drink?" she invited us in.
Katniss instantly walked inside, taking off her coat and hanging it up by the door, I followed suit and entered into the kitchen. Katniss handed off the strawberries and Madge took them gratefully, pulling out a few, washing them quickly under the sink and putting them on a small plate and turning to the fridge to put away the strawberries. She pulled out a carafe of orange juice and poured us each a small glass.
"Thank you," Katniss said.
"You're welcome, it's reaping day, and I might never see you again." Madge answered. She pushed the plate of strawberries towards us and sipped from her orange juice.
I watched her as she did, her beautiful face with her strong jaw line tensing slightly when she sipped and her throat swallowing down the tangy liquid.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked.
"Five," I reply when I notice that Katniss has a face full of strawberries.
Katniss smiled sheepishly and Madge just smirked at her. Madge went to the cabinet that the Undersee's kept their strawberry fund in and pulled out the whole jar. She turned back to us and pushed it in my direction; I glance at it, full of money, coins and bills and tell her it's too much.
"Take it," she says then she turns to Katniss. They chat for a while, including me into the conversation when it calls for it. I mostly just standby, munching on strawberries and sipping from my orange juice and watching the two beautiful girls chat like they're best friends.
After a little while, the grandfather clock in the living room chimes that's its 11 o clock; it's time for all of us to go our separate ways to prepare for the reaping. The two girls finish up their conversation quickly, and Madge walks us both to the door.
Standing at the door Madge does something completely unexpected and throws her arms around both of us, squeezing us tightly and whispering quickly into the space between us.
"No matter what happens today, I need you to keep quiet."
Then she's shoving us out the door and slamming it shut in our faces.
"huh." Is the only thing I can think to say. Katniss has also gone monosyllabic and answers my huh with her own.
She shrugs and begins to walk way turning quickly on her heel and walking quickly through the backyard and out the gate. I stand stunned for a few more moments, then rush down the stairs, following Katniss away. We walk in silence through town and into the Seam. I start to wonder about Madge's cryptic last message to us, but then I start wondering if Katniss finds it as suspicious as I do. I glance at her and instantly know that Katniss probably is wondering about whether she'll be able to drown that ugly cat or something equally as oblivious as that. She was my best friend, really she was, but she was so insanely oblivious to everything except for her sister and survival that even the most obvious of messages went completely over her head.
The baker kid, the youngest, has had his eye on her for ages, and knowing the slight history they had together, I thought she would have a soft spot for him, at least notice that he notices her, but she never does.
Thinking of this, my mind wandered to Katniss and the 'relationship' everybody seemed to think we had. Honestly she really wasn't my type, she was too sullen, didn't smile nearly enough, never laughed, and her dark hair and dark eyes just didn't get my juices pumping. I wondered if she felt the same way. I guess I would bring it up now, now or never right?
"Hey Katniss," I start.
She glances at me raising an eyebrow as if to say what.
"Do you think there's something between us?" I decide to come right out and ask.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," I stop talking for a moment, trying to find a good way to put this into words. "Everybody seems to think we'll get married and have kids and live in the Seam happily ever after. I was just wondering have you ever considered that."
"Umm…" she flushes slightly. I've made her uncomfortable.
"It's alright if you haven't, I'd just like to clear the air, you know… know if there ever should be something between us. I honestly…" I'm trying desperately to relieve her discomfort but seem to be making it worse. I stop again.
"Uhh."
Still monosyllabic Katniss.
"Sweet Capital bitches, how do I explain this so you understand?" I mutter to myself. I decide to come right out and say it. "Ok I'll just be blunt. I'm not into you like that, you're really not my type, and it kind of pisses me off that everybody seems to push us together, you're my best friend, but I don't want you as a wife. Does that makes sense?" I glance over at her.
She looks relieved.
"Yes!" she shouts. "I actually feel the same way. I think we're better off as just friends, there's never been anything romantic between us, there's no point to pretending right?"
"Right," I reply smiling at her grateful that she feels the same and I haven't hurt her feelings.
"I'm glad you brought it up. It's been bothering me for a while too. Everybody assumes we're together. Greasy Sae actually asked me a while back if you were any good in bed."
I choke on my own spit. "WHAT?!"
"I know."
"So what did you tell her?"
"That you were the best lover I've ever had." She winked at me, and then we both burst out laughing.
"Good girl," I say patting her affectionately on the top of her head.
"Hey I'm not a dog!" she snaps elbowing me hard in the ribs.
"You know, the baker boy, the youngest… Peeta I think? Yeah Peeta, anyway he's totally into you. He wants you bad."
"Really?" she blushes slightly.
"Oh! You totally like him too!" I accuse pointing my finger at her and she laughs, smacking it away.
"So what if I do?"
"He'd be good for you," I say.
"You think so?"
"Yes, you should give it a try," I murmur to her.
"What about you? Who do you have a thing for?" she asks me grinning as we finally make it into the Seam.
"Undersee."
"WHAT?! Oh my Capital! Ooooh she hates you!"
"I know she hates me, doesn't stop me from wanting her though."
"You should just walk up to her and kiss her. Completely at random, in fact I dare you too! Today, before the reaping."
"Only if you do the same with Peeta."
"DEAL!" She shouts and I laugh at her when she trips backwards over a tree branch walking up to her house. "I'll see you in a little while."
"Yeah, go get pretty so Peeta won't think he's making out with a werewolf or something."
"Yeah same to you!"
I smirk at her then turn away and walk home. There's a noticeable bounce to my step and I feel in a cheery mood, knowing for sure now that I don't have to hold my heart for Katniss and I was free to be with who I wanted.
I rush home and focus on getting cleaned up for the reaping. Running out of time after waiting for the bathtub forever I rush the family out the door and we head to the town square.
Katniss and Primrose and their mother Olivia meet us soon after and each of us meet our 'partners' and walk together. Katniss looks nervous and won't really look at me; I smirk, knowing what she's nervous about. Primrose and Rory walk together quietly talking about something from school and Mom carries Posy while she and Olivia talk and Vick follows close behind.
Sooner rather than later we arrive at the town square, just in time to see both merchants walk up and I pinch Katniss' elbow nodding in Peeta's direction.
She turns to me and narrows her eyes then motions to where Madge stood, quietly at the edge of the town square, enjoying the last few moments before she had to check in. Katniss walks off to find Peeta I'm sure and I'm impressed that she's actually following through on our deal.
I see her talking to Peeta and Peeta looks like he's about to die of happiness, then when Katniss throws her arms around him and plants a fat one on his lips I chuckle to myself, thoroughly impressed and turn to find my end of the deal.
I spot her again staring at her shoes and I walk up to her quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her quickly into the mouth of the alley she was just outside of. I let my hormones take over, finding her lips with my own. She's stunned silent, then instead of pushing me away like I expected , her hands come up and move around my neck, and I relish in the feel of her lips against mine, I press harder against her, feeling her perky breasts against my chest and pushing her backwards until her back meets the wall. My hands have a mind of their own and they wrap around her waist pulling her hips hard against mine and soon I'm out of breathe and I pull away.
"What was that for?" she asks through a flushed face.
"I might never see you again." I say.
Her eyes instantly tear up, and I feel terrible.
"Madge, please I didn't mean …"
"No it's…" instead of finishing her sentence she throws her arms around me again and kisses me again. Then she quickly pushes me away and stalks to the town square and gets in line to check in.
I stand there stunned for a few moments, then gather myself and head to the check in lines myself. I can still taste her on my lips and the more I lick them the more I taste her. By the time I'm getting my finger pricked and walking to the 18 year old males area she's already standing with Katniss and Katniss is excitedly talking to her about something. It must be about Peeta, girl talk.
She ignores my eyes, no matter how hard I try to meet them and I worry that I offended her.
Soon, her father is starting his speech on the stage and all I can think about is making out with his daughter again so I effectively tune him out. Effie Trinket makes the stage, with her wig and starts her spiel about what an honor it is and blah blah blah. I try once again to meet Madge's eyes, and this time she looks at me, meeting my eyes quickly and I can see tears forming in them, her eyes are rimmed and red and I suddenly want to go and kiss away her fears. She snaps her attention away when Effie moves to the girls bowl, and announces 'Ladies first.'
I glance over at Madge and am stuck with complete terror when I see her begin to move forward before Effie has even called the name.
"Madge Undersee!" Effie exclaims in a way to cheery voice, and suddenly I'm stuck with a ton of bricks, a train and punched in the gut all at the same time.
I see Katniss instantly turn pale and grasp at Madge's hand but Madge just shakes her off and walks forward. I meet Katniss' eyes and she looks to be in pure terror.
This was what Madge's cryptic message from before was about, she knew she would be reaped today. I suddenly felt like my heart was ripped out and the weight of the Capitol was crushing it.
I'm so engrossed in my own misery that I completely miss the boy's name, and only when I look up and see everybody staring at me do I realize…
"Gale Hawthorne, where are you? Come on up dear. You've been selected!" Effie sounds way too happy. The boys in my section part ways, some of them reaching out to shake my hand a few others patting me on the back, my other best friend Thom looks like he might cry but they all let me pass. Soon I'm mounting the steps and looking Madge in the eye. She's crying, her bottom lip trembling and she mouths 'I'm sorry'.
The speech goes by slowly as I stand there in utter disbelief and soon it's time for us to shake hands and step off the stage.
I grasp Madge's hand, squeeze it tightly then we both drop our hands at the same time. We're whisked into the Justice building and one step closer to our imminent death.