*** Takes Place during Quarter Quell,
Madge's Best Friend~ Peeta (I know that's not how it is in the book but I thought it might make it more interesting)
Gale's best friend~ Katniss***
Madge P.O.V.
It was the beginning of the end when Capital reporters saw a simple, reassuring squeeze of the hand from Gale to me. It was when Katniss as aired on the screen for the first time in the Quarter Quell and reporters were at my house interviewing my father. Gale had been there too but he, unlike the reporters, came to comfort me and I was there to comfort him as well. And just as Katniss came on screen we both reached for each other, not in the way my mother and father might, but in the way Peeta and Katniss would, except we weren't pretending to be in love, until now. Because when the reporters saw us hold hands they saw the next biggest story, imagine; Katniss' poor, breathtakingly handsome cousin from the Seam and Peeta's best friend. It would be an overnight sensation, and it was. Over the next few weeks Gale and I saw headlines from "District 12: Newest Couple" to "Panem's Newest Couple: Is Katniss' Cousin Following Her Footsteps"
Of course it was all nonsense but still.
As I heard a knock on the door I walked down the hall to answer it and to my surprise it was Gale. But just as I was about to say hello the phone rang; I let Gale in and ran to answer it. "Hello, District 12 Justice Building, how can I be of assistance?" which is how I was told to always answer the phone. "I'm looking for a Madge Undersee" says a cruel voice. "Speaking, may I ask who this is?" I say because I vaguely remember the voice. "Well, silly girl don't' you recognize your own president?" And this is when a cold shock comes through me, "I. I'm sorry sir I..I..I didn't realize.." I stuttered. "Well Madge, I have been reading a lot of headlines lately about you and Ms. Everdeen's cousin. Gale is it?" "Oh, no sir," I gasp "that was just a rumor." I had thought that was just going through D12 maybe 11 and had almost no chance of reaching 10, I never would have dreamed it would make it to the capital. "But you see Madge, with all of this attention you and Mr. Hawthorne are getting, it's taking away attention Ms. Everdeen and Mr. Mellark. Which is exactly what I want, so next week I will be sending over a camera crew because your fans want to know more about you and your beloved Gale, do you understand?" "Yes." I say not really comprehending what he said, but then it kicks in; Gale and I are going to have to pretend to be in love, like Katniss and Peeta. "And Ms. Undersee, by the end of six months you and Mr. Hawthorne are to be engaged. And then six months later the camera crew will be back to film you wedding and six months after that they will film you as newlyweds. And Ms. Undersee I really do hope you comprehend what I'm saying because if you do not follow orders just as I said both of your families will be at the top of my list. Now good-by Ms. Undersee, I will see you next week." And then the phone goes dead, I stand here for a moment letting it all sink in. My whole world has just been planned out and I have no choice but to go through with it, but first I must tell Gale.
