A/N – I am a huge Gadge shipper, and I really wanted to make a fanfic for them lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and I'll try to get the next one out before Friday. Okaybye.
I watch closely as Effie Trinket, the over-the-top Capitol mentor for District 12, usher the two people into the Justice Building. I can already feel tears lingering at my eyelids, fighting to fall down my face. I refuse, but only for Katniss. Katniss, my best friend – my only friend. I expected her to be there for me forever, and I just had witnessed her volunteer for her sister in the Games. Immediately, I run over to a two, huddled people already with a waterfall of tears.
It is her family.
"M-Ms. Everdeen," I start, making my way closer to her. She holds closely her younger daughter, Katniss's sister, Prim, who she had volunteered for. By the look on her face, I feel as if she's about to fall over. The woman had already lost her husband, and, now, her daughter. I wrap my arms around her and Prim, feeling their warm bodies shiver.
It feels like forever until a muscular hand gently tugs me away, and I almost curse right in his ear until I see that it is Gale. He is – or should I say way – Katniss's best friend, and always had girls swooning over him.
The only thing I can feel for Gale is hate. He insulted me earlier that day, and it brought me to tears. I, being the mayor's daughter, am not used to such vile behavior, and it had crushed me.
"Madge, it's time for them to see Katniss," Gale says, mater-of-factly. "You should go."
I make no movement, but I watch him closely as he walks over to Prim and Katniss's mom, and then he begins to usher them to the Justice Building where Katniss awaits.
My mouth parts, ready to ask him why, when I remember that they can visit Katniss. I instantly shut my lips and dart through the crowd. I push past everyone, and, eventually, make it to my house. It's bigger than all others in the district, as it belongs to the family of the mayor. My feet lead me to my room. After I come close to my dresser, I reach out to a small, sleek box. Once I open it, I grab the only thing important to me, my pin. It was my aunt's, and it means everything to me. If Katniss is going to be in the Games, I want her to have it.
So, once I pull it out from the box, I rush back to the Justice Building. Once again shoving aside others, I make it to the waiting room, where Gale is pacing back and forth.
Him again, how lovely.
Ignoring his sight, I sit down in a leather chair, then hold my pin up to the light to examine it. It's truly gorgeous, this pin. A mockingjay bird holding onto an arrow with its mouth and centered in a circle. I know Katniss loves to use her bow and arrow, so I feel certain she will love it.
After only a few seconds of being here, Gale decides to make chat. "Why are you here?" he asks, stopping to face me.
My face heats up; what do I say? Despite his friendship with Katniss, Gale and I are nothing alike, and he practically sickens me. In response, I look down, shoving the pin into my pocket and quietly say, "She's my friend, too, you know."
That seems to have answered his questions. I wait in silence for about a minute, then the door to Katniss's room opens. A man I've never seen before comes out sweating, and I get a little nervous.
Gale motions for me to go in, and I do. I get up and slowly walk into the room, and I see Katniss is a little confused, maybe because I'm not teared up or being the regular Madge. I try to be unlike me, unlike someone Katniss has never seen. Someone confident, and in who? Her. Because, no matter how much it will occur to me during the next few weeks that there are others in the arena stronger then her, I want her to know that I'm rooting for her.
I pick up my pace as I approach her, then begin to speak. "They let you wear one thing from your district in the arena. One thing to remind you of home. Will you wear this?" I finish, my face flushed. Most likely because of all the running I just did, but maybe because of how nervous I feel as I talk such a way to Katniss. I dig around in my dress pocket and pull out the pin, then hold it out to Katniss.
"Your pin?" she asks.
"Here," I start, coming closer to her, "I'll put it on your dress, all right?" Before Katniss says anything, I fix the pin onto her dress, then move it around until it looks nice. "Promise you'll wear it in the arena, Katniss? Promise?"
I wait for her answer. This pin, it's special to me. It's the only thing I have left of my aunt. She had green eyes and thin, blonde hair like me. Apparently, we looked a lot alike, but I'll never know. I refuse to watch the Games when she dies. Refuse.
"Yes," Katniss responds, and I lean in to her face. I give her a kiss on the cheek, another sign of me wishing her luck. I leave without a word, feeling myself about to cry.
Once out of the room, I see Gale, who is about to trip over himself to get by Katniss. We ignore each other, and I sigh.
Out of all people in the world Katniss could befriend, it's the boy who despises me. The boy who has girls swooning over him, yet he ignores them all. And I know that, while Katniss is away, I will be drawn to him for his company. I will need someone who understands the pain I'm going through.
I will become friends with Gale.