A/N: Sorry if you follow this story and got lots of notifications for new chapters. Gale Lover pointed out that the formatting was wrong on a couple of them, so I re-uploaded all the chapters to make sure they were all clear. Anyway, chat over - please enjoy these stories and let me know what you think!

Prompt: Band AU - gale is the lead singer of a popular band, madge is a reporter, katniss is a groupie


Gale was sure The Seam would never be more than a band in a suburban garage. They did small gigs here and there, but no one other than the few drunks at their local bar and Katniss (his best friend turned groupie) ever saw them play. They were small time. Seriously small time.

But when one of those drunks turned out to be Haymitch Abernathy, the guy who wrote for some of the best bands of all time, the trajectory for The Seam changed forever. He didn't want to cleanse their sound, or make them into some mainstream band, but he wanted to give them some exposure; move them from open mic nights to legit performances, which could lead to a whole lot more. Soon they had people flocking in to hear them. They could charge for tickets, Bristel finally got his bass repaired and they were making the best music they had ever made. Gale couldn't believe it.

No one knew how lucky a break it was. Gale had been certain he was going to trapped in the lack of success forever, forced to just bite the bullet and take on full time work in the garage like his dad did. He would be damned if he had spent all those years perfecting his guitar skills just to put it all aside because he couldn't make an opportunity for himself. Rising to the top felt like Christmas every day. A steady stream of gigs in good local locations led to a better opportunity than they'd ever imagined.

Supporting Capitol - one of the biggest new bands on the scene. When Gale got the phone call, he openly cried for the first time in front of his mother since his father's accident.


Madge loved writing about music more than anything in the world. She was so fortunate to work in the arts editorial banner of the District 12 Times and it had taken her to many places. She'd reviewed symphonic orchestras and beautiful classic operas and even the occasional emerging musical. Never had she been given a rock band to follow.

Madge liked to think of herself as open minded, but she was a classic girl through and through - even down to the tiny details in her appearance and clothing. Why anyone thought it was a good idea to put her on the road with this new band - The Seam - was beyond her. It wasn't even their tour. But when her editor had talked about it being a bunch of local boys, she knew she couldn't say no. Local success was somewhat limited in District 12, so these boys were to be celebrated.

Great, she thought, that won't inflate their egos.


"I have a press pass," she insisted for the fifth time, brandishing the laminated card in the security guard's face. "Let me in, I'm supposed to be reporting on The Seam. I'm from The District 12 Times and I should be on a list!" The man in front of her didn't even flinch, so Madge let out a defeated sigh and stepped back for a second, trying to formulate a way of getting in. Her pass had been her one plan - it never failed before.

Frustrated, the young girl leant against the small wall near the stage door and stared at the pass. Her shoulder was lightly tapped and Madge flicked her eyes up.

"Heard you having some trouble down there. Do you need to get in?" the man asked.

Madge smiled a little, "Thanks, but I don't want to sneak inside with some tech. I have to get straight to the band for interviews."

The young man laughed and put down the amp he had in one of his hands, "Good thing I'm in the band then." He pointed to his pass and then smirked back at her, "Gale. Gale Hawthorne. Guitarist for The Seam."

Madge's cheeks immediately pinked up. Crap. As soon as she really looked, it was so blindingly obvious that he was Gale Hawthorne from The Seam. "Sorry," she said as he blush began to subside. "I promise I'm not some groupie… and if I were I'd be a pretty bad one. I'm here for work."

"No problem," he said, leading her forward and picking the amp up again. "And I know you're not a groupie. We only have one and she's my best friend. I'd spot her anywhere," he teased. "I figured from how much you were yelling you were on business. No one would stick to their guns that much if they were here for some other reason."

"Well, I'm sorry you're having to sneak me in," she said as they passed through the doorway. "And I'm Madge. Undersee. District 12 Times."

Gale stopped when he found a place for the additional amp and extended his right arm to shake, "Nice to meet you Madge Undersee."


She's been inside hundreds of concert venues before, but the music is very different to what she would consider her usual tastes. Madge followed Gale to the green room where the members of his band were lazing around. They got up to greet him and suddenly she felt more out of place than she had done walking in to see the sheer number of guitars and technical equipment. She was used to symphonies, elegant string instruments and the gentle sound of piano keys. This was like a whole different world.

As Gale went to sit down, Madge suddenly felt all eyes drift to her. She cleared her throat and held up her District 12 Times badge, "I'm Madge Undersee. I, uh, I write in the entertainment section in the District 12 Times. Someone should have told you I was coming - they're running a big piece on you and your success."

An older man stands and goes to shake her hand, "They told me. I'm Haymitch, this sorry lot's mentor. Pleasure to meet you."

"You too," she returns with a smile, her eyes subtly flicking across to Gale. Being the only one of them she'd actually conversed with, he seemed like a safe place to look.

There's a silence before Gale stands to find himself some water. Madge tracks him for a few steps before finding a space to sit down. "Before I start, I need to confess that I don't normally listen to the type of music you play, but I did listen to your album and I really enjoyed it. I'm not here to be a critic or anything. Everyone back home is just really proud of you guys."

"Glad to hear it," Gale pipes up, and Madge suddenly realises she's sat in the spot next to where he had previously sat.

Madge again felt a smile grow across her features and her cheeks flush ever so slightly. Soon, she calmed herself. She was a professional. No band member was going to ruin that, no matter how handsome and nice he was. Madge quickly dipped into her purse and pulled out a recorder to begin, "So, let's start. How did you all meet?"


By the end of the gig, Madge felt as though she has been awakened. Never before had she truly enjoyed music so different from her normal tastes. Every rhythm and harmony floated into her ear in such a pleasing way, she knew it wasn't going to be difficult to write an article full of praise for the band. The blonde was packing away her notebook into her bag when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked up, finding Gale next to her with a towel over his shoulders.

"Enjoy yourself?" he asked, his smile - his stupid, charming smile - curling up as he noticed the colour of her cheeks.

Madge nodded in response, "You guys are really great. I can't believe I only started listening when I was researching my article."

With a laugh, Gale leant back against the wall, "Glad we've converted you. What's your normal style?"

"Romantic period. String and piano works, mostly," she said, pulling her bag over her shoulder and straightening out her dress a little. She could feel Gale's eyes follow her finger to the hem of her dress, and she felt like she was about to explode at the sheer idea of his eyes on her like that.

"Ah," he began, "so you're a much classier breed than me?" His laugh gave away that he was teasing, but Madge's immediate reaction was to feel awful. "Relax, I listen to loads of different stuff. At least you're opening yourself up to new stuff, right?" he said, his smile once again targeted at the blonde across from him. When she again nodded wordlessly, Gale let a small giggle slip out, "I've got to pack up, but find me at the van once you've finished talking to… whoever."

Madge smiled back at him, "Sure!" As Gale walked away, the young woman let herself focus in on his ass. Just for a second. Before she really got the chance to look up, her view was changed - Gale had turned around.

"By the way," he said, clearing his throat as Madge made eye contact with him, "pretty dress."


At the car park, Madge stood by the van where the members of the crew were putting away the last of the equipment. She looked completely out of place between all the people in black shirts and the groupies with the band's faces on their chests. As the band came back out, they stopped to sign things and Madge quickly whipped out her phone to take a picture. She knew it would be good to show them as humble.

Haymitch nodded in her direction as he came up to the van, "Send me a copy before it goes off to your editor. I think if it comes from me first, their egos won't explode." With that comment, he headed past her to grab himself a seat (and a drink before anyone noticed).

Madge continued to watch on as the band got through the fans. Thom and Bristel breezed past her with a smile before Gale was in her face once again.

"Glad you stuck around," he said with a smile, glancing back to see if their fans had scattered. His breath was warm on her face and Madge blushed ever so slightly at being so close to him. Gale looked down to her notebook and took it with the pen. Before Madge could even protest, he pressed a finger to her lips for a moment. "This is my number… You should call me if you feel like having a drink sometime," he told her, turning the notebook and pen back to her.

"Sure," Madge responded, her lips curling up to a smile. The blonde took a breath and then met Gale's gaze, "I'll text you later?"

Gale smiled and Madge was sure she would melt, "Great." His hand found its way to her cheek and slowly, he dipped down to kiss her. It was short but passionate, just enough to leave them both wanting more.

"That was—"

"Thought I'd give you a preview. So I can guarantee that text later," he said with a smirk, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Plus, every time I've looked at you tonight, I've wanted to do it. My mom says it's best to let your feelings be known."

Madge nodded, "Yeah. Uh… Your mom sounds like a smart woman." Looking around, Madge realised they were blessedly alone. "If we're being honest, I wanted to as well. I'm just not a very bold person at first," she told him, leaning back against the van.

Gale smirked and nodded, "Glad we did this, then." His grey eyes dipped away from Madge at the sound of the horn from the van. He looked back at the woman he had just kissed and smiled, "Better get going. Don't let my ability to kiss affect your article, okay?"

As he walked away, Madge laughed and nodded, her notebook clutched to her chest. The blonde grinned as the van started off, herself heading back to her car. Her smile got much wider as she walked across the lot, just thinking back to what she had done. She wasn't celebrity obsessed, but she just kissed someone famous - or rather, someone famous kissed her.


Once home, Madge took the number from her notebook and saved it on her phone.

'Your kissing skills have left an impression on me, so I think my article is going to be a bit biased x - Madge'

'Glad to hear it ;) Would dinner ruin your article completely? - Gale'

'I think I could overcome it… x'

'Friday at 7?'

'Sounds great! x'