A/N: Without further ado. OneShot. Title brought to you from Relient K


"I'm a little more than useless

And when I think that I can't do this

You promise me that I'll get through this

And do something right

Do something right for once"


I always dread the walk from my house to the square that surrounds the Justice Building.

It isn't much of a far walk from town, but it's long enough for my thoughts to wander. Long enough for me to feel horribly about how much living in this damned district sucks. Especially on reaping day.

I'm sure I sound unappreciative. After all, I am the Mayor's daughter; Poised and perfectly manicured thanks to the Capitol's officials that visit me every other weekend. But even for someone like me who's supposed to have it all, this place is a nightmare.

I step out onto the front porch and catch Peeta Mellark shutting his front door.

"Peeta," I let out a sigh of relief and run over to meet him.

When he looks up from what he's doing, his face takes on a light smile and he waves back at me.

"Morning, Madge." He says.

Peeta Mellark. The baker's son, and my best friend since before I could remember. From what I've heard, his Dad and my Mom were friends at one point. If that's true, I'm not sure she would even recall it. She tries not to remember much. Memories trigger her anxiety.

"Pretty dress!" He says bearing a dorky grin and pulling me into his arms.

"So I've been told," I chuckle. "Thank you."

We continue walking in silence until Peeta speaks up.

"Did something happen, Madge?"

"No, really its okay," I laugh "It's just the reaping and.." I let my voice trail off in hopes that he'll drop it and ask me something different, but he doesn't.

"And what!"

"Well it's just.." I look up and he's looking at me with expectant eyes. "It's just that Katniss and Gale came to make a delivery today, and Gale got on my case about how many entries I have. I don't know why he hates me so much. I guess it just gets to me sometimes."

"He always does that to you, huh?" Peeta says with his eyebrows in a knot. "If I didn't know any better I'd say he likes you."

"You're straight crazy if you think Gale Hawthorne has a crush on me," I snort, "If you ever get the chance to talk to Katniss again would you be mean to her?"

"That's different, Madge." Peeta sneers, "Maybe you should try talking things out. Who knows what could happen?"


It's been two days since Katniss and Peeta left on the train and so far, I've managed to skip both days of school without Peacekeepers coming for me. What's even more surprising though, is the fact that my Father hasn't said anything about it.

I'll admit that I'm scared. I'm lonely already without Peeta, even though he was only just my friend. As selfish as it sounds, I'm hoping that he'll come home just so that I'll have someone that will wrap their arms around me again and tell me things will be okay, even if it clearly isn't. I feel my stomach grumble when I realize that I'm already mourning him and he's not even gone. I feel even more sick when I acknowledge the fact that I know what his plan is. He's going to do everything in his power to bring Katniss back home. No matter what it costs him.

Ultimately, I respect him for loving her. Mostly because love is something we've never had the privilege of truly understanding. Neither of our parents are in love; his never speak and mine are both so thoroughly addicted to drugs I'm not sure they remember the other's name sometimes. It's interesting, really. We've never seen it close. It isn't tangible. It can't be achieved, or seen. So how are people like us supposed to believe in it? How can anyone believe in anything that's beautiful and good? How can something so flawless exist when there's so much evil around us?

Peeta is either the strongest or dumbest person I've ever met, and I haven't decided which one it is yet.

Suddenly, a knock on the back door pulls me out of my trans. I limp towards it and fumble with the lock for a moment before pulling it open and revealing a familiar face.

"Undersee," Gale mumbles. There are heavy purple bags under his eyes that tell me he hasn't slept since Katniss left on the train. He's probably been in the woods, considering his nice shirt is stained with dirt and grass stains. There may even be a few leaves stuck in his hair.

"What are you doing here?" I ask quietly, not wanting to make him upset but keeping up with our usual tone at the same time.

"It's Wednesday. Wednesday is delivery day. Don't you want your damn berries, Princess?" Gale thrusts forward a small container of the red berries my Father pays for me to have each week.

"I wasn't expecting you to come this week, though. Figured you'd have... obligations."

"I got nowhere to be, Undersee." Gale says in his same monotonous tone. "Nowhere to be, no one to see. Just you about these berries."

I nod and choke back the lump in my throat before wordlessly turning around to reach into the dish on the kitchen table. I grab a handful of coins without counting them and toss them at him before he can protest and slam the door in his face.

I'll never let Gale Hawthorne see me cry.


I let my fingers dance over the keys until I have nothing to think about anymore. Not Peeta. Not Katniss. Not Gale's little sister running through the schoolyard in the shiny new shoes she got. Nothing.

The second I finish my piece, there's a knock on the door.

I float to the door and I'm met by a familiar face.

"You're early," I say, turning to reach into the glass bowl again for compensation.

"No, no." Gale says, "No berries today."

"Well why are you here then?"

"You like to ask that question, don't you?" Gale frowns.

"Only when I get an answer." I say, crossing my arms. "Why are you here?"

"I was in the neighborhood, Undersee. I heard the piano." Gale retorts, sinking his hands in his pockets. "Was that you?"

I nod my head slowly and lean up against the side of the door.

"Well it was nice," Gale says. "You're good at that."


"Last night during the games, our female tribute Katniss Everdeen was stung by tracker jackers and is now in what seems like a coma due to her injuries. Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from our district, is currently allied with the tributes from districts one and two. If anyone is interested in donating to their benefit fund, please go to the Justice Building before curfew..."

The schools announcements click off and the first bell rings. It's been a few days since the games have started, and with Katniss and Peeta as the star crossed lovers there have been tons of interviews and questions from the Capitol officials that work with my Dad. I walk up to my locker and catch the end of the conversation a group of older boys are having.

"...she'll be dead by tomorrow anyway. Then we can finally get her out of this district for good."

I don't have to ask anything to know what they're talking about. Katniss.

"Excuse me?" I interject, "I couldn't help but overhear you talking about the games."

"Yeah," the boy says, "You must agree, right? Damn Seam kids breaking rules.. Gonna get us killed one day."

"Seam kid?" I choke, "She has a name you know. It's Katniss. She's my friend."

The boys laugh at me and the one who was talking takes a step closer.

"Like I care what her name is," He laughs, "You heard what I said, she'll be dead by tomorrow."

He turns to his laughing friends for approval at the same time I turn away choking back a sob. Just before I turn the corner, I hear a slam. When I look over my shoulder I notice someone in a gray hoodie has him pinned against a locker.

"What did you just say?" I study the boy's stature. His shoes. His voice. But I can't think of who any of it belongs to.

"I didn't even mean it!" The kid stutters, "I-I like Katniss! I do!"

"If I hear you say anything else about her," the boy says, "Anything. I'll make sure a bullet gets put through your head and nobody will ever know what happened. You understand?"

"I understand! I understand! Just let me go!"

"It's not that easy, kid. I'll let you go when you come with me to the Justice Building and donate a years worth of tessare to her fund." he barks.

"Oh, come on! That's so unfair Gale!"

Gale. I should've known.

"Not unfair at all," he says, "It's a small price to pay for talking like that about Katniss and making Madge upset. Matter fact, let's make it two years."

I stifle a smile as I turn down the corridor that leads to my class.


The dirt from the schoolyard always ends up caked on my shoes. My maid always complains, but it's never stopped me from walking through the Seam to get home. Sure, it's ten minutes out of the way, but that's ten minutes to get my mind off of how horrible things are.

I take my time, walking slow enough to kick a pebble continuously in the same direction. Each time I kick it, I think of something sad, depressing, or horrible. Each time I let go of it.

The boys at my locker today. Kick.

Prim and Peeta getting reaped. Kick.

Katniss volunteering. Kick.

The games in general. Kick.

As my eyes search the ground for the rock again, my eyes are met by a pair of brown boots.

"This isn't the way to town Undersee." I don't even have to look up to figure out who the boots belong to.

"I always walk this way, Hawthorne." I say sarcastically, pushing my index finger into his chest and walking past him.

"Me too," He says, jogging up beside me. "But I don't usually see you."

"Well you're early then,"

"Or you're late,"

"Never." I snap.

Gale lets out a light laugh and sinks his hands into his front pockets. It's weird to see him smiling right now, or just being anything that seems like it. I'm sure he wants to talk about what happened today, but instead we walk in an awkward silence keeping our eyes locked on a point ten feet ahead of us until we reach the roads that separates us.

"So thanks for today," I choke out as we reach the crossroad. "It was nice of you to.. do that."

"Yeah, kid was scared out of his wits wasn't he," Gale laughs, throwing his hand back into his hair.

I giggle along when I see the smile break out on Gale's face. It doesn't seem forced, or sad. It seems more . . . genuine. True. Perfect.

"He won't open his mouth again," He reassures me, "he nearly cried when we walked to the Justice Building."

"I would've too." I say matter of factly, "I hate being inside there. It makes me think of The Games."

There's a long pause before Gale opens his mouth to answer.

"I know," He sighs, "She's gonna be okay though. I know it. No matter what anyone else thinks." He stops and takes a deep breath as if stifling a cry.

"She's strong," I add, "You and I know that better than anyone. And her sponsors must know, they've been helping a lot."

I stop to take a breath and notice he's staring off into the open space. I always knew how much he cared about Katniss, it has even been rumored that they were going to be married once she's out of reaping age; but I never would've expected this. This broken hearted boy listening to anyone's advice who'll give it to him. Even someone that he hates. Someone from town, like me.

"Gale if anyone's gonna come out, it's her. There's only eight left. She can beat everyone she's up against if it came down to it."

"Not Mellark," He croaks. "She's a hunter, but she'd never take him out. Especially after what he said during the interviews. She always says she has a soft spot for him."

Peeta. How could I have forgotten? One of my closest friends, and I forgot about him coming home. I'll entertain the idea that Katniss has a crush on Peeta, even though I'm sure if it came down to the two of them, he'd want it to be her. I have seen the way she catches eyes with Peeta in the hallway. I've listened to everything he's told me, and I know he isn't completely crazy.

"I don't think he was lying, either." I say, "He's my friend, you know."

"And he's mentioned her?"

"Briefly."

"That's unfortunate," Gale says.

"Yeah, the odds weren't ever really in our favor, I guess."

The blow of the mine whistle pulls us out of conversation.

"Well, I'm late so I've got to get home," I say, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear. "My Father will be waiting."

"It's fine," Gale says, "I'll see you."

"See you." I say, turning my back on the coal covered boy.

But before I'm far enough away, he shouts my name.

"Hey Madge?" he calls.

I spin on my heel to face him and he jogs to catch up to me again.

"Can we talk every day?" he says nervously. "About Katniss, of course."

"Of course," I laugh, "For Katniss."