I shake my head. My silly 14 year old crushes can't be coming back, not now. There's too much going on. Besides, that's not why I thought of him, it's because he's Katniss's friend. Right?
I glance at the clock, a bit shocked at how late it is.
I lay down, and can't seem to fall asleep. My thoughts spin around in my head, letting me wonder what's happened to Katniss and Peeta.
I can't allow myself to watch the games.
Katniss.
Peeta.
Gale.
Rebellion.
I can't let my thoughts wander like this. I sit up, and pace around my room at 1:00 am. I head down the stairs.
I smile slightly as I see the grand piano in our living room. I press the keys lightly, and sit down, playing 'Kiss the rain', humming the tune softly.
My Mother stumbles down the stairs. I stand up and rush over to help her. "Mother! What are you doing?" I help her down the stairs and sit her on the couch beside me. "Couldn't sleep...need more morphine.." She whispers, and I nod quickly. "Ok..don't move" I run into our kitchen, trying to remember where the morphine is.
I dig through several cabinets before pulling it out and giving it to her. She smiles weakly, and I help her back up the stairs into her room.
I lay her down in her bed, and with the morphine she's out quickly. I sigh and head up to my room. I should fall asleep...but I can't. My thoughts begin to wonder again, and I groan when the topic of 'Gale' comes up again.
At about 3:00 am I fall asleep, tiredness overcoming me.
I slip out of my sleepy state at around 11. I yawn and sit up, walking down the stairs to see my Father's friend leaving. It's the same friend he talked to about rebellion. His name is John...he has a daughter who's ten. I freeze in place.
"Another minor. They seem to be getting even more violent, wanting it more".
"At least 5 killed this week.."
"I think they're starting to suspect us.."
"No, you're right. Goodbye, John"
My heartbeat speeds up. They're starting to suspect us? Five minor's killed this week?
I shake my head and start to walk down the stairs, deciding since he left, they won't suspect me. My Father smiles slightly. I smile half-heartedly back, and he sighs. "Madge, you should really get out of the house. Go have fun with your friends"
I frown and he realizes his mistake. Friends. Katniss was my only real friend...I mean, of all the people from the town, Peeta wasn't half bad. I just never knew him that well. None of the 'town kids' really liked me, because I never made fun of the kids in the Seam. The kids from the Seam never liked me because I was from the Town. See my problem?
"Oh...sorry. Just...get out of the house, Madge. You shouldn't be cooped up in here all day"
I sigh and walk back up to my room, changing my clothes and brushing my hair. I walk back down the steps, and my Father grins, "Have fun". He practically pushes me out the door.
Where am I going to go?
I look around, and realize the only person I know of that could be having just as hard of a time (and maybe harder) as me, is Gale.
I start to walk through the Seam, and then I realize I don't know where he lives, either. I turn to the first person I see in one of the market shops.
"Excuse me, do you know where the Hawthornes live?" I ask her, and she sends me a glare, obviously noticing I'm not from the Seam. "Why? Are you a friend of theirs, Miss Undersee?" She spits out my last name as if its a curse word and I nod. "Actually...yes. Now can you just tell me where the Hawthornes live?" She scoffs at my answer. "Like I'll believe that" "No, I'm serious, please just-" She cuts me off. "No".
I frown. "Why not? Can't you just-" "No".
A boy taps me on the shoulder and I turn around. I look at him. He resembles Gale quite a bit, and is my height. "Yes?" I ask him and he looks at me. "You're looking for the Hawthornes?" I nod. "I'm Rory Hawthorne. Gale's brother" He holds out his hand and I shake it. Isn't he only a year older than Prim? "Nice to meet you... Is Gale around?" I ask him and he checks his watch. "Not now, he gets home from the mines at 7:30. He'll be back in 30 minutes. Do you want to come back with me? We can wait for him there" He looks at me and I glance towards the mines, and then back at him. "Sure" I nod, and he starts to walk through the Seam. I follow him.
"So what'd you say your name was?" He turns to me, and I answer "It's Madge...Madge Undersee"
His eyes go wide on Undersee. "The...The Mayor's daughter?"
"Yeah" I look at him and he looks surprised. "Why are you in the Seam?" He opens the dorr to a small, cozy house near the Everdeen's old house. "Looking for Gale" He sits on a couch nearby and I just stand by the door awkwardly.
His Mother walks in the door a few minutes later, carrying the largest load of laundry I've ever seen. "Oh, goodness, let me help you" I take a bundle of clothes off the top and she looks at me. "Madge, what are you doing here?" She takes the clothes back, and I look at her. "I was looking for Gale...he should be home soon" She gives me a bit of a surprised nod, and then turns to the bucket of water, dunking and scrubbing the clothing. "Do you need help?" My eyes glance at the rather large pile of clothing next to her, and she shakes her head. "Are you sure?" I ask her again, as Gale walks in the door, stopping in his tracks when he sees me.
He stares at me, and then gruffly says "What do you want?"
I look at him, his grey eyes showing no expression. "To talk to you" He gives me a weird look, at then gestures towards a back door. "Make it quick" He walks out on the back porch, and I follow him.
