*Author note- So here's chapter two. I hope you guys like it :) I'm floored with how many people have read my first chapter so yet again thank you guys, you are the best! Sorry again if I didn't correct al my errors. With further adieu, I hope you enjoy it :) -007twihunger
Chapter Two: The Reaping Part Two.
I can't help but stare out over the crowd of people who have never liked me and it hurts seeing all the relieved faces but that doesn't mean I don't see a few sad faces as well, but those faces belong to the very few people who know me. The annoying airy yet shrill laugh from Effie who I find already looking at me, "pardon?" my hushed voice pulls, my eyes sweep from Effie's overly ecstatic face then to my dad who is sitting numbly just staring at me with such sorrowed you'd already think I was dead. My heart constricts painfully in my chest thinking about how maybe my own father has given up on me. My eyes swiftly move on to look at godfather who is just staring at me drunkenly like maybe he thinks this is happening all inside his head "its not! I'm going into the games and I'm going to die." I want to scream at him then follow up by pleading him to keep me safe because I don't want to die, but then who really does. Effie clears her throat a little too close to the microphone which makes me flinch away slightly before glancing at her once more "I said, I bet my button's that you're the mayors daughter, aren't you?" Effie says with a megawatts smile. I finally take in her outfit and see that there are in fact a lot of buttons, not only on Effie's fuchsia dress but her matching blazer that goes over it. Then my eyes come on her crazy too high, high heels which have there own assortment of buttons and zippers to them which has me holding back a smile and laugh but that doesn't last too long because I quickly remember her question and blush out of embarrassment before plastering on my smile as bright and as real as I can make it look without over doing it.
"Yes ma'am, I am" I reply making sure that my voice doesn't waver or sound weak. "Well I bet he must be very proud to have his very own daughter in the games, come on everybody! Lets give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" Effie thrills clapping her hands wildly as her seeming excited fuchsia eyes rank over the large crowd in the town square, waiting for anyone to clap but to my surprise no one claps. Not even the ones holding betting slips. I know they must be in shock hell I know I am. They probably no doubt thought that there was no way for the small rich mayors daughter to get picked, but here I am, the female tribute from district twelve for the hunger games. I'm going to die on live television and all these people who are now looking at me will see me die while there lives go on, well until next reaping when yet again two more children will get sent off to die.
I can't help but grit my jaw as I take in the assortment of different expressions that are filtered through out the square. Some people are actually looking more happy then I know they should since they don't know me, but just what they imagine of me and I know that is mostly … okay, always bad. Others look a mixture of shocked, regretful, and relieved while I stand here numb and keep spacing out inside my own head "huh, maybe I'm already going crazy" I think biting at my bottom lip as Effie's heels click against the wood of the stage with each step she takes to the boys bowl "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" I watch as her hand dips into the large bowl that contains five slips with Peeta's name on it, six slips with Rye's name on it, seven slips with Bannock's name on it, and god only knows how may of Gale Hawthorne's name shows up in that bowl. "Please not the Mellark's or Gale" I think on repeat holding my breath as Effie makes her way back to the podium which I still stand near without thinking I quickly step up to the microphone knowing I need to somehow even from the start look like a contestants so I will possibly have sponsors. With a quick lick of my lips I get out "I'm going to make my father and district proud" in a determined voice. Its quite surprising how strong and steady my voice is since on the inside I'm quivering in fear.
Every one just stares at me and I know a few of them probably now think I'm crazy and no doubt the first one that will die. My eyes meet with gray eyes. The same gray eyes that usually hold so much hate are filled with confusion, regret, and pity that I quickly avert his eyes and find both Katniss and Delly who are obviously in shock that someone they know well is going to be slaughtered as they watch. I don't have time to search for the three boys I grew up with because two things happen all at once. The first being Haymitch storms over to me, knocking his chair over as he does. The second is he drunkenly slams into Effie sending her and himself to the ground, causing her cotton candy pink wig to become askew on top of her head. I can't help but laugh lightly, biting on my lip so no one will hear. My laugh quickly is dowsed with reality as Haymitch gets to his feet then looks at me like he some times does, like I'm his dead district partner. Between him and my mother I'm surprised I don't go around acting as if I am Maysilee instead of Madge.
Before I know it and rather quickly I might add, Haymitch makes his way towards me and the podium. "Please not today" I think on repeat as he continues to make his way towards me, not deterring his drunken stride. Haymitch takes a look at me then turns to look straight ahead at the crowd before us, "look at her. Look at this one!" he hollers, throwing his arm around my shoulders then pulling me close to him. I try not to scrunch my nose from the intense smell of alcohol that comes off Haymitch in waves. If I didn't know Haymitch like I do I think I would be very surprised with how strong he is for such a train wreck. "I like her!" his breath reeks of liquor and it smells as if its been a long time since he's bathed. "She's go lots of..." He can't think of the word for a while. "Spark!" he says triumphantly. "More than you!" he releases me and starts for the front of the stage. "More than you!" he shouts pointing directly into the camera.
I'm not too sure if he's addressing the audience or if he's so drunk he might actually be taunting the Capital. I'll never know because just as he's opening his mouth to continue, he plummets off the stage and knocks himself unconscious. "And the award for best godfather is?" I sarcastically think staring at his still form. He might be disgusting at times and a drunk but I'm grateful for him. Not just because he looks after me and talks to me when I have no one to, but he's effortlessly gotten every camera trained on him, I have just enough time to release a small shaky breath before composing myself and placing my hands down at my sides as stare off into the distance, wishing more than anything that I could just disappear out into those woods like Gale and Katniss but know I'll never get the chance now that I'm going into the games.
Haymitch is whisked away on a stretcher, and Effie Trinket is trying to get the ball rolling again. "What an exciting day!" she squeals with delight but I can tell she's still upset over Haymitch bulldozing her down. "Umm Effie" I whisper causing her to glance at me, giving me a pleasant smile. I as discreetly as I can motion towards her wig which is completely slouching to one side. With a comical look of mortification Effie straightens her wig then smiles brightly as she holds the small white slip, which will have the district twelve's male tribute. "But more excitement to come! Its time to see which lucky young man gets the honor to represent twelve besides Margaret here" Effie says gesturing slight towards me as she tries to move as little as possible, probably so her wig won't fall off. I want to tell her that I like being called Madge but I can't, my voice is stuck in my throat and all that is going through my head I please don't be any of my friends … or even the very rude and brooding Gale Hawthorne.
The crowd draws in a collective breath and I swear you could hear a pin drop. Effie unfolds the slip of paper in her hands and smiles down at it before calling out the name. "Rory Hawthorne." For a minute I'm so relieved it isn't Peeta, Rye, Bran, or even Gale but then I process the name through my head and feel physically ill. Rory Hawthorne is just a small gangly twelve year old boy who just so happens to be Gale's little brother. I watch with wide eyes and a slack jaw as I watch every one around Rory move back from him, making a opening that leads straight towards thee stage "I'm going to die trying to save him" I the first thing I think as I watch the obviously frightened boy with only one slip to his name, walk towards the stage. The odds aren't in either of our favors. Because Rory is moving too slow for the two Peacekeepers at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the stage, they each grab one of Rory's forearms forcefully an start pulling him faster towards the stage. That one thing seems to have a domino effect. First the air is filled with a very loud and strangled cry of a small girl, who I spot in Hazel Hawthorne's arms. They both look on the verge of tears but the small dark haired girl in her arms can't possibly know what is about to happen to her older brother since she's only five. Second Rory seems to grasp what is happening and his eyes look around as if some help will magically show up. And the third and the fourth thing happen at once, I move forwards absentmindedly as the two Peacekeepers rather roughly shove Rory onto the stage. He stumbles slightly then freezes up but that doesn't stop me form pulling the small frightened boy into a hug. He just tenses at first then I feel what feels like tears start to absorb into the shoulder area of my dress as Rory clutches to me tightly as his breathing starts to become erratic. "Your going to be fine I promise" I breath lowly for only him to hear. I don't know if I'm lying to both Rory and myself or if maybe in some way I'll be able to save this small boy and send him home to spend the rest of his life in the lavish reward you get after winning the games.
"Rory!" we both hear being shouted out from the crowd in front of us and my chest constricts as my eyes lock on the tall frame of Gale Hawthorne who is now wildly making his way to the stage with an almost vicious look on his handsome face. I know what he's about to do and if I was in his place I would volunteer for my little sibling as well but that doesn't stop me from fearing him killing me. How comical would that be? To die by the guy you hopelessly like and maybe even love.
This is something district twelve hasn't had in a long time, a volunteer. The rule is that once a tributes name has been pulled from the ball, another eligible boy can volunteer and the same goes for the girls. You would take there place in the games. In some districts its an honor to go into the games, people are so eager that I've actually seen a few of them in past reaping get into physical fights for who gets to be the tributes for their district. But in district twelve, where the word tribute is pretty much the same as corpse. Volunteers from here are all but extinct … besides Gale Hawthorne.
"Lovely!" says Effie Trinket. "But I believe there's a small matter in introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, um…" she trails off, unsure herself as she glances back at my father for some guidance of what to do. My fathers gaze on me doesn't waver but I can't look at him as he looks at me like it's the last time he'll see me alive, but maybe it will be. "What does it matter?" my father says. He's looking at me with a pained expression on his face. He doesn't look at me like I'm the quiet sixteen year old I am, but instead the small precocious and too overly curious child I use to be. "What does it matter?" he repeats gruffly. "Let him come forward." I can feel Rory start to shake and start crying more, no doubt over the fact his older brother is going to be taking his place for him in the games. He mumbles what sounds like a repeat of "no" as his fingers grip me tighter. I can see Gale bounding up the steps towards us so immediately pull back from Rory, who looks at me with bleary tear rimmed eyes that are slightly red. I smile at him then look up into his gray eyes that look so much more kinder than his older brothers. "Your so tall" I find myself whispering, causing Rory to chuckle watery from my random statement, with my hands on his shoulders holding him at arms length I make sure he's staring into my eyes before I say "Rory go find your mom, okay. Gale's going to be fine. He's going to be home before you know it" is all I can get out before Gale pulls Rory from me as he pins me with an icy glare "go find mom now Rory" Gale grits out as he pushes his younger brother towards the stage steps. Gale stands next to me like how I wish I could myself stand. Tall, strong, determined, and angry while I know I probably come off as a small scared girl from town who has the pretty, expensive dresses and nice ribbons to tie into my blond hair. I vaguely hear Effie ask Gale if Rory was his brother which he grits out a "yes" before refusing to speak. "Well bravo!" gushes Effie. "That's the spirit of the games!" she adds on with a wide smile. Effie tries once more to get an applause, but this time for Gale, but like everyone did for me no one claps but instead something else entirely happens. One by one I see the people of district twelve start kissing there three middle fingers of their left hands and hold them out to Gale. It is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love.
I don't pay any attention to when my father begins reading the long and very dull Treaty of Treasons, and before I know it he's motioning to Gale and I to shake hands. His hands are solid, calloused, and warm. Gale looks me right in the eye and gives my hand what I hope to be a reassuring squeeze. Maybe it was just a spasm. We turn back to face the crowd as the anthem of Panem plays. I sneak a peek at Gale taking in his sullen expression and making a small prayer that one of the other twenty-two tributes kills me instead of him. But then again the odds haven't been in my favor for a while now.
The moment the anthem ends, we are taken into custody. Its not like they handcuff us but they might as well since they circle around Gale and I then march us through the front door of the Justice Building. Maybe in the past tributes tried to escape. I've never seen that happen though. Once inside, I'm herded to a room and left alone. It's a rich looking room like one of the ones in my house, with thick, soft carpets, and velvety furniture. When I take a seat on the couch I can't help but run my fingers over the fabric of it, like I do at home. It helps to calm me as well as get my thoughts together and come up with whatever game pane is needed. Usually that would be how to entertain the Capital guest when they visit or on occasion how to keep the grotesque slimy Capital men from trying to sneak into my bedroom at night. I try to prepare myself for the hour I get to say goodbye to my loved ones. I know I'll be sitting here for a large part of it alone since I don't have too many friend or family. I know my mother won't come and I'm starting to think Katniss won't either since Gale is more her friend than I ever will be. They have years of hunting together while I only have from seventh to eleventh grade of sitting next to Katniss quietly eating our lunches or partnering up with her because no one else wants to work with us. It hurts thinking about how so swiftly my friendship with her has vanished and all because she has to pick which friend she cares about more and wants to come home. "Maybe she will come though," I think as I start worrying my bottom lip. I can't afford to get upset and cry because when I leave this room every one would know how weak I am from the puffy red rimmed eyes that comes with crying. There will be even more cameras at the train station when we are seen off.
My first visitor is of course my father. I immediately get up from the couch then throw myself into his arms and or a minute we say nothing, just cling to each other tightly knowing this might be the last time we see each other in living breathing person. Then I pull back from him because if I continue to let my father hug me like he is I'm going to break and cry. I lick my lips and nod absentmindedly to myself before I start spouting off things that he needs to do, since I'm not going to be around to do it. My father isn't under any circumstances allowed to let my mother watch anything to do with the games, he needs to keep buying strawberries from Katniss and make sure to still pay Gale's part since he won't be able to take care of his family from the games. Maybe invite the Hawthorne's over for a dinner or two to watching the tribute parade and maybe even the interviews the day before the actual games begin. Give all my dresses to Posy Hawthorne along with my hair ribbons and give the dresses that are too big for her to Primrose Everdeen along with a few ribbons as well. Give my drawling and painting supplies to Peeta because god knows his mother won't buy him any. Give my books to Darius and split my small collection of games between Rye and Bannock. "And when Gale gets home give him…" I trial off seeing the looks of a parent devastated of the loss of their child shining in his eyes which makes my throat thick with emotion since it sounds like I've already given up.
I stare at my shoes for a second before looking back up my father "I'm not giving up … just getting rid of things I don't need right now." I try to say but I know that's not that better than what I was doing before hand so I give my dad a smile before saying "I'm going to fight as hard as I can to come back … but …. But if it comes down to Gale and me … I'm not going to kill him. "I would rather die" I think as I watch the strong man I've known all my life tear up. He grabs my shoulders and holds me at arms length away as he looks at me until he's sure he has my full attention, "I'll do all that if you promise me two things" he bargains, looking from one of my eyes to the other. I nod once in agreement then wait for him to continue, which he does after a small beat. "You fight your damn ass out there and if it comes to…" He trails off, his eyes closing with the thought of my death most likely flashing in his head. "If it comes to the worst you have to promise me you will find a peaceful way to get out. You stay away from any one from district one, two, three, four, and eight you hear me. there are worst things in that damn arena than getting done in by someone or even one of the mutts" he tries to convey with all his power and I feel sick think he means raping or something to that extent but when he says "a pretty girl like yourself won't just get killed off like the rest, they'll get what they can from you then kill you off slowly." I know my thoughts of rape are possible and it has my skin crawling with disgust. Its not enough that I have to out last twenty-three other people trying to kill me but now I find out that I have to stop some disgusting savage career from one of the favorited districts.
My father pulls me in for another hug but before too long the door to the room is pulled open and a Peacekeeper steps in and awkwardly tells my father his times up as he looks every where but at us. For a minute I can tell my father is going to object and state that he's the mayor and deserves more time with me but I quickly cut in and remind him that he can't hog all my time since I have a few other people waiting to visit which makes him nod then give me one last hug and kiss before he walks out of the room with the Peacekeeper. I already know in my heart that I can't win the games, and probably so does everyone else. The competition will be far beyond my ability to play the piano. Kids from wealthier districts, where winning is a huge honor, who've been training their who lives for this. Boys who are two or three times my size. Girls who are capable of killing me twenty different ways with a knife, not caring that I'm a person like them. I know there are going to be weak people like myself going into the games as well but we'll be the warmup killing. They'll weed us out before start taking down each other until there is one lone victor. And I can't help but hoe that one victor will be Gale since his family need him and so does Katniss.
I sit back down on the couch lost in my own thought, that I don't hear or even see the door open and someone walk in until I'm being hugged tightly in strong arms with the scent of apples wafting into my nose. I smile into the crook of Peeta's neck hugging him just as tight he hugs me. "You can do this Madgie I know you can" Peeta says, his voice heavy with sadness as he tightens his grip on me. I feel numb and I guess that maybe that's a good thing since at least I'm not crying yet. I let Peeta mumble on about how I'm smart enough and how I'm a fast learner of things, not because I need to hear him but because I know he needs to say them. I'm surprised when Peeta pulls back from me then gives me a very un-Peeta venomous glare, the kind I'm use to getting from Gale and not my best friend. Dark stormy blue eyes search my much lighter eyes as he straightens out my golden pin on my dress before once again looking at me, "don't you fucking give up already okay! You can't do that to me. You have to fight Madge, don't just lay down and die. You have to at least try, if you at least try then I won't be mad at you if you … Here's what you need to Madge, you need to get lot and lots of sponsors. You know how they work you've been around them enough to know how to act, and you one hell of a talker Madgie. Almost as persuasive as me, use that too. Then when you train, you train hard. You learn as much as you can" Peeta puts forth not deterring his intense gaze.
I look down and shake my head, unable to remove the frown that takes place on my face. "What about Gale? Do I kill him or wait for someone else to do it? I couldn't live with myself if I did anything to hurt him. He has a family and a life to come back to Peter rabbit and I don't. My dads never around, he's always at the Justice Building and my mom … my mom is barely staying alive as it is and she doesn't even know who I am Peeta. I have nothing here. I love you and you know I'll at least try, I'm not one to go down without a fight … I'm just not sure how long that fight will keep me alive in the games. You'll be fine, I promise. You'll forget about me enough to move on plus you have a ton of friends at school Pete." I get out in a rush, staring over his shoulder at the door so I won't have to see the hurt and deceit that I know are in his eyes. "You have to promise you'll talk to Katniss and let her know how you feel, if not for you then for me … please." Peeta clenches his jaw then steps back from me "don't" he breaths looking at me with watery eyes before giving up on trying to talk me into changing my mind since we both know he would be the same if he were in my position with Katniss.
Peeta and I spend the last few minutes of our visiting time dancing together while Peeta hums lowly, just like we use to do when we were little. Before we grew up and had no time to enjoy the little things like that instead having to take on more duties than we should have to. When a Peacekeeper comes to get Peeta we don't say anything at all just stare at each other for a second before Peeta ducks down and kisses my cheek then whispers quietly into my ear "Katniss may always hold my heart but Madge, you hold the very thing that is me." Then he leaves. I don't make it back over to the couch before the door is being opened and in rushes Rye, Bannock, and Mr. Mellark. All of who are wearing sorrowful expressions. Rye's the first to rush to me and pull me into a bone crunching hug not even pretending like he isn't crying, "I was going to ask you marry me at the Harvest festival this year" Rye say pulling back to stare at me. His confession is both heartwarming and frightening. Heartwarming because I've never had anyone like me like Rye has and that he chose me out of all the girls in the district who try to get his attention. Frightening because I'm just sixteen and I don't want to be thinking about marriage until I'm out of high school, not that it matters now though. "I would have said yes" I reply with a small sad smile, I'm not to sure if what I'm saying is true or if I'm just saying it for him but the large watery smile that breaks across his face makes me glad I said it.
"Don't hog her Rye" Ban says teasingly making me smile at him, he always tries to make any situation better even with how bad the can some times be. Rye chuckles watery before giving me a chaste kiss that makes us both blush from his father and brothers gaze before he wipes his eyes on his shirts sleeve then steps back from me so his brother can give me a hug. "You worry about you and I'll make sure to keep my two knuckle head brothers in place. You can win Madgie if you just try" Ban whispers to me before pulling back and giving me a warm smile. I look over to Mr. Mellark and give him a small smile that he returns before pulling me into a hug. Mr. Mellark is a quiet man who rarely speaks but when he does its always with such inspirational and much needed words of wisdom so when he tells me "the game starts when you walk out of this room" I'm immediately all ears waiting for whatever he has to tell me. "You're a fighter just like your aunt May was and if I was a betting man I would put money on you making it to the end … but that is if you believe in yourself enough to get there" I nod my head vigorously "I'll make sure to keep an eye on your old man while your away sweetheart" he says with glossy eyes and I know its because he looks at me like I'm one of his kids even if its not by blood so it comes to no surprise to me when he breaths "you do hat you need to in there, just know we know that its different in there and that no matter what you will still be the same old Madge to us." Before Peeta's brothers and father are ushered out of the room, Rye quickly unclasps his necklace then places it around my neck before giving me one last look over, like I might disappear. And we have no idea in the least if I will during these games. I could very well die.
Delly comes to visit next. She's a crying mess and I find myself comforting her instead of her comforting me but I'm use to being the more nurturing one of us, while Delly's the energetic girly girl. Next is a large surprise. I stand frozen watching Gale's family walk into my room, I feel as if maybe I should tell them that Gale's room is next door but I can see the tear tracks on their faces so I stay quiet, waiting for one of them to voice why they are here but before anyone can say anything Rory bounds over to me in three long strides before pulling me into his arms. And unlike the last time I hugged him, he's the one comforting me and I can't help but tremble slightly as a shaky breath falls from my lips "I made Gale promise not to kill you" Rory voices after we break apart from our hug. I let out a unusual genuine laugh that makes them look at me like I'm crazy but I can't help it. Knowing that Gale's younger brother made him promise not to kill a girl e despises. "We'll see if he keeps his promise" I think then instantly feel guilty even though no one but myself knows what I just thought. "She's so pretty mama. Is she going on an adventure with Gale?" Posy chirps excitedly while struggling to get out of her mothers arms until Hazel gives up on trying to contain her and places her on to the ground, where she wastes no time at all before running up to me and hugging my leg, giving me a large toothy smile. "I was sad that Gale is going away but he said he would bring me back lots of presents" gush the five year old who is still blissfully unaware that her brother isn't going away for an adventure or even a vacation but to some arena to fight for his life against twenty-three other kids, myself included.
"Posy let go of Madge's let its rude" Gale's youngest brother mumble sheepishly as his cheeks turn red once I give him a smile. I think his name is Vick but I can't remember if that's the name I remember Gale calling him. "It's fine. Not very often do I get suck a pretty girl fussing over me" I tease giving Vick a playful wink as I extract Posy from around my leg. Posy looks beyond floored that I think she's pretty. I duck down then with deft fingers reach up to my hair and untie my ribbon, I glance over at Hazel asking her silently if its okay to give her daughter my ribbon and the stiff watery nod lets me know it is. So with a large smile I turn back to Posy then show her my ribbon which makes her little gray eyes widen in surprise "I want you to watch over this for me, okay? I don't want some sneaky girl trying to take it from me" I stage whisper. Posy nods wildly, causing her dark hair to fly around her shoulders and fling into her face, causing my heart to swell with warmness at her pure happiness. "I can do that. I'll watch it with my life" she vows solemnly. Giving me her what I can only guess is her most serious face as she thrusts her pinky out towards me which I quickly link with mine then give it a shake. "I don't mind if you wear it in your hair while I'm away. In fact I think it's a must with such pretty hair you have" "mama did you hear her? She thinks I have pretty hair" Posy practically shouts with excitement looking over at her mom and causing us all to laugh. "Your hairs not to only thing pretty" Hazel smile as her daughter, "not as pretty as Miss. Madge" Posy makes known with a mater of fact nod that makes me smile "can I tell you a secret?" I stage whispers once again causing Posy to take on her serious voice as she bobs her head up and down. I lean in towards her and whisper "I think your more prettier than me" which makes her eyes as big a saucers and just as she turns to tell her mother no doubt what I told her I place my finger to my lips playfully making her mumble a quiet "I almost forgot I made a promise."
I gently yet quickly tie my pink ribbon into Posy's hair just like I had in my hair only minutes ago, after Posy pleading me to make her pretty hair look like mine/ then I sit next to her while looking over at her mother who watches her intently then the door open and a Peacekeeper says times up, but before they leave Hazel crosses over to me and give me a warm motherly hug that I haven't received from my own mother since I was eight. So I almost let myself cry knowing I won't be able to see my mother one last time as Madge and not her dead sister she can't seem to get over. "you look so much like your mother" she starts before going quiet and leting go of me even though I secretly wish to just stay a little longer in her warm motherly hug. Hazel's warm gray eyes stare into my distant blue eyes, "Thank you for showing my son so much compassion even though my oldest son has been nothing but mean to you. Thank you so much Madge, it means a lot to my family … I made sure Gale won't harm you while you away" she says, adding on the last part at Posy's scrunched up face, as she tries to think of why Gale would hurt me. I just nod then watch them go, then once again its just me and I can't help but want Katniss to come see me, if Gale's own family can come visit me even though Gale's going into the hunger games with me, then why can't she?
But she doesn't come and I can't hide the fact that I makes my chest constrict slightly, thinking we were better friend than her to not even see me one last time even if it was just to say she would miss my quiet company. I would have if the rules were reversed and it was her and Peeta. I'm lead out of the back of the Justice Building with Gale and Effie as well as a couple Peacekeepers accompanying us to a flashy black car that drives us to the train station, which will take us to the capital in a day.
Gale and I don't talk. He doesn't look at me let alone notices my existence but that doesn't stop me from sneaking glances at him. Making sure I have his facial features burnt into my mind even though I'm absolutely sure they have been since I was ten. In no time at all we pull up to the station and we're being herded to the platform then forced to stand next to each other as our picture is snapped a few thousand times from the dozens of cameramen surrounding us and only after that are we allowed onto the train.
Margaret dear follow me, I'll show you to your compartment while Avox shows Gale to his." Effie beams looking at me but before I can even quietly mumble out that I actually like to be called Madge, someone else does. "She doesn't like to be called that. She likes to be called Madge" Gale grits out giving Effie cold glare, that I'm all to use to. Then without a glance my way he storms off on his own into the next car of the train. I offer Effie an apologetic smile and mumble "he's not normally like that" even though I know its not true. Effie grins at me and states how presses I am and that she hopes I'm the one who wins between Gale and me before leading me to the room I'll be staying in, while on the train. I know that Effie doesn't mean what she said in a rude way, how can she? All the people like her in the Capital are practically as smart as a small child.
