The rest of the Reaping is a blur. Katniss' hand drops from Madge's so quickly that the blonde doesn't even register her best friend is pushing through the crowd, screaming that she volunteers. Madge's voice is caught in her throat; her body is literally unable to react to the scene in front of her. So she watches with glassy eyes and sucks in panicky breaths as Katniss takes her sister's place.

Prim is screaming. It's all Madge can hear, Prim's desperate cries radiating through the crowd. And Katniss is upset too, telling her to let go, let go, and Madge tries to will her feet forward to stop the scene from unraveling how it is but she just can't.

And suddenly Gale Hawthorne is there, stepping forward and pulling Prim away. Madge still can't move as he gently tears Prim from Katniss, offering a sad smile to the girl who gets taken by peacekeepers. His father on stage looks down at him with a crease of worry between his eyebrows. The mayor must know Katniss, must like her a bit if he allows his family to buy illegal strawberries from her.

Finally Madge tears her eyes from the Hawthorne who has deposited Prim with her mother and taken his spot back in the boys section. She gazes toward the stage where Katniss is staring blankly at the crowd.

"What's your name?"

"Katniss Everdeen." There's no emotion in her voice. No terror, no anger, no distress. Madge can see tears glistening in Katniss' eyes.

"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round to our newest tribute!"

But no one claps. They never do. They never will. Madge likes to think of herself as the first to touch her three fingers to her lips. She's never been more thankful for Katniss, thankful to have a friend as brave as her. And she admires her determination, her willpower. This is how Madge has to say goodbye.

She's not alone, not at all. Everyone in the crowd does the same, that three fingered salute. It's the only thing they can do.

Madge can hardly focus the rest of the Reaping. Haymitch says something questionable in his drunken state and stumbles from the stage. A boy from town that Madge has hardly ever spoken to is drawn. Peeta Mellark, the baker's boy.

The two tributes shake hands and Madge fidgets, unable to control the shaking and the nerves. She doesn't even want to imagine how Katniss feels.

Katniss and the boy Peeta are escorted into the Justice Building. Madge doesn't hesitate to rush forward.


Waiting his turn in the hallway of the Justice Building, Gale can't help but bounce on his heels. He can't look forward or behind him to see who else is waiting, he can only focus on the door that's inches in front of him. The feel of this building is familiar, the smell of the mildew and the color of the graying carpet. He spends most of his spare time here learning how to be the next mayor under the watchful eye of his father.

But now, in this moment, the familiarity isn't comforting at all. It's sickening. It hurts. It makes him cringe. He feels like he's part of this, like this is his fault.

Finally he's waved on and allowed to enter Katniss' room. He figured he'd visit her first because they didn't exactly say goodbye on the best note this morning. Gale isn't much for survival, he doesn't know how to shoot a bow or how to set a snare, but they're friends and he has to talk to her.

When he enters she's facing the window, looking out at District 12 for perhaps the last time. She spins around and offers a smile. "You didn't have to come," she says quietly. Katniss has never been one for affection.

"We're friends," is all Gale says. He wishes he knew more. Wishes he could give her advice on how to woo a crowd with her charm, but his vocal cord are all tied up. He reaches down and unclips the golden pin from his shirt. "I want you to have this."

"Gale—" Katniss tries to protest but he latches it onto her shirt before she gets the chances. He knows she doesn't have a token. "It's important to your family."

"No it isn't," Gale shakes his head and smiles feebly. "I bought it off the jeweler. He said it was pawned off for some quick cash, I just thought it looked nice." The mockingjay. The creature never intended to exist. A reminder of the rebellion. He's sure Katniss will understand the reference, they whisper about it at lunch sometimes. "I know you'll come back," he tells her gruffly.

"You don't—" she sighs as he pulls her into his arms. "Gale, don't," she chokes.

"You can win," he tells her. "I know you can. I know you will."

They've never been overly close, this is the first time they've ever even made physical contact, but he believes in her. He always has. Katniss is different from the other girls around here. Most chase after Gale due to his money, or maybe his looks. They love the fact that he's training to be the next mayor, that he'll be in a position of power. But not Katniss. In fact, she didn't even talk to him at first. Katniss was put in an upper level gym class one day and the two were naturally drawn to each other. Not because of their statuses, not at all, but perhaps because of how they looked. Everyone else in the class was pale and blonde. They were natural outcasts.

They didn't talk about relationships or anything like that. Not only did Gale not have time for a girlfriend but Katniss never wanted to be one. She would never ask him about his training in politics and he would never directly ask her about life in the Seam. But they hated gym class with the rest of them, and detested much of the population at their school. The two would pair up for activities and find each other during lunch block.

The first time Gale slipped up saying something or other about how disgusting the entirety of the government was, Katniss simply raised her eyebrows. She didn't protest his words, only told him to quiet down when his voice inched above a whisper. She fed his hatred of Panem by quietly listening, and he was glad that she silently agreed.

As she pulls away a weak smile crosses her features. "Who're you going to sit with at lunch now?" It had often been an ongoing joke that Katniss would be the one left alone at the table after he graduated from school and moved up to studying full time with his father. Neither of them could've ever imagined that he'd be the one stuck by himself.

Gale chuckles and shakes his head again. "I'll figure something out."

As he hugs her quickly one last time and casts a frown over his shoulder at the door. It's in this moment he must realize that they really have been friends all along, not just pretending to be. What an awful time for such a realization.

When he reaches the door Katniss speaks again. "Thank you for getting Prim," she whispers. "I-I didn't know what to do."

"Don't mention it."

It was the least he could do for her.

He steps from the room and into someone else. A blonde who doesn't even give him a second glance as he states his apologies. She just doesn't have the time. And not only is Gale's heart shattering for Katniss and the Everdeen family, but also for Madge. The girl who is quite possibly and most probably losing her best friend.


Madge's feet carry her so quickly toward Katniss they collide awkwardly. Her hands reach around her best friend and she squeezes as tightly as she can, hugging her as if to make up for all the hugs they never got the chance to share. She needs to do something to stop herself from sobbing right from the get-go. Their grip is so tight Madge feels something digging into her chest and when she pulls away she only briefly registers a golden pin. It doesn't distract her long enough.

"You're so brave," Madge blurts. "And you're smart, too. Katniss, you can win this. You will win this."

"Madge," Katniss sounds so tired.

"You need to get a bow," Madge continues. Without words there's nothing to stop Madge from breaking down. She hates when Katniss sees her crying, it makes her feel weak. Besides, she isn't the one going into the Hunger Games, why should she be so upset? "Show them your skill, they'll put one in. No doubt. If they don't then make one, it's your best bet."

"But what if—"

"No buts," Madge nearly screams. "No what-ifs! You can do this, Katniss! It doesn't matter if you're in a tundra or the ocean or…" she trails off, forcing herself to breathe. She can't lose it already, Katniss hasn't even gotten on the train yet. "You need to get your hands on a bow. You need to." She runs through a few snares really quick and reminders of simple plants. Words are literally spewing from her mouth and she can't stop them.

"Madge," Katniss tries again. "Stop it." The blonde pulls away and the brunette places her hands on her shoulders. "You're my best friend," she says. "I need you to take care of Prim."

"You know I will," Madge whimpers. She can't do goodbyes. Madge can't do goodbyes. "And I need you to get home." She doesn't know how she'll get on without Katniss. Before meeting the huntress Madge kept to herself. She didn't have friends, still really doesn't besides Thom. "You have to fight."

"I will," Katniss nods.

"Promise it."

"I swear," she responds weakly. A peacekeeper opens the door and announces that Madge's time is up, but the blonde won't move. She can't. "Take care of them, Madge," Katniss cries, throwing her arms around Madge one more time with all her weight. "You have to take care of them! Don't let Prim watch!"

Someone grabs Madge's shoulders forcefully and yanks her from the room. "I won't!" she cries. "Katniss, I know you'll come home! I know it!"

She hears her friend shout something through the wall but she can't make it out over the slamming of the door. Madge stands there. She stands there and stares at the door for a moment before a peacekeeper is nudging her away roughly. Madge grunts and marches from the building forcing tears to stay in her eyes and not to let them fall.


Around the same time Madge is saying goodbye to her best friend, Gale is also saying goodbye to someone he considers rather close. Peeta and Gale aren't best friends, not at all, but there have been days in which Gale sat down at the bakery and had full out conversations with the blonde. Despite the boy having brothers closer to Gale's age, he feels closer to Peeta. The youngest of the three boys is kind and open, will willingly sit down and talk to Gale about literally anything and everything. Perhaps they were drawn together because of what their parents do to them.

They know each other, they're friends. About the same sort of friends he is with Katniss.

When Gale enters the room he finds Peeta with his head down in his hands. He sits on the edge of the couch sniffling, not even looking up as the door clicks shut. Gale leans on the doorframe and watches him, not knowing how to comfort him in a time like this and entirely too angry that these innocent kids are being taken away from their families.

Peeta's voice is quiet as he asks, "What are you doing here, Gale?"

"I don't know," he says honestly. He can't offer tactical advice. He can't help him strategize. "We're friends."

"So you've come to say goodbye?" the blonde lifts his head and swats at his eyes. "Because you know you'll never see me again?"

"No," Gale responds. He just can't bear the thought of Peeta leaving without one last conversation. He can't pretend that they weren't friends, that they aren't friends. He can't send this boy off into the arena without one last glimpse of him. It's selfish, but it's true. "C'mon, Peeta, don't be dumb about this. You're strong. You could win."

"I can't."

"I don't believe that you've already given up," Gale grumbles. He marches forward and stands in front of Peeta, and the blonde finally lifts his gaze. "You've got heart and you've got soul so dammit Peeta, make it work!" How can Gale make him understand that if he applies himself, Peeta really does stand a chance? "Why are you acting like this already?"

"We both know I won't be coming home," he chokes. "Katniss will."

"Peeta," Gale warns. He's known about the baker's feelings for the hunter for a long time, it only took one trade out the backdoor for him to figure it out.

"She will," he repeats. Peeta forces himself to his feet and paces the length of the room. "And she'll never even know about me. I think that's what hurts the most."

Gale stops him, slamming his hands down on Peeta's shoulders. "Then tell her," he whispers. Peeta wrinkles his nose and jerks his head to the side. "No matter what happens…" he trails off, shaking his head. "Just do what you've got to do."

Peeta's eyes hesitantly meet Gale's. "You should leave," he whispers. Gale opens his mouth but Peeta pushes him backwards. "Just go, Gale." The kind, selfless baker's boy is already morphing into a hardened tribute. "Get out."

"Peeta—"

The blonde points toward the door, but before he can get another word out Gale throws his arms around him. Peeta crumbles at once and is instantly sobbing into Gale's chest. Comfort is all he needs, and comfort is all Gale can give.

Eventually the peacekeepers come and tear Gale away. He wishes Peeta his best but knows it's not enough, it can never been enough. And when the door shuts and Gale starts toward the exit of the Justice Building, he feels entirely too empty. Two fantastic, incredible people are being taken away today, and he might not ever see either of them again.

He's angry, and sickened, and pissed off, but all he does is chew the inside of his cheek to keep himself from shouting. He's losing two people today who are his friends and might not get either of them back.


Madge sits on the steps of the Justice Building with her head in her hands, telling herself to breathebreathebreathe but it's so hard and her lungs feel like they're going to collapse. She forces herself not to cry she's not allowed to cry because if there's anything Madge has learned from growing up in the Seam is that all she'll ever get is pity and she doesn't want that.

She knows that Prim is most likely saying goodbye to her sister right now and that she should wait for the little girl to come out. With another sharp breath of air Madge forces herself to her feet in an attempt to calm herself. If she closes her eyes tight enough she might be able to pretend that none of this is happening.

"Madge," her name is suddenly being called. The blonde snaps her eyes open and spins around to see who's addressing her, and feels the life being drained from her body when she realizes it's Gale Hawthorne. "You're still here."

"I have to wait for Prim," she tells him. Her voice gives out at the last moment and she drops her eyes to the ground. Gale only nods, continuing to watch her. It almost makes her angry. What does he have to say? What is he still standing here? If he says sorry even once she's going to scream. So instead of letting him take advantage of the silence she speaks again. "Thanks for getting her."

Thanks. It isn't exactly a foreign concept for Madge but when it's addressed toward Gale Hawthorne is most certainly is. "Who?" he asks.

"Prim." The memory mere moments ago of Prim clutching her sister begging her not to go is still buzzing in her brain. "I should've done it but I couldn't…" she trails off when she realizes how weak she sounds. "Just, thanks."

"Don't thank me for that," he shrugs.

She hates him. Madge hates Gale Hawthorne. He leans backwards against a pillar outside the building and looks so damn at ease with everything. She's probably a wreck, pink blotted cheeks and red rimmed eyes and pale skin. Frazzled. And he's acting like the world isn't coming to an end.

Madge has to remind herself that the world isn't ending for him. Because they weren't friends, Katniss and Gale. They couldn't be, not like Katniss and Madge are. He doesn't understand what it's like to have a limb ripped from his body.

She turns away from him before a rude comment bubbles out of her throat. It isn't in her nature to be angry, rude, sarcastic and cruel, but growing up in the Seam has made her a bit rougher around the edges. And now, especially now, she feels that dark side of her creeping out. She grew up getting mocked and teased, she had to learn to defend herself somehow. And this boy, the mayor's son, is the embodiment of what she's learned to detest.

"You gave her your pin," Madge finally chokes out, remembering the golden mockingjay that was attached to Katniss' shirt.

"It wasn't mine," he tells her, taking a step in her direction. Every time he advances she slinks away. "I just bought it from the jeweler." Of course it wasn't yours, she wants to growl, but again she bites her tongue. Madge remembers the day she pawned it away like it was yesterday. She still feels guilty about it, but now that it's with Katniss, Madge supposes she'll be alright. "Katniss didn't have a token," Gale continues. "I thought she'd want something to remind her of home."

Madge scoffs. Gale doesn't know what home is for Katniss. It's only a coincidence that the pin had a mockingjay on it. He never knew that Katniss and Madge would sing for the birds and hear their melody warbled back to them. Gale doesn't know what mockingjays used to stand for, what they still stand for.

Before either of them can say anything else Prim rushes from the building and straight over the Madge. The little girl latches herself onto Madge's side and buries her face in her shirt, mumbling something incoherent.


Gale watches Prim clinging to Madge with all her might. The two could be sisters with their golden hair and easy blue eyes. It makes his insides ache. He knows he should've left a long time ago, let the older blonde sit in silence, but for some reason he feels empty, as though he has nowhere to go.

When he saw Madge sitting there so obviously trying to hold herself together the best that she could he felt himself break. He had the strangest urge to sit down next to her and rest his arm over her shoulder, pull her into his chest. She looked angry and broken and Gale couldn't help but think that she almost had to be as brave as Katniss to be dealing with this. Almost.

And even now that Madge is preoccupied with Prim he still can't bring himself to leave. His eyes linger in their direction and it makes him even more upset. He knows he should get home to his family but his feet won't let him go.

Madge lowers herself to Prim's height and whispers something to her, reaching forward and wiping the tears that spill from the little girl's blue eyes despite crying herself. Prim nods and Madge forces a smile on her face. The two start to walk away when someone with a camera stops them.

Both freeze, staring up at the Capitol citizen that grins like it's his job because it is and asks Prim a question or two. Something about how she felt when she got her name called and how she felt when her sister leaped forward to Volunteer. Was she upset she wouldn't get the chance to be in the Games this year? Questions that make Gale outwardly sick.

Thankfully the 12 year old knows how to answer questions; she has all the charm that Katniss never possessed. Maybe she learned it from Madge, Gale wonders, or maybe it just has to do with the blonde hair.

When Prim starts tearing up again, the man with the camera breaking through her poorly built walls, Gale lurches forward before he can help himself. The camera swings up to him and as the mayor's son he offers the best smile he can manage. "It's clearly been a rough day for Primrose," Gale supplies coolly. "I think it might be best to interview her once she has time to process what's happened, don't you think?"

"Oh Mr. Hawthorne!" the man cheers brightly. "You're so right! My apologies, Primrose. I'll be back later!"

The camera man and the interviewer saunter away, waving over their shoulders and calling out something about finding Peeta's brothers. The second they're out of sight Madge lets out a shaky breath and guides Prim to the stairs.

"I'll be down in a minute," she whispers. "Then I'll walk you home, okay? Just wait at the bottom of the stairs."

Prim starts to tear up again, her blue eyes blinking rapidly again and again. Gale knows he shouldn't be watching and shouldn't be eavesdropping but again he can't find the strength to move away and mind his own business.

"Will you stay with me?" Prim croaks.

"Of course," Madge nods, cupping Prim's cheeks as if that will make her understand. "You know I will. Just wait at the bottom of the stairs." Prim nods too and then rushes down the marble steps to where Mrs. Everdeen waits, tired and blank. Madge whips around to face Gale so quickly that he nearly stumbles out of shock. "What are you doing?" she exclaims, charging in his direction.

"What do you mean?" he asks confusedly.

"First you carried off Prim," Madge says, counting off on her fingers as if the list will serve as a good visual, "then with the pin. Now you're shooting camera men away?" Still, Gale doesn't understand, and apparently neither does she. "I don't get it."

"Katniss and I are friends," he answers. "I wanted to help—"

"Friends?" Madge repeats. The word is sour in her mouth. Anger immediately fills Gale, his chest turns hot. "Help?" His hands ball into fists at the disgust in her voice. "Do you know what you did?"

With an exasperated breath Gale throws his hands down. "I gave Prim time to—"

"To what?" Madge mumbles angrily. "Wallow on the fact that Katniss is hundreds of miles away, alone, waiting to be made into a Capitol's play toy?" Gale freezes at her words. Not only are they openly treasonous but he's never heard her talk like this before. Something sparks inside him, the anger turning to curiosity. The fire inside him that lightly glows, the one he can't repress, does she have one too? "All you did was push back the inevitable," she growls.

Madge stomps away from him and down the stairs before grabbing Prim's shoulder, lightly guiding her from the chaos that surrounds the Justice Building. And Gale supposes that she's right, but he refuses to let himself feel guilty for it.

He watches the group of blondes dissolve into the Seam before he makes his way back home, wondering if he understands Madge more than he originally thought.


A/N: How am I doing with my characterization still? I think Madge would be a bit more bitter under this stress, she's not normally like this. I've always seen Gale as a big softie (secretly of course, he has all those siblings!) so when he saw Peeta break down he had to comfort him. I love exploring a Gale/Peeta friendship as well as a Katniss/Gale friendship in these circumstances. Obviously Gale's already a bit attracted to Madge... hm... Let me know what you're thinking! Lots of love, and happy Monday!