II. The way you move is like a full-on rainstorm and I'm a house of cards. You're the kind of reckless that should send me running, but I kinda know that I won't get far.
Katniss and Peeta are together by Halloween and literally no one was surprised except maybe the two of them. Madge is happy for them, really, she is, but Peeta and Katniss are her best friends and it's never fun to be the third wheel, no matter how hard they try and include her.
Luckily for her, she has more than enough activities to keep her busy. Although not particularly athletic, she is active and is on the swim and track teams; is Vice-President on Student Council (with Peeta as her President, of course,); and gives piano lessons on the weekends, in addition to volunteering at the elementary school every other week. There are many days when Madge feels worn out, of course, but she also knows that she gets bored and restless much too easily to quit anything.
It's mid-November and fall has always been her favorite season. Despite the emeralds and aquamarine vividness of summer, fall is alive in its own way, all dark jewel tones and vibrant reds and golds. Fall was her inspiration when she spent the day helping out at the elementary school where her Aunt Maysilee teaches third grade, helping the kids with an art project featuring brightly colored tissue paper and twigs scavenged from the playground.
Cracking open her planner, she sees she has, surprisingly, the rest of the day free. It's a welcome change; perhaps she'll go to the coffee shop and do her homework. Sae's is homey, cozy, with a kind owner and delectable coffee; the fact that she's smart enough to get her pastries from the Mellark bakery doesn't hurt either, although she serves up one homemade daily special that is always delicious.
As she exits the front doors, she sees two children sitting outside, clearly siblings, shoulders hunched. Madge knows that look. It's the look all children get when they're trying not to panic over the fact that their parent is late picking them up. She's been that kid before—many, many times.
Madge approaches them slowly. "Hi, there. Is someone coming to pick you up?" She asks them softly, trying not to scare them.
They whirl around anyway and Madge is left looking at two little miniature versions of Gale Hawthorne, of all people. Granted, one is a little girl, but there is no mistaking her grey eyes and dark hair. Although there are a lot of people who have dark hair and grey eyes, the Hawthorne's, Madge thinks, all seem to have an interesting touch of green to their eyes. It reminds her of pine trees.
The boy, who looks a little older, motions for the girl to be quiet, but she speaks anyway. "Our brother," she says, "he always comes to get us from the middle school, but we don't know where he is. He's very late. "
Middle school? But Gale is in- That's right, Madge thinks frantically, there are four Hawthorne children. The kids are waiting for an answer and she clears her throat, awkwardly. "I'm Madge," she says. "I know, um, your brother Gale. And—oh! And Katniss and Prim."
They both light up in recognition. "Really?" The girl says.
"Yes," says Madge. "Now, um… where's Gale? Shouldn't he be picking you guys up?"
The boy shakes his head. "Gale has football practice after school," he says. "Rory always comes to get us instead, while Mom and Dad are at work."
Madge purses her lips. "Has Rory ever been late before?"
The two children shake their heads.
"That's… perplexing," Madge frowns, hoping nothing bad has happened to him. She pulls out her cell phone. Katniss is at soccer practice, but Prim doesn't play sports, and is best friends with Rory. She dials the Everdeen house.
Prim answers on the second ring and Madge tells her what's happened.
"Oh, my gosh!" Prim says. "I totally forgot about Vick and Posy! Rory got detention today for falling asleep in class. I should've gone and gotten them. I didn't even think."
Trust Prim to take the blame, Madge thinks wryly. "It's not a problem, Prim," Madge says. "Maybe I can take them somewhere? Where would be a good place to drop them off?"
Prim thinks for a moment. "I'm on my way out, unfortunately," Prim says. "I have a dentist appointment that's already been rescheduled three times. Maybe Mr. Hawthorne's car garage? You know where that is, right? On the corner of Birch and 12th?"
Madge knows it; it's a popular place to get your car fixed, if only because Asher Hawthorne is so good at what he does. "Will that be ok?" She asks.
"I don't see why not," Prim says. "I know Gale and Rory used to hang out there when they were younger. Either way, Mr. Hawthorne will know what to do, especially since Mrs. Hawthorne works Downtown," the largest city closest to their town was a good hour commute, but jobs Downtown paid much better, so a lot of people took the train in.
"All right," Madge agrees. "That's fine. Here, I'll let you talk to Vick and Posy so they know it's okay to come with me."
She hands the phone to the boy—Vick—since he's older, giving an apologetic look to the pouting Posy. He nods seriously, furrowing his brow in a way that reminds Madge so strongly of Gale she has to look away for a moment. He's a jackass of the first order, to be sure, but his siblings are adorable.
Eventually, Vick hands Madge the phone, who accepts Prim's endless "thank you's' and finally hangs up. "You're taking us to Dad's shop?" He asks.
Madge nods and gives him a bright smile. "Let's go, then!" She says. To her surprise, Posy grabs her hand and Vick returns the smile. The children definitely have a sunnier disposition than their oldest brother, Madge thinks sourly for a moment, then pushes it away as she helps them into her car and drives away.
000
Asher Hawthorne's shop can be best described as organized chaos. Everyone knows exactly what they should be doing, and the numerous pieces of equipment are always exactly where they should be, but everyone is always doing something—multiple something's—at once, and it, really, is a bit of a mad house. Although, Asher reflects, not unlike his life at home either.
As a man with four children, and a very strong-minded wife (all of whom he loves dearly), he is used to surprises, but he didn't expect to see a pretty blonde teenager walk into his shop, each hand wrapped around one of his children's.
"Daddy!" Posy waves to him with her free hand, but knows better than to scamper across the busy warehouse.
Asher blinks. "Hello," he says, wiping his greasy hands on a rag and offering one to Madge, who, to her credit, doesn't blink at all, just gently disentangles her hand from Vick's and shakes his, firm and sure. He is immediately impressed.
"Hello," she says, and looks a little embarrassed almost, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "I'm Madge Undersee. Um. I'm really good friends with Katniss and—I—I know Gale, a little bit."
Asher smiles at her. The mayor's daughter, then. While her connections—however tenuous—to his family are acceptable, it doesn't explain why she's here with his two youngest children.
"Oh, dear," he tells her instead, a jovial light entering his eyes. "If you'll excuse me, Miss Undersee, I'm at a bit of a loss as to how my children came into your possession. What have these two rascals gotten into?"
Vick and Posy begin to protest loudly, but Madge just smiles at them, and to Asher's amazement, they stop, somehow knowing she will vouch for them. She does, explaining what happened, tripping over her words, including Rory's detention and Prim's phone call.
"I see," Asher says, his lips twisting when the think about Rory, but he gives the girl a wide smile. "Well, we are in your debt, Miss Undersee. I can't thank you enough for being a brave enough soul to take care of my children."
Vick and Posy, as he suspected, protest over this, but Madge just looks at them fondly. "It was my pleasure," she says honestly. "They're wonderful."
They beam at her, delighted in her approval, and Asher narrows his eyes momentarily. He's heard Katniss mention Madge before, he thinks, but never Gale. If anything, his serious son seems to scowl even more when her name is menti—ahhh.
Asher smiles.
000
Gale arrives home that evening and finds, as usual, that someone is in trouble (thank God it's not him.)
It's Rory, which is interesting, because Rory has always been a sensitive, responsible kid, and Gale wonders what he did.
He tiptoes through the kitchen, trying not to be heard as he listens in on the conversation. His father, however, catches his eye, and Gale is startled to see a glimmer there, before it fades and his attention is back on his younger son.
"Rory," Asher says, "what would have happened to your brother and sister, you think, if Madge Undersee hadn't have been there?"
At this, Gale comes shooting out of the kitchen into the living room. "What happened to Vick and Posy?" he demands immediately. "And what the he-" he catches a look from his mother, "-ck does Madge Undersee have to do with any of it?"
Hazelle Hawthorne raises an eyebrow at his outburst, but turns to him gamely and says, "Rory fell asleep in math class today," she turns to glare at her younger son, "and got a detention for it. He neglected to tell anyone and left his younger siblings waiting at school for an hour today! If Madge Undersee hadn't been volunteering that afternoon and happened upon them, who knows how long they'd be standing out there!"
Gale turns to Rory, furious. "Do you have any idea how petrified they probably were? They had no idea what might have happened to you! And why the hell did you fall asleep in class, anyway? How are you not getting enough sleep?"
Asher turns to his wife and murmurs, "Hey, he's stealing all our best lines."
Hazelle quirks a smile. "There are worse things in life," she tells him. "Think if we leave the room they'll notice?"
Asher opens his mouth to reply, but he stops when he hears Gale yell, "And Madge Undersee of all people had to come to their rescue? I mean, come on, Rory, anyone but—"
"What's wrong with Madge Undersee?" Asher wants to know. "She's a sweet girl, who, I might add, selflessly took care of your siblings when they were scared and alone, and you, of all people, should be glad that someone found them and cared for them as well as you could've."
Gale sputters at him.
"I think," Asher continues, "that you are going to help Rory with part of his punishment. Tomorrow, I want you to take Rory to Madge Undersee and have him thank her for taking his responsibilities for the day."
"I have to?" Gale mutters. "Where am I even going to find Madge Undersee? That girl is insanely busy, from what I've heard."
Hazelle looks at him. "She's Katniss's friend, isn't she? I'm sure she has her number and can ask."
Gale sighs as he turns around and heads upstairs. "Why do I feel like I'm being punished, too?"
Asher chuckles. "He'll thank us one day."
"I'm quite impressed by your sneaky parenting skills, Mr. Hawthorne," Hazelle grins at him.
Asher raises an eyebrow. "What would you do without me, Mrs. Hawthorne?"
She pulls him in for a kiss. "I shudder to think," she says.
000
It's 4:30 PM and Madge is finally leaving Capitol Prep. It's been a long day. They're trying to plan the Spring Fling for the underclass men- who are forbidden from going to Prom, but still want a dance of their own- in addition to preparing for graduation activities. Madge has a calculus test an a track meet the next day and she feels unprepared for both.
She's also 99% sure that her parents have forgotten about her track meet the next day, even though she told them about it the week before. It's fine, they're busy people, but it would be nice for them to come to just one...
Aunt Maysilee would be there, though. She never forgot. Uncle Haymitch would be dragged along, but Madge knows he keeps a chart of all her personal times and he can recite them from memory.
Lost in thought, digging for her keys, Madge doesn't notice the two figures leaning on her car until she's nearly at the door.
"Oh!" She gasps, eyes widening at the sight of two nearly identical Hawthorne brothers at her car. Granted, Rory is nowhere near as tall or broad as his elder brother, but they have the same stance, physical features, and, of course, those piercing eyes.
Gale nods at her. "Madge," he says politely.
"Hawthorne," Madge says coolly back. They stare at each other intently, warily.
They've seen each other a few times since Homecoming, and if Gale is slightly warmer to her and if Madge is slightly cooler to him, no one mentions it. Gale knows she's acting on hurt feelings and Madge knows he's acting on guilt, and both operate under a tentative truce.
Rory looks between them, perplexed. He nudges his brother.
"This is my brother, Rory," Gale says, finally turning his eyes away from Madge. "I don't know if you two have met before. Rory, this is Madge Undersee."
Madge flashes Rory a wide smile and holds out her hand. "I've seen Rory around Katniss and Prim's house before, but this is the first time we've officially met, I think."
Rory takes her hand, flushing a little. "Hi," he says.
They stand for another moment in silence. Gale nudges Rory, this time. Rory stumbles forward a half-step. "I, um," he says. "I just came to thank you, for taking care of Vick and Posy because I was in detention." He falls quiet for a moment, his scripted apology over. Gale puts his hand on his shoulder, a signal to leave, but Rory blurts out: "I'm glad that you were the one who found them—who took care of them. They were lucky to have you."
Madge's mouth opens a little in surprise. She smiles. "I'm glad to have done it," she tells him. "You're very lucky," she tells him softly, "to have younger siblings. I know they look up to you a lot." Her eyes dart to Gale here, and he watches her, intently, and she looks away, afraid of what he sees there.
"I am," Rory says solemnly. Gale squeezes his shoulder, briefly. Rory waves good-bye, bashfully, and gets into his brother's car, parked next to Madge's.
Gale doesn't follow. He still has his gaze on Madge, and she falters under it, because he's never looked at her like that before.
"Have coffee with me," he says, and his voice is soft, not demanding.
Madge blinks. "Gale…" she says, and his heart pounds because it's the first time she's used his first name in months. "You don't have to do this. Rory's already thanked me."
Gale shakes his head. "That was Rory thanking you," he says. "Coffee is me thanking you."
Madge takes a half-step back. "If this is just because you owe me…"
Gale shakes his head, frustrated. "Madge," he says. "I want to." His eyes lock on hers. "And not just for a 'thank you'. Please let me do this for you."
Madge can't look away. He always does this to her, Madge thinks despairingly. She is normally so sure of herself, so confident in who she is, but one look from him just makes her nervous. The effect he has on her is startling, disconcerting. She always feels like prey waiting to be caught with him, and he has no idea how deeply he's ensnared her. The worst part is that he loathes her, and she should be saying "no" to his offer- Gale Hawthorne has already hurt her too much in the past.
But something about him makes her reckless, unlike herself. "Yes," she says instead.
She knows it's the right answer, despite her doubts, because she's never seen his smile look so bright.