We eat a basic meal of broth and the last of the bread I traded with Mr. Mellark. Prim hasn't been quite as sullen since I showed her the perfect cookies from Peeta but it only reminds me that without his kindness she'd never have a treat like that. I could never provide for like that. After our meager meal we go to the Hawthornes' to watch the scores. We haven't heard much from the Capitol, only that the tributes are training and the odds of each tribute. As it is, the bitter faced girl from 3 and the boy from 4 are favorites.

When Ceaser Flickerman appears on the screen the quiet conversations happening around the room die out and we all turn our attention to the television. The boy from 1 gets a 10, the girl an 8. Both from 2 get 9's. The little boy who reminds me of Vick gets a 4, his district partner a 10. Both from 4 get 10's. It's the highest scoring career pack in years. The other districts range between 3 and 7. The boy from 8 manages to get himself an 8 but that's it

"From District 12" Ceaser continues "Orion Meadows, with a score of 8"

"That's a career score" Gale laughs in disbelief, I give him a look that says 'don't get too excited'

"And finally from District 12, Madge Undersee, with a score of ... 11"

"11!" Madge got an eleven, even Prim and Gale screaming it doesn't make it any more believable "Princess got an 11! How the hell did she manage that?"

"She's really smart Gale and fast" I defend her, Madge never deserved all the crap Gale gave her. I hate that it took her saving my sister to make me speak up and now it's too late to matter

"That's not enough to get an 11! I bet it's because her dad's the mayor, spoilt brat!" Gale spits

"Gale Hawthorne" his mother yells "you will have yourself some respect for that poor girl. If she can earn herself a score like that to go into the games then good for her" Hazelle had been oddly quiet until now, not in a 'this is so terrible I have nothing to say' kind of way like she usually is during the games, but in a 'reflective, deep in thought' kind of way

"Ma, she's-" Gale tries

"No!" Hazelle cuts him off sharply "that girl's done more for this District and this family than you'll ever realize so you have some respect when you speak about her" Hazelle powers from the room in an angry blur and a door closes as harshly as it can without coming off its hinges in the Seam. I've never seen Hazelle that angry. Ever. My mother quickly rushes after her, it's the most she's done all night

"What?" Gale looks at me

"How should I know? But your mother's right Gale, you don't know Madge"

"Neither do you! Sure you sit together at lunch but how much do you actually talk?" he scoffs

"No less than I spoke to you at first" I argue

"She's just some spoilt brat, what's everyone getting in a huff about?" all of a sudden Posy is hitting Gale in the face with a worn cushion

"Miss Madge gave me a cookie! She's nice!" Posy shouts in Gale's face before stomping off the same direction as her mother

"And she gives me books from school so I don't have to read the same ones over and over" Vick murmurs quietly before leaving. Prim follows silently

"She saved Prim's life" Rory whispers without even looking at Gale. When Rory's gone Gale frowns at the screen

"She's not so bad you know, if you got to know her you'd see" I feel a hypocrite but it has to be said. I've never given her the credit she deserves and I'm a terrible person for letting Gale treat her the way he did

"Like you know her Catnip" Gale snorts

"I know her enough, all you had to do is try"

"When would I have ever got the chance to 'get to know' her?"

"You had years, if you had just tried when we made trades rather than hurling insults at her you'd understand"

"You never cared about her this much before"

"Because she hadn't just volunteered for Prim!" I scream, like really scream, so loud it feels like something in my throat tears "Don't you realize I was seconds away from doing it myself. She doesn't deserve this, she's too good for this"

"Catnip-"

"No, you're wrong and you know it" I say harshly then take a deep breath "she's saved our lives countless times Gale, not just by volunteering but every time we needed that little bit extra it was always her trades that got it. I don't think people would pay that much for strawberries even in the Capitol" I take a few steps towards the door then turn back "I never told you this because I promised Rory I wouldn't but ... he signed up for tessera"

"What?" Gale's face pales and he grips the cushion Posy threw at him so tight his nails threaten to tear thought the fabric

"Madge wiped the record"

"What?"

"You heard me, Madge Undersee, at the risk of being arrested, becoming an avox and who knows what else, broke into the justice building to remove your brother's name from the tessera census"

"That's impossible" he whispers

"Yet she did it" I mutter before striding out into the street

"Wait Katniss wait!" Gale trips out of his front door trying to catch up with me "why didn't you tell me any of this?"

"Because she asked me not to. Do you know what they'd do to her if they knew? She only told me so I'd stop worrying about Prim"

"I'm sorry, I didn't … I didn't know all that"

"You didn't know anything about her, except that she lived in a big house and had nice clothes. You didn't think to question why. She has a big house because anyone who comes here from the Capitol has to stay there. Do you know how many times she's woken up in the middle of the night to find some man three times her age trying to climb into her bed? Do you know how most of the pretty things she owns have been gifts from those old men, or her father to apologies for not doing anything about it? How many times she's had to sit silently while people insult her family and her way of life? She might have money Gale but she hasn't got it easy" And as I say the words I realize I'm as angry at myself as I am him. I knew that stuff and never did anything about it. Never even offered to listen and Madge would never ask for help, she'd suffer in silence

"Katniss I didn't know"

"And now that you do?"

"I'll never speak badly of her again" I shake my head and press my eyes shut to keep from crying

"Not good enough Gale! After all she's done"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know".