Chapter 4

Birds are singing, it's sunny, the trees are green and full of life. Any other day this would have been a beautiful morning, but not today. Today is the reaping.

Gale wakes up with an odd feeling. He can't quite figure out what it is. Perhaps it's satisfaction. He thinks back to last night when he helped someone who was in need. It makes him feel happy. That feeling quickly subsides upon the realization of what day it is today.

Gale gets out of bed and gets downstairs to eat breakfast even though he doesn't really have an appetite. His father is already at the kitchen table, having coffee as breakfast like usual.

'Good morning, dad.' He says like he does every other morning, that is of course if he even sees him. Gale isn't very close with his father. Actually, they are not close at all. They only see each other at special occasions and, as already said, sometimes in the morning. It's like two strangers living under one roof. Not even roommates. Strangers.

'Good morning, son.' He responds not even looking up from the newspaper he is reading. Gale wishes that he could spend more time with his dad, or that he would just pay some attention to him especially on a day like this.

Gale walks to a cupboard and gets out the bag of bread, he took home last night. He realizes he could have given some of it to Madge and immediately regrets that he didn't. It must have looked like he flaunted with it.

'Son, how many times have I told you not to bring back those left overs?' The mayor says as if it's the most disgusting thing he has ever seen.

'Dad, it's good bread! There is nothing wrong with it and otherwise it will just go to waste!' Now he regrets even more that he didn't give it to Madge.

'I don't want to hear it, just get rid of it will you?' It's not like you're the one eating it Gale thinks.

'But dad…'

'No buts, I don't want you to bring home that trash ever again, do you understand?'

'Yes sir.' Gale eventually yields.

He hastily eats breakfast as he isn't really in the mood to talk to his father which is convenient since they both sit in silence the rest of the time. When he is finished, he grabs the bag of bread and heads to his room to get ready for the reaping. He throws on the suit his mother laid out for him yesterday and goes to his brother's room.

'Vick?' He says while knocking on the door.

'Come in.'

Rory is already sitting next to him on the bed when Gale walks in. They are both already dressed in suits identical to Gale's. Gale goes to sit next to his two brothers. He can't be reaped anymore but they can. And he is worried about them. Really worried. Luckily Posy can't be reaped yet but it won't be long anymore until her name is in that bowl too. This needs to change.

'So…' He doesn't really know what to say, much like previous years, to his siblings who are about to walk towards their possible doom. 'How are you feeling?'

'Gale, you don't have to do this we've been through this before remember?' Rory smirks. 'We'll just go to the square, stand there for half an hour and then go home again.' Rory always acts like this. Like he doesn't care or he just jokes about it but Gale knows he is scared.

Vick just sits there looking at the ground. It's his second reaping. Gale stands up and sits down next to Vick. He throws his arm around his brother and reassures him.

'Vick, it's going to be fine. It will be over in just a few minutes and you won't get reaped, ok? You won't get reaped.' Gale says comforting but deep in his heart he knows there is a chance that he will. Vick looks at his brother and nods.

'Good. I have to go to take care of something now. I'll see you guys at the reaping.' He looks at Rory and motions his head towards Vick (who is looking into the distance now) to let him know he has to keep an eye on him.

Rory nods once and Gale leaves the room. He gets the bag of bread and goes downstairs to the front door. He sees his mom in the kitchen. His dad already left. Of course he did, he has to host the reaping. Gale looks at his watch, an hour before everybody has to stand at the square. He walks to his mom and gives her a kiss.

'I'm going to the bakery. I'll see you at the reaping!'

'Wow wow, wait a second young man. Why exactly are you going to the bakery?'

'Dad said I have to get rid of this bread,' he holds the bag up, 'so I'm going to feed it to the pigs I guess.' Gale shrugs.

The mayor's wife sighs. 'Fine, just promise me you will be there in time for your brothers, ok?'

'I promise, but now I really have to go otherwise I will be late.' He smiles and heads out the door.

Once Gale arrives at the bakery, he sees Peeta coming out of the bakery dressed in some nice clothes.

'Hey!' Peeta says, glad to see his friend. 'What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your family or something?'

'My dad…' Gale says and shows him the bag of bread.

'Aha.' Peeta says, immediately knowing what he means. 'Feed it to the pigs?'

Gale nods and follows Peeta to the animals next to his house surrounded by a fence. He and Peeta are talking about anything but the reaping while he is throwing pieces of bread. He stops when he sees her. Peeta is still talking but he isn't listening.

'Hello, anybody there?' Peeta laughs. 'What are you looking at?' Peeta follows his gaze and sees a two blondes and a brunette. Gale blushes and so does Peeta which Gale finds odd but he doesn't comment on it or else he has to explain himself too.

Madge stayed at the Everdeens last night. Mrs. Everdeen told her that she was really lucky that she got the morphling. Her mother probably wouldn't have made it if she didn't. And the mayor's son gave it to her.

It's the day of the reaping and Madge is nervous. She's nervous about many things: if her mother will wake up, if Prim will get reaped and how to pay back Hawthorne.

She, Katniss and Prim are eating breakfast quietly. After they are done they go to put on their nicest clothes. Madge wears the only dress she owns. When they are all dressed, they say goodbye to Mrs. Everdeen and get on their way to the square. Mrs. Everdeen won't go to the reaping because she has to take care of Mrs. Undersee but she will watch it on tv as it is mandatory.

They have to cross town to get to the square. Madge hopes she doesn't run into Roger or Hawthorne. She is thankful that Katniss and Prim are with her. They are walking through town when Madge suddenly stops as she locks eyes with the boy who saved her mother. She wants to turn around but she can't because it's the only way to the square and she doesn't want Katniss to know that she is uncomfortable. She just keeps walking hoping that he won't call her.

'Hey.' Gale says. Crap.

'Hi.' Madge says back with a small smile. I'm just being nice to him because I owe him. She thinks to herself.

Katniss and Prim are looking back and forth from Madge to Gale with smiles on their faces. Peeta is too but when he looks at Katniss his cheeks turn pink.

'How is your mother?'

'She's fine, thanks for the…'

'I told you don't worry about it,' he smiles, 'on your way to the reaping?'

'Yep.' Madge says no longer wanting to stay there. Her eye catches something in Gale's hand. She stares for a second but then looks away. She hopes he didn't notice. The last thing she wants is to owe him for another thing. He did notice, however.

'Here, you can have it.' He hands her the bag of bread.

'No, are you crazy? I could never repay you for it!'

'You don't have to repay me, it's old bread anyway.' This remark made Madge kind of mad. How could he say that? She would have to sell all of the game she catches in one day to be able to afford that. It made her feel like charity. Again.

'I don't want your hand-outs.'

'Come on Madge, otherwise it will just…'

'I told you I don't want it! What are you trying to proof? Do you want to impress you little friend here? Show him that you do something for the poor sometimes?' She snaps. 'Come on Katniss! Let's go!' She stomps away with Katniss and Prim behind her leaving Gale and Peeta watching.

'So, he gave you the morphling?' Katniss asks.

'Yes.' Madge answers curtly.

'He's kind of cute, but he is the mayor's son…'

'You don't think I know that? I just don't want to talk about it ok?' Madge says uncomfortably.

'Ok.' Katniss smirks and looks at Prim who returns the smile.

Fortunately Katniss and Prim don't ask questions anymore about Gale on the way to the square.

When they are there, they say good bye to Prim, hug her and comfort her. Then they have to go stand in an area designed for the people who are too old to get reaped. Madge looks around but she doesn't really know why or for whom. Once she sees him she stops. Gale and Peeta are standing a few people away to her right. He sees her too and nods her good luck. Hesitantly, she nods back. Then, it begins.

'Welcome, Welcome!' Effie trinket's sharp voice fills the square. She is wearing a ridiculous pink wig and is dressed in some capitol creation. 'It's time to select one courageous man and woman to represent district twelve in the 74th annual hunger games!'

When Effie speaks out the words 'As usual, ladies first' Katniss and Madge hold each other's hand. Though Madge and Katniss can't be reaped anymore, there is still the fear of Prim getting reaped. Especially now that they can't volunteer for her. They hold each other's hands so tight that their knuckles turn white.

Effie walks over to the bowl and pulls a slip out. After a long pause she finally says 'Primrose Everdeen.' Madge and Katniss don't move, they don't speak, they don't do anything. They can't.

They are still tuned out when Effie starts to walk to the boys' bowl. 'Vick Hawthorne.' That brings Madge back to reality. Hawthorne. She looks at the mayor who is standing in the back. It's like his face is made of stone. He doesn't show any emotion.

Prim and Vick are walking towards the stage and just as they are about to enter it, somebody yells 'I volunteer'. For one split second Madge has hope that someone will volunteer for Prim, that someone has sympathy for her but then she realizes it is a boy's voice. And it is a very familiar one.

I know, it's been a long time since I updated so here is a longer chapter...

Oooeeeh who will it be? I think you already know ;) Maybe I should do a separate fanfic in the future about Prim being in the games? What do you think? Review!