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Chapter Four

Madge had been unsure of what to wear to her meeting with Gale. Last time she had been in the meadow she'd felt overdressed and out of place in her dress. Dresses didn't exactly mix well with Mother Nature. But how long could she be in the meadow anyway? How long would a quick screaming match take? She was certain he was going to be rude to her. That was to be expected and she'd be stupid to assume anything else. Surely he'd ask her about what she'd said last week. But there was no way he'd want to hear her conspiracy theories about the Capitol. He'd probably say that she didn't have any reason to be against the Capitol in the first place; after all they did pay her father's salary and kept her living in the luxury that she was accustomed to. This encounter would only end in an argument, though it wasn't as if she was unprepared. Sometimes she would just sit around thinking of retorts and comebacks to possible insults Gale or most anyone else could throw at her. He wouldn't catch her off guard. No one did.

Gale was staring into the vastness of the forest while he waited for her. Embarrassingly enough he'd arrived early. That wasn't common for him, but he'd been incredibly anxious. How could anyone say that he fell into line? Gale Hawthorne did not fall in line. He hunted and bought and sold at the Hob. That in itself was enough to earn him his death. On the surface, Madge seemed like the perfect follower, but the more he thought about it and her the more he could see all the ways in which she wasn't. She spent her money on poached strawberries from beyond the fence. Her friendship with Katniss was also out of the blue. Her status obviously made no difference. Not to mention that damn Mockingjay she had given Katniss. Solid gold. Katniss had never even been in possession of something so valuable in her life. On paper, Madge wasn't half bad, but in reality Gale couldn't bring himself to see beyond her status. Not to mention that she was a representation of everything he could never have nor provide his family with.

Posy was the apple of Gale's eye. The moment he stepped into his home she demanded his whole attention. Posy couldn't attend a district event without a never-ending commentary on the beauty of none other than Madge Undersee. How her hair was so pretty and shiny, and those damn ribbons that his family wouldn't dare waste their money on, but she happened to have in every imaginable color. Her dream was to grow up and look just like Madge when she grew up. Her wardrobe would be filled with pretty dresses. Pretty dresses that neither his mother nor him could ever afford. For the most part Posy was stuck wearing his and his brothers' hand-me-downs.

A tall figure stood in the distance, the unmistakable figure of Gale Hawthorne. Broad shoulders, tall, and muscular. She could spot him anywhere. She cleared her throat when she was within five feet of him. He spun around and looked at her. Their staring contest lasted a few moments too long. They had never been around each other without a buffer. At first it was Katniss and the last time it was Rory and Vick.

"Well, what did you invite me for?" That was the most obvious question.

"You know, I haven't been able to stop thinking about what you said." His hand ran through his hair, ruffling it. "How do I fall in line?" His eyes bore into her. "I probably do more illegal things in this district that most everyone." It was a rarity that Gale spoke to her without anger in his voice, and this was one of those rare times. He seemed to be more confused and baffled than angry. He'd racked his brain trying to figure out what she had meant for the last week.

"Do you ever wonder why there's such a wide economic division in this district?"

At first he was taken aback, but then he considered the question. No one ever wanted to discuss politics with him. Katniss just always sat by and listened obviously waiting for when he would be done with whatever rant he had on condemning the Capitol. "Townies keeping us down and in our place." He chuckled at his own joke.

Her fists clenched at her sides and a scowl overtook her delicate face. She didn't hesitate to stomp toward him and yell in his face. "This is exactly the reason why those economic disparities will always exist. Ignorant thinking like that! Do you realize just how small this district is? If we ever wanted to rebel we would have to come together as a district." At the mention of the word "rebel" her voice dropped to a whisper. "We would have to come together as a district and I'm not saying rebelling is the answer, but don't you think that could be a strategy to keep this district from doing just that? How simple would it be to wipe out the entire Seam if they were to rebel? We could never come together against the injustices in this nation, not with people like you who condemn the other half the district. It's just what they want, you know. So just continue to hate us for what we have, and we'll continue to hate you for not having enough." Before she turned around she gave Gale a final look of disgust, then took a few steps away.

A sigh escaped his lips. What she said did make a lot of sense, but he didn't want to be the one to admit it, especially not to her. She hadn't walked away just yet though and from the way she was breathing Gale could tell that she was calm herself down. She turned back around though, much calmer now. "When I was younger I didn't know about the awful things that happened to the people in the Seam. I was blind to the explosions in the mines and to all of the children who starved to death. I was stupid enough to assume that the Capitol must just not know about it because if they did they'd surely stop it right? What kind of person could just sit by and watch their compatriots starve to death? And then I saw you and Katniss when you were receiving those medals for your fathers, and I knew they knew. They knew that your fathers were gone and that your families were starving because of it but they just didn't care." She looked up at him with a heavy heart. "I know what you guys say about us. How we couldn't care less about you guys starving, but I do care. I'm always dragging that guilt around with me, everywhere I go, that I live in excess while you guys are barely scraping by. And I can't do a thing about it Gale I'm just a sixteen-year-old girl. I have the same amount of power in this district as you do."

Gale brought his hand up to wipe away some of the stray tears that had fallen from Madge's eyes. If there was anything in this world that could break his heart it was the sight of a girl crying. It just twisted his heart, especially to see such a beautiful girl like Madge with a tear-streaked face. He felt guilty that he was the cause of all of this. "I'm sorry Madge." She shook away his hand that lingered on her skin for a tad too long. "No really I am." He placed his hands on her shoulders, where they completely overwhelmed them. "You're not the one who's responsible for the pain and suffering in this district. Some place in my head I know that, but it's just so much easier to find a scapegoat. And there you are with your gold mockingjay pin, that pure white dress, and your matching ribbon. Do you know what that'd dress look like after a day in the Seam?"

Madge shook her head.

"It'd be fucking black." He smiled at her.

A giggle escaped her lips.

"I'm sorry that I blamed you for everything." It was the truth, even though he didn't like to admit he was wrong.

His gaze was focused on her eyes, and hers on his. "It's fine. I get it. I just don't like it."

He offered her his hand, "Friends?"

Her gaze fell to his hand and she shook it.

"Y'know my sister practically worships you," Gale smiled rubbing the back of his head. Gale had offered to walk Madge back home, and on the way back they had to pass through the Seam.

Madge tipped her head in confusion, "What?"

"What do we have here?" Thom approached them looking back and forth between the couple.

"Hi Thom. This is Ma-" Gale started.

"Margaret Undersee." He finished grabbing her hand and kissing it.

"You can call me Madge." She was blushing a deep crimson.

"Well Madge, I'm Thomas, Gale's best friend." Thom was a few inches shorter than Gale and far thinner. He wasn't as handsome as Gale either, but what he lacked in good looks he made up for in charisma, Madge could tell already. "I just had this crazy thought. There's going to be this party down here in the Seam for all of the seniors retreating into the mines and you should come. I'm sure you'd have a great time especially if Gale here was your dancing partner, but even more so if you had me as one." He grinned at Madge.

Her face was still crimson; she smiled politely. "I'll consider it, but I should really get going or my dad will start worrying. Bye Gale tell your family I say hello." She looked toward Thom. "It was nice meeting you Thom."

Thom's smile grew wider, "Oh the pleasure was all mine."

"Bye Madge," Gale muttered.

Gale and Thom stared at Madge's retreating figure.

"It's like it's such a shame to see her leave, but damn does she look good walking away, doesn't she?"

Gale punched Thom in the arm.

Thom laughed, "You're kidding me right?"

Gale stared at him blankly, "What?"

"You're not interested in her, are you?"

"I'm not. We're just friends."

"Oh I forgot your heart lies with the fair maiden Katniss."

Gale scowled at him giving him another punch.

"Fuck man that was in the same exact place. That's good because I'm incredibly interested in trying my chances with Princess Undersee."

Gale groaned. Fucking Thom.