I cannot apologize enough for making yall wait for this chapter! I've been preparing for an event recently and that has taken up a lot of my time. I am also kind of at a writer's block just because I feel like I am at an awkward point in my story line. If yall keep reviewing it would really help me to stay motivated! Oh, and is anyone excited about the Olympics? I AM! Go Team USA! #merica Oh, and before I get GO TEAM LOCHTE. Does anyone else think that he's a total BABE? Let me know if you do!

Anyways, I hope yall enjoy this chapter and remember:

I do not own the Hunger Games (despite how much I wish I did)

Staring at the television in my living room, I feel sick to my stomach. Katniss has been roaming the arena for hours. For what? Water. Here she is in the Hunger Games and she's already on the road to dying of thirst. My uneasiness subsides and the all familiar feeling of anger takes its place. I'm mad that Haymitch is just leaving her hanging but I do some what trust that he knows what he's doing. I'll feel a lot better once Katniss does find water.

I wonder how Gale is feeling right now.

Madge, stop it.

Ever since our little interaction a couple of days ago, I haven't been able to get him off of my mind. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up just because he used my first name, but I felt like it was a breakthrough for the always stoic Gale. Whenever I think of the way my name sounded on his tongue I get the feeling of butterflies in my stomach all over again.

However, I am Madge Undersee and I for one do not fawn over boys.

In my defense, I would hardly call Gale Hawthorne a boy. First off, his stature and looks definitely say he's more of a man now, but most importantly, most boys don't have to singlehandedly support their whole family. Better yet, start doing it at the age of fourteen like Gale did.

I remember the day of the explosion at the mines so perfectly.

I was sitting in the living room with my mother braiding my doll's hair. It was before my mom's headaches sentenced her to staying in bed all the time, and overall it was a pretty happy time in my life. My father sat drinking tea, reading a newspaper from the Capitol.

The phone rang, and my dad went upstairs to answer it. It wasn't moments after that he came storming down the stairs grabbing his raincoat. My mother looked at him questioningly and all he said was two words.

"Mine Explosion."

At his words, my mother's eyes widened and my own stomach dropped inside my body. I knew what explosions meant. They meant death. They meant wives losing their husbands, siblings losing their brothers, and worst of all, children losing their fathers.

Silent tears started falling down my face and soon they turned into loud sobs. My mother tried to comfort me and began rubbing circles onto my back like she did whenever I was upset.

"Madge dear, look at me." She softly lifted my chin to look up at her face and gave me a sad smile. "Things will get better. It just takes some time."

A few days later, they had the ceremony at the town square and gave each family a medal honoring their dead loved one. The atmosphere was somber, the people even more so. While the medals were being handed out, I remember a much younger Gale Hawthorne receiving the medal from my father. Even at the age of fourteen he was nearly six feet tall, but it was the tears streaming down his otherwise impassive face that made me notice him.

After the ceremony, as he made his was walking down the steps exiting the stage, I grabbed his hand and pulled him aside. I picked up his other hand so I was grasping both, gave him a squeeze and said, "Things will get better, it just takes some time."

He looked at me with his silver eyes, which were still streaming tears and gave me a slight nod before leaving to comfort his grieving family in the square.

I try and shake the sad day from my head, and instead run upstairs to change into jeans shorts and red tank top with my sandals and ran out my front door.

Of course, I had been to the Seam before but it wasn't like I had the road to the Everdeens' house memorized. I looked around for what I remembered to be there home, and eventually found one with a goat—Prim's pet, Lady—tied to a post in the front yard.

I walked up to the house and knocked soundly three times. The door opened to a frail looking Mrs. Everdeen who just looked at me with sad blue eyes and motioned for me to come in. As I did so, Prim greets me from where she sits watching the Games.

"Hey Madge, how are you?" Prim smiles, but it doesn't reach her usually sparkling eyes. "I'm fine Prim. More importantly, how are you?" She shrugs her shoulders and returns her gaze back to the screen. "I'll do better once Katniss finds water." I give her a sympathetic smile while simultaneously cursing the Capitol in my mind for making her go through this.

I walk over to where she's sitting on a worn couch and place my hand on her shoulder. "Would you maybe like to help me garden back at my house?" Her blue eyes widen at the prospect. "Oh Madge! I'd love to!" She runs into another room to grab shoes leaving just me and Mrs. Everdeen standing there.

"I'll have her back before dark Mrs. Everdeen." She smiles and I can't help but notice how pretty she looks when she does. "Thank you dear. How's Marley doing?" She looks at me with genuine concern in her eyes, unlike most of the people who ask about my mother. I then remember that they are the same age and were most likely friends when they were younger considering they were both from Town.

"She's doing okay I guess. The same as it has been for a while. She has good days and she has off ones. It just seems that the off ones are starting to out-number the good ones." I feel the tears start to sting my eyes a little, and Mrs. Everdeen pulls me into a quick hug.

As soon as we pull away from each other, Prim rounds the corner with a smile. I open their front door and stat to make my way back to my house with Prim following in suit. We walk most of the way in silence until Prim finally speaks up.

"Hey Madge, do you really think Katniss can win?" Without hesitation, I grab her hand and walk so I'm standing in front of her. "No Prim. I don't think she can win," her eyes widen and her face begins to pale. "I know she can win. Katniss is strong and will do anything to get back to you." She smiles and we finish the walk and make our way into my backyard.

"Now how about we start gardening?"

Hours later, my garden is successfully filled with new seeds just waiting to grow. Prim and I made the garden to have neat rows for each type of vegetable. However, Prim and I look not nearly as clean and precise. Prim's braids have begun to unravel, her dress with stains from the grass and dirt. My own blonde waves have partly tumbled out of the messy bun it was in and like Prim's, my clothes are filthy.

Prim and I are sitting on a quilt in my backyard drinking lemonade when I realize a tall shadow is being cast over us. I turn around and sure enough, there stands Gale. Prim looks up and greets him while I just sit there and stare.

"Gale! What are you doing here?" She jumps up off the ground and wraps her arms around his waist. He ruffles her hair and gives her a pat on the back. "To come get you squirt. More importantly, who attacked you two? It looks like y'all have been rolling around in the dirt." His eyes shoot down to wear I'm sitting and just smirks. "Prim and I were gardening and well…. things got a little messy." Gale stoops down so we're both eye level and his grey eyes bear into mine. After what seems like ages, his hand reaches out slowly and wipes some dirt on my cheek and he says "I can tell." I bite my lip in response to the tingling sensation his hand left on my skin and downcast my eyes.

All of sudden Gale snaps up so that he's standing and my eyes soon follow. "Um Prim, your mom wanted me to come get you so Madge wouldn't have to walk you home." Prim nods and pulls me into a hug. "I had fun today Madge, thank you." I smile and stand up. "No problem, Prim. Feel free to come by anytime." She shoots me another smile and heads off towards the road in front of my house leaving Gale and I by ourselves. Though I'm not sure, I swear I see Prim turn around and give me a wink. I roll my eyes, and turn my attention back to Gale.

"Thanks for coming to get her Gale." He moves his stare from the ground back to me and just stands there staring at me for a few seconds before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Uh, no thank you Madge," I cock my head in confusion and wait as he goes on. "For distracting Prim. I know she is worried sick about Katniss." I nod in understanding and then it hits me. "Katniss…did she find water?" Gale's usual grimace breaks into somewhat of a smile and his silver eyes light up. "Yeah. She did. Just in time too." I smile a smile that's part genuine and part fake. He starts to leave and gives me a quick bye accompanied by a wave. I stand there and wave back with the same stupid fake/genuine smile on my face.

Genuine because I'm glad Katniss is safe.

Fake because I just realized how much Gale loves her.

Ehh. Not really ecstatic about this chapter. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. Y'all let me know what y'all think. The more reviews, the quicker I'll try and get the next chapter out to you guys! Also, if y'all have any ideas for the story, just put it in your review or send me a DM! :)

-MD

Oh, and don't forget to watch the Olympics (and more importantly support my boy, Ryan Lochte!)

Go Team USA!