Chapter 7:
Evolve
Things were not the same. When Katniss saw Peeta in town, she smiled and walked over to him. He didn't know what to say. Try to forget, she told herself. But Peeta couldn't forget if Katniss was there to remind him. She didn't want to remember so why should he?
Peeta shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. He didn't know what to say when Katniss approached him out of nowhere. Before he would have been ecstatic but, now, he wasn't sure. He wasn't sure what was actually going on. He wasn't sure if they were still friends or if they had been reduced to acquaintances. He still put on a happy face and pretended everything was still the same. But it wasn't. It never will be. And Katniss knows that too. They know she – they – messed up. She knows things won't be the same. But they can always hope.
Madge and Gale aren't the same either. They see each other and smile and burst into conversations about completley random things. He always knew Madge was sweet – But hadn't realized just how sweet Madge was until now.
She thought Gale was a friend – an even better one that before.
Peeta only hanged out with Gale and Peeta once in the days after their meeting at the meadow before he realized that things weren't the same with them either. Madge and Gale were closer. They were a group of their own and Peeta wasn't sure he belonged with them anymore.
Madge began to realize things weren't the same she, Peeta, Gale, and Katniss all ran into each other at the market. They were all silent. Smiling, but silent. Madge was the first to break the silence. She asked them if they wanted to stay over tonight and only Gale agreed. Katniss and Peeta both said they were busy and 'maybe another time' before walking away.
Naturally, she blamed herself but decided that this time she would not hide away in her bedroom. No, this time she would so something about this. Their friendship did not deserve to end like this.
0o0o0o0
Mr. Everdeen had chosen today out of all the days to send Katniss to the florist. Katniss sighed as she took a hesitant step outside the door. The weather had noticeably become colder in the past few days and they were in the middle of autumn. She wrapped a red scarf around her neck and shivered.
Katniss wasn't sure what it was her father wanted or why he wanted her to go out and get it now. He had only told Katniss that the florist would have exactly what they needed. Katniss wondered if this was another plot to get her out of the house.
She trotted into the florists warm store. The smell of the flowers hit her first then the warmth. Another shiver ran down her spine but this time it was the amazing warmth that caused it. She looked around for the elderly woman who usually stood at the counter with her husband.
"Katniss?" Katniss turned around as the door opened. "I've missed you so much!" Madge walked to hug her friend. "I haven't seen you in weeks – not since – well, never mind."
"Yes," Katniss said. "It's been a while. How are you?" Katniss couldn't help but think that she sounded like Peeta right now, maybe even felt like him too. It was strange to see Madge this close before.
"Great now that I get to see you!" Madge smiled. "Where have you been hiding?"
"I've been kind of busy lately." Yeah, busy sleeping and watching TV, Katniss thought. "My Uncle is in town."
"Oh?" Madge said. She took of her snow white mittens revealing her perfect pale hands. "It's so cold isn't it? It's not even winter yet!" Madge shook her head and sighed.
The florist appeared then and asked the girls if they needed anything.
"My father said you had something, he didn't say what." Katniss said, feeling angry at her father's vague explanation.
"Name?" The florist asked.
"Everdeen. Katniss Everdeen."
"Oh! Of course!" The woman searched through a drawer and took out a small box. "Sorry dear, I'm as blind as a bat! I can't tell a raccoon from a cat without my glasses – and I'm afraid I've . . . misplaced those." The woman chuckled. "And you, dear?" She looked at Madge, narrowing her eyes.
"My mother asked me to get some roses." Madge said. "That is if you still have them. I'm Madge by the way."
"I'm afraid I've already sent my son to your house, Dear." The woman said. "I didn't want you to go outside on this windy day."
"Oh." Madge said. "Well, then, never mind. Thank you though."
"No problem." The woman smiled. "Now, if that is all you need I will be leaving to look for those glasses. . ." the woman turned around. "And have a good day!" she walked into the door in the back leaving Madge and Katniss alone.
"Do you want to come over today?" Madge asked. Katniss could detect a deeper meaning behind Madge's words. She almost sounded hopeful. "I'm not doing anything. . ."
"Okay." Katniss said. Her father could wait until she got back. "I'll go – but only for a little while." Madge smiled and put her mittens on. She took Katniss empty hand and led them outside into the windy autumn day.
Katniss was glad Madge had arrived in her car. Madge's house was on the other side of town and it would have been a thirty minute walk – something Katniss rather not do today. They drove in silence for a few minutes with Madge turning her head to look at Katniss every once in a while.
"So, Katniss." Madge started. "What are you plans for this year?" Katniss shrugged.
"My mother and Effie are trying to get me to go to college at the Capitol." Katniss said. "I'm still a little unsure, what about you?"
"Same." Madge smiled. "My dad wants me to be the next President, can you believe it?"
"I'm sure you would make a great president." Katniss smiled. Madge snickered and rolled her eyes as she pulled up into her driveway.
Katniss could tell that Madge was a bit nervous as they walked to her house. She turned to look at Katniss every few seconds, biting her lip. Finally, when they were seated inside with warm chocolate Madge got the courage to ask Katniss something she had been wondering for a while now.
"Do you miss it?" Madge whispered. Katniss looked away from her cup and at Madge.
"Miss what?"
"It. Us."
"I don't understand." Katniss said. Madge sighed.
"Our friendship."
"We are friends, Madge."
"Just not best friends." Katniss didn't know how to respond. What was she supposed to say? No. That their friendship had been cracking ever since the spring festival when Peeta and she rode the Ferris Wheel? That the biggest crack was made when they went to that summer party and that things shattered when Katniss left. It just wasn't something anyone could say to a friend.
"Madge. . . ." Katniss sighed. She closed her eyes, feeling a headache coming on. "I think –"
"We should invite Peeta!" Madge suddenly jumped up from the couch, phone in hand. Katniss took the cell phone from her.
"No, no we shouldn't. We need to talk, Madge – really talk." Madge shook her head and reached for her phone which Katniss held away. "Madge." Mage groaned and got up to pace around the room. "Madge. Sit."
"No! It's our fault this is happening. The boys did nothing. It's us."
"Madge what are you –"
"We messed things up – and you know what sucks? We were supposed to forget everything. We were supposed to move on and forget."
"Madge, we can't forget." Katniss sighed.
"No, but you know what I think?" Madge sat down next to her. "We can just evolve. Move on into something new. Our friendship was too special to just forget but we can evolve." Katniss stared at Madge for a few minutes, trying to understand. "We can change just like the seasons do."
Evolve. Evolve into what? As if reading her mind, Madge said, "Love."
I'm so sorry this took me so long. I'll update soon, I promise. Thank you guys so much for being patient. :)
