Madge holds her mother's hand tightly and listens to the knock that echoes through the house. Mrs. Undersee looks at her daughter and frowns. "That better not be the peacekeepers, dear."
"It's not," Madge smiles and then casts a glance toward the clock. "If so, they're a little early." Mrs. Undersee frowns again, prying her hand from her daughter's. "I don't want to go to the Reaping. Why can't I stay here with you and we send Bernard?" The butler in the hall scoffs and marches past their room to answer whoever's at the door; Madge can't help the urge to giggle. "He always gets to stay home with you and I have to go to that atrocious…"
"Dear," Mrs. Undersee stops her daughter before she gets too far. "You're going to the Reaping because it's your duty to go to the Reaping." Madge rolls her eyes at her mother's response. She knows she only says things like this because she's the mayor's wife and has to say things like it. "Besides, you already agreed to go with Jace who is most likely the person at the door. Am I correct?"
Now it's Madge's turn to frown. "I'm still angry with him." Despite not wanting to talk to him, Jace is persistent. He followed her around until she would talk to him about their 'status.' Which, obviously, didn't result in anything positive for him. Except maybe friendship. Better than nothing.
"Angry or not you two are friends and you agreed to go with him." The elder smiles as her daughter angrily crosses her arms. "You don't have to marry him, honey. You two are friends and I'm not watching your father destroy a friendship before I die." Madge's frown deepens as her mother laughs. "Now go, I'll see you later."
Just as Madge is about to push herself from the chair Jace appears in the doorway. He's in his best, he has to be, and his smile is bright. "Afternoon, Mrs. Undersee. Good to see you awake."
"Good to see you at all," she replies as Madge stands up. "Stop by more often."
"Trying," Jace smirks in his friend's direction. Madge averts her eyes and marches past him and down the stairs. "But it obviously isn't working." Mrs. Undersee laughs and waves goodbye to the boy who quickly follows the blonde down the stairs. "Aw, Madge, I was joking."
"Sure," she mutters, stopping at the bottom and turning to face him. She meets his eyes and Jace lifts his eyebrows playfully.
He studies her attire and Madge feels her cheeks unwillingly heat up. She isn't used to being ogled at, even if it is Jace that's doing it. She's in a new dress that her father insisted on buying just so she could wear it to the Reaping. It's a soft blue; she was told it brings out her eyes. Alongside that are some pearl white sandals and the silver locket her father gave her for her 18th birthday. She always has the latter on, though.
"You look nice," he notes.
"Jace," Madge groans and attempts to move away from him.
He's too quick though, his fingers circle around her wrist. "You do, but I get it. You don't want to date; you've said it ten thousand times." He pauses in his speech to grab her hands instead of her wrist; Madge watches the interaction with knitted eyebrows. "You're probably right about us anyway, you always are." Madge snatches her hands back and leans against the wall, now it's her turn to raise her eyebrows. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm not losing you as a friend because I can't get over some stupid schoolboy crush, okay?"
Again she says, "Sure." At least this time she's smiling. She nudges him with her elbow and starts toward the front door, listening to his footsteps that follow.
"That doesn't mean I can't tell you that you look nice," he reminds her, eliciting a small laugh from Madge.
Once they're out in the heat of the day their playful demeanor drops. The Reaping is hard for both of them. Neither of them are young enough to be Reaped but they're plenty old to watch the families with children that do get Reaped, fall apart. Not only that but when Jace was 13 his older sister was in the Games. She never came home. The crowd of children in the Square is just a constant reminder of his loss.
"I hate this day," Jace mutters as they reach the square. "Hate it. Hate it more than hate itself." There are a lot of things Jace hates. He hates when Madge puts too much sugar in his tea, he hates hangnails, and he's not a very big fan of people from the Seam. But Reaping day? It's almost worse than the Victory Tour or watching the Games itself. Reaping day was the last day he saw his sister alive before they took her from him.
"I doubt you're the only one," Madge says quietly, trying to keep her voice low.
Maybe in her own home she'll renounce the government, the privacy of her own room, but not here in public. Not with peacekeepers around ever turn and cameras constantly spinning in their direction.
Her eyes climb until they find the stage. Her father is situated looking grim and empty, as usual. Haymitch doesn't appear to be drunk this year but that isn't a surprise. He hasn't been drunk ever since Peeta and Katniss won. They refuse to be mocked because of their fellow Victor. Speaking of Katniss and Peeta, they also sit on the stage. The first few years were strangely awkward, now it seems normal to see the two in front of the crowd alongside Haymitch.
And although they all look pleasant and willing to sit on stage and condone this, Madge knows they aren't.
"You'd never be able to tell," Jace says quietly, his eyes casted upon Peeta.
Madge raises an eyebrow and falls into place beside him. She grabs his arm so she doesn't lose him in the fast moving crowd. "Tell what?"
"That Peeta absolutely detests this entire thing." And that's the goal, isn't it?
Posy is stationed between Rory and Gale, both of her hands are in theirs. Hazelle is linked to Gale's upper arm and her forehead rests again him. The entire family doesn't want to talk, what could they possibly say? Vick's only 17. Gale tries to make sure he doesn't take out tesserae but he knows that there's a few extra slips in there than there should be. He's got this year and next year. Not only that, but it's Posy's last year before the Reaping.
The little girls voice is hesitant, "What if it's him?"
"It won't be," Rory says quickly, squeezing her hand tighter. There're thousands of slips in that damn bowl. Why the hell should it be Vick? It won't be, it can't be. The mantra Gale repeats as his eyes drill holes into the Justice Building.
Posy buries herself into his side, "But what if it is?" Instead of responding, Rory holds her tightly. He knows there's nothing he can say to soothe his sister, so holding her it is. Wordless comfort, something most of the Hawthorne's are very skilled at.
Gale bites the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything, his mother's grip tightens as Effie Trinket takes the stage. His eyes pick up to watch Katniss who tears her gaze from him once their eyes meet. They haven't spoken since he marched out after her big wedding news, but that doesn't mean she isn't worried for him. Once Katniss looks away Gale's eyes return to Vick who has his hands shoved in his back pockets as he rocks to steady himself.
Anyone but him, Gale chants this in his head as Effie pulls out the first slip. Anyone but Vick.
Of course, the first name called isn't his. It belongs to a female. Marica Provo. Posy's chin quivers at the name, and Rory holds her tighter.
"I know her," Gale hears Posy's muffled voice whimper. "She's in my class." At this Gale's hand reaches out and rests on his sister's back.
As Effie turns to the bowl with the boy names Gale's stomach sinks. The pain doesn't go away once you're not of Reaping age anymore, it continues on. First with your siblings, one day with your children. It never ends, it never ends. Hazelle's grip goes deadly as Effie's hand dives into the bowl, Katniss glances toward the Hawthorne's. Gale's eyes snap shut as Effie walks back to the microphone.
"Landen Wright."
The Hawthorne family collectively sighs. They can't help but feel relieved. Is it awful that someone else's kid, brother, friend is going in to the Games? Yes, of course it is, but Gale can't stop that. He just needs his family. He needs Vick and Posy and Rory and his mom and they can't go on without one another.
Hazelle finally drops her grip and takes a moment to breathe. "I'd say one more year," she whispers to Gale as her eyes fall on Posy. "But it's a lot more than that."
Madge sits in her living room and stares at the television. She watches the replays of the Reapings from today and feels her heart drop into her stomach with the passing of each District. Monsters from the Careers, starving children from the others.
Oh, she can't forget the girl from her very own District. She forces herself to look away as the tiny 12 year old takes the stage, as tears drip down her cheeks while her father keeps his voice steady and gives off a speech. Madge's father is upstairs locked away in his office most likely drinking himself into a coma. He doesn't like Reaping day any more than the rest of the District.
"You're going to drive yourself crazy," Arista calls out to her. Madge doesn't lift her eyes to study the Undersee's longtime maid, onetime nanny. Her hand darts up to the locket around her neck and she fiddles with it as some sort of comfort. "Turn it off, hun. You can't help them now."
Madge's finger hovers over the power button the remote control, but she can't press it. She can't find the strength, still can't tear her eyes from the screen. Camera's flash as the two Seam children board the train, both are so young and scrawny. How many children does the Capitol want? How many lives do they want to ruin? The air conditioning in the house starts back up and shocks Madge into hitting the button, causing Arista to smile.
The maid has her dark gray hair pinned up tightly, wrinkles dip and zag across her face. She rests her hand on Madge's knee and gives it a comforting squeeze. Perhaps a reminder that she won't be in the Games this year. It's not very reassuring.
"I teach the girl," Madge finally says. Her voice is empty, faded. "Taught. I don't know." Arista pulls her hand away and rests it in her own lap, slowly smoothing out the wrinkles from her uniform. "She turned 12 two weeks ago, you know, right before the first day. She has this obnoxious habit where she taps her pencil on her desk," Madge pauses and lifts her eyes to stop the sudden tears. Her hand tightens its grip around the locket. "It drives everyone insane but it helps her focus."
"Madge," Arista tries again, though the girl now won't look at her. "Like I said, you're going to drive yourself crazy."
The blonde scrunches her nose and forces herself to stand. Her footsteps pace back and forth methodically and the maid watches as she moves. Madge can't get the thought from her head, the thought about this little 12 year old girl. Years ago it had been Primrose Everdeen, this year it was a girl from the Seam named Marica Provo. How did such a young girl end up on the stage all alone? No doubt she had been praying someone would volunteer for her, yet no one did. So young, so innocent.
"I teach her, Arista," Madge's eyebrows furrow. "I mean I've had siblings of students I've taught be Reaped but never anyone I teach."
The maid frowns, "Stick with taught and call it a night, dear."
Madge snaps her head to glare daggers at the old woman. Yes, she supposed she should stick with taught. The girl is only 12, what much can she do to get her home? There's no logical chance she'll be returning any time soon unless it's in a wooden box, no real hope for District 12 this year.
"I'm going on a walk," Madge finally decides, snapping her mouth shut and forcing desperate thoughts from her head. She rushes to the door and slips on a pair of sandals before someone objects.
She doesn't even know where she wants to go; she just needs to get out of the house. It's already late evening; the sun isn't bright and yellow now but more golden and orange. It's fading over the hills and perhaps the most beautiful picture she'd ever seen, but it's not enough. Madge knows that nothing tonight will be able to sooth her.
"Why don't you set me up on a date then," Gale nearly hisses at his younger brother. Rory won't stop pestering him about going out, living his life. Yes, Gale promised to be more selfish and do things for himself, but he hasn't exactly started yet.
Rory's eyebrows quirk and he slows in his step. "Are you giving me permission?"
"Yes," Gale grunts. Not only will it get Rory out of his hair about getting a date but it will get Gale a date. He's always wanted a family; he might as well start looking for someone before his youth runs out. Rory clamps his mouth shut at Gale's suggestion. The latter's sure his brother is going through lists in his head. Rory's most likely going to team up with Thom, the two will cause Gale's downfall. "I've got rules though."
"Well spit them out," Rory gushes. "Before I start arranging a wedding for you or something."
Gale snorts, "I don't think you'll be doing that. Listen, Rory. I'm okay with a few dates, but if I'm done with it them I'm done with it. If I say stop, you stop. You don't push anything on me, you don't pry. Can we agree to that?" Rory nods his head a bit too quickly; Gale's sure his brother's seeing stars. "Oh, and you don't tell mom. Mom knows nothing."
"Simple enough," Rory grins. They reach their house in the Seam and Rory hesitates before opening the door. "But if she asks that isn't exactly my doing so you can't…" Gale rolls his eyes, pushing past his brother and into their humble abode. Gale's taken back when he hears laughter, he pauses in the doorway. Rory bumps into him and then lifts his eyebrows in a question.
Not only was the Reaping just a few days ago and everyone's moral has been low, his family is rarely in such an upbeat mood. Vick and Posy fight like feral cats, Hazelle has little to no sense of humor. They most certainly are not in the correct household.
"Gale? Rory?" Posy's voice confirms that they are, in fact, in the correct household. The two slowly make their way toward the kitchen area, finding Posy, Vick, Hazelle, and her sitting at their dining room table.
Rory's the first to respond, his lips curving into a smile. "Oy, Madge Undersee!" The blonde looks up from the table with a noticeable amount of pink spread across her cheeks. "The hell're you doing here?" His tone is only playful, it causes Madge to smile nervously.
"She's moving in," Hazelle quips, leaving Gale's eyes to bulge. That comment about sense of humor is returning. "She's tutoring, dear. Remember I told you she would be here?"
"Don't remember the last time tutoring included laughter," Gale hisses from his spot by the door. "Or staying until after six o'clock. Or required a house call, for that matter." Madge drops her gaze back down to the table, scooping up the colorful paper and filing it into a folder.
"I've clearly overstayed my visit," Madge says gently. "I should've been gone awhile ago." Gale's eyebrows climb his forehead as if to say yes, leave. Madge notices his expression and another flush of pink overwhelms her cheeks. Vick watches her nervously before eventually offering to help. Gale aches on the inside, his 17 year old brother is falling for an Undersee right before his eyes. Vick fumbles when his and Undersee's hands accidently brush and then Posy leads her teacher to the door.
And then she's gone.
Hazelle huffs and leans back in her chair. "Gale Hawthorne you ought to learn some respect." Her son drops his mining helmet on the table and marches back to the door to kick his shoes off. "That was utterly rude and uncalled for. God forbid we actually enjoy ourselves."
"She's a teacher," Gale snaps, "not a babysitter." Posy keeps her eyes downcast on the papers her teacher left for her. "Aw, Pose," Gale groans and slips into the seat next to her. "Don't look so glum."
Who would have thought it be Vick to come to Posy's defense. "Why shouldn't she?" Gale's face contorts at the attitude from his younger brother. "You just kicked her favorite teacher out of the house without letting anyone say goodbye. You humiliated her as well as Posy."
Rory chuckles and asks Vick, "You sure she's not your favorite teacher?" Vick lets out a deep breath and diverts his eyes, Gale notices his cheeks flare up. "I think it was great that you guys were having fun. I might have to ditch work early next time and partake in a tutoring session because it sure as hell was the only recent time I've seen the three of you laughing together."
Gale chews the inside of his cheek while glaring daggers at his brother. He's condoning this. The friendship of Madge Undersee. The idea that she's welcome into their house whenever she so pleases. God, it makes his skin crawl that she was the one to get his family out of their funk. Should've been him. Wasn't him. It was her.
"Why do you hate her?" Posy asks weakly. Gale turns his head to study his sister, but her eyes stay diverted. "Miss Undersee. Why do you hate her?"
"I don't hate her, Pose."
"Yes you do," she grumbles. Her tiny gray eyes are filled with tears. "Why can't you just like her?"
"Posy," Gale stumbles over her name and leans down to her level. "I don't hate her."
"Yes you do!" The entire Hawthorne household freezes as she raises her voice and lifts her head to glare at him. "She's nice to me, Gale! She treats me like I'm special, she knows I'm smart! She taught me the piano and she helps me through school!" Gale can't move as his little sister shouts at him. "Now tell me why you hate her! What did she do to make you hate her?" Her chin quivers as Gale furrows in confusion. He's never seen Posy like this. "Answer me!"
"Posy," he starts again, his voice weak, but she's not taking it today. The youngest Hawthorne slams her hands down on the table with such force the entire room remains shocked. Posy marches from the group and slams the door to the other room, leaving her family stunned.
"Well now you've done it," Rory huffs, slipping from the room to follow his favorite sibling. Rory and Posy have a bond like no other, he knows exactly how to comfort her.
Gale lifts his hand to squeeze the bridge on his nose, taking in a deep breath before he attempts to speak again. Vick beats him to it, however.
"She's right, you know." It's not like Vick to go against Gale, never has been. The fact that he is, is startling. "Posy. Madge is nice if you'd give her a chance."
"So now you're on a first name basis, eh? Why don't you go chase your girlfriend down and ask her to dinner then? Since you're clearly so fond of her."
Now it's Vick's turn to slam his hands on the table. "Why do you treat me like a child?" Gale lifts his eyebrows amusedly, dropping his hand from his face so he can watch his brother. "You treat me like a child! You won't teach me to hunt, you don't let me go out at night. You know what, to hell with you."
"Vicktor Hawthorne," Gale grunts and attempts to follow his younger brother as he marches to the door.
"No," he snaps, turning around and jabbing a finger into Gale's chest. "Don't give me that name crap. You act like a father, not an older brother. Sorry if for once in my God forsaken life someone treats me like an equal instead of an inferior." He drops his hand and then starts toward the door again. "I'll be back," he calls over his shoulder dully, not sparing his brother a second guess.
Gale turns to his mother who has sat mute this entire debacle. Her hands are folded lightly in her lap and a victory smirk spreads across her face. "Guess I'll start dinner then," she says, her voice reaching an overly chipper level. Gale rakes his fingers through his hair and lets out a deep breath.
His family currently hates him. And it's all because of Madge Undersee.
A/N: Okay I had way too much fun writing this chapter. No regrets. Hope you like it as much as I do (because I really like this chapter ashuojklg).
