Chapter Eight

Everything feels like a dream. It's almost as if I'm watching all of this unfold through a stranger's eyes, and I'm not myself anymore. How did I end up sitting in Cormack's kitchen and holding a cold cloth to his particularly warm forehead? Logically, I know exactly how I ended up here, but I'm trying really hard not to think about Gale and the way he behaved tonight. Instead, I stare way too intently at the cloth in my hand and watch as small beads of water drip off the edges and slide down Cormack's face. His right eye is swollen shut, and he's got a sizable cut at the bridge of his nose. He's in pain, but he's trying not to show it. It's commendable but unnecessary. We're not people he has to impress. Except maybe Errol.

Errol, my Capitol spy. He's not even trying to hide his disdain for Cormack, and Cormack certainly isn't trying either. Listening to the two of them going back and forth makes me feel like I'm the only cordial person left in town. For the last ten minutes or so, I've mainly been trying to tune them out, but occasionally I'll overhear the insults being thrown. If they don't watch their tempers, I'll have to stop a fight for the second time tonight.

"I didn't ask for your help!" Cormack's words would have been easy enough to ignore, but his actions are what bring me back to the argument ensuing in front of me. He reaches for my hand and pushes it away from his forehead. Errol lets out a sound that's eerily similar to a growl as he steps forward to put himself in between me and Cormack. It's subtle, so I don't think much of it. With a defeated sigh, I let my hands drop to my sides, but I keep the wet cloth gripped firmly in my hand.

"Oh trust me. I didn't want to help you. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why Madge did." Errol turns his head slightly to glare at me, but the brunt of his anger is still directed at Cormack. Thankfully. Almost as soon as he shoots me the glare, he's back to pointing his condescending finger in Cormack's face.

This is when I begin to tune them out again. I use this moment to step away to the kitchen sink, and I fold the cloth up neatly before I lay it down at the edge. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I protected Cormack from Gale. I really shouldn't be surprised that he's such an unkind man because he was an unkind boy too. I was naive to think he might be somewhat grateful. Not that it matters. If I'm faced with the situation again, I'll still protect him. I'll protect anybody. I'll never sit back and let this kind of violence happen in front of me.

Seems hypocritical, doesn't it? There's violence happening in front of me all the time, but I'm always so powerless to stop it. Maybe that's why I felt the need to stop Gale. It was actually in my control. I wish I could do more, but as long as I'm stuck in District 12, I'll only ever be able to help people like Cormack. The thought causes me to frown, and I'm thankful that I'm facing away from Errol and Cormack so they can't see me.

The two of them certainly aren't making things any easier. The arguing is starting to give me a headache, and I have to shut my eyes tightly in an attempt to focus. I'll never understand people who are so prone to arguing. How hard is it to compromise and agree to disagree? Not hard. Not hard at all.

"Nobody wants you here." Cormack's voice is laced with some kind of venom. He's talking to Errol, of course, but I can tell the moment he directs his words to me instead. "Nobody wants you here either."

For the first time, Errol doesn't have a quick comeback, and there's an odd silence that fills the room. I finally turn away from the kitchen sink to face them, and my cheeks blush when I realize they're both staring at me. It's as if they're just waiting for me to say something. What do they expect me to say in response to that? I already know nobody wants me here. Once Errol realizes I'm not going to say anything, he looks frustrated. I can't tell if he's frustrated with me or with Cormack. Probably both of us. I don't blame him.

"Let's go, Madge." Errol abruptly turns and starts heading towards the front door. On his way to the door, he reaches for my arm and pulls me along with him. There's no need for me to protest because I want to get out of there just as much as he does. Especially now that I know Cormack is fine. He just needs a few days to recover. His ego might take a little longer to recover, though. The thought has me grinning as we walk out, and I quietly close the door behind us.

Silence sets between us as we make the trek back to my house. I don't have anything to say, and I've never been one to partake in idle chitchat. Some people are naturally charming and talkative. Not me. I'm more of a wallflower, which is just fine with me. I say what needs to be said, and that's about it. Errol must be the same way because he's making no effort to start talking about silly things like the weather or how long it takes to get home.

"Why'd you do it?" Errol finally asks me once we're about halfway back to my house. I don't pretend to be confused by his question. I know exactly what he's asking.

"Everyone was just watching. I had to." I tell him simply but honestly. "Is that why you helped me take him home?" The silence confirms that I'm right. Everyone was watching me try to lift Cormack, and no one offered to help. That's when Errol stepped in. Obviously, he's not as terrible as he pretends to be.

"Was that true? What he said about nobody wanting you here?"

"Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"Some people like me. Some people tolerate me. Most people dislike me." I shrug. I'm not sure what else to say, so I try to leave it at that. Simple enough, right?

"Why?" He presses.

"Probably the same reason you dislike me." I tell him. He seems taken aback by my honesty.

"I don't dislike you."

"You did yesterday." He opens his mouth to argue, but then he doesn't say anything. He knows I'm right. "It's okay. I didn't like you yesterday either."

For a moment, we make eye contact, and neither of us says anything. A grin starts to spread across my face, and his expression begins to mirror mine. I'm not sure when or why we started to like each other, but in all honesty, I don't really care. It feels nice to be walking home with someone who had my back when I needed help. For the time being, I'll try to ignore the fact that he's from the Capitol.

"You're stronger than you look." Errol tells me once the grins subside on our faces. "There's hope for you."

The words he chooses to use are strange to me. It's meant to sound reassuring, but there's something ominous about it. There's hope for me. Hope that I'll make friends? Hope that I'll avoid Cormack? Hope that I won't end up like my mother? Hope that I'll live past the next couple of Reapings until I'm too old to be called? I desperately want to ask him what exactly he means, but we get interrupted. That seems to be a normal occurrence for me… getting interrupted at the most inopportune times.

"Madge…" He stops walking, and I stop with him. The look I'm giving him must show my confusion because he motions his head towards my house. When I look to see what he sees, I can feel my heart start to beat slightly faster. Gale is standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to my front door. It's where he's always standing, and it's where we always get into fights. Hasn't he done enough damage tonight?

"I wonder what he wants." I'm sure he wants to scold me for getting in his way with Cormack, but truth be told, I'm in no mood to get scolded. I feel as if I've done nothing wrong, and I'd rather not let him upset me. When I look up at Errol, he's frowning at me, though.

"I forgot to pick something up in town. Go on home. I'll be back later." Before I can protest, Errol is turning and walking away, back towards town. It's like he's purposely giving me some privacy so I can speak with Gale, but for the first time, I don't want privacy with Gale. I want Errol to walk over there with me so it will be easy to ignore Gale and just go inside. Why has he suddenly become more considerate when I want him to be overbearing? I glare after him until he's too far away for me to even call him back.

With a sigh, I finally force my feet to move forward, and I start walking towards Gale. He's far enough away that I have some time to compose myself, but he's close enough that I can see the scour on his face. I mentally start to prepare myself for whatever lashing I'm about to get, but then I stop myself. This isn't fair. If anyone should be mad here, it should be me. I told him a secret, and he took that and used it to harm someone.

My heart is pounding against my chest as I try to work up the courage to stand up to him. Despite my nerves, my feet are steady, and I'm focused. Once I start crossing the lawn, Gale starts walking towards me, rather forcefully. I don't flinch, and I don't back down. I keep walking too.

"Cormack is fine, by the way. And I'll have you know that-" My words are abruptly cut off once Gale reaches me, and he presses his lips against mine. The whole thing is so startling that I don't know what else to do other than let him kiss me. The frustration in me starts to disappear as his hands hold my cheeks firmly so I can't pull away. Not that I would pull away, anyway. I've been kissed before but never like this. I feel a tug in the pit of my stomach, and my skin feels like it's on fire. Whatever this is, it makes me forget about everything else, and I don't want it to end. Please don't end