Disclaimer: I own only my own thoughts and words. Suzanne Collins owns the HG and all the characters she so wonderfully created.

Chapter 10

I'm able to get a decent haul from my snares but that's all I have so far. I've been sitting in our usual hunting spot for hours and I haven't seen any game at all. I really hate that Katniss isn't here to keep me company. I miss her, I really miss her. I wonder what she's doing right now? I wish she wasn't so far away. Wish I could talk to her. I really want to know what the hell she's doing with that Peeta kid. No matter how much I try to figure it out, I cannot understand why she is being nice to him. Maybe it's an act. Maybe she's luring him into a false sense of security and plans to take him out first chance she gets. But that just isn't her style. She isn't one to fool people. Shut them out yes, lie to them no. She's a terrible liar anyway. The only thing I can decide is that there must be some unknown factor. Something that would make her actions all make perfect sense if only I had that piece of the puzzle. But I don't.

Right now all I've got is a lot of frustration. And a little bit of embarrassment. I'd never openly admit to the embarrassment part though. Even now, out here totally alone in the woods I know my cheeks are a little redder than normal. Geez. Last night was awful. I'd fallen asleep in the meadow and had the most amazing dream. In my dream I was out in the woods with Madge Undersee. We were deep into the woods, near the lake. I can't remember what we were talking about in the dream but it must have been a funny topic because we were laughing. Both of us. Undersee and I were laughing together. And then she'd run off playfully and I'd chased her. When I caught her, I'd wrapped my arms around her tiny waist, swung her around and pulled her to me, falling backwards into the grass with her landing on top of my chest. Our laughter faded away and her eyes stared at mine, glistening with excitement. There were only inches between our faces and I could feel her soft breath on my face. We stayed like that, just smiling at each other for a moment and then she'd leaned down and kissed me. And I definitely was kissing her back. It really was the most amazing dream. And then came the embarrassing part. I been startled awake and quickly jumped up and looked right into the face of Madge Undersee. Not the dream version but the actual real life Madge Undersee. She was just standing there. In the meadow in the middle of the night. In her freaking nightgown no less. It was the first time I'd ever noticed how beautiful she really was. She was just standing there, hair disheveled, barefoot, in this short little ruffled nightgown thing that barely grazed her thighs. I'd never seen her legs so bare before. I'd wanted to grab her, to pull her right down into the grass and kiss her just like in my dream. God she was hot. But as quickly as those thoughts rushed into my mind, they'd rushed right out when I realized the insanity of what I was thinking. And the craziness of what I'd been dreaming. Suddenly embarrassed as if she could read my thoughts, I'd lashed out at her. I think I'd even made her cry. Her eyes looked wet as I'd strutted of nonchalantly towards the Seam. I hope I hadn't made her cry. I didn't mean to be such an ass, especially once she explained why she was out there in the first place. She'd been trying to come to my rescue. Madge Undersee, the pretty little Mayor's daughter thought she needed to rescue me. How laughable. I have no idea why I'm suddenly dreaming of her, suddenly wanting to kiss her. I'd always known she was pretty. Any idiot with eyes could see that but suddenly there was something more, something drawing me to her, making me want to know more about her. And I wasn't sure how I felt about that. There was a huge part of me that wanted to ask her out on a date but the realist in me was telling me how stupid that would be. She was the freaking mayor's daughter. Wealthiest girl in the whole district. Like she would really give me, Gale Hawthorne guy from the Seam the time of day.

Having still not seen any game come my way I decide to head back to the district. What I was able to gather from my snares will be enough to feed us the next couple days. Us being my family and the Everdeens.

Once I'm back on the other side of the fence I swing by the Everdeens and give Mrs. Everdeen a few rabbits and some wild onions I'd gathered. She thanks me but I can tell on her face she's just empty. I hope she can manage to hang on for the duration of the games. I make a mental note to check on Prim more frequently.

I drop the rest of my game and wild onions on the table in my kitchen. Nobody's home which is rare at my house. Guess they've gone out on my mother's route, delivering the clean laundry and taking in the next loads. Usually she only takes one of the boys plus Posy with her but perhaps this means she needed an extra set of hands and took all of them. I don't think much else about it. Just get cleaned up and head over to Thom's house.

When I get there, he's sitting on the steps of his house, chewing on the end of a piece of straw.

"Been looking everywhere for you man. I got us a job clearing some land for a garden. We start today, pays $30 each up front, another $15 each if we finish the job by tomorrow night." He tells me.

"Aww man, that is the best news I've heard in weeks! You have no idea how much I need this money!" The relief that washes over me is elating. Now I can buy Rory's shoes. And have some left over. This never happens. Ever.

"Well, best get to it. First part of the job is to pick up the supply parcel at McFerrin's store. He's only open another hour so we better hurry." Thom replies and starts walking towards town.

"I can't believe this man. Thanks for this, you really have no idea how much I need this job right now."

"Sure thing. When Mabel offered me the job and asked me to bring someone along I couldn't think of anyone else who I'd wanna do the work with." He shrugs it off as if it's no big deal.

"We can definitely get it done by tomorrow night. I'll skip the woods tomorrow and we can work all day on it. That bonus sure is a nice incentive."

After we've stopped by McFerrin's and picked up the supply parcel, I follow Thom on to wherever it is we're doing this work. I stop short when I see where we're heading.

"We're working at the Mayor's house?" I ask in disbelief. I should've put it all together myself. Who else has that kind of money to pay for clearing a garden? And Mabel. Thom had said Mabel was the one who offered him the job. She's been their housekeeper forever.

"Yeah, so what? It's good money." He asks looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing. It's nothing, lets just go." I can't tell him about my dream or thoughts about Madge. He'd never let me live it down.

He still has the puzzled look on his face but says nothing and we continue on towards the Mayor's house. We ring the fancy doorbell and wait. Nothing. No one comes. Thinking the doorbell is broken, we knock and wait some more. Nothing.

"Where they hell are they? Thought they needed this stuff tonight?" he mutters under his breath.

"Look, let's just take it around back and leave it on the porch. Can't start the actual work until tomorrow anyways. Least this way when they see it, they'll know we're on top of things." I tell him and head back around the house without waiting for him to reply.

"Gale? What are you doing here?" Madge asks looking very surprised to see me come around the side of the house.

"Um, Mabel hired us to clear a garden and we were just dropping off the supplies." I say quietly and gesture to Thom who has just rounded the side of the house.

"Oh. Well, just put everything up here on the porch I guess." Madge replies.

We pile up the supplies in the corner of the porch and I decide we need to really get a look at what we're working with space wise.

"So where is this garden going to be? Can your father show us exactly what he wants done?" I ask her.

'Oh my father isn't here. He just left for the Capitol a little while ago. But this is my project anyways, not his. Come on, I'll show you the area." She says.

I'm suddenly thankful that I hadn't seen more game in the woods. If I had I may have stayed out longer than I did which would have me locked out on the other side of the fence seeing as how the Mayor just left for the Capitol. Anytime the Mayor is out of town, they turn on the fence for the duration of his absence. Guess they think we'll all rebel and leave the district otherwise. I've been stuck out there before and it's not fun. I'm extra glad it didn't happen tonight since it would've made me miss out on this job.

Madge shows us how much of the backyard she wants cleared. It's a big space. We'll definitely be working all day. It'll be a lot of work but still doable. Maybe I can get Rory to help for an hour or two if we start falling behind schedule. I try focusing only on the task at hand but I keep sneaking looks at her as she walks us around the yard pointing out things. I can't help but notice how wonderful she looks. She has on a really long dress though. With legs like I saw last night I wonder how come she doesn't show them off more.

"Alright Undersee. We'll be back tomorrow at sunrise. Shouldn't be a problem to have it finished by tomorrow night. " I tell her trying with some effort to sound disinterested in the project.

She nods and pulls two envelopes from her pocket and hands them over. I know without looking that it's the first part of our payment.

Thom and I head back to the Seam and make plans to meet up the next morning.

I go back home, walk through the door and slap the envelope down on the table with satisfaction. "Got the money for Vick's shoes and some extra to spare!"

"Oh Gale! How wonderful! How did you get it so fast?" My mother exclaims.

"I got a job clearing out a garden for the Mayor. Pays upfront with a bonus is I finish early. Thom got the job for us." I explain.

"Well I never doubted for a moment that it would all work out. Always does somehow. Is Rory on his way in too?"

"What? Rory wasn't with me. Haven't seen him all day." I'm suddenly alarmed. Where would he be?

"Oh I thought he was with you. Vick said he went to look for you around lunchtime and since he wasn't back I just assumed he was with you." She tells me with worry suddenly streaking across her face.

"I'll go find him. He couldn't have gone too far."

I leave the house and stand in the road that runs through the Seam. I yell out his name but don't hear anything in reply. It's dark now and he is supposed to always be home by dark. Where the hell is he? I'm gonna wring his neck if he's off somewhere messing around. I'm walking towards town when I hear my name being called from behind me.

I swirl around expecting to see Rory but instead I see Vick chasing after me.

"What happened? Did you find him?" I ask as I run to meet him half way.

"No Gale. He was looking for you. Thom had stopped by and said he needed you for a job. We didn't think you'd be back for hours and we knew you needed the job something terrible so he…he went into the woods to find you." He bursts out in tears at this confession.

"He went where? To the woods? What the hell Vick! You guys are not supposed to go out there, especially alone! You don't know the woods like I do. It's too dangerous!" I shout out him and then realize I need to keep my voice down since I'm talking about leaving the district fence.

Oh my God. Leaving the district. The fence was turned back on just after I'd come back inside of it since the Mayor is gone. If Rory's out there, he's trapped until the Mayor comes back which won't be for days. Oh my God, this is awful. I can't even get out there to help him.

"Vick, go back home. I'm going to find him. Did he cross over at the hedge where I usually cross?" I don't tell him that Rory's stuck outside the fence.

He just nods, tears running down his face and runs back to the house. I go directly to the spot where I usually cross the fence. Coming home, I'd gone to the Everdeen's house first so I'd crossed at a different spot than I usually do. We probably just missed each other. This is awful. Rory isn't prepared to be out in the woods all night. He could be lost or hurt. If he's hurt I won't be able to get to him for days. What am I going to do? Please be ok, I silently beg in my head. Please be okay. I will never forgive myself if something happens to him out there.