Prompt: Song- Ex to See- San Hunt
Disclaimer: Don't own.
It was another normal Friday night and everyone was letting loose at the local bar. The band was playing and couples were laughing. Cato's booming laughter filled the room as did Johanna's voice teasing customers. Glass was clinking as Rue picked up empty bottles passing them to her best friend Prim, who was home from college, and working a shift for some extra cash. Glimmer was taking orders of food and passing them off to Finnick, the cook.
In one corner of the room, seated in two stools were a couple. To the average onlooker, the two were a gorgeous pair, his dark looks complimenting her pretty blonde halo. To the people around them, however, they were an explosion waiting to happen. They were the Friday night entertainment.
Typical Friday night and she was dressed in blue jeans and a green shirt, his jacket thrown over her chair. He leaned forward and she followed his action. Gale twirled one of Madge's blonde curls around his finger and Madge looked up at him.
"Have I told you how much I love this color Princess. It's like having my own personal sun."
She blushed still not used to compliments he paid her.
She had moved to the small town 3 months ago around the same time the love affair between Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthrone had ended. A few weeks later Katniss was seen dancing with a boy and Gale made his move on the new Madge.
At first, she was wary, not used to having a guy like Gale paying her attention. Then when she found out about Katniss, everything fell into place.
Madge knew she was a rebound. Gale Hawthorne never touched her unless Katniss was in the room. The second they laid eyes on each other it was a battle to see who could win. The battle ended with Katniss going home with a guy and Gale taking her home. Sometimes, he spent the night, sometimes he didn't.
She wished she could hate him but Gale was a good guy.
She knew she should have told Gale to quit it but it had been a while since a guy had flirted with her. It felt nice to have someone flirt with her, even though she was in danger of falling in love with Gale Hawthrone.
Suddenly Gale tugged her close and placed a kiss on her jaw and her eyes fluttered close.
No, she wasn't in danger of falling in love with him, she already was.
Another Friday night, this time she had a red skirt and white shirt, his cowboy hat on her head. His arm wrapped around her waist and he smiled at the man behind the bar.
"Two Jack Daniels Cato."
Cato grinned at them but Madge saw the concern in his eyes. Cato's girlfriend Clove had become one of her close friends and she knew the two were concerned about the situation between Gale, Katniss, and her. It had been going for 8 months. Lines were blurring in her head and her heart was on the line, yet she didn't say a word, not willing to give up. Not willing to let Katniss win.
Another Friday night, it had been a year. She slammed her shot down and then pulled him to the dance floor. It was better to be around people. The more people there were, the less chance she would do something stupid and kiss him. He always kissed her, not the other way around.
He pulled her close as they fell into step together. He twirled her around and whispered in her ear. Some things he whispered were naughty, others were daring, some were just corny, but he always made her laugh.
He took her home and the next morning made her dinner in honor of the year. They were not dating but sometimes it felt like it.
It wasn't anyone fault that she fell in love with Gale but hers. After several Friday nights full of dancing and drinking, she forgot that Katniss was still the number one girl in Gale's heart.
Gale knew how to treat a lady right.
He held doors opened for her and always made her laugh and smile.
He walked on the side next to the road and gave her his jacket.
They sat on her couch and played boardgames.
She and Gale went to dinner and then to the bar. They went to the movies and got walked her home and spent the night.
She ate breakfast at his ranch and had dinner with his family every Sunday. He brought her flowers and kissed her. They spent nights tangled in the sheets. But he never stayed the night at her place. She never asked, afraid of the answer.
Gale treated her right and did little things and it all added her to falling in love and without a way out of the puzzle.
One Friday night, she went to the bathroom to fix herself. As she fixed herself in the mirror, Katniss walked in. Both girls took each other in. Despite living in the same town for a year, they had yet to run into each other on their own. Katniss was always with Jackie, Thresh's girlfriend and she was aways with Clove.
Katniss was tall with long brown hair that well braided into a enterquite pattern. She was wearing jeans and a dark green top. Madge on the other hand was a blonde with long curls that reached the small of her back. She had on a white dress and a pair of heels that Gale loved because it made her look taller. They were different people and it couldnt have been more obvious. Katniss was a born country girl while Madge was a city girl. Katniss belonged to Gale having spent her entire life with him. Madge knew the two had a friends with benefits relationship, similar to the one she had now with Gale, for three years. She knew Gale had a ring hidden in the back of his sock drawer, with a pretty green gemstone to match Katniss love of the color.
Madge left the bathroom first and walked up to Gale who was talking to a girl.
She slid between them and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him hard, makign sure everyone knew he was hers. It was the first time she kissed him.
It may not be for real, but she was the only one who knew this.
When she pulled away, she saw Gale's eyes focus on someone behind her.
Katniss.
Her shoulders slumped and she bit her lip. She could feel tears threathening to be released.
She turned her head and walked away.
She got her purse for Cato and she decided to walk home to clear her head.
It was a small town and everything was within walking distance. She ran to her little house.
She ignored her phone with kept flashing Gale's picture at her.
When she got home, she locked her doors ans stripped down and slid into a bath.
After her bath, she turned on her laptop and waited for her best friend to pick up her Skype call.
The smiling face of Peeta Mellark filled the screen and she lost it.
She burst into tears and poor Peeta could do nothing but watch and murmur soothing words as his best friends cried her heart out over a computer screen. As she cried, his fingers flew over the keyboard booking himself a one way ticket to Madge.
Madge spent the next day at home, as if it was the weekend she didn't have work. Perks of being a teacher.
She ignored her phone which now had Cato, Clove, and Gale's names permantly on them screens hwoing several missed calls and texts.
After a while of hearing the phone ring, she sent them a mass message saying she was sick.
Gale called her and she hit ignore.
She had to figure out something.
Her phone flashes Peeta's face and she answered the call.
"Open your front door."
Seh did and threw herself into the waiting arms of her best friend.
They sat down and had pizza and caught up on everything. She told him all the details she didn't share during their weekly Skype calls.
Peeta refused to let Madge mope so he went threw her closet and pulled out a black dress with a low back. He kindly forced her into it an dragged her out to the bar.
It was a Saturday night.
Madge spotted Gale brooding in the corner and that his eyes took her all in when he saw her. She saw another jacket in the seat in front of him. Peeta pulled her to get drinks.
"Cato! Whiskey for us."
"New boy?"
"Best friend since grade school."
"Flew in to surprise her."
Everyone was eyeing them and she knew eveyrone heard what they were could hear and see the rumors spreading.
Peeta got her a seat and her eyes landed on Gale who was talking to Katniss.
Katniss.
Katniss was the owner of the jacket in the seat across from Gale.
It was a Saturday night.
She closed her eyes.
How many Friday nights did he spend with her, only to come on Saturday nights to be with Katniss?
Pretty, perfect, lovely Katniss.
How long was this going on?
How many people talked about it behind her back.
About stupid, naive city girl Madge and how strong and handsome Gale was stringing her long, coming from her bed to be with Katniss.
How many Sunday mornings did he arrive late to picking her up for family breakfast? Was he with Katniss those mornings?
Questions ran through her mind and she could feel herself on a verge of a panic attack.
"Peeta, can we leave?" She stammered out.
She bit her lip, tears welling up, heart pounding. Her eyes were wide up, staring at Katniss and Gale.
Peeta followed her gaze and gasped.
"Kat."
Part 2 is being worked on. Not sure when I will update or what I will update next since second semester is starting soon and with that comes a lot of work.
Love you Wallflowers.
-Queen