Disclaimer: Gettin' spicy.
School starts back up the next week and thankfully Jace still allows me to sit at his lunch table. It's less awkward now that we've agreed friends is best and any remnants of a relationship are gone. Now we just laugh. At everything. Because we can't help ourselves. We laugh at the way the teachers walk around the cafeteria, we laugh at the awkward couple that's sucking face a few tables over, we laugh at the way the one light flickers in the corner. None of it's funny, but we can't stop laughing. We're clinging on to every little thing these days. With the new torture devices in our square we're trying to stay as positive as possible.
That is, until the announcements flash on the screen. The announcements of a mandatory viewing of something tonight. We freeze at the sight of it and glance toward each other.
"What do you think that's about?" he asks after biting into an apple.
"Well I know Katniss took a lot of wedding pictures," I tell him. "So maybe that?"
Jace shrugs, "I guess that's all we've really got, huh?"
And that night is exactly what I thought it to be, only more. I watch Katniss twirl around in her many fantastic dresses. The crowd at the Capitol is cheering for their favorites, crying out when the ones they don't like come up. I personally will be jealous of whichever is chosen. She always looks so stunning in whatever they put her in. Maybe tomorrow I'll stop by to see her and congratulate her on her wedding, but then again maybe I won't say it like that. She probably isn't too thrilled to be forced into a marriage…
It's just been awhile since I've seen her is all, I feel like I'm losing her. I don't want to lose her. Just as the program comes to a close Caesar tells us to stay tuned. "That's right, this year will be the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Hunger Games, and that means it's time for our third Quarter Quell!"
My first thought is of Haymitch, how he won during the last Quell. He must be up in arms about now, or dead drunk. Either way, he isn't going to enjoy whatever they have to say. My father sits on the couch next to me and I feel him tense at this announcement.
"Do you know what it is?" I ask him. Maybe because he's the mayor he was informed earlier, but he shakes his head.
"No, but I don't have a very good feeling about it," he tells me. "At all." The anthem plays and then President Snow is on stage, causing my heart to drop. He makes me nervous. Very, very nervous. And then my stomach sinks too because I also get the feeling that this isn't going to be good. "Kasen, come in here," he calls. Kasen rushes out of the kitchen and sits on the couch next to me.
A young boy, younger than Rory, wearing a white suit crosses the stage. He has a small, wooden box. "Oh boy," Kasen mutters. "I remember this." President Snow tells us all about the Dark Days and the Hunger Games as if we don't know already, and then about the Quell. I haven't been alive for a Quell but I know they always do awful things. Maysilee was killed in the Quell, which makes me hate them even more.
"On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it." The way his voice is so calm makes me cringe. How could one just vote for someone to be a tribute? It's sick and terrifying and I would have opted out of voting at all.
"On the fiftieth anniversary," he continues, "as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was required to send twice as many tributes." How Haymitch won I still have no idea. I know enough from the stories my mother told me before her disease got too awful, but that's all. They don't play his on the TV anymore.
"Rest in peace, Maysilee," I hear my father say under his breath. I grab his hand and give it a tight squeeze.
"She's in a much better place," Kasen says. I wonder if he's referring to heaven, or just because any place is better than here. Maybe both.
"And now we honor our third Quarter Quell," the president says before I have a chance to ask Kasen which meaning it is. My heart aches in my chest. I suddenly begin to panic and wonder if it will increase the odds to be not so in my favor. Maybe the more money you have the more entries, or the higher position you have in your town the more entries. That would mean less for Gale's family, which would be nice I suppose. I'd rather me go in that Rory.
The boy steps forward and opens the lid, holding it up to Snow. There's thousands of yellowed envelopes inside, how many Quells are there going to be in the world? The thought of it makes me sick.
"Good luck, sweetie," I hear Kasen whisper to me. My father sits upright and locks his jaw. The envelope marked 75 is removed and Snow opens it without hesitation.
"On the seventy-fifth anniversary," what if I'm forced to go in? "as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol," people from town would be strongest, but even they have people stronger than them… "the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."
Katniss and Peeta and Haymitch. Three of the most important people in my life, even if to a smaller degree than others. Will it be Peeta or Haymitch? Katniss doesn't have an option. My father doesn't even say anything to me as I burst out of the room, barely slipping my shoes on in time.
I can't visit Haymitch, not now. He might throw something at me. Peeta's probably already planning on how to get Katniss out. Katniss… I don't even want to know what she's doing. But there's one other person that will feel as terrified as me. As broken. As scared. And his door is the one I'm pounding on.
"Madge, are you alright?" Hazelle's the one that answers. She reaches forward without hesitation and wipes under my eyes. "What's wrong?" Sometime between my house and Gale's I've started crying. "Come in, come in."
I'm ushered inside where Rory and Vick sit staring at the screen. Something else is going on but I don't notice it. They're dark skin has turned pale. I suppose Posy is upstairs sleeping. A crash echoes through the house and Rory cringes, looking down at his lap.
"Gale?" I ask weakly, and she nods. "Can I…?"
"Just be careful," she says exasperatedly. I nod and then scurry to the hallway leading to his room. His is the only one downstairs and they can all see me from the hall. It makes me feel self conscious but I knock timidly anyway.
"Rory I already told you," Gale booms as he yanks open the door, his face contorted into a painful mask of anger. Once his eyes spot me he lowers his arm that was preparing to strike and his face relaxes. "Madge," he exhales, his arms stretching forward and pulling me into his room, slamming the door behind us. Instantly his body is pressing against mine, his arms wrapped tightly around me as we lean against the door.
"Hey," I breathe out, clutching his shirt. I can see through a gap where his arm is and there's a shattered vase of sorts on the floor. Also lots of clothes like he ripped all the drawers out of his dresser, and sheets and pillows like he just needed to throw something.
"Oh, Madge," he smothers me in himself, his hands unsure where he wants to touch. "They're going back," he mutters. "They're going back…"
"I know," I reply softly. Maybe Gale loves Katniss, maybe he doesn't. It doesn't matter to me, because that's his best friend. Despite what happens to her, they're best friends and nothing is going to change that. Hunting partners. Survivors.
"Why did you come here?" he croaks, his forehead lowering to press against mine. His hands trail up to my face and hold me closer.
"Because I just needed someone…" I say quickly. "Someone who…" but then I trail off.
"Someone who what, Madge?" his voice is soft, his eyes pained.
"Someone who would just hold me," I whisper nervously as I feel my chin quiver and my eyes swell with tears again. "Someone who wouldn't act like everything is okay and would just hold me and make me feel safe. I needed you, Gale," I whimper. He closes his eyes and nuzzles into my neck, his hands traveling down to my back again. In one swift motion he picks me up, his arm capturing me from behind my knees, and carries me to his bed.
"Let me hold you, then," he says gently, lowering himself next to me. I pull his shirt in clumps toward me and bury my nose in his chest. One of his arms wraps around my waist, the other over. His lips press against my forehead and I sigh, squeezing him closer.
"I'm scared, Gale," I mumble into his chest.
"Me too," he admits quietly. "They shouldn't have to go back, this was planned." I nod and he holds me closer. His soft scent fills the air, the smell of woods despite his lack of being in them, leather, smoke from the fire. "Madge?"
"Hm?" I sniffle.
"I'm not upset because," he hesitates. "Because I'm in love with her. You know that right? I'm not in love with her, that's not why I'm upset."
"I know, Gale, she's your best friend." I look up from his chest and meet his eyes as he nods. One of his hands travels up to play with my hair. I watch him for a long time, the way his fingers twirl about my head sending shivers down my spine. How his eyes are rimmed in red but refuse to let a tear fall. Everyone says I'm strong but Gale's the strong one. Always has been, always will be. He's my rock.
Before I even know what I'm doing I reach for his face, pressing my lips gently to his. His whole body tenses and his eyes drift shut, but his lips are warm and the hand that was playing with my hair reaching down, tugging my chin closer. When I pull away he sighs, his eyes flittering open. "Why'd you do that?" he asks softly, his nose bumping mine as he licks his lips.
"Because I…" I start, searching his eyes desperately. "It's been so long since I kissed you and…"
"No," he says with a hint of a smile. "Why'd you stop?" With an aching heart and a shattered soul he bends down to me, his lips teasing mine for a moment before he actually kisses me. His lips are so familiar, his taste addicting. I press my hand backward to propel myself forward as he encloses on me. He shifts so he's leaning over me and I use my elbow to keep myself up. His rough hand drags across my waist, the other getting tangled in my hair. "Madge," he breathes against my lips. His voice is desperate and it makes my insides stir as I pull him closer again.
"I need you," I reply through a sore voice. "Gale, I need you." So empty, I'm tired of being so empty. I'm desperate for his touch, for his feel.
"And I need you," he says back. "No one else, you. You'll get me through this. Together, we'll get through this together." I nod as his lips trail across my jaw and down my neck. "How do you do this to me?" he asks. "How do you get my heart racing so easily? It's like nothing else matters but right now." I know he doesn't expect an answer so I just giggle and lay back across his pillow. He's still above me and he smiles. "I've never wanted to be with anyone more in my life. You make me feel so free, Madge." Gale kisses me again, but only lightly, because then he pulls away and whispers, "I love you."
"Gale,"
"No, I do," he says. "I do, I really do."
"Why?" I ask weakly. He smiles and pulls me to sit up with him.
"Because you're determined," he says gently, pushing a strand of hair from my face. "You never give up. You have so many reasons to just quit on everyone and everything and you don't." He leans forward and kisses me quickly, leaving his forehead to rest against mine. "You don't care what other people think about anything. You have this heart that just loves everyone despite where they come from."
"I just,"
"I love how you are with Rory," he shakes his head as he smiles. "I love how fascinated you are with everything. How against the Capitol you are despite being the mayor's daughter. How that should make you snotty and make you think you're better than everyone else but you're so humble."
Now I smile, "Gale,"
"I just love you Madge. I do."
My eyes get lost in his as his lips tug upward. "I love you, too," I say quietly. His eyebrows knit together, then apart, and he opens his mouth like he doesn't know what to say before closing it again.
Finally he settles on, "Really?"
"Yes," I laugh. "Really."
"You…?"
"Yes!" I repeat, my own face morphing into a grin. His jaw drops like he's shocked anyone would be possible of loving him and his eyes light up. Gale lurches toward me, his arms winding around me, his chin resting on my shoulder.
"Swear it?" he breathes, and I nod.
"I swear. Gale, I swear." He starts pressing kisses against my neck, down to my collarbone. My hands travel to his neck as he nips below my ear sending shivers through my body. I lay down again and he follows after me, his hands skirting across every area where my skin is shown. The hem of my shirt, the dip of my neck line. His lips embrace as much of me as he can. That itching comes back, the need to touch his skin that I experienced in the woods that one night. As he kisses me again I snake my hand up under his shirt. This time there's no objection as I tug it over his head.
"Wait," he breaks the kiss. "My back…" My fingers rake across his chest and he shudders. "It's… I don't…"
"Does it still hurt?" I ask unable to stop the shaking of my voice. He's so beautiful, his perfect skin and gentle stubble. The way his warmth radiates and envelopes me. He shakes his head no quickly and goes to say something but I cut him off. "Then it doesn't matter," his eyes are skeptical but he still smiles, leaning down to kiss me again.
His body presses against mine as he wraps his hands around my waist underneath my shirt. I can't figure out what to do with my hands because I want to touch all of him at once. I want to feel him, breathe him in, be with him for the rest of my short life. Slowly his fingers pry at my own shirt as if he's asking for permission, so I reach down and help him the rest of the way leaving my bra on. As I toss it to the side Gale watches me carefully.
"You're so beautiful," he whispers, his eyes trying to absorb all of me at once. "I don't… I don't even…"
"Just kiss me," I plead, and his face cracks a smile while he leans in to do just that. Now instead of stopping at my collarbone his kisses trail down my chest, his hands tickle the skin on my stomach. I've never felt more alive in my entire life; all I want to do is touch him. My hands reach for the button on his jeans but he breaks the kiss.
"Not tonight," he says almost painfully. "Not yet."
"But I," he cuts me off with a kiss.
"My mom's in the next room, Madge," he laughs, the sound sending goosebumps across my entire body. "I want to, just not tonight." I must make some disapproving angry face because he laughs and kisses me all over again. "I love you," he mumbles, crushing his lips against me again. "I love you," another kiss, "I love you," kiss, "I love you…"
"Stop!" I giggle, pushing him off. He grins and licks his lips. "What time is it?" He looks around his room as if he's looking for a clock and then shrugs before rolling off the bed. He tosses a few things around on the floor and I sit up. He even chucks my shirt at me playfully before he lifts up the clock. Must've came down during his fit of rage.
"Going on 11," he says. "The kids'll be going to sleep soon, if not already."
I raise an eyebrow at him, "Meaning what?"
"Meaning…" he trails off suggestively. "I should probably go to bed too."
"Tease," I laugh. He turns around with a grin to pick something up, and this is the first time I get a clear sight of his back. I gasp without even meaning to, and he snaps around quickly. Each crack of the whip is visible, the sound of that wretched day echoes in my head.
"It was awful wasn't it," he mutters.
"No," I say quickly, crawling across the bed to make my way to him. "It wasn't, it just caught me by surprise is all…"
"I'm not stupid, Madge," he sighs, raking his fingers through his hair. "I've seen it, it's awful."
"It's only awful because it's from them," I enforce, grabbing his face in my hands. "Okay? It doesn't make me love you any less." He kisses me quickly and I sigh. "Let me see." I'm on the edge of the bed and he's on the floor. "Please?" Hesitantly, he turns around. Scars electrify his back and I reach forward to trace one. A shiver shoots down his spine but he says nothing, just lets me trace them. After another moment I lean forward and kiss one, then another.
"Madge," he sighs. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss the side of his face. He turns to look at me and pushes me up toward the bed, following after.
"Do you work tomorrow?" I ask quietly. He pulls me into his arm and shakes his head yes.
"Why?"
"Just wondering," I lie. His nose bumps mine and I blush.
"Do you want to stay?" he asks lightly. "If you stayed would your father send out the search party?"
I laugh, "No, he wouldn't send out the search party." As I ran out the door I told him I might not be back and not to worry. Although he probably would anyway. Maybe I had anticipated staying the entire night.
"Then you should stay," he soothes, his hand twirling through my hair. "Tomorrow is Saturday…"
"But you work," I mumble as he kisses me again. "And you're not missing it."
"Are you planning on keeping me up tonight?" he asks slyly, another blush spreading across my cheeks. "I want you to stay," the vibrations of his voice give me tingles. "Just tonight…"
"Your mom'll kill me."
"Not a chance," he grins.
"Fine, then she'll kill you," I smirk. He laughs again and presses another kiss to me. So many kisses tonight I could drown in them and never care to breathe again.
"More plausible," he admits, "yet I'm still not caring… Here," he pushes himself off the bed and lumbers over to his dresser, yanking it open and extracting a shirt that managed to survive the earlier rage. "You can wear this," he tosses it at me. I sit up and catch it and hold it up, it's over my knees. I silently thank whoever's up there that made Gale so tall his shirts act as nightgowns for me.
Without hesitation I slip it over my head, straightening it out nicely. Then I jump to the floor and pull my jeans off. Just like a nightgown, it covers me completely. "Well?"
"If only my mom wasn't home," he says, shaking his head slowly with a smile before he pulls me into his arms again.
I stir in my sleep as Gale's crawling back into bed donned in his mining uniform. I turn to face him and he grins. "Hey," he says quietly.
"What time is it?" I yawn and nuzzle myself into his chest.
"Only around 7, there was a gas leak so we were all sent home." His arms wrap around me and his forehead presses against mine. The odds are definitely in our favor today. "Go back to sleep, Madge." So I do, and then when I wake up again I'm still in his arms. He's already awake and his fingers are spinning through my hair.
"Morning," I mumble, rubbing at my eyes.
"Afternoon," he shoots back with a smirk. "Or, well, almost."
"How'd you sleep?" I yawn again and he nuzzles into me.
"If you were here every night I might be the most well rested person in district 12," he laughs. "Should you be getting home soon?" I groan and shove my face back into his chest. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Don't make me," I mutter. "Let me stay here forever."
"If I could I would," he says back, his lips in my hair. Home is back to reality. Home is where my father locks himself in his room and the Quell will be all that's discussed. That isn't home. Home is here, home is with Gale. "Come on," he scoots away from me, allowing me to sit up and stretch. "Hell, you're beautiful," he says quietly as I do so. "So beautiful…" he trails off as I stand on my knees, leaning toward him and pulling his face to mine.
"And yours?" I ask weakly, lips inches from mine.
He nods, "Oh yes. All mine." He lunges forward, attacking my lips with his as I grin. "And I'm all yours. I swear."
"As expected," I say back.
"Here," he leans down and grabs my jeans. "You might want to put those on before you walk out there. Or my mom will kill you." I laugh and hop off the bed, sliding the material up my legs as Gale watches with a smirk. "You're adorable," he mutters, his eyes trailing up my body. "Now your shirt," he rolls his eyes. I look down at the one that I'm wearing, the one that smells like him, and I hesitate.
"But I… fine." He raises his eyebrows as I slip it off me, chucking it at his face so he can't watch. "I wanted to keep it," I admit shyly. My own shirt slips over my head before Gale yanks the one from his face and he hands it back to me.
"Then it's yours," he grins. I smirk and hold it close, but then set it on his bed so I can tie my hair up. For a tiny house while it's still chilly outside, it's pretty hot in here. Then again, that might be due to… "Wait," Gale rakes the ponytail holder out of my hair. "Don't wear your hair up."
"But it's hot," I say, my eyes squinting at him.
"Just for now…" his eyes dart toward my neck and I bring my hand up to cover it quickly.
"You didn't."
"Not intentionally?" the mirth in his eyes is unmistakable. I stride across to the mirror on his wall and lift my hair up. There, clear as day by my collarbone, is a hickey. He's given me a hickey. I turn around to yell at him but he's grinning and I lose all the anger behind it.
"My dad's going to kill me!" I jab a finger at him instead.
"Well I said…" Gale starts, but a light drumming on the door makes him stop.
"Gale, wake up!" Posy coos from the other side. "It is late!"
"After you," I motion, crossing my arms after gesturing toward the door. With a smirk he grabs my chin, kissing me quickly. With every press of his lips my heart somersaults in my chest.
"Gale!" Posy giggles as he opens the door, rushing forward and attaching herself to his leg. "Mommy was worried you would sleep all day." Her eyes widen when she sees me. "Hi, Madge," she lets go of Gale's leg.
"Hi Posy," I say back, a blush creeping onto my cheeks. Then, she stumbles backwards and races toward the living room. "Madge is still here, Rory! You were right!"
"Oh sweet mercy," Gale mutters, dragging me out of his room by my wrist. Rory, Vick, and Posy all sit on the couch, grins on their faces as they try to stop their giggling. Hazelle is scrubbing dishes in the sink and she turns to look at us as we stride into the room. "Morning Ma," Gale says, cutting across the room to kiss his mother on the cheek. "Siblings," he notes, nodding at them.
"Good morning," I say, my voice shaking. Gale smirks and walks over to me, his arm wrapping around my waist as he pulls me to the door.
"We'd love to stay but Madge should probably…"
"No so fast," Hazelle snaps, dropping the dishes into the sink with a bang. "Table, now."
"Yes ma'am," I sputter out quickly, rushing toward the kitchen table. Gale groans and lumbers after me, taking the seat to my left. Hazelle dries her hands on a dishrag and steps across the room, sitting at the table as well. Her eyes dart between both of us, and then I hear another giggle from the couch.
"Please don't tell me we're…" Gale starts, a heat creeping onto his own cheeks.
"Oh yes," Hazelle cuts him off. "We're having that talk."
"Ma, the kids are on the couch…!"
"Well if you want to act like adults than you two can deal with an adult talk."
"We didn't do anything, Hazelle," I say quickly. "Really, nothing like that…"
"Madge," Posy cuts us off. All our heads turn to face her. "What's on your neck?" Gale groans and his face lands in his hands as a pink spreads across my cheeks while I fumble with my hair trying to get it cover my neck. Rory's in an uproar from the living room and I swear I catch Hazelle smirk.
"That was mortifying," Gale mumbles as he walks me home. "The entire thing."
"I thought it was funny," I giggle, grabbing his hand. His fingers intertwine with mine and I pull myself closer to him. "Oh, come on Gale." He glances down at me and I press myself on my tiptoes, snatching a kiss from him. "I love you," I remind him gently, and he grins.
As we get closer to town his hand slips from mine and I don't mind. This is how it'll be for now, this is how it'll be until we talk to Katniss, until he talks to my father and asks for permission. I want to do it right, he told me last night. You and me. No mistakes this time.
When we reach my house Kasen is out on the porch browsing a newspaper. "Well it's about time you stumbled home," he says without looking up.
"Mad?" I ask quietly, referring to my father.
"Mad," Kasen repeats, finally dropping the newspaper. His eyes glance toward Gale who's taken a step back.
"Just… walking her home…" he says nervously. The way he fidgets even makes me giddy. I turn to him and smile, stepping closer so only he can hear me. "Last night was probably one of the best nights of my life," he says quietly. "Just because you were with me."
"Shut up," I laugh, but still end up blushing. "I gotta go."
"I love you," he says quickly before stepping backward, looking in Kasen's direction one more time before making his way back toward his home. I watch him for a moment before turning to Kasen who now wears a satisfied smirk.
"You had to wait outside," I grumble as I make my way past him.
"I thought he wasn't your boyfriend," Kasen teases. I push him before storming into the house, a snicker follows after me.
"My father hears nothing of this, understand?"
"He's my boss, sweetie," Kasen says as he opens the door for me. "If he wants to know something then I have to tell him." I collapse on the couch with a huff and he laughs while sitting next to me. "You might want to keep your hair over your shoulders, not behind."
"Kasen!" I groan, tugging my hair forward.
"Well you don't want to insult our guest," he says, pushing himself off the couch and toward the kitchen.
I raise my eyebrows and drop my hands from my hair. "Guest?"
A/N: I've had some people worrying that Gale and Madge won't have a happy ending, but this is me promising they will. This is me promising she survives the bombing. This is me promising there will be more trouble, but they will get through it. That's what people do when they love each other, they work through their troubles. Lemme know what you liked and didn't like about the chapter. x