Chapter 36

"I'm sorry." That's what he whispered when I sat down next to him. I'm not feeling particularly forgiving at the moment so I made sure my response showed it. Then I'd turned my back to him and focused my attention on Prim. Gale had skipped school today leaving me to worry like crazy that something had happened to him. I'd looked for him in the halls between classes all morning and when I couldn't find him I'd asked Rory about him. But I didn't even see Rory until I'd gone to meet up with Prim after school. He told me Gale had gone hunting and most likely just stayed out in the woods. It isn't that I care if he skips classes. I just worry about him and he should've told me if he wasn't going to be here. It's hard enough going around all day acting as if we aren't a couple but it's even worse when he just up and disappears. So while I am much relieved to know he is safe and sound I intend to make him squirm just for a little while. I'll forgive him later tonight.

The viewing brings a huge surprise to everyone. A rule change. Instead of one victor, we can actually have two victors in this year's game. Provided of course that they are from the same district. This is completely unexpected to everyone. Even Katniss who yells out for Peeta the instant the rule is announced. They can both come home. Katniss goes off in search of him but he is well hidden and I wonder if she'll find him. He's been on the brink of death ever since his leg was cut so badly. He'd managed to find a muddy area by the creek and camouflaged himself with mud and water plants. All his cake decorating skills must have come in handy because he is almost fully concealed. I wonder if he will even last much longer. He's barely moved or spoken in days. Mostly just slipping in and out of unconsciousness. The screen flickers off just after Katniss finds Peeta. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how Peeta really is doing and to see if he and Katniss will be able to try and win this thing together. I hope they can. This would be an amazing opportunity for them. I look around and see how excited and hopeful everyone looks. The Mellarks and Everdeens clearly look hopeful.

I turn to Gale. It's the first time I've even looked directly at him since he got here. He doesn't look as hopeful as the rest of District 12. But when he sees that he finally has my attention his face changes to that of an apologetic one.

"Madge, I can explain. I know you were worried and I'm sorry." He whispers.

"I was worried but it's fine now. Besides, this isn't the time or place. See you tonight." I whisper back before walking past him and heading back home. I don't wait for him to respond because I don't want to talk about this now. We can talk later tonight.

As I enter my house I see my father's suitcase by the front door. He must be leaving for another trip. I hadn't heard of this one but then again when does anyone ever tell me a thing. I find him in the kitchen leaving me a note.

"Oh Madge dear, you caught me just in time. I'm afraid I've got business to tend to in the Capitol again. I should be back in a couple of days. You'll be alright while I'm gone?"

"Of course. Have a safe trip. Will you get to visit mother at all?"

"I'm not sure if she'll be feeling up to having visitors. And I'll be very busy but we'll see. I'll tell her hello for you if it happens to work out." He says as he leans down to kiss the top of my head. "Oh and Mabel left your dinner on the counter."

"Thank you, goodbye."

And with that he's gone. I lift the cover over my plate of dinner to see what I'm having. Baked ziti with garlic rolls and a small Italian salad. And an added treat, a slice of cheesecake. I heat it up and take it out to the bistro table out back. It's muggy out tonight and the night sky is cloud covered. Hopefully it'll rain soon and cool everything off.

My dinner is delicious. Mabel may not be trustworthy but she sure can cook, I'll give her that. After I've cleaned up my dishes I put the cheesecake back in the kitchen to save for later. I go up to my bathroom and draw a bubble bath. A soak in the tub sounds great. I'm exhausted. All these late night rendezvous are starting to take their toll. I've been taking naps whenever I can to try and supplement my lost sleep but even that doesn't always help. I ease myself down into the warm water and lean back, closing my eyes.

As I soak in the water, my mind wanders to last night's time in the woods. It was both phenomenal and frustrating at the same time. I don't understand how Gale can manage to always put a halt to everything when we're so caught up in the moment. And he manages to do it every single time. It's as if there's an imaginary line that he absolutely won't cross. It's both annoying and confusing. I know that Gale has been with other girls. He does have quite the reputation and even I know that much. I haven't been close to anyone; this is all new to me. I can't figure out why he doesn't want me in that way. Well, actually no. That's the confusing part. He says he wants me, wants so badly to be with me but in the same breath he's saying we need to stop. He tells me that he doesn't want me to regret anything and that's why we have to stop. Why we have to wait. But what are we waiting for? All I want is him. And I want him now. I can't stand all this stopping and waiting. I'm about to resort to begging.

My eyes open when I realize that we can't go into the woods tonight. My father is out of town, which means the fence will be turned on. And I'm home alone. That means Gale can come inside! That he can stay all night! I'm suddenly thrilled and can't believe that it took a couple hours for this to even occur to me. This is wonderful and I'm suddenly no longer exhausted. This realization has me very energized suddenly.

I dry off and pull the drain on the tub. I slip on my robe and sit down at my vanity. If he's spending the night I want to look stunning. I pull the turquoise colored ribbon from my hair and run my brush through it. I swirl a peachy blush on my cheeks and swipe mascara over my lashes. I spread gloss over my lips and then carefully blot them on a tissue. I rub a lavender scented lotion between my palms and then smooth it on my arms and legs. I go to my closet and now comes the hard part. What in the world do you wear when you want your boyfriend to spend the night? All my dresses seem too fancy or proper. A nightgown maybe? I'd worn, albeit unintentionally, my ruffled nightgown into the woods last night so that was out of the question. I go over to my lingerie chest and open the drawers pulling out every article of clothing I see. Nothing seems right. This is impossible. I'm standing in the biggest closet in all of District 12 and I can't find a single thing I want to wear. I sigh and let myself plop down in the large pile of clothing on the floor of my closet. I'm being ridiculous and I know it. Gale doesn't care what I wear or how I look. He likes me no matter what. I go back to the bathroom and wash the makeup off my face. I pull my hair up in a simple bun and go back to my closet. I grab the first dress my hands touch and slip into it. It's a sleeveless button down that falls just above my knees and has a ribbon that ties as a belt. I think my Capitol wardrobe stylist said the color was called perrywinkle. It's not quite blue and not quite purple, something in between. I skip the shoes and opt to go barefoot. Same with accessories, there's no need for that. I'm good just like I am.

A quick time check tells me that Gale should be here soon. I go down and wait on the back porch swing. I hear thunder clap off in the distance and the air smells like rain. I inhale deeply, taking in the scent of the air. I see Gale walking up in the distance. His tall frame unmistakable. I feel butterflies in my stomach as I stand to walk down to the shed and meet him. He must see me on the porch because he comes up to meet me before my feet reach the bottom step.

"Hey." He says looking at me quizzically.

"Come with me." I say as a sly smile forms on my lips. I hold out my hand and he takes it and I lead him inside.

"What's going on?"

"My father is out of town. Left on the evening train after the viewing this afternoon. We have the whole house to ourselves tonight." I say grinning from ear to ear.

"Well how's that for a pleasant surprise?" He says smiling and pulling me to him for a kiss.

"Want some dessert? I saved mine. It's cheesecake, we can share." I tell him as I pull a fork from the drawer.

"Don't think I've ever had that. It sounds awful."

"It's so decadent. Just try it, you'll love it! I promise." I say laughing as I hold a forkful up to his mouth. He reluctantly opens it and lets me feed him the bite.

"Wow. That is good. Why do they call it cheesecake? It doesn't taste like cheese. Or cake for that matter."

"It's made from a special kind of cheese called cream cheese. And the crust is from melted butter and crushed graham crackers. Isn't it great?"

He nods in agreement as he helps himself to another bite. We polish off the dessert in no time. Seeing how much he enjoyed it makes me glad that I saved it. I make a mental note to save him a slice the next time Mabel makes it for me.

"So, care to tell me what happened to you this morning?"

"I really am sorry. I went into the woods before school, just planned to check and reset a few snares. But I was in such a foul mood that I just couldn't go to school. I needed to clear my head and just breathe. It was a spur of the moment decision and I really am sorry that you had to worry about me all day."

"I was worried but I understand. But what was wrong? Why the foul mood?"

"Mostly just because I'm so exhausted I think but also partly because I talked to my mother and found out who Lily was. And I didn't like what she told me."

"Who is she? Do we know her?" I can't believe he hasn't told me yet.

"It's Krull. Lily Krull. Tripp's mother." He tells me as he looks at me with sad eyes.

"Really? I must have chatted with her in passing a dozen times over and never once has she asked about my mother. I never would've thought them to be friends." I can't believe it. She's been right in front of me the whole time.

"Well, that's what my mother said. Can't say I'm real excited about what this means."

"What does it mean?" I don't understand.

"It means I have to sit around being jealous when you get to know Lily while her son uses it as an opportunity to make a move on you."

"Jealous? You think I'm interested in Tripp Krull?"

"No. I think he's interested in you. And because of our current arrangement I can't exactly tell him to keep his hands off of you. It's gonna kill me to sit back and watch him try to steal you away from me."

"Gale, he can try all he wants. I'm with you and that counts whether I can tell him that or not. It's you and me, no matter what." I tell him as I get up and come around the table to stand next to him so I can be closer.

"I know that, I do. But it won't make me like him and it won't make me any less jealous." He says as he pulls me onto his lap.

"Is it bad that I like knowing you get a little jealous about me?" I ask him with a flirty smile.

"You like it, huh?" He flirts back as he leans his forehead against mine.

"C'mon, I'll give you the official tour of the house." I say as I stand and grab his hand.

I walk him through the downstairs portion of the house showing him all the many different and in my opinion useless rooms. I lead him upstairs, pointing out all the rooms as we walk down the hallway. When we get to my door, I open it and pull him in, shutting it behind us.

"And this is my room."

"It's so huge. And so fancy." he says as he eyes the crystal chandelier that hangs in the center of the room.

"Well, I would've done it completely different had I been allowed any say in the decorating. Some Capitol decorator got to decide everything, not me." I say feeling a little embarrassed. My room is very outrageously done up and he's probably never seen anything like it before.

"Posy would love it. She loves anything pink."

"I'll have to show it to her sometime. If that's okay with you." I add on that last part because I'm not sure how he'd feel about me showing Posy such fancy things when she has so little materially speaking.

He nods. A huge clap of thunder booms outside and the sound of rain begins to patter down on the roof.

"Guess it's a good thing we weren't out in the woods tonight." I say. "We be drenched for sure."

"I can think of a few other benefits of not being in the woods tonight." He says as his hands find my waist and pull me to him.

"Does this mean you'll stay? You'll spend the night?" I say not meaning to whisper but it comes out that way.