The crowd at the recital is just as big as it's always been. Gale finds Madge swiftly, knowing that she saved him a seat, and finds her as nervous as ever. His hand links with hers before they even say hello and he gives her a reassure squeeze, reminding her that everything is going to be okay. He's still dirty, covered in coal, but she doesn't seem to mind, squeezing his hand back just as tightly.
"I know she's going to be fine," Madge says to him. "I know that. Posy's always fine. Better than fine, Posy's great! I'm just—"
"Shhh," Gale whispers. Madge sighs, glancing over at him before he kisses her once. And then she sighs again, but visibly relaxes at his touch. "Calm down. Squeeze my hand." Madge nods and gives him a quick burst of pressure. "She's the last performance anyway," he tells her. "No reason to worry until then."
At this she frowns, but her hand slackens in his a bit.
Gale likes this tradition. Going to Posy's recital. Watching Madge panic. Listening to Posy play. Sitting with his family. Well, most of his family. Vick is a few rows up sitting with Lily and her family. Gale watches them and smiles, entirely too thrilled for his baby brother.
This recital is just like all the other recitals. Astounding performances by children of both town and Seam. Madge chewing on her bottom lip so hard that it might fall off. Hazelle whispering her thoughts about each and every act to Gale who only responds with a nod, not wanting to talk so much.
Finally it's Posy's turn. She gets on stage and does that awkward smile and wave that she always does before reaching the microphone. "My name is Posy Hawthorne," the little girl says. "And I'm going to be playing a piano piece I wrote." The crowd cheers as she bounces on her toes, smiling brightly. "It doesn't have a name yet," she tells the crowd once the cheers die down, "but it's for my family. I love them with my whole heart."
The cheers start up again as she makes her way to the piano, and Madge tightens her grip on Gale's hand.
Posy's song starts out very soft. Gentle, even. Entrancing. And though Gale isn't sure how he knows, he knows that this part is for his mother. He's sure that Hazelle knows it too because her eyes are filling with tears. He extends his free hand over to her and pats her knee, trying to express without words how he knows how she feels. The song gets quieter, and it's obvious that this is Posy's transition to her next person. Vick. Gale. Rory. Somehow Gale knows who is who, or at least it's who he thinks.
The entire time Posy plays Madge wears a proud smile, fighting back tears a bit better than his mother does. The recital is over after Posy's song so they all rush backstage to find her. The small girl is bouncing on her toes, grinning.
"I didn't mess up at all!" she tells them. "I did great!"
"Yes you did," Madge nods, lowering herself to a knee. "Posy that was absolutely beautiful."
"You really think so, Madge?" Posy asks. Gale watches as Madge nods, reaching up and brushing Posy's hair from her face. "Did you hear that last part? It was really short, right at the end. That was for you!"
Gale leans backwards against the wall, watching Posy and Madge interact. Madge blinks a few times, stunned. "For me?" she asks.
"For you!" Posy repeats. She throws her arms around Madge and gives her the tightest hug. Gale can literally feel his heart swelling in his chest. "You're the best teacher, Madge," Posy says as she hugs her. "Thank you for everything. Everything!" And this time, Madge doesn't even try to fight her tears of happiness.
The ground is wet from the storm last night. Gale tries to ignore the muddiness all around him and carries on through the woods like usual. Vick works in silence and Gale observes, watching his youngest brother methodically work through his snares. Picking up what he's caught. Resetting them. Gale finds more peace in watching his brother work than if Gale was to do all this himself.
"What should we do today?" Vick asks over his shoulder. "Fish? Gather?"
Gale digs the toe of his boot into the mud. Damn storms. Last night wasn't as bad as the one a few weeks ago but storms are never good for Gale.
"I thought I'd teach you how to shoot," Gale answers. Vick snaps around from the snare he's working on so quickly that he almost falls in the mud. Thankfully he doesn't, or it would be a lot more difficult for him to get clean for the Reaping today. Hazelle would have a fit. "Sound good?"
"Sounds great!" Vick says with a laugh. He jumps to his feet and Gale listens as the mud squishes beneath him. Once he's standing he lifts an eyebrow at his older brother. "Gale you're not… you don't have to teach me if you don't want."
"Should've taught you a long time ago," Gale says, throwing his arm around his shoulder. They walk in silence for a bit, or well as quietly as they can with the steady slurps of mud beneath their boots, until they reach where the bows have always been stored. "This is where we keep them," Gale tells Vick, reaching down to extract a bow from a log. "There're only two. Mine and Katniss' old one. She doesn't use it anymore and it's smaller than mine, so I'll use that one to teach you."
Vick nods, clearly eager, and watches as Gale strings it. Once it's all ready, Gale hands the bow over to Vick who holds it gently. The younger of the two holds it up as though he's going to shoot it, but doesn't pull on the string.
"You're not supposed to pull it back unless you're firing, right?" Vick asks.
"Right," Gale nods. "Bad for the bow." Vick holds onto it as they walk for the arrows now, pulling them from a tree. "Arrows are here. It's easy enough to make new ones but it takes a long time and costs money we don't have. So don't break them."
"Yes sir," Vick grins. Gale passes him the quiver and smirks as his younger brother swings it around his shoulder as though he's done this a thousand times before. Gale was like this too when Katniss first taught him how to shoot. "Where to?"
The morning is spent shooting arrows at trees. Working on stance. Working on aim. Vick's almost a natural, really. Just a few minor things to fix, a few muscles to build up. He'll be as good as Gale after a few weeks of practice, but for now Vick has a minor knowledge of how to work a bow and arrow.
The two brothers lounge at the same spot Gale and Katniss used to call theirs as they eat a quick snack. Some berries from a nearby bush. Vick stares out across the field and swallows his treat in silence. "Gale?" he turns toward his brother. "Why'd you teach me to shoot today?" Gale drums his fingers on the ground, not responding right away. "Is it because today's the Reaping?"
"I taught you to shoot because the waters would be rushing at the stream so we wouldn't be able to catch anything," Gale tells him. "And we would've been done gathering with plenty of time to spare. It was about time I showed you how to use it."
Vick nods, though only slightly. "Are you nervous for me?" he asks.
"Course not, Vick."
"My name's in there 42 times."
Gale throws a handful of blueberries in his mouth and tries to cover up his wince. Gale's name was in 42 times once too. But that didn't mean a thing. Primrose Everdeen's name was in the Reaping bowl once and she got drawn. Vick's countless slips mean nothing. Just as Posy's single slip means nothing. They both mean nothing. Gale can't do anything to change it. He can't volunteer if either of them are drawn. He can't hide them on a shelf. He just has to watch and cross his fingers.
"One more year," is all Gale says back. Vick nods, tipping his head forward. "It's your last." Again, Vick nods. Gale desperately wants to change the subject. "Hey Vick?"
His brother props himself up on his elbows. "Yeah?"
"Remember when we used to fight all the time?" Gale asks.
Vick snorts and rolls his eyes. "Yeah, Gale. I remember."
"You'd always… you'd always say that I wasn't Dad. That I didn't have the authority to be like him. And you're right. I didn't." Vick wrinkles his nose up at Gale and frowns. "You and Posy and Rory," Gale exhales deeply, "you guys are my world. When Dad died the only thing I knew to do was protect you guys." Vick slips backwards and lays on the ground, rather than continuing to prop himself up. "So I'm sorry for how I was. Controlling, you know? It was all I knew how to do."
"It's alright," Vick says softly. "I'm sorry for being a brat all the time."
"S'alright," Gale chuckles. "You always made life interesting." Vick chuckles too, staring up at the puffy clouds that fill the bright blue sky. "I always feel… I always felt like I was trying to be Dad. I should've just been your brother."
"That would've been nice," Vick murmurs, though Gale can tell he's smiling without even looking at him. "You're a good brother, Gale," he tells him. "And I hate to admit it, but you'll make a good dad one day too. Just not mine."
Gale laughs. "Thanks, Vick."
A gentle silence hangs between the two of them for a few minutes, a silence Gale can only describe as peaceful. They gaze out at the world below them, quiet and serene without any cares in the world. Gale knows they have to leave soon so Vick can get ready for the Reaping. So they both can get ready for the Reaping. He'd rather stay here forever. Just him and his brother. No places to go, no one to see. Just them. Here.
"You know," Vick suddenly says, "I'm really glad we're related." Gale snorts and turns to face his brother. "No, really! There's maybe one, two families besides ours that go out in the woods. You've supported us for as long as I can remember, Gale. Really, I'm not being sarcastic at all." Gale tips his head at Vick and smiles. "Thanks for always being there for us."
"Where else would I be?" Gale teases, elbowing the younger in the ribs.
By the time Gale and Vick get home Posy is already ready. She sits on the couch and chews on her nails to keep herself calm. Hazelle shoves Vick into the bathroom immediately, and since Gale isn't in the Reaping all he has to do is scrub off outside in the rain basin. Once he's done that he's instantly back inside, changing as quickly as he can to sit with Posy.
His shirt is getting a bit too small but other than that he looks clean enough. He takes the spot on the couch next to Posy and brushes at her bangs.
"You look beautiful, Pose," he says. Their mother has braided her hair back and out of her face, besides her bangs that hang out. "Who was that kid you said you liked? Aidan? He'll be all over you."
"Not funny," Posy mutters, though her lips tug upward for a moment. After a second of silence she throws herself at Gale clutching tightly to his arm. "Gale, I'm scared," she chokes out. "I'm scared. I'm so scared."
"I know, Posy," he whispers. His free arm circles around her and crushes his sister to his body. "It's alright. It's okay to be scared." She sniffles and her entire being shakes. "You've only got one slip," he reminds her. "You'll be alright."
"Prim had one slip too," she whimpers.
"Hey, no. Don't do that. Don't." Gale readjusts his arms around his sister and strokes her back lightly, trying to push his own nerves from his system. "Wanna hear a story?" Posy jerks her head into a nod. "When I was really little, a lot younger than you, maybe 8, I thought it would be cool to have a pet." Posy loosens her hold a bit and pulls away to look at him. "I wanted a pet squirrel," he tells her quietly.
"Really?" she asks, her mouth forming a slight smile again. Gale nods and Posy giggles, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "What did you do?"
"I tried to catch one, obviously," Gale tells her. "I set up all these traps around the house hoping that I'd catch one."
Her eyes widen, bright gray and very curious. "Did you?"
"Of course not," Gale laughs, tickling her side. Posy giggles again and sniffles once. "Dad saw that I was trying to and he got really mad at me. He said, 'Gale, these look like snares! If a peacekeeper had seen one then we could've gotten in trouble!'" Posy smiles, just as she always does when Gale tells her about their father. "He took them all down and told me squirrels were not pets, but food. Right?"
"Right," Posy agrees with a nod. "Did you ever get a pet?"
Gale chuckles, "An extra mouth to feed? No, Pose, I never got a pet." He looks up from his sister and finds his mother watching them, a soft smile on her face and her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I think that was the only time Dad ever really yelled at me. And it was only because he was scared." Gale finishes his story softly, realizing it probably wasn't the best one to tell. He just wanted Posy to smile.
"Gale?" she whispers. He drops his gaze back to his sister and lifts his eyebrows, waiting for her to answer. "What did Dad tell you for your first Reaping?"
He smiles as Posy rests her cheek on his chest. "He told me to never be afraid," Gale says with whisper. "He told me to walk in with my head held high and give 'em hell." Posy giggles again a bit and tightens her clutch on Gale's shirt. "Dad always said that Hawthorne's are the strongest and bravest people in all of District 12. That no matter what happens, we will always be together."
"No matter what," Posy repeats with a sniffle.
Gale takes his place in the crowd alongside Hazelle, watching the entire time Vick leads Posy through the process of checking in. Though his sister's eyes are wide and terrified she doesn't cry once. The only time he watches her strong exterior crack is when she gets her finger pricked, but everyone always flinches then.
Rory and Prim join them moments later, hugging them all without even saying anything. There's nothing to say. It's the day of Reaping.
Madge comes next, squeezing into the family as though she's a Hawthorne. Her hand instantly slips into Gale's and all at once he can breathe again. He lets out a breath he hadn't known he was holding in and grips her hand tightly.
It's silent mostly everywhere. There are those few that make bets behind them, whispering and falling quiet whenever the camera grazes past them. On stage sit Katniss and Peeta and Haymitch, all three of them gazing somberly out at the crowd. Peeta tries his best to smile like he always does, but even Gale can tell it's forced.
Madge's father takes the stage and rattles off the same things that he always does. Gale realizes that he always looks somber, distressed at this time of year. And he should. "It is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks," he utters into his microphone, blasting the same words as every year through the loudspeakers.
He reads off the list of past District 12 Victors. A man from before Gale's time. Haymitch Abernathy. Katniss Everdeen. Peeta Mellark.
Effie Trinket takes the stage. "Welcome, welcome," she cheers with less delight than usual. Gale's noticed that over the years her demeanor has shifted from pleased to more… forced. "To the 83rd annual Hunger Games!" she finishes brightly. She goes on to play the same clip that she always plays, straight from the Capitol and smiles as it rolls.
All Gale wants to do is rush into the crowd and take his siblings away from this. Madge squeezes his hand again and reminds him to breathe. Breathe. In out. In out.
Once the clip is done with, Effie smiles brightly. "Ladies first," she calls out. Gale's heartbeat speeds up, thumping against his chest loud and obnoxious. His hands sweat. He wonders if Madge notices. Not Posy. Anyone but Posy. Effie drops her hand into the bowl, fishing around for a slip. She pulls it out. His heart stops as she reaches the microphone. "Jade Pontus," Effie calls out.
All of the Hawthorne's, Madge included, let out a collective sigh. Gale lifts Madge's hand and kisses the back of it, even smiling down at her a bit. Posy is safe today. Posy is safe this year. Posy is safe.
Their relaxation is short lived though. The girl, Jade, takes the stage with tears dripping down her cheeks. Gale tries not to stare. She's from town, evident by her silver blonde hair and pale skin. Gale hate's being relieved that it's not Posy, but it has to be someone. Effie introduces the girl Jade and calls for applause, and yet again no one claps. No one ever claps.
"And next, the gentleman," Effie hums into the microphone.
The tension is back, Gale and Madge gripping each other's hand with the same amount of sheer force. Effie crosses the stage to the boys bowl and digs around, her hand selecting one of many slips within. With Effie back at the microphone Gale can no longer feel his heart beating in his chest. All at once Madge and Hazelle are forcing him backwards, jumping in front of Gale before he storms onto the stage himself.
Because the boy's name who was called is still ringing through the speakers.
"Vicktor Hawthorne."
A/N: It might be a bit before my next chapter. Please review.
