The idea of a grandiose event is both generous and unnecessary to Gale. Panem officials and other wealthy citizens should just be asked to donate money out of the goodness of their hearts, but they are unfortunately still human. They want to get something out of what they give. So, District 2's current mayor has decided to throw a fundraising ball. Each attendant is to wear a suit and tie, or a nice gown, and must donate a sizable amount of money and turn it into the mayor's office in exchange for some tickets. Gale can't help but wonder how much would actually be turned into Panem's new government. While he does respect the current mayor, it is no secret that an event as extravagant as this would cost quite a bit of money, even if he's going to hold it in his home, which the District has provided for him.
He attends the event anyway, out of obligation, with Thea at his side. After all, she is the one who practically forced him to go, claiming it would look good for his campaign to be seen in such an event. He can't afford to tarnish his current reputation, especially as it is close to the elections.
The mayor's home is a mansion, so grand and upscale that it sends chills down his spine as he enters. The ceiling is tall, the walls covered with paper that was likely handpicked by his wife. He is told the house has five bedrooms and is quite roomy, which makes him feel as though he would be lonely if he were to win the election and had to move in. The mayor has a large family, three kids and all. They fill up the space quite well, which Gale is unable to do. That is, unless he can convince his family to move in with him. But that seems unlikely. His siblings are still in school or have jobs they like. It would be too much change for them, and he doesn't want them to go through that if they don't have to.
The ballroom is filled with people he knows from work. Men come around to pat him on the back or shoulder and say their hellos, and the women greet him and Thea with friendly kisses on the cheek. Then, they are escorted to a table with their names written on cards in front of the plate, where he is determined to stay for the remainder of the night.
"Look alive, hotshot," Thea nudges him.
Gale shifts his glance upward and finds himself staring straight at Madge. She looks as stunning as ever, with her hair done in a half-up style he's always liked, her cheeks rosy and dewy, her mouth tinted with the shade of fresh strawberries. Her rose-gold dress covers her body quite well, flowing in all the right places.
"Nice arm candy," he hears Thea say. He hasn't even noticed the man on Madge's arm, cleanly shaven with bright eyes and obviously sharp jawline. "Sorry, dude."
He can't help but shrug, feigning apathy. "It's whatever."
She rolls her eyes. She knows him too well to accept his behavior. "Hey, maybe you should go talk to her."
He turns his head away from Madge and her date and shifts his attention back to Thea. "And what would I say?"
"How about hello?" She replies with another roll of her eyes. "I don't know. Put on that Gale Hawthorne charm. Wait, no, I'm sorry, that doesn't exist. Thank her for being so nice to you in that article. Ask her to dance. Do something. Who knows, maybe that guy isn't even her boyfriend. And if he isn't, tell her to put in a good word for me, will you?"
He scoffs, ignoring her. "I do have charm. What are you talking about?"
Thea tilts her head and glares at him. "Really? All you heard from that whole speech is how you don't have charm? Go talk to her, you idiot."
"Alright, alright. I will."
It takes him an hour and a stiff drink to muster up the courage to approach Madge. Gale tells himself it's because he's been waiting for her to be alone, as she is sitting beside her date, though he can feel his throat tightening again and his palms are starting to sweat. Thea's no longer at his side, having gotten bored and abandoned him, and she is currently making her way through the attendants to network and flirt with eligible bachelors. Finally, Madge's date gets up and walks away, and Gale figures it's as good a time as any to greet her.
He quickly walks toward her, so fast that he has to remind himself to slow down. When he is near her, a grin automatically spreads across his lips as she sips on her drink and speaks politely to the company around her.
"Madge," he says with a smile, calling for her attention.
She shifts her glance toward him, and he could swear that her face is beaming. "Gale! It's so nice to see you! Here, have a seat. Tommy won't be back for a few minutes. He has a business call to attend to, apparently."
"Um, thanks," he accepts, taking the seat next to her. "I just wanted to thank you for the nice things you said about me on that article. So, thanks."
She shrugs. "I didn't lie, it was a great interview. But, you're welcome."
He can't help but smile wider, and before he lets his cowardice win, he puts on a teasing grin. "So, is that your boyfriend I just saw you with, or-."
"No," she cuts him off almost immediately. "Not yet, anyway."
He chuckles softly. "What does that mean?"
"It means I'm still making him work for it." She has this grin on her features that can't help but make him wonder if she's kidding or not. She's always been good at that kind of humor, always been able to keep him on his toes.
Without much thought, he hears himself ask her something he never thought would leave his mouth: "Do you want to dance?" Thea's idea has been stuck in his head for a while, and he winds up not being able to help himself.
"Sure."
She leads him to the dance floor, taking his hands and placing them on her waist. She then wraps her arms around his neck as the two of them begin to sway to the music. She's smiling at him, a true, genuine smile that twists his stomach into knots. He thought the butterflies had died a long time ago, but it seems she's resurrected them.
"Won't your girlfriend mind that you're dancing with another woman?" Madge asks, placing an emphasis on the label which she hopes he doesn't notice.
He furrows his brows. "Who?"
"Your date." She says this matter-of-factly, as though he should know who she's talking about, and nods her head behind him.
He turns as they dance so he sees what Madge is seeing. It's Thea, sitting at a table surrounded by professionals she's making connections with. He has to admit, though it isn't at all difficult to, she looks beautiful. The dark green of her gown compliments her brown skin quite well. Thea has a certain quality about her that is so appealing, and for a long time, Gale has been certain that she could break any man's heart just by looking at him the wrong way. Still, that doesn't stop her from having a plethora of suitors, and a lot of names to sort through and organize in his head when she tells her stories.
"Thea?" He lets out a laugh. "No, that's funny, though. She's my best friend turned campaign manager. We met during the rebellion, we fought alongside each other."
She nods, understanding the bond the two must have, though to herself she wonders if he feels for her the way he felt for Katniss, too. The last time he called anyone his best friend, after all, was someone he had been in love with. She wonders if he still feels for Katniss the way he felt for her in their adolescence.
"Do you wanna meet her?" He asks. "That is, if you promise you won't believe whatever embarrassing thing she'll tell you about me."
She laughs and nods, and he leads her to the table where Thea is sitting. "Excuse me. Thea," he says with a gentle smile, catching her attention from the people sitting at their table. When he interrupts, they immediately focus on having their own conversations. He's relieved that none of them wants to focus on him and the elections. "Someone wants to meet you, though I don't understand why. This is Madge Undersee, a friend from home."
Thea's face lights up, her lips forming a wide smile. "Hello, Ms. Undersee," she greets, extending her hand for Madge to shake, which Madge does. "It's nice to finally meet you."
Madge furrows her brows and gives Gale a quick look, though there is a bright smile that is clear on her features. "Finally?"
Thea lets out a soft laugh. "Gale's told me a lot about you."
"Thea." Gale's voice is low, eyes wide as warmth rushes to his cheeks.
Madge merely giggles. "All good things, I hope."
"All great things." Thea gestures the two open seats next to her. "Please, sit down. You, too, hotshot."
Gale and Madge sit beside Thea, with Gale in between the two women. He smiles as they talk about him and their lives, along with his role in the upcoming elections. It's almost strange how even though they just met, Madge and Thea already get along well, as they laugh and smile at everything the other is saying. It definitely isn't unlikely. Both Madge and Thea are likable in their own ways. Thea with her humor and candor, and Madge with her sweetness and kindness. Both women are good energies to be surrounded by, and Gale is unable to wipe the grin off his face. Even if the topic is about him, as the two women fill each other in on things they both know about him, as if they're trying to analyze what's changed in him from when he was younger.