Chapter 7: Lady and the Tramp
"I can't believe I'm stuck in this hospital with this idiot. Awesome. If he keeps looking at me like that, I'm going to introduce his nuts to my size seven boots."
Madge circled her ankle slowly underneath her chair in the waiting room, barely repressing the urge to follow through on that visually satisfying thought. Without any alcohol humming through her veins, there wasn't a reasonable way to wipe the patronizing smirk off Gale Hawthorne's face.
She found him so incredibly sexy when she saw him at the bar, but then, upon arriving to the hospital and reaching the front desk before Katniss did, she witnessed his lame attempt to hit on the receptionist on his friend's behalf. His comment was ridiculously inexcusable.
"What is he, an eighteen-year-old boy?" His mind definitively for sure.
Sitting beside Gale, Finnick, the guy they've met at the station smiled politely at her and tried to get a friendly conversation.
He cleared his throat.
"Hum, Maggie, is that your name?"
"Madge," she corrected him with a polite smile "Madge Undersee."
Gale raised his eyebrows. "Undersee? Any relation with Councilman James Undersee?"
She looked at him in surprise. "So, he's not that moron. At least he knows something." she thought pleasantly.
"He is my father." She answered him proudly.
Gale let out a slight hiss.
Finnick gave him a warning look.
"Councilman Undersee, I went to a fundraising event for a battered women's center months ago and had the pleasure of meeting him." He added trying to keep his friend at bay.
She smiled, lifting her head with pride. She had personally organized the activity.
"Really? Glad to hear it. My father is trying to advance legislation in favor of eradicating any form of mistreatment and violence against women. Glad to hear that the police department is involved and supporting it."
Gale let out a snort and then started to laugh sarcastically.
Madge's surprised gaze jumped to Gale's and Finnick closed his eyes, knowing what was coming.
"Shit!" he murmured.
"So that is what the rich people do to get a good night's sleep? Throwing a party and serving fine dishes and wine to make other wealthy people give them money on the premise that they will donate it to a noble cause?" he quoted with his hands "And then they have their pictures taken with some naïve" He sneaked a glance at Finnick emphasizing the word naïve "members of the organizations that actually work directly with the cause so they can be seen on the news. And then what." He continued, "After the party is over, they wash their hands, and they forget about the problem, until they need to get the public's attention again."
Madge was looking at him, her mouth partially open like a fish out of the water trying to breathe.
Gale continued his ranting.
"Those charitable events raise money that never goes where it's really needed. Do you know where all the millions collected are left? On the banking accounts of the political campaigns of people like your father, who never has been in a poor neighborhood seeing first-hand the number of women, heads of families who have to break their backs working so that their children at least have a miserable chance at a more stable life. And most of the time, they fail, because the government doesn't care."
Madge got up from her chair and approached him threateningly. Or at least as threatening as her five foot six inches allowed.
"Don't you dare talking about my father like that." She told him in a firm tone: "You don't know my family, nor do you have the slightest idea of all the work my parents have done for years on behalf of people in need."
Gale smiled and stood up; almost a foot above her. She swallowed hard, lifting her head almost to the limit to look at him directly in the face, but she kept her stance.
He chuckled.
"You are a little fighter, Duchess. I like that."
"You are such an arrogant bastard!" she replied offended. "You are nothing more than a self-conscious guy who stereotypes people because of their social status."
Finnick stood up between them both.
"Come on guys. This is not the place to discuss these things."
"Stereotype?" Now Gale was the offended one ""Look, you cocky little princess. You've never had to deal with prejudices or stereotypes in your precious life. You don't know what it's like to be thirteen and having to get up at dawn, to work receiving loads in a warehouse for a few dollars under the table, because you're not of legal working age yet, to run home before 8 in the morning to take your little siblings to school and get there yourself, while your mother sleeps a couple of hours after spending all night working in a 24-hour grocery store, so she can go out again at noon to clean rooms in a snobbish hotel for rich people. Only for a bastard to come and rape her one night after she was coming home from work, and leaving her with another baby when she could barely keep the three she already had. And since the pervert who raped her had money and connections in the government, they never prosecuted him, nor did they force him to recognize the girl or pass child support."
Madge's expression changed from anger to surprise. "No, you're right. I've never been through such unfortunate situations. But, not all wealthy people have to pay for that. There are bad guys in all social classes."
Gale gave another sarcastic laugh. "It shows little duchess. But surely the bastard who raped my mother and fathered my little sister attends your charity events and even donates money to your little campaigns."
She gasped covering her mouth. "I ..." she stuttered "I'm so sorry. I've never thought..."
Finnick intervened.
"Enough. Miss Undersee, I'm sorry. But Detective Hawthorne has very personal reasons against some people. And he has a hard time understanding that not everybody is at fault." he said switching his gaze to Gale and raising his tone.
Gale took two steps back, his hands raised in surrender. "You're right Odair. He said without taking his eyes off Madge" Not every snobby rich people is to blame. But they are all the same. Hypocrites. Tell Peeta I'll call him later. I'm taking a taxi home. To the Seam." He turned and left, leaving a stunned Madge with Finnick.
Madge hung her head in shame.
"I'm so sorry, I never thought he would have gone through something so horrible."
Finnick put his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to apologize. Gale has to learn not to stereotype all wealthy people. That's why he never takes cases at Merchant Square or Victory Hills, or any case involving people with money, he's too biased against them."
Madge stared down the hall where she saw the imposing figure of Gale Hawthorne disappear. She would make the stubborn police officer change his mind, about her and her parents, and she would do everything possible to find whoever disgraced his family and bring him to justice.
The silence was interrupted by the voices of Peeta and Katniss returning from the room. She smiled at her friend, who looked a little flushed.
"All good?" she asked her.
Katniss nodded with a shy smile.
"Haymitch looks a lot better than we thought." Peeta spoke for her. "He wants Katniss to spend the night at his apartment, but I think it's not a good idea. She barely knows the district and it would be better if you guys went on with your original plans and that she stays with you Miss Madge."
Katniss looked at him in surprise.
"I thought you wanted to please my dad." she said in a whisper.
"Katniss, I'd love to please him." he replied, "but Haymitch knows it's not safe for you to stay alone in an apartment in a place you barely know, and your safety is my top priority right now. He will understand."
"Oh!"
His passionate statement about her safety being his priority made her feel a rush of warmth all over her body. Cato never said such a thing to her. When she got bored during insufferable dinner parties or meetings with hospital board members he often told her to call a cab and go home alone, even after midnight. And the Capitol wasn't exactly the safest place in all Panem. But this man, whom she had deemed to be just a one night stand rebound, had shown her more caring and consideration, even after their prior arguments. That was why she couldn't help to, at the same time, feel a little disappointment at the thought of not being able to spend some time alone with him that night.
"I thought you wanted us to talk."
He looked her straight in the eye taking her hands. "I do want us to talk. We need to talk. But I don't think now is the best time. We are both tired from the trip and we are just...reacting to everything that has happened over the last 24 hours." he took both her hands "Katniss, I...I think we need space to think, to understand everything."
She was about to reply, when she felt Madge's hand on her left shoulder.
"Sweetie, I think he's right." Katniss looked over her shoulders and found her best friend smiling sweetly at her. She nodded in agreement and Madge's smile grew. "Great, I already called Venia and asked her to prepare the guest room for you. It will be nice to have you home, like the good old days, remember?" she said enthusiastically. Then she mouthed "I like him!"
She couldn't help but chuckle. Madge always made her smile.
She turned her head and her gaze collides with Peeta's blue depths. "God, did his eyes got bluer? Get yourself together Katniss!" she chasticized herself.
He smiled, and she felt her blood boiling through her veins. She had to gulp to try to compose herself.
"Well, the guys and I can escort you girls home, and ... I'll call you tomorrow. I mean, if you'll allow it and give me your real phone number. I promise not to harass you." he raised his right hand.
She lowered her head and smiled, biting her lower lip. When she raised her head, she was met with his raised eyebrows and a wary expression.
"I'll allow it." she said.
They stood there, hands clasped, looking into each other's eyes. Suddenly Finnick's throat clearing snapped them out of their reverie.
"Sorry guys, but, it's getting late, I'm sure you ladies want to get home so you can settle and Detective Mellark and I have a very interesting briefing tomorrow morning, isn't that Peet?" he said looking at him with a funny expression.
Peeta turned his eyes at him.
"Unfortunately, he's right." he answered, his gaze back to her beautiful face. God how he wanted to kiss her! But she was Haymitch's baby girl. He couldn't betray his mentor's trust. Last night, he didn't know, but now.
He made a motion for them to follow him. Walking down the hall to the elevator he noted Gale wasn't there. When they reach the elevator he whispered in Finnick's ear.
"Hawthorne?"
Finnick's sigh and shrugging told him everything he needed to know. He knew Gale too well, he was, after all his best friend.
"He didn't."
"Yes he did." Finnick answered.
Walking through the reception was another issue. The voluptuous blonde receptionist wink her eye at him and mouthed "Call me."
Katniss noticed the action of the blonde airhead. Without any hesitation, she turned to Peeta, threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his mouth.
He hesitated for a few seconds, but he couldn't help himself, and started to kiss her back.
She broke the kiss, a triumphant smile on her face. She put her hand in his shirt pocket and took the paper the blonde had put in it earlier. She walked to the desk and offer it to her.
"I don't think my boyfriend will be needing this."
The blonde looked at Peeta dumbfounded, but he just shrugged and kept walking to the exit, Finnick by his side trying to hold back his laugh.
Getting into Madge's car, her friend patted her on the shoulder.
"Honey, that was petty, but brilliant." She said laughing and starting the car, escorted by Finnick and Peeta until they reach her duplex in Merchant Square.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi everybody. Sorry for the wait, it's been a crazy two weeks at work.
So now, you have a little on Gale and Madge. Hope you all like it.
Let me know your thoughts.
XOXI Lizzyvb