Chapter 3
(Gale POV)
I stand in the back of the Hob, crowded around a small tv device with a few other folks from the district. There's a special program airing tonight. It's not a mandatory thing to watch like the viewings we have during the games each year and normally I'd never voluntarily watch this crap but this year I want to see it. Maybe not watch the whole thing, maybe just a little. Watch enough for me to get a glimpse of her. The girl that I can never stop secretly looking at. Madge Undersee, daughter of the mayor. We aren't friends or anything even like that and she has no idea I've always thought she was gorgeous. I've rarely ever even spoken to her. But I've always watched her. Always wondered what it'd be like to take her out sometime. I can't though. Not only is she in a whole different class than me but she's spoken for. She's being matched tonight with the guy she's supposed to marry. It's some stupid thing they do in the Capitol every year with kids of the important people in the districts. They call it Presentation of Heirs. It's really sort of laughable the way they all do this. Dress em all up, parade them out and match them up. They all smile about it and look so thrilled to be there. I'd never be able to do that. To let the Capitol assign me a person to marry? That's a terrible idea if I ever heard one. Still, I kinda wanna see who they put her with. See what lucky guy gets her without even having to try and win her over.
"What are you doing?" I hear her voice come from behind me. I already know she's smirking at me before I even turn around.
"Hey Catnip." I mumble, turning around to face her.
"Since when did you start watching voluntary Capitol programing?" She asks, her head cocked to the side as she waits for me to explain.
"Just passing through. Saw it was on and thought I'd watch for a sec, that's all." I lie with a shrug. She knows I've always had the hots for Madge but we don't ever talk about it and I don't care to start discussing it now. "What are you up to?"
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "I was looking for you actually. Wanted to see if you were up for going out kinda early tomorrow?"
We hunt together on the other side of the fence and make a pretty good team. Both of us are responsible for feeding our families cause our dad's died a few years ago. "Sure. Why earlier though?"
"I need to get a really good haul this time. I want to build a little bit of reserve if I can."
I furrow my brow. Why is she trying to build a reserve of food? I mean, aren't we always trying to do that? What's different now?
Knowing me like she does, she seemingly reads my mind. "I've got a bad feeling about this year's reaping. Can't shake it." She admits without me even having to ask.
Reaping day is coming soon and we're both always nervous but this sounds different. She's more worried than normal about it. "Well let's see what we can do about that. I'll meet you in the morning, just before sun up." I tell her.
She waves and heads out as I turn my attention back to the little tv screen. It's an old, rather beat up tv device and it doesn't have much sound. mostly just static as it cuts in and out. When they get to Madge, I see her. She looks beautiful as ever, even in that getup they put her in. I'm confused though. When they matched the other kids the girl came forward and then came the guy. They'd take hands, bow to the camera and step to the side for the next person to come up. After Madge steps forward though, another girl does too, standing right next to her. The damn sound is pure static right now so if they're saying anything to explain this, I'm not hearing it. I watch, leaning in to see more closely as if that helps any. A guy steps forward, takes the hand of both Madge and that other girl. Together the three of them bow and then step to the side. Three? They made a trio instead of a couple? Is she supposed to marry a guy and a girl? People around me murmur in confusion as well. It doesn't make any sense. We watch the remainder of the matching and no one else is put into a group of three. Just Madge.
Back home, I go to sleep trying to make sense of what I saw but I just can't. It doesn't make sense. It's not something I've seen them do before and they only did it with her. I'll have to wait for her to come home and see if any word gets out around town as to what happened.
Katniss is waiting for me by the tree where we cross the fence the next morning. She looks more stressed than normal. Once we've crossed and are out in the safety of the woods, I bring it up.
"What's making this year seem worse than all the others?" I ask as we start setting a few small snares.
She sighs and shakes her head. "It's Prim's first year. I knew it would bother me having her name in the bowl but I didn't realize how nervous I'd be leading up to it."
"She only has one slip. They won't call her name." I reassure her.
"I know that. I do. But I can't stop thinking about her. If they pull her name, I'm taking her place. But then she won't have anyone here taking care of her so she's still screwed. It's a no win situation."
"You know I won't let her starve."
"I know. But it helps if I feel like I'm doing everything I can now. That's why I wanted the extra time out here. If i can get just a tiny bit extra, I can start saving it for her just in case. It's the only thing I know how to do that can take the edge off the fear."
I nod. I get it. If my name gets pulled, I'll be way more worried about how my family will survive than about how I'd fare in the games. It's just the way it is when you're the sole provider. But I also know that in my absence, Katniss would do all she could to help my family and I'd do the same for her. We've always been like that.
"Did you hear what happened with Madge last night?" I ask her, changing the subject.
She shakes her head. "No. She get an ugly guy or something?"
"She didn't get put in a couple. She got put into a trio."
"Huh?" She asks, clearly as confused about it as I am.
I shrug. "They put her with a guy and a girl. Couldn't hear what the announcement was so I don't know if they explained it or not. Sound wasn't working on the device."
"Did they do that with anyone else?"
"Nope. Just her. I don't get it."
"Huh." She repeats but more as an observation than a question. She talks to Madge at school sometimes. They're in the same grade and have classes together. Not sure I'd really call them friends cause they don't hang out together outside of school. More like friendly acquaintances. Maybe she will be able to get the real story about it all after Madge gets back.
We work the rest of the morning, set tons of snares and find a new blackberry bush that looks like it'll have fruit soon. We'll come back this evening and check the snares. Hopefully some small game will be in them. Rabbit would be nice but I'd settle for squirrel. I'm not sure we'll get any extra even though we set a lot of extra snares. Doesn't matter how many snares you set if there isn't much game running through them and lately there hasn't been much out here. We may have to start going further out to hunt but I hope it doesn't come to that.
(Madge POV)
By the time the matching ceremony at the ball begins, the little green pill has worked it's magic and I'm stone cold sober again. Steffi was right that I needed it because now isn't the time to be off my game in pretending this is a wonderful event. Still, I wish the nerves would go away. All the girl heirs are lined up along one side of the room and boys on the other. An announcer is calling the girls one at a time, having them step forward and then the boy who has been matched with her is called. He comes over, bows and kisses her hand then they step to the front of the room and the matching continues. Names are called at random, not alphabetically so I have to pay attention so I don't miss my name. Standing here, It's really hard not to fidget with all the nerves I feels. My stomach is all butterflies and not in a good way. Finally, my name is called.
"Miss Margaret Undersee of District 12."
I inhale and step forward into the spotlight, trying to keep a smile plastered across my face.
"Miss Ellison Crane of the Capitol."
I hear a low murmur as the room is confused about another female being called. I feel someone step into place beside me and I turn a little, give a friendly nod and smile. She does the same. I know who she is but have never spoken to her. She's the daughter of one of the gamemakers. Lives in the Capitol. Stunningly beautiful with fiery red hair and emerald green eyes.
Before the announcer continues with calling the male name, he briefly comments on what I'm sure has everyone very confused. "For the first time ever in the history of Presentation of Heirs, we have two young ladies who matched with the same young man. They will both court the young man they've matched with and at the end of the courtship, he will decide which of them will be his future bride."
More low murmurs from the room commence around us. I swallow and force the smile to stay on my face. Of course they had to make it sound as if myself and Ellison both happened to match with this boy. They'd never announce what Martin did and how he was supposed to be my match. No, that might inspire compassion and kindness from others so they won't share what really happened.
"Mr. Andrew Whitney of District 4."
A Whitney? That's who my next best match was? One of the Whitney twins? I choke down a vocal scoff and maintain my smile as Andrew steps forward, taking my hand first and then Ellison's. His father is the mayor of 4 and I've seen him and his brother, August, a few times over the years when I was younger and travelled with my father. We are not friendly though and I find it hard to believe that he's my soul mate. It's been several years since I've seen him but from what I remember he and his family are as Capitol as you can get. Hardcore rule followers and not an ounce of compassion for anything or anyone.
I slide my arm through his left and Ellison takes his right and the three of us proceed out of the spotlight. I can't imagine marrying him and can only hope he's more taken with Ellison than he is with me.
Once the matching is complete, we are supposed to have a first dance. But how the heck do we do that with three people? The music begins and couples flood to the dance floor. I turn to Andrew and Ellison, ready to tell them to go ahead, that I'll sit this one out.
"Margaret, let's you and I dance first and then Ellison, I'll come back and dance with you." Andrew says, taking my hand before I have a chance to say anything.
As we walk out to the dance floor I glance back at Ellison. She looks me sternly in the eyes, shooting me daggers without ever losing the smile on her face. Well, I guess I don't have to worry about her being interested in Andrew. I'll have to find a way to let her know she can have him without actually saying it. I certainly don't want to spend the entire next year with her being jealous when I have zero interest.
"So this is kinda crazy, huh?" Andrew says as we start to dance.
"What?" I ask, having been lost in my thoughts and worried I may have missed something else he said to me.
"All of it. The fact that we got stuck in a trio and also the fact that you and I were matched."
"Definetly couldn't have predicted this, that's for sure." I'm not sure what exactly he means by saying it's crazy that him and I were matched but I don't now how to ask him to elaborate without being rude.
"So do you go by Margaret now?"
"What? Oh, no. They just always use my full name for this sort of thing. It's still Madge to anyone who knows me."
"Good. Would've been hard to get used to calling you Margaret. I go by Drew now by the way."
I nod and smile and just keep dancing, waiting for the song to end. I do not feel like making small talk. He must catch that vibe because he doesn't say anything else to me. When the song ends, I let go of him and quickly step back. Probably a little more quickly than could be considered polite. "I'm sure Ellison is eager for her turn." I tell him, hoping that covers up my little falter in manners.
He studies my face for a moment then just nods and turns to an impatient looking Ellison who is tapping her foot, arms folded across her chest while staring at us. I want to laugh but don't. Instead, I decide it's time for more champagne. Yes, that's the only thing I can do to escape all this right now.