Chapter 10
(Madge POV)
I stand there, stunned for a moment at what just occurred. Did Gale Hawthorne just wink at me? After carrying me all through the Seam? I mean, I'm grateful to have seen him since I was most certainly turned around trying to find my way to Katniss's house so I welcomed his help in getting the money to her. It was also nice that he offered to help me find my way back to town. What was surprising was that he noticed I was barefoot and didn't want me to cut up my feet on the gravel so before I even knew what was happening he had scooped me up into his arms and was carrying me the rest of the way. I couldn't even speak because I was so thrown by what was happening. And I thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest! And that wink as he was leaving? I could swear he was flirting with me when he did that. I'd be a total liar if I said I hadn't enjoyed it though. It's silly of me to think it was anything more than him just being nice to me because I'm a friend of Katniss. Gale could have any girl he wanted and I'd be foolish to think he would ever show me any interest. No, I'm sure he was just being nice is all. Besides, why am I even thinking about all of this. I have Drew. I shake off anymore thoughts about Gale and what just happened and try to slip my shoes back on but as soon as I do I realize that he was right about my feet getting cut up. The bottoms of them feel very sore and so I opt to leave the shoes off. Not sure I could walk in heels the way they feel right now. I could kick myself for not changing shoes before I left. I walk in the grass alongside the road the rest of the way to my house. I can see the parlor is still alive with activity and I can't be seen looking like this, filthy feet and all so I slip around the side of the house to go in through the back door.
I find Drew, sitting there on the back porch swing, all by himself. "Hey, what are you doing out here?" I ask as I climb the steps.
He looks up, then smiles at me. A genuine sort of smile. "I thought you said you were going to bed?"
"I was, I mean I did, but then I realized I'd forgotten to pay someone for something and I had to take it to them. I didn't want them to think I'd forgotten."
"What happened to your feet?" He frowns as he stares at them.
I look down at them in the light and cringe. They are filthy. Covered in soot and grass stains. I can only imagine what the bottom of them looks like. "I didn't think to change shoes before I left and where I had to go doesn't have paved roads. I had to take the heels off and go barefoot."
"Here, sit a minute." He says, sliding over on the swing and patting the space next to him.
I sit. 'So where's Ellison? I thought she'd have your attention all night." I ask in a teasing tone.
He shoots me a look. "I told her I was heading to bed too."
I laugh. "Well we don't usually make our guests sleep outside. How'd you end up out here?"
He smiles and slips his fingers through mine. "Just needed a bit of fresh air first is all. This is actually a nice little spot, I kinda like it."
"Yeah, I like to come out here at night too. It's peaceful. This was my mother's favorite spot. She's the one who had the swing hung here."
"Do you miss her?" He asks. He knows she died when I was little.
"I barely remember her. I was so young when she passed away. I only know that she liked the swing so much because my housekeeper told me about it." I admit as I shake my head.
We're quiet for a awhile, just gently swinging back and forth. It's really nice. But the bottoms of my feet are aching and I need to get cleaned up.
"I should probably get inside and get my feet cleaned up. My father would have a fit if anyone happened to come out here and see me looking such a mess."
"Better slip your shoes back on, you're going to leave a trail." He says as he points to a few smudgy footprints on the porch.
I know he's right but I also can't imagine walking in these heels the way my feet hurt at the moment. But a trail of soot from here to my room will have me in a whole heap of trouble so I lean down and try to put them back on. It's no use though, simply putting them on is so painful that I know I'll never be able to walk in them. I look up at Drew. "Do you think you could go grab me a damp towel from the kitchen? It'll be easier if I just wipe them off."
"Did you hurt your feet? I thought they were just dirty." He asked, concern filling his face.
"They're fine, really they are. I just need a damp towel please."
He disappears into the kitchen and then comes back with a damp towel and a little first aid kit a few minutes later. I really don't want to make a big fuss over this. I reach for the towel and he hands it to me. As I wipe the soot off my feet, I take a first peek at the bottoms. A few red, puffy cuts but nothing serious. I put the towel down and go to reach for the first aid kit but Drew shakes his head.
"You'll need to actually wash your feet with soap and water first. Those cuts could get infected. Come on." He says as he stands and holds out a hand for me.
I let out a sigh and take his hand. We slip up the back staircase and to my room. Upstairs the house is empty. The music is still playing in the parlor and I can hear lots of laughter. They'll probably be up into the wee hours of the night. It's like they don't even care that two innocent kids from this district are basically being sentenced to death tomorrow.
In my bathroom I sit on the edge of my tub and wash my feet thoroughly with soap and water which actually stings a little. Drew was probably right about them potentially becoming infected. I dry them off and go back into my bedroom where I find Drew is waiting out on my balcony.
I sit in the rocking chair across from him and let him put some ointment and bandages on the cuts. It's Capitol medicine so the cuts will likely be non existent in the morning which is a good thing since I have to wear heels with both my outfits tomorrow. "Thanks, you really didn't have to do that. I could've handled it." I tell him.
He shrugs his shoulders. "It was nothing. Gave me a chance to use those first aid skills they taught us in school."
"They taught you first aid in school?" I question. We never learn anything like that in my school.
"Special program." He says with the vaguest of explanations.
"Do you participate in a lot of special programs?"
He nods and his eyes widen. "Every single one my father can get us into."
He means both he and August."Do you and your brother not go to regular school?"
"No. We've been on the career path. Lots of special trainings. Doesn't leave time for attending regular classes."
"Do you know what career you want?" I ask. Obviously he'll be in leadership but he has a little bit of a choice in which type position he wants.
"I'm supposed to be Mayor of a district at some point." He says but he does not sound excited about it. I want to ask him more about it but now that I know someone may be listening to us, I decide it's better not to do that.
"You'd be a good Mayor." Is all I say. I don't really mean it but it's something I feel I am supposed to say.
He slowly shakes his head at me but doesn't say anything. His eyes tell me what he cannot say out loud. He does not want to be a Mayor. I just nod, letting him know I understand. He reaches over and squeezes my hand, his eyes never leaving mine. There is so much I want to talk to him about but can't. Not here, not right now.
"I'm leaving tomorrow after the reaping ceremony. Have to get to the Capitol for the presentation of tributes ceremony." He tells me.
"With Ellison." I comment. I wonder to myself if I should crash her time with Drew the way she crashed mine, though I know I wouldn't be able to do that. I don't have the same travel privileges that she has. I'm also not sure I could be bold enough to do such a thing.
"Yeah." He says as he stands and pulls me up to my feet too. "Listen, I'm sorry she got in the middle of our time together." He whispers.
"It's okay. That's how this works, right? She and I have to share you." I whisper back to him. I know it isn't his fault she showed up.
"I'm glad I got a little alone time with you tonight after all though." He tells me as he pulls me closer to him. My heart races a little and my stomach flip flops.
"Me too." I whisper, looking up at him.
He hesitates but then kisses me. And it's nice, really nice. I like him. I definetly like this boy.
Just then I see a bright flash and I pull away from him. We both look around and that's when I see the reporter down below, taking our picture. "Well, that's just great." I mutter as I pull him inside my bedroom. Can I not just have a single moment like this without the Capitol watching?
"I guess we'll be making the front page again." He says as I shut the balcony doors behind us a little harder than necessary.
"I'm sorry. I just... I just would've rather that kiss been just between us." I explain.
"Guess you didn't care for the pictures from the last article?" He asks.
I shake my head. "Not especially." I was going to leave it at just that but then I feel like he deserves a little bit of an explanation. "Listen, I have to tell you something about that whole night. I don't remember most of it. I had all that celebratory champagne and well, I hadn't eaten anything and I normally never drink like that so it, well, I just can't remember much. I had no idea we'd even kissed before until I saw that article. I'm so sorry."
He looks at me. "I already knew that. Or well, I figured that was the case."
I feel a little relieved. "You did?"
"I knew you weren't yourself that night. That's why I left the ball early to take you back to your dorm room. I didn't want to let you get sick in front of everyone at the ball."
I tilt my head in surprise. "It was you? You were the one who got me home? The trash can by my bed in case I got sick, you did that? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Wasn't sure you wanted to remember it, even if you could have."
"I would've wanted to remember my first kiss. Maybe not the drunken mess I was though." I mumble and cringe inwardly as I realize what I just admitted.
"That was your first kiss ever? Or your first kiss with me?" He asks looking a little surprised.
I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "First ever. Thankfully, all of Panem saw it and I've got it in print now for my scrapbook. Would've hated for that moment to be a private one." I say sarcastically.
He smiles and steps towards me. His hands cup my face and he leans down, kissing me softly. "There. That one was just for us." He whispers as I feel myself practically melt.
A/N: The reaping ceremony is coming up next, as well as more Gale and Madge interaction!