Chapter 13
(Gale POV)
She doesn't support the games at all. She just said so herself. It's kinda refreshing to hear her say it and I don't even know what to say back to her. So I just stare. And while, I'm staring, she has this defiant look on her face that I've never seen and then she reaches over, picks up my flask and takes another big swig out of it.
"Careful with that. It's a little stronger than the Capitol grade stuff you're probably used to." I tell her as I take the flask away from her and slip it back into my pocket. This stuff is hard and I can't let her get completely wasted on it.
"You mean something actually exists that's stronger than the Capitol? Better not let them find out about it." She muses with a bitter sounding tone. I've never seen her like this before, even from afar. She's pretty much abandoned her normal prim and proper etiquette.
"You don't like the Capitol?"
Her face contorts and she rears her head back. "Do you?" She snaps back.
"I think it's usually pretty evident that I don't. You on the other hand, you usually look like their number one fan."
She lets out a snort. "Well at least it looks convincing so maybe I won't end up like Martin."
Martin? Who is Martin? I run through names in my head but I don't know anyone named Martin. "Who's Martin?"
She picks at blades of grass, staring down at them as she answers me. "My match. The real one. But he got caught showing compassion and kindness so they made him an Avox instead of matching him with me. They tend to frown on things like compassion and kindness you know."
That explains a lot. She was never supposed to be in this strange threesome couple. Her guy got axed last minute and they didn't have a back up plan. I don't even know what to say to that really. "I don't know what to say to that." I tell her. "Did you know him?" I add, curious if he was someone she was already close to.
She shakes her head. "I never even met him. It would've been nice though. To get matched with someone who was a good person."
"Is your guy, the one you're with now, is he not a good person?"
"Who knows? Certainly not me, that's for sure." She lets out an exasperated sigh and I see her reach up and wipe the corner of her eye. Was she about to cry?
"Well maybe he won't pick you. Isn't that how it works? He can pick the other girl?"
"And then I get to go through this all over again." She mutters, tugging at her necklace.
"Who would you pick if it was up to you? What's your perfect guy like?" She's being so open that I can't help but ask this.
"I don't know. I've never really let myself think about things like that. I suppose it would be someone that couldn't possibly exist. Someone who wanted out of this place, not who wanted to lead this place." Her voice sounds so sad. "Can you help me with this? I've been trying to get it off for hours now." She suddenly asks as she continues to pull on her necklace. She turns her back to me and holds up her hair without waiting for me to respond. I reach up and click the clasp open and the string of pearls falls to the ground.
"Thank you! I couldn't get it to budge at all. I even tried breaking it." She says as she lets out a long breath.
She brushes a strand of hair out of her face and smiles. I'm pretty sure she's drunk off the liquor I gave her. There's no way she'd be letting her guard down like this, especially with me when we barely even know each other. I don't want her to get in trouble and I also don't want her to regret anything about what she's told me. I probably need to get her home soon.
"Is anyone going to be looking for you? I don't want you to get yourself into trouble by being down here with me." The last thing either one of us needs is for a search party to come looking for her and find her drunk under a tree at the back edge of a Seam with me.
"Well, let's see, Drew left town with Ellison, my house was empty and I'm pretty sure my father is at work. I don't think anyone is looking for me right now. And if they were, I wouldn't want to see them anyway."
"Still, I think you've had too much of that liquor and we should probably sober you up a bit then get you home." I suggest.
She shoots me a look that could kill. "I am not drunk thank you very much and I can get home by myself." She tells me as she stands and smooths her hands over her dress.
I've pissed her off by suggesting she go home. And she is drunk, whether she thinks so or not. She's at least really, really buzzed. Still, I didn't mean to make her mad. "Look, I just don't want you to get yourself into trouble is all."
"Then let me worry about that, okay?" She says as she storms off. I don't know if I should go after her or not. She's headed in the right direction so I know she'll get home if she just keeps heading down this road. Still, if she gets lost down here in the Seam it'll be my fault for giving her the liquor. I get up and notice her necklace is still lying in the grass. I grab it and put it in my pocket and start after her. I at least have to make sure she gets home.
I catch up to her and she's crying. Silent tears running down her face as she walks hurriedly towards town. "Go away Gale." She says as she wipes at her eyes.
"I just want to make sure you get home okay." I tell her as I walk alongside her. She won't even look at me. Doesn't speak to me at all until we get to the edge of town where the pavement begins.
"Well look at that, I found town all by myself, even in my completely drunken state." She says sarcastically.
I stop walking and let her go without saying a thing. I know she'll find her way home now. I hate that I made her so angry by saying she'd had too much to drink and that she should get home. I think she thought I didn't want her hanging out with me anymore but that wasn't it. I actually was glad to have her company tonight. And now she's pissed and I don't even know if I'll get a chance to apologize. She may never talk to me again.
(Madge POV)
I'm not drunk. I'm a little relaxed and have been drinking but I am not drunk. Him saying I am and suggesting I go home just rubs me the wrong way. It probably shouldn't but after the day I've had, it does. It'd actually felt nice to be able to speak so freely when we were talking. I never get to do that and I'm almost never brave enough to do that. Tonight, I did that and was told to go home because I was drunk.
When I do get home, the house is still empty as I suspected it would be. I go upstairs to my room and get ready for bed. I need this whole entire day to just be over with already. I put on pajamas and climb into bed. As I lay my head down though, I realize there's some sort of paper under my pillow. I sit up and switch on the lamp on my nightstand so I can see what it is. It's from Drew. He left me a note under my pillow.
Madge,
I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to say goodbye before I had to leave. I hope you enjoyed what time we had together and I hope you're looking forward to spending more time together. I'll call you when I can and hope to see you again sooner rather than later where we can hopefully get some time alone, just the two of us.
Yours, Drew
I sit there, rereading the note which is actually quite sweet and think about him. I'm irritated with him because of Ellison. Because I'm not sure if his actions towards me are sincere or if they're just part of him playing the role the Capitol wants him to play. I don't like how he can kiss me and then kiss Ellison too. It makes me feel very less than important. But is it fair to feel that way? I mean, he never asked to be stuck in the middle between two girls. And what if he's just doing his best to be fair to the both of us? I fold the note and slip it into my nightstand and then flop back onto my pillow. I don't know what to feel.
The next morning I wake up without a hangover like when I was in the Capitol. See, I knew I wasn't drunk. If I'd had a little more I probably would've been but that's beside the point. The point is, Gale was wrong. I wish he could see me right now so he could see just how wrong he was. That would feel so very satisfying.
After showering and getting ready for the day, I head down to the kitchen to get some breakfast. I don't have any plans at all today which is kind of nice. There won't be a viewing for the Games yet because the presentation of tributes isn't until tomorrow. It's summer so no school to worry about. And all our guests are gone so no entertaining to do. And Drew will be all tied up in the Capitol with Ellison so I'm completely free of any and all obligations for the day. It's been quite awhile since I had this much down time and after the day I had yesterday, this is a nice reprieve.
I grab a bowl of yogurt and fruit, carrying it out to the porch swing. As I swing, eating my breakfast, none other than Gale Hawthorne comes walking up.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I ask, tone in my voice.
"Hey, I just wanted to bring you this. You forgot it last night and well, it looks expensive so..." He explains as he holds out my pearl necklace. The very necklace I hadn't even realized I'd forgotten when I marched home all angrily last night.
"Oh, I didn't even realize I'd lost it yet. Thank you for bringing it to me, that was very kind of you." I say, feeling a little bad for having greeted him with a bit of an attitude.
He shrugs and holds it out again and I suddenly realize I haven't taken it from his hand. I jump up and take it from him. He stares for a split second as if he wants to say something but doesn't then he turns and starts to walk away. I don't know why but him doing that, it makes my heart sink just a little. I turn to go back and sit on the swing again and I'm almost there when I hear him call my name.
"Hey Madge?"
I turn to see him, "Yeah?"
"You doing anything today?"
My mouth falls open just a little and I slowly shake my head from side to side.
"Feel like an adventure?" He asks, flashing me a smile.
My heart races and before I even think about it, I'm saying yes and clamoring back down the porch steps towards him.