Chapter 14

(Gale POV)

When I slip on my pants in the morning I realize that I still have Madge's pearl necklace in my pocket. Crap. I meant to give that back when I ran after her last night. It's probably pretty expensive so I don't wanna leave it around the house and risk Posy getting ahold of it and I don't want her to worry that she's lost it so I head towards town right away. I'd planned to head into the woods because the fence is actually off but I need to take care of this first. It's fine though, I have time. I'm not going to hunt today anyway, just wanting to escape and clear my head for a little while while the fence is off.

I head around the side of her house towards the back. It feels a little too intimidating going to her front door. Plus, if her father answered, I'm not sure how I'd explain my having her necklace. She ends up being out on her porch anyway so I don't even have to knock.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" She spouts out at me and I can tell just from her tone that she's still wanting me to know she's mad at me.

"Hey, I just wanted to bring you this. You forgot it last night and well, it looks expensive so..." I explain as I hold out the pearl necklace.

"Oh, I didn't even realize I'd lost it yet. Thank you for bringing it to me, that was very kind of you." Her tone completely changes and I can tell she's no longer mad. That was easy. One polite deed and all is forgotten? It almost makes me laugh.

I shrug and hold it out again because she still hasn't taken it from me. She jumps up, seeming to realize this and takes it from me. I feel the urge to ask her to come with me out into the woods today but I don't know if I should so I hesitate, staring at her for a minute before I decide not to and turn to head out. I take about ten steps before I change my mind and decide what the hell, I'll ask her. Worst case is she says no.

"Hey Madge?" I call out to her as she climbs the porch steps again.

She stops and turns towards me, "Yeah?"

"You doing anything today?"

Her mouth falls open just a little and she slowly shakes her head from side to side. It tells me all I need to know. If I invite her, she'll gladly join me.

"Feel like an adventure?" I ask, flashing my best smile.

Her eyes light up and she rushes down those steps so fast I almost laugh.

"Well come on then, we'd best get to it." I tell her. I don't think I've ever seen her smile like this.

We walk down towards the Seam and I find a spot out of sight for us to cross the fence. We crouch down in the deep grass next to the fence. "You sure you wanna do this? You can still back out you know." I tell her.

"I want to go!" She whispers in high pitched, nervous sounding voice.

"Follow me and move fast until we get to the trees." I tell her as I climb through, holding the wires apart for her to follow me through the fence. Once through, we dash towards the trees. When we get there and are hidden in the safety of them, I turn to look at her.

She's breathing hard but excitement is all over her face. "Oh my God, I can't believe we just did this!" She exclaims and then starts laughing.

"Well I do it all the time but you on the other hand, you Madge Undersee, you surprise me." I tell her with a smile.

"I've always wanted to come out here."

"If I'd known that, I would've invited you sooner." I flirt. I don't know why I am doing this, why I am bringing her out her and flirting when I know she's taken but I can't help myself. Part of me actually feels as if she likes it too.

She gazes at me, studying my face then says "You would not have."

I shrug. "I would've."

She bites her bottom lip and smiles at me. "Okay, show me everything! What's out here?"

I laugh. "We won't have time to see everything. Probably only be out here for an hour or two at most."

Her face falls. 'An hour or two? That's all I get?"

"Gotta be sure we get back across the fence before it comes on again. Next train comes in late this afternoon and I'm betting it has Capitol guests on it which means that fence will be buzzing again." I explain.

"Stupid fence." She mumbles with a cute, pouty face.

She looks up at me and catches me grinning from ear to ear at her. "What?"

"Nothing." I say as I start leading us towards a spot I think she'll like. I want to tell her that this is amazing. That I can't believe she's out here with me. That I can't believe how anti-Capitol she is. But I don't tell her any of that.

"Where are we going?" She asks, following behind me.

"I want to show you a spot I think you'll like. It's got a good view."

We make our way to the top of a big hill that has a clearing and I sit down. "Come check out this view." I tell her.

She comes over and sits next to me and I hear her let out a soft gasp as her eyes fall on the land before us. From where we sit we can see trees and hills and open sky. Not a building or roadway in sight. Just miles and miles of perfect, untouched land.

"It's something, huh?"

She nods but doesn't say anything. I lay back in the grass and prop myself up with my elbows. I'm not even staring at the view. I'm staring at her staring at the view. And it's perfect.

(Madge POV)

It's the craziest thing I've ever done but it's so worth it when I see that view. Everything is so beautiful and peaceful. I could sit out here and stare at all this openness forever.

I look back at Gale and catch him just staring at me like he's enjoying watching me take this all in. I flop back on the grass next to him and let my gaze float up to the sky. "No wonder you come out here so much. This is the most peaceful place."

"It is. Mostly though, I come out here to hunt. I don't usually get to just sit and soak it all in."

Guilt washes over me for what I said. I already knew he came out here for hunting. It hits me that he should probably be hunting right now and not sitting here killing time with me and I feel even more guilty. "Oh no, I'm keeping you from hunting!" I exclaim, raising myself up to a sitting position.

He shakes his head. "No you're not. I can't hunt today."

"Why not?"

"I use snares to hunt. That's a two day deal usually. I set them one day and come back to clear them the next. Can't do that during the games." He explains.

"But don't you need to hunt? How will you feed your family?" As soon as I ask I feel stupid again. He doesn't need me asking about his family's food supply. I immediately apologize. "Sorry, I shouldn't ask you things like that."

"It's okay, you don't need to apologize. Not like it's a secret that we barely make ends meet at our house. And to answer your question, I pick up odd jobs during the games when I can."

"Is that why you helped build the stage?" I ask. Instantly the image of him shirtless under that tree pops back into my mind and I know I'm blushing so I look away.

"Yep. That job paid cash which is always good. It was nice of you to hand out waters that day you know."

"Was it? It felt kind of silly the way it was all set up for the purpose of photographing me for the newspaper."

He laughs a little. "I mean, it was hot and I was thirsty and could care less about the newspaper so..."

"Go ahead and laugh. It's not you who's picture will be in the paper, fake smiling while passing out water to a bunch of sweaty men." I tell him.

"When's the article coming out?" He asks.

"Probably came out today. If not, it'll be tomorrow. I don't know if I even want to read it. It's just a stupid article about a lot of nonsense really."

"Why'd you let them photograph you to be in the paper if you think it's stupid?"

I almost choke. "You think I get a choice in things like that? I don't even get to choose my own clothes most days so trust me when I tell you I did not choose to be the topic of any article in the Gazette."

He looks at me funny and then asks "You don't get to choose your own clothes?"

"Not usually, no. You think I'd voluntarily wear half the things you see me around town in? Most of the time they dress me in the most ridiculous, fancy things. Things I would never pick."

"Well what would you pick?"

"Something simple and plain. Something that would let me blend in."

"I'm pretty sure you'd never blend in, even dressed in something plain." He tells me. He says it as if it's meant to be a compliment, like it's a positive thing not to blend in.

I don't say anything, just go back to staring at the view. I know he's right, I don't ever blend in. I never really thought of it as a compliment worthy thing though, more like an Achilles heel sort of thing.

"We should head back." He tells me. "We don't wanna get stuck out here forever."

"I don't know about that. Might be rather nice if you ask me." I reply as I get to my feet and smooth out my dress. And I mean it. This place, this peaceful uncorrupted place is where I'd spend my forever if I had any say in it.

He smiles and shakes his head.

"What?" I ask. I want to know what he's thinking.

"You're just..." And he pauses for a minute, choosing his words. "It's just nice getting a glimpse of the real you is all."

"Can I tell you something?" I ask quietly.

"You can tell me anything you want."

"It feels really good to finally let someone have a glimpse of the real me." I admit as I start walking back. And I mean it. It really does feel like a weight is lifted off of me with being able to just be real, to not have to say or do all the things I'm supposed to say and do.