Chapter 17
(Gale POV)
I was almost late to the viewing because I had to rush home and scrub myself down at the rain barrel after working in the butcher shop again. I could've gone straight to the viewing but I didn't want to see Madge while I was reeking of animal blood and raw meat. I hadn't seen her since my little comment as I was leaving last night and I was dying to. Couldn't wait to see how she would respond. I slipped in just seconds before it started and grabbed the first seat I saw. When I looked up, there she was, sitting up front but looking back at me, smiling. I flashed a smile at her too, letting her know I was happy to see her.
The viewing actually turned out to be pretty promising. Katniss looked amazing in her costume and from the way the crowd on screen at the Capitol looked when they saw her, I'd say she definetly got their attention today. She'll spend the next week at the training center and we won't have another viewing until they reveal their evaluation scores in a few days. I actually think she may do okay with that, so long as there's a bow she can show them she knows how to use one. As soon as the viewing ends, I start walking towards Madge, ready to invite her to a Seam bonfire party that's happening later tonight. Town people don't ever go to them but I really want to take her and I actually think she'd like it. She looks so damn cute as she hurries towards me, blonde curls, bouncing around her shoulders as she walks.
"Hey there." I say, flirty smile and all.
"Hi." She says as her cheeks get all pink and rosy. "Listen, I only have a second because I have to go catch the train but I wanted to tell you I'll be traveling the next few days."
The wind gets pulled right out of my sails at that news but I try to hide it. "When will you be back?"
"A few days. I don't actually have my itinerary yet so I'm not sure but I'll find you when I get back."
"Have a safe trip. I'll see you when you get back." I tell her, making a point not to tell her to have a good time. It's not that I want her to have a bad time or anything, I just know she's probably leaving to go see that guy and I'm jealous.
But then she shocks the hell out of me. She leans in just a little and whispers "Oh and Gale? You were right. I am not married yet." And then with a smile she turns on her heel and walks away just like I did last night and I'm left standing there, speechless, smiling and staring at her back as she walks away.
"What are you doing man? She's taken. Why don't you come to the party and stare at all the girls you actually have a shot with?" Thom tells me as he smacks me playfully in the back of my head when he catches me staring at her.
"She's still nice to look at, even if she's taken." I tell him.
"Yeah, but you're not just looking. You're on the verge of drooling. C'mon, lets get going."
I glance back in Madge's direction once more but she's already out of my line of sight. I turn back to my friend who is eager to get to the party. "Okay, let's go. I'm ready to have some fun."
We get there early, just as it's getting started and I go to grab a drink. I normally love these parties when they happen cause it's a nice break from daily Seam life but tonight, without Madge here, I'm not as into it as normal. I take a seat over on a log and stare at the fire, sipping my beer and thinking over what Madge did. She outright flirted with me and made it clear that she is not yet taken. The boldness of it totally caught me off guard and was a total turn on. When she gets back, I'm kissing the hell outta her.
I'm a few drinks in when Sabrina Walters, a girl I'd been flirting pretty heavily not long ago, comes up and sits herself down in my lap, looping her arms around my neck.
"What's with you tonight? You haven't danced at all."
"Just haven't felt like it is all." I tell her. "I'm sure there's plenty of guys waiting to dance with you though."
"That's the problem though. I don't wanna dance with any of them. I'm gonna dance with you." She tells me as she slides off my lap, pulling me to come with her. I go with her just to appease her but I really only want to dance if it's with Madge and she's not here.
A few songs and a couple more drinks later though, we're slipping off out of sight from the party and the making out is getting pretty steamy. But then I almost call her by Madge's name and thankfully I don't but even almost doing it is enough for me to put the brakes on all this. And I feel like an ass for it, especially when she seems offended by it but I'm just not into it. I don't want her, I want Madge. I call it a night and head home. It's gonna be a long couple days while I wait for her to get back.
(Madge POV)
On the train I find another bouquet of white roses waiting for me in my room. A simple notecard that says "See you soon.-Yours, Drew" accompanies it. And once again, it's nice that he sent me flowers but I really dislike white roses. I get settled into my room and decide I'll have my dinner brought to my room instead of going to the dining car. That will allow me to get out of this dress and these never comfortable high heels. I may never get used to having to dress like this all the time. While I wait for my dinner to come, I take a hot shower, slip into a plush bathrobe and settle into the armchair. The rooms on the train have little tv screens that play Capitol shows round the clock. I normally never turn them on but I want to see if they're talking about Katniss and Peeta at all so I switch it on. I flip through the channels until I land on a news talk show. They are talking about how the presentation was and how much excitement there is in the Capitol over it. I watch and I'm feeling good about everything they're saying. It's all very promising in regards to Katniss and Peeta. The talk then goes from the tribute presentation to talking about the Gamemakers and there's a still shot of them, seated at the center of the presentation. Right behind them sit Ellison and Drew. He looks good, like he belongs there, like he's excited about being there. And he also looks very cozy with Ellison. His arm is around her and she's leaning into him. And around her neck is strand of pearls that looks very much like the one he gave me.
I switch off the tv, annoyance running through me. Did he give her those? Of did she simply happen to have a necklace that looks like mine? If he gave the same necklace to both of us then it wipes all sentiment from the gift. I get that he has to court both of us and that we will both be given gifts but unless there's some personalized thought behind it, I won't be able to be authentically grateful for them. I'd rather have no gifts at all than have meaningless ones that he gave to both of us.
My dinner arrives and I open the door to let the Avox bring it in. He places it on the small table by the chair then goes to leave. "Thank you for bringing my dinner to the room, I appreciate it." I tell him. He pauses and stares at me for a moment which in and of itself is unusal because they don't look at you usually and I simply smile and nod at him before he leaves. We aren't really supposed to acknowledge or talk to the Avox and they of course cannot talk to us but I've always made it a habit to say thank you to them after they do something for me. It's not enough of a conversation for any Capitol official to punish me for or anything, but I feel like it's a way to let the Avox know they are seen and that I appreciate the work they have to do for me. I can't even imagine what they feel like, never being acknowledged, never being able to speak, often being alone and spending their days and nights waiting on people. I think it would be the most terrible existence. Thankfully, we don't use any Avox in our home so I don't have to see them daily. Usually I only see them when I'm traveling or on the rare occasion that we have a guest that brings their personal Avox with them.
As I eat I try once again to sort out all the different things I'm feeling. For both Drew and for Gale. I think it's safe to say I like both of them. Drew is possibly similarly minded to me which is not all that common in our social circle of Capitol people. He has been kind to me. He's attractive looking. My concern with Drew is that I'm not sure he authentically likes me since it's a Capitol arrangement and of course, I'm jealous that I have to share him with Ellison. He also may not pick me at the end so that makes it a little scarier to really put myself out there with him. My concern with Gale is that he and I can't actually be together in the end. And seeing him basically has to be a secret because there is no way possible that the Capitol or my father would approve. Still, I feel so suddenly and incredibly drawn to him. Maybe he's just a really good flirt. He does have a reputation for making girls fall at his feet. I could just be another one of those girls. I know what I am supposed to do. I am supposed to not pursue anything with Gale at all and I should give Drew my best and full attention and be patient when he's with Ellison. The problem is I don't know if I want to do what I am supposed to do if I can have something that might make my heart happier.
The next morning, I get myself ready, making sure I look nice. I wear the prettiest of my new dresses even though it isn't the comfiest. It's a sleeveless, navy blue satin, knee length dress with a scooping neckline and empire waistline. The heels are high, the toe of the shoe is pointy and plenty uncomfortable but they look really nice. I've decided that while I'm visiting Drew, I'll give him my best and full attention. It's the best way for me to really get to know him and see if I can figure out how he truly feels about me. I tell myself I won't think about Gale at all while I"m here. As the train pulls into the station, I put on my pearl necklace, collect my luggage and head for the exit. I step off the train and look for Drew, ready to have a wonderful visit with him.