Chapter 20
(Madge POV)
I feel so much better after Drew and I talk. We stayed out there by those rocks for awhile after we'd settled everything. Talking and kissing. Mostly talking though. I'm really glad I stopped being stubborn and let him explain his side of what I'd overheard. Today we're going to the beach and he's going to take me into the ocean and I'm actually a lot nervous about that.
I put on my new swimsuit and take a look in the mirror. I feel so happy to not be wearing a fancy dress today but I also feel very naked wearing a swimsuit so I'm glad the girl at the shop recommended the cover up dress and sandals. I know I'll never get any use out of it once I'm back home but it will give me something to wear if I visit here again. And after the conversation we had last night, I do want to come visit again and spend more time really getting to know Drew.
Drew and I have breakfast with his mother before we leave and she's very happy I'm feeling better. She's nice enough, just like I remember from when I was younger, but also not someone I want to spend hours on end chatting with because she's very on point with her Capitol type talk. She's very excited about the games and even tells me she hopes Katniss wins so that it will inspire others in 12 to be brave enough to volunteer. I manage to chat without saying much myself which is nice because I really don't want her to get any idea about my true feelings on the games. I'm not sure where Drew's father, August or Pemberly are at but I'm glad they aren't at breakfast. My new goal is to steer clear of August at all times. I don't know what Pemberly is like, but I'll avoid her as well simply out of association to August. I also kind of feel bad for her knowing that she's spending her future stuck with him. Mayor Whitney is basically an amped up version of my father so I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not seeing him.
Drew has chairs with bright blue cushions and an huge blue and white umbrella set up for us at the beach when we get there. "Are you ready to see what the ocean waves feel like?" He asks and I can tell he is really excited about it.
"Promise not to let me drown? Or be eaten by a shark?" I ask as I pull off my coverup dress and kick off the sandals.
He loops his arms around my waist from behind and leans around to kiss my cheek. "That's a promise!"
We walk towards the water and I let the water wash up and touch my toes first before going right in. "It's cold!" I shriek, jumping back as the chilly water hits me.
"You'll get used to it really fast, don't worry. And its best to just go right in. Come on." He takes my hands, walking backwards leading me into the water until it's just above my waist. I'm clinging to his hands for dear life as the waves push us back towards the shore, making my feet momentarily leave the sandy ocean bottom.
"This is so strange, but also kind of fun!" I tell him as another wave comes through and my feet leave the ground again.
"I knew you'd like it." He says, grinning at me. "Want to go under a wave with me?"
I shake my head back and forth vigorously. "No way!" Then i watch as he dives headfirst into the water as the next big wave rolls in. I hold my breath and wait for him to come back up. When he does, he is soaking wet of course and the sun gleams off his tan, wet skin. I think, before I can stop myself, that his chest and back don't look like Gale's at all. Drew looks nice but lacks the eye catching muscular definition that Gale has. I push the thought from my mind, reminding myself I don't want to think about Gale while I'm with Drew.
We play and splash around in the water for awhile before we go back to the blue chairs for a break. As we lay on our lounge chairs, Drew asks me about the games. "Did you know the girl who volunteered for the games?"
I only now realize that we never got to talk about that after the reaping ceremony. "She's my friend."
"I thought that might be the case. She seems to be doing well in gaining fans and sponsors. Do you think she can win?"
"I hope so. She's brave and she's got a lot of reason to win and come back home. Her sister and mother rely heavily on her for their survival." I don't tell him specifically that she hunts in the woods because it really isn't my place to tell anyone. I don't think he would turn her in or anything like that but I still leave that part out.
"Did you get to say goodbye to her?"
"I did. I gave her my token, a mockingjay pin that was my mother's."
He smiles and squeezes my hand. He looks as if he is about to say something when an Avox shows up with food for us. He must have ordered it before we left.
I take the drink she hands me and say "Thank you." Her eyes widen but she doesn't meet my gaze.
"You cannot keep doing that. You'll get yourself in a lot of trouble." Drew warns me as she leaves.
"It's just good manners, I've always done that."
"I mean it, stop talking to them. It only takes one person reporting you to get you turned into one too you know."
"Stop worrying, even my father doesn't mind that I thank them. I feel like it's the least I can do, it's so unfair that they have to serve us and never get any appreciation for it."
"They are being punished. That is why we can't show appreciation to them. Please stop. I need you and I can't stand the thought of you being turned into one of them." He pleads.
I'm a little surprised at his level of concern. "Have you ever known someone that became one?" I ask, thinking that must be where some of his concern stems from.
"Yes." He tells me as he closes his eyes and turns his face away from me.
That makes his concern more understandable. This just scares him because it hits close to home for him is all. I reach over and put my hand on his arm. "Hey, I'll stop. I don't want to make you worry." I tell him.
He seems relieved and we eat the lunch that was brought to us. I don't ask any questions about who he knew that became an Avox even though I am curious about it. Whatever happened clearly has him nervous about it ever happening again to anyone else he knows.
After lunch we walk hand in hand along the shore a bit, letting the water splash around our feet. When we head back to the house, once I'm inside and out of the sun, I notice that my skin is looking pink. Drew notices too. And as we're standing there by the stairs, August comes by, laughing as he sees me. There's a girl with purple streaks in her hair and glittery eye makeup walking behind him. She gives me a half smile but doesn't stop to talk. I assume she must be his match, Pemberly.
"I should have given you sunscreen. I forgot that you aren't used to how strong the sun is here. I'll have some after sun lotion sent up to your room. It'll turn it from pink to a nice tan and take all the sting out." He tells me, completely ignoring August and Pemberly.
In my room I see exactly how bad it is when I strip off my clothes. I am very sunburned everywhere except where my bikini covered my skin which is a pale white. No wonder August laughed when he saw me, I look ridiculous! I go to take a cool shower and that feels a little better. When I get put of the shower, I find a jar of lotion waiting for me. I slather myself head to toe in it, hoping it helps the way Drew said it would. Capitol medicines always work well so hopefully the same applies to after sun lotions.
A little while later Drew comes by, freshly showered and dressed for dinner. "Good, your sunburn is already looking better. Do you feel okay?"
"I feel fine. A little embarrassed, but otherwise fine."
"No need to be embarrassed. Besides, it's all my fault anyway. I know what a day at the beach can do to previously unexposed skin and I failed to give you sunscreen. I was just so excited to get you in the water that I wasn't thinking."
"Help me with this?" I ask as I hand him my pearl necklace.
He smiles and clasps the necklace on me as I hold my hair up. "Ready for dinner?"
I nod and we head to the dining room. It's full of Capitol guests milling about and many are excited to talk to me about Katniss and the games. Mayor Whitney barely acknowledges me and I get the impression he expects Drew to pick Ellison as well. I don't care though because it isn't as if I want to spend time chatting with him anyway. I do notice how he fawns over Pemberly, introducing her to guests as his future daughter in law. August never speaks to me and I am thankful for that. Drew stays by my side all night and I am thankful for that too. Having someone with me when I have to be around this many Capitol people makes it just a little less awful to endure. If he does choose me like he says he plans to, it will make my adult life easier with him at my side. He knows how to dazzle the Capitol people but deep down he is much more like me in what he truly thinks. I think this could work, us being married and living a Capitol leadership life together. It wouldn't be the life I want to have, free of all things Capitol, but it would be much more tolerable than the life I always feared was waiting for me.
(Gale POV)
I try to keep myself as busy as possible while I wait for her to come back from seeing that guy. Not knowing when exactly she will return makes it much harder to wait patiently. I've chopped wood for my house and the Everdeens. I can't hunt because of the fence being on but I have made a couple item trades at the Hob. Sold some goat cheese that Prim was able to make. It's all stretched tight but both households have enough food and supplies to get by until the fence goes off again. I'll need a good haul next time I get out there or more odd jobs from town. I haven't been to any parties or hung out with my friends much. Every time the train comes in, I linger near the station, hoping I'll see her but also knowing it will probably be a few days. And the whole time I'm waiting, all I can think about is how I am gonna kiss her as soon as I see her again.