Chapter 22

(Gale POV)

The viewing of the tribute's training scores is this afternoon and I know she'll be back for it. Unfortunately, I can't linger at the station and wait for her to come in because I've got to fix the roof on our house. It rained last night and there's a new leak that needs to be patched up. It's not a bad one or anything but fixing it takes me most of the day. By the time I've cleaned myself up, washing off all the soot and sweat, it's time to go to the viewing.

In town, I check in and then wonder around, scanning the crowd as I look for her. Where is she? I finally end up having to take a seat with my family because it's about to start. Did she not come back yet? At the very last moment, I spot her as she hurries in. She's beautiful and the bright pink dress she's wearing looks so damn good on her. I stare at her, wanting her to look my way but she doesn't. When the scores start getting announced, I have to look to the screen.

As expected, the tributes in the districts closest to the Capitol score very high. They always score high but I guess that's how it is when you spend the bulk of your childhood training for the games. The middle districts vary, some scoring well and others very low. Also typical. Finally they get to 12. The kid from the bakery does okay and gets an 8. It's not super high compared to some of the others but it's good for someone from 12 and keeps him out of the bottom ranks. We tend to score fairly low in 12. When they get to Katniss, I hold my breath and lean forward towards the screen. 11. She got an 11! A loud mess of cheers erupts all around me and I find myself chiming right in and pumping my fist in the air, proud as hell of her. No one from our district, as far as I know, has ever gotten an 11! She did it. She showed them she was worth betting on. She'll have sponsors now and that means she has a shot at actually coming home. The announcers talk just a little more and then the viewing ends.

I'm on my feet and heading towards Madge immediately. My plan is to just kiss her but as I get closer I decide not to. Too many people around. She's talking with some woman who looks like she's from the Capitol so I hang back and let her finish.

"Hey there." I say when she's finally finished with her conversation.

She turns around and her face lights up when she sees me. "Hi." She says as a smile spreads across her face.

"Wanna go for a walk?" I ask, dying to get her out of the town square so I can kiss her.

Her face falls a little. "I can't. I have to be at dinner, we have guests."

"Later then?" I ask, holding my breath, hoping she says yes. I feel like I might actually die if I can't kiss her.

"Meet me at 11? I know that's awfully late and all but I have to..."

I cut her off, not needing to hear her reasoning. "In the meadow, at 11." I tell her.

Her smile returns and I can't help feel elated. I've been waiting for several days to kiss her, a few more hours won't hurt. I watch as she hurries towards her house, glancing back at me once when I give her a wink and a grin, making her blush.

I go home and eat a bowl of stew with my family, help get the little ones to bed and then eager for the time to pass, I head to the meadow to wait. As I sit, I pull out a pocket knife and start whittling away at a piece of wood. It's not something I do often but my dad taught me when I was little and it does pass the time. By the time 11 rolls around, I've carved out a small heart shape from the wood. I slip it and my knife back into my pocket. I lean back on my hands and wait for Madge.

A little after 11 I see her coming this way, fancy dress flowing behind her as she hurries. I stand up, waiting for her to get to me.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm late!" She starts but I just smile, put my hands on her hips and pull her to me, my lips finding hers and kissing her with all the built up emotion I've been waiting to release. And it's the best damn kiss I've ever had.

"Wow..." She whispers breathlessly, her hands on my chest, clutching my shirt.

"I've been waiting for days to do that and it was so worth it." I admit, already wanting to kiss her again. And so I do. I kiss her again. When our lips part this time, I pull her to sit down in the grass with me. I think I've stunned her with the unexpected kissing and she looks like she needs a minute to catch her breath.

"That's quite a welcome back. I take it you missed me." She finally says.

"You could say that."

"I'm sorry I was late, dinner ran longer than I expected. Everyone is so excited about Katniss's score. I'm glad you waited, I was worried you'd be gone."

I shake my head. "No way. You're worth the wait and I'm glad you're back."

"Gale? Before this goes any further, I wanted to talk to you tonight. You know that we could get into a lot of trouble over this, right? If anyone knew what just happened, we'd both be punished." She asks uneasily.

I hate that she's already feeling hesitation and regret, that isn't at all what I want her to feel. "Listen, I know that was really forward of me to just kiss you like that and I probably should've asked you first..." I begin.

All of a sudden, she leans forward, hands to my face and kisses me again. I raise a brow at her when she pulls back.

"I want to kiss you, that's not the problem at all." She explains. "It's just, the Capitol expects me to be courting Drew. If they found out that I was also seeing you, that I was kissing you, it would likely be seen as defiant. I don't want to get you in trouble."

I already know what she's just told me. This isn't exactly new information. And I know I should care but I just don't. I like her way to much for the Capitol to scare me away. "I've been known to be a little defiant from time to time." I reply with a grin.

She smiles hesitantly and I don't like it. I don't want her to pull away, not when I just had the best kiss of my life, not when I've been crushing on her forever but I don't know what to say in this moment. So I kiss her again, pulling her closer to me in the grass. The intensity is unreal and before I know it, I'm moving from her lips to her jawline. She lets out a little gasp and I force myself to stop. I'm not exactly known for taking it slowly but I've never felt this much desire after just a kiss.

"Now I know why you have such a large fan club." She jokes breathlessly.

"Uh uh. This isn't how it is with anyone else. Honestly, I'm kind of wishing I would've just walked up and kissed you years ago, I think I've been missing out." I tell her. And I actually mean it.

"Me too." She mumbles, almost to herself.

"So what do you say we just have fun, out of the spotlight if that's how it has to be, but let's just live in the moment, not worry about anything else." I suggest to her.

"And you aren't worried about getting into trouble or about the fact that I'm seeing someone else who I'm probably going to marry?" She asks.

Truthfully, I hate that she is seeing someone else. I freaking hate it. But I know that's not exactly changeable. She has to be with him. Ultimately she's going to be with him and there's nothing either of us can do about it. But I'm not about to let that keep me from being with her, even if we can't have what I want us to have, I'll gladly be with her for now. The getting in trouble part I'm not too worried about. I know how to avoid getting caught breaking rules. "I'm not worried." I tell her.

She leans forward, whispers "Okay then." And we fall back into the grass, kissing again.

(Madge POV)

I felt so awful asking him to meet me so late at night and then being late getting there. As soon as I could slip out of the house I basically ran all the way to the meadow. I was sure he'd be gone since I was late. Thankfully he was still there waiting for me. I started apologizing as soon as I was near him but he cut me off with a surprise by pulling me up against him and kissing me. He kissed me in a way that stole my breath and made my head spin. It wasn't anything like kissing Drew. It was unbelievable and instantly I wanted, needed more.

But as incredible as his kisses were making me feel, stirring feelings I've never felt before, I needed to have a conversation about all of this. I had to make sure he knew that this, whatever it is between us, has to be a secret and that if we're caught we could both be in quite a bit of trouble. I had to make sure he was okay with the fact that even though I'm doing this with him, that Drew still has to be in the picture. And I had to be sure he understood that this is all temporary, that eventually I will be married to someone else. He didn't care about any of that. So we decided to live in the moment, to be together in whatever way we can manage. It's exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit I felt a little guilty for Drew not being privy to any of this. But I won't tell him a word about Gale though. No. What I have with Drew, the life we will likely have together, it won't ever feel as if it were truly mine, as if I'd created the life I wanted. The entire purpose of us being matched is to serve the interest of the Capitol. What I can have with Gale, even if it's only temporary, it's just for me, it's something I want. And if I'm going to give up my entire future to the Capitol, I think I deserve to have a little fun right now.