Chapter 27

(Madge POV)

I sit at my vanity, my fingers playing with the little vase that holds my bouquet of purple wildflowers. I've got to figure a better place for Gale and I to meet up with one another. I don't mind the tree or the meadow at all but I'd love to find a place more private. At least a place we could go occasionally. I sit at my vanity, fingers playing with my little bouquet of purple wildflowers as I ponder so many different ideas but I always come to the conclusion that it won't work. Eventually my father will go out of town and I could possibly sneak Gale into my room but that isn't ideal since we can't talk at all there thanks to the Capitol's ability to eavesdrop whenever they want. We can go into the woods once the fence stops being on all the time after the games. That is, if he'll take me out there again. I'm still searching for ideas when my phone rings and startles me out of my thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's Drew. Do you have a moment to talk?"

"I know it's you silly, you don't need to tell me it's you. And yes, I have time to talk." I respond. I know his voice but even if I didn't, it's not as if I get many phone calls so it wouldn't exactly be a challenge to figure out who it was.

"I wanted to go over the plans for your visit. Instead of coming here to my house, we'll be going to go to the Capitol together, to watch the viewing there."

I grit my teeth. A date with him and Ellison. On her home territory. That will be loads of fun. I don't even answer him because anything I say is going to be full of sarcasm.

"I know that's not the alone time you probably were hoping for but it will still be an excellent experience being able to see the games from the Capitol and I know we'll enjoy that. There's also a party after the viewing that we'll go to. I've arranged for your stylist to meet you at your hotel room beforehand and help you get ready for it. We'll spend the night in the Capitol and then you and I will take the train back to District 4 for me and of course District 12 for you." He says after my silence.

"It sounds lovely, I can't wait." I tell him feigning enthusiasm for whoever may be listening in.

"August and Pemberly will also be joining us in the Capitol." He adds.

"Well it sounds as if you've got all sorts of fun planned for us, I can hardly wait. When do I leave?"

"On the evening train tomorrow, after the viewing."

"Looking forward to it." I say politely because anything else I say is going to get me in trouble.

"I can't wait to see you." He says, his voice sounding a little downtrodden. Probably because he knows he just told me a whole bunch of things I didn't want to hear.

"Me either. Thanks Drew, I'll see you soon." I tell him as I hang up.

Well, there's something to look forward to. A trip to the Capitol where I'll spend time with August, Pemberly, Ellison and Drew while we watch the games together while surrounded by Capitol citizen who view the games as mere entertainment. And I leave tomorrow night so that's a few more days where I won't be able to see Gale at all. I'm already dreading telling him tonight that I am leaving again. Knowing I'm about to leave again makes me want to see him right now instead of having to wait until after dinner.

So I decide to go to the Seam, checking on Prim and as an excuse if anyone asks me why I'm there. And while I'm there perhaps I'll happen past the Hawthorne's house. And maybe when I do, Gale will see me and I can stop to talk for a moment.

I go to the kitchen and grab a basket. I put a few things in it to give the Everdeen's. Just some muffins and fruit, nothing too fancy. I'm sure they'll appreciate it and to anyone watching my whereabouts, it will seem as if I"m merely supporting the family of our leading tribute. I've gotten so used to seeing the Seam at night that it seems odd to see it in the daytime again. It's so sad the way they have to live in these crummy little houses that barely qualify as houses. In some ways though, I'm a little jealous. The Capitol doesn't own these houses like they do the ones in town. These, while registered as residences of the district, are not Capitol owned. They're basically just shacks built by families themselves years ago that have been continued to be lived in because the Capitol doesn't pay decent enough wages to the miners for their families to be able to afford to live in town. I'd love to live in a house where I knew the Capitol couldn't listen in on me. Thinking of it this way, the Seam houses suddenly seem pretty appealing to me.

I knock on the Everdeen's door and Prim answers.

"Hi Prim! I won't take much of your time, I just wanted to stop by to bring you this and see how you were doing?" I greet her with my best smile.

"Thank you so much!" She says, taking the basket.

"Is there anything you need?" I ask. And while I may be in the Seam for other reasons really, I absolutely want to help her if there is anything that she needs.

"No, we are managing. Gale helps too."

"I'm glad to hear that. You know, your sister is doing very well. The Capitol people are very impressed with her still and she has lots of sponsorships."

"Do you think she'll make it back? Honestly?"

I nod confidently. "I do indeed. She's very wise, very skilled and has citizens of the Capitol backing her in the games. I'm hoping she'll be home before we know it."

Prim looks comforted by my answer and that makes me happy.

"I'll see you later at the viewing." I tell her as I turn to leave. She waves and goes inside with the basket.

Now, to wander past the Hawthornes and hope Gale is outside. I make my way towards his house, almost certain I'm headed the right way. Turns out I am because as I come around a curve in the road, and then see Gale outside with his little sister, hanging laundry on a line to dry. He's playful with her, making the chore seem more like a game. I stop and watch for a moment, taking it in and loving how he is with her. He sees me and I smile.

"Hey pretty girl, what are you doing out here?" He says in a low but happy sounding tone as I come up to him.

"I just came from seeing Prim and thought I'd walk this way and see if you were outside."

He looks around and then grabs my hand, pulling me around the side of the house. He presses me against the side of the house as he kisses me.

"Sorry, couldn't help myself." He says.

I smile because I don't have words at the moment after that kiss.

"Wanna meet my little sister?"

I nod. "I'd love to!"

We step back around the side of the house and Gale calls to her. "Hey Pose, wanna meet my friend?"

She comes over, dark hair pulled back into pigtails and tied with faded scraps of fabric, puts her hands on her hips and says "Who are you?"

I squat down to her level. "Hi, I'm Madge. It's very nice to meet you!"

She looks me over and then says "You're kinda pretty." I hear Gale snort a laugh behind me.

"Why thank you, I think you're very pretty too!"

"You a princess or something?" She asks quizzically, still looking me over. "Your dress is kinda fancy."

"No, I'm not a princess. I just have a lot of fancy clothes."

"Okay." She tells me, accepting my answer as she runs off to play.

"She's adorable! Thank you for introducing us." I tell him with a huge smile, genuinely feeling special for having gotten to meet her.

"Oh she's a mess 99% of the time and full of sass but we love her." He laughs.

"Well I hope I have 10 just like her one day." I say as I watch her chase after a butterfly trying to catch it.

"You want a bunch of kids?" He asks, seeming curious.

"Well maybe not 10, but I do want at least 4, maybe 5." I admit. As long as I can remember I've always dreamed of having a house full of little ones.

He doesn't say anything, just sort of smiles at me. I can tell he's thinking something but whatever it is, he doesn't share it.

"Listen, I've got to get home but I did want to tell you that I just found out I'll be leaving again tomorrow for a few days. If you can, I do want to see you tonight though." I tell him, hating every second of it.

His face instantly falls but he tries to cover for it quickly. "Well, we will just have to make tonight extra fun then." He gives me a smile but his eyes tell me he's not happy.

I grab his hand and pull him back around the edge of the house again, needing and wanting just one more kiss before I go. "I'll see you tonight, I'll get there as quickly as I can." I whisper. Then I steal one more kiss before I head back towards town. I glance back once and find him leaning against the house, watching me go. And I want nothing more than to just stay here with him.

(Gale POV)

I'm busy watching Posey and hanging a load of my mother's wash to dry when I look up and find Madge standing there watching us. I don't know what brought her out this way during the daytime but I'm happy to see her. I even get a little bold and pull her around the back side of the house so I can kiss her. It's stupid really considering it's daytime and we aren't supposed to let anyone see us together but I just couldn't not kiss her. I don't think she minded and no one could see us since our house doesn't have another one behind it. Then I introduced her to Posey who asked if she was a princess. And I found out that she wants kids. Lots of them. When she said it, I couldn't help picturing her surrounded by kids one day. I think she's going to make the most amazing mother.

Then she dropped the bad news on me. Another trip out of town. With him, I'm sure though she didn't specifically spell that part out for me. At least I'll get to see her tonight though. I know she hated telling me just as much as I hated hearing it. I wish this guy wasn't in the picture. I wish I could just date her and let everyone know that she's mine.

At the viewing, our eyes meet a few times and we both smile then quickly look away. I hope she can get away early tonight. The stupid dinners at her house last for hours sometimes and I want as much time with her as possible since she's leaving tomorrow. There's a bonfire party again tonight but I can't take her to it. When this fence turns off again, I'm taking her out in the woods again, if she wants to go. I want to take her out there and show her all the things she hasn't seen, the things the Capitol hasn't touched. Maybe that can be a place we go other than just hanging out behind the big tree.

After I eat dinner with my family, I slip outside and make my way to the tree. I'm earlier than I need to be but I don't want to sit at home and I don't feel like going to the party without her there too. So I sit and start whittling another piece of wood to pass the time.

"Hi." I hear her whisper softly as she comes up to the tree and slides down next to me, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"You're early." I comment, not minding a bit that she is.

"Slipped out easily this time." Is all she says.

"I'm glad." I say as I fold up my pocket knife and set aside the wood I was working on.

"What's this?" She asks, picking up the wood, turning it over in her hand.

"Nothing. Just a way I pass the time."

"Are you carving something?" She prods, not satisfied with my vague answer.

"It's called whittling. My father taught me to do it when I was little. I'm not very good at it, especially compared to his work."

"What do you make from it?"

"Little trinkets, just junk like that. It's really nothing special." I insist.

"I"d love to see it when you're finished." She says, showing real interest.

"Okay. When you get back from your trip, I'll have something to show you. But I give you fair warning, it's really not worth making a fuss about." I have no idea what I'll make to show her but I love that she's so intrigued by the whole thing.

"Ugh, don't remind me that I have to leave." She groans and a pouty expression covers her face.

I pepper her face with little kisses. "Why? You wishing you were staying here?" I tease.

"Mhmm." She murmurs. "Do you hear music?" She asks suddenly, looking around to see where it's coming from.

"It's from the bonfire party. Don't worry, they aren't close enough that anyone will see us over here. The music just carries sometimes."

"A bonfire party?" She repeats, looking intrigued.

"Yeah, we have them in the Seam sometimes. Big bonfire, music and dancing, lot of drinking." I explain.

"Do you dance?"

I smile. "Sometimes. It's probably nothing like the dancing you do at the parties you attend though." I'm sure any dancing she does is formal and planned whereas Seam dancing is much more of a free movement sorta thing.

"How close can we get to this bonfire party without anyone seeing me?" She asks me.

I shake my head. "Too risky. Someone will see us."

Her face falls. "Really? I just want to peek, to see what it's like."

I ought to tell her no. It really is an unnecessary risk. But she looks so eager, so intrigued that I cave way too easily. "Okay, I'll take us close enough for you to see it from a distance but that's it. Then we leave and come back here."

Excitement fills her face and she jumps up quickly. "Let's go!" She whispers enthusiastically.

I take her hand and following the edge of the fence, lead her towards the party. When we get as close enough to see it, I pull her to the side of a cluster of trees. We aren't close enough to identify anyone we see in the distance but we can see silhouettes of people dancing by the fire.

"There it is." I whisper.

She leans forward a tiny bit, eyes wide as she takes it all in. "It looks like so much fun!"

I watch as she stares intently at it and wish I could take her over there without causing trouble for us. I look down and see her feet moving to the beat of the music. Without really asking if she wants to, I take her hand and start dancing with her to the music. And she looks happier than I've ever seen.