Chapter 29

(Gale POV)

I try to keep myself busy again while she's gone. I check on the Everdeens, I work a little for the butcher again and feel extra thankful for the scraps of meat he pays me with. Not being able to hunt has food spread really thin. Madge had given the Everdeens a basket with a little food in it and that helped a lot but I wish she wouldn't do it. I won't say anything about it because I think her intentions are genuine and I know she wouldn't do it if Katniss was here to take care of Prim. For Madge, this is a kindness for Katniss. A way to help see that Prim is taken care of in her absence.

I spend some time whittling another little heart like I made the one night in the meadow. I think I may stain them and put them together on a leather cord like a bracelet or something. Madge seemed to really be interested in the whole whittling thing so I want to make her something from it. It won't be much and won't even come close to comparing with the real fancy jewelry she's always got on but I have a feeing she will like this anyway. She seems to like the simpler stuff better most of the time anyway. Plus, I want to have something to give her when she comes home. To let her know I thought about her while she was gone.

Katniss wows me a little in the viewing of the games. She actually blows up a huge stockpile of food and supplies that some of the tributes have hoarded. I felt bad for her when that younger girl died though. I could tell Katniss associated her with Prim a little simply because of her age and wanted to look out for her. She did a beautiful tribute to the girl though, placing some flowers around her and singing her a song. Sort of paying final respects to the girl who had helped her in the games. She saluted at the end and I'm not sure that was a good decision but whatever, she's alive and doing well and that's what I care about most. I just need her to come back alive. She's gonna be surprised to find Madge and I have been seeing one another. I know it's a secret but I tell Katniss everything and I trust her not to tell anyone about us. Plus, she's Madge's friend too.

Thom and my other friends ask where I've been hiding out, complaining that I've ghosted them but I just shrug it off as me having extra responsibilities with Katniss being gone right now and all. I think they all buy it except Thom. I can tell he knows I'm up to something but he doesn't ask about it and I don't offer up anything. I'd trust him not to tell anyone but he's not Madge's friend so I don't think she'd want him to know. It does feel good to spend some time with my friends again but the whole time I feel like something is missing and I don't have to think too hard to know what it is. Madge is what's missing.

I find some wood stain at the Hob that has a pinkish tone to it and I think it will be perfect for the little wooden hearts. While I'm there, I hear that in town they need a couple extra guys to help move boxes around in the Justice Hall, something about refinishing the floors. Jobs like that don't come up often and always pay cash so I hightail it to town to see if I can snag a job. Luckily, I get there in time. It's not much pay, only a measly $2 but it's mine if I'm willing to lug some boxes from one floor to another. And I need the money so it doesn't matter what the work or pay actually is. The need is big enough that the rest doesn't matter much.

The job starts immediately and I get to work hauling boxes from the 3rd floor up to the attic so that they can lay new tiles on the 3rd floor. The attic is sweltering hot and crammed with tons of shelves full of boxes. On my 5th or 6th trip up there, I'm running out of space to put the new boxes so the peacekeeper supervising the job unlocks a door at the back of the attic that leads to another storage room. An older, dustier one. It's on my 10th trip up that a shelf breaks as I add a box to it, spilling the boxes and all their content all over the floor. I hurry to pick everything up and get it back into the boxes, not wanting my wages slashed for this. As I'm doing it though, my eye catches on something. It's a map. A map of District 12 and all the bordering districts. I stop and stare at it for a moment. Maps like this haven't existed in a long time. The Capitol banned them once 13 was destroyed so this is my first time ever seeing where the actual district lines are. I glance around and no one is up here at the moment except me. I fold the map up really small and shove it in my pocket. It's banned because they don't want us to see it and know how to get to other districts and I'm suddenly very curious if this will show me exactly where 13 is supposed to be located. It may be a long shot to actually find it but you never know and I'll regret it if I don't take this rare chance to steal the map. I shove the fallen boxes into a stack and then continue making trips up and down as I was before, the whole time though I am dying to get home and look more closely at this map.

(Madge POV)

When the viewing ends, our little group heads over to the President's Ballroom for the party. It's definetly the biggest party I've ever been to and it's as Capitol as it can get. It's awkward being in this trio with Ellison and Drew and I really feel like a 3rd wheel. They go to dance and I wander off to find a bathroom, grateful for some time alone. In the stall, I sit and just rest for a few minutes, not in any hurry to get back out there and mingle with all these weird people. As I sit there though, I hear a couple women enter, gossiping about someone. I still myself completely so I can listen. It's Ellison and one of her friends and they're talking about me!

"I don't know how you can stand having to share him with her. I couldn't do it!"

"It's the worst, let me tell you. She's totally beneath me. But I don't have anything to worry about as far as Drew is concerned. From what I can tell, he's barely interested in her at all. I mean, have you met her? She's rather boring and very plain. I'm certain most of their time together is simply because it's required of the courtship. That's why she's here now. He literally had to invite her because it wouldn't look good in the press if he didn't with this being such an exclusive party and all. Thank God she finally got a good stylist though. I was so tired of being in pictures with her where she looked like a commoner." Ellison tells her, sounding utterly disgusted at the mention of me.

"Well she certainly won't be able to compete with you for his affection. Did you see the way he was looking at you in that dress? He couldn't keep his eyes and hands off you the whole time you were dancing!" Her friend offers up.

"Right? I doubt a girl like her even knows what to do with a man like Drew. She's way out of her league and everyone knows it except her."

They leave the bathroom, laughing as the door swings closed behind them and I sit, letting what she said sink in a little. It shouldn't bother me and it shouldn't hurt at all but it does. It really does. NOt so much because I care what she thinks but because part of me worries that some of what she said could be true.

Back in the ballroom, I spy Haymitch, District 12's sole victor and Effie Trinket so I go over to say hello. Haymitch isn't the social type and a ballroom isn't where I'd expect to find him but I bet he has to be here because of the games and how well Katniss is doing.

"Hello Haymitch, Miss Trinkett." I greet them.

Haymitch looks up from the glass in his hand and snorts out a laugh. "What the hell happened to you?"

"New stylist felt I needed a more mature look." I say with a smile. I know he agrees that I look insane. He and I haven't ever talked in depth much but when we have spoken, I've gotten the distinct impression that he is anti-Capitol anything.

"Well you look simply marvelous darling, simply marvelous!" Effie coos at me. I don't care much for her but only because she's so dedicated to doing her Capitol job to the fullest extent.

"Thank you. How's it going with sponsorships for Katniss? Are funds still coming in steadily?" I ask.

"Best we've ever gotten on anyone!" Effie exclaims. "Speaking of which, if you'll excuse me, I see someone I want to speak with regarding a new sponsorship donation." She says as she flits off towards a man in a brightly colored suit.

"She's doing good, right?" I ask Haymitch, more quietly. I feel like he would tell me if there was anything to worry about.

He nods. "They don't like what she did today though. That may cause some problems with the game makers."

"I was worried about that." I admit.

"Be careful how much you let that boy change you. Once they get their claws fully in you, you'll never escape." Haymitch tells me, giving my outfit a little wave before he chugs the rest of his drink and walks away to find another.

I stare after him, pondering his words, not sure what to make of it. I don't get to think about it long though because Drew approaches.

"There you are, I've been looking everywhere. Want to dance?"

"Sure." I tell him and let him lead me out to the dance floor.

As we dance, I decide to ask him about the stylist. "You didn't tell me you hired a new stylist for me."

"All the wives have stylists. I wanted you to have one too."

"I already had one. Steffi has been styling me for years."

"Yes, but the wives all have top level stylists. I wanted you to have the best too. Did you not like her?"

I give him a look. Is he serious? Did he think I was going to like all of this?

"You do look very nice, she did a good job." He encourages.

"I have neon pink eyes." I say flatly.

He laughs. "I know but it's just temporary. My mother had yellow ones last week and it was a little shocking to see initially but she really liked it. It's a huge trend right now. All the women are doing it."

"Was I that boring and plain looking before?" I ask bluntly, Ellison's words clearly haunting my thoughts..

His face flickers to concern. "Oh no, that wasn't it at all. I always think you look beautiful, always have. Here in the Capitol we just have to dress a little differently than we normally do is all."

I smile up at him. I can tell he meant well with the whole stylist thing but once again, he missed the mark a little in knowing what I would like and not like. But I also know that he is right. At Capitol parties they do indeed dress like this and honestly my normal attire, even the fancy stuff, would look very plain against the other women in this room. I'm sure he was trying to do something nice, even if it's the last thing I really wanted.

"Well thank you for thinking of me and wanting me to have the very best. It was kind of you." I tell him.

I can tell by his face that he knows he missed the mark again and that makes me feel bad. I know he's trying. "Did you get a movie night set up for us?" I ask, changing the subject.

"I did! It'll be you, me, dinner and a movie in my room on the train ride home." He says looking happier again. Relieved almost.

"I'm really looking forward to it." I assure him, wanting him to know that I am not mad at him and feeling bad about not being thankful over the stylist thing.

As we dance, I catch Ellison's watchful eyes on us and flash her a huge smile. She may think I am beneath her and she may think that I am plain and boring but Drew has told me he likes me, that he plans to pick me. And I believe him. I may not get a say in who I marry and I may not want the life the Capitol has planned out for me, but if I have to do any of that, I'm really glad Drew will be at my side for all of it. He's nice and he wants to make me happy, even if he hasn't quite mastered that yet. He's a rare good one in a sea of guys that are like August and I consider myself lucky to have been matched with him. So Ellison can think whatever she wants about me, it doesn't matter and I won't let it worry me a second longer. Instead, I'm going to put all of my effort into having fun with Drew tonight.