Chapter 6

(Madge POV)

Just as I think to myself that the interview is going smoothly, Gale gets asked how he feels about possible reassignment to another district. It's not something I'm sure he's heard of, especially given the way he hesitated to answer and now I'm sure he's filled with questions. And I'm going to have to wait until after dinner to explain what exactly reassignment is. He looks nervous and I whisper that I'll explain everything and I hope that helps but he still seems uneasy. Really though, it isn't something to worry about. They hardly ever do such a thing anymore. It hasn't even happened in our lifetime. I have no idea what made that reporter ask such a thing. I think even my father was momentarily thrown off by the question just because reassignment simply never happens anymore. At any rate, it seems to have Gale nervous now and I'm anxious to get him alone and explain it all.

The other thing that's bugging me is the way that Mrs. Hawthorne acted. Gale definitely hasn't been completely honest with me about how she feels regarding our engagement, that's for sure. She was so stiff and never once did she pass a smile or kind word my way or even Gale's for that matter. I'm actually fairly certain that she was only attending the interview at the request of my father. And she was more than a little hurried in making her exit the very second the interview wrapped up. So a conversation with Gale about how she really feels is probably in need of happening too.

But for now we're stuck at dinner so all real conversations will have to wait.

Finally, after an extra lengthy dinner, the party moves to the front parlor and Gale and I are able to quietly slip away. I take his hand and lead him upstairs to my room, shuting the door behind us.

"What the hell is reassignment?" He asks the second the door clicks shut.

I let out a puff of air. "Come on, sit down and I'll explain it." I say as I lead us over to the couch, pulling him to sit with me.

"Reassignment is something that never happens anymore so I don't really know why that reporter even brought it up. It's been years and years since one even happened."

"But what is it?" He impatiently asks, voice rising.

"It's something the Capitol used to do, back after the rebellion of 13 and when they began holding the games. It was meant to keep any one district from becoming too solid or strong. New leadership within a district helped keep tabs on things, helps keep everyone in line. So every few years, they'd reassign the mayors to new districts, to mix things up so no one got too comfortable. But it's been years since they did that. It hasn't even happened in our lifetime."

He's very quiet for a minute. "And when they reassign you, you have to cut all ties with the other district, where you're from?"

I nod. I know he's thinking about his family and how this would require him to leave them behind.

"I can't do that. I can't abandon them." His eyes turn watery as he speaks.

"You won't have too. Really, it's not something they really do anymore. It was just in the beginning, to keep things under their control."

"And what happens when they decide to do it again? Hmm? Just because it hasn't happened in awhile doesn't mean they won't do it again!" He says angrily.

I know it isn't me that he's angry at but it hurts to see him so upset. I don't respond. I just sit next to him. Nothing else I could say will calm his fears. He's just been taken by surprise is all and once he lets it soak in how it hasn't happened in ages, I'm sure he'll relax a little. He just wasn't expecting it is all.

"Madge, I'm serious. If that happens, I won't go. I won't leave my family behind. I need you to understand that, right here and now. It isn't something I'll ever, at any point be willing to do."

I swallow. "I'm not asking you to do that. I know you wouldn't leave them."

He looks as if that helps just a little. But only a little. Seeing how worked up he is, I decide not to bring up the need for the conversation about our engagement and his mother's true feelings about it. That would probably be best saved for another, less tense time. I scoot over closer to him and lean my head against his shoulder. I kick off my heels, curling my legs up and pulling the throw from the back of the couch, spreading it over my lap.

"You cold?" He asks quietly.

"A little. Better now though."

He gets up and starts a fire in the fireplace. Once it's going good, he comes back to the couch and resumes his spot, pulling me to lean against him again and putting his arm around my shoulders. We don't talk. Just sit.

"Can I quit?"

"What?"

"Can I quit the job as Mayor if they reassign us?"

"I'm not sure but I doubt it. At least not once reassignment has been announced."

"What about before? Can I ever just decide to quit?"

I shrug. I'm not sure. "I don't know. I'm not sure it's happened before."

I hate seeing him so worked up about something that never even happens anymore. The Capitol only ever did it as a means of controlling the districts. And they don't have to do that anymore. We're all under their complete control. There hasn't been a threat of rebellion in ages. And the Capitol just wouldn't toss up the districts without reason. That isn't how they operate. They make moves of purpose. And there just isn't a purpose for them to make this move anymore.

He rubs his hands over his face and then looks at me. "You haven't asked about my mother and the way she acted tonight. I know you noticed."

I look down at the blanket over my legs and pick at the seam. "Figured you had enough on your plate without me adding to it."

"Isn't it supposed to be fun? Getting engaged? So far, it's been a lot of stress."

"It hasn't all been stressful has it? I think there've been some fun moments."

"Like what?"

"Well, the proposals were fun. Both of them. And it was fun telling Tripp about us and seeing how happy he was for us. What about you? Didn't you have fun with any of it yet?"

"The proposal in the woods. That was perfect."

"That's it? What about telling your friends? Wasn't that fun for you?"

"I didn't really get a chance to see many people yet." He says.

I know he's hiding something though because Tripp already told me how everyone at school was talking about our engagement so I know Gale told his friends. Were they not happy for him? Is that why he's sort of dodging the topic? I don't know if I should press the issue or just let it go. After a moment of internal debate, I decide to let it go. Apparently Gale's under a lot more stress than I'm aware of and perhaps the best thing I can do for him is to not pester him with questions about it. He'll talk to me when he's ready.

(Gale POV)

After Madge dozes off, I slip out, lightly kissing her forehead before I leave. She's worried but trying to put on a brave face for my benefit. She's worried about me and my reaction to the reassignment thing and about my mother and her reaction to our engagement. I was surprised she hadn't wanted to talk about my mother but I was honestly grateful when she said it could wait, that I had enough going on right now. And I do. I feel like everything is just weighing me down. I'm 17 and getting married at the end of the year which alone isn't a big deal but marrying a high profile girl like Madge is a whole different ballgame. My mother is ready to kill me or disown me, I'm not really sure which since she's not even speaking to me at this point. I'm about to be the leader of a freaking district. I'm so far removed from my Seam friends at this point that they couldn't even take me seriously and congratulate me on my engagement. And now I have to take on the mental worry about what could potentially happen down the road when I'm actually the Mayor. I could be forced to move and leave everyone behind. I'd never be able to talk to them again. All I could take with me is Madge. And while it apparently is a long shot at happening, that doesn't make my fear any less substantial. I don't like even knowing that it's a possibility, even if it's a slim possibility.

I could solve a lot of my problems by not being with Madge. My mother would speak to me again. I would be back in the Seam with my old friends. I'd never be Mayor or have to worry about tap dancing around Capitol guests and reporters. But I'd be without Madge. And now that I've fallen in love with her I can't imagine ever being without her and being happy again. I can't be without her. I just can't. So not being with her isn't an option. It never will be. My heart couldn't take it. So I have to find a way to deal with all the problems and stress and be with Madge too.

I don't want to go home and face my mother so I go to Katniss's house. The lights are on so I know she's still up.

I knock quietly. She opens it and lets me in.

"You're out and about awfully late." She says as she closes the door behind us.

"Can't sleep."

"What's going on?" She asks as she pours me a cup of coffee, handing me a red mug.

"Just a lot on my mind."

"Anything specific?"

I sigh and take a sip of the coffee. I want to talk to her about all of it but I don't even know where to start. "Why are you still up?"

She shrugs. "Not so easy to sleep these days. Bad dreams."

The games have changed her. This is just one of the many ways it shows. I follow her out to the back porch and we sit on a little bench, leaning back against her house. "Have you ever heard of reassignment of districts?" I ask.

"No. What's that?"

"The Capitol moves the Mayors between the districts. Mixes everything up."

"Is that happening?" She asks, alarmed.

"No, no. Nothing is happening. I just found out about it and that it used to happen."

"And you're worried it'll happen while you're Mayor?"

I nod. "I'd have to leave them behind. And that can't happen. It just can't."

She stares at me and I know she understands my fear. Probably better than anyone. It wasn't so long ago that she herself had to leave her family behind, and at that time she didn't expect she'd get to come back. "Are you sure you want to marry her? I know you love her but is it worth all of this?"

"I have to be with her. Ending things isn't an option."

"Well, you could always run. If being with her is what you want and keeping your family together is too, running away is an option." She says at almost whisper level.

I turn and look at her, surprised to hear her still talk about it. We used to talk about it but not since she came back.

"I'd go. I'd leave all this."

"But why? Things are good for you now, right? You have money and a house and your family. And Peeta too. Why would you leave?"

"Being a Victor isn't what it looks like. They own me now."

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

She looks at me, tears brimming her eyes. "I can't really explain it. Snow hates me. He's watching me all the time. Controlling me. Torturing me. It won't end. And every year I'll get to relive the games as I play mentor to whoever's slip gets chosen. Honestly, it's a wonder I haven't taken to drinking myself into a stupor like Haymitch."

"Catnip..." I reach out, wanting to help, not sure how to. My hand touches her shoulder and she jumps making me pull back quickly.

"Sorry." She apologizes as she looks away and wipes the back of her hand over her eyes.

"It's okay. I had no idea you weren't happy. Is there anything I can do?"

She laughs. "Doubtful. Unless you're actually considering running off and finding 13 and you'll take me with you."

I give her a sad smile. "Not planning to run off but I promise I'd never leave you behind if I did. You're part of my family too you know."

"Don't say anything about what I said, about being a Victor and Snow and all. Okay?"

I nod.

"Your mother's furious I hear. Has she calmed down yet?" She asks, changing the subject back to me. She's still tense from when I made her jump, sitting forward stiffly.

"Not sure. She's not even speaking to me. And I'm sort of avoiding her too. How'd you hear about it?"

"Rory might have mentioned it to Prim."

"I think it's the most mad she's ever been at me. Ever."

"It'll pass. Eventually. She's your mother. She can't stay mad forever."

"I hope so."

She relaxes again and eventually lets her head fall against my shoulder and we just sit on the bench. Both of us tired but neither of us able to sleep from the weight of our worries. It's nice hanging out with her like this again and it really makes me miss the days before she went to the games and we had our time in the woods, together as two friends hunting.