Gale

It's 5 a.m. and I'm pulling on my boots to get in some extra hunting. It's hard to get enough game for two families in one afternoon, so I've been hunting morning and afternoon. It doesn't really bother me getting up so early. In fact, there's something extremely gratifying about being the only person up and just watching as everything slowly comes to life.

We have two bedrooms, and three beds. Ma and Pose share a bed, and a room. While us boys share the other room, Vick and Rory are still small enough to share a bed, for now. Soon enough, Rory will hit a growth spurt and there will be no possible way for them to share that bed. Maybe by then I'll be married, and moved out. Yeah, that doesn't sound very likely. But there's always the couch..

I grab my game bag and exit the house as quietly as possible. After years of sneaking out I've mastered avoiding all the creaky floorboards, but the squeaky doors are just such a pain in the ass. After exiting the house I don't stop moving until I've crossed the field, and slid under the fence. The sky is still dark, and I make my way using the moon's light to guide me. The sun won't start rising for another hour at least.

As soon as I'm over, I feel a pressing weight lifted off my shoulders. I never feel completely comfortable in District 12, but here I'm free. I take a deep breath. Ah yes, the sweet smell of morning in the forest.

First things first, I check all my snares and traps. I work quickly and rhythmically emptying the traps, and resetting. I've done this so many times the motions have become a second nature to me. As I collect my catches, I grab some berries from the bushes. I pop a couple in my mouth, and enjoy the bittersweet taste of the juice after my teeth break through their thin skin.

By the time I've checked all my traps, I have a thin sheen of sweat covering my body. If I was doing this in the afternoon, in this summer weather, I'd be drenched. That's another good thing about doing this in the morning, it's still cool enough to not be uncomfortable.

Mrs. Everdeen was running low on one of her medicinal plants, I can't remember what it's called but she told me what it looks like. Small forked leaves with many pointy ridges on the sides, and around this time of year should be sprouting some nice small red berries. She said she needs the whole plant, roots especially.

I traipse through the woods, keeping my eye out for the plant. I make sure to take note of things that stand out, so I can make my way back easily. Even after all these years, I still haven't been able to memorize the whole place. I usually have a pretty good idea of where I am, and I've learned many tricks on finding my way back, but the forest is ever changing.

I love that about the forest, that it's living, growing. It's untamable. It's free. And every time I come here, it gives me a taste of that freedom. A taste, that I can never get enough of. It infuses me with the strength to hope that one day, I will be free, that we'll all be free.

Red catches my eye. I look closer to see if it's the right plant. Yup, looks like it. I dig some dirt away by the base of the plant with my hands, and carefully lift the plant from the ground. I wrap it in cloth, and put it in my bag.

The sun is just starting to rise, and I decide to go to the rock ledge, and watch the sunrise. It should be about 6, so I still have plenty of time to take a break before making my sales, and stopping by the Everdeen's before getting ready for school.

I lie back on the rock and watch the sunrise. It's beautiful. It reminds me of Madge, the way her laugh and her smile can brighten my world. Then my mind drifts to Katniss, this is our spot. Where we've spent so much time together, her listening to my rants, us joking together, us just sitting being one with the woods. I feel closer to her here than I do anywhere in District 12.

Since she's left, the only thing I've seen of her is the recaps of the Reaping. I know before she left I told her she could win, but some of those guys and girls just look ruthless. I would almost rather not watch Katniss in the Games, even if it could be the last time I ever see her, I just don't want to see her get torn apart by a couple of hungry careers.

Wait, stop. What am I saying? This is the Hunger Games for god's sake. Katniss knows hunger. Hunger has been an almost constant companion for her entire life. She can do this.

I shake my head and concentrate on the beautiful sky, the Madge sunrise. I close my eyes, so beautiful…

Suddenly, something's blocking the sun I open my eyes, but I can't really make out much except for a vague human-shaped shadow. I sit up, and hold up my hand to block the sun- Madge. She's wearing that little white dress from the Reaping, and it looks much shorter than I remember it being. What is Madge doing here? And why didn't I hear her coming?

"Madge, what're you doi-"

I'm interrupted by her soft pale finger on my mouth, "Shh" She sits on my lap.

What is she doing!? How did she get over here so fast? "But, what a-"

"Gale," she laughs, "stop talking." She presses her lips against mine lightly, at first. Then she's kissing my lips like they're water and she's been wandering the desert for days. Once I get over the initial shock and push back all reservations I reciprocate just as urgent. What am I supposed to do? Push this beautiful girl away?

Her hands are everywhere; running through my hair, down my back, up my chest. She tries to pull my shirt off, and I help her out pulling it off and throwing it to the side. I lightly tug on her earlobe with my teeth, and then I dip my head and kiss her neck, her beautiful neck.

When I find her pulse point she moans, "Gale."

The sound of my name falling so sensuously off her tongue stuns me. I stop moving and look up at her face. She opens her eyes, looking at me questioningly. She's so beautiful, her hair all tousled, face flushed red, her startlingly blue eyes lit up with that certain flame. She looks like she does when I get her riled up to fight.

I stare at her in aw, she's a goddess. "Madge," I whisper. I grab her head, and pull her in for a deep kiss. I run my hands through her beautiful silky blonde mess of hair, then down her body, feeling every delicious curve. I reach the end of her dress, and use my fingers to teasingly draw shapes on her upper thighs. She moans.

Then slowly, ever slowly, her hands lead a trail of white-hot fire down my chest, my stomach, and then she's unbuttoning my jeans. And god it feels so good, and then- and then she's gone.

I open my eyes, heavy with sleep. I just had a sex dream about Madge Undersee. Well, we didn't have sex, but from the looks of it we were certainly getting there. That was just- man, Undersee is hot. At least dream Undersee is, possibly too hot actually, because now I'm left here with a certain problem.

Even though my little nap has set me back on time, I decide it best to pause and take a little time to- calm down.

I look at the sky, and estimate that I'm about twenty minutes behind schedule. Which means that there will be no stopping to chat today.

…

I make it to school just a few minutes after the bell rings. I came in through the side door to avoid the office. I'm sure Miss H won't mind if I'm a few minutes late, but if the psycho front desk lady sees me then- oomf. A small shapely body rebounds off mine as I turn the corner to get to class. She falls to the ground before I have time to react, and my binder goes flying spilling papers everywhere. Great.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry!"

I recognize that voice. I look down to see a familiar head of messy blonde curls pulled up into a ponytail. Actually, now it's kind of only half up, because of the fall. It's so messy, just like in my dream, I wonder if it feels as silky as I dreamt it. I feel an overwhelming urge to reach out and see, but I manage to stop myself. Boy, would that be embarrassing.

"It's fine," I try to control all my features into indifference and avoid eye contact, afraid that if I look at her she could somehow read my thoughts.

Oh no, is it completely obvious, what I'm thinking about? I glance at her face and she looks kind of mad. Oh my god, she can't know what I'm thinking. But then why is she mad? She stands up, and her face is just the slightest bit red. Which brings me back to dream world, to burning fingertips, and crushing kisses. I vaguely realize she said something, but I'm fighting to take control of my wandering thoughts.

Trying to find anything to keep my mind out of the gutter, I remember my papers are everywhere. I bend down to pick some up- BAM! I fall to the floor. Shit. We slammed heads again. The pain of the hit really knocked those inappropriate thoughts out of my head. Thank god for that.

Madge starts laughing, and I try not to, but I smile. Like Madge said before, we are a mess. I give a small laugh, "Well, that just happened."

"Yeah, we really need to stop doing that. I don't know about you, but I don't really feel like getting a concussion."

Thinking of the pain reverberating through my skull, "Agreed." I start to pick up some papers, and she helps me.

"Oh yeah, my mom wanted me to thank you for bringing the strawberries the other day. She really enjoyed them."

Oh yeah, that reminds me, "Speaking of, you overpaid me, I mean more than you usually do." I realized she'd given me more than then usual when I was taking off my jeans for bed, and when I heard the jangling of coins I realized I still had the strawberry money in my pants pocket. When I counted the extra coins I was so mad I almost marched back to her house right then and there to give it back, but I realized how crazy that would be. And that it was possible she just made a mistake. I'm still a little mad, but I'll just give it back and we can forget about it. Mistake or not.

She shakes her head, "No Gale, that's okay. Keep it."

"No Undersee, it's not okay. Take it." I hand the money out to her. If she takes it now everything will be fine. I can hold back my anger, as long as she takes it now.

She crosses her arms and I know what she's going to say before it even comes out of her mouth. "No." Why does she always have to be so difficult?

"I really don't want, or need your charity Undersee. So you can take this change and give it to someone who wants it."

Again she shakes her head, "No."

Ugh. God why? "Seriously Undersee, take it."

"Seriously Hawthorne, no." She mocks me.

Well if she won't take it, then I'll just have to make her won't I? "Fine," I grab her hand to put the money in it, but she curls her fingers into a fist before I can. Why the fuck won't she take the stupid money? "Are you being serious right now? Just take the damn money."

"I really don't see what the big deal is," Oh, please tell me she did not just say that. "You-"

"Of course you don't understand what the big deal is! You just throw your money around wherever, like it's no big deal. Because, to you, it isn't. And you want to feel like a good person, so you throw some money to the poor Seam boy, who obviously needs it, right? Well, congrats you've fulfilled your good deed for this week, but I don't want it."

I hate when people look down on me. When they pity me like I'm some helpless loser. It makes me so mad. Do people not realize that I don't need anyone's goddamn help!?

Her eyes get wide, and man is she pissed. "Oh man, you've got me pinned. I'm just some stupid rich girl giving out money to all the hopeless little Seam people to feel good about myself. Yup, that's totally me! It's not like I would do it because I know how hard it is for you that Katniss is gone, and I know how hard it will be to support both of your families. Listen, I know you hate my 'charity', but I'm not doing it for just you. I'm doing it for Katniss, and her family, and your family. So think about that before you attack me, and before you throw this money away."

Her last comment about helping Katniss, and her family, and even my family deflates all of the anger in me. I know Madge isn't one of those people who thinks they're better, but sometimes I can't control my anger, especially around Madge.

"Hey! What is going on out here? Miss Undersee why aren't you in class? It is fifteen minutes past the bell. Care to explain?" A teacher yells at us, I had him a couple years ago, Mr. P- something? All I remember is that he was a huge dick, and everyone hated him.

Madge looks up at me looking for help, but I just realized my hand is still around hers, and I can't get the thought of her hands on my- umm "She was just helping me with my locker. I couldn't get it open.."

The guy looks down at our clasped hands, and Madge pulls her hand out of mine. "I'm sure she was. Detention both of you, after school. Now, get to class." What an ass. Madge immediately goes into motion and scurries on to class. I take my time just to piss the guy off even more, Madge looks back at me and I give her my trademark smirk. She smiles, and I'm reminded of the sunrise.

…

4th period just ended and I've been getting a mixture of knowing grins, pats on the back, heads shaking in disapproval, and glares all day. And then finally I see Thom, and oh is his face full of glee.

He jogs towards me in the hallway, and walks backwards to talk to me. "So," he says, "how're you and Undersee doin lately? Because from what I've heard things are going very well with you and the mayor's daughter." He raises his eyebrows suggestively.

For a second I'm afraid that people have somehow found out about the dream I had this morning, and that they could tell that I've been thinking about it all day hardly comprehending a thing around me. But then I remember it's impossible that anybody knows what's going on in my brain, or what I dreamt of this morning.

I furrow my brows, but then where did this come from? "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm just saying, a little birdy told me about how cozy you and Undersee were getting in the hallway this morning. Or was it the janitor's closet? Hmm, I've heard so many things it's hard to remember exactly." He taps his chin in thought.

Ah, so that's what this is all about. I guess I should've guessed as much. Gossip here travels like wildfire, and just gets more wild the longer it goes on. So, I guess people think Madge and I were getting frisky this morning. Which I guess we kind of were.. in my dreams.

"What are people saying exactly?" I question him.

He looks alarmingly excited at the prospect of him telling me what's being said. "Well, my friend this will certainly take a while.."

He goes on to tell me everything he's heard, from exchanging sexual favors for homework, to getting caught after a long secret love affair, all the way to having rough sex up against the lockers in the heat of a passionate fight. And the list goes on.

"People here are so ridiculous. We were just talking."

"So, you and Princess really were together this morning?"

"Yeah, talking."

"I also heard you two were holding hands."

"And where'd you hear that?"

"Dude! Why didn't you deny it? Please tell me you two weren't holding hands."

"We weren't," Thom gives a sigh of relief, "I was just handing her something."

We just made it into the lunchroom when some guy- Harris maybe?- comes up to me, "Hey Bro, I heard about you and Undersee, that's awesome." He raises his hand for high-five. Why does this guy think he can talk to me?

When I don't reciprocate, he brings his hand back awkwardly. "Anyways," and he's still talking, "Undersee is one fine piece of ass," Did he really just talk about Madge like she's a piece of meat? "and if your done with her, would you mine passing her over to me?" What the fuck? Madge isn't a thing that you can just pass around, this guy is seriously pissing me off.

"What?" I say.

"You know, when you're done with her just hand her over to me. She has some seriously nice tits, I have a feeling she can-" BAM!

I shake my hand, to relieve some of the pain from the impact of it hitting his face. What a fucking dick. You can't talk about Madge like that, you can't talk about anyone like that.

Thom gives me a weird look, and I shrug.

"Mr Hawthorne principal's office now!"

…

I end up with a week of after-school detention. It was worth it to see the blood gushing from his nose. It was worth it for Madge.

…

I'm a little late to detention, due to the fact that I had to find Rory and tell him not to wait for me.

I open the door, and look around. There's a big group of annoying kids, and then Madge sits off to the side alone. Really, I find this whole situation funny Madge Undersee in detention, and rumors going around that we've been secretly dating all this time. Like that would ever happen. Madge Undersee dating me? Not likely.

But I decide to mess with her a bit, I'm sure she's heard what's going around. I pull a desk next to Madge, and sit down. "Hey Babe," I'm trying to hold back my laughter, as I push a piece of hair behind her ear. Wow, it's even silkier than I dreamt it.

Her eyes get wide, "Excuse me, what was that that? And I'd think very carefully before you repeat what you just said."

I laugh, and jokingly try to explain to her, "Haven't you heard? Apparently you and I have been up to some very interesting things lately."

"Actually I have heard, and you sitting here isn't helping those rumors go away." She points to the group behind us, and I turn and look. They are so obviously talking about us, it makes me laugh.

"Like I care what people say," I really don't care, but what people say about Madge.. Well she's better than that, and besides I wont be here for long anyway, I think bitterly, "I'm going to be in the mines soon enough." I never want to go into the mines.

"Yeah well, incase you didn't notice, I will not be out of here 'soon enough,' and though I don't really care what people think about me-"

I interrupt her, "Then what's the problem, if you don't care?" She doesn't know how I defended her earlier today.

"I don't even understand why your over here, it's not like we're friends. And I would think that you, of all people, wouldn't want rumors going around that you've been feeling Madge Undersee up in the hallway." Wait, we're supposed to over here joking about the stupid rumors going around about us, not fighting. And does she really think I care about that? I'm not sure how to respond.

"I.. I don't know?" That is about the dumbest answer I think I could've come up with, but I got nothing.

"Oh well that's just great. You don't know! Problem solved." What problem? Why is she so upset over theses rumors?

"Sorry, but what exactly is happening right now?"

"What's happening is I'm tired of your bullshit. Just tell me are we friends? Acquaintances? Do you hate me? Are we going to joke around together, or are you going to jump down my throat? I'm just so confused with you, I never know what to expect." Oh, so this isn't about the rumors then.

Now I'm even more unsure of what to say. I mean what do I say? I have no idea. I don't hate her, but us being friends. What would Katniss think about that? For all Katniss knows, I hate Madge, and I'm sure she would never understand the thought that I could change my outlook on someone.

I hate talking about my feelings, but I try for Madge. I can tell how distressed she is over my confusing actions. I never put much thought into how I was affecting her. I decide to start off with an apology.

"I'm.. sorry, but I don't know. I know I don't hate you. But I don't know if we're friends. I know I've been really confusing, but when we're together and I'm having a good time. It makes everything feel backwards, we are just not supposed to be friends. I'm supposed to hate everything about you but.." I don't think I could ever hate you. I shake my head, "And I feel awful having a good time with Katniss gone into the Hunger Games."

I really do. She is being sent into an arena with 23 other kids to fight to the death. And I'm here laughing it up with Madge? I feel like I shouldn't be happy.

She seems to think about what I said for a moment then, "I know what you mean about the backwards thing, and the Katniss thing. It's so hard, she's in the Hunger Games, and I try not to think about it. But then I feel bad for not thinking about it, and then sometimes I forget about it for just a moment and I feel so much better. But when reality comes crashing back down on me I feel terrible, and I just don't know anymore?" I know exactly what she means, she looks so upset, I reach over and give her hand, what's supposed to be, a comforting squeeze.

We sit for the rest of detention in comfortable silence. Madge and I being Katniss' only friends, I feel like we share something now. I don't know what exactly, a feeling? An understanding? Whatever it is, it's pushed us together.

We leave together, and I'm about to tell her that maybe we are friends, when she grabs my arm, "Why don't we just not put a label on it? We can talk and laugh, but we don't have to think about what it means. We can just be in each other's company.."

If that's what she wants.. "Sure, but I can't promise that I won't lose my temper." I'm only kind of joking.

She laughs, "I would never expect you to. Bye Gale"

"Bye."

I walk home with the sound of Madge's extra coins jangling in my pocket.

AN: I'm not sure how strict the ratings for stories are, but if anyone thinks I should up it to M please tell me. And I hope y'all are enjoying my story!