Madge

Two loaves of bread, a bag of apples, and a box of delicious chocolate chip cookies; this is what I carry in my picnic basket on the way to the Everdeen's house. The scores are being released today, and I thought they could probably use some comfort food.

I've gone to the Everdeen's before. Sometimes Katniss and I would work on homework together, but usually when I went over Prim and I did most of the talking and I'd always end up doing her hair.

I can always be sure which house is theirs, because of their goat Lady. I knock on the front door, and I only have to wait a short moment before it's opened.

"Oh hey Madge!" Prim opens the door enough to let me through, and closes it behind me. "What're you doing here?" She asks with a smile.

I hold up the basket, "I brought cookies!"

"Mmm. What kind?"

"Chocolate chip, of course, your favorite." I set the basket on the kitchen table and I pull everything out. "I also brought some bread and apples."

She gives me a hug, "Thanks Madge, but you really didn't have to do that."

"I know. I like to spoil you though, and I brought some hair pins if you want me to do your hair." Prim's hair is so beautiful, I love trying new things with it. And she loves being my puppet.

"Of course, as long as I can eat a cookie while you do it."

I open the box and hand her a big cookie. She bites into it and sighs, "This is so good, and they're still warm!"

"Yup, fresh from the bakery." I grab my hair supplies, just a comb and hair pins, and she leads me over to the couch. She plops down on the floor in front of me and nibbles on her cookie while I get to work. I comb through her beautiful wavy long blonde hair that is just the right amount of thickness.

"You should stay to watch the scores being released."

"I suppose I can do that." My father definitely won't miss me he'll be at the office all day, and I told Viv to go home because my mom is probably going to be out cold till tomorrow. And honestly, I want to stay. I don't want to be alone for this.

"Oh, and the Hawthornes are coming over too! This is going to be great."

"Wait what?" Did she just say Hawthornes? As in Gale Hawthorne?

"The Hawthornes are coming over, you know Gale don't you? He and Katniss are really good friends." Why couldn't she tell me that before I accepted her offer of staying? I haven't really seen Gale since we made our agreement to not label whatever we are. But now I'm kind of regretting that decision, because how am I supposed to act? I know we said we can just not think about it, but how can I just not think about it? That was a really dumb idea Madge Undersee.

"Yes, I know Gale.. When are they getti-" I'm interrupted by a knock on the door. Well, that answers my question. I'm only about half way through with Prim's hair.

"Come in!" Prim yells.

Oh, god. I'm about to meet Gale's entire family. I look down at my usual t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers ensemble wishing I had put more thought into my appearance before I left.

The door opens and two kids come flying through the door followed by another this one at a much more reasonable pace, and then a beautifully worn woman. She closes the door behind her, I sigh in relief. Good, Gale's not coming.

"Gale will be here later." Great. "He came in a little late, and I made him wash up before he- oh hello." She notices me and reaches her hand out, "I'm Hazelle."

I take her hand, "I'm Madge."

"Oh of course! I should've known. You look just like your mother. How is she doing?"

"She's.." dying. "okay."

"Well, that's good. Prim where's your Mom?"

"She's in the back room." Hazelle nods, and goes down the hall.

The kids have all come to a stop next to us. The youngest, the girl Posy, gives me a huge grin and hops onto the couch next to me, "Hi I'm Posy. You're really pretty, like a princess. What're you doing?"

I laugh at her boldness, "I'm Madge, and I am putting up Prim's hair."

"Cool! Can you do mine next?!"

"Sure." She has wonderful dark hair. I'm sure I can do a very pretty up-do for her. And she is just adorable, she's really giving Lu some serious competition for the cutest kid I know. The boys, already bored with the conversation, go over to the rocking chair to push each other.

"And can you make me look like a princess like you and Prim?"

"Oh, Posy you're already a beautiful princess." I reach over and push a lock of hair behind her ear, "But I can give you a princess hair-do."

"Really Madgie?" She squeals. She called me Madgie. I love when kids call me Madgie. It's so adorable.

"Definitely." I nod, "I'm almost done with Prim's hair, and then I can do yours."

The boys are starting to get rowdy on the rocking chair, almost completely tipping it over. "Hey boys! C'mere." They stop what they're doing, and slowly walk towards me.

"I'm Madge. What are your names?" I'm pretty sure I already know, but I have them introduce themselves anyways.

They both tell me their names, the older one-Rory, the younger one- Vick.

"Well guess what?"

"What?" Vick replies with an extremely endearing toothy grin, with a couple of missing teeth.

"I brought some chocolate chip cookies fresh from the bakery," Vick and Posy's eyes get wide, "and I bet if you ask your mom real nicely she'll let you have one."

Vick and Posy both go running after their mother. Rory stays behind. I finish Prims hair, and put one last pin to hold it in place.

"There ya go Prim, all done."

She gets up, "Thanks Madge."

"Why don't you go to the restroom, and see if you like it."

"I'm sure I will, but okay." She leaves to the restroom.

That leaves Rory and I alone, I look up at him, "What," I ask, "do you not like cookies?"

He scoffs, "Of course I like cookies, but you're not going to get me running around like a little kid for one." Oh my, he is such a miniature Gale. How cute.

"Oh no, I was just getting rid of them, so that you and I could get first pick on the biggest cookies." I nudge his shoulder. "What do you think, hmm?"

He sizes me up, and I guess decides I'm okay, "I think that I can get a bigger cookie than you."

I get up and race to the kitchen, "We'll see about that, slow poke!"

He laughs and races after me.

We search through the cookies, and I pick up what I'm sure is the biggest, "Ha-ha! I win!" I yell holding up my cookie.

He holds up his cookie, "Sorry Madge, but I've got you beat."

"I don't know about that. Here let me see yours."

He hands me his cookie, and I take a huge bite out of it. "Ha-ha" I say, voice muffled because of the cookie.

"Cheater!" He takes my cookie from my hand and takes an even bigger bite. "Ha-ha"

"You have chocolate all over your face!" I throw my arm around his shoulders and we laugh. Prim walks in, and Vick and Posy come barreling past her yelling about how they can have a cookie. And that's the scene Gale walks in on.

I'm worried that Gale will be mad by what he sees, but when he gives a small laugh I know he's fine with it. And I find I'm no longer nervous about talking to him.

"What is going on in here?" He questions, raising a brow.

"The cookies Madge brought have made everyone go crazy." Prim tells him.

"Oh really?" He walks over and pokes me in the side, "Are you making my siblings go crazy over cookies?" He pokes me again.

I giggle, and pull Rory in between us to protect me. "No, I believe all of you were crazy long before I brought you any cookies."

"Are you calling my family crazy?" Hazelle says as she walks in with a stern look on her face. Mrs. Everdeen trails in behind her.

I pause, is she really mad or is she joking? "Umm."

Then she laughs and I know it's okay, "Because that's my family- Crazy!" Everyone laughs.

"Hey! I'm not crazy!" Yells Posy defiantly. I release Rory, and pick Posy up.

"It's okay Posy, we're all a little crazy- even me." I spin her around and make a funny face. She giggles.

"I don't know if I'd call you just a little crazy." Gale pipes up from across the kitchen. I stick my tongue out at him.

"Everyone," Mrs. Everdeen says from the living room, "The scores are being released."

…

An 11. Katniss got an 11. We all cheer, and for the first time since Katniss volunteered I feel hope that she'll actually be coming back.

…

I hug everyone good-bye, and Posy gives me a kiss on the cheek for doing her hair. Prim invites me back to watch the interviews, but I have to decline. There is going to be some Capitol reporters coming to interview Katniss' and Peeta's friends and family. And where else would they stay besides the mayor's house? I have to be there to entertain, and keep up appearances.

Gale offers to walk me home, and I concede after very little polite refusal. He hugs Pose and kisses his mom on the cheek saying he'll meet them at home. We wave good-bye to everyone, and we're on our way.

"I can't believe she got an 11!" He exclaims shortly after we've left. "I mean I've always believed she could do it, but now-this is- I mean an 11! It's practically unheard of." I look over at him and he has a certain glint in his eye, that makes me wonder, and not for the first time, if he might hold deeper feelings for Katniss than that of a very close friend. I don't know why, but the thought gives me a slight discomfort.

"I know. District 12 may finally get another victor." I feel bad saying this, knowing I mean Katniss and not Peeta. Peeta and I were never particularly close, but he was always very nice to me, and he could always make me smile when I stopped by the bakery. Too bad they can't both come home. Too bad all the children can't come back home. And too damn bad that we can't stop all children from ever having to be forced from their homes again.

Gale must be able to tell I'm getting upset, "Are you okay Madge?"

I prepare myself to force a smile with the complimentary 'fine', but this is Gale. And I'm tired of pretending that everything is fine. "You know what Gale? No. No, I'm not okay. Nothing about me, or this goddamn country is okay. It's not okay that we're all here trapped in our districts, with hardworking people starving to death every day. It's not okay that you can't even have electricity for an entire day. It's not okay that they're pitting own districts against each other. It's not okay that my mom is dying. And it's definitely NOT okay that they're taking people's children, people's friends, people's families, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, cousins- whatever! To fight to the fucking death! There is not one shit thing in this world that is okay."

I don't know when I started crying, but here I am. Gale pulls me to his chest, and runs his hands through my hair. "Shh. Shh Madge I know. I know it's not okay. I know." He rocks us gently back-and-forth soothingly. He kisses the top of my head, and then rests his chin in the same spot, "I know. But Madge, we- We will be okay." He presses his forehead to mine, "I swear to you Madge, we will be okay. Do you trust me?"

I haven't fully trusted anyone in this world except for myself- not my loving but dying mother, or my kind but absent father, not Viv my wonderful replacement parent but who already has a family of her own, not even my companionable but silent only friend Katniss- but somehow I find myself inexplicably trusting him. I nod, "Yes, Gale. I trust you."

He kisses my forehead, and we silently walk the rest of the way to my house hand-in-hand. We get to the gate and before I can let go of Gale's hand, he turns me towards him, "Madge lets cut the bullshit, we're friends. We can stop with this 'no label' stuff. I trust you, and you trust me. We are friends."

I nod, "Friends." I say in assent.

"Good." He nods back and turns to leave.

"But don't expect me to throw you a birthday party or something!"

He laughs, and turns around, "Oh I'd never."

..

I change into my pajamas, and climb into bed. Now I have two friends. I stare up at the shadow covered ceiling, and I smile.

Gale

I'm almost to the door of the Everdeen's when I hear yelling, and laughter. I pause I can make out the sound of Vick and Pose yelling, Rory's laughter, and Madge?

I open the door, and take everything in. Prim by the doorway of the hall with her hair all done up, Vick and Posy racing to the kitchen, and Madge Undersee laughing with her arm around Rory's shoulders. They both have chocolate and crumbs all over their faces. I laugh at the sight.

"What is going on in here?" I was more than a little surprised to be welcomed into the Everdeen's by the sight of Madge with my siblings. Laughing and eating cookies. She even got Rory to warm up to her, and that is not easy.

"The cookies Madge brought have made everyone go crazy." Prim explains.

"Oh really?" As I walk towards Madge the enticing smell of cookies mixed with Madge's sweet wildflower scent becomes overwhelming. I poke Madge in the side, "Are you making my siblings go crazy over cookies?" I poke her side again, and she giggles. Then she pulls Rory over and holds him in between us.

I start poking Rory on the side, "No, I believe all of you were crazy long before I brought you any cookies." She replies. I stop poking Rory, prepared to shoot something back at her.

"Are you calling my family crazy?" I hear Ma's voice coming in from the hallway.

"Umm." Madge looks unsure of how to react, but when Ma laughs she visibly relaxes.

"Because that's my family- Crazy!"

"Hey! I'm not crazy!" Posy yells.

I'm about to soothe her when Madge picks her up. "It's okay Posy, we're all a little crazy- even me." She says spinning Posy around making funny faces. She is certainly amazing with kids.

"I don't know if I'd call you just a little crazy." I joke. Madge looks up at me, Posy still in her arms, and sticks her tongue out at me. She looks absolutely beautiful.

"Everyone," Mrs. Everdeen intervenes, "The scores are being released."

Those words sober all of us who understand very quickly. And we silently crowd together in the small living room. Ma and Mrs. E sit in the two rocking chairs, Rory and Vick sit on the rug, and Madge sits in between me and Prim on the couch. Posy walks up to Madge and having picked up on everyone's quietness, she attempts a whisper, "Madgie can you still do my hair?"

I look over at Madge she nods with a small smile, "Of course Pose. Just hand me that comb, and those pins from the table, and sit down in front of me like Prim was before."

Posy grins ear-to-ear and rushes to do everything Madge said, she's soon sitting on the floor ready to go. I watch as Madge carefully combs through Posy's wild dark hair. Then as she expertly twists and braids. The scores are being released slower than I ever remember, but I hardly pay attention to it except for seeing the scores. Most of the show is just a lot of talking, but it doesn't matter. I'm watching Madge.

She's fantastic with my family. I've brought a handful of girls to meet my family, but none of them have ever been this great with them. Madge fits herself right in with them, not even Katniss was that comfortable around them.

I study her as she works on Posy's hair, she looks up at the television occasionally, then looks back down at her work. Her freckles stand out against her pale skin in the candlelight, and her eyes dark blue like the midnight sky.

Suddenly she leans toward me, and I quickly avert my eyes. She leans more towards me, and moves her mouth next to my ear. I focus so intently on the feeling of her breath against my skin that I forget to listen to what she's saying. I focus on her words, but only catch the tail end, "for me? Please."

"Hmm? What was that?"

"I have a dark red ribbon in the basket on the kitchen table, can you get it for me, please?" This time I manage to catch everything she said. I think..

I nod, and walk over to the basket. I search through the basket, moving around brushes, and empty wrappers, and finally I find the ribbon. It's beautiful and silk smooth. Actually, it probably is silk.

I sit back in my spot, and hold up the ribbon, "This?" I make sure to whisper.

She smirks, "Yes, very good Gale." She pats me on the head with a free hand. I hit her hand away, and drop the ribbon in her lap.

"A simple thank you would suffice." I 'pout'.

She laughs lightly, "Thank you Gale." The breathy way she says it reminds me of hearing her say my name in my dream. How can a simple word make me feel so.. turned on? good? safe? I can't explain it exactly, it's not a feeling I've ever had before.

I lean back, "You're welcome." I focus back on the TV, we are now on District 9. I look back at Madge and watch her tie the dark red ribbon into Posy's complicated, but beautiful up-do. I wonder why Madge never does her hair up so nicely.

Madge leans down to whisper to Posy that she's finished. Posy squeals and hugs her. I watch as Madge smiles and closes her eyes as she squeezes Posy tight against her, though not too tight. She releases her, and pulls Posy onto her lap. District 10.

Posy snuggles up against Madge contentedly and her eyes are starting to droop. District 11. Posy is sleeping soundly against Madge. District 12. I give all my attention to the TV. Madge grabs my hand tightly in hers. I squeeze back just as fiercely. The Peeta guy gets an 8, which is better than I expected. They talk for a few minutes about him and then Katniss…An 11!

The room is completely silent for a second, and then everyone's cheering loudly. Posy wakes with a start, and joins in on the cheering without question. Madge and I hug in the excitement, and even with Posy in between us I get a nice whiff of her wildflower scent.

We separate, only slightly awkwardly. I look at Ma and she gives me her 'all-knowing' mother look. I roll my eyes. Great, she'll be wanting to talk about this later tonight. I offer to walk Madge home to prolong the inevitable talk with my mother as much as possible, and also because I want to.

"Oh, no. I don't mind walking alone, and I don't want to be any trouble."

"It's no problem at all."

She shrugs, "Then I suppose, yes."

Madge hugs everyone good-bye. Everyone. Even my mother and Rory. I always thought she was someone who avoided physical contact with others, but she's quite the opposite. And she's been a lot more talkative, than when I've seen her at school. Maybe she's only like this with people she's comfortable around. It makes me happy to think she's comfortable with my family.

I give Pose a hug, and Ma a kiss on the cheek, "I'll meet you at home. Goodnight."

I open the door for Madge and we wave a final good-bye before we're on our way.

After a few short minutes I can't hold it in any longer, "I can't believe she got an 11! I mean I've always believed she could do it, but now-this is- I mean an 11! It's practically unheard of." Katniss can do this. I'm even more sure of it than ever. I'll get to see her again.

"I know. District 12 may finally get another victor." She says this with a certain bitterness in her tone that makes me look over at her.

She looks kind of sad, but also angry, "Are you okay Madge?"

She takes a deep breath, and then gets a determined look in her eyes, "You know what Gale? No. No, I'm not okay. Nothing about me, or this goddamn country is okay." I've never heard Madge talk like this before. "It's not okay that we're all here trapped in our districts, with hardworking people starving to death every day. It's not okay that you can't even have electricity for an entire day. It's not okay that they're pitting own districts against each other. It's not okay that my mom is dying." Her mom? Oh, no. I know what it's like to lose a parent. Tears start welling up in her eyes. "And it's definitely NOT okay that they're taking people's children, people's friends, people's families, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, cousins- whatever! To fight to the fucking death! There is not one shit thing in this world that is okay." By the time she's finished the tears are free-falling.

I pull her against me and try to soothe her before anyone hears her ranting about the awful Capitol. I run my hands through her thick silky hair. "Shh. Shh Madge I know. I know it's not okay. I know." I sway us gently while I talk. And I do know. I know. Nothing about this is okay, but me and Madge? I think we can be okay. Together we will be okay. I kiss the top of her head, "I know. But Madge, we- We will be okay."I press my forehead to hers, and the more I think about it, the more I believe it, "I swear to you Madge, we will be okay." I need her to believe it too. "Do you trust me?"

She pauses to think, which makes me simultaneously proud and terrified. Proud because I'm glad she thinks it through, and doesn't just throw her trust around like it's nothing. And terrified because, what if she says no? I feel her nod against my forehead, "Yes, Gale. I trust you."

I smile and kiss her forehead. I trust her too. Anyone that can win my family over like that, and tease me like she does, and rant about the Capitol, and that gives me this unfamiliar unnamed feeling- I can trust. I grab her hand and lead her towards home.

I don't say anything until we reach the house. I tug her hand facing her towards me and before I lose my nerve I blurt out, "Madge lets cut the bullshit-we're friends. We can stop with this 'no label' stuff. I trust you, and you trust me. We are friends." I hold myself preparing for rejection.

She nods in agreement, and I'm relieved. That could've been embarrassing. "Friends."

"Good." I turn to leave before she can change her mind.

"But don't expect me to throw you a birthday party or something!"

I laugh, she had to add that didn't she? "Oh I'd never."

..

Katniss will be coming home, Madge and I are friends, and everyone is well-fed. As I walk home on this wonderful night, I allow myself to revel in my little bit of happiness I managed to find in this shit world.