Madge

"Come in! Come in! I'm so happy you've finally arrived!" On the outside I'm a picture of excitement- eyes wide, smiling ear to ear, and a squeal in my voice. But on the inside, I'm scoffing and rolling my eyes at these ridiculous people. Tonight, I'm serving as a puppet for my father to put on a show for these Capitol buffoons.

Okay, honestly they really aren't all bad. Despite their ignorance, and completely skewed perception of the Games, some of them are really good people. But they are still fun to make fun of.

Everything is a blur of loud obnoxious voices, bright colors, huge hair and ostentatious clothing. I receive many kisses- on the lips. Yeah, these people have no conception of personal space. Everyone seems overly excited to see me. Not so excited to be in District 12, though the tributes seem 'very promising' this year.

I'm the designated greeter for this little 'get-together'. My dad thought it would be nice of me, so I've been lucky enough to hear everyone's first-hand accounts of the atrocity that is District 12- Coal dust all over everything, going to have to take two showers tonight, dirty miners, blah blah.

This happens every year around this time- people, some reporters and crew, from the Capitol visit. There are about twenty people in all, and I recognize almost all of them. Despite the dramatic changes they can make in a years time, they still keep their basic structure and mannerisms.

"Madge darling, come." Waverly, a woman with dark purple hair and wearing an intricate floor-length black dress calls me over. Out of everyone here she's the most tolerable. In fact, I actually quite enjoy her company. She's funny and bright, and seems to be more sympathetic about the Games than the others.

She pulls me into a tight embrace, "It's so great to see you! You look absolutely fabulous! You've really grown up this past year, curves and such. But you could really use some color. I would love-"

Laughing, I cut her off now, because if I don't she would go on for hours, "Waverly! It's wonderful to see you! I like the purple, it suits you much better than that orange color last year."

She makes a face, "Don't even talk about that atrocious color. I still can't believe I thought that orange was a good idea."

"Yeah, well last year I thought bangs were a good idea." I cannot pull bangs off. At all. "But we learn from our mistakes, right?"

She laughs, "Exactly! But I thought you looked cute with your bangs."

I snort, "Thanks for lying to me to make me feel better. You're the best."

She pulls me in to a side-hug, "I know. Now where is the food I'm starving?"

I point her in the right direction, and she's off. I look around trying to find something to occupy my time until the interviews start. I hear a couple of reporters behind me talking about how lucky they are to be here first. All Districts respective reporters shipped off before the training scores were released, and so, for once, the District 12 reporters have possibly the most sought-after interviews. Heroic Reaping, cutting-edge flaming outfits for the opening ceremony, extremely impressive scores, and possibly even more hype after the interviews. Capitol citizens will be dying to learn more about Katniss, Peeta, their relationships and their families.

When the conversation turns toward bets on who will be the first to go and how, I start to feel queasy. Oh god, Katniss will be starting the fight for her life tomorrow. Well, to be honest the fight started the second Prim's name was called, and Katniss volunteered. But how could the time go by so fast? It feels like she only just left. The realness of the situation starts to overwhelm me.

I go out the back door, reveling in the fresh air and silence. The small escape does wonders for my psyche. I wander over to the porch swing. I wish Gale were here. It would be nice to have a friend around. Friend. That word is rare for me, and the fact that it now applies to Gale- it's unbelievable. Yet, somehow, it feels like the most natural thing.

Maybe after the interviews I'll go over to his house, and talk about it. Or talk about other things. Actually, it will probably be too late for that. Will it? How late is too late? I'm not really up on the proper friend etiquette. Would I look like a crazy overeager psycho if I show up tonight? I mean, we only just became friends last night. I think I'll just wait till tomorrow to talk. Better safe than sorry right?

I hear the telltale creak of the back door opening. My dad pokes his head out the door, "Madge, I need you inside. The interviews are about to start."

I nod, "Of course." I nudge his shoulder as I walk by and whisper, "Did you see Francis' new skin? Or scales I guess you would call it?"

He chuckles, "Ah, yes. They are very interesting. I was thinking I would look quite good with scales, but I wouldn't know what color to get, any suggestions?"

I laugh, "Dad. No."

"What you don't think I'd make a good fish?" He purses his lips, and makes gill motions with his hands.

Laughing even harder, I pull his hands from his face, "You'd make a beautiful fish, but you don't want the whole District to be jealous of your interesting scales."

"True. Well, that's too bad. I thought I'd found a new way to embarrass you, but apparently you wouldn't be embarrassed at all. And I wouldn't want to make my people jealous, now would I?"

"Exactly." I grin and shake my head as we enter the viewing room. Or more commonly known as-my living room. Capitol people litter the room, on the couches, armchairs, standing around visiting and drinking. I see Waverly in a small group on one of the couches and make my way over to her. She's talking to a man with whiskers- Terry, and a woman who looks fairly plain aside from her piercings and tattoos- Jamine.

"Hey guys! Scoot over." I nudge Jamine.

She smiles and pulls me down next to her. "Hey Madge. Ready for the show?"

My good mood withers. How can I be having a good time when Katniss is going into the Games tomorrow? I force a smile, "So ready. I can't wait!"

The opening credits begin, and Caesar Flickerman greets us. "Welcome to the 74th Hunger Games." Everyone in the room cheers, and raises a glass.

Caesar introduces the girl from 1, Glimmer, her translucent gold dress is 'very chic'. She and her counter-part Marvel look genuinely pleased to be there. All the Careers this year are as confident and intimidating as ever. Every single one of them ready to win for their District. Do they not realize they will begin a fight to the death tomorrow? And only one of them can come home. Not that it matters, because this year it will be Katniss coming home.

District 5 tributes, Samuel and Finnley, quiet voices give off an ere of sophistication and cleverness. District 7 tributes, Wren and What's-his-face, are strong and stoic. Well, Wren is. What's-his-face is a nervous wreck. Sweating and stuttering. I would never let myself look so weak in front of the whole of Panem, but I can't blame him.

Hearing the tiny daring angel, from 11 with her melodic voice, is a hard blow to take. So young. Thresh the boy from 11, is what I imagine Gale would be like if he was selected as tribute, with his hulking frame, and one-word answers.

Katniss. I can tell she's so not at home up on that stage, but it suits her well. How can a girl who scored an 11 be so modest? And of course, she wants to win for her sister. Everyone in the rooms screams with delight and amazement when Katniss shows off her fiery dress. Props to her designer. Girl on fire indeed.

Peeta is a complete natural up on that stage. He has every person in this country eating up his every word, laughing at his jokes, loving him. Oh, I didn't know Peeta liked someone in 12, but we aren't really close are we? I don't know what his problem would be, he could've had any girl if he worked his charms like he is now. "Because she came here with me." What? Katniss. Katniss Everdeen? Oh Peeta. And I can tell he's being sincere. I can see it in his eyes. The vulnerability, the admiration. It's real.

And damn Peeta is a genius. Star-crossed lovers from sad town 12. Young man in love with a girl he never thought would give him a second glance, then thrown into the Games with her where only one can come out alive. He has the entire Capitol swooning over his love, and furious that they can't be together. Well done, Peeta.

I'm not completely sure on Gale's feeling for Katniss, but I have a feeling he won't like Peeta's declaration of love for her. I don't care if it makes me look crazy, we're friends and friends are there for eachother, I'm going to see him.

Gale

I try to make it to the house as late as possible, as to avoid that inevitable talk with Ma. I walk in and internally groan. I'm not late enough apparently, because my mother is sitting alone at the kitchen table reading. I thought the interviews would be on by now, but apparently I was wrong. "Shouldn't the interviews be on by now?"

She looks up from her book, "No. They don't start until eight. We still have about 45 minutes. Can you check on the roast?"

"Sure." I leave my boots by the door, and open the oven door. "It could probably use about twenty more minutes."

"Okay. Come talk with me while we wait. I feel like we haven't talked I ages."

"This old age is making you forgetful. We talked this morning Ma." That earns me a light smack upside the head.

"Boy, shut your mouth, and you know what I mean."

I do know. She wants to talk about me and Madge, but I'm not even sure how to explain us. We're friends. How did that happen? I'm not completely sure. Somewhere among the fighting, joking, losing Katniss, and a mutual loathing of the Capitol came a sort of understanding. We trust eachother, and with that trust comes a friendship. She's the only one who really gets what I'm going through, and I her. But knowing my mom, she will get all excited, and expect me to marry her or something. I don't want her to overanalyze our friendship, especially since it's so new.

Acting as clueless as possible, like I don't know what she really wants to hear I say, "Well my grades suck, I lost a game of checkers against Thom, and I made enough extra money to buy Pose a doll for her birthday. How are you?"

She makes a face at me, "I'm great. I know plenty about me I just want to know what's going on with you. Any new girls in your life lately?"

"Hmm," I tap my finger on my chin in 'thought', "actually, I did meet Posy's new friend the other day. What's her name? Lily? Lucy? Something."

She gives me frustrated tight-lipped smile, "How's Madge doing?" I can tell she's about to lose her cool.

I decide to push a little more to see if I can make her burst, "She was doing fine once I left her at her house last night. I haven't seen her since, but if you're really worried I'm sure you could stop by and check on her."

"Oh my- Gale. Just tell me." She holds up her hand, "And if you say 'tell you what' I will kick you out of this goddamn house."

I smirk in victory, but then frown because I'm not sure what to tell her. I consider trying some evasive tactics, but that would just make her madder. "We're friends." I leave it at that.

"Friends? How did that happen?" She questions.

Ugh. "I don't know Ma. It just happened. We haven't even been friends for that long." I silently plead her to let it go.

She doesn't, "She's really great with the kids, she even had Rory laughing, and he's been a real punk lately."

I remember her arm thrown around Rory laughing, and her playing with Posy's hair, and making Vick blush when she gave him a kiss on the cheek. An involuntary smile slips onto my face, "Yeah she is."

She smiles, and gives me a knowing look, "Just friends, huh? Are you sure about that?"

This time I outwardly groan, "Yes Mom, Madge and I are only friends."

"Okay, but that dopey smile you had on your face when I mentioned her tells me otherwise."

"Ma." I say in a warning tone.

She gets up and makes her way over to the oven, "And I saw you two yesterday at the Everdeen's hugging. She seems like a wonderful girl; smart, funny, kind, beautiful. And I saw those secret looks you two kept giving eachother."

Secret looks? "Ma what are you talking about? Secret looks? You really are crazy."

She grabs the potholders, "And you two would look so cute together-"

"Ma. Stop. That is never going to happen." Madge could do much better than me.

She sets the roast on the stove, "Why not?"

I scoff, "Because.. because," I flounder for a reason. It really shouldn't be this hard to come up with a reason that would never happen. I mean, just the thought alone is to ridiculous to even consider. "Because it just isn't, okay?"

She holds her hands up in surrender, "Okay. But if you think she wouldn't be with you because you're from the Seam, then I think you're wrong. I don't think she cares about that stuff, and any girl would be lucky to have my baby boy." She pats me on the cheek.

I'm sure Madge wouldn't care about that stuff, but Madge deserves better than anything I could give her. Not that I would want to. Why am I even thinking about this? I nod, "I know Ma."

She gives me a nod in return, "Okay now go get your brothers and sister, and get them to wash up for dinner."

I gather the kids, and I help Pose wash her hands. We're slightly delayed by a small splashing fight between the kids and I. Mom breaks it up before it get's too serious. Vick and Posy spend the next half-hour fighting over who won. The interviews start while we're eating so we multi-task.

So far Katniss' biggest competition seems to be the guy from District 2, but he doesn't seem particularly clever so her chances are still looking good. The Careers are no better than usual, there's a couple people who stay brave through the interview, some are nervous wrecks, some cry, only a few seem like real competition.

The young girl from 11 reminds me of Posy, she's so brave. "If they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out." She says boldly, dressed in her little angel outfit. It makes me sick that a child so young won't even have a chance to live her life, grow up, fall in love, have kids. All the things I want Posy to have. But I don't want Posy to have to do those things in this fucked up world, I don't want her to have to live life in constant fear of the Capitol, and the Reaping. I want her to be free. I want to be free.

When I see Thresh, I can tell he's tough, and smart. He's from 11 so I know he doesn't have it much better off in his District than we do here. If Katniss has any competition, this guy's it.

I feel relieved seeing Katniss so uncomfortable on the stage. She's still the same Catnip I've always known, avoiding the spotlight, and fighting for her sister. The flames on her dress are amazing. I don't know how it's possible that she's not being burned alive, but it's perfect.

Mellark was born to be on that stage. He looks so at ease up there, really working the crowd, making everyone laugh. It must be a Townie thing; because I'm sure Madge would be just as captivating up there. They start discussing Peeta's crush, which I don't really understand why that's important when he's probably going to be dead soon. Is he gonna win for his little crush? Poor Peeta doesn't think she ever noticed him.

I wonder if it's Madge, I've seen them talking before, and I've caught him staring over at her and Katniss' lunch table a couple times when I cut class to hang out with first lunch. My blood boils at the thought of him fawning after Madge, and I feel a heavy pressure sit on my chest, and I have to reel in my unexpected anger before I let it get away from me. When he reveals that the girl is Katniss I feel the weight lifted and I start to cool down.

Then I realize that he just said Katniss. He just made a fool of her in front of the entire country. Making her look like a weak girl, some guy has a schoolboy crush on, and I get pissed all over again. What is he thinking? Nobody will be intimidated her now. He just ruined the entire image Katniss has built herself.

"What the hell is he doing?!" I can't help the outraged exclamation from escaping my lips. I need to get out of here. I vault out of my seat, knocking it down in the process.

"Gale Hawthorne watch your mouth!" Ma screeches at me. And the kids balk at me, and look unsure of what to do.

My mind is going haywire. I manage to contain myself temporarily, but I need to get out of here. "Sorry, is it okay if I go for a walk?" I question, but I'm already out the door, not waiting for a response.

I walk with no direction, just trying to escape the cage of my mind. I've probably walked for an hour before I think-Madge. Madge can fix this. She'll know just what to say. She always has something to say. I'll go there now, and talk it out with her. Yes, I finally have a direction.

I'm halfway to her house, and with every step towards her I can feel the pressure steadily lifting off my mind. Wait, no. No, she has all those Capitol freaks over. Well, maybe she could step away for a moment? No. That's stupid. What am I thinking anyway, that I can just go talk to Madge and then everything will be better? I kick at the dirt as I walk frustrated that I don't have anywhere to go or anyone to vent to.

I turn around, and with the anticipation of seeing her diminished into the night, my mind returns to the inexplicably befuddled mess it was.

AN: Sorry for the long wait. I've been suffering from a severe case of writers block, mixed with a tad bit of laziness and procrastination. Sorry, again! I hope the chapter was okay, and that you're enjoying my story thus far! And thanks for all of your support, it means a lot!