Disclaimer: These still aren't my characters. Tears.
I walk in the front door of my house completely disheveled. Why couldn't it have been my name? I think, Katniss' family needs her, nobody here needs me. I sit by myself on the couch and carelessly let the tears fall. I've never felt so alone.
"Madge?" my Mother calls from down the stairs. I don't move. I sit still. I still cry.
"Oh honey," she breathes as she floats across the room to join me on the couch.
Although she's probably only awake to see if it was my name that chosen out of the reaping bowl, she pulls me into her arms. Usually by this time of night, the Morphling has already taken over.
"It was Prim, Mom," I croak, "Her name. . . It was only in once."
Somehow I'm able to continue, "Katniss volunteered for her, and then Peeta's name got called," I may have imagined it, but I think she chokes back a sob as well. "It all happened so fast, I just. . ."
"I know Sweetie, I know" she coos as she rocks me back and forth in her arms. I feel like I'm a little girl again, dependent on my Mother for safety and reassurance. I cry and cry until I find myself in a dreamless sleep.
"Madge," my Father is sitting next to me on the couch shaking my shoulder until I come to. "Madge honey wake up. It's morning, time for school."
I sit up and find his eyes as bloodshot as mine must be. There's no way he could've gotten any good sleep.
"Dad, I'm sick,"
"You have to go Madge," he sighs. "Please go get dressed."
Instead I walk in the direction of the door and grab my bag on the way out. I don't even care that I'm still in the dress I wore to the Reaping. I throw my hair in a high ponytail and stare down at my feet until I reach the school.
I go through the whole day being avoided. I hear whispers behind me in the hallway, people saying things like "Poor girl," and "She looks a mess." During lunch, I sit alone at the table Katniss and I had shared just two days ago. I push the food around on my tray until someone settles down across from me.
"Hi Madge," Prim manages to smile despite her obvious swollen eyes messy braids from yesterday. We must look pretty funny, the two of us at this table together, because everyone stops what they're doing and stares.
"Prim," I force a smile back at her "How're you holding up?"
"I'm not, actually." she pauses and adverts her glance around the cafeteria. You shouldn't have said anything, stupid. She probably just wanted company. "I actually came over here because I wanted a favor."
"Of course, anything."
"I know you and Katniss are friends 'cause she talks about you a lot, and so I thought I would ask you.. Well, she usually walks me home after school. And, well, I would ask Gale but he has to get Posy from her school and I'm scared to go alone so I was wondering if-"
"Sure Prim, I'll walk with you." I say with a smile.
"Thanks, Madge." she grins and pulls me into her arms.
"I'll meet you outside after school, okay?" she nods and goes back to her table.
I sit through the rest of lunch with a smile on my face. Maybe someone does need me, I think. Little Prim Everdeen needs me.
I grin at the thought.
After school I wait under the big oak tree for Prim. Finally she greets me with a timid smile and we start on our way to the Seam.
"How did the rest of your day go?" I question.
"Horrible. Everyone kept staring."
I look down at my feet wishing I could say something that would make her feel better.
"I know it's my fault but I just wish people would stop rubbing it in my face . ."
Just before we're about to exit the schoolyard, our conversation is interrupted when I hear a boys voice calling her name.
"Prim! Prim wait up!"
"Rory," she sighs at the sight of the boy running towards us with his brother and sister close behind. "What?"
"Gale didn't show," he sighs, "Mind if we walk with you guys?" he pulls Posy closer before meeting Prim's eyes.
"Um.. Madge?" Prim looks up at me with hopeful eyes.
"No problem, Rory."
Prim nods her head at me before giving Rory a death stare. Looks like someone has a crush, I think as I smile my first real smile of the day.
We reach the Seam in a matter of minutes after useless conversations about grade seven classwork. Prim and I drop the Hawthorne's off before we find ourselves on her doorstep.
"So, the recap of the Reaping's will air tonight," she says, "Can you come over and watch them with me? My Mom doesn't think she can handle it, but I want to keep track of Katniss' competition."
She pauses as I chew the inside of my lip. I don't think I could be strong enough for myself, let alone the both of us.
"Plus, I think we could use eachother's company." she continues.
"I'll be over at seven." I force a smile before turning on my heel and finding my way back to town.
When I settle down on my bed, I find a note attached to my mirror.
Margaret,
I've stepped out for a meeting at the Justice Building that will last until 9:00. Please be home by then, I will explain everything later. Ferna will be over to fix you and your Mother dinner around 5:30. I love you, stay strong.
Love,
Daddy
My Father has been Mayor of the District since before I was born and I don't ever remember him ever having a meeting. Something must be wrong, and it must be bad.
I force myself into a shower before throwing on a t-shirt and shorts and heading downstairs where our Capitol servant, Ferna, is cooking on the stove. She isn't an avox, but instead is an aspiring Capitol chef. Sometimes, they ship them out to the District's wealthier class for more "practice." Ferna has been in District Twelve for sixteen years. If it weren't for her, I probably would have starved sometime during grade school.
I settle myself in the dining room before Ferna fills my plate and joins me at the table.
"Reaping's are today," she says
I nod, "I'm going to the Everdeens house to watch them."
"Well, make sure you're here with me during the opening ceremonies!" she cheers, "My brother Cinna is finally a stylist for the games this year, District 12! He has big things planned for your friend who brings the berries!"
"She isn't going to be naked, is she?" There's no way Katniss could portray herself as a sex icon like the infamous Finnick Odair had, being covered only in fishnets during his opening ceremony.
"No, no!" she shoos the idea away with her hand, "He's going to help her make an impression."
"Let's hope he does." For Prim's sake, at least.
At seven o'clock, Prim meets me at her front door and ushers me inside. We sit on the couch making small talk until the Capitol anthem begins to play and Ceaser Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith flash onto the screen. Prim scoots closer to me and I drape my arm around her shoulders.
Suddenly, there are three raps on the front door and Prim jumps nervously before rising to answer it.
"Peacekeepers'll kill me if they see me out this late," Gale breathes before throwing off the hood to his jacket. "Mind if I stay for a while?"
Gale stands tall in the front of the house, his broad shoulders filling the width of his soiled Reaping clothes. His hair is a knotted inferno infested with broken leaves and his face is abnormally caked with a layer of dirt. He throws his game bag to the floor and Prim retrieves it in and places it in the front closet on the same hook where Katniss' remains. Finally, Gale looks over to the couch where I am and locks his chestnut brown eyes with mine before looking down.
Prim scurries over to join me again when the escort from District One trots onto the stage. She pulls out a notebook and pen and begins to write. As the Reaping begins, a ditzy looking blonde volunteers for a younger girl who can't be older than Prim. She giggles and waves at the camera when the escort asks for her name which turns out to be something stupid like Glitter. She latches on to the boy tribute from her District and forces him to do the same when the cameras point at them for the last time. They click out to District Two with a shot of the girl blowing a kiss. If Katniss doesn't kill her, I might, I think.
In District Two, another twelve year old girl is reaped and pulled up to the stage in hysterics before a tough looking sixteen volunteers. She tries to hide her nervousness before shooting a thumbs up to someone in the crowd. The boy volunteers as well, an even tougher looking eighteen with huge muscles. He cracks his knuckles before shaking the girls hand. They seem like old friends in a way I can't really explain.
"This is so sick," Gale mutters as he settles down next to me on the couch. "Root for your favorites and cry when they die. ."
I shake my head in agreement with Gale and press my middle fingers to my temples trying to relieve the continuous pounding from the stress of the past 24 hours.
"I just don't understand how anybody can enjoy this.." Gale mumbles,
"SHH," Prim cries "You're making me miss District Four!"
By the time Gale finally stops, District Five is on the screen. A redheaded girl takes the stage and looks around nervously before shaking hands with the male tribute from her District.
"I'm glad Katniss didn't look that scared," Prim notes, "It's bad to be an easy target."
The rest of the Reapings go by without any memorable appearances until District Eleven. A small girl, probably aged twelve as well according to the frequent gasps of the crowd, is reaped. Before my thoughts are processed into words, Gale speaks.
"Did anyone else notice that-"
"Four twelve year olds were reaped this year?" Prim starts, "From the two wealthiest and two poorest Districts?" she pauses, "Funny how that works, huh?"
She throws her notebook down at the floor and storms off into the back room. Gale buries his face in his hands when Effie Trinket appears on screen. We mute the television to block out Prim's screams and Ceaser Flickerman's ignorant analysis of the scene all of Panem is watching right now.
I pick up Prim's notebook and write.
Katniss Everdeen - District Twelve.
Peeta Mellark - District Twelve.
I can't think of anything to write about either of my friends so I put the notebook down before kicking my legs up on the couch.
"She could win, you know," Gale says through his blatantly shaky voice.
"She's stronger than those people, they know how to fight but she knows how to hunt," he stops to choke back a sob "It's all the same, really. Plus she's smart too. She can win."
I stare at Gale searching his eyes for any trace of innocence. I nod my head and push myself off the couch before wiping my teary eyes and following in the direction Prim had gone.
"She'll be sleeping by now." Gale says before rising off the couch and meeting me in the middle of the room.
"Oh, well, okay then." I tuck my shirt into my shorts and turn around to face him, "Tell her I said to come by if she needs anything." I start to open the front door but Gale reaches over me and shuts it back closed.
"Are you crazy? You're not walking home at this hour, are you?"
"It's only 8:30," I glance at the clock on the wall in the kitchen. "Curfew isn't until 9:00."
"Not in the Seam," he chuckles, "You're about a half an hour late there, Sweetheart."
"Well, I'm sure they'll let me go home thank you very much." I push past him and grab the doorknob.
"Ah, right. Mayor's daughter, no worries, right?"
I may be crazy but I think I catch him smiling. Is Gale Hawthorne flirting with me? My stomach does backflips until I'm able to snap myself back into reality. He's being mean.
"Shut up, Gale." I roll my eyes and open the door.
"Let me walk you."
"No. I'm fine by myself, really."
"I'm sure you are, Madge. But I'll feel better if I walk with you." I hear the door click shut but I keep a safe distance of about five feet between us.
"So, you really are going to stalk me all the way home, then?" I finally snap.
"I just wanted to make sure you get home safe," he says "Don't need another one of my friends getting taken away by them. . ."
"Excuse me?"
"What?"
"Friend?" I question and put a hand on my hip.
"Yeah, I said friend. So what?"
"Funny, I guess friendship means something different to you then it does to me well doesn't it?"
"Madge.." Gale groans.
"No, Gale. It's not fair that every time you speak to me you treat me like I think I'm better than everyone. If anything, I feel like it's a curse to live in town. I hate it and I hate you for making me feel like I'm a horrible person when I'm not!"
"What could you possibly hate, Madge? Do you hate having enough food to feed my family for a week every day? Having nice clothes, nice furniture? Having medicine for your Mother that costs more than I bring home in a week?"
"Nevermind," I cry. "You just don't understand."
"Oh, right because people from the Seam never understand, right?"
"That's what I mean Gale! That! Just because I have all of these things doesn't mean I wish my name was pulled instead of her's any less than you do." I take a deep breath and cross my arms.
For a long time, we walk in silence as he seemingly tries to contour a response.
"So this isn't really about me walking you home, huh?" he asks before reaching his hand up to sit on the crook of his neck.
"No, I guess not." I drop my crossed arms to my side and manage a smile before I turn on my heel and reach for my front door.
"Hey, Madge?" Gale calls from behind me.
"Do you think we could try to be friends?" he asks, "For Prim's sake, of course."
I smirk and turn around to face him. He's standing with a dorky half-smile on his face and his hand extended out to me.
"Sure, Gale," I extend my hand as well and grab his firmly, "Friends."
He pulls my hand up to his lips and places a kiss on my knuckle. My stomach fills with butterflies as I wave goodnight to my new friend, Gale Hawthorne. This is too weird, I think as I open the front door, too weird to be real.
Author's Note: Chapter Four tomorrow! Already written, huZZAH~