-Couple days later-
(Madge and her father finally returned from her trip to the Capitol)
"Did you see the newspaper?" Madge asked eagerly, hiding the District 12 newspaper behind her back. Gale just laughed and looked at her, "No I haven't, why?" "Look!" Madge said as she whipped out the paper and held it out in front of her in Gales face. He leaned back a little surprised and then quickly scanned the paper, his eyes widening at the news. "How?" He asked his voice full of shock. "Well after that date, I talked to my dad and the other mayors at the meeting about throwing a feast for our all the poorer districts. I might have said it would help them for re-elections," She smiled childishly. Gale smiled and hugged her, his arms fitting perfectly around her delicate frame. He breathed in her ear, "You are amazing!" She giggled and pulled back, "I know. Best part, it's also a masquerade ball," "But these people, even myself, we can't afford outfits," Madge's smile grew larger, "I also might have talked the Capitol designers to donating outfits for everyone," "Madge darling! Time for lunch!" Madge closed her sparkling blue eyes and breathed in frustration. "Well I got to go, but I can't wait to see you in your tux," she winked at him before jogging through her freshly cut yard. Gale looked down at the newspaper Madge had brought and quickly scanned over it, "Wait! Madge the Ball is in 5 days. We can't hang out earlier? I can't go five days without seeing you," He yelled out. Madge turned around, her light blue plaid dress twirling around her knees and her blonde hair flipping over her shoulder to rest on her back. She smiled, "I guess you're going to have to deal with it," She stuck out her tongue teasingly before hopping onto her porch and gracefully walking into her house.
Gale sighed and slowly began walking back to his house. What would he do without her for 5 days? The more important question was, how could he ever repay her for this? She was so brave, taking on the Capitol the way she did. She had convinced a group of heartless people to show mercy on the poorer Districts and throw them a feast, not to mention make it a celebration and was able to get everybody outfits! Madge did all this because of what Gale had said about their district starving. She was truly amazing.
He pulled open the rickety door to his house, hearing it creak and reveal his family swirling around the living room and kitchen in excitement. His little brother Rory came up running to him, hugging Gale with all his might. Gale laughed, "Hey little brother, what's going on?" He patted Rory's head, messing up his hair before taking off his thin sweater. Rory looked up with bright eyes, "Your girlfriend. She's awesome! Look at the suits she got us!" He smiled happily as he began dragging Gale to the living room where colorful tissue paper was thrown randomly around and 5 large boxes were laid out on the floor.
Gale leaned against the doorway that attached the living room and the kitchen and watched as Rory picked up all the different types of suits. First he picked up a nice red tux, "But this isn't the best part," He said before putting down the suit and bending down to a box and slipping on furry mittens and a fuzzy hat. He swiftly turned around, his face scrunched up as he curved his fingers like claws, "GRRR! I'm a lion!" He laughed. Gale noticed all the orange fur that shot crazily out of the gloves and the googly eyes on the hat that looked like a lions face. "How did she know Lions where my favorite!" He shrieked happily before turning back around and taking off the gloves and hat before picking up another suit. This one was smaller suit that was a lovely calming grey that matched with most of the people from the Seam's eyes. Then along the edges of the collar and cuffs was a soft detail that was drawn on with coal dust. Rory looked up, his eyes turning sad. "This one's Vicks. In the letter, Madge said she got it grey because it goes with the coal mining," Then his eyes changed into curiosity, "Okay how does she know what he wants to be? Now she's just stalking us Gale," He laughed before setting the suit down and plopping down on a couch. Gale laughed and then realized he hadn't seen his sister's outfit. "Where's Posy's?" "Right here," He heard his mothers soft voice say as she came out the bathroom, gently directing Posy into the living to show him her dress. "It's beautiful. Will you twirl for Gale honey?" Their mom asked as she leaned against the wall next to Gale. She gave a shy smile and began twirling around, the puffed out blue dress twirling with her, the white cloth under brushing past her ankles. Her shoulders were also puffed out and there was a cute lace design on the front. Her dark brown hair was tied back in a light blue ribbon. She was so adorable!
Gale tried holding back his laughter, "You call that a twirl?" He said before bending down and scooping her up, spinning her round and round. She giggled and gripped onto him, "Gale!" She shrieked and he immediately stopped, gently placing her down. He smiled and poked the tip of her nose, "You're going to be such a heartbreaker," "Just like your big brother," There mom said smiling as she walked into the kitchen. "Gale's girlfriend Madge," She teased "Also sent us a big bowl of vegetable soup and some lemonade. Who wants some?" Everybody raised their hand.
-Later that night-
Gale looked in front of his full length mirror, holding up the black suit Madge had gotten him. He sighed and set it down on his mother's bed before plopping down next to it, falling back onto the old mattress and covering his eyes with the palm of his hands. He heard soft footsteps and a gentle laugh approach him. He moved his hands and turned his head to the source of the sound. His mother smiled, "It's a great tux," Gale sighed, "Yeah it is," His mother frowned and walked over to him, picking up his suit, sitting down and setting it on her lap, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles. "What's wrong Gale?" He sighed again and squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't know how to dance. And it's not just that I mean I probably can dance. But it was that dad was suppose to teach me the dances and how you two danced when you got married, but then that mine exploded and killed him! God!" Gale cried out, his hands tightening into fists. His mom just looked at him sadly, "Hey, hey. Gale look at me," She said, moving the tux over and grabbing his hands. "Look at me. I know that dancing is really hard because of your father but finally something good is happening to us. And so this is a great time to dance," Her voice was soft and Gale looked up at her, restraining the tears he felt forming in his eyes. He finally nodded, registering the words in his head and hugged her.
He felt her arms embrace him back in a comforting manner. He sniffled and gave a weak smile. "Thanks mom," She smiled back and patted his back, "Now you get some sleep. Tomorrow I teach you how to dance. Bright and early," She said before picking up his suit and folding it up, placing it back into the box it came in.
Gale smiled as he watched his mom become frustrated and refold the suit over and over again till it fit perfectly in the box. He shook his head and got up, "Goodnight ma," he said before walking out and tripping over tiny little bodies as he turned the sharp corner.
"Ow!" He heard a bunch of tiny moans. He laughed and got up, "Ease dropping?" He said to his two little brothers and sisters who he had tripped over as they tried listening in on his conversation with their mom. They all jus looked at him guiltily but then their face expressions changed to happiness. "Are we learning how to dance tomorrow?" "Yeah," Gale said. And before he could say anything else his brothers and sister started jumping up crazily, "Yeah! Yay!" Gale laughed at their enthusiasm and began shooing them away to their rooms, "Hey go to bed you little scampers, we got a big day tomorrow," He said as lead each of them to bed.
And finally once everybody was tucked in he crept into the living room and plopped down on the couch which also was his bed and finally closed his eyes for the night.
*Thought it been a while since i've updated, stupid tests at school! Anyway, hope you like it! Please tell me what you think :D
Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins