Chapter 20: Sometimes Tears Say All There is To Say

Peeta's POV

"Finger, Mr. Mellark." I hand the Peacekeeper my hand.

The device he holds pinches my finger, stinging the rest of the finger.

"Fertile, sir." one of the peacekeepers announces.

He turns to Madge, next to me.

"Finger, Mrs. Mellark." I watch her flinch at the last name.

She gives her finger up, and the monitor beeps green.

"Fertile, and pregnant sir."

The Peacekeeper nod at us and leave. Madge walks back in.

I follow her and close the door. I announce to her, "I'm gonna get ready, to go to the bakery."

She sighs, "Again? Isn't there a day you don't go over there?"

I turn to her, "I have to work, Madge."
She becomes frustrated, "Can you just care for me one moment? Gosh, I am carrying a child, and I am always alone here! You're always at the bakery, you come and eat, and then you sleep. You don't even hold me!"

I warn her, "Madge.."

Her anger takes over, "Why can't you just try to love me?! I try my best to be a good wife! But you don't even notice that!"

I try to keep my emotions, "Madge, I already was honest with you-"

She cuts me off, "Yeah, yeah I know. I am not her. That doesn't mean I can't make you happy!"

I burst, "I don't love you! You don't understand! Nobody understands how I am feeling!"

She yells back, "Yes I do! I know what you feel! I love him!"

I stop to take in her words, "What? Who?"

She shakes her head, "No, just forget it."
I shake my head and head over to her. I grab her arms and sit her on the couch, "Madge."

She shakes her head and holds her head in her hands, looking like she is about to sob.

"Peeta, can you keep a secret?" she asks.

I laugh at how silly the situation is of her asking me to keep a secret.

"Madge, I'm your husband, by law. But I am your friend, by heart. Go ahead and just tell me."

"I'm in love with Gale."

A wall of confusion crashes on me. "Gale? Gale Hawthorne?"

She nods, "Yeah, crazy right?"

"Are you telling me you're in love with the guy that married my girl?"

She nods and looks up to me, "Don't be mad at me, Peeta."

I shake my head and hold her hands in mine, "No I am so sorry. You were just feeling what I was feeling."

She nods and sniffles, "Peeta, I also have another secret."

I smile and say, "Go ahead."

"I know this is not your child."

A twinge of hurt kicks in me. "Ouch that one hurt Madge… is it his?"

She nods, "Yeah, I'm sure it's his."

But I am still confused, "But I thought Gale hated town people? I am so confused."

She smiles and says, "I know it's hard to believe, but we've been seeing each other since I could remember. He's always so mad at the separation of classes here in District 12. He kept trying to get me to leave the district with him, instead of telling our parents the truth. And then one day… he got so mad at me for wanting to tell the truth, that he told me it was me leaving with him, or not being with me at all. So I took my choice, and now we're all here."

I sit baffled, "Then why did we get married to each other?"

She shrugs, "I told my father I wanted to marry Gale, and he said I wasn't marrying no smuggler or coal miner. And your mother took advantage of the situation, and had my dad convinced I should marry you."

I laugh at how mad the situation has become, I'm in love with Katniss, and she's in love with Gale.

I say out of mind, "We have to tell them."

She shakes her head and looks at me like I've grown second, "Peeta, it's a secret! Secrets are meant to be secrets!"

I shake my head, "You need to tell him how you feel and his child."

She gets mad and throws my hands, "And what live miserably knowing he can't be my husband?"

I look down that's exactly how I feel.

She shakes her head and says, "Sorry, I know it's not the best idea, but its a start. I know you want to see her too."

I smile at her, she says, "I'm sorry about earlier, I feel lonely that's all."

I take her hand, "I'll get home sooner then."

"Peeta?" she asks

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being my friend." she smiles.

I take her into my arms to hug her, "That's what I am here for."

We stay like that for a long time.

Thank you so much reading. [The End Where I Begin by The Script]