A/N: Thanks for reading - and Thanks especially to the guest reviewers since I don't get to thank you personally!
The morning of the district celebration, Mick shows up at the apartment. Apparently Spinner knew he was coming, but with everything going on, forgot to let me know. It's so great to see Mick, who looks tired but is excited to see us all and can't wait for the party. He had just come back into port the day of the wedding broadcast, but when he heard about the district celebrations, he decided to come for a visit. We spend the rest of the morning making him tell us about his adventures out at sea, while Bear catches a nap after a late night. Spinner talks a lot with Mick about the boat and their operations - I think he wishes he were on a boat sometimes too. While Spinner wants to hear about the fishing, I'm fascinated by his stories of other animals - strange birds that fly out over the water in the middle of nowhere, huge turtles that live in the sea, and mostly dolphins that he says come and play around the ship. I've seen pictures of dolphins and heard that they are sometimes seen in the waters near district four, but I've never heard about an animal seeking out humans to play. It sounds like a different world out there on the water.
In the early afternoon, everyone gets ready for the party. I'm wearing the same outfit I wore when we went dancing, along with a jacket in case I get cold. When it's time to go and everyone is ready to leave, Bear wraps his hand around my wrist and tells them, "We'll see you at the party." Rose gives me a knowing look as she pulls Spinner out the door after Mick and Johnny. As they leave, I turn back to him, bringing my hands up to rest on his broad chest. "What's this about?" I ask with a smile.
He shrugs. "It's our first date. We're not spending the whole time with our friends."
"I guess I'm okay with that," I say, as he drops his mouth to mine for a kiss.
We don't spend too long at the apartment, just long enough for a few kisses and catching up a little on what we didn't hear about each others' days yesterday.
I take Bear's hand as we walk toward the local celebration site, which is at an old school building nearby. Looking up at him as we walk, I say, "You know, yesterday you said you wanted time with the real Madge."
"Yeah?"
"It's weird. It's just, I'm more myself here than I was at home, no matter what color my eyes are." I don't want him to think I'm hiding myself from our friends, or from him.
Also, in the last few days I've guiltily realized how little I really know about his life before I showed up and how much I've been focused on myself. I've never really asked him about his past before, and I figure a first date is a good time to start, "Anyway, what about real Bear?"
"Real Bear? Okay, what do you want to know?"
There's so much, I'm not sure where to begin. I answer, "I don't know. How'd you wind up here? What about the gang? I mean, you're all so close, how did you meet them?"
"Most people here work in the fishing industry, right? Boats, fishing, fish farming, and processing, that's district four. You remember how we start working at 15 here?" he asks me. He's should know, having tested my knowledge on the district and filled in gaps himself, teaching me whatever I didn't know about how things work here.
"Of course," I tell him. "At fourteen, you take a test and the administration decides where you'll work. You take more specialized classes, the next year you start working alternate shifts and attending school the rest of the time, that's how it is until after the reaping when you're 18 when you're done with school. Did I get it right?"
"That's it. So at fifteen I got assigned to a boat and I was miserable. I hated it. That first year, I didn't know how I would be able to do it."
He continues, "But then Spinner showed up, and made it bearable. You know how he is. He and Carlo were the same year, they'd been in school together and were already close. Carlo worked the alternate days on his boat, and Spinner sort of looked after Johnny when Carlo was gone. The rest is history. "
"And you were done with school last year?"
"Yeah, I'd just started full-time on the boats when the rebellion got started here. Carlo and Spin still had a year to go."
"Okay - So, what about your family? You've never mentioned them." I ask him.
"It's complicated," he sighs. "Another time, okay? Look, there's the school building. We should go in to the party. We don't want to miss anything."
"Okay," I say uncertainly, as he leads me in to the building. He wasn't in much of a hurry to get to the party before. Why wouldn't he want to tell me about his family? I feel like he's shutting me out and it leaves me confused.
When we walk into the main assembly room, I spot our friends quickly. The room is packed with people. but luckily they've already claimed a table along the wall so we head straight over to meet them. Rose and Spinner are chatting with some other people I don't know, and Johnny and Mick look thick as thieves together at the table. I try to shake off my concern about what just happened with Bear as we join them.
Everyone's got plates full of food, with the kind of variety I was used to back home but haven't seen in months - fried chicken, baked potatoes, pasta casseroles, greens, nuts and dried fruits, and more. There's shrimp and grits, but not a fish in sight. On one hand, it's an amazing spread. On the other hand, I'm worried we're taking too much from the provision stores and will be stuck with nothing but fish and bread from now on. I didn't think to ask Rose about it, I just assumed they had a plan - I hope she and the other provisions leaders know what they're doing.
Bear and I fill up our plates and take them back to the table. The smells alone make my mouth water. When we dive in, everything is good, but the fried chicken is delicious - it's crispy coating and the succulent meat are amazing. Maybe it's just the fact that it's not fish, but I'd swear I've never tasted chicken this good. They're saving the cake for the end of the broadcast, so we'll have to wait for dessert. Before we've even finished eating, they start the airing of the wedding broadcast.
It's fun to watch the broadcast with everyone. The crowds in the assembly room cheer at almost everything, though everyone quiets down to watch the vows, and then rowdily joins in when the children sing the mariner's song. Bear sits behind me, brushes my hair over my shoulder and wraps his arms around me. We sit like that for most of the ceremony. Near the end, the white liquor and other drinks get passed around for the coming toasts. When Annie and Finnick kiss at the end of the ceremony, I think of how different things are now than the first airing, before I knew Bear liked me. I turn my head toward him and steal a kiss of my own.
We cheerfully join in the toasts, with our mix of juice and a splash of white liquor. As the district 12 fiddler starts up on the broadcast, Rose pulls Johnny out onto the space cleared as a dance floor, and Mick unexpectedly turns to me.
"Maddie!" He exclaims, "Doesn't this dance look a lot like one we learned growing up? You want to give it a try?" I look at him for a moment in confusion, then look back to Bear, who shrugs as if to say why not. I grin back at Mick and follow him out to the dance floor, where he follows me easily through the district 12 dance, while everyone around is busy with their own district four interpretations. I can't believe he knows this dance. I'm going to have to ask him how, as soon as I get the chance, but for the time being I let it go and enjoy the familiar music and dance steps. It's a lively dance and by the time we make it back to the table, we're both trying to catch our breath and quickly down some water.
I've decided I won't ask Bear to dance. He said before that he doesn't dance and I'm not going to make him, much though I'd love to, so when the next tune starts up I don't even look at him, just keep sipping my water and watching the dancers. Besides, I don't want to admit it but the district 12 dance was a bit of a workout for my arm.
Johnny pulls me out to try a district four dance, though I warn him to go easy on my arm. I'm really glad I've had all that practice dancing from helping to host the Capitol types back home, since I can keep up with the less familiar district four dances. Johnny leads me through an exuberant dance before letting me back to the table for another break. For the next few songs, the group regathers at the table and alternates between watching the dancers here at the party, and the wedding broadcast, until Rose and Spinner jump back out onto the dance floor. Then Johnny wants Mick to meet some of the musicians he met at the dance the other night, and they run off into the crowd together, leaving me and Bear sitting quietly at the table together.
The local musicians drown out the fiddler in the broadcast. They are flying through a high speed jig when Bear whispers in my ear, "Let's dance." It's about the last thing I'm expecting and I look at him curiously, but he pulls me to my feet and links his arm with mine, and leads me to a quieter corner of the dance floor. I don't know how he knew the timing for it, but the song ends as we reach the dance floor and is replaced by a slow ballad as Finnick and Annie's dance takes over the broadcast. As Bear spins me in front of him, his right arm catches my back lightly, his left hand takes my right, and he pulls me gently to him.
"I thought you didn't dance?" I ask as we sway to the music.
"Who said that?" he asks.
"Um, I'm pretty sure you did," I answer.
"I guess it just takes the right partner," he says casually.
My heart flutters. Unable to respond, I lean my cheek on his shoulder with a sigh.
"I meant to tell you earlier, you look beautiful. That blouse - the green really brings out your eyes," he says, his deep voice just above a whisper. My eyes drift to the screen showing Annie in her green dress, dancing with Finnick, and I bite my lip at the memory of our first kiss. I'd bet he's been waiting until now to say it, to remind me of his reaction to the colored lenses. Together we float across the dance floor. He doesn't fill the song with fancy moves or anything, just a small spin here or there and a modest dip at the end, but it's perfect just as it is.
When the song ends, he lets go of me with a light kiss and we walk off the dance floor hand in hand. Nobody is at our table, and I want more time alone with Bear anyway. I tug at his hand and suggest, "Wanna get some air?"
He looks down at me and asks, "Are you sure?"
I pull him toward the door. "Come on."
When we get outside, we silently turn down the street, walking hand in hand through the cool afternoon, past the brick buildings of the city. The sun is already hidden behind the buildings of the district. The further we walk, the more something seems to be weighing on him.
"Thanks for the dance," I say, hoping to bring him out of his shell.
"Madge ..."
He lifts our joined hands to his lips and kisses the back of my hand. He seems distracted, and I wait patiently for him to continue.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I don't want to shut you out. Some things ... I just wanted today to be perfect. I don't ... " he sighs, out of words for the moment.
Hearing him, I think of how much he has done for me since I arrived in district four and make a quick decision. "Bear, it's okay," I duck in front of him to meet his downcast eyes. "It's okay. Really. I trust you."
He looks relieved, but still uncertain. "But ..."
"No buts. Can we just forget about it and enjoy our date?"
His eyes swim with a mix of emotions. "You're amazing."
I wrap my arms around his neck, looking into his eyes and stretching up to reach his lips. Then his mouth crashes into mine desperately, revealing his pent emotions. The wave of feeling washes through me with a shiver. I return his intensity and we're locked together; his hands tangle in my hair and I pull him back with me until I'm pressed against the brick wall of the building we'd been walking past. A small moan escapes me as our tongues meet. Encouraged, he devours my kisses. His hands caress me, running down my back to grip my waist and pull me closer into him. My fingers run along his jaw and up into his thick brown hair. I follow his lips for kiss after kiss until we're both breathless.
When the surge of emotion has run its course and we've both run out of oxygen, our lips break apart. We stay there, pressed against the building, gasping for air. I lean my head back, resting it on the brick wall behind me, feeling his breath on my neck, desire still coursing through my veins. I shiver as our breathing slows, and gently find his lips again. I nibble teasingly on his lips, and find I'm trembling slightly. His lips overtake mine for a long, slow kiss, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me from the wall.
"You're freezing," he says, feeling my bare arms and hugging me to him. "Why didn't you say something?"
"It's fine," I tell him. Cold was the last thing on my mind.
"Should we go back?" he asks quietly.
I think for a moment. "Well, there's still cake ... if we haven't missed it again." I tease him.
"Well come on then!" He laughs and takes my hand, hurrying me along as we make our way back toward the school. Inside, the room is warm from so many people packed into the space, partying and dancing all this time. Miraculously, we haven't missed the cake this time. I wonder if they paused the broadcast to help drag out the party. Guiltily we return to our table, but nobody says anything about our absence and their ongoing conversation about the party continues. And when the broadcast shows the wedding cake, I see just how right Rose was. The cake is beautiful. It reminds me of Peeta's creations back in district 12, but this one is an intricately crafted homage to the couple from district four. "Is that cake enough for you?" I ask Bear.
"I don't think I could eat it - it's too artistic. I've never seen seals on a wedding cake before," he says.
"Yeah it's beautiful. Lucky for us the cakes here aren't that fancy, so we'll have no problem eating them." I'm thinking of how Peeta would love a cake like that one, about how Katniss told me he brought frosting flowers home after the victory tour to study different techniques. If only he were safe in district 13, instead of imprisoned in the Capitol.
Bear kisses my cheek and gets up from the table, announcing to the group, "I'm going to get cake - who wants some?" Everyone does, it turns out, so Spinner goes with him to get enough for the whole table.
While they're gone, Rose asks me if everything's alright. I blush and nod, telling her we were just getting some air. "Uh-huh," she says, unconvinced but satisfied with my answer all the same.
The cake is delicious.
After the broadcast ends, the local musicians return to their instruments and the dancing begins anew. Rose and Spinner hop out onto the dance floor. During the second song, a girl comes over and asks Johnny to dance, so he takes off too, leaving Mick with me and Bear.
Bear's plate still has a blue frosting flower from his piece of cake. "Aren't you going to eat that?" Mick asks, eying it hungrily. It's not like we get such decadent desserts on a regular basis.
"No, I'm giving it to Maddie." He answers. Looking at me, he says, "Since I couldn't get you real flowers for our date. It reminds me of you anyway," he tells me.
"What?" I ask, flummoxed.
You're sweet as sugar," he says, then leans over, kisses me, and moves his lips to my ear, whispering, "and it goes with your eyes."
I roll my eyes, biting back my smile. I guess this is going to be a thing with him, my eye color. But I take the flower from his plate and nibble away at the sweet frosting. In the process, my fingers get coated in the sticky stuff.
"You're a mess," Bear laughs at me.
"This is your fault," I counter, pointing a sticky finger at him.
His eyes glint mischievously. "I could help."
"No way!" I say, watching him suspiciously as I lick the dregs of frosting from my fingers.
Mick makes a gagging sound, saying, "Ugh! Could you two be any cuter? It's disgusting."
I break my gaze away from Bear, laughing. "Sorry, Mick."
He looks at me in mock disgust and declares, "It's bad enough I'm stuck with my sister and her boyfriend. Ugh."
"He's not my boyfriend," I say, embarrassed. Both Mick and Bear look surprised.
"It's our first date!" I mutter, my cheeks burning. It's not that I don't want Bear to be my boyfriend, but it is just our first date. It's not like we've talked about it, unless you count me asking what to tell Rose and him saying whatever I want. I guess he meant I could call him my boyfriend, but isn't that a little fast? I don't know, I haven't had a real boyfriend before.
I'm relieved when Bear jokes, "Cut her some slack, Mick. We're trying to have a first date and she's got to put up with her little brother. She even danced with you before she danced with me."
That reminds me of the district 12 dance Mick seemed to know so well. "Mick, you really knew that dance earlier! I can't believe you remembered it so well. When was it we learned that one?" I ask him pointedly.
"I think we saw it on the footage of the victory tour last year. But I recognized it in the wedding broadcast. Isn't it fun that we've learned those different dances?" he answers innocently. I roll my eyes, amazed at how much fun he seems to have with our pretend family history. I guess it's a good thing.
The party goes on late into the night. Mick gets back out on the dance floor and our friends come and go with the changing rhythms of the music, while Bear and I watch from the table. We joke with our friends and talk about small things - the food, the music, the weather, the people surrounding us. Bear keeps close to me, twisting my hair in his fingertips or wrapping his arm around my waist while we talk, stealing kisses now and then. Neither of us brings up anything from the past. It's our first date. There's no rush.