I'm just gonna go ahead and update again because yeah. Remember to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or any of its characters. *sighs*

Chapter 3

I don't want to go home. Not yet. I need to be alone for a while, to think about everything's that's happened. It's still light, although I have no idea what time it is. I forgot to wear my watch.

I walk through the town and pass the bakery, which is shut. I sigh and look away, not wanting to think about Peeta. Everyone knew Katniss was strong, she could hunt – but what could Peeta do? What, if any, was his advantage in the games? I shiver slightly, and move on.

I let my mind wander as I walk, trying to think of anything but what has just happened, but it's impossible. Did Katniss stand a chance of winning? Maybe, but how? What were the other tributes like?

I sigh, and smooth out my dress absentmindedly. Gale had been right, it was a pretty dress. So what if it was expensive, that it showed I was from the town.

I look up at my surroundings and notice that I have left the town behind, that I am now entering the Seam. I stop, and glance around me. The place was pretty empty. Everyone was inside.

I continued walking, but I still worried. What would people say if they saw the mayor's daughter in the Seam? In fact, would they say anything?

I have left the pavement now, scuffing my cream shoes in the dirt. The houses around me gradually become smaller and more broken, and I stop once I realise just how far I'd walked from town. In fact, where was I?

It was silent, absent of any people. I had no one to ask directions from, but even if there was, I probably would have been too scared to. I turn a full 180 degrees, searching for anything recognisable. I can't see anything I know – why would I, when before now, I had had no reason to come to the Seam?

"Dammit." I mutter under my breath. What now?

"Madge?" I turn my head to where the voice came from, and find myself looking at Gale Hawthorn, of all people.

Ugh.

He sounds genuinely surprised to see me, but doesn't show it on his face. Instead, he glares at me.

"What do you want?" I ask, returning the glare. He was the last person I wanted to see.

"Nothing. I was just surprised to see a Townie here, especially someone like you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I shoot back, hearing the annoyance in my voice. I didn't like that nickname, 'Townie'. Gale snorts, looking at me like I was stupid and couldn't understand something really obvious that he'd just said.

"Well?" I demand, my hands curling into fists by my side. He looks away, at the sky, and then back at me.

"Nothing." He snarls in an equally unfriendly voice. He turns and walks away from me, disappearing quickly behind a building. I sigh angrily and stomp away in the opposite direction.

What the Hell is his problem? I think to myself, flicking some hair out of my face. I stop walking eventually when I realise that I've become even more lost than before. My frustration turns on myself, and I sit on the ground, dress and all, and groan.

Where am I? I sit and stare at the dirt in front of me for a while.

"Now, what's a girl like you doing in a place like here?" A voice sounds from behind me, and I turn my head to see who's speaking. A tall man stands close to me – no, in fact, someone who was not quite a man. He looked about seventeen, staring down at me with piercing blue eyes. I stare back, shocked into silence that he was speaking to me. Despite being from the Seam, he was quite good-looking. His attractive features didn't hide the malicious smile on his face, though.

I'm frozen, not sure how to reply. I was fairly sure I didn't know this man. We stare at each other for a few seconds longer than necessary, till he clicks his tongue and speaks again.

"I asked you a question, Madge." How did he know my name? I momentarily forget that I am the mayor's daughter – that everyone knows my name, especially people who were still at school.

"I'm lost." I don't see the point in lying. He might be able to help me get back to the town, although I wasn't sure that I wanted his help.

"Oh dear!" He throws in his hands up in mock horror. "The poor Townie has got lost in the big scary Seam." There it was again. That nickname. I stand up and shoot a glare at him before turning on my heel and walking away. The stranger waits a few moments before calling after me,

"You're going the wrong way." I stop walking and look at him expectantly.

"Show me where to go, then." Perhaps I should've been scared of him, but I was too annoyed to be.

"Ah, perfect. I'll walk you home, shall I?" He shoots a cocky smile at me, although it is not friendly. Who is this man?

"No." I reply. "Just show me which direction the town is." I try to sound forceful, but I can't help but admit that he made me a little nervous. I hoped it didn't show in my voice.

"Ah, but Madge, that won't do at all." He replies, folding his arms, still smiling that horrible smile.

"If I walk with you, will you take me straight to the town?" I ask, giving in. I didn't know him, but he might be my only home of getting home before dark. The light was already starting to go.

"Much better. Of course, my dear Madge," he crows. I walk towards him hesitantly, and he offers me his arm, which I refuse. He drops his arm to his side, but walks close to me, closer than I'd like, but I say nothing. He tries to ask me questions at first, but I remain silent. He gives up eventually, but walks closer to me. I can see that he knows that it makes me uncomfortable, and he seems to be taking pleasure in it.

We reach the town after a long walk, we reappear in the plaza, outside the Justice Building. I thank him, though not without slight anger in my voice.

"I'll see you around, Madge." He smirks as he says this, and a shiver runs up my spine. What exactly did that mean?

I walk quickly to my house, my head bowed, staring at the ground. I nearly bump headfirst into the person waiting for me. I look up as I enter my street, only to find Gale there. He's leaning against a post, staring at the sky again. My fists clench as I get nearer, as it becomes apparent that he's here for me.

"What do you want?" I ask as soon as I'm a few metres away from him. I stop walking, not wanting to get any closer.

"I was wondering…" He looks down at his feet for a moment, confusion passing over his features. "What were you doing with Zach?"

"Huh?" His question surprises me. I expected a snide remark about my dress or something, not this. Who was Zach?

Gale continues to look at his feet, then back up at me.

"That boy from the Seam, who walked you to the town. Why were you with him?" He asks again.

"Uh…" Was it worth bothering to tell him? He looked like he had been waiting here for a while, so I answered him.

"I was lost, and he offered to help me get to the town."

"Is that all?" I couldn't believe how nosy he was being.

"What's it to you?" I snap. Why couldn't Gale just leave me alone?

He doesn't reply, but looks at me again before he starts walking away. Just as I'm about to demand that he tells me why he waited here just to ask me about Zach, he speaks again.

"You might want to… Stay away from him. He's bad, Madge." Gale looks at me again, and I might have imagined it, but he sounded concerned. Why would Gale Hawthorn be concerned about me?

I don't say anything. What could I say?

I turn and go up the steps to my house, and shut the door firmly behind me. Who was I kidding? Of course he wasn't concerned about me. Although, maybe he was right about Zach… He did seem pretty creepy.

As soon as I sit on my bed, I realise that I'm exhausted. The reaping, getting lost, Zach, Gale… It had been a long day. I manage to kick my shoes off and dress in an old t-shirt and some pyjama shorts before collapsing on my bed and falling asleep.

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