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Chapter 11

When I wake up, I'm not longer cold. I can move my limbs, and speak with ease. However, I now have a constant headache, and Toby has ordered me to stay in the house today, especially since the rain has continued into today.

Toby brings me tea constantly, which is nice. He also makes me lunch and brings it to me on a tray, some tomato soup and a roll. He's definitely trying to feed me hot food to keep me warm.

My mind often wanders to Gale – will he come today like he promised? I hope so. I was lonely here, and although I was used to loneliness, it didn't mean that I liked it. I didn't mind it, I'd just preferred when Katniss had been here.

My thoughts then drift to my feelings about Gale. I really wasn't sure what was happening between us. I decide to call it a sort-of friendship, although I don't feel that it's exactly the right way of putting it. He annoyed the Hell out of me, and still made references to us being from different parts of the District which apparently made it impossible for us to be seen together. Despite that, I couldn't ignore the fact that he seemed to care about me. He had carried me all the way from deep in the forest to my house and made sure I was okay. And he had held me, not once but twice.

I sigh, and turn over. Maybe I could confront him today, ask what all this really means. If I could manage to work up the confidence, which wasn't likely.

When he touched me… It felt different. Different from how it should feel. I sit up in shock and a groan escapes me, because I've figured out what all this means.

Crap. I like Gale.

What did I see in him? He's was pretty good-looking, but I ruled that out quickly. Looks didn't matter so much to me. He's arrogant and full of himself, and close-minded for sure. I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair, flinching when I realise how tangled it is.

He's annoying, he acts like I'm stuck up just because I'm from the Town. He flips me off in school, just because he cares about his image.

I groan again in annoyance with myself. What was wrong with me? Why Gale? Why now?

I get up, and decide to go have a shower. The hot water manages to calm me down, and it clears my headache up a little bit. When I come back into my bedroom, there's a fresh cup of hot tea waiting for me, which I begin to sip gratefully.

I get dressed and lie on my bed, fully awake now. I take a random book from my shelf and flip through the pages lazily, scanning my eyes over the words but not really reading them.

After a while, I hear a knock on the door. Toby answers it, and lets Gale through, who carefully makes his way up the stairs and to my room, as directed by Toby. He knocks on my door before he comes in.

"Hi," he says quietly as I put my book down. He comes and sits on my bed next to me, and he quickly glances over me to check that I'm okay. I smile a little at this but force it off my face before he can see.

"Hey," I reply, equally as softly.

We don't speak for a while, and rather than the comfortable silences we've shared before, I find it awkward. He seemed so out of place in my room, too big for it, too…. Seam-y.

"Are you okay now?" He asks eventually. He looks genuinely concerned, and I wish that my heart wouldn't beat quicker when he looks into my eyes as he says this.

"Yeah, I am."

Awkward silence again. I can't stand it.

"Gale." I say, my voice coming harsher than I meant to, but I don't really care now. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to make sure you're okay. Besides, you asked me to come." Gale looks confused.

"But why did you come? Why do you care about a girl from the Town? If you even care about me?" I can feel hot tears begin to slide down my cheeks.

"Madge…" Gale's voice is pained, and he reaches my hand, but I snatch it away.

"No." I say quickly. I don't mean to be hurting him, but I can't stand not understanding this. "What are we, Gale? Are we friends? I don't understand. You carry me home through the rain and then won't protect me from Zach at lunch, just because you care about what people say. I don't fucking get it." I'm crying heavily now, but he doesn't make a move to touch me again.

"Madge, you don't understand." He sounds angry now, and won't look at me.

"Damn right I don't. Would you mind explaining how you feel about me?" I shoot back. Gale's head is turned away from me, and he takes a couple deep breaths before he replies. I guess that he's trying to calm down or something.

"I…" He looks like he's thinking a lot. "You're kind, and you're not like how I thought you would be, stuck up, like someone from here. That's why I care about you." I don't reply, but wait for him to continue.

"I'm not worried about what people say about me- no, that's a lie. But I don't mind as much as you think." He sighs, and pushes his hair away from his face. I'm still angry, but I'm crying less now.

"That doesn't explain why you wouldn't defend me. You let him sit there and watch me get more and more upset. And you didn't do anything, when you said you would." I grit my teeth and clench my fists. "Why is everything so goddamn complicated with you?" Gale sighs, and glares at me.

"You know what? I guess I was wrong. You're just like them all, like I thought you were." He spits the words out, and it's like he's slapped me across the face. I wish I have some witty reply for him, but I don't. I'm just hurt.

He gets up and leaves, not bothering to shut the door. He doesn't say goodbye to Toby either, but at least has the decency to not slam my front door.

I turn onto my side and stare at the wall. I don't cry now – I had already cried when I was angry at him.

I had confronted him, and got no answers. I had tried, at least.

I tuck myself up into a ball, my arms wrapped tightly around my knees which are under my chin. I don't know how long I lie there like that for, but when Toby comes up with some dinner, I still haven't moved. He stands there for a while, wondering what to do. Eventually he sighs and leaves, shutting the door behind him.

I don't touch my dinner, my appetite gone. I fall asleep eventually.

I'm sorry, I know this is really short :/ I didn't like how I wrote this chapter… No relationship is perfect, so they're gonna fight a lot. I promise they will get through this, probably in the next chapter. Madge is just frustrated that Gale won't tell her what's going when he seems to know anyway.

Also, I have an exam on Tuesday, so I may not update then, or as frequently around that time. I promise I will pick it up after that - I will not abandon this story!

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