I'm so sorry for the late chapter :/ at first it was due to stubbornness because of the lack of reviews (only two for the last one! :c), and then a bunch of exams came up so I didn't have time to write another chapter. But I've finished now :D
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or any of its characters.
Chapter 17
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you – the tributes of District Twelve!"
Suddenly, Gale's arms are around me and we're cheering and hugging, huge grins plastered to each of our faces. And then he presses his lips against mine, hard, but still smiling. We pull away for breath and I can feel tears streaming down my face, although I am not sad, I am happy, I have never been so happy. They're alive, they're okay, they've made it. They've done the impossible, the unthinkable. They beat the Capitol, they beat the Games, together.
I kiss Gale again and start laughing against his lips, unable to contain the amazing feeling inside me.
For so long I had been worried that my friend would never come home and I would have to watch her death, but Katniss had won and it felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Toby comes in and looks at the screen for a second before throwing his arms around me (much to Gale's discomfort) and cheering with us. Toby then high-fives me, and I start laughing again.
The TV screen is now showing commentary and reruns of the final moments, although not once do I see the nightlock scene. Ceasar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith try to keep an upbeat, celebratory atmosphere, but you can tell that something is off.
I find myself pulled into Gale's strong arms, and then pressed against his chest in a tight hug. He kisses his head and we fall silent, standing there for a while. Toby leaves quietly, although I know that I will be teased mercilessly for this later.
"They did it." I murmur. "They really did it." Gale's arms tighten around me, and I feel him kiss my head again.
"I know." He replies, equally as quietly.
"I can't quite believe it." I feel his hand begin to rub my back slowly in circular motions. "The whole District will be in an uproar."
"I know."
I can't tell whether Gale is happy or sad, but I don't know how he could be sad right now. I can't see his face, and I wonder if he is smiling right now.
"Gale?" I ask quietly. "Is something wrong?" As soon as I say it, I feel his body stiffen.
"The nightlock… They defied the Capitol. It was practically a rebellion directly against them, Madge." He whispers in a hushed voice, so quiet I can barely hear him, especially since the TV is still on. Gale sighs a long, tired sigh, and rests his cheek on the top of my head.
"What will happen next?" I ask, not sure I want to know the answer.
"I don't know. They can't kill them-" I flinch when he says this, "-or their families. They can't hurt you, Madge, you're the Mayor's daughter. But me, my family… I'm a way to get to Katniss. To both of them. If they hurt me, that will hurt Katniss, and in turn, that will hurt Peeta." It takes a minute for this to sink in, but I react fiercely when it does.
My grip on Gale tightens, my fingers digging into his skin, and my voice comes out angry and harsh.
"I won't let them."
"Madge-" Gale begins, but I interrupt him.
"No. I won't let them. You said it yourself Gale, I'm the Mayor's daughter. I will not let them hurt you or your family. You hear me? You have no idea how much you mean to me, Gale Hawthorn. No idea." I realise then that I am crying, hot tears sliding down my cheeks which soak into Gale's t-shirt. He cradles me against him, waiting till I stop crying, one hand occasionally stroking my hair in an attempt to calm me down.
When I become silent, except for my erratic breathing and hiccups, Gale takes my face in his hands and looks at me. Each of his palms are the size of my cheeks, and they feel nice on my skin, warm, comforting. His grey eyes search my face, not quite knowing what to do; does he comfort me, or will I cry again? Does he talk about the Capitol, or will that make me more upset? Or will he simply stand here, holding my head in his hands, looking at me, trying to make his looking convey words?
I look back for a few seconds, until I hear someone clear their throat. I flinch and turn around, Gale' hands falling away from me. My father is in the doorway, his face showing a mixture of surprise, frustration, and anger.
"Madge?" He asks quietly. He uses that tone that I haven't heard a lot of adults use – when you know that they are seriously angry, just by how they talk. They don't raise their voice, or shout. They simply look you in the eye and speak in a calm, angry manner.
I pull myself away from Gale, and take a step towards my father.
"Daddy-" I use that name to somehow comfort him, "I can explain,"
"Perhaps I should leave." Gale says uncomfortably, half to my father, half to me.
"No." My father replies firmly. "Stay." I flinch and look away.
"Father, this is Gale, my…" I don't know how to finish this sentence. What is Gale to me? And what am I to him?
A short, awkward silence follows, in which my father's eyes flicker back and forth between Gale and I.
Surprisingly, Gale breaks the silence by extending his hand towards my father. His voice sounds confident, but I can hear a slight tremor in it. I send him a warning glance, but he isn't looking at me. He's focused on my father, who stares at the hand being offered to him.
"Mr. Undersee, my name is Gale Hawthorne, and your daughter and I are in the beginnings of a relationship. We wanted to wait for the right moment to speak to you about it." He lies smoothly, and I stare at him as he talks. He's speaking so strangely, each word pronounced properly, not like he's from the Seam. I guess he's trying to impress my father, who is stony-faced, although he looks less angry. However, he doesn't move to shake Gale's hand, who awkwardly lets it drop to his side.
"Hm." He says, examining Gale like a hawk, taking in every detail. He looks and looks and looks, until he lets out a long sigh, and shifts his gaze towards me.
"Madge, come up to my office." He says quietly, before turning around and leaving the room. I look at Gale, trying to say 'I'm sorry', with my eyes, without using any words. He seems to understand, and nods, only a slight inclination of his head. Wordlessly I follow my father out of the room and up the stairs.
As I enter his office, he shuts the door behind me.
"Madge," he begins, taking a deep breath. He pauses for a second before continuing.
"Are you happy?" The question takes me by surprise. I expected yelling, being told that I could never see Gale again, that I should never trust someone from the Seam. But instead, he asks if I am happy?
"…Yes, I am." I say. I think of the tree in the forest, the day I spent lunch with Gale's friends, all the walks home. I think of Katniss being lifted into the hovercraft with Peeta at her side, and I decide that I am telling the truth.
"And why is that?" He asks, peering at my face.
"…I'm not alone anymore." I answer, looking away, out of the window to my right. Grey clouds hang in the sky, but the occasional patch of sunlight is filtering through.
My father lets out a sigh, and I look back at him, noticing how tired he is. I see dark circles under his eyes that I have never realised were there before, the way his posture sags. A slight stubble decorates his face, suggesting that he hasn't bothered to shave in a while. I suppose that the Capitol must have been putting a lot of pressure on the Districts recently, and to ours especially, what with Katniss and Peeta winning the Games (by use of nightlock).
He nods, and goes and sits at his desk. I realise that this is some form of dismissal, but I won't accept it.
"Is that a yes, or a no, Dad?" I don't usually call him by that name, 'Dad'. It always seemed too informal to me, too casual for a Mayor. But I use the name in the hope that it might comfort him in some way.
"That's a… I suppose I'm saying yes, Madge. I want you to be happy. You're my daughter, and I realise that I have neglected that fact for a while now. And I'm sorry, Madge. I'm sorry."
I didn't expect this. I feel tears in my eyes, but I don't let them fall. My father looks at some papers in front of him, but I can see that he isn't reading them. I want to say I forgive you, or I love you, or something like that. But instead, as I stumble towards the door, I manage to utter a single 'thank you.".
As I close the door behind me, I made a silent promise to be a better daughter to him.
I don't really know where this came from, Madge and her father wanting to repair their relationship, but yeah. I worked hard on this chapter, so please drop me a review if you can!
(you can even review if you don't have an account on this site).