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

Chapter 22

I take the loaf from Peeta's father and hand him the gold coin in return, adding the bread to my bag of groceries Toby sent me to pick up. This evening, my father is going to be holding a party, to celebrate the two victors from District Twelve. Katniss and Peeta would obviously be attending, along with some important people from the Captiol. Effie and Haymitch would also be there, but I was really only interested in seeing Katniss. Although… Maybe she wouldn't think I was her friend anymore? Had the Games changed things between us somehow?

I shake my head, refusing to believe it, and spy a particularly delicious cookie in the display case in front of me, my mouth watering. I open my purse and check inside, and decide that I have enough money. I pull out three silver coins and point to the cookie, and watch as Peeta's father picks it up for me and places it in a brown paper bag, and hands it to me. I give him the money and thank him, before turning and leaving the shop.

Once I'm outside, I pull the cookie halfway out of the bag and take a bite, while checking the list I was given. I'd already bought most things on the list, except for some oranges. To get them, I needed to go pick them up from the town hall, because my father had ordered for them to be imported in from the Capitol. He's sparing no expense for Katniss and Peeta; not only did District Twelve win, but it came away from the Games with two victors, something which had never happened before.

I begin to cross the square and look down at my outfit. I chose to wear a dress today, simply because it was a hot day and I felt like a change. I almost never wore dresses these days.

In the centre of the square is a small fountain, the stone worn and dirty, with leaves floating in the murky water. Despite this, the fountain has been running for as long as I can remember.

I glance at the fountain and notice something shiny on the ground next to it. I lean down so I can see it better, and realize that it's a small, bronze coin. I'm surprised that no one has noticed it already; even in the Town, where the richer people of District Twelve live, a coin is still a coin.

I pick it up and turn it in my fingers, examining it. It's old, dirty, and most of the surface has been rubbed away. Some shops probably wouldn't even take it. It's the smallest kind of coin available – you couldn't buy anything with it, it was worth virtually nothing. I glance at the fountain and decide to throw it in and make a wish, like some people did in my books. Although by tomorrow, it would probably have been taken out of the fountain by someone.

I stare at the coin, and wonder what exactly I want to wish for. My mind drifts to the Gale, but what could I wish about him? That our fight had never happened, and that we'd still be okay? I knew that it was pointless wanting that, but I still wanted it. Despite everything, I missed him. I hadn't seen him since the fight.

"Madge?" A voice asks from behind me. I jump slightly in surprise, and turn around slowly, not sure if I want to see who it is.

His shoulders are slumped, hands in pockets, hair messy and un-combed. There are dark shadows under his eyes, and he looks paler than normal.

"Hi… Gale," I saw quietly, staring up at him.

"Pretty dress." He says, glancing at it. It was the same thing he said to me on the day of the Reaping, although this time I could tell that it was a genuine compliment, rather than an insult.

"Thanks." I mutter, not really sure where to look.

"For what it's worth… I'm sorry, Madge." He says quietly. I look up, and my eyes meet his. He looks genuinely sorry.

"I miss you." His voice has become so quiet that it's almost a whisper. "I really miss you, and I can't avoid you any longer. So I'm sorry, Madge." His eyes stay looking into mine, and although I feel slightly uncomfortable, I don't want to look away.

Gale holds out his arms, and I find myself not being able to resist. I step into the hug, and settle my head into the familiar spot against his chest, where I can hear his heartbeat.

"I'm sorry, too." I mutter. I feel his arms tighten around me. "I'm sorry for yelling… I'm sorry."

Gale relaxes slightly, and sighs slowly. We don't say anything for a while, just hugging. I realise then just how much I missed this. I really wasn't good at being mad at people, and for the last few days, I really hadn't been angry at Gale anymore. I had just wanted things to go back to normal.

"Can we just… Forget about earlier? The Games are done, after all, and Katniss is home. There's no reason for us to… worry about this anymore." Gale says, resting his cheek against the top of my head. I nod, not wanting to ruin the moment, and we continue standing like that in comfortable silence, next to the trickling fountain.

Toby is more than a little surprise when I come home with Gale, and downright shocked when I mention that I invited him to the party that night. He pulls me into the kitchen by my arm, and shuts the door behind us.

"Look, Madge…" He says as I dump the shopping bags on the counter, "I like Toby. I know him. And I know you like him too, but your father?..." I shake my head and smile slightly.

"My father approves of my… Being with Gale." I say. I expect Toby to make a joke or something, but he doesn't, so I look up at him in surprise.

"That's great that he's okay with it and all, Madge, but it might be a bit of a stretch for Gale to be at his party… There's going to be Capitol officials there. Your father will want to make a show of things, and…" He pauses, and looks away from me.

"And?..." I say, staring at him, wondering what this could be about. Toby sighs, and runs his hand through his hair, something I'd seen Gale do many times.

"He's from the Seam, Madge."

"So is Katniss, and so is Peeta. And so are you!" I retort angrily.

"That's different." Toby says firmly. I've never seen him be like this before.

Gale chooses this moment to come in, stopping when he reaches my side, and taking my hand.

"What's going on?" He asks as I lace my fingers with his.

"Toby doesn't seem to think that it would be 'appropriate' for you to attend tonight's party." I say icily, glaring at Toby, who glares right back.

"Madge," Gale says softly, squeezing my hand. "Toby wouldn't keep me out of the party unless there was a good reason."

I stare at him, annoyed and surprised that he wasn't backing me up. I glance between the two of them a couple times, and eventually sigh, giving in.

"Can he at least stay till before?" I ask, tightening my grip on Gale's hand. Now that we had made up, I wasn't ready to say goodbye anytime soon.

Toby sighs and nods, turning to the food, pulling it out of the bags. I'm about to leave when I hear him say,

"Hey Madge, what's this?..." I turn to see him pull my half-eaten cookie out of the bag, which I promptly snatch out of his hands. I take a bite out of it and smile angelically at him, before turning and following Gale up to my bedroom.

I'm sorry, I know this chapter is short, but I'm quite busy right now.

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