Gale
It was just a kiss.
Katniss had just been pronounced the winner of the Quarter Quell on television. I was usually working in the mines while they broadcasted the Games, but, sensing that some huge event was going to take place, Mayor Undersee had all the citizens of 12 watch the large screen in the decorated town square. He even had Thread and his Peacekeepers take away all the torture weapons for the occasion. I was standing in the far corner with Vick while my mother, Rory and Posy stood with Prim and Mrs. Everdeen in the front line, right up at the screen, eagerly watching the ongoing massacre in the arena.
I was discussing with Vick the hunting strategies being implemented on-screen that could come useful when he was older and we went out to hunt. All of a sudden, there was the last boom of a cannon, and a wave of cheering swept over the population of our district. I turned to look at the screen, searching for the cause of this turmoil, and, sure enough, there stood Katniss, covered in blood and dirt, her thinning hair braided down her shoulder, and I could see the despair in her face as she frantically ran from one patch of sand to the other. She was probably searching for Peeta, out of disbelief that she was really the last one standing.
The realization of this stiffened my jaw, and before I realized what I was doing, I was heading away from the square unwilling to see her being crowned and interviewed over the loss of her "star-crossed lover" and district partner. I didn't know where I was headed, or what I was expecting to find, but I just knew I had to get away from the square as soon as possible. Suddenly I felt a soft small hand on my arm, pulling me back. I jerked, ready to fight off a Peacekeeper; but to my surprise it was just Madge Undersee, the girl who always traded strawberries with me and Katniss, and—if Mrs. Everdeen was to be believed—the girl that supplied the morphling to save me when I was whipped that past winter.
"Gale," she said sternly, her voice low. "Katniss won. She's coming back! And as her best friend, you have no right to be so upset about this!"
I stopped walking, tilting my head back to listen to her. She was right, after all. I had no right to be mad at the fact that she might be upset about losing Peeta. I'd seen the way she looked at Peeta; of course she'd be upset. Even I probably would've been upset, if I wasn't so wounded. Madge's blue eyes softened as she realized I'd calmed down, and she stepped up, studying my own eyes. "You really love her, don't you?" she whispered, a hint of a smile tracing her lips.
I looked down at my feet, blushing slightly. She deserved the truth. She'd given me my life back, and she deserved to know. "I don't know," I muttered, embarrassed. Most boys my age were already in love, maybe even married in some cases.
Madge only pursed her lips, before standing on the tips of her white shoes, her lips brushing lightly against mine. It only lasted a few seconds, and I probably should've felt something—butterflies in my stomach, the urge to keep kissing her, my heart skipping a beat—but all I could think about was how Katniss kissed Peeta in the Games, and kissed him again every time they saw each other in front of the media.
When Madge pulled away, I was so surprised I stumbled slightly backwards. I looked down at her and was somewhat relieved that I wasn't the only one with a red face. She looked at me sheepishly and asked, "Did you like it?"
I stammered a reply, but by the quietness of my voice and the cheers still going on at the square, it was hard to make out. Even now I don't know what I said, though I figured it was something like "I don't know". She fell back onto the heels of her feet, somewhat disappointed, and nodded, as if she expected this anyways.
"Congratulations," she said half-heartedly. "The girl you love is back."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for all the reviews! I usually reply to reviews through PM's so here are some anons I should answer:
Percabeth 1189: Thanks so much for your review! Greatly appreciated, as always.
noname: Wow, really? Thanks! And well you're a few years off, I'm almost 15 (but good guesses) and don't worry, you're not reading into it at all. There's a good reason, and I might as well just say it. He doesn't really want to see Madge because he's uncomfortable because of the kiss (mentioned above), and he's still kind of mad about the green envelope.
I'll update tonight or tomorrow because this is a super short chapter that I just had to release. Thanks again for the reviews! Y'all are awesome!