I've really been quite chuffed with all the reviews and favourites, they started rolling in literally minutes since I posted! I'm not entirely sure where this story is heading, I've got a rough plan in my head so please note I am open for suggestions and constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcome.

So, let's see how this goes!

Isabelle

Beep Beep

I sleepily roll towards my night stand and peek at the alarm clock on resting on upon it. It reads eighty thirty.

Eight thirty?

EIGHT THIRTY!

"Late, late, late" I mumble to myself as I peel myself off my comfortable double bed and dash to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and stare into the mirror as I do so. The woman who looks back at me has definitely has my features, she has my waist length blonde curls, my heart shaped face and she even has the figure that says unlike the rest of the town she is fed three square meals a day. Though one thing about her is different than usual, her eyes – they are swollen and red, but their irises have retained their blue colour and the combination is not attractive at all. Realising I've been brushing my teeth for so long that the toothpaste has foamed so much it looks like I've been infected with rabies. I spit and rinse then open the taps to splash my eyes with cold water to reduce the puffiness and jump in for a quick shower. It's safe to say that I had a very deep and meaningful conversation/impromptu dinner with Katniss and Peeta. It stretched into the early hours of the morning as I stumbled home, somewhat intoxicated and I just hope that my father didn't hear me. I dress speedily, my ensemble consisting of a crisp white blouse, grey pinstriped pencil skirt and black patent leather wedges. I manage to dash out of the house, toast in hand, at a speed any Capitol superhero would be proud of.

Somehow I manage to reach the Justice Building at five past nine, I may not appear to be meticulously groomed but I am at a passable standard. My job is essentially training to be my father's second in command, so I am able to take over after his retirement. The districts are not run by democracy like in the countries before Panem was formed, instead like every other trade in the district it is passed down through the family. In town one of the children would take over their family's profession in town, while the other children would find apprenticeships and the females would help their husbands with their business. However there is an exception for the position of Mayor, one could not marry into the position as the Capitol felt that children who grew up in the Mayor's household would understand their work and be more effective. Utter garbage, in reality the Capitol needed a successor who understood their ways and would not provide any unexpected surprises along the way.

My office has a sign that says "Miss Margaret Undersee, General Town Affairs". I spend most of day working through paperwork describing petty disputes in the district. A citizen would lodge a complaint to a Peacekeeper and on Thursday and Friday I hold hearings. Most of the complaints are very basic such as "I worked three days labour for so and so, but I wasn't paid", usually lodged by Merchants. I have rarely encountered a complaint lodged by a person from the Seam, simply because as miners there is not much for them to contest in terms of their pay. The new system is my father's invention and I am surprised it was accepted by the Capitol.

I slowly file through my paperwork, as many complaints are always lodged over the weekend and so Monday is my busiest day.

Knock Knock

"Yes?" I reply without even glancing up from my papers.

"Excuse me Miss Undersee but I have a complaint to lodge. You see I believe my fiancée has promised me a lunch date but I haven't gotten it yet," its Rye and he says this while leaning against my doorframe. I give a quick glance to my clock, which reads midday. Already?

I raise my eyebrow, "Well Sir, do you have this agreement in writing?" a smile playing on my lips.

He shakes his head as he makes his way towards me, pulling me out of my chair anyway and kissing my engagement ring. "Shall we my dear?" he declares with his hand held out, like some sappy Capitol movie. But, I am a sucker for a good sappy movie and so all that's left is to take his hand in mine as we walk out of the building.

We head across the square and towards the Mellark bakery. I notice the Out to Lunch sign on the door as I walk in and pull up a stool at the counter, Rye heads to the kitchen behind the shop to grab the food for our promised lunch date. Rye was very romantic, a trait he shared with Peeta. He shared many traits with his brother, like they were both quite strong from their work at the bakery. But Rye was at least half a head taller and his hair was a dirty blonde unlike Peeta with his flaxen curls, he was also more extroverted than Peeta and had an incredibly sense of humour. Honestly, he could easily be a Prince from a fairy tale or a knight in shining armour. He was definitely nothing like Gale.

No, bad Madge. Don't think of Gale. He's not worth your time.

"You alright Madge?" Rye has returned with a tray of sandwiches and tea. I nod and smile, pushing any thoughts of the surly hunter to the back of my head. He drags a stool beside me on the counter and opens his mouth to speak, but the expression on his face was enough for me to pre-empt what he was about to say.
"So Peeta stopped by earlier," he mumbles and he grabs my hand, rubbing small circles on my palm.
"He told you about Gale I assume. Don't worry sweetie, I'm okay. It was a shock and all, but I'm over it. I'm over him, I've been over him for years," my eyes find his as I reassure him with these words. He places a gentle kiss against my cheek and I can feel a gentle blush forming on my cheeks.
I quickly steer the conversation away from Gale, "So I've been looking through the magazines from Effie. Can we please not have anything like a Capitol wedding?"
He chuckles at this, "Then you won't like my surprise," I look at him curiously and a hundred horrible Capitol related situations flash through my head, "I have pulled a few strings and Cinna agreed to design your dress."
My jaw drops and I squeal, and fling my arms around his neck, "Thank you," I whisper pulling back from the hug. He pulls me up from my seat so I stand between his legs, which are spread slightly apart as he sits on the barstool, his hands on my waist. I pucker my lips and crinkle my eyes, melodramatically expecting a kiss to which he obliges after another chuckle. I don't know how long he kisses me for, but I do know it's not very much of a lunch date if we haven't even touched the food. But I'm not complaining.

The bell chimes indicating someone has entered the store and we break the kiss, though he keeps me enveloped in his arms as we turn to face the intruder.

It's Gale. Honestly I can count the number of times I've seen him over the last four years on one hand, yet now I've seen twice in two days. He was obviously not expecting to see us here, especially not making out in the middle of the bakery.
"Bakery's closed buddy, did you see the sign?" Rye's voice is authoritative as he grips my waist tighter.
"I did see the sign, but it says that Back at one o' clock, it's half past now," he replies coolly, "I'm here to trade. Mines are closed due to a gas leak. I have squirrel," holding up a bunch of carcasses as proof.

Oh shoot. My lunch break ended at one. I attempt to straighten my hair as I kiss Rye chastely on the cheek and say, "Work summons. See you later?" I pick up one of the untouched sandwiches and nod courteously at Gale as I exit the bakery.

I am so stupid. Of course she'd be at the bakery, her fiancé seems like he will be the one taking over the place in a couple of years since Peeta's a victor and all. The other Mellark seems to be working with the carpenter so Middle Mellark gets crowned King Dough Boy.

But c'mon! Me walking in on them playing tonsil hockey, what are the chances on that? Middle Mellark makes his way behind the counter and opens the cash register.
"Sorry about that," so he says but the bastard isn't really sorry, he has this glint in his eyes that says the opposite. I shrug in response.
She's engaged Gale. That means she's off limits.
Maybe if I keep telling myself that her face will stop popping up whenever I close my eyes. Dough Boy passes me some coins and I am on my way out as I hear him call, "Hey Hawthorne?" I grunt in response as gives me a smile; "Stay away from Madge"
"Is that a threat Mellark? But calm down, I wouldn't want her even if you paid me," and with that sly dig, I slam the door shut behind me.

What I said was partly true, I don't want Madge. I need her. She is so bloody gorgeous in that skirt of hers and as she acknowledged me with a simply nod, my heart skipped a beat. The last four years have been good on her, she has grown even more beautiful. I keep walking towards Seam borderline and punch a nearby tree. Shit, that was stupid but he made me so freaking angry. I look down at my hand, its bleeding and the pain is overwhelming. Hells teeth, I'm going to make a visit to Mrs Everdeen now.

Woohoo! So what do you think? I really really should be studying; I have my first exam on Monday. It's English and I'd rather be writing stories than essays! I know I said I'd update weekly and it's only been a few days but this just formulated in my mind and I had to write it down. I'm not sure how regular the updates will be over the next couple of weeks once exams start, so I apologise in advance. Once again, please review and tell me if you liked it! Or if you find any mistakes in anything, more than happy to have a look and fix!
I tried to make Gale's perspective as realistic as possible, his thoughts are harder to write than Madge's for me. Also, Madge really does love Rye but she is not sure about how she feels about Gale now.

See you later :)