Chapter 22
It's difficult to keep the smile off my face as I walk back to the Seam. It was all I could do to force myself to leave her tonight. All I wanted to do was stay. Wanted to keep her pressed against that door, wanted to keep kissing her. Wanted to run my hands all over her body. It's like she's intoxicating and I can't get enough of her. But I couldn't do that. Couldn't stay the night with her. Gotta draw the line somewhere. Besides, my mother would kill me if I stayed out all night with the Mayor's daughter of all people. She wasn't like other girls I've dated. She was someone people noticed. People would definitely talk if word got out that I'd stayed over all night. And then my mother would hear of it and she'd kill me for my lack of manners or etiquette or whatever you call it. But God, tonight was amazing. I'd kissed her and pulled her to me. We'd laid there under the stars and I pressed her to me as we kissed. It was a perfect night.
By the time I'm back home, my whole family is asleep. I quietly slide into bed and eventually drift off into a dreamless sleep. I'm up the next day with the sunrise. My mother is the only other person awake yet. She corners me in the kitchen.
"You got in late last night Gale. Were you with Madge?"
"Yes'mam. But we just went to the clearing and then I walked her home." I leave out the part about kissing her for hours and about wanting to spend the night with her.
'Gale, she's an important girl that one. You need to remember your place. Be careful of your actions." She looks at me with all seriousness.
"I know ma. She's the Mayor's daughter, I get it. But she's more than that. I never knew it until she helped us with Rory and now I can't stop thinking about her. I have to know more about her, to learn everything that she really is."
"Oh dear, it seems it's already begun." She says as she looks at me with something similar to pity.
"What has?" I'm not sure what she's getting at.
"You're falling for her."
"Yeah, I think I am." I tell her as I slip out the door. I want to go by the Hob before school. I don't have anything to trade since I've been unable to get into the woods but I do have extra money. I never have money to spare but thanks to my work for Madge I finally do. I need to get a few things for us and for the Everdeens. Some food to tide us over until the fences turn off again.
In the Hob I get a couple apples and some herbs. Then I head over to the bakery to buy some bread. I figure one loaf for each family should do until I can get more food. I'm so thankful for my luck in getting that job. That one job, that one opportunity gave me badly needed money, saved Rory, and gave me a girlfriend. A girlfriend. Madge Undersee is my freaking girlfriend. No matter how many times I say it to myself I just can't wrap my mind around it.
As I'm exiting the bakery I turn a corner and come face to face with Tripp Krull. Great. I do not feel like dealing with his nonsense this early in the day.
"Hey Hawthorne. You got a minute?"
"Not really." I say hoping that he'll keep on his merry way.
'Well, I'll make it quick. I just wanted to ask you what your intentions are with Madge. You seem to be spending a lot of time with her suddenly."
"My intentions? Not that it should make any difference to you, but she's my girlfriend."
'Girlfriend huh? That's a laugh. You do realize the Mayor's daughter shouldn't be wasting time with people from the Seam, right? I mean it isn't as if you have anything to offer her." He tells me with a smirk and a raised brow.
"She seems perfectly interested in what I've offered her so far. And she's her own person, ya know, she can decide for herself who she does or doesn't want to date. Don't think she'll need your help on that one." I say very matter of factly as I turn and walk away from him and his annoying conversation. I can't stand him. Don't trust him either. I don't know what his sudden attention to her is all about. I never noticed them being close before. I make a mental note to keep more of an eye on him.
I drop off the food at the Everdeens and the rest at home before I head back into town. I'd planned on heading straight to school but after my little run in with Tripp earlier I decide to stop by Madge's house and walk with her to school. Along the way, I pick a few wildflowers for her.
I'm walking up her front steps when the door opens and out she walks. She looks radiant in the morning sunlight. Her wavy blonde hair is falling down around her shoulders and her lavender dress shows off her tiny waist. She smiles and bites her bottom lip when she sees me.
"Hi. Thought I'd walk you to school." I tell her as I take her hand and give her the wildflowers I picked on the way over.
"Lovely flowers." She says as she pulls out a daisy and tucks it behind her ear. I'm really loving how she keeps putting my flowers in her hair.
"For a lovely girl."
I lean over and kiss her forehead, careful not to do more than that because I know I'll get carried away if I do. When I'm kissing her it's all I can do to stop. And now's not the time for that.
We walk hand in hand in our comfortable silence to school and part ways as we head to our morning classes. I notice that we get a few stares as we walk the halls. Doesn't bother me though. I can hardly stand it I'm so happy right now. Nothing in the world matters to me at the moment. I am happy right now. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have something to look forward too. I feel like I have a future. A future with Madge Undersee.