Chapter 26

She was just lying there, crying her eyes out in the grass. Rory had seen her heading down the path this way and he'd come to get me. Said she looked upset, like she was crying. I was sure he was mistaken. First off, why on earth would Madge be crying and secondly why wouldn't she just come find me? But I humor him and go down the path where he saw her. As I'm walking I realized this was the way to the clearing where I'd taken her the other night. Maybe Rory was right, maybe it was her walking this way.

When I entered the clearing there she was, face down in the field, sobbing uncontrollably. I'd gone to her, held her and done my best to comfort her. At first she was so distraught that it muffled her words and I couldn't figure out what she was trying to tell me. When she finally calmed herself enough to explain what happened my heart ached for her. I know what losing a parent feels like. Sure, Madge's mother wasn't dead but she may as well be. A facility in the Capitol wouldn't be a place Madge could go and visit. It was obvious they'd left her there to die. It's a terrible feeling knowing there are things you wanted to say to someone and that you've been robbed of the chance to say them. The day my father died I felt that. It wrenches deep in your gut and steals the air right from your lungs. I know how badly Madge is hurting and it makes me hurt for her to know that I can't take that pain from her. Can't make it stop. I'd held her and kissed her face, her head, rocked her in my arms.

She looked a wreck. Her normally sunny face was red and swollen from her tears. Her make up was completely ruined. There was no way I could let her go to the viewing like this. Not because I cared how she looked but because I knew she would care. Maybe not right now, but later she would most certainly care. I knew she wouldn't go back home to clean up. My mother was the only person I could think of to help with this. So I took her to my house, briefly told my mother what was wrong and begged her to help. I sat and watched as my mother cleaned Madge's face, used a tonic to erase the redness and swelling. She even managed to make a lip stain out of berry juice for impromptu make up. When she was finished you couldn't even tell Madge had been upset. Minus the sadness gleaming in her eyes, she looked perfectly presentable. That woman will never cease to amaze me, I swear there's nothing she can't do. Though I must admit it was embarrassing to have her mention to Madge how crazy I was about her. Not that I'm not crazy about her. Heck, I'm sure that I am. I just don't need my mother telling her about it.

We walked to the viewing together and I never let her out of my grasp. She may look like she's pulled herself together but I know different. I know she's faking it and using every ounce of energy she has to pull it off. When she's alone later I know she'll fall apart again. And for that reason I just cannot let her be alone. Not now, not later, not for a second. It's all I can offer her, all I can do to make it better.

It doesn't help that the Games begin officially today. That Katniss, my very best friend is minutes away from the worst fate. She's about to fight for her life. Kill to save herself even. And the whole country is about to watch every gory moment of it. Please don't let her die today. Please let the arena be a forest. Please let her get her hands on a bow so she has a fighting chance. I think these thoughts over and over in my head. Almost as if I'm hoping that if I think them hard enough, wish it badly enough, that it will come true. That she will be okay. I know Madge is worried for her too. She's probably the only other real friend Katniss has. I hate this whole day. I despise the Capitol for the way they make entertainment out of the misery they can cause in our lives.

As we find our seats at the viewing, I pull Madge as close to me as I can and wrap my arm around her tightly. She is smiling and looking as if she's the girl I used to always see. The girl I didn't really know. I know different now. The real Madge is hidden deep inside and crying, consumed with grief. This Madge is smiling and looking like the Mayor's daughter. And she does it so very convincingly. It makes me wonder how many times I assumed wrong about her. How many times had I thought she had a perfect, plush life when really she may have been crying on the inside?

I hold my breath as the tributes rise to their platforms. I think the whole district has stopped breathing. You could hear a pin drop clear across the square right now. Madges and I share a glance of relief as we get a view of this year's arena. It's woods. Almost all woods. She at least will have that on her side. Neither of our eyes leave the screen for long. We wait as the final 60 seconds countdown before the gong sounds. When it sounds, Katniss looks confused, like she can't decide what to do. RUN! I scream at her inside my head. RUN! Why is she hesitating? I've got a grip so tight on Madge's arm that I'm probably leaving a bruise. Finally Katniss appears to snap out of it and runs for something. Does she see a bow? Is she going into the bloodbath of the cornucopia? Then I see it, an orange backpack. It's sure to have things she needs in there. I flinch as she has to fight for it. Someone elses blood is splattered across her face. One of the Career tributes is throwing knives with a talent like I've never seen. And she's aiming for Katniss. Oh my God, she's aiming at Katniss. I finally take my first breath when Katniss deflects the thrown knife with her backpack and high tails it towards the woods. She runs fast and they show her zipping through the trees with ease and speed. The screen doesn't follow her for long. Too much killing going on back at the cornucopia. Right now, I know that not seeing her on the screen means she's somewhat safe. If she were about to be killed, if any other tribute were on her trail, they'd be showing us. But they're not. Madge gently lets out a slow breath of relief and I know she's realizing the same thing that I am.

We sit through the mandatory afternoon of viewing. The killing goes on for hours. Finally, though the games continue non-stop round the clock, we are dismissed and the screen flickers off. We'll be watching live every evening until it's over. If anything of importance happens outside of the live broadcasts, they'll recap it for us. I look down to Madge and she's fidgeting with her necklace. I know she is trying to figure out what she can do other than go back home. I know it's the last place she wants to be right now.

"Hey, want to come somewhere with me? You don't have to go home you know." I say as I brush my fingertips down the side of her face.

"No Gale, you have things to do and I already kept you from them this morning before the viewing. You have responsibilities and I don't want to keep you from them." She says as she shakes her head and wrinkles her brow.

I know she means that I need to go hunting and she just can't say so since we're surrounded by Peacekeepers and Capitol officials. She's wrong though. I did so well hunting yesterday afternoon that I won't need to go back out until at least tomorrow. Today, I really only have one responsibility. Her.

"No. You're not getting away from me that easy." I tease her. "You and I have the whole rest of the day together."

"Gale, I can't monopolize your time. It isn't…" She starts to argue and I cut her off with a quick kiss. It's the only thing I can do to shut her up.

"Seriously, Madge, come with me."

"Where?" She sighs, knowing I won't give in.

"Um, I don't know. Anywhere you want I guess? I didn't really plan this out." I confess. I honestly don't care where she wants to go, I'll take her anywhere.

"Your house. I want to go back to your house and just be with your family." She says after she thinks on it for a moment.

I shake my head and smile at her. I can't believe that's what she wants to do. I lean down and kiss her forehead, then the tip of her nose, then quickly her lips before I have to stop myself, remembering that we're in public.