Chapter 44

Gale and I have just sat down at his kitchen table when his entire family bursts through the door. I silently thank him for being aware enough of the time that he was able to get us out of bed and dressed before they got home. I would've been forever mortified if they'd walked in on the moment that Gale and I just shared. I glance over at him and send him a silent thank you with my eyes. The look on his face tells me he's reading my mind. I stay and chat with the Hawthorne's for only a few minutes before saying goodbye and head back into town. I need to speak with Tripp before the viewing begins. As I walk back into town I don't think anyone suspects that I've been with Gale just now. Most everyone saw me head that way with Prim less than an hour ago so it most likely just looks like I was at Prim's house for something. I doubt I've raised any suspicions.

Back in town, I go directly over to the café. As soon as I'm through the doors I see Lily. She looks up from behind the counter and giving me a warm smile before telling me that Tripp is at home and to go on back. I thank her and then do just that. Although I hate that I have to go to his house again I am thankful I don't have to have the conversation I'm about to have with him in the café or in earshot of Lily. I knock just once before entering the Krull's house. I find Tripp sitting on the sofa, holding an ice pack to his eye.

"We need to talk Tripp." I say.

"Did you like the flowers?" He says right away, ice pack still on his face.

"No actually. That's why we need to talk. Tripp, I made it very clear to you the other night at the café that right now isn't a good time for me to be dating. You asked me out and I told you no. Therefore it's not okay for you to leave ridiculous displays of flowers on my desk or to start flaunting to other people that you've stolen me away from them."

"So that's what this is really about. Gale Hawthorne? He told you what I said to him? Well, did he tell you about this?" He says dryly as he pulls the ice pack back revealing his eye, which is swollen shut and bruised about seven different shades of purple. I gasp just at the sight of it. Gale really hit him hard!

"I did hear about that and I am very sorry that happened. He shouldn't have hit you. But you do realize you started it with what you were saying to him, right?"

"I started it? Yeah right! He started it weeks ago when I saw him at your house. He's the one who rubbed it in my face that you two were together. You were right there for it so I'm sure you remember. So what, that means I can't rub it in his face a little when the tables are turned in my favor?"

"That's just it though Tripp. The tables have not been turned in your favor. We, you and I, are not dating. I am just a friend, nothing more. I thought I'd made that abundantly clear when I turned you down for a date."

"I know you aren't my girlfriend Madge. You don't have to keep saying it. I may have exaggerated when I bragged to Gale but you weren't there, you don't know what it's like to be a guy and have to try to reclaim a little of your pride."

"So why the flowers? If you knew I wasn't your girlfriend, why the flowers? And for that matter, why does Lily think I'm your girlfriend? She thinks we're a couple you know."

"The flowers really were just for you, not for making Gale mad. I've seen you with the sunflowers in your hair before and I thought you liked them. I wanted you to know that I noticed what you liked. I wanted to make you happy. You may have turned me down for a date but that doesn't change the fact that I still want to date you. It doesn't mean that I stopped having feelings for you Madge. As for my mother thinking we were a couple, I never told her that. I think she just assumed it and I didn't correct her. She was so happy when I told her I'd invited you over for dinner. She really likes you a lot."

I sigh and sit down next to him on the sofa. In some ways, I know deep down this isn't totally his fault. I haven't been totally honest with him about Gale and I. And I did use my connection with him to get to Lily. Neither of those things are fair to him. I more or less lead him on and now he has a black eye because of it.

"Tripp, I didn't mean to lead you on. I do enjoy spending time with you and with your family but I don't have a romantic interest in you. And it isn't because of timing."

"Do you love him?" He asks without looking at me.

"More than anything." I say quietly. I know without asking that he means Gale.

"Well, I hope he knows how lucky he is. I'd give anything to trade spaces with him right now."

"Tripp, I'm sorry I wasn't more honest with you about Gale. That wasn't fair to you or your feelings."

He shakes his head. "Maybe not but you were clear that you weren't going to go on a date with me and that should've been enough. Can I ask something though?"

"Of course you can."

"If you love him, why not date him? Why not just be with him? You never told me why it wasn't a good time for you to date anyone."

I hesitate before answering. I know I need to be honest. Partial truths is what got us here in the first place and I don't want that again. "We are dating. We've been together the whole time. We just aren't telling people about it. We're letting people think we're just casual friends now."

"Wow. Well don't I feel like the town idiot. No wonder he knocked the crap out of me." He says in disbelief.

"You are not an idiot. And you did not deserve to be hit. He should never have done that to you. Believe me, I already had a chat with him about that before I came here. His temper just got the better of him today."

"Why the secrecy? If you were mine, I'd be telling the whole country about it. And you two were together publicly for a few days so why the sudden change of gameplan?"

"It's complicated. When we initially began dating it didn't take long to discover that not a lot of people want me to date Gale. I think my family has other plans for me than to be with a boy from the Seam. Gale and I are just sort of biding our time until we figure it out."

"Well, that makes sense. You do realize what a life in the Seam would be like if you marry him, right? You lose everything, you don't get to keep the life you have now Madge." He warns me but in more of an informative way than a threatening way.

"I'm aware of how things work in the Seam. I know what material things I'd lose to be with him. But what I'd gain would by far outweigh the loss. Besides, who knows what the future holds for me anyway?" I add the last part as I think about the mystery plan that's already been decided for me.

"Just be sure you know what you're getting into. But I am sorry Madge. I didn't mean to cause trouble for you. Is he mad at you?"

"He's okay now. Tripp, I still consider you a friend and I hope you'll remember that when you see him and I together. I hope you'll keep my secret as just that. A secret." I tell him. I need him to not tell everyone about Gale and I still being a couple.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about you and him. I need to stay on your good side. Just in case things don't work out with you two, you know?" He says with a teasing smile and a wink of his one good eye.

I shoot him a teasing glare. I'm glad he isn't going to expose us. "What are you going to tell people about your eye?"

"Not that Hawthorne did it, that's for sure. You think I want the whole school to know about this?" He says pointing at his eye. "I'd be the laughing stock of school."

"Well, maybe you and I can come up with something else a little less dramatic?" I tell him. I feel bad for him. I know I came here angry but in talking to him I realize just how much of this mess is all my fault and having sympathy is the least I can do for him.

"Like what?'

"I don't know. What did you tell your family? I'm assuming they saw it since you left school and stayed home all day?"

"They didn't ask. I think they're waiting for me to come to them about it. That's kind of how they are with things. And I doubt they think I got it in a fight because I wasn't in trouble or suspended from school."

"Okay, let's see what we can come up with."

We spend the next half hour trying to think of reasons he could have a busted up face and finally decide that he should say he was getting a heavy vase off a high shelf in the school storage closet for me when it slipped from his grip, hitting him the eye as it fell. His family won't doubt it because they saw him leave this morning with the flowers for me. At school nobody will question it because thankfully no one saw what really happened. And at school word usually spreads like wildfire when there's a fight of any magnitude. Tripp promises to straighten things out with his mother, to tell her that he and I are just friends. And he promises to stay out of Gale's way from now on and to stop all romantic gestures towards me. We shake on it, declaring ourselves friends only, and then head into the town square to check in for the viewing. We part ways once we're through the check in stations. He goes off to find his friends and I head over to where I always sit with Prim and the Hawthornes.

As I approach the seats my eyes fall on Gale. My mind wanders back to earlier this afternoon when we were at his house. Back to when we were alone in his bedroom. Just seeing him and thinking about it send my heart racing and makes me blush a little. I can't believe how much I love him. And how equally he loves me too. When I take my seat next to him, our eyes meet for a moment and he smiles. It's all I can do not to kiss him, right here and now in front of everyone.