Chapter 8 – Strong Love

In the days preceding the games, it was common for the Square and some streets to receive some renovations. Many cameras are positioned at strategic points between the city, the Square and the Justice building. Madge was to seize that since the peacemakers were exceptionally busy helping in the preparations and had gone to the forest.

She had alerted Rory early at school to go as well.
Once he spotted Madge at the waterfall, he hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Madge. I should have helped sooner", he said while he analyzed the small bandages in her head. Madge's father didn't even noticed since she covered it with her hair and at least didn't hear any gossips about the fight since he was too busy preparing for 3rd Quarter Games.
"It's okay Rory. Peeta was only defending me. Look, the swelling is already gone", Madge was showing him her forehead.
"Things are tense in the Seam. Thom was just more nervous than usual. He is also sorry, I swear. He wasn't trying to hurt you, it just happened", Rory tried to explain.

Madge shush him. He was feeling responsible for things that weren't his fault. They couldn't waste their time in the woods anymore. The fence would soon be on again.

"So, do you think we will also see volunteers in our district?", Madge changes the focus. She explains to him about the things Katniss told her. Rumors of rebellion, changes in the rules of the games, the increase in poverty and students who seem to make plans to survive in the games.
"It's bullshit. It's just a stupid play game of those who think are courageous. Even if someone volunteers, he would have to know a lot about survival skills and would have to face the huge amount of Careers of this year. They won't volunteer. District 12 might be the poorest of all the others but we are not that dumb", Rory says. "Madge, I didn't come up here today just to apologize. I wanted to talk to you about something really serious. I'll start training in the south forests with Vicky and Posy. I was talking to Katniss that and she also wants to train Prim how to hunt and find food".

"Oh" was all she could say. Rory was a grown boy. He could do whatever he wanted without asking her. Except, she couldn't help that emptiness feeling inside her.
"It's not just a matter of training but things in the Seam are heavier than normal and Gale is already angry enough with me for having caught tesserae. He can't hunt as he used before or take tesserae for us anymore", he revealed.
"I understand. If I can do something for you and your family, just say it Rory and I will try my best. I have saved some money with me and I can…", she tries to say but Rory interrupts her.
"I would never accept your money so Madge. Not like this. In my family, we were taught to earn our things. But what I wanted to really ask you is for you come with us whenever you can. Your father knows you're friends with Katniss and probably will not care if you're in the Seam with her. You might know my brothers and stay with us in training. Katniss already agreed with me". Rory explains that while they couldn't meet in the woods, he have been talking with Katniss about hunting skills. He never told Katniss about their secrets, the books or the waterfall but convinced Katniss that Madge could be helpful since she was a good friend of hers and was possible a target from the Capital.
"I would love, Rory". Madge was relieved. Not only would she spend more time with Rory and curiously with Katniss, but she would also meet Rory's younger brothers.

"Prim returned to talk to you?", she asked. They were already returning to the fence. Madge skipped the last two classes to be there and Rory had to return with her early since it was still dangerous for Madge to go home alone. He will follow her, just a few steps behind, to make sure she is home harmless.
"Not yet. I arranged with Katniss to go into the south woods about three weeks after the drawn of tomorrow. I believe she will try to talk with you next week. She will come up with a story of how she wants to teach you to defend from possible physical attackers. When we meet there don't look at me as if know each other for two years. Katniss is quiet but I am sure she can read facial signs". Madge also realized Katniss could do that. But since people expected Madge to be a Capital lover, she practiced a lot in front of a mirror her fake smiles and laughs. When she read her forbidden book of psychology, she also learned the importance of all the other muscles when pretending. If she smiles, her eyes had to follow. If she laughed, her body had to move along. She was the perfect master of acting. And she had taught Rory very well too.
"What it's like to have brothers and sister?", Madge asks,
"It's horrible. We have to share everything and we fight like all the time. And it's also nice, I get along with Vicky and Posy most times but Gale is the difficult one. He is always acting like he is the father of us all. Always trying too hard, working too much and telling us what to do. But in the end, I love them all. It's nice to have a full and noisy house".
"My mother had a sister. They were twins"
"Oh, yes, I know. It seems that my mother, Katniss's mother and your mother and aunt were all good friends until your aunt was drawn. ", Rory points out.
"Can you keep a secret?", Madge stops Rory in the tracks. If this could be their last day together, he had to know her most hidden secret.
"Of course not. I could not keep the secret of our friendship, the banned books and the south forest. Don't you know I love to share?", jokes Rory.
"My mother is not my mother. My mother is actually the real Maysilee". Rory drops his mouth. He is stunned. She goes on explaining him what happened "My aunt Margaret and my mother Maysilee were very friendly and very close. They were identical in appearance but had very different personalities. Margaret was funny and liked to adventure with her friends. But my mother was shy but very sweet and charming with people. When my mother was drawn, Margaret could not bear to see her on stage and when they were saying goodbye, she switched places with my mother. As you know, my aunt had a lot more skills than most players. She was among the last 5 in the 50th Hunger Games. But when she died my mother could not stand the guilt. She went into hiding from her friends and continued to be the fake Margaret", she finishes.
"My goodness. How do you know all this? Your mother told you that?"
"No. I found her old diary where she confessed everything. I was afraid of someone finding out the diary and burned it", Madge remembers. It was before she found her great-grandfather's treasure. "I sometimes wonder about the affection my aunt had for my mother. She could be alive but wanted to protect her sister. I know this is more or less affection that Katniss and Prim have together. Just like you and your brothers".
"Wow, that's a huge tale. I can't imagine what could be like to lose my brothers. And your mother… to live a lie and mourn for her dearest sister when nobody could be there to understand her. Thanks for telling me".
"I just wanted you to know that this feeling that I have for you, is just like siblings. This strange but strong love. And, I do. I do love you.", Madge looks at him.

"This is strange. We are friends and yet I care more about you than any long-term friend I ever had. And I can tell that I love you too, Madge. You are the best thing that ever happened to me.", he hugs her. "Now come on, we can't risk our luck today. The fence must still be off but I'm guessing they will turn it on this whole week. Tomorrow is a big day. Reaping day".