Ch15 - 05/OCT/2015

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the HUNGER GAMES.

Author's Note: Hi. Sorry my disappearance. I'm currently writing my own original book and things in my country and in my now absence of job came to stab in my back. So, my English is rusty and my grammar might be poisonous in this chapter. But I love you guys. Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 15 – Under His Nose

Gale was the first born of the Hawthornes. He had his mother's eyes and his father features. But his personality was acquired with all the hardships he faced during his youth. Once he heard his father died, Gale knew one thing for certain: Gale was and will be the main provider of his family.

Sometimes Gale wished his parents only had him as child. It would have been easier. But when he thought about his family, he couldn't imagined himself without them. Gale sure did loved his younger brothers and sister but to fear they could be sorted on the Hunger Games, makes him mad. He hates the Capitol for this. A few years back, he didn't wish to have children of his own. To end his misery one day old and alone. And a friend of his also shared similar feelings… his Katniss. She was wild and adventurous. Just like him. She wasn't a princess in distress. She knew how to hunt, kill, clean and sell by herself to survive. All other girls were too codependent for him. They wanted his body because of his "beauty". They wanted to marry because he knew how to take care of his own large family. They wanted a kiss to gossip around themselves. Gale was used and he used some of these girls for his own entertainment as well. After all he wasn't made of stone and ice.

He wished. He wished to have lots of money. Gale wouldn't mind so much about the Hunger Games if at least he could provide a comfortable life. He wished he could buy the best dresses for Posy, new books for *** and technology geeks stuff for Rory. Perhaps that was the reason he hated "Town People".

Gale wished he could have saved Posy. And now, he didn't know who he wished to save… Madge or Rory?

Madge was just a townie. Just another girl that gave Gale that smile that said "I like you". But now… what has she done? She put the rope around her own neck. She could be free but she saved his sister. He knew that. He felt that. When she offered herself, when she pushed past the other girls and commanded the guards to let go of Posy, Gale felt her fire burning all over Panem. Madge wasn't going to let her beloved Capitol take a child. Madge, a rich and healthy girl, would race against so many others in a game Gale was sure she would lose. For five long minutes Gale felt respect for such a girl.

Rory had to ruin that perfect scenario.

Why?

Why Rory?

Why did volunteered?

And dawn came to Gale. Madge and Rory were holding hands. Rory was squeezing his hand, giving comfort to Madge. Gale felt jealousy and anger and fury. His eyes searched the crowd for Primrose. Wasn't she the one Rory loved? And again, a strike came to Gale. The fight at school. Rory defended Madge… and before that, Rory and a rumor of a mysterious girlfriend…

Could it?

Was Madge the one?

But that wasn't the least of Gale's problem for now. Rory going to Hunger Games meant one thing. Death. Another death in the Hawthornes family. Rory was a fool. And a fool for risking himself for Madge. It wasn't his rightful place. No his.

"Mother, did you know?", Gale asked. They were going to meet Rory for one last time.

"No. If I knew he was betting with colleagues for a stupid award, I would have grounded him at home. Tied him to a tree perhaps. We don't deserve to surfer like this. But if wasn't for that angel, Posy would be in that room now." Hazelle cried.

"Hunf. Probably her father will give all his money to sponsor his own daughter at least" Gale let out these words without thinking. Hazelle wasn't aware of the exchange of Rory with Madge on stage. Which meant Gale would inquire Rory further before saying goodbye. He felt something stepping on his foot.

"Don't talk like these about her." Posy moaned.

"What?" Gale was confused for a second.

"Meg is nice girl!" Posy said.

"Madge. Her name is Madge. A MAD girl with a G and a E in the end." Gale smirked. Old joke from school.

"Mad-ge." Posy pronounced carefully. "Well, is a beautiful name for an angel. Mommy, Can I say goodbye to her after Rory?"

"I don't know my darling. If you want to, we will try, okay? Rory will need a long hung before…" Hazele holds her mouth. She doesn't want to cry again in front of her children.

"Sometimes I want to punch you in your whole face, Rory. Wanna' wrap my hands around your neck and… Argh! How could you, Rory? You were free! Is it her? Is for that girl?" Gale hugs him tightly. And pushes him away just as hard.

"You're an asshole, Gale. You make everyone mad and step on their status as if it was their choice!", Rory justifies.

"Yeah, sure. As if she would have stepped down her Queen Throne to marry a poor Seam boy like you!", Gale howls.

"No. Not for me. She loves someone else. And for him, she does it. She does step down from her throne and she did it today. She loves him and might die without him knowing how much… So I will be there. I will be there to let her know we have a chance to win this. And who knows, huh?" Rory roars at Gale.

"What about you Rory. What about the ones that love you? What will I do, my brother, if I loose you?", Gale cries.

"Well, mourn for a day, get up in the morning and keep living, Gale. It was time I became a man, you know? Don't you? Me and Madge, we have a chance. Together or not at all. And she went ahead. She saved Posy. I couldn't live with a debt like this, could you?" Rory inquires.

Gale looks at him one last time and leaves the room without waiting Hazelle, Posy and Vick. He sees the mayor leaving Madge's room. And Peeta Mellark getting in.

"Sir, if I may… Can I see her?", Gale polite ling asks the mayor.

"There's nothing and no one stopping you, Mr. Hawthorne. Never had. Never." The mayor leaves with out further words.

Gale takes a few moments before going inside after Peeta. He can't yell at her. Rory made his choice. And she made hers. For Posy. And within these thin lines of thoughts, with all that Rory said, Gale hates himself. If Madge's love is for sure him, he is the guilty for all this. She might like him like all others girls do but to risk her life like this… Not even Katniss would have gone so far. Sure, Katniss had Primrose but what if she was an only child? Would she love him and his family that much? No. Gale can't be the one Madge loves. He doesn't want to be.

They say love changes everything. That the world seems brighter and life has a new meaning. Gale still had to learn to love. Fall in love seems weak. Makes you weak. Gale loved his family so much and to think he might love someone who didn't share his blood was a burden to him.

Madge didn't notice when he came in. Nobody announced that he was a guest either. And the light coming from the window touched gently her face in a way that made Gale envy the sun and stars itself. She was a jewel he would never had. But his own brother, Rory, was capable of at least try.

Gale was pure fire but he could feel that it was Madge that was burning him. She was Ice. The perfect daughter of the mayor. Top graded student, rare gossips, never spoke with anyone or messed with the others, as matter of fact. He didn't have a reason to love her or like her. She was just another "townie". So why was his heart aching?

He closed his eyes demanding his heart to stop. No. He won't love her. Their paths rarely crossed so don't… don't feel anything for her… please, not now. Madge still hasn't noticed him. Gosh! She is going to die there if she is that distracted.

Gale forces a cough.

"Listen", he says. "Getting a knife should be pretty easy. It will make easier for you to hunt small animals and built small traps. The first thing you must do it's to find water. Don't you dare to build a fire place at night. They always hunt at night."

"What? Who? Are you giving me advices?", Madge is estranged with him talking to her.

"Madge, focus! I don't have time to discuss with you. Not now. Stay away from the careers. They hunt at night. If you can, go up in a tree. You might get cold but it's better than getting killed by them.", Gale thinks further. "Try to get sponsors. You're already got the charm and beauty but you need to learn to fight. I know they have lessons there before the games, so try to learn something useful. If you get an 8 or higher, they will definitely sponsor you."

"Gale, I don't get it. Why are you doing this?", Madges asks. It really does feel weird to Gale stand in front of her and give a few tips of his own. He always thought that if he was chosen, he wouldn't die without a fight.

"For Posy. And for Rory. I already told him to stay away from you but he won't listen to me. You might get both of you killed", Gale confess. It should be Peeta at the room besides her. But It should also be Posy standing in this room.

"Sorry, I don't mean to be harsh. I am grateful, Madge. I own you this. Posy wouldn't make it. But Rory was safe. I don't understand why he would commit this suicide. You might die because of him too. So, you too, just stay away from him. You have better chances alone", Gale says. Rory never hunted before with him. It was a mistake now too late to regret.

"Gale, I can't… I…", Madge starts to say…

"Just promise me, Madge. Promise you will stay safe. If you have to kill for your safety, just do it. You have to make it. Both of you." Gale tries to give her a hug. But she is doesn't return the same way which leaves him a little bit awkward. He let goes of her and leaves even before the peacemakers call him out. She might have more visitors before they come get her. So he leaves without saying goodbye.

Gale rushes home. How did Rory hide his relationship with Madge? Gale would and should be the first to notices the first sights. Wasn't Primrose his girlfriend? No. He would definitely know thought Katniss. Rory did asked Gale how to date a girl a couple years ago. Since then he has been more reserved towards his feelings. Gale though it was some teenage rebel phase.

He searches Rory's school bag, his drawers, his clothes; all the small places where Rory could have hidden a sign. Gale was feeling stupid. He was fooled under his house.

"Gale, stop", his mother said after the peacemakers and the mayor left. There would be instructions to follow. Mandatory view for the family and friends. Two screens to watch at home, showing both Madge and Rory. To even "delight" the family in their celebration, they would receive extra food and money until… until they died.

But he kept searching, looking around. And again Hazelle had to ask him to stop.

"Mom… did you knew?", Gale asks. He is feeling nervous and betrayed.

"Knew what, Gale?", Hazelle absently asks. She is reading the contract all over again.

"That Rory and that girl where a thing!?", Gale couldn't even say it out loud.

"What? Friends?", Hazele suggests. She looks at him.

"No… something else. More than friends!", Gale chokes.

"I had an idea… yes… that Rory did have feelings for some girl but not Miss Undersea. They are just friends. Mrs. Mellarck did mention to see them together once or twice before", she adds.

"When? Was it last week?", Gale enquires.

"I don't know, Gale. Who cares? Rory is gone. But so is she. And it could have been Posy, son." Hazelle puts an end to the conversation.

"Argh! I need a drink", Gale leaves their small house. Katniss is with Posy on the porch but he doesn't care. Katniss could have saved his sister but no, a total stranger did. Thanks, bestie.

Gale went to the Seam's party at the Hob. He would drink. Find warm in some girl's arms. Forget for a few hours that today another Hawthorne is gone.

Vick is the middle child. The last Hawthorne boy born. He didn't get the chance to meet their father but knows that Gale and Rory resemble him very much. He likes to read books but not just one time. He actually is a very slow reader. It takes him more than an hour to read a page. Words sometimes seems to dance on the page and his head starts to ache. He never consulted a Doctor but he never told anyone about his problems about this either. He is a good student and a brilliant science engineer. Yeah, that's right. He loves to mixtures liquids and builds small mockups. His teacher told him if there was ever a chance of such job in District 12, Vick would be a science engineer. But Vick was a Seam boy. And worse, from District 12. His choices of work weren't good.

Vick's brother, Gale, was like a father to him. His word had to be respected no matter what. And Rory was the rebellion Vick wished one day to follow. Rory was and is funny, good-natured, friendly brother Vick had… has.

When Posy's name was sorted, Vick's world exploded. It had to be a joke, right? She was too young, too fragile. Posy always called Vick, Vicky. Sounded girly but not when Posy said. There was love and peace in Posy's heart for everyone, even the Capitol. Posy was too young to understand what was to lose someone. And she was almost the one to be lost.

Madge was a mystical creature for Vick. A unicorn, a fairy, an elf but altogether stunning. That day she claimed Posy's place, she became his star. He heard the word Ice Queen designed for her and he could not deny these words qualities. She was a Queen, it described her intelligence and graciousness. And the Ice was a synonym for her purity and brightness.

But not long after the peacemakers installed the equipment of high-tech in their small house and in the District so they could watch the Games all 24/7, Rory felt a change in the air. After the 74th Hunger Games, when Rue won, people all over started talking about rebelling against the Capitol. And now with 75th Games, the scene where Madge stood to protect Posy and Rory volunteered as well, suddenly the word rebellion became something more. Revolution, it was.

The Gamemakers would have a lot of trouble to deal with.

The marvelous scene when all chariots were presented that stood in Vick's mind was historical. Never before was District 12 so commented and praised.

Rory was fierce and courageous. He stood beside Madge at the chariot and arena like a soldier ready for war.

And Madge… wow… Not an Ice Queen but a Fire Queen. She stood proud and dangerous looking at the crowd as if they were mere ants to be smashed.

Vick watched Gale hold his breath and mouth drops. Posy was thrilled as if it was an actual thing to celebrate. And his mother, cried. "They might actually win", she quietly said.

However, Vick felt a fear in his spine. The murderous look on President Snow was too much to bear. Vick hoped Madge and Rory could get a good grade but not too good to attract more unwanted attention. But there was so much to hope and expect.

The interviews were coming on the screen in a few moments.