Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
"Do you know what today is, Madge?" His breath tickles my neck and I can feel my breath hitch in my throat. Quickly I jerk my head no. Gale presses another quick kiss on my collarbone and my stomach is erupting with butterflies. "It's Valentine's Day," he murmurs against me.
"I-I've never heard of it," I reply, trying to keep my vision straight. I'm supposed to be the smart one, I rack my brain thinking about the day. Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day…
"We learned about it in school," he continues, random kisses up the side of my neck. "Ancient American holiday…" I'm searching my thoughts for this random holiday but I can't conjure anything up and his teasing touches aren't helping much. "Hearts and chocolate and the color pink," Gale's arm wraps around my waist and he's pulling me into his lap.
It suddenly comes to me, "S-saint Valentine's Day?"
"Mmm, you got it." I want to turn around and face him but I can feel the heat on my cheeks and don't even want to imagine how embarrassingly red they must be. Suiting for the occasion.
"I didn't think anyone still celebrated that…" Gale reaches forward and grabs my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. "It's ridiculous…"
"I like it," his voice is chocolaty deep and he pushes my hair to the other side of my head so he can kiss my collarbone more. I know I should stop him because if my dad caught me with a hickey he'd kill me but my body is on fire. "Here," he says, passing me a single red rose. Finally I turn and look back at him, roses are the most expensive flowers in District 12, and they're rarely in season.
"How did you…"
"I found it in the woods," Gale tells me, leaning in so our noses bump. "I thought of you." Out of habit I lick my lips and watch as his eyes dart down to watch. A grin slides onto his face and he's leaning down even more, bringing his hand up to my cheek. "Be my Valentine, Madge" he mumbles, his words tauntingly across my lips.
"What about Katniss?" I regret the words the instant they come out. He drops his hand and slinks back like I've slapped him.
"What about her?" His words are hurt, maybe even angry, and I open my mouth to reply but can't find the words. "I told you nothing happened between us."
"Darius told me he saw you two kissing and…" I drop my eyes to the ground, leave it to my insecurities to eat me alive at one of the best moments of my life. "I always thought that when she got back you two…"
"She's with him now," he growls, obviously referring to Peeta, and scoots back so I fall out of his lap. "I told you I don't have feelings for her anymore…"
"And you were obviously lying if you kissed her two weeks ago," I mutter, my eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to make you upset," I reach for him but he turns away. "I don't want to be your plan B, Gale."
"You aren't," he hisses back.
"I was when the Games were going on," I snap back, "Why should I have figured it to be different?"
"Because I told you the truth!" His voice sends me back a few inches and suddenly I'm pushing myself off the ground. "Madge," he stands after me, hurt now echoing in his own voice.
"Sort yourself out, Gale." I sigh, running and hand through my hair. "I believe that you have feelings for me, but you can't just get over Katniss that fast. I know you're trying but you aren't there yet and I don't want to be your rebound or just some lame excuse." I look at the rose in my hand and extend it back to him.
"No, take it." He won't look at me now, instead he looks up at the ceilings rafters. "I meant what I said. I thought of you."
A/N: This is actually the first Gadge thing I ever wrote, I found it stored up in my documents somewhere.