Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Every relationship is a time bomb.
His relationship with her ends in a fit of yelling. Madge calls him names that her mother would be ashamed even come out of her mouth. Gale picks out all her flaws just to spite her.
"I hate your tangled mess," he growls. Her hair is anything but messy. "And your crooked teeth." She has the most beautiful smile in District 12. "I hate all the money you have and how you flaunt it." She'd never show off her wealth.
"You're a man whore," she snaps. He's only ever had eyes for her. "You don't care one bit about anyone but yourself." Gale is the most selfless person she's ever met. "I hate you!"
But she doesn't.
"Good," he hisses, "just like you should. I'm the dirt underneath your feet, Undersee. Wouldn't want to drag me in, your maid would have to sweep me out!"
She slaps him. The pain tingles in his cheek and wraps around his heart. Madge Undersee would never hurt a fly and she's just slapped him.
"Take it back," she pleads. Her fingers clutch at his shirt. "Gale, you didn't mean that."
He shoves her hands away and takes a step back. "You hit me."
"You're treating me like I'm a snob!" she cries. Madge takes a step toward him but again he retreats. "Gale I didn't—I was so angry that you said that, you know I'd never—"
"But you did," he grunts. "Christ, Madge," he throws his hands up, "and I deserved it!" Gale turns toward her but refuses to move any closer. "This is why we can't—this is why I have to go."
"Gale," she tries again. "C'mon, we… we fight all the time, we—"
"It's not right," he shakes his head. "We can't do this anymore." Gale balls his hands into fists to keep himself from pulling her toward him.
"But I love you," she whispers. He jerks his head into a no and steps away. "Don't you walk away from me!" But he does. "Gale Hawthorne!" She runs at him and hits him again. Shoves him away. "Fine! Go!" So he leaves, pretending he can't hear her cries fading behind him.
Every relationship is a time bomb, but the real bombs that fall that night and take her away are so much worse.