Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

Madge has never, in the entire seven months that Gale has been dating her, made the first move when it goes to getting them into bed. She's reading a book right now, fiddling with the tip of the next page and biting down on her bottom lip, and Gale is watching, craving her as he always is. He makes the move. He doesn't mind.

She laughs as he kisses his way down her throat. "Let me put my bookmark in," she tells him, and he lets her. She places her book on the table before turning to face him and meeting him in his kisses. It's nighttime and Thom, Gale's roommate, has already retired to his bedroom so they don't mind getting heated on the couch.

So yes, he always initiates the fun, but Madge has a few tricks up her sleeve this time. Her kisses have always been the same, quick and sweet, and Gale loved them just as they were. But this time? This time, she runs her tongue across his bottom lip before pulling it between her teeth and sucking. She grinds her hips against his and burns kisses down his throat, scraping her teeth along his dark skin. The sudden intensity of her kisses is overwhelming and he absolutely adores it.

She tears his shirt off before he can get to hers. Gale carries her to his bedroom.

It's a long night and he plans to remember every second of it for the rest of his life. She's more daring than she's ever been since they've gotten together. Louder, riskier, it's such a turn on that they go at it more than once before bed and finish up in the morning. After their lovemaking session, when the sun is creeping into the sky, she rolls to him and kisses him sweetly, an old Madge kiss.

"I have to go to work," she tells him. He stretches forward and steals as many more kisses as he can get before she rolls out of bed, scolding him for making her late. He rolls into her warmth and groans. "I'll be back later, yeah?"

"Please," he murmurs. Madge laughs and rolls her eyes. "I hate work. Taking you away from me." Gale buries himself under the blankets and holds onto the sweet vanilla scent that Madge always leaves. "What time are you off?"

"Five," she answers. He opens an eye as she steps toward the mattress. "See you then?"

"You've got a key," he says back. She bends down and presses a kiss to his forehead before leaving. Hours after she's gone, maybe only one or two, Gale finally crawls out of bed. Thom is in the kitchen making coffee and offers a cup to Gale. "Been up long?" he asks.

"Long enough to know that you two picked up right where you left off last night," Thom mutters. Gale grins, pouring creamer into his mug. "Jesus. I've never had a problem with you two before but she was clearly enjoying herself."

"Mm," Gale blows on his coffee and shrugs. "She wanted to try a few new positions," he says. Thom rolls his eyes. "I enjoyed myself as well, thank you for asking."

Thom cocks an eyebrow and leans against the corner saying, "Trust me, I know."

"She was so different last night," Gale raves on, still waiting for his coffee to cool. "It was a whole different side of her. She was kissing different and everything, it was incredible." Thom cocks his eyebrow higher and takes a quick drink from his mug. "What's that look for?" His roommate shrugs. "Thom."

"You know what they say when girls suddenly… when they suddenly are different with that."

"What, in bed?"

"Mm-hm," Thom tips his head forward. "If she didn't learn it from you, then…"

Gale glares at him. "Don't say what I think you're going to say."

"Then I won't," Thom shrugs. "But you know what I'm thinking." It's clear as day what Thom is implying. He thinks Madge must be sleeping with someone else. Gale grips his coffee mug firmly and Thom lifts his shoulders again. "I adore Madge. You know I do. She's better than anyone you've ever been with. But she's been working extra shifts lately and now you say that she's trying new positions in bed?" Gale's knuckles hurt from how hard he's holding his cup. "Just be careful, Gale."

Thom walks away and goes to his bedroom to get ready for the day. Gale stands in the kitchen holding the coffee mug and trying to rationalize everything Madge has done in the past week.

No. No, Madge is too good. She's sweet and kind and actually cares about people, about Gale; she's too honest to have an affair. After convincing himself that Madge is the same girl he's been with all these months, the same girl he's known all through high school and college, he finishes his coffee and goes to his room to work on some homework.

Today he has off from work and the best way to spend it is getting some papers written considering finals are coming up. Without Madge here to distract him he can work steadily and be ready to dedicate his time to her when she arrives in the evening.

It isn't until he gets a text from her around one in the afternoon is his work habit disrupted.

Going to be late, it reads. Delly called in sick, have to cover until 10. You'll wait up?

Gale stares at the message feeling his heart cave in his chest. Course I will, he sends back. See you then.

You'll be home all day? she asks quickly.

Nowhere else to be, he answers.

Okay. Love you!

Love you too.

But it bothers him. It bothers him so much that he actually pulls up Google and searches "How to tell if my girlfriend is cheating on me". A few links look promising but he clicks the one that offers a list. Internally debating with himself for being an idiot and actually considering this stupid idea that Thom has implanted in his brain he hesitates before clicking on a list.

9. She's less interested in sex.

Gale snorts and rolls his eyes. Last night obviously discounts this one.

7. She's overly concerned with your whereabouts.

Gale pulls up his phone and reads through the messages. A lot of them ask where he is, where he's going to be hours into the future even though she's at work. He looks at their most recent conversation where Madge asks if he'll be home all day and feels his stomach turn. It has to be a coincidence, there's no other option.

4. She's suddenly caring about her appearance.

Madge has never made it a big deal to wear makeup or anything of the sort. She has a natural beauty that Gale has always admired. He has noticed a few changes here and there though, nothing worth pointing out. Maybe mascara, maybe a little bit of eyeliner. Nothing too dark or extreme, just small changes that accent her features. He didn't think it was worth pointing out.

3. She withdraws from your family and friends.

Never! She loves Posy, Gale's little sister, and loves going to visit his family with him on the weekends. And Thom, Madge and Thom are practically brother and sister the way they tease each other. She's not withdrawing from anyone.

2. She's shady about her schedule.

Thom was right about that one, unfortunately. She's been picking up shifts like crazy, covering for people when she doesn't need to. Madge has clocked in so many hours at her job at the coffee shop on Capitol Street that she should be the manager by now. But Madge has always been a hard worker, and she hates when people feel bad that they can't work. A bit of a pushover, really. It's not surprising that she's suddenly taking so many shifts. Right?

1. She starts acting differently in bed or during foreplay.

Gale reads the little blurb about how people learn to kiss from the people they've been with, learning new ways with each person. He finds it hard to breathe remembering the night before. She wanted to go this way and that, was daring and beautiful and completely different than she's ever been.

Gale slams his computer shut and shakes his head. This is ridiculous, he's being completely irrational. Madge would never do something like cheat, especially not on Gale. She loves him. She tells him that she loves him. She wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it.

Madge finally gets to Gale's around 10:45. She looks exhausted and isn't wearing her work uniform. Madge moves through the tiny apartment and finds Gale on the couch watching something on Netflix before dropping down next to him and curling into his side.

"I'm so tired," she murmurs into his shirt. He slides his arm around her waist. "It should be illegal to work that much."

"Mm," Gale agrees. He turns his head and noses into her hair. "Did you shower?"

She pulls away and looks up at him. "Yes?"

"Why?"

"Why?" she echoes. Madge laughs a little and pulls away more. "I was sweaty and covered in sticky coffee spills." She narrows her eyes at him. "Is that a problem?" He jerks his head to the side and returns his attention to Netflix. "I stopped by my dorm. Peeta was over. Katniss says hi."

"Mm," Gale says again.

He holds her close and she stares at him a minute. "What's wrong?" she asks. He tilts his head to look at her and narrows his eyes. She shifts away from him. "Gale?"

"Nothing's wrong," he shakes his head. Seeing her with confusion in her eyes makes him feel guilty but he can't shake this feeling that something is wrong. "You're happy, right?" he blurts. She blinks a few times, mimicking his narrowed eyes. "With me?"

"Gale…" Madge reaches forward and grabs his hand, squeezing tightly. "Yes, of course I am." She extends her hand and cups his cheek and he leans into it. "What makes you think I'm not?" He shrugs and lets out a little sigh. "I love you, Gale." He squeezes her hand back. "Are you happy?"

"Yes," he says instantly. "Yes. Immensely." She pulls her hand away. "I love you. I do. So much."

"Okay," she smiles softly. "Okay. Good." He smiles and leans down, tilting her chin up with his free hand. "It's about time," she murmurs before he kisses her. He laughs into her mouth. When they part she asks, "Can I use your computer? I have to check my email. I think my professor moved back the due date of my research paper but if not I've got to get to work."

"In my room," he says with a nod. Madge leans forward to kiss him on the cheek before springing off the couch.

She's only gone a few minutes when her concerned voice rings out from his bedroom. "Gale?" He turns his head and finds her walking into the living room, holding open his laptop with a look of disbelief plastered on her face. "What's this?" His eyes narrow in on the screen, the webpage that he left up, and feels his stomach in his throat. His face is hot, his hands are sweaty, he opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. Ten Ways to Tell if your Girlfriend is Cheating on You.

"Uh—"

"You think I'm cheating on you?" she asks, her voice a heartbreaking whisper. "What did I… what did I do? Where did, what—"

"Madge, no I don't—"

"How could you ever accuse me of something like this!" Her hands are shaking as she paces forward, thrusting the computer onto his lap.

He catches it awkwardly, still fumbling for words. "I didn't—"

"That's why you asked if I was happy," she forces out, "because you don't think I am. You think I'm-I-I'm somewhere else with someone else, isn't it?" Madge is standing in front of him, her hands hanging by her side limply and her eyes filling with tears. "What did I do?"

"Madge," Gale slams his computer shut and throws it onto the couch beside him before stretching forward to grab her hands. He pulls her toward him forcefully and she ends up on his lap with her eyes tightly shut. "Look at me," he pleads, cupping her cheeks and tilting her face up. "I don't think anything. I wasn't accusing you of anything."

"But you thought," she chokes. "I don't even know what I—I didn't—Gale I would never," she cries. Tears trip down her cheeks and he quickly wipes them away.

"I know," he whispers. "I know. Thom just said something earlier and I let it consume me but I know, I know you would never do something like that to me." She sniffles and nods her head weakly.

"What did he say?" she croaks.

Gale sighs. "He," a huff, "he said because you've been taking extra shifts at work, and that… last night you were different not bad different really good different but he thought it was—" he stops talking as a quiet laugh bubbles out of her. She finally looks up, her wet eyes meeting his. "What?"

"Because I was better in bed you thought I was learning my moves somewhere else?" she asks. Gale stammers before sighing. "I hate to break it to you," she says, sliding her hands up his chest, "but I Googled how to be better at those things." He cocks an eyebrow at her. "I thought I was losing your interest."

"Pfft," Gale pulls her toward him and kisses her quickly. "Not a chance."

"I wanted to impress you. And the shifts, Gale I work just down the street if you're that worried you can just come see me." She shakes her head so their noses bump again and again. "I love you," Madge whispers. "I hate working so much but I need the money." Gale lets his eyes fall shut, guilt still eating away at his stomach but now mingled with the sensation of relief. "And I'm sorry that I tried to make our night more… enjoyable."

Gale chuckles and lowers his hands to slide around her hips and pull her closer. "I'm not. I enjoyed it." He kisses her again. "I'm sorry. I am, I was being stupid."

"Mm-hm," she nods, sniffling again.

"And you definitely were not boring in bed before."

"What a relief," she mutters. She presses into him and he smiles. "Talk to me next time?"

"That's a promise," Gale murmurs. He drops down to nose her throat, she feels his warm breath on her collarbone. "So…" he starts. Madge laughs and he suckles along her throat. "I thought you had to check about your paper?"

"I'll check in the morning," she answers. He pulls away and cocks an eyebrow. "Afternoon?"

"Better," Gale nods.

She latches her legs around him and they leave his laptop on the couch.