Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Listening to the female campers of his group giggling, Gale turns away to rub the bridge of his nose. He had thought this summer would be different, though he isn't sure why. His physical appearance hasn't changed, he's just as attractive as last year. And the year before. Prepubescent girls will always bat their eyelashes at the Mr. Gale, who has such a reputation among them.
His and Katniss's group is currently split. Gale has his male campers on the basketball court while Katniss has taken her girls to a nearby pavilion, sitting them down and putting on her serious face. The boys are finger fencing, completely obviously to the fact that the girls of their group are absolutely insane.
"Listen," Katniss says. The girls look up at her with wide eyes as she extends her hands. "I understand that you all think Mr. Gale is handsome, and I'm sure he's very flattered by that, but he's a lot older than you all." Katniss shakes her head at them. "We're here this summer to grow as individuals, not focus all of our attention onto someone else."
"But he's so perfect," one of the girls, June, says back. "We can't help it that we like him."
Katniss has been at this for days, trying to convince these girls that their crushes on Gale are highly illogical and a waste of time. Absolutely nothing is working. Gale's tried too, focusing his attention on the boys or the group as a whole, making an effort to be disgusting. These girls' love for Gale is getting in the way of the group dynamic, they jump on him at the pool at elbow each other to get a seat next to him. It's entirely inappropriate and extremely annoying.
So Katniss pulls the final card. "He has a girlfriend," she lies.
All of the girls gasp.
It's a well-known fact around camp that Ms. Katniss and Mr. Peeta are a thing, so that immediately excludes her from the list of possible candidates.
"Who?" they ask. "Who is it? Which girl?"
But Katniss doesn't tell them. She should've been smart and said no one that works here but instead she zips her lips and says, "It doesn't matter." The girls, June mainly, begin to pout. Katniss lifts her shoulders. "We're not here for relationships anyways, girls, we're here to make friends. To be individuals. Now can we join the group, please?"
With a final sigh the girls nod their head. It might not be the most effective method but if it'll get these girls off of Gale's back then he'll just have to work with it.
"You told them what?" Gale grumbles. Katniss lifts her shoulders and looks at their group at the water pump, filling up their water bottles.
"Oh, come on, Gale," Katniss elbows him. "They're leaving you alone, aren't they?" Not for long, Gale thinks. "Besides, you flirt with the majority of female staff enough to keep the girls guessing." Gale's jaw hangs open and Katniss lifts her shoulders again. "Just being honest."
June, who's finished filling up her water bottle, paces over to the two counselors talking. She weasels her way into their conversation with a smile. "June," Gale dips his head at her. The girl's smile brightens. "Something you needed?"
"Not at all," she shakes her head. She just likes to look at him. Gale forces a polite smile and walks away, making a face at Katniss.
The girls make a list of every possible person that Gale could possibly be dating. Ms. Johanna, Ms. Annie, Ms. Delly, Ms. Madge, the list contains every girl on staff. Only when the possibility is nixed will the girls' cross off a name.
"What if I told you the girl didn't work here at camp?" Katniss says that night, a little too late. The idea is burned into their minds.
June rolls her eyes, "That's obviously a lie, Ms. Katniss."
"Yeah," Betty nods in agreement. "Why would he date someone that didn't work here?"
Because clearly the world outside of Capitol Camp doesn't exist.
"It's simple," June tells her friends. "We just have to ask every single counselor and see what they say."
"We could ask Mr. Thom!" Betty shouts. "They're friends, he would know!"
Katniss groans and drops her head onto her pillow. "Lights out in ten," she mutters. Of course saying Gale has a girlfriend doesn't deter their obsession with him. Of course not.
After crossing off Ms. Annie (who is clearly in love with Mr. Finnick) and Ms. Effie (she's like, forty!), the girls move on to the next possible candidate.
"Ms. Madge," June walks up to the blonde who is sitting with her legs crossed, penning a letter to her mother back home. Madge lowers her notebook and smiles politely. They're supposed to be in relaxation time, aka leave-the-counselors-alone-and-make-friendship-bracelets time. "I have a question for you."
A few feet away sit the rest of the girls in Katniss's group. Madge has heard a lot about them in the staff room, they're a wild bunch. Very rowdy, very loud, and very determined to get whatever they want. The girls are looking toward June giggling. This can't be good.
"Hopefully I have an answer," Madge responds. "What is it?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
The question throws Madge off completely. She'll blame the sudden pink in her cheeks on the hot summer sun. She stutters a few times, searching for the correct answer, before jerking her head to the side.
"That's none of your business," Madge says pointedly. The correct answer is: no. But that's way too embarrassing to tell a 13 year old camper who probably expects more. June frowns so Madge lifts her shoulders. "Sorry, June. I don't like to discuss my personal life."
With a groan June says, "Fine," and then marches back to her friend. Madge watches the girls make a few marks on a slip of paper before June stands and makes her way to another female counselor.
Madge tries to focus on her letter but now she's distracted. A few moments later Peeta makes his way over and sits down beside her, following her eyes to the group of girls.
"Haven't you heard?" Peeta asks. "They're trying to figure who Gale's girlfriend is."
Madge cocks an eyebrow. "Since when does Gale have a girlfriend?"
Peeta chuckles, "Katniss isn't very good at crushing camper crushes."
After a second of silence Madge's eyes nearly bulge out of her head. "They think I'm an option?" she asks. Peeta tips his head forward and smirks. "Good God." Peeta chuckles again as Madge buries her face into her notebook.
She's always liked Gale. There's a reason his campers are obsessed with him, he's disgustingly good looking. And not only is Gale good looking but he's a good guy. The kids love him, whether they're six year olds and it's their first time at camp or they've been coming back for years. The way he handles children is incredible, carefully treading the line between friend and someone to respect. He's a disciplinary but also a goofball. He embodies every trait Madge aspires to have when it comes to being a counselor. And sweet God he looks good without a shirt on.
"They've got a list that never ends," Peeta reassures her. "Nothing to worry about. Your love for Mr. Gale is yet to be discovered."
"I should smack you," Madge mutters. Peeta chuckles again and she elbows him in the side.
"They're just kids trying to have some fun," Peeta says. "Even if they did think you were Gale's girlfriend it's not like they could do anything other than ask you a boatload of personal questions and tease you endlessly for the rest of the—" Madge elbows him again. "Sorry," he squeaks with a smile.
The rest of the day continues on fairly normal. June and her crew drift from counselor to counselor, trying to figure out which one could be dating Gale. When Ms. Johanna is questioned she bursts into laughter, saying something along the lines of "like one man could tie me down" in which Ms. Effie has to pull her aside and remind her to be appropriate. And when Delly is asked she stammers out a quiet no.
By swim time the girls seem to have given up their quest. Thank God.
While waiting for permission to enter the lake one of the boys in Madge and Peeta's group lowers himself down on a hill, muttering something about how he doesn't want to swim today. Which is fine. Madge doesn't necessarily enjoy getting in the lake either (can't they just swim in the pool for Christ's sake?). The only thing that isn't fine about this, however, is the fact that the boy, Andrew, is highly allergic to bees.
What happens? Naturally, he gets stung by a bee.
It takes Madge a minute to figure out what's happened. She sees Andrew acting funny immediately. Mr. Finnick the head lifeguard blows the whistle and the kids sprint into the lake, screaming and hollering loudly. Madge makes her way over to Andrew. Mostly because she's concerned about her camper, but also because she doesn't have to get in the lake right away.
"Andrew?" she lowers herself down next to him. "You okay?" The boy bobs his head at once but Madge knows something is wrong. His breathing is off. Somewhere in the back of her mind she remembers that Peeta has two different EpiPens in his bag, one for Tyler who's allergic to dairy and one for… Andrew! "Andrew," she tries again. He shakes his head. "Were you stung by a bee? What happened?"
"No, no, no," he shakes his head. "I'm fine, I'm—"
"Going into shock," Madge says. Her heart begins to race as she stands up at once. Turning her head she spots Gale who's also yet to get into the lake, clearly taking much longer than necessary to peel his sweaty shirt from his body. "Gale!" she yells. He startles at the intensity of her voice. "Go sit with Andrew, now!"
Gale's gray eyes narrow at her, "What—"
"Now!" Madge yells, running past him. Peeta's already in the lake but she knows what his backpack looks like. It takes her a few seconds to spot it but once she does she digs through it as fast as she can, pulling out the bag labeled Andrew.
"Madge!" Gale shouts. She grabs the bag and turns around, finding Gale holding Andrew down who is clearly resisting. "Get over here, for Christ's sake!" Madge sprints back to the boys. A few of the people in the lake have noticed what's happening on the shore but most are still swimming merrily. "He's breaking out!" Hives are beginning to spread over Andrew's body, his face and eyes are red, and it's clearly much harder for him to breath. "Do you have the EpiPen?" Gale asks, panic filling his face.
"Yeah, yes," Madge nods, stumbling to a stop by the boys. Her hands fumble, pulling out the needle. They're all trained on how to use these. "Yes."
"Madge!" Gale shouts again. "Use it!" Her hands are shaking. She doesn't have a problem that he's having an allergic reaction, it's the needle. It feels so freaking heavy in her hands. "Madge!"
"I don't need it!" Andrew forces out in gasps. "No, no!" He knows it's going to hurt like a bitch, screaming his head off and trying to get out of Gale's arms. Gale continues to hold him down. "I don't—need—it!"
"You have to do it!" Gale yells at her. "Now!"
With all the courage Madge has she uncaps the pen and lowers it to Andrew's side. She presses the button and Andrew screams, sending Madge into a dark place. She holds the EpiPen in place and listens to Gale counting from ten.
"Eight, seven, six, you're doing great Andrew," Gale murmurs. "Count with me. Five, four…"
Finally at one, though Andrew is still screaming, Madge pulls the EpiPen away. The medicine has been administered.
Gale carries Andrew to the nurse, but because of ACA laws he's not allowed to take him by himself. Madge has to go with them. She dials 911 on her phone as they make their way to the nurse's cabin and alerts them of the situation but her voice quivers. Her hands are still shaking.
They reach the nurse and tell her what's happened, depositing Andrew on a couch. Gale looks at Madge and doesn't understand why she's so pale, why her hands are shaking so badly. The ambulance is on its way and she's still shaking. Gale reaches over and grabs her hand, finding it clammy.
"Hey," he murmurs. "Breathe. He's going to be okay."
"I know," Madge blurts. That's not the problem. That isn't the problem. "I know he will." Andrew is being consoled by the nurse now, his swelling is going down tremendously. "I just, I just need some water. I left my bottle at the—"
"Here," Gale spins around to grab his backpack though still holding her hand. "Have some of mine." Their grip releases so she can unscrew the top and take a few glugs. When she lowers the Nalgene she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "Better?"
"Mm," she nods, but he doesn't believe her.
"I get it," he says quietly, his eyes returning to Andrew who's still speaking with the nurse. "It's scary, watching one of your campers like that, but you can't just freeze up."
"I know," Madge frowns. She knows that. Had it been a broken ankle or a bloody wound she would've been fine. Even the allergic reaction wasn't that bad, it was the needle.
His voice turns sharp, "Our job here is to keep these kids safe. If you can't do that—"
"I know," Madge repeats. Anger is hot in her heels. Madge hands back his water bottle forcefully and stands to leave. "Thanks for your help."
When Gale and Madge finally return to the lake, Andrew having been taken to the hospital and Haymitch as director of the camp with him, swim time is over.
Gale marches off to find his things while Madge does the same in the opposite direction. Their first time really speaking all summer and he blames her for freezing up. Great start. Madge drags a hand through her hair and goes up to Peeta after collecting her things. "Sorry for the mess," she murmurs, gesturing to how his things are thrown everywhere.
"No, I understand," Peeta nods. "You okay?"
"Fine. And Andrew, he's fine."
"I know. But you had the EpiPen." Peeta watches her for a moment. "So… you okay?"
Madge smiles softly and dips her head. "I'm fine."
Meanwhile across the shore Gale is grumbling to himself for missing lake time. He likes swimming, and because they hardly have time to shower throughout the week it makes him feel cleaner (even though he's probably just getting dirtier). Katniss comes up to him with an eyebrow raised.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Gale mutters. "Kid's going to the hospital, they called home. He'll be fine."
Katniss crosses her arms over her chest. "What're you so upset about?" she asks. "Missing swimming? The girls just fawned over Cato the whole time, if anything they might've found someone new to invest themselves in." Gale wrinkles his nose. Though he appreciates the new interest he hates the human they might've chosen.
"Not that," Gale shakes his head. "She's just, she's pathetic."
"Who, Madge?" Gale pulls his shirt back on without saying anything, remembering that Katniss and Madge are actually sort of friends. "Why, because she couldn't administer an EpiPen?"
"It's pathetic, Katniss," Gale says with a growl.
Katniss frowns, "You know she has a fear of needles, right?" Gale narrows his eyes at her. "Like a panic-attack-inducing-at-the-sight-of-them, fear of needles. Madge's mom is a total morphling junkie. They say it's for medical purposes but her mom's totally addicted to the stuff. Didn't you know that?"
Gale feels all the anger drain out of him. "Why would I have known that?" he hisses.
She throws her hands up, "I thought everyone knew that!"
With another growl of frustration Gale slings his backpack over his shoulder and throws his hands up. "Golden Grams we're over here!" he yells, signaling for his group to find him. He shoots Katniss a look and she shrugs innocently before rolling her eyes at him. Gale might have some apologizing to do.
Gale tries to seek out Madge, apologize for his harsh words, but she's out of reach. There isn't much time in the day to squeeze in a serious conversation between two counselors, they're mostly dedicated to their kids. Between times like lake time and meal times are the best bet, but she's busy during those times.
Ms. Effie, the co-director, steps in for Haymitch while he's at the hospital with Andrew. "Tonight is the hike to Serenity Falls," she announces that night after dinner. "Counselors, make sure you pick up med-kits before hiking! Be sure to leave before six o'clock!"
The evening carries on with everyone packing. Gale leaves to get a medical kit and finds Madge leaving the nurses cabin having grabbed a kit of her own.
"Hey, Madge," he picks up his pace for the last few steps. She looks up at him through her hair and brushes her golden bangs from her face, watching him approach. "Listen, about earlier—"
"It's fine," she cuts him off. "You were right. I shouldn't have frozen up." Madge turns her head toward where the girl's cabins are and slings the blue med-kit over her shoulder. Her ponytail swishes back and forth, capturing Gale's attention. "I've got to pack." She looks at him again. "See you at the Falls."
She walks away before he can get in another word. So much for apologies.
The hike to Serenity Falls is definitely frustrating. None of the boys in his group want to take the trails, they want to ride the wagon that the younger kids take (which is out of the question, Gale refuses to take that freaking wagon) and whine a majority of the way.
And then there's June. "We saw you," she says. Why can't she be hanging toward the back of the line where Katniss is? She's following Gale on his heels. Gale knows it's not very good to dislike a camper but seriously? "I can't believe we didn't figure it out earlier!"
"Figure what out?" Gale mutters. Someone in the back of the line where June should be is singing a song. Black socks, they never get dirty, the longer you wear them, the blacker they get…
"Who your girlfriend is," she hums. "It's so obvious!"
With his mind elsewhere Gale just wants this over with. "Humor me," he grumbles over his shoulder.
"Ms. Madge, of course!" Gale trips over his own feet but rights himself before he can face plant. "You guys are looking at each other all the time, you even helped her out with Andrew when he was going through shock."
Helping Madge was only a coincidence, he was still on the shore because he… because he… oh shit. He noticed Madge hadn't gotten in yet. That's why he wasn't in. Does he look at her, though? Fuck, it's her eyes. It's her blue as the sky freaking eyes. And her hair. And her fucking freckles. Goddammit, he does look at her all the time.
"Fuck," he mutters under his breath.
"What'd you say?" June asks. She hasn't heard him, thankfully. Effie would chew him out if she knew he was cussing around campers.
"Nothing. June, she's not my girlfriend. I don't have a girlfriend."
She throws her hands up in frustration, "Liar! First you have a girlfriend, then when we figure out who it is you suddenly say you don't have one? Clearly you and Ms. Madge are in love!"
"June—"
"I told you, it's so obvious."
"So obvious," Betty agrees a few paces behind her friend.
Gale drags a hand through his hair and picks up his speed, causing the girls to grumble. They like to hike, just not as fast as Mr. Gale does.
Alright, he likes to look at Madge Undersee. So what? She's attractive, even though she's sweaty and sunburned and probably hasn't showered in a few days. Madge manages to always look… composed. And she handles kids in a way Gale wishes he knew how. She's always so calm and collected, he's never once seen her give up get frustrated. She's best with homesick campers, she has a soft voice that soothes them. Oh God, and that stupid red bathing suit she has to wear when she lifeguards? Don't even get Gale started on how angry he gets watching her and Finnick Odair with their stupid lifeguard inside jokes laughing at each other during their shifts. And she's just so fucking sweet it makes him want to vomit.
All of this is perfectly masked under the public distaste he has for her. Which may or may not be a real thing, he's suddenly figuring out.
Did it really take the most annoying camper on the planet for Gale to realize how he feels about Madge freaking Undersee?
"We won't tell anyone, Mr. Gale," June chimes after a few minutes of silence. "Are you guys trying to keep it on the down low?"
"Way down low," Gale murmurs tiredly. So low that Madge never needs to hear about it.
"Then our lips are sealed," Betty tells him.
Yeah, right.
By the time Madge and her group arrives at Serendipity Falls it's nearly night time. Thankfully the groups that have arrived earlier have already started fires for s'mores. Madge throws off her backpack and digs down for her water bottle, popping off the top and chugging as much as she can. Her bottle is practically empty, however, and she throws it down in frustration. She hates hiking. Her feet just weren't made for it. Neither was her bladder, she has to pee like a racehorse. She wipes her forehead with the back of her hand, then her mouth, then sighs loudly. Peeta, who led their group, grins at her from the front of the line. He knows she hates hiking.
Before she can even catch her breath Madge is swarmed by a group of 13 year old girls.
"Hello," Madge pants, forcing a bright smile.
June, of course, is the first to speak, "Hello!"
Madge clears her through, "Mm, hm, yes, would you, uh," another deep breath. "What's up?"
"Mr. Gale practically told us that you two are together," June says. "But it's a secret. So we won't tell anyone. We swear. We just wanted you to know that we approve."
"What a relief," Madge mutters. The girls cheer, not picking up on the sarcasm. Why are children so bad at that? "Listen, girls, we're here at camp to learn about ourselves and to form friendships and grow. My, um, relationship is not something that should be discussed—"
"Private business is private business," Gale cuts her off. Madge spins around and finds Gale standing behind her, a full water bottle in his hands. "Saw you were out," he says, offering it to her. Madge's mouth hangs agape as she accepts it, she doesn't miss his satisfied smirk as she drinks from it. "Would you girls, uh," Gale looks at the group, "mind leaving us alone for a minute?"
Squealing, the girls run away. Most likely to spread the news.
"So," Gale says as Madge drinks greedily from his water bottle. "Apparently we're dating."
She chokes on some water and coughs, lowering his Nalgene. "I've been told," she forces out. His stupid smirk is back. "You don't have to encourage it, you know," Madge says, screwing the lid back onto his water bottle before tossing it at him.
"Eh. It's the middle of the summer. I need some sort of entertainment." At that Madge frowns. Of course she's only entertainment to him. Madge picks up her backpack to sling over her shoulder and walk away but Gale follows. "You could do a lot worse, you know."
"I could do a lot better, too," she grumbles. "I'm not going to be your stupid entertainment," Madge huffs over her shoulder. "You should get back to your group."
Madge marches away from him, leaving Gale with a half empty water bottle and a scowl to replace his smirk.
Gale returns to his group still scowling. June approaches him immediately with a frown of her own. "Did you two get in a fight?" she asks. "We shouldn't have said anything. We're… we're sorry, Mr. Gale."
He sighs and waves his hand, dismissing her apology. "It's fine. Honestly, June." It's his own fault she got snappy with him. Why does he literally say the dumbest things to the girls that he likes? He can sweet talk a stranger like it's nobody's business but the second real feelings get involved he screws it up. "Don't worry about it."
June shrugs slightly. "I think it's really great you two are together, though." Too bad we're actually not, Gale thinks. "It'll work out. You've just got to be honest with her!"
Before Gale mutters something like how he doesn't need dating advice from one of his campers he takes a deep breath. "Thanks. Go on and get some s'mores, I'll be over in a bit." June nods, smiles at him, and then scampers off to join her friends.
Before any of them know it the week is over and the campers are leaving. The counselors get straight to work after everyone is gone, cleaning cabins as quickly as they can so they can get straight to their staff meeting and have the weekend off. Every week they get their assignments for the following week once they're all done cleaning. Peeta and Madge take to a cabin on the far side of camp so they can talk.
Madge gets busy immediately, scrubbing the bathroom to release all of her frustration.
"I just don't get it," she grumbles, taking to the toilet with the scrub brush. "Why does he hate me so much? Gale literally goes out of his way to irritate me, I don't understand!"
Peeta ducks his head in the bathroom and frowns. "He doesn't hate you."
"He does," she responds, slamming the seat of the toilet down and turning to look at him. Peeta's sweeping the main rooms of the cabin. "Before all of this he's always been short with me and then he literally told me I'm his entertainment because I'm nothing better than some stupid camper rumor." She groans and wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.
"June was nice," Peeta offers. Madge glares and he giggles. "Well I don't think Gale hates you."
"Well I think you're wrong," Madge mutters, returning to the toilet. He shrugs and leaves to continue sweeping.
When Peeta and Madge were done cleaning the cabin they returned to the meeting space, eagerly waiting for everyone to return so they could be given their assignments. Peeta and Madge were usually paired together, they had a rhythm that others didn't and knew each other very well. Same went for Katniss and Gale, honestly. This week, though, the list is different.
Gale and Katniss come in a few minutes later, the last two to join the group, and Haymitch stands in front of the staff. "All clean?" he asks.
"Yes," everyone answers in an affirmative tone.
He smirks. "You'd better hope so." He lifts up a crumpled piece of paper. "Ready for next week?"
"Yes!" they all shout. Peeta nudges Madge and she smiles at him. They're both hoping for swimming camp next week. There are rumors that there were two groups, and Finnick is sure to get one. They want the other.
"Alright." Haymitch unfolds the piece of paper and starts reading off names. Day camp, juniors, blah blah blah. "With swimming camp," he starts, "we have a Mr. Finnick." Finnick throws up his hand in an affirmative fist and cheers, Annie beaming at him from the seat beside him. "Working with him we've got a Katniss." Katniss's eyebrows shoot to her forehead but she doesn't look disappointed, just surprised.
Working with Finnick with swim camp is an honor, really. She looks at Gale and he shrugs, not knowing what assignment he'll be getting.
"With our junior swimmers we've got a Peeta Mellark," Haymitch reads, "And a Delly Cartwright!"
Madge's stomach sinks but she smiles at Peeta anyway. "You'll be great," she whispers. He grins at her and it makes her feel a little better. Haymitch always has some sort of madness behind his assignments. Besides, she had been working with Peeta for two weeks straight. It was time for a change.
"With a lovely group of junior high campers," Haymitch begins, "we have a Miss Madge and a Mr. Gale."
Madge freezes, her jaw dropping. Her eyes dart across the room until she finds Gale's, his eyes just as wide as hers. They stare at each other for a moment, Madge's heartbeat humming in her ears as Haymitch continues to read off of the rest of the assignments. Gale's stare morphs from surprise into coldness before he finally looks away. This has to be a mistake!
They would absolutely never work well together. In fact, he detests her completely. They'll clash the entire week!
Before Madge knows what's happening the staff meeting is over. Peeta has packed up his things and rushed over to Katniss, talking to her about how excited he is to sort of be cos with her this week because they both have swimming camp. Madge watches as Gale gathers his things then disappears out the backdoor. She leaps onto her feet and rushes after him, determined to get in a word before he goes home for the weekend.
"Gale!" she calls. He pauses when he hears her voice and turns slightly. Once he spots Madge he turns again but she grabs his shirt, pulling him to a stop. "Wait a second," she groans. Madge pulls him to the side of the building so people leaving don't run into them. They walk for a bit until they're out of the way, and then all of a sudden she can't shut up. "Listen," she starts. Her voice is high and panicky. "I know you don't like me."
"Undersee," he frowns, glancing off to the people leaving the building.
"I don't know why, honestly," she continues. "I don't know what I did that made you think I could just be your entertainment. But I know you hate me and that—that's okay. I just, I wanted to let you know that I actually think you're a really good counselor. No, great counselor. And you're wonderful with the kids." His eyes return to hers and she huffs for air. Madge is still speaking, "So despite everything I really hope that this is a good week. That we can, um, move past what we've been through or whatever it is that I did. I'm excited to work with you and learn from you and—"
Gale bends down quickly and presses his lips to hers. Madge squeaks into his mouth, surprised at the sudden touch, and he pulls away.
"I'll see you Sunday afternoon," he murmurs. Gale tips his head at her, his eyes drifting to her mouth one last time, before he walks away.
Madge finds herself standing outside the building with her hand held to her lips, wondering what just happened.
Saturday afternoon Madge finds herself in the archery range. She's not a certified instructor but everyone's gone home for the weekend and it's the only way she could get some frustrations out. How dare he kiss her! Her mouth is still tingling and she can't stop thinking about him. He's just made this whole situation so much more complicated!
She thought he hated her and now… now what? She pulls the bowstring back and fires the arrow, missing the target completely and shooting the arrow into the ground. Madge groans and pulls another arrow from the quiver. If Katniss was here she could help but she went home for the weekend as well.
"You alright, Hawkeye?" Peeta calls. Madge spins around and loses grip of the bowstring, causing the arrow to shoot from the bow. It misses Peeta but he holds his hands up anyway. "Christ, Madge!"
"Sorry!" she squeaks. He bends down and picks up the arrow from the ground, carefully handing it back to her. "You scared me."
"You're not supposed to be in the range."
She frowns, "I don't care." Peeta lowers himself to the ground a bit off to her side. "Peeta I can't work with him this week."
"Who, Gale?"
"Yes, Gale!" Madge groans, dropping the bow and arrow on the ground. Katniss would probably kill her for mishandling the equipment. Gale too, actually, the other certified instructor. She lowers herself next to Peeta and sighs. "He kissed me."
Peeta blanches. "Who, Gale?"
"Yes, Gale!" Madge repeats. She drops her head into her hands, relaying the situation to Peeta who listens thoughtfully like he always does. "…and then he kissed me," she concludes. "And then he ran away! And I… I don't…" she shakes her head. "How am I supposed to work with him this week?" All she'll be thinking about is that stupid kiss and whether or not it meant anything to him or if she was just entertainment.
"You can do it," Peeta encourages her. "Don't let it slide. Confront him during planning tomorrow when it's just you two. Nowhere he can go." Madge nods surely and Peeta smiles. "Don't let him get away with it."
Sunday afternoon rolls around and Madge marches to her assigned location to start planning with Gale. She walks into the room and finds him sitting on the couch, browsing the schedule. He looks up at her and cocks an eyebrow saying, "You're late." He returns his gaze to the papers in his hands. "I've got Monday and Tuesday down while you were dilly-dallying."
Madge lifts her wrist to look at her watch. "It's 11:02. You didn't plan two days in two minutes."
He shrugs, "I'm a quick thinker." Madge frowns at him and stands in the doorway. He lifts his silver eyes to her again and makes a face. "You just gonna stand there or are you gonna help me plan?"
She swallows thickly. "You kissed me." Gale doesn't retract his gaze. "You kissed me and you ran away and I demand an answer."
Gale makes another face, "You didn't ask a question."
"Gale!" Madge throws up her hands in frustration and marches over to him. "You can't do that," she says. "You can't kiss me and run away and then act like it didn't happen we have to work together this week and I don't—I don't care if your reason for doing so was to get a rise out of me but just, this job is important to me and I'd rather not spend the entire week wondering what the hell happened so for the love of God—"
Gale reaches up and grabs her wrist, tugging her toward him. She lands on the couch unceremoniously beside him and he doesn't hesitate to lean down, pressing his lips to hers once again. She gasps like before but this time she kisses him back, confused but needy. Madge feels him smile and pulls away, furrowing her eyebrows at him.
"Christ, Undersee," he shakes his head, cupping her cheeks. "You still haven't asked me any questions."
"Wh—what?"
Gale chuckles and brushes her hair from her face. "What, what?"
"Wh…why?"
He chuckles again as her hands snake up, tangling her fingers into his thick hair. "Because I like you," he says. "Because no matter how awful and annoying June was, she got me to realize I was being an idiot. Because if I don't kiss you now I'll end up doing it when we've got campers and that is definitely against the rules." He presses his forehead to hers. "You're not entertainment, I'm just shit with words."
"Kind of," she agrees with a nod. Gale grins, leaning in to steal another kiss. "Mm," Madge tilts her head away but doesn't further herself from him. She likes feeling her breath against her skin. "You have a lot of explaining to do. And we have to plan."
Gale nuzzles into her neck with a growl. "We can wing it. It's more fun that way."
"Wing what?" she asks.
He smirks, nibbling on her collarbone. "The week. I don't care when we rock climb." One of his hands finds the hem of her staff shirt and nudges it up gently, his fingers brushing against her sides. "You want me to explain? I think you're incredible with the kids. In fact, I aspire to handle stressful situations the way you do." He kisses her throat again, still holding her close. "I hate watching you flirt with Finnick Odair," he growls.
"I do not flirt with Finnick Odair," Madge laughs. Gale looks up, his eyebrows high on his forehead. "I don't!"
"Fine," he says. "You don't flirt with Finnick." She nods with a smile and his lips stretch in her direction once more. He pulls her up so her legs fall around his hips, and then he presses her into the couch. "You're beautiful and sweet and I'm a dick, I'm so fucking sorry for being such an ass to you." Gale shakes his head. "Last week, with the EpiPen…"
"Gale," she shakes her head.
"No, I didn't know. I shouldn't have been so rude."
"It's okay," Madge whispers. Especially if he didn't know. Gale leans down to kiss her again. He runs his hand up her spine and she sighs into his mouth. "Planning," she reminds him breathily.
"Ah, screw it." Gale's lips find hers once again and they forget all about the campers that'll be arriving soon enough.
If they're not going to get to do this when campers are around they've got to do it now. They won't have any breaks at the same time this week, they'll hardly get to have a normal conversation while the kids are around. Feeling his mouth move in rhythm with hers Madge can only form one thought, this week is going to be unbearable.
A/N: Another longer one! I work at a camp (duh) and I just love this universe. Had some of these ideas in my head since last summer! Dang a dang. Hope you like it!