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

Madge Undersee wasn't always a person who kept to herself. She used to be vibrant, full of color and joy, laughing wherever she went. Madge was a girl who was loud and sincere, one of the most genuinely happy people to live in District 12. She had every right to be, honestly. Her home was fully stocked with food, she had a warm bed to return to every night. Most importantly, she had a strong, loving family.

Until her brother was Reaped.

Madge was fifteen at the time, her brother seventeen, and the entire square fell silent as his name echoed through the square. "Fitzgerald Undersee." It was a warning. No one is safe. Absolutely no one is safe. If the mayor's son could be stolen away and thrown into the arena, so could anyone else.

Gale wouldn't consider him close with Fitz, though they were friendly. Fitz was the type of guy who everyone liked. He didn't care where his friends came from, and there were plenty of stories about him taking girls to the Slag Heap it was almost like he came from the Seam. He was pretty close with the Mellark brothers and spent a lot of time in the bakery. But Gale liked him. He, like Madge who radiated sunshine at the time, was genuine and warm. There wasn't a foul thing that came out of his mouth.

So when his name was called Gale felt a part of himself breaking already. He couldn't even imagine what Madge felt.

He died four days into the Games, one of the final 10. Growing up in the mayor's house doesn't make for a survivor.

Madge stopped coming outside. Gale would look for her at school but always managed to find just the back of her head, her golden curls now flat and void of the colorful ribbons she used to wear. One afternoon when he and Katniss were dropping off a basket of strawberries Gale offhandedly mentioned that they were getting more money than they used to for the berries.

"They were Fitz's favorite," Madge told him curtly. She shut the door in their faces.

At lunch Katniss started sitting with Madge. They didn't speak, something about a comforting silence to just be around another person, and Gale understood. When his father passed in the mine collapse he wanted to be around people, just not talking to them. He kept his eye out for Madge, almost feeling like he owed it to Fitz despite the fact they weren't best friends, and waited to see her smile again.

When the Victory Tour rolled around and the Undersee's had to host the winner, Gale crept by just to see what was happening.

Gale leaned on the gate and looked up at the brightly colored house, listening to music flowing from the inside, and wondered what Madge was doing. His question was answered moments later when he heard a sniffle. He tilted his head to the yard and found Madge in her white Reaping dress curled into a ball, resting against the old willow tree.

"It's cold out here, Undersee," he called. Madge wiped her nose and looked up at him with wide eyes. Gale pushed open the gate and strode over to her, dropping down by her side. "I heard it might snow soon." Her chin quivered but she said nothing, Madge only stared with her wet blue eyes. "What's it like in there?"

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and shrugged. "I've been out here since it started," she said.

Gale leaned back against the tree and let out a long whistle. "You're gonna get sick."

"I don't care." Madge sniffled again but her voice came out strong like Gale remembered it. "What are you doing here, Gale? It's not like you and Fitz were friends."

"Not best friends. I mean I wouldn't go to a holiday party at your guys' house or anything. But we were friends." They were in the same gym class, often on the same team, in plenty of the same classes. "I knew him well enough to say he'd hate you out here like this."

Madge scoffed. "Fuck off."

"Ah, he probably wouldn't like that either." Madge turned, shoving Gale as hard as she could. His lips curled upwards without meaning to and she pushed him again. And again. Until she was slamming on his chest screaming for Gale to get away from her. And he let her, because he knew what it was like to feel so broken. Eventually Madge stopped, collapsing against his chest and gasping for air, blinking tears away and failing miserably. "Hey," Gale kept his voice soft, pulling her close. "I know it hurts."

"He was m-my b-best f-friend," she hiccupped. Gale stroked her back and let her cry. "No one—no one has said any-anything to m-me." Madge pressed her forehead to his chest. "No ap-pologies, no nothing!" She shakes her head and again he tugs her closer. "I know everyone knows. Even my parents, they're a-acting like n-nothing has happened!"

"Sometimes that can be easier than to face it," Gale suggested.

She shook her head. "It's not." Warm tears leaked through his shirt and he knew she'd started crying again. "It's not," she croaked. She stayed close to him, her body still shaking. "It's all I can t-think about. He didn't d-deserve to go like t-that."

"I know," Gale murmured. "I know." The two of them stayed against the tree for a very long time, Gale rubbing her back softly while his eyes stayed forward on the house. When the music started to get quiet Madge pulled away, her eyes red. "You should get back inside," he told her. She nodded but stayed close, looking up at him. "It's okay to hurt," Gale told her. "Everything… everything you're feeling is valid. Anger, and pain, and sadness. All of it. You're allowed to feel it."

Madge's chin quivered and she sniffled again. "Thanks, Gale."

He pushed himself away from the tree and stood, and then offered his hand to help her stand as well. When she was on her feet she hugged him tightly, her arms around his hips.

"Fitz was really great," Gale whispered. Madge nodded again and squeezed him closer. "Anyone ever tells you otherwise, you tell me. Okay?" Again she nodded, and finally they let go of one another.

Madge walked toward the bright home, waving over her shoulder, a weary smile on her face.