Katniss fails to make amends with her. Or rather, she doesn't know how to set things right. Sorry just isn't in her vocabulary. It turns out, she didn't need to anyway. Madge returns to school the next day and sits next to her like nothing happened. Like she's incapable of getting stung by her words, or they never mattered to her in the first place.

The thought rushes a warmth behind Katniss's eyes and she shakes it off. Guilt bubbles up her throat. She dips her head down and notices Madge's chair perched just an inch further away. It might as well be a mile. The distance shrinks to a hair's breadth when Madge's gentle voice drifts to her ears.

"You alright?"

"Yea-"

Burning shame sears her face. Blossoming in her mouth with the residual taste of a Peach Danish. Hurriedly swiped off the table before the crows could eat it. She wonders if Madge knows, or cares. Right before sewing class starts, Katniss realises she doesn't deserve a friend, or whatever vague school-companion Madge is.

She resists the urge to yawn at the teacher's demonstration of a cross-stitch. Madge faithfully follows each step. Prim would be great at this. All delicate craftsmanship tidy beneath her tiny fingers. Her own hands loom beneath her eyes. Calloused, coarse skin from hours digging in the woods for tubers. Pay attention, you never know when clothes might need mending. Her eyes wander over to Madge, but instead of looking at her hands. Katniss finds her gaze drifting to that profile of her face. Braided blonde hair slung over her shoulder. The gentle dip of her nose and those round cheekbones. Slight rosy tint in her cheeks. She tastes peaches in her mouth. As her eyes wander to the cherry pink curve of Madge's lips, Katniss catches herself wondering if that'd be what Madge tastes like.

Stop, stop, just stop.

She rips her eyes away, but Madge's already staring directly at her. Burning a hole in her reddened face.

"Katniss," the voice comes in an urgent gasp.

The word Sorry teeters on the tip of her tongue before she realises it'll reveal her unripened feelings. Madge will probably never talk to her again. There'd be more than a mile of space between them, for sure. A single word would ruin everything. Just shut up and keep quiet. You can do that, can't you? You're good at-

"Katniss, help, please," Madge's voice slices through the classroom's still silence, "I hurt myself."

She looks at Madge's finger held aloft. The red dot spreads across her impossibly fair skin. Blood.

Her mouth goes dry with dread.

Blood represents a dead animal which isn't moving again. A father with a smashed body who's never going to hold her. That weird time of the month when life drains out of her body and she gets awful cramps. In short, nothing good.

She seizes Madge's finger right as a tear rolls off her fair cheeks. A damp spot spreads on her white dress which will soon be stained crimson if she doesn't act fast.

"Ms Miller?"

Nah, the teacher's out for a smoke. How long was I daydreaming?

"Please," Panic stutters beneath Madge's quivering voice. Katniss's body shivers with surging fear. An awful thumping beat pounds against her hand. She must be in so much pain.

Violent panic crests within Katniss and she stuffs Madge's finger between her lips. The taste of metal floods her mouth. Their eyes meet. Charcoal grey depths which always flitted away now stare deep into hers. Madge's lips part. She imagines feeling a tremble in her fingertips. Buzzing trepidation. Her grip relaxes and Madge lingers for just another second before pulling out her finger. It feels like eternity.

"I-is it ok?"

Madge locks her gaze onto Katniss's again before slowly slipping that finger into her own lips. She nearly faints at the cherry blush colouring her cheeks. Pink like the sunset. In that instant, all Katniss can think about is Madge tasting her. And how much she wants to taste her in return.

"Yea, I-I think it is," Madge cradles her unbleeding finger to her bosom. Like it's the most precious moment on earth. Her eyes dip and she excuses herself to the bathroom. Urgent footsteps take her away from Katniss's sight and right when she disappears. Katniss picks up that handkerchief she'd been sewing on. Presses it to her nose.

Trying to taste the shadow of Madge's presence one last time.