6First off, sorry for the gap between updates, but real life (and college graduation!) unfortunately got in the way. With summer approaching, I'll hopefully be able to update more often.
As usual, an Author's note is included at the bottom, please read if you like.
Also, thank you to everyone who has favorite, followed, and/or reviewed. And for anyone who hasn't, don't be shy.
Now that Katniss and Peeta have been reaped, we're going to start getting into the meat of the story. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Any text directly taken from the novels is also property of Suzanne Collins and I do not claim ownership over it.
Chapter 3
The moment the anthem ends, Katniss and Peeta are escorted into the Justice Building.
Once the stage is cleared, Purnia pulls out her megaphone and yells, "The close family and friends of the Reaped, stay put. You'll be escorted into the Justice Building shortly. Everyone else, clear out!"
The Peacekeepers then turn on their whistle sirens once in order to give the all-clear signal for the rest of the District to clear the Square.
As people begin to leave, Delly notices that Madge is being uncharacteristically silent. "Madge, you alright? They're going to start letting people in to see Katniss and Peeta soon."
Madge, meanwhile, was still trying to process everything. "I'm fine." She said, flatly.
Delly gives her an incredulous look. "…Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Madge said, not even turning her head to look at Delly.
Delly was about to respond, but Purnia's loud voice sounds out. "You girls planning on moving anytime soon? Make a decision or get out." She said, noticing the two girls standing there, not moving.
Startled, Madge looks at Purnia, as if just noticing she was there. Putting on her "innocent Mayor's daughter" smile, Madge looked at surly Peacekeeper.
"We're on our way to the Justice Building now. We just needed some time to…process everything."
Purnia's expression softened for a moment, before going back to the usually stoic look. "Well, get a move on." She said gruffly, as she moved further into the Square.
Both girls headed into the Justice Building. Once they reached the area with the "Tribute Rooms", they saw Darius guarding a room on the left, and Max guarding the room on the right.
Max indicated to the doors. "Katniss is on the left. Peeta's over here. You only get five minutes per room."
Delly and Madge nodded to Max, then split apart. Delly headed over to Peeta's room and stepped inside. Taking a deep breath, Madge walked toward Katniss's room but was stopped from entering by Darius.
"Sorry, Madge. Peeta's father is in there right now. He's got a minute or so left."
Madge nods and begins to fiddle with her Mockingjay pin, attempting to take it off quickly without breaking the clasp.
Just as she gets it off, Darius enters the room and comes out with Mr. Mellark a moment later. Mr. Mellark keeps his eyes firmly on the ground as he exits the Justice Building, his posture hunched and his eyes red-rimmed.
Madge wonders if he even stopped to say goodbye to Peeta.
She turns around as Darius clears his throat to get her attention. He motions to the door. "You can go in. I'll knock when your time is almost up." Madge nods in understanding and quickly enters the room, the door closing behind her.
She's a little hurt to see Katniss' look of surprise at seeing her, but brushes it off.
Now wasn't the time to be petty.
Quickly walking to Katniss with purpose, she held out her pin.
"They let you wear one thing from your District in the arena. One thing to remind you of home. Will you wear this?"
Katniss gives her a look of confusion. Like the thought of a token hadn't even dawned on her.
"Your pin?"
Madge didn't wait for her to answer, and instead leaned in and pins the token on the lapel of Katniss' dress.
"Promise you'll wear it into the arena, Katniss." she asked, as she steps back. "Promise?"
Katniss takes a moment to respond. "Yes."
Madge immediately felt relief at Katniss accepting the pin, and hearing a knock on the door, knows her time is almost up. Quickly, she leans close to Katniss and whispers in her ear as quietly as she can.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
Not giving Katniss the chance to respond, Madge gives Katniss a quick peck on the cheek and runs out of the room before Darius could come in.
She leaves the room so quickly that she doesn't notice Gale waiting outside the door until Darius barely catches her from smacking right into him.
"Watch it, Undersee!" he yells roughly as Madge steps aside. He gives her at glare before entering Katniss' room.
Madge looks over to Darius as she brushes herself off. "Thanks," she says before walking over to Peeta's room.
Max gives her a nod and motions to the door. Madge enters, and sweeps Peeta into a hug once the door closes.
"Thank you for coming." Peeta said softly. "It means a lot."
"Of course I'd come." Madge said. "I don't have much time, but I just wanted to see you…just in case." She said, before quickly shifting gears. "What I mean is, thank you. For being my friend."
Peeta gave her a small smile. "Could you do something for me? Just in case I-"
"Peeta, don't talk like that!" Madge said, unwilling to hear Peeta talk about his potential death.
"Madge, please. Just listen." Peeta said imploringly. "It's important."
Madge took a deep breath. "Okay…Okay."
Peeta gave her a small smile. "Could you watch over Katniss for me, when she comes back? I don't want her dealing with all this alone."
"Peeta…" Madge said, a loss for words.
"Promise me, Madge. Please." Peeta said softly.
"…I promise." Madge said, reaching out to grasp his hand.
A knock on the door sounded, signaling Madge's time was almost up.
Peeta gives her hand a squeeze. "Thank you, Madge. For everything."
Madge lets go of his hand and walks to the door. She is about to grab the doorknob, but turns around. "Peeta?" Madge said. "You should really tell Katniss about how you feel about her. You may not get a chance to before it's too late."
Madge leaves the room and exits the Justice Building as she begins to walk home. She knew giving Katniss her pin was the right choice, since she knew that Maze would most likely give Peeta a token for luck.
But luck only did so much.
She hoped Haymitch would recognize the pin and thus be more apt to help Katniss (and hopefully Peeta if he was feeling generous). But both of her friends were still going off to certain death, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Or was there?
Madge stops in her tracks as a stray memory comes to the forefront of her mind.
"You know, if you wanted to be my assistant for the next Hunger Games, I'd be happy to accept you. Show you the ropes, that kind of thing." Seneca Crane said as he slowly ran his arm down Madge's arm. Madge shivered, and attempted to school her features to interest even though all she wanted to do was throw her drink in his face.
"After all, with the 73rd Games almost over, it's not too early to begin planning next year's Games."
Madge suddenly realized that there was a small way for her to hopefully put the odds more in her friends' favor.
She just hoped that Seneca's offer was still open.
Once she got home, she quietly made her way to her father's office, thankful that he was still at the Justice Building dealing with final preparations for the upcoming Games. Her mother was already asleep, so that removed another obstacle as well.
Madge quietly closed the door behind her and locked it just in case, in order to make sure there would be no interruptions.
With slightly shaking hands, she picked up the phone.
"Capitol Operators, this is Kelly. How can I be of assistance today?"
Madge took a deep breath.
"Hi, this is Margaret Undersee. I'd like to be connected to Seneca Crane."
"…one moment please."
Madge held up the phone to her ear as she heard the dial-up connection.
A few moments pass, then she hears the sound of a phone being picked up.
"Ms. Undersee. This is a surprise."
"Yes, well Mr. Crane, I know this is last minute but I was wondering if the job you had offered me last year is still available."
"Hm…unfortunately the position has been already filled. After I had not received your call after our last chat, I had to assume you were not interested."
"Well, I was unavailable at the time, but my schedule cleared up. I'm sorry for assuming, but-"
"Now, let's not be too hasty. Just because the position is filled now doesn't mean that it can't open up in the next few days."
"…I don't understand."
"Let's call it quid pro quo. I'll help you get the job, if you do something in return once you get here."
"Like what?"
"Don't play coy, Ms. Undersee. I made my intentions very clear the last time we spoke."
"I...I think we can work something out."
"Well, that's positively splendid, Ms. Undersee. I'll let the peacekeepers in District 12 know immediately to let you on the train first thing tomorrow. I expect to see you in the Capitol in two days."
"I-Thank you so much." Madge said, attempting to keep her voice sounding enthusiastic even though she wanted to vomit.
"No. Thank you Ms. Undersee. I can't wait to see you. Goodbye."
Madge hangs up the phone and slowly sinks into her father's chair.
The first step of her plan was completed. But she had no idea what to do next.
Madge takes a deep breath to center herself. She had hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but what choice did she have? Sleeping with Seneca Crane was a small price to pay if it means her friends could come home.
If only…she still wasn't a virgin. Regardless of her feelings about her virginity, she knew she did not want Seneca Crane to be her first.
After all, that was not a part of their deal.
Madge wiped a stray tear that had escaped as she took a shaky breath. She just had to keep in mind the ultimate goal was. Straightening herself out, Madge exits her father's office and heads to her room.
After all, there was packing to be done.
Gale sighed as he entered his home, kicking off his shoes as he closed the door.
His Ma and his siblings were currently at the Everdeen house, spending time together in order to quell their mutual distress.
He couldn't stay, though. Being at the Everdeen's without Katniss there was just too hard. All he could think about was Katniss already being on the train heading to the Capitol, where it wasn't guaranteed she would come out alive.
Both Mrs. Everdeen and his Ma had pity on him, and had told him that he could go back home.
It's as if they knew that his feelings over Katniss leaving were more than losing a best friend.
He walked into his bedroom (well, the one he shared with Vick and Rory) and threw his jacket on a nearby chair as he began to change into more comfortable clothing.
Just as he finished changing, he hears a knock on the window.
With a confused look on his face, he opens it and comes face to face with Madge.
"Undersee? What in Panem are you doing here?"
Madge had the decency to look embarrassed, but her expression turned neutral a moment later.
"I need to talk to you."
Gale gave her a glare.
"And you couldn't wait until tomorrow? Or use the front door?"
Madge shook her head. "It was safer this way, just in case your family was here."
"How do you know they aren't?"
"You just confirmed it. Also because I stopped by the Everdeens earlier to check in on them, they said your family would be going over there later to spend the night." Madge glared at him. "Look, are you going to let me in or not?"
Gale sighs in exasperation and opens the window wider.
"Come on. My Ma would ring my neck if I left a girl outside in the cold by her lonesome."
Madge nodded and gracefully slipped inside the room. Gale closed the window and began to turn around.
"Now what-"
He's cut off by Madge's lips attached to his.
To say he was surprised was an understatement.
While he always fashioned himself in love with Katniss, there was always a small part of his mind that was inexplicably drawn the Madge.
It wasn't love, but there was something about her. Something that always drew her to him.
She was pretty and rich, but never flaunted it. She always dished back whatever Gale gave, with a smile on her face. Even though most of those in the Seam considered her to be conceited and uppity due to her wealth, she still went out of the way to help those in the Seam the best she could (even if mostly everyone but the Everdeens would turn her down).
She was just so…frustrating.
In fact, he was so into his thoughts he didn't realize that he was kissing her back until the back of his knees hit his bed, causing them to tumble on top of it.
"Wait, wait." Gale said, breaking the kiss. He was breathing heavily, trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Don't think about it, Gale." Madge said, before trying to dive back in to kiss him.
Gale kissed back for a moment, and then broke the kiss. His body was betraying him though, as he felt himself more flushed the more she tried to kiss him.
"Wait. Undersee this isn't you." Gale said, weakly trying to push her off. "We don't like each other."
Madge stilled, and slightly sat up - though most of her body was still on top of Gale.
"Gale. My best friend and the love of your life have just been sent off to probably die. But…I-just want to feel safe…Just for tonight."
Gale Her hair was mussed and her lips were red. She was slightly blushing, but held a defiant look in her eyes.
She had never looked more beautiful.
Gale knew he was going to regret this in the morning, but he finally nodded his head.
"…okay."
"Okay?" Madge said, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
"Yes, okay. I-" Gale said before he was cut off by Madge kissing him again.
Quicker than he realized, they were soon both down to their underwear, having somehow thrown off the rest of their clothes without much thought.
"Wait-" Gale said, as he grabbed Madge's hand before she could reach his boxer shorts.
Madge sighed, exasperated. "What, Gale?"
Gale had the decency to flush as he asked. "Are you…protected?"
Madge's expression turned softer and she nodded. "Don't worry. I'm on the pill."
Gale nodded, vaguely thinking of course the richest girl in our District would have access to the pill, but didn't object when Madge's hands reached for his boxers.
Soon, he stopped thinking at all.
The Next Morning
Madge sighed as she woke up, smiling to herself as she wrapped the sheet around her.
She turned over on her side and saw Gale sleeping. She looked up at the clock on the wall and saw that it read 5:00 AM.
She was due at the train station in three hours.
As quietly as she could, she slipped out of the bed and put her clothes back on.
She walked over to the still sleeping Gale. She leaned in close, and seeing that he did not wake. she whispered in his ear. "I love you. I just wish you could love me back." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
Standing up, she grabbed what she thought was her jacket and quietly exited his room, leaving his house soon after.
She didn't expect for Gale to actually have been half awake, his hunter senses trained to notice the slightest of noises.
Nor did she expect for him to fake sleep to not have the awkward "next morning conversation."
Thus, she had no idea that he had heard her entire confession.
Or that she had mistakenly grabbed his jacket on her way out.
General Notes:
Madge and the Mockingjay pin – I didn't want Madge to become a Mary Sue and be the "spark" that starts the Rebellion or anything, so I didn't want her to know too much about what Haymitch and (presumably) her father were doing in regards to the Rebellion and how the Mockingjay was used as their symbol. Instead, I had Madge use the pin in order to appeal to Haymitch's memory over Maysilee.
Madge/Seneca – Something I created myself. I always felt like Seneca was kinda a creeper, and I'm assuming that due to Madge's standing and (noted) beauty that Seneca would be interested in her. I'm also assuming that Snow regularly checks in on all the District Mayors in Panem, so how else to make it seem harmless by throwing a party for them while preparing how each district would set up for the next Games? In my mind, Madge accompanied her father to one of those parties near the tail end of the 73rd Hunger Games, and that's where she met Seneca.
Train travel time - I made Madge's arrival time in the Capitol 2 days following the Reaping because in the novel, Katniss mentions it takes about a little over half day to get to the Capitol from District 12 (which is about 12 hours). so Madge, if she got on the train the morning after the Reaping at 8AM, she would be there by 8PM the same Seneca being Seneca, would want to see her refreshed the next morning (so 2 days from their phone call). Also, by the book's timeline she's get there like 12 hours after Katniss and Peeta. I'm also assuming District 12 has more than one train running due to a variety of factors.
Madge/Gale – who expected that to happen so soon? I am terrible at sex scenes, so I didn't get too graphic with their moment together. Also, although in the novels Gale does show real feelings toward Katniss, he still has that undeniable spark with Madge. In this story, I didn't want him to realize it was love so soon. That makes for a boring story. So instead, I wanted his love for Madge to grow naturally. For those wondering how I can do that if she's headed off to the Capitol while he is in District 12? Well, you'll have to keep reading. Also, in terms of birth control, I'm assuming that the pill is more difficult to come by due to being expensive, so being the Mayor's daughter, Madge would have easier access to it than those in the Seam.