Maybe later, Gale would bring up his opinions of her room. He’d ask why it’s so plain for someone of her stature, despite the decorative furniture and crown molding, or why anyone would need so much space. Maybe he would even tease Madge about the patterns, the lace, that blanket that looked like it could keep someone warm for an entire winter, even outdoors in the snow…
He wouldn’t, however, let himself wonder what she would do without this level of luxury in her life. Maybe Madge wasn’t on quite the same level as the rest of them, but Gale knew how people from town handled leaving it, and it was never good. Entertaining the notion that she might have to leave this simply was not an option, even for daydreams used to distract from the tedium of Seam life. What would be the point, if he knew it wouldn’t end well?
“You mean, you don’t bring all your friends up here?” It’s almost coy, the way he said it, deliberately oblivious. “I must be special.”
'All your friends'- Madge had to stop herself from laughing at the thought. Her only friends were Katniss and Gale- and to some degree, Peeta. She wasn't the best at socializing and kept to herself. Invisible, despite her status as Mayor's daughter. The tease, however, was lighthearted enough and had her smiling despite herself.
'You're the first' she nearly blurted out, the pink of her cheeks betraying any appearance of a calmness she managed to appear. "Just you," she finally managed, her tone low and nearly a whisper as she watched him for a moment. Partly because she was embarrassed of her privilege, she had it better than most of the district, including the Townies. Letting someone see her room... well... he's the first.
“Just me,” he echoes, dragging the words out into a drawl. Those were dangerous words, ones Gale couldn’t afford to put much thought into. It changed nothing, as he’d told himself over and over again already. Whatever it meant to be here now, in Madge Undersee’s bedroom, with that fact sending an odd thrill through him - nothing would change.
The thought was a comfort, as Gale allowed himself to settle into this moment. As Madge watched him, gray eyes took in the color in her cheeks with a slow, amused smile before darting up to meet hers.
“So, tell me,” he said, eyebrows raised slightly as if to challenge her, like he always had before. Madge had always risen to it, so he was counting on her not to let him down. “What should we do up here, now that it’s just us?”
The challenge in his tone, in his eyes, was familiar enough. It was enough to keep her from spending any more time blushing and acting ridiculous- she'd made a bold enough suggestion to get them this far. Madge pushed herself away from the door and smiled up at him, not as bashful as before, but with a little mischief instead.
"Oh," she began in a quiet, sing-song tone. "I'm sure there's homework to catch up on..."
She could tease just as much as he could- even as she let go of his hand and crossed over to sit on her bed, facing Gale. "Or we could pick up where we left off."
Kissing. Of course she meant that... "See where it goes from there."
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He wouldn’t, however, let himself wonder what she would do without this level of luxury in her life. Maybe Madge wasn’t on quite the same level as the rest of them, but Gale knew how people from town handled leaving it, and it was never good. Entertaining the notion that she might have to leave this simply was not an option, even for daydreams used to distract from the tedium of Seam life. What would be the point, if he knew it wouldn’t end well?
“You mean, you don’t bring all your friends up here?” It’s almost coy, the way he said it, deliberately oblivious. “I must be special.”
no subject
'You're the first' she nearly blurted out, the pink of her cheeks betraying any appearance of a calmness she managed to appear. "Just you," she finally managed, her tone low and nearly a whisper as she watched him for a moment. Partly because she was embarrassed of her privilege, she had it better than most of the district, including the Townies. Letting someone see her room... well... he's the first.
no subject
The thought was a comfort, as Gale allowed himself to settle into this moment. As Madge watched him, gray eyes took in the color in her cheeks with a slow, amused smile before darting up to meet hers.
“So, tell me,” he said, eyebrows raised slightly as if to challenge her, like he always had before. Madge had always risen to it, so he was counting on her not to let him down. “What should we do up here, now that it’s just us?”
no subject
"Oh," she began in a quiet, sing-song tone. "I'm sure there's homework to catch up on..."
She could tease just as much as he could- even as she let go of his hand and crossed over to sit on her bed, facing Gale. "Or we could pick up where we left off."
Kissing. Of course she meant that... "See where it goes from there."