Chapter Text
Madge should feel happy, right?
She looks over at her father, sitting on the plush couch opposite her, with an unbelieving grin on his face. He's clapping wildly, whistling and shouting at the screen. He should be, because there, for the first time in Seventy-Five years, is District 12's first joint winners. Being lifted up to safety.
The thing about winning the Hunger Games is, the district that wins also gets the capital's favour. Extra riches, extra exposure. Madge knows that it's something they need desperately.
So why is she not happy? Her brow furrows as she tries to name what feeling is washing over her mind. Madge wishes it was the dullness that comes with shock, maybe she could chalk it up to the suprise of being on the winning team for the first time. But there's an ache in her that she knows means sadness. Sad? Why on Panem would she be sad?
Her family is better than ever, no one from twelve has died these games, Peeta survived, Katniss sur-
Katniss.
Madge stands up, the screen catches the young girls face, tired, shell-shocked and screaming Peeta's name as she ascends.
Madge's mouth feels dry. She barely chokes out an excuse before bolting out and into the bathroom, slaming the door behind her.
Katniss.
The girl who'd stand outside of her window at least once a week once it was the season, fingers red at the tips from the fruits she would hold out in a basket. Even when they sat together in school, Madge liked to think she smelled of strawberries- but unfortunately she never got close enough to test that theory in person.
Unfortunately?! Why on earth would it be unfortunate that she didn't get closer to-
Katniss.
Made leans over the sink, and drags her eyes upward to meet her reflection. It stares at her tauntingly, with wide eyes and a blush redder than strawberries creeping up her face.
KATNISS.
It hits her like a train that when she was watching Peeta and Katniss together, holding those nightshade berries and hands in one act of love that some part of her-deep, deep down wished she was Peeta.
NONONONONO-
Katniss Everdeen might've had her Boy with The Bread, but Madge always knew the Girl who Sold Strawberries.
"Fuck."