Lie To Me

There's something calming about playing the piano. Madge glided her nimble fingers to hit keys after keys of soothing notes. Eyes closed, she hummed along the music thinking about the people she loved. She thought of her parents, her sickly mother and her father in their room talking, apologizing and assuring their love for each other. She thought about Katniss and Peeta in the arena, fighting for their lives. Then, she thought of Gale.

She almost imagined him standing by the door of the parlor smirking at her. Just like the last time he's been here. She smiled at the memory of him leaning from behind her while she played, wrapping his strong arms around her making her stop.

"Thank you," he whispered, "But you got to help me with a problem."

She turned her head and looked up at him and replied, "Problem?"

When he didn't response she pushed him away and stood up, arms folded she continued, "Gale Hawthorne, are you in trouble again?"

Gale mirrored her stance and replied without missing a beat, "I don't really know if I really wanted to thank you or throttle you!"

"You've already done the former," she pointed, sternly, "And I love for you to refrain the urge of the latter."

That put a smile on his face. That turned into a chuckle. Before she knew it, Gale was laughing out loud.

She tried to look offended but failing miserably which fuels his laughter even more. Finally, Gale pulled her to him and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"You ran into a snowstorm to the Everdeens to give the medicine and then ran out back into it again seconds later," he said, "I should throttle you for mere stupidity but you're a crazy girl,I think there's a law against throttling those kind."

"I'm not crazy!" she said pulling away slightly to look up at his grinning face.

"You are, Abernathy vouched for it," he said as he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Do you love me, Gale?" she asked, suddenly. She knew she might surprised him with the question but to be honest, she have been building the courage to ask for so long.

"No, Madge," he said, he did not pull away from their embrace which Madge was grateful for. She had been expecting that answer but at the same time she had been hoping. She had expected but it was no way prevented her heart to be crushed at those two words. "I cared for you, but I don't love you," he continued, "Maybe, if I didn't meet Katniss."

"If you didn't meet Katniss then you'll never even look at me," she said, almost choking at the hurt each words brought her, "I'll still be the Mayor's daughter who you despised. And you'll be kissing another girl."

"Maybe" is what all he said.

He spend the afternoon with her. Listening to her music, talking about their family, and sharing that need to be close with someone. There was love in that relationship. Even if it was only hers, she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Because for those short moments, for those kisses (some stolen), and for those long afternoon talks, there's love. Only if he could return it, even just for a moment. Even with just words.

So, when he was leaving that day, she asked, "Will you lie to me?"

He was startled the second time that afternoon and just like the first question, he answered it sincerely and truthfully and this time, like a vow, "Never, Madge."

Then he walked away.

As she played the piano, she could feel the air getting warmer and warmer by the second. She stopped, unable to breathe.

If Gale had said yes, then she'll have that memory to take with her. That even with just words, she can pretend. She can pretend that he was fighting his way to her house while her lungs begin to fill with smoke. She can pretend that as she takes her final breath he was holding her hand whispering words she longed to hear and probably will never hear. Not in this lifetime.

If only Gale said yes, and told her he loves her when she asked, "Will you lie to me?"

A/N: This is part of Gadge Songfics but I decided to make this a two-shot. The other chapter will be in Gale's POV post MJ.