Голодные игры

           Isurvivedmyinterview,butwhatwasIreally?Asillygirlspinninginasparkling,dress.Giggling.TheonlymomentofanysubstanceIhailwaswhenItalkedaboutPrim.ComparethatwithThresh,hissilent,deadlypower,andI’mforgettable.Sillyandsparklyandforgettable.No,notentirelyforgettable,Ihavemyelevenintraining.

           ButnowPeetahasmademeanobjectoflove.Notjusthis.TohearhimtellitIhavemanyadmirers.Andiftheaudiencereallythinkswe’reinlove.Irememberhowstronglytheyrespondedtohisconfession.Star-crossedlovers.Haymitchisright,theyeatthatstuffupintheCapitol.SuddenlyI’mworriedthatIdidn’treactproperly.

           "Afterhesaidhelovedme,didyouthinkIcouldbeinlovewithhim,too?"Iask.

           "Idid,"saysPortia."Thewayyouavoidedlookingatthecameras,theblush."

           Theyotherschimein,agreeing.

           "You’regolden,sweetheart.You’regoingtohavesponsorslineduparoundtheblock,"saysHaymitch.

           I’membarrassedaboutmyreaction.IforcemyselftoacknowledgePeeta."I’msorryIshovedyou."

           "Doesn’tmatter,"heshrugs."Althoughit’stechnicallyillegal."

           "Areyourhandsokay?"Iask."They’llbeallright,"hesays.

           Inthesilencethatfollows,delicioussmellsofourdinnerwaftinfromthediningroom."Comeon,let’seat,"saysHaymitch.Weallfollowhimtothetableandtakeourplaces.ButthenPeetaisbleedingtooheavily,andPortialeadshimoffformedicaltreatment.Westartthecreamandrose-petalsoupwithoutthem.Bythetimewe’vefinished,they’reback.