Голодные игры

           Ishakemyhead.Howcouldhedieasanyonebuthimself?"Idon’twantthemtochangemeinthere.TurnmeintosomekindofmonsterthatI’mnot."

           Ibitemylipfeelinginferior.WhileI’vebeenruminatingontheavailabilityoftrees,Peetahasbeenstrugglingwithhowtomaintainhisidentity.Hispurityofself."Doyoumeanyouwon’tkillanyone?"Iask.

           "No,whenthetimecomes,I’msureI’llkilljustlikeeverybodyelse.Ican’tgodownwithoutafight.OnlyIkeepwishingIcouldthinkofawayto.toshowtheCapitoltheydon’townme.ThatI’mmorethanjustapieceintheirGames,"saysPeeta.

           "Butyou’renot,"Isay."Noneofusare.That’showtheGameswork."

           "Okay,butwithinthatframework,there’sstillyou,there’sstillme,"heinsists."Don’tyousee?"

           "Alittle.Only.nooffense,butwhocares,Peeta?"Isay.

           "Ido.Imean,whatelseamIallowedtocareaboutatthispoint?"heasksangrily.He’slockedthoseblueeyesonminenow,demandingananswer.

           Itakeastepback."CareaboutwhatHaymitchsaid.Aboutstayingalive."

           Peetasmilesatme,sadandmocking."Okay.Thanksforthetip,sweetheart."

           It’slikeaslapintheface.HisuseofHaymitch’spatronizingendearment."Look,ifyouwanttospendthelasthoursofyourlifeplanningsomenobledeathinthearena,that’syourchoice.IwanttospendmineinDistrictTwelve."

           "Wouldn’tsurprisemeifyoudo,"saysPeeta."Givemymothermybestwhenyoumakeitback,willyou?"

           "Countonit,"Isay.ThenIturnandleavetheroof.